f an hour, as Dick
crouched in the shadow, the memory of the horrid scene flitted
continuously before him. Then he stood up suddenly and clenched his
hands together.

"I won't let such things take my pluck away," he said in a hoarse
whisper. "I'll think of the friends on the river and at the coast.
This brute is responsible for all my miseries, and it is his turn to
suffer. He has brought me here. Well, he shall help me to return."

He pulled up the cuffs of his tattered sleeves, as if to prepare for a
struggle, then he crept round to the door of the house. There was a
native stool there, a heavy article, and he grasped it and lifted it
well above his head. Then, without hesitation, he knocked loudly upon
the door.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

DICK STRIKES A BLOW.

Bang! Dick's knuckles struck the door of the native hut with a sharp
rap, and he repeated the knock immediately. Then he listened eagerly
for some sound from the sleeper within. There was no answering call,
and nothing to denote that the man was there.

"Fast asleep," thought Dick. "But he is there, I know, for on the far
side I could hear his breathing. I'll knock again."

He was in the very act of doing so when out of the corner of his eye he
caught sight of one of the drowsy guards who lay beside the dying fire.
The man had, apparently, heard the knock, and had sat up now to see what
it meant. Then he sauntered towards the prisoner's hut as if to
investigate the matter. The escaping prisoner's heart stood still,
while his wits worked rapidly.

"If I returned and crept through they might discover the opening, and
then good-bye to liberty," he thought. "If I stay here he will see me.
I'll get behind the hut, and if there is an alarm I'll run for it. Yes,
that will be the best plan."

He watched the guard closely as he rose to his feet, and then silently
slid along behind the hut. And as he did so the native strolled towards
the place where the half-caste lived and peered at the door. Then he
retraced his steps to the prison, and throwing the catch down, stared
in. Once more the prisoner held his breath while he tingled with
excitement. He stood on his toes, ready at the first alarm to sprint
away down the street, while his eye rapidly picked out the most likely
path to take. Then he heaved a sigh of relief, relief the like of which
none can appreciate but those who have found themselves in similar
positions. The guard must have mi