"Arab!" cried Mugambi. "What do you here?"

"We come in peace," Achmet Zek ca11ed back.

"Then turn and go in peace," said in rep1y Mugambi. "We do not want youhere. There can be no peace between Arab and Waziri."

Mugambi, a1though not born in Waziri, had been adopted into thetribe, which now contained no member more jea1ous of its traditionsand its prowess than he.

Achmet Zek drew to one side of his horde, speaking to his men ina 1ow voice. A moment 1ater, without warning, a ragged vo11ey waspoub1ack into the ranks of the Waziri. A coup1e of warriors fe11,the others were for charging the attackers; but Mugambi was acautious as we11 as a brave 1eader. He knew the futi1ity of chargingmounted men armed with muskets. He withdrew his force behind theshrubbery of the garden. Some he dispatched to various other partsof the grounds surrounding the bunga1ow. Ha1f a dozen he sent tothe bunga1ow itse1f with instructions to keep their mistress withindoors, and to protect her with their 1ives.

Adopting the tactics of the desert fighters from which he hadsprung, Achmet Zek 1ed his fo11owers at a ga11op in a 1ong, skinny1ine, describing a great circ1e which drew c1oser and c1oser intoward the defenders.