s. "When we get near
the kraal, then edge off and make a dash for it. I'll give you the
word."

Their outspan was some three or four hundred yards distant from the
kraal. As they approached the latter, they could see that the war-dance
was in full swing. In the red glow of the great fires the forms of
hundreds of excited savages, in all their wild paraphernalia, showed
forth weird, monstrous, fantastic, as they went through their barbarous
performance, and the thunder of the war-song gathered in volume,
swelling up to the star-lit heavens like the fierce roar of ravening
beasts. Gerard's heart was beating like a hammer.

"Now, Ridgeley! Now is your time!" whispered Dawes, as the messengers
who were escorting them had in their eagerness been gradually increasing
their distance in advance.

Gerard, who had learnt promptitude in a sufficiently hard and practical
school, said not a word. Wrenching round his horse's head, for the
animal was loath to part from its companion, he spurred away into the
dark bush, straight for the head of the valley. And as he rode, from
all the agonised suspense of his young heart, went up an unspoken prayer
that he might succeed, that he might be the means of rescuing his
companion from the deadly peril which lowered over him, which lowered
over them both.

The kraal was already left behind on his right, the wild tumult of the
war-dance began to grow fainter. A puff of cool air fanned his face.
He had almost gained the ridge. Could it be--dared he hope--that he was
after all to meet with no opposition? Could it be that the guards had
all been summoned to attend the revelry? Ha! what was that?

In the light of the stars--and South African starlight can be very
bright--he saw dark forms running, converging on his line of flight,
could even distinguish the white on their shields, the occasional glint
on the point of an assegai. Then a line of figures started up right
before him, as it were out of the earth itself, barring his way, and a
deep-toned, peremptory voice called upon him to halt.

It was a critical, a fearful moment, yet he hesitated not. Putting his
horse right at the foremost, he charged through. And then the wild
Igazipuza war-cry rent the night, and he could hear the whiz of flying
assegais past his head.

Even then he would not use a weapon--would not fire. Like lightning it
flashed through his brain that he must get through bloodlessly--without
taking a lif