led to catch slaves the Lord knew where--far beyond
Fashoda. "I will say to him," Stas thought, "that if you will lead us
to any seaport on the Indian Ocean and return with us to Egypt, the
government will pardon all your offenses; you will rejoin Fatma and the
children, and besides, Mr. Rawlinson will make you rich; if not you
will never again see your children and Fatma in your life."

And he was certain that Smain would consider well before he rejected
such an arrangement.

Of course this was not altogether safe; it might even prove disastrous,
but it might become a plank of rescue from that African whirlpool. Stas
in the end began to wonder why the possibility of meeting with Smain
should have frightened him at first and, as he was anxious for quick
relief for Nell, he determined to go, even that night.

It was easier, however, to say than to do it; it is one thing to sit at
night in the jungle near a good fire behind a thorny zareba, and
another to set forth amid darkness, in high grass, in which at such a
time the lion, panther, and leopard, not to speak of hyenas and
jackals, are seeking their prey. The boy, however, recollected the
words of the young negro at the time when he went during the night to
search for Saba and, having returned, said to him, "Kali feared but
Kali went." And he repeated to himself, "I shall fear, but I will go."

He waited, however, until the moon rose, as the night was
extraordinarily dark, and only when the jungle was silvered by her
luster did he call Kali and say:

"Kali, take Saba into the tree, close the entrance with thorns, and
guard the little lady with Mea as the eye in your head, while I go and
see what kind of people are in that camp."

"Great master, take Kali with you and the rifle which kills bad
animals. Kali does not want to stay."

"You shall stay!" Stas said firmly. "And I forbid you to go with me."

After which he became silent, but presently said in a somewhat hollow
voice:

"Kali, you are faithful and prudent, so I am confident that you will do
what I tell you. If I should not return and the little lady should die,
you will leave her in the tree, but around the tree you will build a
high zareba and on the bark you will carve a great sign like this."

And taking two bamboos, he formed them into a cross, after which he
continued thus:

"If, however, I do not return and the 'bibi' does not die you shall
honor her and serve her faithfully, and afterwards yo