be without his
following, he had no difficulty in raising all the spears that were
requisite for his immediate purpose, marched to Igili, the second most
important town in the Akasava kingdom, overthrew the defensive force,
destroyed the town, and leaving half his fighting regiment to hold the
conquered city he moved through the forest toward the Akasava city
proper. He camped in the forest, and his men spent an uncomfortable
night, for a thunderstorm broke over the river, and the dark was filled
with quick flashes and the heavens crashed noisily. There was still a
rumbling and a growling above his head when he assembled his forces in
the grey dawn, and continued his march. He had not gone half an hour
before one of his headmen came racing up to where he led his force in
majesty.

"Lord," said he, "do you hear no sound?"

"I hear the thunder," said Ogibo.

"Listen!" said the headman.

They halted, head bent.

"It is thunder," said Ogibo, as the rumble and moan of the distant storm
came to him. Then above the grumble of the thunder came a sharper note,
a sound to be expressed in the word "blong!"

"Lord," said the headman, "that is no thunder, rather is it the
fire-thrower of M'ilitani."

So Ogibo in his wrath turned back to crush the insolent white men who
had dared attack the garrison he had left behind to hold Igili.

Bones with a small force was pursuing him, totally unaware of the
strength that Ogibo mustered. A spy brought to the chief news of the
smallness of the following force.

"Now," said Ogibo, "I will show all the world how great a chief I am,
for my bravery I will destroy all these soldiers that are sent against
me."

He chose his ambush well--though he had need to send scampering with
squeals of terror half a hundred humble aliens who were at the moment of
interruption digging a foolish well on the top of the hill where Ogibo
was concealing his shaking force.

Bones with his Houssas saw how the path led up a tolerably steep
hill--one of the few in the country--and groaned aloud, for he hated
hills.

He was half-way up at the head of his men, when Ogibo on the summit gave
the order, "Boma!" said he, which means kill, and three abreast, shields
locked and spears gripped stomach high, the rebels charged down the
path. Bones saw them coming and slipped out his revolver. There was no
room to manoeuvre his men, the path was fairly narrow, dense
undergrowth masked each side.

He heard the yell,