CHAPTER XXXVl.

THE DEATH OF SULEOIAN.

Leniin's report — General Desertion — Suleiman and nine chiefs shot — Letter to the editor of the Efploratore.

Leniiu\'< Reiiort.

" When things began to go badly for Suleiman, he shut up his prisoners in different seribas, fearing that they might escape. I was taken to Serago, and guarded day and night. Early one morning I was awakened by a great noise of people running in all directions. Thinking that something was on fire, I rushed out of my tnhul, and saw a great number of Besingers and Arabs, who were capturing all the population of the village Serago. I did not know what to think, and no one had any time to explain.

But Besingers, Arabs and slaves continued to arrive without interruption, while hundreds of Jelabbas were driving before them hundreds of asses loaded with cotton or mounted by women, and all, in great confusion, took the same direction. I then began to believe that Suleiman had suffered some serious defeat, and that this was a sauve qui iieuf. The day before I thought I had heard cannon-shots, but did not pay much attention to it, because it was Suleiman's habit, even if defeated, to fire shots in sign of victory. I was very much perplexed, and wished to fly, but the roads were full of rebels. I had been there so long that everyone knew me,