ng
toward their meeting.

The cheetah lifted and met Nels, body against body, in mid-air--Skag
heard the impact. Nels had risen full stretch, his head low between
his shoulders; the cheetah's wide-spread arms went round him, but his
entire length closed upon the cheetah's entire length--like a
jack-knife--folding it backward. Skag heard a dull sound, the same
instant with a keen cat-scream--cut short as the two bodies struck the
earth. When he reached them, Nels was still doubled tight over the
cheetah's backward-bent body; his grey iron-jaws locked deep in the
tawny throat.

"Sahib! Sanford _Han_--tee Sahib!"

"Hi, Bhanah; this way!"

Bhanah came with a rain-coat in his hand. Stooping to examine Nels a
moment and rising to glance at the wall, he spoke rapidly:

"The Sahib has seen his Great Dane Nels kill a second cheetah in one
day. There are two cuts on each leg. Also because Nels must not lose
his strength on a fast journey to his master's place--I, Bhanah, will
uncover mine honour in the presence of a man."

And quickly casting his turban from his head, he proceeded to tear it
down the middle. While he worked, he talked--as if to himself--in half
chanting tones:

"Men in my country do _not_--this thing; but I do it. Of a certainty
Nels has accomplished that I could not, though I would. This night two
cheetahs remain not--the gods witness--to destroy little tender
children of men. And when the so-insignificant cuts of Nels shall be
presently wrapped with the covering of mine own honour, I shall be
exalted not less! _The gods witness_. Then we return swiftly into a
safe place."

This was no ordinary exultation. Skag's ears were wide open; and he
heard grief--and hate.

"How did you know where I was?" he asked quietly.

"I heard the first cheetah's death cry; and I knew he was not far from
you, Sahib."

"I thought he was pretty far, one little while."

Skag had spoken, thinking of Nels. Bhanah searched his face while the
look of a frightened child grew in his own. Again he stooped quickly
and touched the man's feet. He had done it once before--to Skag's
acute discomfort.

"What's the meaning of that?"

"That a man's life is in thy breath, my Master."

"Bhanah, I'll find out--how to answer you."

Then Bhanah laughed a low exultant chuckle, while he finished binding
Nels' legs with a part of his own turban.

"It is well, Sahib; the _fortune which never fails_ is thine. And now