we
stay here like heroes," and he spun the penny, while I stared at
him open-mouthed and not without admiration.

Never, I thought to myself, had this primitive method of cutting
a gordian knot been resorted to in such strange and urgent
circumstances.

"Heads it is!" he said coolly. "Now, my boy, do you run and I'll
crawl after you. If I don't arrive, you know my people's
address, and I bequeath to you all my African belongings in
memory of a most pleasant trip."

"Don't play the fool," I replied sternly. "Come, put your right
arm round my neck and hop on your left leg as you never hopped
before."

Then we started, and really our transit was quite lively, for
all those Basutos began what for them was rapid firing. I think,
however, that their best shots must have fallen, for not a bullet
touched us, although before we got out of their range one or two
went very near.

"There," said Anscombe, as a last amazing hop brought him to the
wagon rail, "there, you see how wise it is give Providence a
chance sometimes."

"In the shape of a lucky penny," I grumbled as I hoisted him up.

"Certainly, for why should not Providence inhabit a penny as much
as it does any other mundane thing? Oh, my dear Quatermain, have
you never been taught to look to the pence and let the rest take
care of itself?"

"Stop talking rubbish and look to your foot, for the wagon is
starting," I replied.

Then off we went at a good round trot, for never have I seen oxen
more scientifically driven than they were by Footsack and his
friends on this occasion, or a greater pace got out of them. As
soon as we reached a fairly level piece of ground I made Anscombe
lie down on the cartel of the wagon and examined his wound as
well as circumstances would allow. I found that the bullet or
whatever the missile may have been, had gone through his right
instep just beneath the big sinew, but so far as I could judge
without injuring any bone. There was nothing to be done except
rub in some carbolic ointment, which fortunately he had in his
medicine chest, and bind up the wound as best I could with a
clean handkerchief, after which I tied a towel, that was _not_
clean, over the whole foot.

By this time evening was coming on, so we ate of such as we had
with us, which we needed badly enough, without stopping the
wagon. I remember that it consisted of cheese and hard biscuits.
At dark we were obliged to halt a little by a stream until the
moo