"If it be as Jack says, about that bank of earth, the mouth of the hole
not being very large, for I have walked round it, do you not think by my
getting down, I might help Thompson up?"
"That is very possible, but you being the strongest, Galbraith I think
had better remain here, so that when I hoist him on to the point of
earth, you can pull him out."
"And you?" I said.
"Can afterwards very easily climb out with your aid. What a pity we did
not think of this before. What time it might have saved. See yonder,
in the sky is already the reflection of the moon."
I could have said that I was not aware as to the kind of pit-fall it
was, but only remarked--
"Never mind, Sir, let us set to work as quickly as we can now."
Whereupon he, warning Jack of his coming, lowered himself into the pit,
and dropped.
I waited impatiently, and so occupied were we all with our work that I
did not perceive that the moon, rising higher and higher, was disclosing
the outline of many dusky forms which were hovering about me. It was
just as Mr Ferguson exclaimed, "Now Galbraith, he is getting on my
shoulders, be ready to seize him," that there echoed in my ears a yell
as if arising from the throats of a myriad of fiends. I sprang to my
feet, and gazed around.
The moon was up--from it a ray of broad silver light fell over the
plain, disclosing to my terrified glance the black forms of some thirty
to fifty Kaffirs ranged in a circle about the pit's mouth, all in
defiant attitudes, their spears upraised. My wisest plan would have
been, I know, to have thrown myself on the ground, and let them come up
quietly, but in my surprise I made a few steps backward, hastily
whispering to the others to keep still, as any efforts they could make
would be useless against such numbers. The action was a foolish one,
and might have proved my death-warrant, for the next instant a cloud of
spears whistled around me, one of which, piercing my arm, brought me to
the ground. At this, with renewed yells of triumph, the Kaffirs came
rushing and capering, jabbering and leaping like fiends incarnate, as if
with the intention to tear my wretched body limb from limb; their eyes,
their teeth gleamed down upon me, and with the belief that my last hour
had indeed come, I fainted.