the blacks' camp, where a party of nineteen were squatted
round the fire eating some kind of root which they were roasting on the
embers.

This went on for some time, while, knowing the anxiety at their own
camp, Norman crouched there watching them, till Shanter whispered
softly, "All go along. Mine glad."

He was right, for suddenly one man sprang up and took his spear, the
others followed his example; and they stood talking together just as the
rising sun peered over the horizon and turned their glistening black
bodies into dark bronze.

Then followed a good deal of talking and pointing, as if some were for
climbing over the ridge, and at first the others seemed disposed to
follow them; but another disposition came over the party, and,
shouldering their spears, they went off toward the mountains, one
portion of which formed a saddle, from which at either end two lines of
eminences of nearly equal height went right away as if there was a deep
valley between.

"Baal black fellow now. Come all along, Shanter want big damper."

They waited a few minutes longer, till the party had disappeared in what
looked to be the bed of a dry stream, leading up into the mountains; and
then, with a feeling of elation in his breast, Norman hurried to a
prominent part of the edge of the steep escarpment, and stood holding
his gun up on high with both hands, horizontally, as agreed upon, till,
with a fierce look, Shanter ran to him and dragged it down, giving a
sharp look toward the place where the blacks had disappeared.

"Little Marmi want myall black fellow come along?"

"Baal black fellow now," said Norman; and Shanter's fierce countenance
became mirthful.

"Baal black fellow now!" he cried, with a hoarse chuckle. "Baal black
fellow now. You pidney?"

"Yes, I pidney--I understand," cried Norman, laughing.

"Come all along. Shanter want big damper. Break-fuss," he added with a
grin.

They soon lowered themselves down the wall of rock, and ran to the camp,
where the captain had just arranged that soon after breakfast Rifle and
Tim were to take it in turns to mount to the highest point of the ridge
to keep watch, while the rest worked at preparations for their defence
and that of the cattle.

In the relief they all felt for their escape, a hearty meal was made,
the watcher was sent out to perch himself where he could look out
unseen, and the day's work began.

The cattle were first counted, and found to be none the