a _shot_ with a spear,
I suppose it may be called shooting, though it is shooting after a very
funny sort," said Warley. "What is the day appointed for this match,
Charles?"

"Wednesday--the day after to-morrow. I suppose two days are allowed for
preparing the banquet with which he means to celebrate the victory he
makes so sure of."

"Probably. But it really is odd that he should feel so confident.
Omatoko must have told him of the affair of the ostriches, and that
would hardly encourage him."

"They're up to some scheme," said Nick, "I have felt sure of that from
the first. They are going to give you something that will make your
hand unsteady, or play some trick with your rifle. If I were you,
doctor, I'd hide my rifle away in some safe place till Wednesday."

"Well, I'll tell you what happened the night before last," said Warley.
"I thought little of it at the time, but it looks different now. You
were all asleep, and I was just going off too, when I fancied I saw
something moving near the door. It might be a snake, I thought--I'm
always fancying snakes are about now--so I lifted my head and looked.
Presently a black head came in at the door, and lay motionless for two
or three minutes. The eyes seemed to be taking stock of everything in
the hut, but particularly of Charles's figure, and his rifle, which was
lying by his side. After a little while the head disappeared as
cautiously as it had come. I thought it was one of the Hottentots,
whose curiosity had been roused by what he had been told, and wanted to
see everything with his own eyes. But it looks now as though there was
something more in it."

"You're about right, Ernest," said Nick. "There's a good deal more in
it. Well, doctor, the first thing I advise is, that you and I change
guns till Wednesday. I don't imagine they know the difference between
one gun and another, and if your belt is fastened to my weapon, and you
carry it about, they'll think you've got your own, and any tricks they
may attempt will be tried on the wrong article. And in the second
place, we'd better take it in turns to keep watch at night till
Wednesday, and so find out what they're up to."

"I think you're right, Nick," said Lavie. "You're such a dodger
yourself, that these fellows can't hold a candle to you. Well, here's
my rifle, and I'll take yours, and put it into my belt. We'd better
watch from about ten o'clock to six in the morning--the same time as
wh