ng away from Kua-ko's still
stone-like face. I caught sight of that pale solitary star which Runi
had pointed out to me low down in the north-western sky when I had asked
him where his enemy lived. In that direction we had been travelling
since leaving the village; surely if I walked all night, by tomorrow I
could reach Managa's hunting-ground, and be safe and think over what I
had heard and on what I had to do.

I moved softly away a few steps, then thinking that it would be well to
take a spear in my hand, I turned back, and was surprised and startled
to notice that Kua-ko had moved in the interval. He had turned over on
his side, and his face was now towards me. His eyes appeared closed, but
he might be only feigning sleep, and I dared not go back to pick up the
spear. After a moment's hesitation I moved on again, and after a second
glance back and seeing that he did not stir, I waded cautiously across
the stream, walked softly twenty or thirty yards, and then began to run.
At intervals I paused to listen for a moment; and presently I heard a
pattering sound as of footsteps coming swiftly after me. I instantly
concluded that Kua-ko had been awake all the time watching my movements,
and that he was now following me. I now put forth my whole speed, and
while thus running could distinguish no sound. That he would miss me,
for it was very dark, although with a starry sky above, was my only
hope; for with no weapon except my knife my chances would be small
indeed should he overtake me. Besides, he had no doubt roused the others
before starting, and they would be close behind. There were no bushes
in that place to hide myself in and let them pass me; and presently, to
make matters worse, the character of the soil changed, and I was running
over level clayey ground, so white with a salt efflorescence that a
dark object moving on it would show conspicuously at a distance. Here
I paused to look back and listen, when distinctly came the sound of
footsteps, and the next moment I made out the vague form of an Indian
advancing at a rapid rate of speed and with his uplifted spear in his
hand. In the brief pause I had made he had advanced almost to within
hurling distance of me, and turning, I sped on again, throwing off my
cloak to ease my flight. The next time I looked back he was still in
sight, but not so near; he had stopped to pick up my cloak, which would
be his now, and this had given me a slight advantage. I fled on, and ha