THE BAROTSE COUNTRY. 
551 
me also that none of the principal arteries had been 
cut. Under these circumstances, the wound did not 
assume a very serious aspect, at least for the moment. 
Having bound up his hurt, I sent for Caiumbuca, and 
ordered him to accompany me to the King’s house, my 
young niggers with the prisoner following behind. 
Lobossi had returned from his women’s quarters, and 
was conversing with Gambella before retiring for the 
night. I presented to him the wounded man, and 
inquired who and what he was. The King appeared 
to be both alarmed and horrified at seeing me covered 
with the blood of the assassin, which 1 had not washed 
off, when a hurried glance exchanged between the 
bravo and Gambella revealed to me the true head of 
the attempted crime. Lobossi immediately ordered the 
fellow to be removed, and said that he should get 
little sleep that night, from thinking of the spectacle 1 
presented. I narrated the occurrence, and Gambella 
loudly applauded what I had done. His only regret 
was that I had not killed the wretch outright, and that 
he would take a terrible vengeance for the act. The 
negro was unknown in Lialui, and the men of Lobossi’s 
body-guard asseverated that they had never seen him. 
Lobossi begged me to keep the incident a profound 
secret, assuring me that nothing more of the kind 
should occur so long as I remained in his dominions. 
I returned to the camp, more than ever distrustful of 
the friendly professions of Gambella. 
In the middle of the night, lying awake, I heard 
some one attempting to steal quietly into my hut. I 
was on my feet in an instant, ready to surprise the 
intruder. The person, whoever it was, could be no 
stranger, as my faithful hound Traviata, instead of 
growling, began to wag her tail as her nose pointed in 
the direction of the uninvited guest. I waited an 
instant, and then, by the light of the fire, I recognised 
the young negress Mariana, who, with her body half in 
and half outside the hut, made me a signal to be quiet. 
She entered, drew close up to me, and whispered : “Be 
cautious. Caiumbuca is betraying thee. After returning 
