Dhanis was still unbelieving, and took up the bet for ten bales of cloth, hoping that he would lose it, as the uncertainty and false alarms were wearing out the temper of our caravan. At five o'clock on the morning of the 30th we marched, with Gongo and his thousand guns scouting in front of us. After six hours and a half's severe marching we heard firing in front. The Commandant and I raced on, and emerged on a plain covered with short grass in time to see Gongo and his men in full flight before the victorious Arabs, not four hundred yards off” in front of us.

Michaux soon came up with his company, and the Commandant gave orders to charge. As we started he ordered me to draw off” my men, and to stay behind to guard the women and baggage. He also charged me to send on the other companies with the Krupp as soon