achemi_" ("In the name of the great and most
merciful God") in large Koran characters. He made so deep an impression
on the paper, that after using the india-rubber the words still appeared
legible, the _fighi_ remarking: "They are the words of God, delivered to
our prophet: I defy you to erase them." The sultan and all around him
gazed at the paper with intense satisfaction, exclaiming that a miracle
had been wrought, and Denham was well pleased to take his departure.
Even Barca Gana afterwards, when Denham visited him in his tent,
exclaimed, "Wonderful! wonderful!" And the _fighi_, or doctor, added,
"I will show you hundreds of miracles performed alone by the words of
the wonderful book." He then urged the major to turn Mahommedan.
"Paradise will then be opened to you," he remarked. "Without this, what
can save you from eternal fire. I shall then see you, while sitting in
the third heaven, in the midst of the flames, crying out to your friend
Barca Gana and myself, `Give me a drop of water!' but the gulf will be
between us and then it will be too late." Malem's tears flowed in
abundance during this harangue, and everybody appeared affected by his
eloquence.

Poor Boo-Khaloum all this time was ill, from vexation more than
sickness. At last he had another interview with the sultan, but
returned much irritated, and told the major, as he passed, that they
should move in the evening, and to the question if everything went well,
he answered: "Please God." The Arabs, from whom he kept his destination
a secret, received him with cheers. Whom they were going against they
cared little, so long as there was a prospect of plunder, and the whole
camp became a busy scene of preparation. Two hours after noon the march
was commenced towards the mountains, which rose up in rugged
magnificence on either side.

As the morning of the 28th of April broke, an interesting scene
presented itself. The Sultan of Mandara, mounted on a beautiful,
cream-coloured horse, and followed by a number of persons handsomely
dressed, was on one side. Barca Gana's people, who were on the other,
wore their red scarves or bournouses over their steel jackets. The
major took up a position at the general's right-hand, when the troops,
entering a thick wood in two columns, were told that at the end of it
they should find the enemy. Maraymy kept closer to the major's side, as
danger was approaching.

As they were riding along, several leopards ra