e bearers to go on, I was getting back past them along
the narrow path, and had just got by Jimmy and reached Jack Penny, when
there was a flash, and a rattling echoing report as of twenty rifles
from where the doctor was keeping guard.

I knew that the danger must be imminent or he would not have fired, and
passing Jack Penny, who was standing ready, rifle in hand, I reached the
doctor just as there was another flash and roar echoing along the gully.

"That's right, my lad!" he whispered; "be ready to fire if you see them
coming while I reload."

I knelt down, resting my elbow on my knee, and found it hard work to
keep the piece steady as I waited to see if the savages were coming on.

I had not long to wait before I distinctly saw a couple of dimly-seen
figures against the surface of the starlit water. I fired directly, and
then again, rising afterwards to my feet to reload.

"Now, back as you load, quickly!" whispered the doctor, and he caught
Aroo by the shoulder and drew him back as half a dozen arrows came
pattering against the rock over our head and fell at our feet.

"Back!" whispered the doctor quietly; "we must keep up a running fight."

"Here, hold hard a minute!" said Jack Penny aloud; "I must have a shot
at 'em first."

"No: wait!" cried the doctor. "Your turn will come."

Jack Penny uttered a low growl in his deep bass voice, which was
answered by Gyp, who was getting much excited, and had to be patted and
restrained by angry orders to lie down before he would consent to follow
his master in the hurried retreat we made to where Ti-hi and his men
were waiting for us. Here we found the shelf had widened somewhat, and
some pieces of rock that had fallen offered shelter from an attack.

As we joined them the men, who had laid down their loads, prepared to
discharge a volley of arrows, but they were stopped, as it would have
been so much waste.

For the next six hours, till the stars began to pale, ours was one
continuous retreat before the enemy, who seemed to grow bolder each time
we gave way and hurried along the edge of the river to a fresh
halting-place.

We fired very seldom, for it was only waste of ammunition, and the
darkness was so great that though they often sent a volley of arrows
amongst us, not one of our party was hurt.

It was a fevered and exciting time, but fortunately we were not called
upon to suffer as we had during the attack upon the cave. Then we were
maddened almost