allies here and we would make it very warm for the slavers; but as for
these wretched curs, they are not worth their salt, except to carry
loads, which they will throw to the deuce at the veriest shadow of
approaching danger."

As soon as the sun had fairly risen and sucked up the mist, the camp was
struck, and the entire party entered the rocky defile and proceeded to
thread its dark avenues with the utmost caution, all of which, however,
seemed totally unnecessary, as they nowhere saw the slightest sign of
life, or the remotest indication that the stony way had ever before been
trodden by the foot of man.

One thing, nevertheless, struck the Europeans as being most singular,
and this was the fact that when they had penetrated a very considerable
way through the gorge, and arrived at the spot where Leigh's unfortunate
accident had occurred, they discovered the roadway to be absolutely
closed by the fallen tree which had so staunchly stood their friend on
the occasion of their previous visit, and which was still firmly jammed
endwise across the narrow rugged path.

This obstruction was very carefully examined, but it bore no traces of
having been tampered with in any shape or form, nor was there the
slightest mark upon it which would lead even the most suspicious to
believe that the obstacle had been climbed over by either man or beast.

Kenyon at last decided that it would be best for them to mount the log
and proceed on their way, arguing that if the people they sought were
really concealed anywhere in the kloof--which certainly did not appear
to offer even sufficient cover for a fox--they must be on the watch, and
any attempt to return and investigate would be the signal for instant
destruction, whilst if their party, on the other hand, passed quietly
onwards, the slavers would probably conclude that it was composed of
explorers and was best left alone, knowing what an awkward habit England
has, during her spasms of activity, of beating up the world at large for
her missing scientific men.

This course was accordingly adopted, on the principle of choosing the
least of two evils, and before night fell, the party had left the dismal
gorge behind them, and were sitting comfortably round their camp fire,
after having taken the precaution to post two scouts near the exit of
the kloof, with instructions that, should anything suspicious occur, one
of them was instantly to come into camp with the news. All, however,
r