mp. "I can only account
for his stealing away from us, in that manner, by supposing that he
must either have caught sight of the natives, or come upon their
trail; and at once set off in pursuit. I don't see what it could
be, otherwise."

"But if he saw them, why didn't he tell you, Whitney?" Mr. Blount
said. "Tired as our horses were, they could have got up a gallop
for a bit."

"Yes, but for a very short distance," Dick Caister put in; "and as
it was getting dusk, if the blacks had had anything like a start,
we could not have overtaken them before it had got quite dark.
Those blacks can run like the wind. It takes a well-mounted man to
overtake them."

An hour after the party had lain down, one of the sentries
challenged; and the answer which came back, "All right, me Jim," at
once brought everyone to their feet.

"Well, Jim, what is it? Where have you been?" Reuben asked.

"Jim hungry."

"That you may be quite sure," Dick Caister said, with a laugh. "Was
there ever a native who wasn't hungry; unless he had stuffed
himself, half an hour before?"

"Yes, I kept some supper for you, Jim," Reuben said; "but before
you begin to eat, just tell me if everything is all right."

"Everyting all right," Jim said, squatting himself beside the still
glowing fire, and beginning to eat.

Reuben knew, by experience, that it was of no use questioning him
until he had finished; and he therefore waited patiently, although
one or two of the settlers grumbled at being kept waiting for the
news. When Jim had finished his meal, he looked round. Reuben knew
what he was expecting, and handed him a hornful of rum and water.
The black took a draught; and then, without any further delay,
began to tell his story.

He had, while still some distance from the halting place, seen a
light smoke coming up, and was sure that a party was already there.

"But why did you not tell us, Jim?" Reuben interrupted. "We might
have galloped on, and caught them."

"No, sah, no catch dem; horses too tired, black fellow run away,
when see white men coming. Dat no do at all. Only one way to do.
Let 'em tink dat no one saw dem, else dey run and run, all de way
to Bobitu.

"When get near camp, Jim see dat smoke not come up, know de black
fellow see white man and put out um fire. When Jim come here he
jump off hoss, find fire, and follow de track. Dey four men; one go
one way, one go anoder, two men go straight on. Dey go on to tell
Bobitu, de oders