A j FIRST ASCENT. 
237 
from wliicli we concluded that the Wa-kiboso must 
have come here just after our departure, have dis¬ 
covered our route, and followed our tracks up the moun¬ 
tain. We were discussing this question and leisurely 
continuing the descent, when one of our guides stopped, 
commanded silence, and listened intently. I naturally 
did the same, and heard a faint ringing cry behind us. 
We looked at one another with serious faces and said 
“ The Wa-kiboso ! ” Evidently they had re-discovered 
our track, and were announcing it to their more distant 
comrades. An unreasoning panic seized my people. 
They started off in a headlong flight down the moun¬ 
tain, and for some time I feared the men might cast 
away their loads and lose my collections, but fortunately 
they clung to their burthens as Swahili porters do even 
“ in extremis.” At length I felt I could no longer 
keep up such a rapid descent over slippery tree-trunks 
and glissades of mud. I had already nearly broken 
my leg and effectually barked my shins, so I called 
repeatedly on the foremost men of our party to stop, 
and we journeyed for a little while at a more reasonable 
pace. Soon, however, we had another fright. Those 
who were in front came to a sudden halt, cried out, and 
fell back in confusion. “ What is it ?” I asked, panting. 
“ The Wa-kiboso,” gasped my men, and sure enough, 
up the steep descent of the narrow path we could 
descry white head-dresses and gleaming spears approach¬ 
ing. This time we no longer made the least stand. 
The cook, Cephas, attempted to fly, slipped, and fell 
into a ditch; others crept into the bush and hid; and 
I myself, too utterly sick and exhausted to offer any 
resistance, sat down by the way-side and awaited my 
fate. There was a hush, a whisper rising into a shout, 
and then a sudden glad cry from my reassured followers, 
