Mylegsfeltlikesteelaswestrodealongbeforethehorses，withrifleonshoulder，intothebroadvalley，inwhichthemountainwehaddescendedseemedtohavetakenroot。
　　Thecountrywasfullofgame。Antelopesingreatnumbers，andinsomevariety，startedfromtheirreposeinthisbeautifulwilderness，andhavingforafewmomentsregardedthestrangesightsofhorses，andsoldiersinscarletuniform，theyfirsttrotted，andthencanteredfaraway。Thegracefulleucotisstoodinherdsupontheriver’sbank，andwasthelasttoretreat。
　　Iselectedashadyspotwithinagroveofheglik-treesforabivouac，andleavingmywifewithaguard，andthehorses，IatoncestartedoffwithLieutenantBakertoprocuresomevenison。
　　Wereturnedafteracoupleofhours，havingshotfiveantelopes。ThenativenameforthispartofthecountryisAfuddo。Ourpresenthaltingplacewasthirty-sevenmilesfromLobore。Formerlytherewerevillagesinthisneighbourhood，buttheyhadbeendestroyedbytheslave-hunters。
　　FortunatelyIhadpreparedastockoffloursufficientfortheentirejourneytoFatiko。
　　InmylastvisittothiscountryIhadthoroughlystudieditsfeatures；
　　thusIfeltquiteathome，andIknewmyrouteineverydirection。ThemountainofShooawasdistinctlyvisible，whereIhadcampedforfourorfivemonths，thusitwouldbeimpossiblefortheLoborepeopletodeceiveme。
　　AbouSaoodhadfourstationsthroughoutthislovelydistrict，i。e。，Fatiko，Fabbo，Faloro，andFarragenia。IwasnowsteeringforFatiko，asitwasaspotwellknowntome，andexactlyonmyproposedroadtoUnyoro。
　　On3rdMarch，wemarchedat6A。M。，andcontinuedalongtheplaintowardstherisinggroundthatledtoShooa。Atsixmilesfromthehaltingplacewetookbearings：
　　Shooahill，about35milesdistant，bearing1621/2degreesAkikohillabout16milesdistant，bearing3211/2degreesGebelKukuabout9milesdistant，2991/2degreesOurcourselaytowardstheS。S。E。，beneathawall-likerangeofprecipitousrockyhillsuponourleft，innoplacehigherthan200feet。
　　Theguideswereatfault，andnowatercouldbefoundupontheroad。
　　AherdoftetelAntelopeBubalisuponourrighttemptedme，and，jumpingoffmyhorse，Imadeafairstalkandkilledafinebeastwiththe”Dutchman”at210yards。
　　Everyonewasthirsty，asthesunwashot，andthewall-like，rocksuponourleftreflectedtheheat。Atlengthwediscoverednativessquattingupontheverysummitsoftheperpendicularcliffs，andaftersometroublewesucceededincoaxingthemdown。Twoofthesepeoplevolunteeredtoleadustowater，andtheytookustoasteeprockyravine，inthebottomofwhichwasapoolofdirtyliquidthathadbeenbathedinbywildbuffaloes。Mymenquicklybegantodigsand-wellswiththeirhands，untilthemainbodyofthetroopsandcattlearrived。
　　Inaboutanhour，Iheardagreathubbub，withanoiseofquarrellingandshouting；everyonewasrunningtowardsthespot。Itappearedthatawildbuffalo，beingignorantofourarrival，hadsuddenlyvisitedhisdrinking-place，andhadthoughtlesslydescendedthedeepandnarrowgorgetodrinkhiseveningdraught。TheLoboreshadespiedhim，andtheyimmediatelyrusheddownandoverwhelmedhimwithlancesfromthecliffsabove。Therewasnowanextraordinarysceneoverthecarcase；fourhundredmenscramblingoveramassofbloodandentrails，fightingandtearingwitheachother，andcuttingoffpiecesoffleshwiththeirlance-heads，withwhichtheyescapedasdogsmayretreatwithastolenbone。
　　On4thMarchwestartedat6。25A。M。Theadventofthebuffalowasasadmisfortune，asithadsuppliedthenativeswithsufficientfleshtofeedthemontheroadhome；thusthirtyLoboreshadabscondedduringthenight。
