By the time that this was eaten the carriers had taken up their loads, and two minutes later the whole party started almost at a trot.
Ugly Tom soon explained the cause of the haste.

The army of Dahomey was, the evening before, but eight miles from Abeokuta, and was expected to appear before the town by midday, although, of course, it might be later, for the movements of savage troops are uncertain in the extreme, depending entirely upon the whims of their leader.

So anxious were the bearers to get back to the town in time, that they frequently went at a trot.

They were the better able to keep up the speed as a larger number than were required had been sent.

Many of the cases, too, were light, consequently the men were able to shift the heavy burdens from time to time.