th
the English had softened and changed his nature, but in those fierce
moments the feeling was upon him strong that he could slay or be slain
sooner than give up his liberty once more.

He recalled his dream of the early morning as he dashed on, and wondered
whether the leader was the first man in the pursuit, and whether they
two would engage in deadly strife.

He glanced back, but he could not tell; and hurrying on, he kept
recalling the difficulties he had encountered in his dream--
elephant-holes--woven undergrowth--trailing canes--the hundred obstacles
of a jungle, and wondered that he kept so well in the darkness to the
path, and was able to progress at so swift a pace.

Not that it was swift, for he had to proceed very cautiously, but it was
fast enough to enable him to keep well ahead of his pursuers, who had to
make sure that they did not pass him on the way.

But this easy going was not to last, for he found the jungle track grew
worse, and to his horror he found that his pursuers were gaining upon
him rapidly. The light the first man carried enabled them to see a few
yards in advance and make sure their steps, while he had what seemed
like a black wall rising in front of him, into which he had to plunge as
it were, and often and often found that he was straying from the track.

At last he strayed so far from it that his pursuers came up rapidly,
their light showing him the path he had lost. He was about to make a
rush for it, when the thought struck him that they might pass him
unseen, and, crouching down, to his great delight he found that they did
pass on--the whole party--leaving him to deliberate on what course he
should pursue.

The simplest plan seemed to be to turn back, but that would be taking
him away from the river, which he felt would be his saving to reach, and
to gain that he must pursue the track his guards were upon.

After all, if he kept at a distance this was the safest plan. His
enemies carried a light, and he would therefore be able to see them when
they returned, if return they did; and to his great delight he
remembered now that some distance ahead there was a track which led
right away from the present one towards the river, making a shorter cut.

He did not stop to think, but at once followed the course taken by his
guards, hastening his steps till he was pretty close behind--so close
that he could hear their voices, and see the flaring of the torch
through the undergrowt