despatches of great interest reached us from Inspector Fivd and others. We had heard nothing of what had been going on outside our own little world for months. The Inspector gave us good news too, and his despatches informed us that he had ordered Commandant Chalian of Basoko to form junction with us, and to bring with him artillery and supplies.

Commandant Gillian, he said, would join as soon as possible with all the available men from the Sankuru-Kasai districts. He hoped that with these forces arrayed against them the enemy would not be able to hold out long. On talking affairs over, it occurred to us that Chaltin might take Nyangwe by marching up on the right bank of the river. This idea took hold of us, and we all rushed out from mess with our glasses, to make sure that the Arab flag was still flying over Nyangwe.