livity.

The latter was fearfully steep. No horse could put his best pace
forward without going head over heels, to a dead certainty.

"Turn off to the right, quick!" said Renshaw. At the same moment he was
conscious of a slight pricking in the foot. But he heeded it not.

By the above "double" they gained a slight advantage. Unless, however,
they could reach ground more level before the pursuers should come
within bow-shot, their fate was sealed.

On, on swept the wild man-hunt; nearer, nearer came the shrill yells of
the savages. The twang of bow-strings now was heard. The elf-like
little demons were already beginning to discharge their deadly, poisoned
shafts.

But hope, well-nigh dead in the breasts of the fugitives, arose once
more. The scarp of the mountain-side became less steep. In a minute or
two they would gain the comparatively level and winding valley by which
they had approached. The Korannas seeing this, redoubled their efforts.

But so, too, did the fugitives. The horse-hoofs thundered down the
slope, the staunch steed tearing at his bit, and snorting with mingled
excitement and apprehension.

The leaping, bounding crowd of hideous barbarians came shambling down
like a troop of apes, in hot pursuit, eagerly anticipating the sport of
tearing limb from limb the two white invaders. On--on!

At last! The valley was gained. On comparatively level ground the
speed of the horse would tell. Yet it would not do to loiter. All
manner of short cuts would be known to their enemies; short cute which
these human apes in their native wilds could take across the mountains,
and arrive at a given point more quickly than a horseman. Our
adventurers had good reason to fear such an eventuality. There was no
time to be lost.

"Let me hold on to the stirrup leather, Sellon," said Renshaw. "I can
get along at twice the pace then. I'm beginning to feel rather blown
now."

There was that about Sellon's acquiescence which seemed to show that had
the danger been more pressing, it would not have been so readily
accorded. Nothing easier than to spur on the horse and dart away. And
he still had the great diamond in his possession. But the shouts of the
pursuers seemed already growing fainter behind.

The sun was setting. Peak and mountain-wall were gleaming golden in the
parting light, but down there in the kloof the darkling grey of evening
had already fallen. In half an hour it would be night. Ye