ived orders to stay by Tom, Dick retraced his steps up
the valley to the party above. From the cliffs at the side of the
valley waterfalls were leaping down, and a stream of water was already
beginning to flow down its centre. The bed of the defile was perfectly
dry, the stones being scarcely wetted by the fine mist from above. Dick
found Mr Harvey and the natives engaged in keeping up a hot fire at the
top of the obstacle, lying at a distance of forty or fifty yards from it
among the rocks. One or two dead natives were stretched on the top of
the rock; the rest were not to be seen, but the arrows whistled fast
over his head, showing that they were lying down just behind it.

"The rain is tremendous outside," Dick said, as he joined Mr Harvey.
"You can have no idea what it is here. The water is pouring so fast
into the valley that a stream is forming there already, and will soon be
running two or three feet deep down the lower pass. I wonder it has not
begun to make its way down from above."

"It has begun, Dick; look at those little threads of water between the
stones. When it comes, it will come with a rush; that is always the way
with these gorges. Jumbo is listening; it will come with a roar like
thunder. He has just told me I had better send most of the men back at
once, keeping only four or five to continue firing to the last moment.
You see the enemy, who are there on a sort of platform, will not notice
the water that is making its way down. See how fast it rises; it is
ankle-deep already--and, I tell you, we shall have to run when the time
comes."

All the natives, with the exception of Jumbo and two other men, were
sent back.

"I don't see anything to fire at," Dick said.

"No," Mr Harvey agreed; "it is a pure waste of ammunition, except that
it occupies their attention. They can hardly be conscious yet how
tremendously it is raining. If they were they would not remain where
they are, but would make a rush upon us, however great the risk."

"Listen!" Jumbo exclaimed suddenly.

They listened and were conscious of a dull, heavy, roaring sound. Jumbo
leapt to his feet.

"Come!" he said; "run for your lives."

They started up and took to their heels. A terrible yell was heard
behind them, and, glancing over his shoulder, as he turned the corner,
Dick saw the natives climbing down from their defence, and even leaping
from the top in their terror. Fast as Dick was running, the roar behind
r