stronghold of Mur by any other way, such as that by which I had quitted
it, burdened as we were with our long train of camels laden with rifles,
ammunition, and explosives, I dreaded the results of an attempt to pass
through the Fung savages.

Moreover, it occurred to me that Shadrach had insisted upon this
route from a kind of jealous obstinacy, and to be in opposition to us
Englishmen, whom he hated in his heart, or perhaps for some dark and
secret reason. Still, the fact remained that we were in his power, since
owing to the circumstances in which I had entered and left the place, it
was impossible for me to act as guide to the party. If I attempted to do
so, no doubt he and the Abati with him would desert, leaving the camels
and their loads upon our hands. Why should they not, seeing that
they would be quite safe in concluding that we should never have an
opportunity of laying our side of the case before their ruler?

Just as the sun was setting, Quick came to call me, saying that the
camels were being loaded up.

"I don't much like the look of things, Doctor," he said as he helped me
to pack my few belongings, "for the fact is I can't trust that Shadrach
man. His pals call him 'Cat,' a good name for him, I think. Also, he is
showing his claws just now, the truth being that he hates the lot of us,
and would like to get back into Purr or Mur, or whatever the name of the
place is, having lost us on the road. You should have seen the way he
looked at the Professor just now. Oh! I wish the Captain had let me
punch his head. I'm sure it would have cleared the air a lot."

As it chanced, Shadrach was destined to get his head "punched" after
all, but by another hand. It happened thus. The reeds were fired, as