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 probably 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 
Two 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 
