rded
with care from injury; so that if we could only find out which way they
have gone, we might pursue and attack them."

"Four men attack forty or fifty!" said I despondingly.

"Ay, Ralph. Why not?" asked Peterkin.

"Oh, I doubt not our pluck to do it," I replied; "but I doubt very much
our chances of success."

While we were yet speaking our attention was attracted by a low wail,
and the appearance of some living object creeping amongst the ruins not
far from us. At first we thought it must be a beast of prey lurking in
the neighbourhood of the dead, and impatient at our having interrupted
its hideous banquet; but presently the object sat up and proved to be a
woman. Yet she was so covered with blood and dust, and so awfully
haggard in appearance, that we could with difficulty believe her to be a
human being.

At first she appeared to be in ignorance of our presence. And indeed so
she actually was; for her whole soul was absorbed in the contemplation
of the dead and mangled body of an infant which lay in her arms, and
which she pressed ever and anon with frantic energy to her breast,
uttering occasionally a wail of such heart-broken sadness that the tears
sprang irresistibly into my eyes while I gazed upon her. There needed
no explanation of her tale of woe. The poor mother had crept back to
her hut after the fierce din of battle was over to search for her child,
and she had found it; but ah, who can conceive the unutterable anguish
of heart that its finding had occasioned!

"Speak to her, Mak," said Peterkin, in a husky voice; "she will be less
afraid of you, no doubt, than of us."

Our guide advanced. The slight noise he made in doing so attracted the
poor woman's attention, and caused her to look up with a wild, quick
glance. The instant she saw us she leaped up with the agility of a
leopard, clasped her dead child tightly to her breast, and uttering
shriek upon shriek, rushed headlong into the jungle.

"After her!" cried Jack, bounding forward in pursuit. "She's our only
chance of gaining information."

We all felt the truth of this, and joined in the chase at top speed.
But although we ran fast and well, the affrighted creature at first
outstripped us. Then, as we tired her out and drew near, she doubled on
her track, and dived hither and thither among the thick underwood in a
way that rendered it exceedingly difficult to catch her.

Peterkin was the first to come up with her. He gradually