a little wicker basket, and
from this receptacle--its prison doors thrown open by the intentional
violence of its owner--there fluttered a large, black pigeon, which
circled round the heads of the party and prepared to take its flight,
just as its white predecessor had previously done. Fortunately, the
bird was dazed and confused by the blow it had received, and hovered
round the spot an instant too long. Like a flash Leigh's rifle went to
his shoulder, and the next second the bird lay in a lifeless heap upon
the ground, whilst the spy ground out a bitter Spanish curse.

The shot was a very fine one, and but few men could have accomplished it
with a repeating-rifle and a single bullet, but its success had, without
a doubt, prevented the spy from giving to his friends or followers
inopportune notice of his capture and detention.

Quickly proceeding into camp, where the rifle-shot had set their men
buzzing about like bees, a hasty meal was partaken of, and then, leaving
the tent still standing, the whole party, upwards of twenty-five in
number, at once set out for the pass, as our friends believed that if
they could once get their men up to the top of the rocky path, they
would easily be able to hold the wood and the steep and narrow way
against all comers. Finding it a matter of impossibility to get any
information out of the captive, they gagged him and walked him off with
them, Kenyon sternly telling him that if he tried to make any noise or
attempted to escape, he would run a hunting-knife through his ribs
without further notice.

By the time the moon rose the party had stumbled out their way to the
mouth of the kloof, and soon had sufficient light to commence the
ascent. Having to go in front and lead the way, Kenyon put Leigh in the
rear to see that none of the bearers lost heart and turned back, giving
the captive into the charge of a gigantic Zanzibari, and warning him
that did he let the man go he should himself be shot like a dog. All
went well until the party was quite two-thirds of the way up the zig-zag
in the rock, when suddenly a commotion arose, and a cry went up that the
prisoner was escaping. Turning angrily round, with his revolver half
raised, Kenyon saw the spy standing on the very edge of the parapet of
rock, with his hands at liberty, and in the act of drawing the gag from
his mouth. On seeing Kenyon turn, the Zanzibari doubtless thought he
was himself about to be shot, and impelled by rage