Eustace turned sharply away; he could stand no more.
"Good-bye," he said thickly; "I feel a beast."
He took two quick strides forward, and walked right into some one. It was the great native chief.
CHAPTER XIII.
A GREAT SURPRISE.
Eustace thought he had never seen anything so wicked as the chief's grin when he looked down into his astonished face. The black-fellow's teeth gleamed like a wolf's. His whole expression seemed to say, "Ha, ha! so I've caught you in the very act. You don't escape me so easily, you see." He evidently felt an exultant satisfaction in frustrating his departure, or he was rejoicing over having found him again.
With an overwhelming consciousness of Bob's helplessness, Eustace moved back quickly to the prostrate figure, as if to shelter it.
"What's up, old man?" questioned Bob, who from his position could see nothing. "You're not shirking, are you?"
The chief came rapidly within range of the sick man's eyes, and Bob's face fell most unmistakably. There was disappointment in every line of it.
"Phew!" he whistled, "we've lost our chance this time."