sed and
banished him, and he has gone over to our enemy, Samory, who desires to
seize our country."

"In that case our position is indeed serious," I observed. "We must do
something to escape."

"No," he said. "We cannot escape. Let's put on a bold front, and if we
find ourselves prisoners of the slave-raiding chief, I, at least, will
show him that I am heir to the Emerald Throne of Mo."

As each day dawned we still held upon our way, until at length, under a
broiling noon-day sun, we crossed a wide stretch of fertile grass-land
where cattle were grazing, and there rose high before us the white
fortified walls of a large town of flat-roofed Moorish-looking houses. It
was, we afterwards learnt, called Koussan, one of Samory's principal
strongholds.

As we approached the open gate, flanked on either side by watch-towers
and guarded by soldiers wearing Arab fezes and loose white garments, a
great rabble came forth to meet us. We heard the din of tom-toms beaten
within the city, joyous shouts, and loud ear-piercing blasts upon those
great horns formed out of elephant tusks.

Thus, in triumph, amid the howls and execrations of the mob, Omar, son of
Sanom, and myself, were marched onward through the gate and up a steep
narrow winding street, where the solidly-built houses were set close
together to obtain the shade, to the market-place. Here, amid the
promiscuous firing of long flint-lock guns and quaint ancient pistols,
such as one sees in curiosity shops at home, a further demonstration was
held, our carriers themselves infected by the popular enthusiasm, seeming
also to lose their senses. They heaped upon Omar every indignity, scoffed
and spat at him, while my own pale face arousing the ire of the fanatical
Mohammedan populace, they denounced me as an infidel accursed of Allah,
and urged my captors to kill me and give my flesh to the dogs.

Truly we were in pitiable plight.

I looked at Omar, but heedless of all their threats and jeers, he walked
with princely gait. His hands were tied behind his back, his head erect,
and his eyes flashed with scorn upon those who sought his death.
Presently, turning sharply to the left, we found ourselves in another
square which we crossed, entering a great gateway guarded by soldiers,
and as soon as we were inside the heavy iron-studded doors closed with an
ominous clang. I glanced round at the thick impregnable walls and knew
that we were in the Kasbah, or citadel. Gaily-dressed