ut only detached bands, which indicated, however, that
they were not far away.

Several hours before they had entered the Illyas' country. There was no
strict dividing line between the different countries, but it appeared to
be tacitly agreed that certain water courses, or other natural lines,
marked the territorial limits of each.

These divisions were so little understood, in fact, by either, that they
caused frequent disputes. A party from one tribe in hunting would,
incautiously, venture too far, and if the other party happened to be
near, and in sufficient force, would attack on the plea that the
territory had been invaded.

This was a matter which the present campaign would settle, because the
Professor saw the necessity of accurately prescribing the limits held by
each tribe.

It was five o'clock in the evening before reports came in that the main
body of the enemy was in sight. John went forward with Uraso and Muro,
fully a mile beyond the main force, and on the way selected a good
camping spot, leaving several there to order the main body to encamp
when they arrived.

With the scouts now returning, and which were picked up, a fairly
adequate idea was obtained as to the number, which was variously
estimated at two hundred and fifty, which did not take into
consideration the warriors from the other villages, because they now had
knowledge of at least one party from the south, on the way to reinforce
the Illyas.

John gave strict orders that no one should fire a gun during the night,
and that a double line of guards should be maintained. The course
pursued during the campaign was as follows: Thirty pickets were selected
for the watch, five from each tribe. These formed fifteen posts, two
warriors being at each post, and it was arranged that the two should be
of different tribes, and as all were in supporting distance of each
other, in case of an alarm, one of the two watchers would thus be in a
position to quickly alarm the camp.

An advance set of pickets was also thrown out, under the personal
command of Muro, to watch the enemies' camp. Fortunately, there was no
alarm during the night. Early in the morning the forces were put in line
for approaching the Illyas' camp.

When the first advance came within sight of their camp, the utmost
consternation and confusion resulted, showing how carefully John had
concealed their movements.

Muro's scouts had the fortune to capture one of the Illyas, who was
ev