　　Fortunatelywehadalreadyconsumedmanyloadsofflour。Iwasnowobligedtodividetwodaysrationsamongthetroopsasextraweight。Thelightloadswerethendoubled。Brandyboxesoftwelvebottleswerenowlashedtogether，soastoformaloadoftwenty-four。Severalboxesofginhadbeenentirelydestroyedbythesavagecarriers，whohadallowedthemtofallupontherocks。
　　HavingcrossedthebendsoftheUn-y-Amerivertwice，wehaltedforthenightinfineopenforestonthesouthbank，beneathalargetamarind-tree，thatyieldedanabundantsupplyoffruitforallhands。
　　Wehadonlymarchedtenmiles，owingtothedelayoccasionedbythedesertionofthecarriers。
　　On5thMarchIledtheway，astheLoboreguideprofessedignoranceoftheroutetoFatiko。Thefactwas，thattheLoboreshadwishedonthepreviousdaytotakemetoFarragenia，whichistwodaysnearerthanFatiko。HadIbeenignorantofthecountry，weshouldhavebeendeceived。
　　Isteeredthroughlowopenforest，theleavesofwhichhadbeenscorchedoffbythefirethathadclearedthecountry。Neitheravillagenortheprintofahumanfootcouldbeseen。Thisbeautifuldistrictthathadformerlyaboundedinvillageshadbeendepopulatedbytheslave-hunters。
　　HavingtakentheShooamountainforasteeringpoint，wereachedthespotwhereinformeryearsIhadpassedfivemonthsinthecampofIbrahim。Thisalsohadbeendestroyed，inadditiontoallthenumerousvillagesofthemountain。Wehadmarchedfourteenmiles。
　　Igaveordersthatonthemorrowallthetroopsweretoappearintheirbestuniforms，aswewereonlysixmilesfromFatiko，theprincipalstation，whereIfullyexpectedtomeetAbouSaoodhimself。
　　CHAPTERXVI。
　　ARRIVALATFATIKO。
　　ON6thMarch，1872，westartedfromthebivouacatthebaseoftheShooamountainat6。10A。M。
　　Thetroopswereinexcellentspirits，theairwasfreshandcoolinthiselevatedcountry，thehorseshadbeenwellgroomed，andthearmsandaccoutrementshadbeenburnishedonthepreviousafternoon，inordertomakeagoodappearancebeforemyoldfriendsthenativesofFatikoandShooa。
　　Thebrightscarletuniformsandsnow-whitelinentrousersof212menlookedextremelygayuponthefreshgreengrass，whichhadlatelysprungupthroughoutthisbeautifulpark。
　　Therewasnoenemyinthiscountry。FromaformerresidenceoffivemonthsatShooa，bothmywifeandmyselfwerewellknowntotheinhabitants，andIfeltsurethatourarrivalwouldbehailedwithgladness。InmyformervisitIhadbeenasuccessfulhunter，andhadalwaysgiventhefleshtothenatives；thus，astheroadtoanegro’sheartisthroughhisstomach，Iknewthatmyabsencemusthavebeenfelt，andthattherecollectionsofpasttimeswouldbesavouryandagreeable。
　　Ihadwithmeaherdof1，078cowsand194sheep。Noguardwasnecessary，andIintrustedthestocktothecareofthethreeboatmen，andmyBariinterpreter，Morgian。
　　Thelineofmarchwasthusarranged：——Myself，withmywifeandLieutenantBaker，onhorsebackinadvance，precededbytheguardoffiveofthe”FortyThieves。”ThencameColonelAbd-el-Kaderandtheremainingforty-three，composingthegallant”Forty。”Afterwhichcametheregiment，allnecessarilyinsinglefile。Thencamethebaggagewith400
　　carriers，followedbytheherdofcattle。
　　Allourboysweredressedintheirscarletuniforms，andthegirlsandwomengenerallyhaddressedintheirbestclothes。LittleCuckooasusualcarriedmysmalltravelling-baguponhishead，andkepthislinewiththeotherboys，allofwhomassumedanairthatwasintendedtobethoroughlyregimental。
