140 
DETERMINATION TO PROCEED. 
[chap. III. 
There was a difficult pass through the mountains of 
Ellyria, which it would be impossible to force; thus my 
small party of seventeen men would be helpless. It 
would be merely necessary for the traders to request 
the chief of Ellyria to attack my party to insure its 
destruction, as the plunder of the baggage would be 
an ample reward. 
There was no time for deliberation. Both the pre¬ 
sent and the future looked as gloomy as could be 
imagined; but I had always expected extraordinary 
difficulties, and they were, if possible, to be surmounted. 
It was useless to speculate upon chances; there was 
no hope of success in inaction ; and the only resource 
was to drive through all obstacles without calculating 
the risk. 
Once away from Gondokoro we should be fairly 
launched on our voyage, the boats would have 
returned to Khartoum, thus retreat would be cut 
off; it only remained to push forward, trusting in 
Providence and good fortune. I had great faith in 
presents. The Arabs are all venal; and, having 
many valuable effects with me, I trusted, when the 
proper moment should arrive, to be able to over¬ 
come all opposition by an open hand. 
The day arrived for the departure of Koorshid's 
people. They commenced firing their usual signals; 
