en down it came
again, this time narrowly failing to transfix the hand by which he
supported himself on the bough. The blood ran chill within his veins,
as he saw what had happened. The Igazipuza had spliced a short-handled
broad-bladed assegai to a pole, and with this improvised lance were
going along the bank prodding down into every likely looking place which
they could not otherwise reach.

He flattened himself as far back as he could against the perpendicular
bank, and again the murderous blade came stabbing down, grazing his
shoulder this time. Heavens! he could get no further back. The next
thrust would transfix him. The perspiration stood in cold beads upon
his forehead, and his brain seemed to be whirling round as again and
again he watched the deadly spear descend. Then hope returned. He
seemed far enough in under the bank to be just outside any thrust they
could make from above. They appeared unable to get his angle. Surely
they would decide that he was not there, and move on.

And this was in fact what happened, and Gerard began to breathe freely
again. He need not have though.

There was silence for a few minutes. Had they gone on--given up the
search? It almost seemed like it. And then just as hope was beginning
to burn once more, there travelled to his ears a sound which quenched it
utterly.

He heard a splash, as of somebody entering the water, nearly a hundred
yards up the stream--a guarded, would-be noiseless sort of splash--then
another and another, and the purport thereof was plain. His pursuers
had adopted another plan. They intended to search along beneath the
bank in person.

Silently, and with the most intense caution, Gerard worked himself into
such a position that he could watch this new move. By the ripples on
the water, by the shaking of the bushes, he could see they were drawing
nearer and nearer. Then the dark forms of three warriors came full into
view as, half swimming, half wading, they passed an exposed point. And
now they were barely sixty yards off.

If only it was dark--dusk even! But the day had only just begun. His
enemies had the whole of it before them. In despair he looked around.
Was there no escape? No--none.

Yet in the blackest moment of dead despair there leapt forth hope, a
hope so wild, extravagant, that Gerard was almost unnerved by the
extravagance of it. The river-bank, as we have said, was perpendicular,
and the soil of the nature of cl