m THE SADDLE. 
173 
first detacliinent marched^ headed by one of the soldiers,, bearing 
on a lance^ a small Union Jack I had made. The women accom- 
panied them : our bread -makers^ the stout-hearted Halima,, the 
liberated girls^ and the two wives of Abderachman. When the 
thrilling zachareet, which they commenced as they moved on,, was 
heard by me^ I could not help but weep, we seemed so responsible 
for their well-being. Dashing away the tears, I was prepared to 
accompany Petherick to the shore, where stood our horses. A 
group of our people were assembled to offer their prayers for our 
welfare, and giving our last injunctions to those who were about to 
return to Khartoum, and with many entreaties that my pets should 
be cared for, and with a fervent God be with us ! we were soon 
in the saddle. 
In a moment or two we were splashing through a narrow channel 
(formerly a pathway), and with a wall of reeds on either side. At 
times the water was above the horses^ knees, and always above the 
fetlocks. 
In a short time we came up with our servants and soldiers. 
They were halting on ant-hills. I was met with bright looks, and 
again they zachareeted : it cheers me so to see the confidence the 
people repose in us. 
At one p.m., as we approached a dense wood, a terrific storm 
burst, and we were soon drenched, and the lightning frightened 
the horses very much. 
At two p.m. reached a deserted cattle-kraal on the borders of a 
sheet of water to be crossed. In the kraal we met Mussaad, with 
negroes and guard, on their way to bring us up from the river. 
They also had been overtaken by the storm. Mussaad had been de- 
tained at Ador to dispatch from thence to the Khol twenty- seven of 
our men, with twenty porters and sixteen laden donkevs. They were 
