198 
SETTLE THE RINGLEADER. 
[chap. V. 
his gun in defiance on the ground, and led the mutiny. 
“ Not a man shall go with you !—go where you like 
“ with Ibrahim, but we won’t follow you, nor move a 
“ step farther. The men shall not load the camels; 
“ you may employ the f niggers’ to do it, but not us.”. 
I looked at this mutinous rascal for a moment ; 
this was the burst of the conspiracy, and the threats 
and insolence that I had been forced to pass over 
for the sake of the expedition all rushed before me. 
“ Lay down your gun!” I thundered, “ and load 
the camels! ”.“ I won’t”—was his reply. 
“ Then stop here!” I answered; at the same time lashing 
out as quick as lightning with my right hand upon 
his jaw. 
He rolled over in a heap, his gun flying some yards 
from his hand; and the late ringleader lay appa¬ 
rently insensible among the luggage, while several of 
his friends ran to him, and did the good Samaritan. 
Following up on the moment the advantage I had 
gained by establishing a panic, I seized my rifle and 
rushed into the midst of the wavering men, catching 
first one by the throat, and then another, and dragging 
them to the camels, which 1 insisted upon their imme¬ 
diately loading. All except three, who attended to the 
ruined ringleader, mechanically obeyed. Richarn and 
Sali both shouted to them to “ hurry ;” and the vakeel 
