Itwillnowbenecessarytoexplainthetruepositionofaffairs，whichatthattimeIdidnotsuspect。
Uponmyfirstarrivalattheriver，whenIhadexplainedmyviewstoSuleiman，hehadimmediatelydespatchedalettertoAbouSaoodatFatiko。Hispartyhadtravelledfast，andtheyreturnedwithananswer。
Icouldneverdiscovertheactualcontentsoftheletterinreply，butI
heardthatitcautionedSuleimannottopartwiththeslaves，andtojoinAbouSaoodwithhisivoryandallhispeopleatthestationofFabbo，aday’smarchwestofFatiko。
Suleimanwasinanawkwardposition。HehadalwaysheldahighplaceintheeyesofKabbaRegaandhischiefs，andhisalliancehadbeencourtedandobtainedforacombinedattachupontheoldenemy，Rionga。ThearmyofKabbaRegahadbeenwaitingattherendezvousinexpectationofSuleiman’sassistance。Afleetoflargecanoeshadbeenconcentratedatagivenpointfortheinvasionoftheisland；andKabbaRegaandhissheiksconsideredthatatlengththeiroldenemywasinthesnare。