crow over me when we got back. But--when I looked
again, expecting to take a quick aim, by Jingo! the little beast had
disappeared.

This was annoying, for now a disinclination to return empty handed had
seized me. Quickly and noiselessly I made my way up to where he had
been. It was as I had thought. He had been standing on a sort of
pinnacle; and now, as I peered cautiously over, there stood the little
buck, less than the first distance below.

He was outlined against the black and shadowed bottom of the gorge, and
was gazing away from me. Now I would have him, I decided. In a second
my sights were on him full--I didn't take long over aiming in those
days--when I lowered the rifle with some precipitation. Right bang in a
line with where the klipspringer had been standing--had been, observe,
for the slight additional movement on my part had caused him to
disappear again--was the form of a man.

It gave me a turn, for with lightning rapidity it flashed through my
mind that nothing could have saved him. Then consternation gave way to
curiosity. The form though that of a man was not that of a living one.

Down in the shadow of a dark hole, overhung by gloomy rocks, it sprawled
in a constrained half upright posture against one of these. It was too
far off and the light not good enough to be able to distinguish how it
was secured in this position, but it seemed to be facing upward in a
dreadful attitude of scared supplication. I would go down and
investigate. But before I had taken many steps in pursuance of this
resolve I stopped short.

For an idea had occurred to me. The body was that of a native, and it
was obvious that life had been extinct for some time. What good purpose
could I serve by investigating it further? I was in a savage country in
which life was held cheap. The man whoever he might be, had quite
likely been executed for some offence; the method of his death being in
all probability designed to fit the offence. Clearly therefore it was
no concern of mine, and accordingly I decided to forego further
investigation. And then, as though to confirm me in the good policy of
such decision something happened--something that was sufficiently
startling.

A bullet pinged against a stone beside me, sending up a hard splash of
splinters and dust, and, confound it, the thing had hit barely a yard
from where I was standing.

"Hallo, Falkner!" I hailed, deeming the puff of smoke from among the