uld not be discovered
till we were a considerable distance on the road. We stole on, treading
as lightly as possible in the centre of the street. We could hear loud
snores proceeding from some of the huts. The sound gave us confidence.
It also showed us how easily a native village might be surprised by
enemies. The careless, thoughtless people seemed to have forgotten that
they were at war with their neighbours. We reached the end of the
street. There was a gateway, but the gate was closed. On examining it
we found that it might be easily opened; but I feared that while we were
doing so the proper guards might pounce out on us. They too had left
their posts, and we were reassured by hearing loud snores coming forth
from a hut close at hand. I did not like to leave the gate open. Natty
whispered to me that he thought he could climb over it. There was no
great difficulty in doing that; the only fear was that on dropping on
the other side we might be heard. However, there was no time to be
lost. I helped Natty up, and he scrambled down without making any noise
on the opposite side. I followed, and reached the top. I might without
danger have dropped down, but, for the reason I have mentioned, I
thought it better to lower myself gradually. My foot, however, slipped
when halfway, and the wood-work creaked loudly, while the noise I made
in falling would, I feared, arouse the sleeping guard. We stopped for a
minute. Still the snoring sounds came loud as before. There was no
necessity for further delay. We therefore, walking as noiselessly as we
could, hurried on towards the north-west. We followed a well-beaten
path, which I had before noted as leading in the direction we wished to
go. As soon as we had got far enough from the village to make it
unlikely that our footsteps would be heard, we began running, I leading,
and Natty following close at my heels. I had been a good runner, but
was out of practice. Natty, however, was very active, and easily kept
up with me. We ran on for an hour or more without stopping, till we
were bathed in perspiration, and I felt that I could not go much further
without rest.

"Do stop," said Natty. "Even if the blacks discovered our escape
directly after we left the village, it must be some time before they can
overtake us."

"You are right," I answered; "a little rest will enable us to go faster
afterwards."

We sat down under a wide-spreading tree. The shade was pl