38 THE EXPLORATION OF THE NIGER and experienced officer of the French Sudan, was to take charge of the military training of our men. " Take a doctor too," said the Colonel, " he will make one more gun at least ; " and I choose Dr. Taburet, who had been my medical adviser with the Niger flotilla, engaging his services by telegram.

All this of course added to the expense, and it was no easy matter to balance the accounts of so big an expedition with so very small abudget. However, we managed to do it somehow : Bluzet and Baudry made advances from their pay, and Bolard went on campaign once more with all his usual zeal and energy.

" You start four," said Marchand to Baudry, when he saw him off at the Orleans station, " only one will return ! " Thank God, however, we all came back !

Directly I received the telegram from Colonel de Trentinian I set to work without losing a moment. I had to collect all our scattered stores again at Bafulabe from here, there, and everywhere. The Davoust had to be got into working order, and the only way to do that was to put her together and launch her, there would then be no unnecessary delay when the time for starting came. I was aided in this by a quarter-master with a turn for mechanics, a man named Sauzereau, who had already rendered me great service when I had charge of the Niger flotilla. It was hard work, but we succeeded, and it was a happy day when we baptized our boat by her already chosen name of Davoust at the little station of Bafulabe. It was the first time she had been afloat since we tried her near the Pont Royal in Paris. A missionary from Dinguira had come over at considerable inconvenience on purpose to pronounce a benediction over her. Colonel de Trentinian was good enough to travel from Kayes to be present, and I can tell you my Davoust presented a very fine