THE ISLAND OF MOMBASA 41 



The next night there was a spirited contest to see 

 which end of the chain should be last, but a vote was 

 taken and it was decided six to one in favor of con- 

 tinuing in their original formation. The one who 

 voted against was eaten that night and the remain- 

 ing six, with the four empty rings clanking behind 

 them, resumed their mournful march to the coast, 

 six days away. 



For five nights after this, the lion caught up 

 with them and diminished their number by five. 

 Finally there was only one left and the coast was a 

 full day's march away. Could he make it? It 

 looked like a desperate chance, but he still had 

 hopes. He noticed with pleasure that the lion was 

 becoming fat and pr6bably could not travel fast. 

 But he also noticed with displeasure that he had 

 forty feet of chain and nine heavy iron neck rings 

 to lug along and that extra weight naturally 



Trvo to One 



greatly handicapped him. It was a thrilling race 

 the coast only one day away and life or death the 

 prize! Who can imagine the feelings of the poor 

 slave? But with a stout heart he struggled on 

 through poisonous morasses, and pushed his way 



