otstep behind him made the subaltern turn his head. To
his surprise he saw Bela Moshi rigged out in the uniform and equipment
of one of the captives.

"Me give Bosh-bosh de word 'Come on' one time quick, sah," he
announced. "Me know how."

Wilmshurst did not think fit to enquire how the resourceful sergeant
acquired the information. There are times when an officer does well
not to question his subordinate's actions.

"Very good, carry on," he whispered.

Standing in a gap between two clumps of bushes Bela Moshi, grasping his
rifle a few inches from the muzzle, held the weapon vertically above
his head moving it to and fro five or six times.

The decoy signal was almost immediately answered by the appearance of
the main body of the Askaris and with them the three Europeans, who
were still mounted.

Wilmshurst let them approach until the foremost Askaris were within a
hundred yards of the seaplane. They were now in no semblance of order,
surging impetuously forward, their officers towering head and shoulders
above the throng.

Sharp and shrill rang out the subaltern's whistle. A volley, crisp and
clear, burst from the line of admirably concealed Haussas, then each
man "let rip" as fast as he could withdraw, and thrust home the bolt of
his rifle and bring the weapon to his shoulder.

It was such a tremendous surprise that for a moment the Askaris, save
those who dropped, stood stock still. Then, panic-stricken, they broke
and fled, the German officers setting them the example.

As the so-called MacGregor wheeled his horse Bela Moshi, who had
withheld his fire, saw his opportunity. At five hundred yards he sent
a bullet crashing through the devoted animal's head. Like a stone the
horse dropped, throwing its rider to the earth.

By some means the dried grass took fire, the flames crackling and
roaring as they spread with great rapidity, fortunately away from the
broken-down seaplane. Through the whirling clouds of smoke could be
faintly discerned the backs of the fugitives, many of whom dropped as
they ran with a Haussa's bullet betwixt their shoulder blades, while
remorselessly the devouring element made its way in the direction of
the place where the traitor had fallen.

So complete was the demoralization of the foe that Wilmshurst had now
no hesitation in ordering an advance at the double. Although the
German levies still greatly outnumbered the Haussas the former had--in
Tommy parlance--"the wind