BOUBOU OVERTAKES AND FORCES HIM TO RETURN. 279 
rains ; no one appeared, and we knew not where to find the 
ford. " Has Ali betrayed us then ?" I asked Boukari with 
much emotion. What was our surprise on seeing instead of Ali, 
that Abdoul who had falsely represented himself, as I after- 
wards learned, as the chief of Bandéia, advancing towards us 
accompanied by the infamous Boubou, who called out to us at a 
distance to stop. Boubou first reproached us with our precipi- 
tate flight ; he then accused me of having been accessary to the 
escape of one of his wives ; lastly, he imputed to me as a 
crime, not having apprized him of my departure, for it had been 
his intention to accompany me. " If thou hast not with thee," 
added he, " a brave and faithful guide like me, thou wilt be 
pillaged or assassinated ; besides, what didst thou hope from 
flight ; ill as thou art, fatigue would have killed thee ; follow 
my advice, and obey the orders of my chief, return to the 
village." 
If my strength had been equal to the fury which trans- 
ported me, Boubou would have fallen a victim to it; but 
overcome by sickness, I saw that nothing could be done but to 
return to my hut, and wait a more favourable moment for 
making my escape. Wishing to rid myself of every thing 
which could retard my progress, I presented Abdoul with my 
horse, which was rendered useless to me by his wound : it was 
not without regret that I delivered this faithful companion of 
my travels into the hands of my assassins, but I hoped 
to soften them by this gift. A gloomy despair soon seized 
