Arab forces being between him and Kasongo. What was his horror, a couple of days later, to see Mercus himself arriving with the ammunition, having left Kasongo absolutely undefended, and knowing that, by the means of drums and spies, Rumaliza would instantly be aware of the position ! De Wouters immediately started with a detachment, hoping to be able to get between Rumaliza and Kasongo before it was too late. Thanks to a terrific tornado, which stopped the Arabs but which did not check de Wouters, who knew it to be a case of life or death, he managed to get before them on the road, and, turning round, attacked them in front.

Finding that they had been outmanoeuvred, the Arabs retired to their fort, and de Wouters entrenched himself in the position he had taken up. De Heusch, who arrived a few days later, was ordered to