to fall to the ground. In addition
they were not timid and permitted a close approach, and they rose so
heavily and indolently that Saba, rushing ahead of the caravan, seized
and choked some of them almost every day.

Chamis killed about a score of them daily with an old shotgun which he
had bartered from one of the dervishes serving under Hatim during the
trip from Omdurman to Fashoda. He did not, however, have shot for more
than twenty charges and he became uneasy at the thought of what would
happen when the supply was exhausted. Indeed, notwithstanding the
scaring away of the game, there appeared at times amidst the rocks
herds of ariels, beautiful antelopes common in all Central Africa, but
it was necessary to shoot at the ariels with the short rifle, while
they did not know how to use Stas' gun and Gebhr did not want to place
it in his hands.

The Sudanese likewise began to grow uneasy at the long journey. At
times it occurred to him to return to Fashoda, because in case he and
Smain should miss each other they might stray in wild regions in which,
not to speak of starvation, they were in danger of attacks of wild
animals, and savage negroes panting for revenge for the hunt which had
been despatched against them. But as he did not know that Seki Tamala
was preparing an expedition against Emin, for the conversation about
this was not held in his presence, he was seized with terror at the
thought of appearing before the face of the puissant emir, who had
commanded him to convey the children to Smain and had given him a
letter addressed to him and in addition had announced that if he did
not acquit himself properly of his duty, he would be hung. All of this
taken together filled his soul with bitterness and rage. He did not
dare, however, to revenge himself for his disappointments upon Stas and
Nell; instead the back of poor Kali was covered with blood under the
courbash. The young slave approached his cruel master always trembling
and in fear. In vain he embraced his feet and kissed his hands; in vain
he fell upon his face before him. The stony heart was not moved either
by humility or by groans, and the courbash gashed the body of the
unhappy boy upon the most trivial cause and often for none whatever. At
night his feet were placed in a wooden board with an opening to prevent
him from running away. During the day he walked tied with a rope
fastened to a horse; this amused Chamis very much. Nell shed tears over
Ka