them and another rocky defile. As
they approached the wood, Mohammed again showed his anxiety. Several of
the men now gave in, the wounded especially suffered greatly, and one by
one they dropped, no attempt being made to carry them on. The wood,
however, was passed, and next the defile appeared. Their figures cast
long shadows on the ground, and the entrance to the gorge looked dark
and threatening. The fugitives were too much fatigued to climb the
heights to ascertain if any foes lurked among them. "On, on!" was the
cry, Mohammed and the other chiefs leading. Ned cast one look behind,
and saw that the negroes were pressing forward in their rear at a faster
pace than before; the move was ominous. The pass was entered. The men
went on at a sharp run, each eager to get through. Not a shout was
uttered, the tramp of many feet alone was heard, when suddenly the
comparative silence was broken by fierce shrieks and cries, and from all
sides came showers of arrows and javelins, while from the heights above
their heads rushed down a complete avalanche of rocks and stones. Ned
saw Mohammed pierced through by an arrow; all the other chiefs the next
instant shared the same fate. There was no hope of escaping by pushing
forward, as the path was barred by a band of shrieking savages, while on
every side lay the dead or dying, crushed by stones or pierced by arrows
and darts. In the rear he could distinguish the few survivors
endeavouring to cut their way out by the road they had come, fighting
desperately with the band of warriors who had pursued them, but they too
were quickly brought to the ground, and not half a dozen of his
companions remained standing. He was looking round to see whether any
overhanging rock or hollow would afford him shelter, when a stone struck
his head and he sank almost senseless to the ground. The next instant
the savages in front came rushing on, while others, descending from the
heights, leapt into the ravine. He gave himself up for lost. The
savages sprang forward, uttering cries more of terror than victory. No
one attempted to strike the fallen. Some climbed up the rocks, others
rushed at headlong speed through the ravine. The cause was evident,
they were being pursued. A rattling fire was opened upon them, the
bullets striking either the rocks or the ground close to where Ned lay,
he being partly protected, however, by the bodies of the Arab chiefs,
none hit him. The savages cont