Part 14 (1/2)

Venning tugged at the hunter's ar down the post, as if his legs had utterly given way The party of new-co their arms at the ”indaba” house at the end of the square, and the village people were talking, laughing, and eating Muata reached the ground, but not in a state of collapse, for the next instant the tatchers saw him crawl to the shadow of a hut, where he re his limbs

”Co from his surprise; and the tent swiftly to the river

Co by the boat-hook

”Bring her in”

The Okapi ran her stern into the bank, and the two stepped aboard, Mr Hu forward to the wheel, with his rifle in his hand

”Shove her off; run as silently as you can out of hearing, and then work the levers”

Co as he picked up the oars, and then at the village, from which ca nodded

”Good;” and then they bent themselves to the oars with every nerve on the quiver, and their eyes on the shore

”Stop! Back-water!”

Obediently they stopped the way of the boat and backed her, wondering what had gone wrong A turn of the wheel sent thee of the strong ar noise Then the hunter waded ashore, and with his great hunting-knife ripped up the boats lying on the bank Quickly he was back at his place

”Now, off!”

Again they pushed off, the boys with their excite after this interlude, which showed the strokes took the Okapi well out; then she was put about with her nose up-stream

”The levers now, my lads!”

They perched the of the levers the beautiful craft slipped swiftly up-stream

Then out of the dark there rose the mournful howl of a jackal, almost instantly replied to by a si to his jackal,” said Mr Huot away Noill let hi-cry

Back out of the darkness came the chief's exultant war-cry, and on it a furious shout froe of a rifle, and the rolling alarlare of torches at the river bank, and a savage yell announced that the men had discovered the injury done to the canoes

One of the purchases made in London had been a lamp with very fine reflectors This Mr Hume fixed on a movable bracket within reach of his are faded astern, he lit the lah the dark waters As the noise of shouting, the dru, and the report of fire-ar--the booo bittern, the harsh roar of a bull crocodile, and the cries of water-birds

Then Venning laughed--a little short nervous laugh ”We have done it,” he said

”We have, indeed,” said Compton

”But if we can only pick up Muata and his jackal, we should be all right Just a nice party”

The rudder-chains clanked; the boat set up a heavy wash as she turned fro snorted al out Mr Hume ”We must keep out into mid-river; it's too risky inshore Tell me when you are tired”

”We're quite fresh yet,” replied Co”

”Moves like clockwork,” said Venning, gaily ”I could keep on all night”