aning on his red axe, "there remains but one
thing to do, make a good end, though I would that it were in a greater
cause. At least we must either fight or fly," and he looked down at the
wounded.

"Think not of us, Father," murmured one of them, the man who had a
mortal hurt. "If it is best, kill us and begone that you may live to
bear the Axe in years to come."

"Well spoken!" said Umslopogaas, and again stood still a while, then
added, "The word is with you, Macumazahn, who are our captain."

I set out the situation to Robertson and Hans as briefly as I could,
showing that there was a chance of life if we ran, but so far as I could
see, none if we stayed.

"Go if you like, Quatermain," answered the Captain, "but I shall stop
and die here, for since my girl is gone I think I'm better dead."

I motioned to Hans to speak.

"Baas," he answered, "the Great Medicine is here with us upon the earth
and your reverend father, the Predikant, is with us in the sky, so I
think we had better stop here and do what we can, especially as I do not
want to see those reeds any more at present."

"So do I," I said briefly, giving no reasons.

So we made ready for the next attack which we knew would be the last,
strengthening our little wall and dragging the dead Amahagger up against
it as an added protection. As we were thus engaged the sun rose and in
its first beams, some miles away on the opposing slopes of the mountain
looking tiny against the black background of the precipice, we saw
a party of men creeping forward. Lifting my glasses I studied it and
perceived that in its midst was a litter.

"There goes your daughter," I said, and handed the glasses to Robertson.

"Oh! my God," he answered, "those villains have outwitted us after all."

Another minute and the litter, or rather the chair with its escort,
had vanished into the shadow of the great cliffs, probably up some pass
which we could not see.

Next moment our thoughts were otherwise engaged, since from various
symptoms we gathered that the attack was about to be renewed. Spears
upon which shone the light of the rising sun, appeared above the edge of
the ground-fold that I have mentioned, which to the east increased to a
deep, bush-clad ravine. Also there were voices as of leaders encouraging
their men to a desperate effort.

"They are coming," I said to Robertson.

"Yes," he answered, "they are coming and we are going. It's a queer
end to the thing we call li