第86章

Thenativesinthecanoehesitated。”Sayyouwillgivethemeachabunchofplantainsiftheywillferryyouover，”againwhisperedthecunningArab。

Thecanoenowpushedofffromthebank，andpaddledtowardstheapparentlysolitarynative。

Theirregularswereconcealedinthehighgrassclosetothebank，andasthecanoetouchedtheshore，theyshotthetwonativesdead，andimmediatelysecuredit。

Theynowunlashedthearmsoftheprisoner，andinsisteduponhispaddlingthecanoeacrosstheriver。Twojourneyswerenecessary。Thefirstwassuccessful，andtheregulartroops，togetherwiththepostandSuleimanandothers，weresafelylanded。Duringthesecondjourney，asthecanoewaspassingarockabovesomedangerousrapids，thenativesuddenlyupsettheboatbythrowinghisweightquicklytooneside，andplungedthewholepartyintheriver。Someofthemwerecarriedoverthecataractsanddrowned。Theothers，includingAliGenninar，weregoodswimmers，andtheyreachedtheshore。

Althoughtheirregularsthoroughlyknewthecountry，theynowfoundthemselvesintheimmensewildernessthatseparatesUnyorofromtheShooliandMaditribes。

Inthisseaofhighgrasstheywanderedforsomedays，lost；untiltheyatlengthdiscoveredtheregularpath，and，aftergreatsuffering，reachedFatiko。

Eddrees，whohadbeenappointedvakeel，becameatraitor，anduponmeetingAbouSaoodandhispeople，whohadcomeouttoreceivethepartyupontheirarrival，hecriedout，”Looksharpforyourneck，AbouSaood：

thePachahassentanordertoarrestyou。”

Ashorttimeafterthis，Eddreesdiedofdysentery。Suleimanbehavedinanhonourablemanner。InsteadofgoingintoAbouSaood’scamp，heimmediatelypresentedhimselfbeforeMajorAbdullah，andconfessedhissins，acknowledgingthathehadbeenjustlypunished。Hesurrenderedhimselfintothehandsofthecommandant，accordingtotheoathhehadtakenontheroad。

AlthoughMajorAbdullahhadnowreceivedthepost，togetherwithmyorders，hethoughtitadvisable，consideringthedangerofacollisionwithAbouSaood’speople，toallowSuleimanhislibertyonparole，andhehadreturnedtohispositionofvakeelatFabbo。AliGenninarhadatonceofferedtocontinuehisdutiesasagovernmentsoldier。

Afewdaysafterthearrivalofthepost，thenewswasbroughtofthebattleofMasindi，andthatourescapefromUnyorowasimpossible。

ThealmostopenhostilityofAbouSaoodandhisnumerousforceshadparalyzedMajorAbdullah，who，fearingtheresponsibilityofanoutbreak，keptquiet，andtrustedinProvidence，untilIhadfortunatelyappeared。

TherecanbenodoubtthattheplanlaidbyKabbaRegaforsecuringthearmsandeffectsofMajorAbdullahandhisdetachmentbrokedownthroughaprematureattackonthepartofthenatives，whohadneitherthecouragenorthepatiencetogotoFatikoonthechanceofsuccessinsuchadistantenterprise。

Suleimanhadwrittenmealetterimploringforgiveness。Wat-el-MekarrivedatFatikoaftertheseizureoftheammunitionbySalim-Wat-Howah，andhebeggedpardonforSuleiman，assuringmethathewastrulypenitent；thatthedevilhadmisledhim，andAbouSaoodwasthatdevil。IfIwouldgranthimafreepardon，nomanwouldbemorefaithful；andtheirregularforcenowestablishedwouldbedelighted

后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节