IT was the sixth day after the capture and execution of the two coadjutors of Ibn Asl, and we were on our way in pursuit of the principal malefactor.

Our train wound like a snake through the forest, the gigantic branches of its trees forming a shelter through which even the burning rays of the sun of the Sudan could not penetrate. This was a blessed thing for us, for the scorching heat in the open country beyond the woods destroyed all life. Yet the dangers surrounding us were not less than those outside, for under this vault of leaves lay ground which could not be called earth and which threatened at every step to engulf us as well as breed in us deadly fevers. It was a swamp, apparently without limit, from which rose the giants of the vegetable world, their gnarled roots tripping our feet as we felt for a secure foundation. We were all mounted on oxen, the Bor warriors in advance, then a band of "Asaker," then pack oxen, then more soldiers and more beasts of burden. It was fortunate for us that the Negroes had joined us, for otherwise we never should have reached our destination, but been swallowed up in the swamp in which they were as much at home as if it were their native country, and their accustomed eyes distinguished at a glance between the spots where one could tread and those in which it was death to plant a foot. We could proceed only in single file, and I rode, wondering at the accurate vision of our guides, and learning every moment to

respect oxen more and more, for, without these reliable beasts even the Bors could not have come out safely. At each step they sank half a leg deep, yet never seemed to tire, and each one perfectly understood that he was to put his feet in precisely the same spot that his predecessor had trodden.

For three long days we rode through this deadly country, driven almost mad the while by the insects which stung and tortured us. There was no place safe to encamp in at night. The water gave out and the air we breathed was hardly to be called air, but a blasting fever. Hence it may be imagined that we heard the long drawn shout of the Bor chief, which all his men repeated, and which announced that we had come to the end of the swamp, with unspeakable gratitude.

The Bor chief drew up, waiting for us all to come up with him, for he had reached solid ground, which allowed us to ride together, and, turning to us, he said:

"The swamp is behind us and good roads lie ahead. Soon we shall drink water and see fields which belong to the Gohks. By evening we shall be in Wagunda."

These tidings we received with cheers and shouts. The men, heretofore so silent and listless, began to chatter and grow lively. Even the oxen seemed to know that they were near their journey's end, for they began to bellow and pushed forward, no longer keeping in their order of march. In a short time we emerged into full sunshine, which was like plunging into an ocean of light after the long twilight we had passed through, and its great heat was to us no more than a welcome warmth that penetrated gratefully our bodies and revivified all our senses.

We came upon a brook, or what is called a brook in the Sudan, though not what we mean when we use the word at home, for in that country of swamps and deserts every little

swell of ground is a hill and every stream that is not positively stagnant is a brook. We followed this "brook" upward till it emptied into a little river, on which stood a small Gohk village, before which we halted to send a messenger into it with tidings of who we were and why we had come, lest its dwellers might flee, frightened at our approach.

We saw him returning, apparently with every living thing of all ages and sizes in the village streaming behind him fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, young men and maidens, and all the children coming out to see us, attired in the best finery time and their possessions allowed them to don. An old, gray-headed man who was presented to us as the head of the village, was clad simply in a pair of something like bathing tights, yet wore on his head a round structure of basket work, which was certainly three feet high, and adorned with waving feathers. A village belle had twisted her hair into ringlets and then so stiffened it with fat and oil that it looked as though she had bored a half gross of corkscrews through her skull from within and left them standing up around her head. A youth, unquestionably the village Adonis, wore airily the brim of a hat which had been torn from its crown at some long previous day. His right foot was clad in a soleless leather shoe, while the left wore a sandal. But his chief ornament -- possibly the most precious possession in all the village -- was a pair of brass spectacle rims, guiltless of glasses, which he had tied around his neck with a slender string.

I would gladly have continued the study of these full dress costumes, but the old man took the proud owner of the spectacle rims by the hand and led him to the Reis Effendina, who had been pointed out to him as our leader, and began with much gesticulation a speech, of which we could not understand a word, but of which the meaning was plain by the pantomime before our interpreter told us that he

said: "You are strangers, most noble lords, and you wish to go to Wagunda. This young man, who owns precious ornament, alone is worthy to guide you thither."

