Matters having come to this point, our escort, camel-drivers and servants, could not but communicate to us the demand made—­namely, that we should change our religion or return by the way we had come.  This time, likewise, even our own servants prayed that we would accept the proposition, or seem to accept it, if only for a few days, to deliver ourselves from present danger.  My colleagues, and particularly Dr. Barth, indignantly and passionately resisted.  For my part, I looked upon the affair with a little more calm, the same thing having occurred to me on a former occasion in these deserts.  I told our people that we would pay the tribute imposed by the Mahometan law on infidels, or for our passage through the country, or else that we would take our chance and return.  Upon this our servants exclaimed, with tears in their eyes, “To return would be certain death!” There was now nothing left for me to do but to say, with my colleagues, that we would wait patiently for death, but that to change our religion was impossible.

Although, of course, the threats that were made against us could not but produce considerable uneasiness, I always felt pretty sure that the Sheikhs did not exactly mean what they said, and would come at last, as had the others, to a money compromise.  Yet, during the absence of our people, who took the message that we were ready to die for the honour of our country and religion, I passed, as did my friends the Germans, a most distressing half hour.  Every sound we heard seemed to be that of people approaching to attack us.  At length we heard voices, through the darkness.  Our ambassadors were coming back with the message:  “It is arranged, O Consuls, that you shall pay a certain sum of money!” Children of the desert, you are not the only ones who make a demand for conscience sake, and then compound for cash!

We only afterwards learned how this negotiation was carried on with the enemy.  Some dramatic scenes were reported to us by our servants as occurring between our escort and the assailing troop, mixed with marabouts.  En-Noor, on returning from us after we had declared that we would die for our religion, drew his sword and cast it on the ground before the people, calling out to the other Kailouees, “Come now, let us all die with the Christians!” On the other hand, the fiercest of the enemy every now and then got up and made as if they would rush at once and spear us in our tents.  Then there was reasoning of every description, and tremendous quotations from the Koran.  The most humane proposed that we should have ten days’ grace to reflect on our situation before we were put to death.  Our servants, who behaved well all through this trying business, made a reasonable proposition, that we should be taken to Tintalous to the great Sultan En-Noor, who should decide upon our case.  But this did not suit the purpose of these pious propagandists of the Muslim faith, who swore that the book ordered them to slaughter the unbelievers, and at length were graciously pleased to accept the sum of thirty-five pounds sterling in goods!