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。