It is not fighting, it is murder.

I am sure you will never get there, with only a hundred men and all these carriers." However, orders had to be obeyed.

The carriers were so limited in number that only a few days' food could be taken to the Kwisa garrison, if all the cartridges were to go on.

A hundred extra rounds were served out to each man, in addition to the hundred he already had; so that there was no risk of running short, and the carriers would be relieved of much of the weight of the reserve, and could therefore carry up a larger amount of provisions.

A hasty meal was eaten, and then they stepped forward for the twenty miles' march before them.
During the halt, they found out how the natives signalled.