126 Seven Years in the Soudan.

home ? Remember, liowever, that I am fulfilhng a mission of the Government, and the Eft'eudina will let you all rot in the prisons of Fashoda ! " " That would also be a stroke of fate," one of them replied.

I was so enraged that things nearly came to a bad end. I called one of the crew, named Belila, who at my suggestion had been named for promotion.

Seeing that the Dongolese were evidently all of one mind, I wished to have the soldiers on m}- side, who though they had not any superstitions about destiny, had nevertheless a horror of the water and suffered from sea-sickness.

I promised Belila that my first care on returning to Dufile at the conclusion of my enterprise, would be to have him nominated officer, to promote all the soldiers by one step, and see that they had a good reward in money. The soldiers, seeing me laugh at the Dongolese, took courage. On the morning of the 15th I had just ordered that the}' should attempt to draw the boats on land. An ironical smile appeared on the lips of Belila.

" Why do you laugh ? " I asked him. " We are all without umbrellas," he replied ; " and if fate wills our journe}' to be achieved, we shall make it even without all this apparatus. If not, Avhy should we take such trouble ? " My patience was at an end, and saying " That is what destiny wills ! " I beat him with all my strength. This intimidated the others, while the soldiers seemed rather pleased at it, and my orders were henceforth carried out without so m.any remarks.

In the afternoon the sky became cloudy, a southwesterly wind blew, and it was impossible to tow the boats along. I let the soldiers land, as well as a sailor, who said he was afraid, and moored the vessel, awaiting the fine weather which happily soon came. I returned near the shore and recommenced