　　Inthisorderthemarchcommenced。Thedistancewasonlysixmiles。Thiswasaslovelyarouteascouldbeconceived。
　　Magnificenttreesacacias，whosethick，darkfoliagedroopedneartheground，weregroupedinclumps，springingfromthecrevicesbetweenhugeblocksofgranite。Brooksofthepurestwaterrippledoverthetime-wornchannelscutthroughgraniteplateaux，andaswehaltedtodrinkatthetemptingstream，thewatertastedascoldasthoughfromanEuropeanspring。
　　Theentirecountryonourleftwasasuccessionofthemostbeautifulrockyundulationsanddeepverdantglades，atthebottomofwhichflowedperennialstreams。Thebanksoftheserivuletswererichlyclothedwithornamentaltimber，thegreenfoliagecontrastingstronglywiththedarkgreyblocksofgraniteresemblingtheruinsofancienttowers。
　　Wetravelledalongakindofhog’sback，whichformedthewatershedtothewest。Asweascended，untilwereachedalargeplateauofcleangraniteofabouttwoacres，webrokeuponamagnificentpanorama，whichcommandedanextensiveviewofthewholecountry。
　　Onthewest，welookeddownupontheplainsthroughwhichwehadarrived，andtheviewstretchedfarawaybeyondtheNile，untilitmetthehorizonboundedbythegreyoutlineofthedistantmountains。
　　Noonecouldfeelunhappyinsuchascene。Itroduponmyoldground，everystepofwhichIknew，andIfeltanexhilarationofspiritsatthefactthatIwasoncemorehereinthenewcapacityofadeliverer，whowouldbewelcomedwithopenarmsbythedown-troddennativesofthiscountry。
　　Havingdescendedfromthecleanplateauofrock，wecarefullyrodeacrossaslipperychannelthathadbeenwornbythesandytorrentsoftherainyseason，andoncemorearrivedatlevelground。Wewerenowonthegreattable-landofFatiko。
　　Uponourleft，amassofboldruins，thegraniteskeletonremainsofaperishedmountain，whichformedashelterfromthemorningsun，temptedustohalt。
　　WehadthussuddenlyappeareduponthegreenswardoftheplateauwithouttheslightestwarningtotheinhabitantsofFatiko。AboutamilebeforeusstoodthelargestationofAbouSaood，whichoccupiedatleastthirtyacres。Onourrightwewerehemmedinbyawallofgranite，slopedlikeahugewhale，aboutthree-quartersofamilelongand100feethigh。ThesouthernextremityofthisvastblockofcleangranitewastherockyandfantastichillofFatikocrestedwithfinetimber。Toourleft，andstraightbeforeus，wasaperfectlyflatplainlikearace-course，thesouthendbeingacuriousandbeautifulassemblageofimmensegraniteblocks，andgroupsofweepingacacia。
　　AlargevillageoccupiedthebaseofFatikohill…Thebuglesanddrumssounded”theadvance。”Theechoesrangfromthehardgraniterockastheunusualsoundgavethefirstwarningofourpresence。
　　Ihaddismountedfrommyhorse，andwaswatchingtheslaver’scampwithapowerfultelescope，asthebuglessoundedandthemenfellintoorder。
　　Anumberofpeopleranoutofthecamp，andstaredattheblazeofscarletuniforms，whichmusthaveappearedasalargerforcethanthereality，owingtothebrightcontrastofredwiththegreenturf。
　　Inaninstanttherewasconfusioninthecamp。Isoondistinguishedimmensenumbersofslavesbeingdrivenquicklyout，andhurriedawaytothesouth。Theslaver’sdrumbeat，andanumberofcrimsonflagswereseenadvancing，untiltheyhaltedandformedalineclosetotheentranceofthevillage。Inowsawnativesrushingwildlytoandfroinalldirectionsarmedwithspearsandshields。
