ight from
Eastbourne, and relate the latest news from the civilised land we had
left so many months before. I also told him how we had been enticed away
by Kouaga, and the order of the Naya for Omar's assassination.

"Much has happened since I returned," Omar observed, when I had
concluded. "As you have no doubt already heard, my mother has been
deposed, and I have been enthroned in her stead."

"Yes," the secret agent answered. "I have already heard all this, and
although I wish you every peace and prosperity, I have, I regret, to make
a startling announcement."

"What is it?" gasped Omar, with wide-open eyes.

"Our enemy, Samory, is upon us!"

"Samory!" we both cried.

"Yes. Not much longer than a moon past I was crossing the mountains of
Niene, near the confines of his country, on my way hither from the sea,
and learnt the truth. Two moons ago, accompanied by twenty thousand armed
men, Kouaga marched out of Koussan to obtain savage allies for an
expedition, having for its object the conquest of Mo."

"The conquest of our country!" Omar cried astounded. "Only a week before
we returned hither one of his expeditions was utterly routed and
slaughtered in the Grave of Enemies. Now another has been dispatched!
What route has it taken?"

"On learning the news I at once reassumed native dress, crossed into our
enemy's country and acted as spy," Makhana answered, his fierce-looking
eyes glistening in the moonlight. "In Koussan I ascertained that the
expedition, led by Kouaga, the man who was once our Grand Vizier, had
gone northward one moon's journey towards the Niger, his intention being
to skirt the country of the Aribanda and to enter our territory from the
north by crossing the Hombori Mountains."

"You have done well to ascertain this and hasten on," Omar answered. "But
there is only one pass by which the Hombori can be crossed."

"That is known to Kouaga, for three years ago he led our army through it
to the successful conquest of the border tribes of the Massina. He is now
a formidable enemy, for he knows all the secret approaches and the
whereabouts of our hidden defences."

"We must dispatch an army at once to meet them," Omar said, after a
thoughtful pause.

"No time should be lost," Makhana urged. "Already they are due at the
Hombori, and it will occupy our expedition fully two weeks to reach
there. Yet Samory's hordes may be delayed, and if so, we shall be able to
hold the pass successfully and swe