A NARROW ESCAPE 13 



and was about to rise and move on when a 

 rustle from behind caused him to grab for his 

 rifle; but a savage grasped it from under his 

 hands and darted into the night. 



At the same instant one of the natives threw 

 a bundle of grass on the fire. As it blazed up 

 the hunter naturally turned toward the hut in 

 which he had heard the gun being loaded, and 

 there, in the doorway, stood a man levelling a 

 rifle at him. S. snatched the piece of wilde- 

 beest meat and fled from the village. The man 

 did not shoot; he may have been unfamiliar 

 with firearms and have forgotten either to cap 

 or to cock the gun. 



The outcast dashed out of the village and 

 down the trail as fast as his legs could carry 

 him, but apparently was not followed. His 

 position now was indeed perilous, for without 

 a rifle to kill meat he was dependent upon 

 the natives for food as soon as his supply was 

 exhausted. Throughout the gloomy night he 

 plodded along, tired and footsore, chilled and 

 disheartened. No wonder his thoughts reverted 

 to home and to his men, some of whom he knew 

 must not be far away following the same guide 

 that God, in his almighty wisdom, had placed in 