We responded politely, gave the old man some trifling things, which were infinitely valuable in his eyes, however, and rode on, the proud possessor of the maimed spectacles leading the way. He was a good runner, in spite of his being so queerly shod. He kept up with our oxen, leading us up the river at a rapid pace toward the village of Wagunda, doomed, unless we could get there in time to save it from being raided by Ibn Asl.

At last, after long travel through unshaded plains, we reached woods through which we rode to the banks of a lake. A glance sufficed to show us that we were near our destination. The lake shores were surrounded by fruitful fields and canoes lay on the water's edge. To the right rose a hill, which really deserved the name, and its summit was crowned by a thick thorn hedge shutting off a glimpse of what lay behind it.

There was a small opening in this hedge through which people were streaming, coming down the hill toward us, and, as the dwellers in Wagunda had been apprised of our approach by a messenger, we knew that they were pouring forth to give us a formal welcome. We drew up in order to receive them at the foot of the hill, the Reis Effendina, the Bor chief and I in front, our followers and pack oxen in the rear. The Wagunda Gohks were, of course, on foot, and armed with spears, sabers, knives, clubs and bows and arrows. As they moved toward us we also advanced toward them, and whoever had a gun fired it, all howling like savages as some of us were, but I bore my part in this ceremony so faithfully that my throat was raw for some days.

After we had finished our evolutions and vocalizing -- and this took a quarter of an hour -- we drew up in two parties,

each under our own leader, and faced each other. Then the Gohk chief stepped forth, and, with many genuflections to the emir, swaying his body to the right and left as if he were in agony, rolling his eyes, wringing his hands, leaping backward and forward, twisting his neck and going through the most violent and marvelous contortions, began a speech to the Reis Effendina, which lasted for another quarter of an hour, setting forth his gratitude and willingness to die for any and all of us who had risked our lives to rescue him and his people. At the last word all the Gohks burst into jubilant cries, in which we joined to the best of our ability.

Now it was the Reis Effendina’s turn to reply, which he did briefly, in kindly words of praise of the Gohks, fierce denunciations of Ibn Asl, and with strong protestations of his intention to rid the country of the man who had for so long been its curse. A silence fell upon the Gohks as he ceased speaking. I felt that the speech had not pleased them and guessed that it was because it lacked the noise and gesticulation which was essential to the savage notion of a good speech. While I was wondering what could be done to repair this mistake the Gohk chief uttered a few long cries, pointing to me as he did so. I was mystified, but the interpreter exclaimed to me that they wanted a speech from me. A speech! This was as truly "unexpected" as the after dinner orator assures his audience a like request is to him, but I summoned my wits to help me out of the scrape. Setting my ox running at full speed, I rode round the Gohk chief some twenty times, giving the while the war whoop of the Apaches, which I had learned while among the Indians, sprang from the ox, leaving him to run where he would, stood before the gaping chief, threw up my arms and began reciting the famine from "Hiawatha." As the poem progressed -- and a few lines omitted or mistakes made did not matter -- I sprang here and there, threw up first one limb

and then another, bent down and sprang up, ending at last with a wild howl and rapid shots from my gun.

For a moment deep silence reigned. Then every voice among the Gohks and our own "Asaker" burst into cries that sounded like a western cyclone. I never heard such a noise in all my life. Ben Nil, who, though he did not understand what I had done, suspected a joke, and was delighted with my success. Only the emir remained silent, and, when opportunity offered, he called me aside to expostulate with me for having lowered his dignity by such pranks.

"You will see whether I have done the harm you think or not," I replied. "You and I know I was playing pranks, but I lose my guess if the Gohks have not a much higher opinion of us for my noise and agility."

Even as I spoke the Gohk chief came toward us. He had been consulting with his followers since I had ceased speaking, and now he bowed to the Reis Effendina and said, of course, through the interpreter:

"Great lord, you have come to deliver us from pressing danger. You are more welcome than can be said. I hear that you are the favorite of the Viceroy. We are not his subjects, for we are free Gohks, of the great tribe of the Djangeh, but we honor you as he honors you. Be our guest and stay with us as long as it pleases you." Then turning to me, he continued: "Great lord, the Bor chief, who is our brother, has told us briefly of your deeds. You come from a land where great men dwell. You blast your foes to dust with your hand, and no man can conquer you. And I have heard and seen you speak as I have heard and seen no other speak. Whoso hears your voice is enlivened as with strong drink, and the motions of your arms and legs prove the truth of your words. Should a foe resist your knife, your voice will conquer him. Therefore are you the man who can deliver us. Ibn Asl is a devil, and his men are demons,

from whom there is no deliverance, but if you will go with us we shall not fear, for you alone are equal to a hundred of my warriors. I will summon my followers and put them under your command. Tell me that you will be our leader."

