Part 14 (1/2)

I turned A wide dark space hitherto unnoticed caught aze A black patch it looked like No, it was a hole, a jagged irregular hole or crevice

”That hole deep--dao? yes--down there

No find again We cut your throat first, see--I do that--then throw you in No find again Ha!”

I believe I went pale, and I know my flesh crept all over at the prospect of this horrible fate But I remembered Septiard to these people: ”You hed as I answered--

”You daren't do it The police would hunt you down, and then the Govern? Ha! Not it We don't care for no dao down hole”

”Why wait till to-morrow?”

The ruffian chuckled

”See better then Leave no spoor Light not good now-- No body found, then perhaps you not dead da all the same,” I said ”You will be spoored here, and there will be plenty of traces of what has become of me”

”No trace We cut your throat _over_ the hole, then throw you in Now you go to sleep Morning soon co hideously the fellow rolled his blanket round him and lay down

Most of the others were already asleep, but it was not likely I should follow their exaestion of hten me, I tried to think? but then, a word here and there which I had caught, and certain significant glances on the part of aolers, seemed to bear out all he had said

They had everyrid of me, and in such wise as to leave no trace And here were the means all ready to their hands

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A DASH FOR IT

Now I, Kenrick Holt, who do this tale unfold, aht in the course of this narrative whichdo” had better be set down to ienerically, accident Further, I have elsewhere undertaken not to spare my oeaknesses, which for present purposes may be taken to mean that the hideous assurance just conveyed to me had left me very badly scared indeed

In palliation whereof consider the position In all huht would see me as ruthlessly and as helplessly butchered as the miserable sheep which had just furnished these black cut-throats-- and incidentally hastly and horrible fate, in sooth It ht remain shrouded in mystery, even as the ruffian had said, but that was a mere supplementary detail which could be of no subsequent interest to me

Rescue? That could hardly be Brian, at any rate, would not desert me

But he could hardly follow up the spoor in the dark; even if he did not credit me with sufficient bushcraft to find my way back to them by some other track, he would never be here in time, and if he hy, there were twenty or more to one No, that would be a broken reed to lean upon Besides, it was more than probable that my late companions would have their own hands full

The vindictive ruffian who had felt the weight of , and every now and then passing a hand across his throat by way of rean to nod Then he was quickly asleep

Now I strove to pull ether, and with an effort rallied my shaken nerves What was to be done? Not ht could there be left Could I freelightly through the sleeping forain the outside and run for it? But this idea occurred only to be dismissed

Unaided and without the use of my hands I could hardly cli with a bad fall in the attempt If I could but loosen the bonds!

As to this I had been tied up securely, yet not tightly or painfully, consequently felt little or no cra I ht hand free of the lower coil of the thong But no further could I get it because of a loop, and this held the wrist fired till every , but--no yielding Then I paused to rest, and think out so red ashes, so that the place was al ainst me should these ht, or was in danger of stu over one of the sleepers Could I once free myself and avoid this, my chances were fair, for Kaffirs are heavy sleepers, and Ivillain seeot up and went over to the fire, trying to blow it into a flame while he spread his black crooked claws over it for warood look at ain

All this had taken soer before I could make even the s on But during it I had been thinking, and thinking hard

In the right hand pocket of -coat was a knife--a very ordinary pocket-knife--which the rascals erness to possess thees I kneas there still, for I could feel it And ht hand, partially freed, could all but reach it

I tugged and tugged All to no purpose The _reim_ would not stretch a quarter of an inch further Then it occurred to ht still get h and uneven, and by worainst a projection of rock I found I could do so in that direction It was tedious work--tedious and difficult Twice the knife slipped frorasped it Grasped it fir to prize it open, when my abominable sentinel moved-- stretched himself, snorted, and opened his smoke-filain Then the knife was open