h luck those vessels slipping through the blockade like that,"
commented Spofforth. "Those guns are as good as a couple of battalions
of Askaris to the Huns."

"Never mind," rejoined Danvers. "It'll put a bit of heart into Fritz
and make him buck up. That'll give us a chance of smelling powder."

"Perhaps," said Wilmshurst. "I heard the major say that field
artillery was more of a drag than a benefit to the Boers in the South
African War. It destroyed their mobility to a great extent, and not
until we had captured most of the guns did the Boer start proper
guerilla tactics--and you know how long that lasted."

"Hanged if I want to go foot-slogging the whole length and breadth of
German East," commented Danvers. "I'd rather tackle a dozen batteries
than tramp for a twelve-month on end. So this is that delightful spot,
Kilwa?"

He pointed to a long, low-lying expanse of land, covered with trees.
Away to the northward the ground rose, forming a plateau of coral
nearly fifty feet above the sea, and on which many huge baobab trees
were growing. The shores surrounding the harbour were low and covered
with mangroves, but in and out could be discerned several lofty hills.
Here and there could be seen isolated native huts, while at the head of
the harbour clustered the thatch and tin-roofed houses of the German
settlement, which had for several months been in British occupation.

With their systematic thoroughness the Huns had vastly improved the
health of the hitherto miasmic-infested port, following the principles
adopted by the Americans during the construction of the Panama Canal.
Consequently much of the terrors of the fever-stricken port of Kilwa in
by-gone days had disappeared, and with the continuance of ordinary
precautions the place offered a suitable base for the columns about to
operate between the Mohoro and Rovuma rivers.

Without undue delay the Waffs were disembarked and sent under canvas on
fairly high ground at some distance from the harbour. For the next
week intense activity prevailed, the men being strenuously subjected to
the acclimatising process, while the horses and mules had to be
carefully watched lest the deadly sleeping-sickness should make its
appearance at the commencement of the operations and thus place the
troops under severe disadvantages.

The officers, too, were not spared. Drills and parades over they had
to attend lectures, tactical problems having to be worked out by the