When I Taxed Him With His Extraordinary Conduct, He Told Me The Natives Had Tried To Induce Him To Go With Them To Their Camp, But His Natural Timidity Had Deterred Him And Saved His Life; For They Would Certainly Have Killed Him If He Had Gone.

After the attack, Tommy said, "I tole you black fellow coming," though we did not recollect that he had done so.

The spy who had fastened on to me got away in an opposite direction to that taken by the defeated army. The other spy and the girl remained some little time after the action, and no one saw them depart, although we became at last aware of their absence. We kept watch during the night, as a precaution after such an attack, although I had not instituted watching previously. There was a dead silence in the direction of the enemy's encampment, and no sounds but those of our camel-bells disturbed the stillness of the luminous and lunar night.

On the following morning, at earliest dawn, the screams and howls of a number of the aborigines grated harshly upon our ears, and we expected and prepared for a fresh attack. The cries continued for some time, but did not approach any nearer. After breakfast, the little girl and her protector, the quietest of the two spies, made their appearance at the camp as composedly as though nothing disagreeable had occurred to mar our friendship, but my personal antagonist did not reappear - he probably had a headache which kept him indoors.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 615 of 753
Words from 167621 to 167878 of 204780