ll enough that she could not hope to
escape them by mere running way.

One rapid glance showed us all this, and enabled us to select our men.
Then Jack gave the signal, and without an instant's hesitation we darted
upon them. I know not in what manner my comrades acted their part.
From the moment I set eyes on the negro nearest to me, my blood began to
boil. Somehow or other I saw Jack give the signal without taking my
eyes off my intended victim, then I sprang forward, and he had barely
time to look up in alarm when I struck him with all my force on the
right temple. He fell without a groan. I looked round instantly, and
there lay the other three, with my companions standing over them. Our
plan had been so well concerted and so promptly executed that the four
men fell almost at the same instant, and without a cry.

Poor Okandaga leaped up and uttered a faint scream of alarm, but
Makarooroo's voice instantly reassured her, and with an exclamation of
joy she sprang into his arms. There was no time for delay. While the
scene I have described was being enacted the shouts in the centre of the
village had been increasing, and we guessed that in a few minutes more
the bloodthirsty executioners would come for their helpless victim. We
therefore left the hut at once, and ran as fast as we could towards the
place where our guns and shoes had been left. Our guide seized Okandaga
by the wrist and dragged her along; but indeed she was so nimble that at
first she required no assistance. In a short time, however, we were
obliged to slacken our pace in order to enable her to keep up. We
reached the guns in safety; but while we were in the act of lifting them
a burst of wild cries, that grew louder and fiercer as they approached,
told that the natives were rushing tumultuously towards the prison.

"Now, lads," said Jack, "we must put on full speed.--Mak, take her right
hand.--Here, Okandaga, your left."

At that instant there was a shout in the village, so loud that we knew
the escape was discovered. An indescribable hubbub ensued, but we soon
lost it in the crackling of the underwood as we burst through it in our
headlong flight towards the cave. The poor girl, feeling that her life
depended on it, exerted herself to the utmost, and with the aid of Jack
and her lover kept well up.

"She'll never hold out to the end," said Peterkin, glancing over his
shoulder as he ran.

The cries of the savages filled the woods in a