ed at the dead man. The fellow lowered his bow. Again there
was animated discussion. I could see that those who were not armed
with bows were urging something upon the two who were.

At last the majority appeared to prevail, for simul-taneously the two
archers raised their weapons. At the same instant I fired at one of
them, dropping him in his tracks. The other, however, launched his
missile, but the report of my gun had given him such a start that the
arrow flew wild above my head. A second after and he, too, was
sprawled upon the sward with a round hole between his eyes. It had
been a rather good shot.

I glanced over the edge again. Dian was almost at the bottom. I could
see Juag standing just beneath her with his hands upstretched to assist
her.

A sullen roar from the warriors recalled my attention toward them.
They stood shaking their fists at me and yelling insults. From the
direction of the village I saw a single warrior coming to join them.
He was a huge fellow, and when he strode among them I could tell by his
bearing and their deference toward him that he was a chieftain. He
listened to all they had to tell of the happenings of the last few
minutes; then with a command and a roar he started for me with the
whole pack at his heels. All they had needed had arrived--namely, a
brave leader.

I had two unfired cartridges in the chambers of my gun. I let the big
warrior have one of them, thinking that his death would stop them all.
But I guess they were worked up to such a frenzy of rage by this time
that nothing would have stopped them. At any rate, they only yelled
the louder as he fell and increased their speed toward me. I dropped
another with my remaining cartridge.

Then they were upon me--or almost. I thought of my promise to
Dian--the awful abyss was behind me--a big devil with a huge bludgeon
in front of me. I grasped my six-shooter by the barrel and hurled it
squarely in his face with all my strength.

Then, without waiting to learn the effect of my throw, I wheeled, ran
the few steps to the edge, and leaped as far out over that frightful
chasm as I could. I know something of diving, and all that I know I
put into that dive, which I was positive would be my last.

For a couple of hundred feet I fell in horizontal position. The
momentum I gained was terrific. I could feel the air almost as a solid
body, so swiftly I hurtled through it. Then my position gradually
changed to the