A MASTERLY RETREAT. gi 



" Arc we likely to be bothered any more with those tenderfeet ? " asked Jack 

 Harvey of Mr. Godkin. 



" Not during the daytime, for the lasso and Winchester have filled them with a 

 healthy fear of us. The chief may attempt to revenge himself by stealing up to 

 the camp at night and sending in a few shots, but I think even that is doubtful." 



Pongo, being appealed to, was' of the same opinion as the director. The fellow 

 was so grateful to his friends, for their help in getting him out of the clutches of his 

 countrymen, that he was ready to give them any information at his command. 



He said that he and the chieftain were old acquaintances, and that the latter was 

 uttering words of friendship when he griped his hand and violently lifted him upon 

 the horse, in front. Pongo knew the mistake he had made before he reached the 

 leader, but it would have been fatal to turn back, and he therefore went forward, as 

 I have already described. 



" You acquitted yourself nobly," said Mr. Godkin to Jack Harvey, who, like the 

 best specimens of cowboys, was always modest when his own exploits were re- 

 ferred to. 



" I don't see that there was anything so wonderful about it, but I was uneasy 

 because of the poisoned arrows. I thought, when I rode over the hill, Apache would 

 catch some of the confounded things, even if / didn't." 



" Pongo has learned something as well as his countrymen," ventured Bob Mar- 

 shall ; " he deserved bad usage for his foolishness in walking into such a trap." 



The Bushman grinned and nodded his head to signify that he agreed with the 

 sentiments just uttered. 



" It strikes met here is no company in the world," said Dick Brownell, " in which 

 it is plainer that strength lies in union." 



" Not merely strength," observed Mr. Godkin, " but safety. We must separate 

 at times, while hunting, but it won't do to wander too far from each other to be unable 

 to yield mutual support." 



" Good advice," replied Jack, " but I know it won't be followed by any one of us. 

 We're in a country where there are enough birds, beasts and reptiles to stock all the 

 shows in creation, and it's our business to scoop in what we can for Mr. Barnum. 

 When we get fairly at work we'll be sure to forget all about the confounded wild 

 men." 



"But they won't forget about us, you may depend on that." 



The site of the encampment, as I have stated, was not favorable in all respects, 

 for it offered too good an opportunity for their enemies to steal upon them during 

 the darkness. It would seem an easy task for one of those sallow warriors, creep- 

 ing up the bank of the stream, to hurl a poisoned javelin or arrow into the group, 

 inflicting a mortal hurt, and getting off before a return shot could reach him. 



It will be understood, therefore, that our friends were in anything but a comfort- 

 able frame of mind when night shut in, though the closest watch they had been 

 able to keep tnrough the day failed to disclose the first sign of the Bushmen. 



Jack Harvey, Bob Marshall and two of the natives took charge during the first 



