— 44 — advisers desired him to wait until such time as he could hang him and me from the same tree. Of all these thing I was made fully aware by messengers who from time to time escaped. Thereupon Billali proposed to attack the other zeribas, but his ministers said to him that if he were to capture me all the other zeribas would surrender to him. Then Billali replied to his councillors, "God bless you", thereby indicating that their advice was found good in his sight. Now at this time Gulgulai and Shat attempted to storm one of my stockades, where there were but twenty men. My followers repulsed the attack though my cousin Abdulla fell on that day. News was brought me of this assault and I hurried with a hundred men to the rescue. But no sooner had I relieved the garrison than I was told that Billali was about to attack my chief zeriba of Deim el Zubeir. I travelled without ceasing, and thereby accomplished in thirty six hours a journey that ordinarily requires three whole days. But I was too late, for I discovered that Billali had privily despatched some men who had set fire to the town.

Nothing was left over from the havoc of the fire, but, as fate had decreed, I had hidden my ammunition in the ground, and this was unharmed by the flames. As for the place itself there was neither fosse nor rampart, with which to repel the hosts of my enemy: and, indeed,