shot down, only to be flung headlong on the grass the
next instant before the tent, with Hassan kneeling on his chest and the
point of the Arab's sword at his throat.

The rest of the enemy did not wait to continue the combat, but rose from
the grass and dispersed precipitately over the plain, making for the
limestone bridge across the river. I rushed forward to Hassan's
assistance, and bound the captive's arms, while the Arab held him down
as I knotted tightly the sash I had taken from my waist. Then I made for
the tent, to find that Denviers had already secured the first prisoner
by lashing about him a stout piece of tent rope. My companion forced his
captive from the tent into the open plain, where we held a whispered
conversation as to whether the two prisoners should live or die. The
safer plan was undoubtedly to shoot them, for we both agreed that at any
moment our own position might become a critical one if the rest of the
horde made another attempt upon us, as we fully expected would be done.

However, we finally decided to spare their lives, for a time at all
events, and while Hassan and Denviers led the captives across the plain,
I brought from the tent part of a long coil of rope which we had and
followed them. As soon as we neared the river bank we selected two
suitable trees from a clump growing there and lashed the prisoners
securely to them, threatening instant death if they attempted to signal
their whereabouts to any of the hill-men who might be lurking about.

"Get our rifles and ammunition, Hassan," said Denviers to the Arab. Then
turning to me, he continued: "We shall have some tough fighting I expect
when those niggers return, but we are able to hold our own better out of
the tent than in it." Hassan brought our weapons, saying as he handed
them to us:--

"The sahibs are wise to prepare for another attack, since the enemy must
return this way. They have not gone off towards the far mountain peaks,
but crossed yonder limestone bridge instead."

"What do you understand from that movement?" Denviers asked Hassan.

"The sound which we heard at first came from the strange city of which I
spoke," he replied. "Some of the fierce hill-men have made a night
attack upon it, and will soon return this way. Those we have beaten off
have gone to meet them and to speak of the failure to surprise us. What
they are doing in the city round the sunken ship will shortly be
apparent. The whole band is a terrible sc