"Time's up," said Harry, and, taking two or three paces to the rear, he
threw rifle and shot-belt on the ground; then, pointing to them--
"Touch these, my friend, if you dare," he said.
No two biddings did the Somali require. He sprang towards the rifle as
springs the jungle cat on its prey. Harry's blow was finely planted,
and I am sure that Indian must have imagined, for the time being, that
there were considerably more stars in the sky than ever he had seen
before.
He rose and flew at Harry. He flew but to fall, and he rose and rose
again, only to fall and fall again!
Harry could not help admiring his pluck.
He was conquered at last, though.
Then, getting up, half stunned, from the grass, he extended his arms
towards Harry.
"Kill me," he said, "kill me, but not thus. Kill me with the English
sword, for if I go back to my people without my prisoner, they will kill
me with fire."
"Come to think of it, my good fellow," said Harry, "there need be no
killing in the matter. You can't go back. Come with me. The tables
are turned: _you_ shall now be the slave, _I_ the master. I will be
good and kind to you if you are faithful; if not, I will let the
daylight into you."
The reply of the savage was affecting enough. He bowed himself to the
earth first; then, still on his knees, took Harry's right hand and bent
his head until his brow touched it.
"That will do, my good fellow. I don't care for palaver, you know. But
let us have action. Now you shall prove how far you are willing to
serve me. Go back to your fellows, a rascally crew they are, and fetch
another rifle and more ammunition, and just a little provisions if you
can."
The Somali knew what he meant, even if he did not understand precisely
all that was said.
He was up and away in a moment.
Harry Milvaine waited and listened. He thought the time would never
pass. Would the Somali be true or be treacherous? He might rouse his
sleeping companions, and, while he was still standing here in the broad
staring light of the moon, stealthily surround and re-capture him.
The very thought made him change his ground. He drew himself away under
the shade of some mimosa trees and waited there.
At last a single figure, armed with a rifle and carrying a bag, drew up
in the clearing that Harry had left, and looked about him in some
surprise. It was Harry's ex-foe.
Harry soon joined him.
"You have stayed long," he said.
"I have plenty of ammunition, something to eat, and the rifle, and--"
"Well, and what else?"
"Nothing else," said the Indian, showing a row of teeth like alabaster;
"I have floated all the rest of the ammunition down stream."
"You are clever, but hark! did you not hear some sound? I believe they
are stirring."
"No, no, that was a lion miles away."
"Come, then, lead on."
"Which way?"
"West. They are sure to think I have gone in the direction of the
coast."
"Come, then."
And away went Nanungamanoo. And by daybreak they were many, many miles
from the camp of Mahmoud.
Book 3--CHAPTER THREE.