y awkward position
for shooting, but he dared not move, for at the slightest movement even
of his companions, the goat raised his head, and several times gave an
angry stamp with one of his fore-feet.

"I wonder where Ned is now," thought the boy, and he hoped that he was
having better fortune, and he glanced cautiously in the direction where
he must be, but all was still; butterflies were flitting about, birds
darted by, and the old goat, the only one of the herd now visible, still
browsed or watched.

Jack glanced away to his left to see if he could take and creep round to
a better position, but there was less cover than where he was; and after
waiting impatiently for what seemed to be over a quarter of an hour, the
lad determined to risk all, and creep to the clump in front, if only a
few inches at a time, bearing to his left in the hope of getting it
between him and the old goat, and bearing still more off till he could
get his shot at the young.

All at once, in the midst of the soft hum of insects and the cropping
sound made by the invisible goats, Jack heard a peculiar bleating noise
away to his right.

Jack looked quickly round, expecting to see an easy shot, and the big
goat looked too, and took a step or two forward. Then the bleating
began again and ended suddenly in a peculiar smothered way, as if the
creature which uttered it had been suddenly strangled.

The big goat looked puzzled, raised his head higher, and stared in the
direction of the sound, stamped angrily, and uttered an angry, defiant
_ba-a-a-a-a_!

At the cry Jack's heart leaped, for a kid that he had not previously
seen sprang into sight, and stood within thirty yards of the watcher,
side on, offering an easy shot, while the rest of the herd trotted
hurriedly up to their leader.

_Twang_! Jack's arrow had sped after he had drawn it to the head, and
as he was in the act of springing up to see if the shaft had taken
effect, something heavy pitched on to his shoulders, throwing him face
forward among the thick growth, and a pair of black hands clasped his
neck and throat.

It was all done so suddenly that he was half stunned. The stalker had
been stalked, and as he was twisted round by the man who had leaped upon
him, and who now sat upon his chest, half-a-dozen more black faces
appeared, their owners grinning with triumph. Jack yelled with all his
might--

"Run for it, Ned. Savages. Run!"

The warning was all in vain, for the n