This report, however, I did not believe, since it seemed impossible that it should not have been able to hold out a week or two at least. As we approached the Lomami River, however, I noticed that my dozen Hausas kept very close. They had given everything, with the exception of their rifles and ammunition, to their women to carry, and would not allow any of Kitenge's people to come within thirty yards of me: a somewhat futile precaution, even supposing the station to have fallen, since, though we might have routed for the moment the body of Congo's people with us, our position — six days from help — would have been an absolutely hopeless one.

This was another instance of what I have often noticed, that the Hausas always meant to die game, and would stick to their white officers as long as they were able to