A LEGEND OF MADAGASCAR 105 



till he was tired he picked up the aye-aye and marched on, 

 talking loud. 



Thus they did not hear the noise of a multitude ap- 

 proaching. But from the edge of the forest they saw it. 

 Chiefs led the van, stumbling and staggering ; among the 

 foremost was that personage in snowy lamba and broad 

 black hat — not pleasant-looking now. A mob of spearmen 

 pressed behind. The clearing was a compact mass of natives, 

 running, wailing, gesticulating — and they still streamed in 

 thousands through the narrow gate. It was like the rush of 

 ants when their nest is disturbed. 



The sight paralysed even Leboeuf; Wilson, after an 

 awful glance, ran back and hid. He could hear his com- 

 rade's shouts above the uproar for a moment — then there 

 was a pause, and the interpreter's voice reached him faintly. 

 Wilson still crept away. He heard only a confused clamour 

 for some minutes, but then a burst of vengeful triumph 

 made the forest ring. It needed no explanation. Leboeuf 

 was overpowered. The noise grew fainter — they were 

 dragging him away — and ceased. 



For hours Wilson lay in an agony of fear. That 

 Leboeuf was killed he did not doubt ; but how could he 

 himself escape, alone in the forest, ignorant of the roads, 

 many weeks' journey from the coast ? A more cruel fate 

 would probably be his. It might be hoped that Leboeuf 's 

 tortures had been short. 



He did not dare push deeper into the wood ; his single 

 chance lay in creeping round the village after dark, and 

 possibly rejoining his servants, if they still lived. If not, he 

 might recover the road at least. But man could not be in 

 more desperate straits. 



Remaining thus in the vicinity, towards dusk he heard a 

 whistle far off. The frenzy of his relief is not to be described 

 — it was the rallying signal of the party. But suppose the 



