Alan crept out of the shelter and gazed affectionately at the tent in
which Barbara slumbered. Thank Heaven she was safe so far, as for some
unknown reason, evidently the Asiki had postponed their attack. Just
then a clamour arose in the air, and he perceived Jeekie striding
towards him waving one arm in an excited fashion, while with the other
he dragged along the captain of the porters, who appeared to be praying
for mercy.

"Here pretty go, Major," he shouted, "devil and all to pay! That my
Lord, he gone and bolted. This silly fool say that three hours ago he
hear something break through fence and think it only hyæna what come
to steal, so take no notice. Well, that hyæna, you guess who he is. You
come look, Major, you come look, and then we tie this fellow up and flog
him."

Alan ran to Aylward's tent to find it empty.

"Look," said Jeekie, who had followed, "see how he do business, that
jolly clever hyæna," and he pointed to a broken whisky bottle and some
severed cords. "You see he manage break bottle and rub rope against cut
glass till it come in two. Then he do hyæna dodge and hook it."

Alan inspected the articles, nor did any shadow of doubt enter his mind.

"Certainly he managed very well," he said, "especially for a London-bred
man, but, Jeekie, what can have been his object?"

"Oh! who know, Major? Mind of man very strange and various thing; p'raps
he no bear to see you and Miss Barbara together; p'raps he bolt coast,