“What’s the use? They’ve given you the slip, and we might as well go back again.”
“Where’ve they gone?” asked another.
“A pretty question to ask! I s’pose you think we can see ’em a dozen miles off on such a bright moonlight night as this.”
This remark was greeted with derisive laughter by the others, and the one propounding the question, no doubt was greatly discomfited thereby. But, at this point, Jim began to grow apprehensive about his rifle and commenced crawling toward the spot where he had left it upon the ground.
The African’s complexion was greatly in his favor, and united with the extreme darkness of the night, secured his safety so long as he kept out of the light of the fire. Unfortunately this had been rekindled by one of the strangers, so that the attempt was attended with considerable risk.
Still Jim crept stealthily forward, and was already groping over the ground in search of his weapon, when it was suddenly snatched from the earth, and a voice called out:
“Helloa! here’s a gun anyhow. They left in such a hurry that they forgot to take that with ’em, and I guess——”
The speaker was suddenly prostrated by a powerful blow, and the weapon violently wrenched from his grasp.
“Quick! there’s one of ’em!” was the lusty cry of the man, as he staggered to his feet. The others were bewildered by the unexpected assault, but they attempted a pursuit, rushing off blindly in the darkness in a direction almost opposite the right one.