A MOVIE TO MABANU. 
247 
blinked ; consequently, this last ejpreuve had terminated 
in his favour, and further whoops and yells of hysteri¬ 
cal joy rent the air. Then sending for the fattest ram 
in his dominions, the chief of Maranu dismissed 
Kiongwe with this characteristic present, and bade 
him assure me that he and his subjects anxiously 
awaited the happy day when I and my people would 
enter and build in their country. 
On the day following Kiongwe’s return a curious 
occurrence, savouring of poetical justice, took place. 
One of my men informed me, early in the morning, 
that in another part of Taveita the renegades of our 
expedition, Mabruki and Athmani, had passed the night 
on their way to the coast, whither they were convoying 
a band of slaves. (The reader may remember that 
these two men had deserted from me during my first 
trials in Mosi, and had gone to live with Mandara to 
organize his slave-trade.) At first I concluded that 
the information was of little value, as they would be 
certain to rise with the dawn and pursue their road, 
and I regretted bitterly that the news had reached me 
too late to cause an effective intervention. But fur¬ 
ther reflection showed the possibility that Mabruki and 
his confederate might still be within reach. The body 
of the caravan would have quitted Taveita at dawn, 
but the two ex-collectors, occupying now the position 
of independent traders, and being no longer subservient 
to commands, might possibly linger behind for an 
extra hour of sleep or to buy provisions for the day. 
At anv rate I resolved to see if I could catch them and 
«/ 
release any of their unfortunate slaves. Accordingly, 
assembling my followers round me, in case there 
should be an appeal to force, we marched swiftly and 
silently down to the camping-place indicated by my 