This certainly was not "drawing it mild," as Sairy Gamp would have said. According to this good Negro, one would think I were what Selim claimed to be, a sort of fairy tale hero. Well, there really was no reason why I should not take the honor offered me, and I did think they would get on with me better than alone, since they had declined the leadership of the Reis Effendina. So I assented to the proposition, and my assent was received with jubilant cries. The emir had left me before the last words of the Gohk chief had been spoken, and it was evening before I saw him again. Then to my surprise and grief I found him in a most unfriendly state of mind; in fact, jealous of the preference of these savages.

"Are you an officer, Effendi?" he demanded at once as I came up.

"You know that I am not," I replied.

"And you know well that I am one, and, as Reis Effendina, one of no ordinary rank. Therefore it is most unbecoming that you should lead this expedition. If you choose to lead the Negroes, you may; but remember I am your superior."

His voice was angry, and I thought, considering that I had served him so well for so long, it need not have been so, but I pretended not to notice it and answered quietly:

"Why do you tell me this? Have I ever disputed your rights or done anything except as you desired? I did not dream that you would object when I gave this chief my promise to lead them, but I will recall it now that I see you do. I am from the West, and it does not matter to me what happens here in the East. My plan was to march out to

meet Ibn Asl toward Aguda, whence it is likely he will come, but if you have a better one I will gladly accept it, and, if you prefer, will help you to the best of my ability in the ranks. You surely know I have no thirst for such honor as lies in leading these men."

The emir, disregarding everything else I had said, took up my previous words and replied: "You say truly that you are a foreigner and have no part in the affairs of the Sudan. You bewitched these simple people with your antics, and they think you are a better leader than I. I not only wish you to renounce the command the chief offered you, but I prefer that you should take no part in the capture of Ibn Asl."

"You have spoken clearly this time," I said, turning on my heel. "I need no further hint. I leave it to you to consider whether you have made a decent return for the services I have rendered you. Allah isallamak -- God protect you."

So saying, I walked away, returning to my good Ben Nil, who received me with anxious looks, having had some hint from the emir's men of the way the wind set.

When he heard what had happened he was furious, and I had difficulty in keeping him from going forthwith to tell the emir and every one else what he thought of them.

At last he calmed down enough to obey me, get our things, and go with me to lie down alone by the lake's side, where I proposed spending the night.

Although Ben Nil wondered at the apparent indifference with which I had accepted the new state of affairs, in reality I was not so calm as I appeared. It was not a pleasant experience, and I did not get much sleep that night. What was more, I learned from Ben Nil that the emir intended marching to meet Ibn Asl in the opposite direction from the one I should have taken, and the more I thought of it the more convinced I became that such a course would prove

fatal to the Gohks. I made up my mind that I had no right to sacrifice these people to my pride and that as soon as morning broke I would go to Fagoda, which was another Gohk village, and get help and lead my new allies in the direction in which I should have gone had I been permitted to lead these Gohks.

Ben Nil's sleep had been light. He awakened early and I told him my resolution.

"They are not worth it," he replied.

"Why do you speak so? I know you are not afraid," I asked.

"Not for myself, but it is my duty to warn you of the dangers before you. You know that I would go with you to the ends of the earth. Fagoda is three days' journey from here, through forests and swamps, and we have no oxen. You know the Gohk tongue no more than I. We have no interpreter; you cannot make them understand your errand, and, last of all, we have nothing to eat."

"We will live on what we can shoot, and for the rest I will trust once more to my good fortune. One thing is certain. I am convinced that Wagunda will be destroyed if the Reis Effendina takes the route he intends taking, and I will make this desperate attempt to save the unhappy village."

"Very well, Effendi, be it so, and I will start with you for Pagoda as soon as you are ready," said the fine fellow quietly. Never yet had Ben Nil failed me in courage or devotion.

Contents

Introduction