126 
MAHOMMED'S DESERTION. 
[chap. III. 
I impressed upon him his responsibility for the mutiny, 
and that he would end his days in prison at Khartoum 
should my expedition fail. 
The boy w Saat ” and “ Richarn ” now assured me 
that the men had intended to fire at me, but that 
they were frightened at seeing us thus prepared, but 
that I must not expect one man of the Dongolowas 
to be any more faithful than the Jalyns. I ordered 
the vakeel to hunt up the men, and to bring me their 
guns, threatening that if they refused I would shoot 
any man that I found with one of my guns in his 
hands. 
There was no time for mild measures. I had only 
Saat (a mere child), and Richarn, upon whom I could 
depend ; and I resolved with them alone to accompany 
Mahommeds people to the interior, and to trust to good 
fortune for a chance of proceeding. 
I was feverish and ill with worry and anxiety, and 
I was lying down upon my mat, when I suddenly 
heard guns firing in all directions, drums beating, and 
the customary signs of either an arrival or departure of 
a trading party. Presently a messenger arrived from 
Koorshid Aga, the Circa,ssian, to announce the departure 
of Mahommed’s party without me ; and my vakeel 
appeared with a message from the same people, that 
“ if I followed on their road (my proposed route), they 
