第71章

SeveraltimesduringthedayLieutenant-ColonelAbd-el-Kader，togetherwithMonsoor，hadbeensenttothedivanofKabbaRega，toimpressuponhischiefsthenecessityofasupplyoffood。Theyexplainedmygreatannoyance，asthiswaspreciselytheresultthatIhadforetoldwhenKabbaRegahadneglectedtoclearthegroundforcultivation。

Atabout3P。M。，thetallchiefMatonseappeared，togetherwithUmbogo，andseveralnatives，whocarriedfivelargejarsofplantaincider。

TheseweresenttomefromKabbaRega，withapolitebutlyingmessage，that”hemuchregrettedthescarcityofcorn；therewaspositivelynoneinMasindi，butalargequantitywouldarriveto-morrowfromAgguse。”InthemeantimehebeggedIwouldacceptforthetroopsapresentoffivejarsofcider。

Ideclinedtoacceptthepresent，asIdidnotrequiredrink，butsolidfoodforthetroops。Thejarswerethereforereturned。

AboutsunsetMatonseagainappeared，accompaniedbyUmbogoandnativeswithSEVENjarsofcider，andtwolargepackagesofflour，whichheassuredmehadbeenborrowedfromRahonka。Hewasexceedinglypolite，andsmiledandbowed，beseechingmetoacceptthecider，asplentyofcornwouldbesentonthefollowingday，whenbetterarrangementswouldbemadeforfuturesupplies。

Icouldnolongerrefusethecider，thereforeIsentforAbd-el-Kader，andgavehimfivejarsfortheofficersandtroops。

Itwasatthistimeaboutseveno’clock，andwesatdowntodinnerinthedivan，asitwastoochillytodineoutside。

Wehadjustfinisheddinner，whenAbd-el-Kadersuddenlyenteredthedivaninastateoftroubledexcitement，toinformmethat”manyofthetroopsappearedtobedying，andtheyhadevidentlybeenPOISONEDbytheplantaincider！”

Iinquired”howmanymenhaddrunkfromthejars?”Hecouldnottell，buthefearedthatatleasthalfthecompanyhadtakensomeportion，moreorless。Hehadhimselfdrunkatumblerful，andhealreadyfeltuncomfortable，withatightnessofthethroat，andaburningpaininhisinside。

Iatonceflewtomymedicinalarms。Independentlyofthelargemedicine-chest，Ihadasmallbox，aboutnineinchesbyfive，whichcontainedallthatcouldbedesiredforanyemergency。Thislittlechesthadbeenmycompanionfortwenty-fiveyears。

Ibeggedmywifetogetasmuchmustardandstrongsaltandwaterreadyasshecouldmixinahurry，andIstartedoffwithAbd-el-KaderandLieutenantBaker。IimmediatelysentMonsoortofindUmbogo。

Onarrivalatthecamp，whichwasabout120yardsdistant，myfirstorderwastodoubleallthesentries。

Ifoundthemeninaterriblestate。Severallayinsensible，whileaboutthirtyweresufferingfromviolentconstrictionofthethroat，whichalmostpreventedthemfrombreathing。Thiswasaccompaniedbyspasmsandburningpaininthestomach，withdelirium，apartialpalsyofthelowerextremities，andintheworstcases，totallossofconsciousness。

Iopenedthejawsoftheinsensible，andpoureddownadessert-spoonfulofwater，containingthreegrainsofemetictartar，

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