436 
ATTEMPT TO SAVE KALLOE. 
[chap. XV. 
that he might require. Ibrahim was in a dilemma. 
I offered to take the entire onus upon myself. That 
Kalloe should not be murdered I was determined; the 
old man had on several occasions been very obliging 
to me and to my people, and I resolved to save him at 
any risk. His son, perfectly unsuspicious of evil, was 
at that moment in our camp, having fraternized with 
some of my men. I sent for him immediately, and 
explained the entire plot, concluding by telling him to 
run that instant at full speed to his father (about two 
miles distant), and to send away all the women and 
children from the village; but to bring Kalloe to my 
hut, that I would hoist the British flag, as I had 
done at Kisoona, and this should protect him from the 
bloodthirsty Kamrasi, who would not dare to seize 
him. Should he refuse to trust me, he must fly imme¬ 
diately, as the Turks would attack the village before 
daybreak. Away started the astonished son in the 
dark night at full speed along the well-known path, to 
give the warning. 
I now arranged with Ibrahim that to avoid offending 
Kamrasi he should make a false attack upon the village 
at the time appointed; he would find it deserted, and 
there would be an end of the matter should Kalloe 
prefer flight to trusting in my protection, which I felt 
sure he would. Midnight arrived, and no signs of 
Kalloe had appeared ; I went to sleep, satisfied that he 
was safe. 
Before daybreak eighty men of the Turks party 
started upon their feigned expedition; in about two 
hours they returned, having found the village deserted; 
-—the bird had flown. I was delighted at the success 
of this ruse, but I should have been more satisfied had 
Kalloe placed himself in my hands: this I had felt sure 
he would decline, as the character of the natives is 
generally so false and mistrustful that he would suspect 
a snare. 
At about noon we heard yells; drums were beating, 
and horns blowing in all directions. For the moment I 
