while and come to me.

"Now, Anscombe," I said, "hand out the rifles and cartridges.
Don't stop to ask questions, but do what I tell you. They are on
the rack by your side. So. Now put on your revolver and let me
help you down. Man, don't forget your hat."

He obeyed quickly enough, and presently was standing on one leg
by my side, looking cramped and tottery.

"The Basutos are on us," I said.

He whistled and remarked something about Chapter No. 2.

"Footsack," I called, "bring the horse here; the Baas wishes to
ride a little to ease his leg."

He did so, stopping a moment to pull the second girth tight.
Then we helped Anscombe into the saddle.

"Which way?" he asked.

I looked at the long slope in front of us. It was steep and bad
going. Anscombe might get up it on the horse before the Kaffirs
overtook us, but it was extremely problematical if we could do
so. I might perhaps if I mounted behind him and the horse could
bear us both, which was doubtful, but how about our poor
servants? He saw the doubt upon my face and said in his quiet
way,

"You may remember that our white-bearded friend told us to make
straight for his place in case of any difficulty with the
Basutos. It seems to have arisen."

"I know he did," I answered, "but I cannot make up my mind which
is the more dangerous, Marnham or the Basutos. I rather think
that he set them on to us."

"It is impossible to solve problems at this hour of the morning,
Quatermain, and there is no time to toss. So I vote for the
Temple."

"It seems our best chance. At any rate that's your choice, so
let's go."

Then I sang out to the Kaffirs, "The Basutos are on us. We go to
Tampel for refuge. Run!"

My word! they did run. I never saw athletes make better time
over the first quarter of a mile. We ran, too, or at least the
horse did, I hanging on to the stirrup and Anscombe holding both
the rifles beneath his arm. But the beast was tired, also blown
out with that morning feed of mealies, so our progress was not
very fast. When we were about two hundred yards from the wagon I
looked back and saw the Basutos beginning to arrive. They saw us
also, and uttering a sort of whistling war cry, started in
pursuit.

After this we had quite an interesting time. I scrambled on to
the horse behind Anscombe, whereon that intelligent animal,
feeling the double weight, reduced its pace proportionately, to a
slow tripple, indeed, out of which it coul