efore you get away; he drop dead; they kill you. I go."

"But it would be just as dangerous for you as for me, Blacking."

"No," the hunter said; "directly you stand up to get on horse they see
you and get ready to shoot; the horse fall dead before he reach them. I
will crawl through the grass; they will not see me till I get to them--
perhaps I get through without them seeing at all; if not, I jump up
sudden and run; they all surprised, no shoot straight; once through line
they never catch me."

Jumbo and Tony assented with a grunt, and Dick, seeing that no better
plan could be suggested, offered no opposition to the young hunter
undertaking the task.

Leaving his gun and ammunition behind him, the black at once without a
word crawled out between the carcases of the deer, making his way, like
a snake, perfectly flat on his stomach, and soon it was only by a very
slight movement of the grass, which was nearly two feet high, that Dick
could follow his progress. But he could not do this for long, an arrow
whizzing close to his head warned him that he was exposing himself, and
he lay down behind his stag and listened with intense eagerness for the
outcry which would arise when Blacking was discovered.

It seemed a long time, so slow and cautious was the black's advance. At
last there was a sudden yell, and the little party, sure that the
attention of their assailants would for the moment be diverted, raised
their heads from the shelter and looked out. They saw Blacking bounding
at full speed up the slope; a score of natives had sprung to their feet,
and were discharging their arrows in the direction of the fugitive, who
zigzagged, as he ran with rapid bounds, to unsteady and divert their
aim. One arrow struck him in the side; they saw him break off the
feather-head, pull it through the wound, and throw it away without a
moment's pause in his flight.

"Is it a serious wound?" Tom asked eagerly.

Jumbo shook his head.

"Not kill him," he said; "too near skin."

By this time Blacking's pursuers had thrown their bows across their
shoulders, and grasping their assegais had started in pursuit.

"They no catch him," Tony said confidently; "Blacking clever man; he not
run too fast; let them keep close behind him; they think they catch him,
and keep on running all the way to camp. People here watch, not tink to
attack us; then they wait again for the oders to come back; half of dem
gone, a good many killed, they