which is still
before us we may meet very savage negroes, but now will not encounter
any dervishes."

"I prefer negroes," the little maid replied.

"Yes, while you pass as a goddess. I was kidnapped from Fayum with a
little lady whose name was Nell, and now am conducting some kind of
Mzimu. I shall tell my father and Mr. Rawlinson that they never should
call you anything else."

Her eyes began to sparkle and smile:

"Perhaps we may see our papas in Mombasa."

"Perhaps. If it were not for that war on the shores of Bassa-Narok, we
would be there sooner. Too bad that Fumba should be engaged in one at
this time!"

Saying this, he nodded at Kali.

"Kali, did the sick negro hear of the war?"

"He heard. It is a big war, very big--Fumba with Samburus."

"Well, what will happen? How shall we get through the Samburu country?"

"The Samburus will run away before the great master, before the King
and before Kali."

"And before you?"

"And before Kali, because Kali has a rifle which thunders and kills."

Stas began to meditate upon the part which would devolve upon him in
the conflict between the Wahima and Samburu tribes and determined to
conduct his affairs in such a manner as not to retard his journey. He
understood that their arrival would be an entirely unexpected event
which would at once assure Fumba of a superiority. Accordingly it was
necessary only to make the most of a victory.

In the villages, of which the sick hunter spoke, they derived new
information about the war. The reports were more and more accurate, but
unfavorable for Fumba. The little travelers learned that he was
conducting a defensive campaign, and that the Samburus under the
command of their king, named Mamba, occupied a considerable expanse of
the Wahima country and had captured a multitude of cows. The villagers
said that the war was raging principally on the southern border of the
great water where on a wide and high rock King Fumba's great "boma"* [*
The same as a zareba in the Sudan. A great boma may also be a sort of
fortress or fortified camp.] was situated.

This intelligence greatly grieved Kali, who begged Stas to cross the
mountain separating them from the seat of the war as quickly as
possible, assuring him, at the same time, that he would be able to find
the road on which he could lead not only the horses but the King. He
was already in a region which he knew well and now distinguished with
great certainty peaks which wer