tan bin Ali, and the rest were as brave as any
living men. Had there been only one hundred Arabs, a doubtful issue of
the war would never have been entertained; but there were only twelve
Arabs and six hundred black men; and how long would the black men stand
together?

At sunrise, another meeting was called, and the Arab chiefs, with their
sons, hastened to the council.

Khamis, the leader, when all had been seated, said:

"My friends, the last words of Olimali, according to my kirangozi, were
that the Arabs need not try to tempt him to forego his revenge, but that
we must prepare for war. We can easily prepare for war, for we are
always ready; but we must endeavour to sustain each other by friendly
counsel and cheering words; for in a fatal issue to us of this war we
know what the fate of us true believers will be. We can hold out in our
camp against four times the number that Olimali may bring against us.
We are weak, however, in this country, because we have no friends to
supply us with food, and it is not a little that will suffice to feed
six hundred souls. The men had no food yesterday, they have none
to-day; they cannot hold out long in the camp against hunger. In this
case what do you propose?"

Sultan bin Ali spoke and said, "Our answer has been given to us, and
there is no longer any doubt of what we have to do. We must fight, but
how fight is the question. Shall we await here in the camp the coming
of the infidel savages, or shall we sally out of the camp and attack
them in their boma (palisade)?"

Sheikh Mohammed answered, "We cannot remain in the camp to starve and
eat each other; we must go out and get cattle, while a few of us stop
inside here to strengthen the camp with branches. I would suggest also
that a trench be dug all around the camp, and the earth thrown against
the hedge as a parapet. Wallahi! I have seen such things done in
Unyanyembe, and the enemy beaten."

"Mohammed's words are well spoken," said Amer bin Osman. "I would
advise eleven of us sally out with our men, and one Arab remain with one
hundred men, who will stir themselves to strengthen the defences with
our cloth bales and baggage; and if we have to fall back, we shall find
a strong place ready for us. We can harry those infidels; though they
may be hidden behind triple rows of palisades, some of our bullets will
reach them. Thanks to Allah! we have enough ammunition with us."

"Very good indeed," said Sheikh Th