130 
RESOLUTION TO ADFINCE. 
[chap. III. 
dant, and I was ready to march at five minutes' notice 
to any part of Africa; but the expedition, so costly, 
and so carefully organized, was completely ruined by 
the very people whom I had engaged to protect it. 
They had not only deserted, but they had conspired to 
murder. There was no law in these wild regions but 
brute force ; human life was of no value; murder was 
a pastime, as the murderer could escape all punishment. 
Mr. Pettier ick’s vakeel had just been shot dead by one 
of his own men, and such events were too common to 
create much attention. We were utterly helpless ; the 
whole of the people against us, and openly threatening. 
For myself personally I had no anxiety, but the fact of 
Mrs. Baker being with me was my greatest care. I 
dared not think of her position in the event of my 
death amongst such savages as those around her. 
These thoughts were shared by her; but she, knowing 
that I had resolved to succeed, never once hinted an 
advice for retreat. 
Bicharn was as faithful as Saat, and I accordingly 
confided in him my resolution to leave all my baggage 
in charge of a friendly chief of the Bari's at Gondo- 
koro, and to take two fast dromedaries for him and 
Saat, and two horses for Mrs. Baker and myself, and 
to make a push through the hostile tribe for three days, 
to arrive among friendly people at “ Moir," from which 
