"Run! it's the only chance we've got!"




CHAPTER VII

DESPERATE WORK.

It seemed to be the only course left. Whether it was or not, it was
too late to try anything else. That the natives had discovered the
explorers was proven by several low, tremulous whistles which at that
instant sounded on the night.

It was risky running along the dark trail, even though illuminated here
and there by the rays of the moon: but, feeling that the situation was
desperate, Ashman broke into a swift lope, with Johnston at his heels,
urging him to make haste.

"If they come too close," thought the young man, "we can dodge among
the trees again and pick our way back to the river as best we
can--helloa! what's that?"

Well might he ask himself the question, for the whizz of something
close to his ear left no doubt that one of their pursuers had hurled a
poisoned javelin at them.

An instant after he heard a faint but peculiar noise which he could not
describe nor identify. Johnston at the same instant uttered a