102 PRISONERS IN THE SOUDAN. bright future for these countries; sooner or later they will be included within the ever-widening circle of the civilised world." It was therefore no way of personal escape for which Emin was looking; at the same time he longed most earnestly for the opening of an avenue of communication with Europe, by means of which his true situation might be known, and along which materials might be brought, so that he could con tinue his work on the scene where for so long he had maintained his independence. This was the general aspect of affairs when Dr. Junker again undertook, at the peril of his life, to endeavour to reach Europe, there to plead the cause of Emin and the Equatorial Soudan.