　　Sometimeelapsedbeforethecattleandbaggagearrived。InthemeantimeIwaited，perchedonablockofgranite，withmytelescope，watchingeverymovement。Therewasnodoubtthatoursuddenappearancehadcausedintenseexcitement。Isawmenrunningfromthetrader’sstationtothelargevillageopposite，atthefootofthehill。
　　Atlength，Iobservedtwomenapproaching。
　　Wewerenotyetreadyforageneraladvance，therefore，astheservantsandcarriers，cattle，&c。，fellintoorder，thebandstruckupsomeTurkishairs，whichsoundedextremelywildandappropriatetothesavagely-beautifulsceneryaroundus。
　　Inthemeantimethetwomessengersdrewnearer。Theywerebothfilthydirty，andappearedtobecladindark-brownleather。Onemanseemedtohesitate，andstoodaboutsixtyyardsdistant，anddemandedwhowewere。
　　UponhearingfromColonelAbdel-Kaderthatitwas”thePacha，”andthat”heneednotbeafraid，”hetoldusthatAbouSaoodwasatthestation，andthathewouldrunbackwiththenews。
　　Theothermessengercametimidlyforward，untilhestoodclosebeneathme。Mywifewasonhorsebackbymyside。
　　Canitbepossible?MOHAMMED，myoldCairoservantofformeryears?
　　ThegranddragomanofthelowerNilereducedtothis！Mywifeexclaimed，”Ah，Mohammed，Iamverygladtoseeyou；buthowwretchedyouappear！”
　　Thiswastoomuchfortheprodigalson；heseizedmywife’shandtokiss，andburstintotears。
　　PoorMohammed！hehadgonethroughmanytrialssincewelastmet。WhenI
　　lefthiminKhartoumillwithguinea-wormintheleg，hewasonhiswaytoCairo；butaftermydeparturehehadbeentemptedbytheslave-traderstore-engageintheinfamousbutengrossingcareer，andhetoohadbecomeaslave-hunter。Hehadneverreceivedanypay，asthecustomoftheslaverswastopaytheirmeninslaves。Mohammedhadneverbeenfortunateinhisdomesticaffairs；hewasnotafavouriteoftheladies；thushisfemaleslaveshadallrunaway；hisfortunehadwalkedoff，andhewasleftabeggar，withanoverdrawnaccountinslaves。
　　MohammedhadneverbeenagoodEnglishscholar，butwantofpracticeduringmanyyearshadalmostobscuredthelightofhisformerlearning，whichwasreducedtothefaintestglimmer。
　　Thebuglesnowsoundedthe”advance，”andwemarchedforwardinadmirableorder，withthebandplaying。
　　Inthemeantime，severalnativeshadapproached，andhavingrecognizedLadyBakerandmyself，theyimmediatelyracedbacktothevillagewiththenews。
　　Mymenlookedremarkablywell，andtheadvanceintoFatikowasasightthatwasentirelynewtoCentralAfrica。Wewereinmagnificentorderforwork，withahardydisciplinedforceof212men，andastockofcattleandmerchandisethatwouldcarryustoanydirectionImightdesire。
　　Thisarrival，insuchperfectorganization，wasafatalblowtothehopesandintriguesofAbouSaood。Iwasactuallyamongthem，intheverynestandhotbedoftheslavers，inspiteofeverydifficulty。
　　AbouSaoodcametomeetme，withhisusualhumbleappearance，aswenearedhisstation；andhecringinglyinvitedustorestinsomehutsthathadjustbeenpreparedforourreception。
　　Ideclinedtheinvitation，andpreparedtocampbeneathsomegrandacacias，amongthegraniterocks，aboutaquarterofamilebeyond，whereIhadrestedsomeyearsago。Iaccordinglyledtheway，untilwearrivedataverybeautifulspot，amongsomeimmensegraniteblocks，shadedbythedesiredfoliage。Herethewordwasgiven”Halt！”andthetentwasquicklypitchedinafavourablelocality。
　　WewerenowdistantfromthejunctionoftheUn-y-Ameriver48miles，fromLobore85miles，andfromGondokoro165miles。