Presently fifty bold fellows came rushing down, uttering a shrill cry. Without hesitation they came straight to the boat, and, hissing something to us, seized our Kiganda drum. It was such a small affair we did not resist; still the manner in which it was taken completely undeceived us, if any small hope of peace remained. Loud applause greeted the act of gallantry. Then two men came towards us, and began to drive some cows away that were grazing between us and the men on the hill. Safeni asked one of them, “Why do you do that?” “Because we are going to begin fighting presently, and if you are men, you may begin to prepare yourselves,” he said scornfully. “Thanks, my bold friend,” I muttered to myself. “Those are the truest words we have heard to-day.” The two men were retiring up the hill. “Here Safeni,” I said, “take these two fine red cloths in your hand; walk slowly up after them a little way, and the minute you hear my voice run back; and you, my boys, this is for life and death, mind; range yourselves on each side of the boat, lay your hands on it carelessly, but with a firm grip, and when I give the word, push it with the force of a hundred men down the hill into the water. Are you all ready, and do you think you can do it? Otherwise we might as well begin fighting where we are.” “Yes, Inshallah Master,” they cried out with one voice. “Go, Safeni!” I waited until he had walked fifty yards away, and saw that he acted precisely as I had instructed him. “Push, my boys; push for your lives!” The crew bent their heads and strained their arms; the boat began to move, and there was a hissing, grinding noise below me. I seized my double-barrelled elephant rifle and shouted, “Safeni! Safeni, return!” The natives were quick-eyed. They saw the boat moving, and with one accord they swept down the hill uttering the most fearful cries. My boat was at the water’s edge. “Shoot her into the lake, my men; never mind the water”; and clear of all obstructions she darted out upon the lake. Safeni stood for an instant on the water’s edge, with the cloths in his hand. The foremost of a crowd of natives was about twenty yards from him. He raised his spear and balanced himself. “Spring into the water, man, head first,” I cried. The balanced spear was about to fly, and another man was preparing his weapon for a deadly cast, when I raised my gun and the bullet ploughed through him and through the second. The bowmen halted and drew their bows. I sent two charges of duck-shot into their midst with terrible effect. The natives retreated from the beach on which the boat had lately lain.