276 Seven Years in the Soudan.

burial accorded, the corpses of slaves, and even of Besingers, are left to be tlie prey of vultures and wild beasts. Not far from the graves we found a rude litter made of branches of trees, saturated with blood ; no doubt some wounded man, probably an officer, had been carried upon it.

Night had already overtaken us, and, not wishing to lose time which was precious, and anxious to arrive at the seriba before the time pointed out to us by our guide, besides which a storm threatened, I quickened the pace, and we advanced almost at a run, while I had sent orders to the skirmishers to make as much haste as possible. Thunder and lightning accompanied our march, and the cry of night birds sounded from time to time, reminding us of our probable fate if we unfortunately fell into some ambush and were killed by the enemy's balls.

It was eight p.m. when we arrived at a village, but alas ! it Avas burned down and the tukul wood was still burning.

My soldiers had finished their provision of flour, although I had warned them to be economical, as probably we should not find anything on the way, but all was in vain ; a famished stomach knows no reason, and my advice had not been followed.

Our position was now verj critical, for even had I wished to return the way we came, I could not do so Avithin less than four days. It is true that a Soudanese soldier can easily bear famine for two days, but what guarantee had I that Ave should find anything to eat on the third and the fourth r Ye had not to wait long for the storm. It commenced Avitli a deluge of water, folloAred by a fine rain that lasted the whole night, AA'hich at such an elevation Avas ver}' cold, and my men Avere almost naked. We anxiously Avaited for the dawn, so that we might get warm by marching. At last the sun appeared above the horizon, and as we marched we could dry our ragged clothes in its delicious heat.