"Dat make um berry jolly, sah," said John. "Houses burnt; no place can go; dey like berry much go with Massa."
"What do you say to that, Tom?" Royce asked of Challis.
"They had much better stay in their own country. But I suppose we can hardly turn the poor fellows away. Let them come; I daresay they'll be tired of it long before we reach Akassa."
"We'll start in about an hour, then—unless——"
"Unless what?"
"Well, the idea of chucking things up when we've come so many hundreds of miles makes me sick. I was wondering whether after all we couldn't make our way into French territory, and persuade the authorities to back us up."
Before Challis could reply, there came a shout from Gambaru, who had been stationed to keep watch.
"What does he say, John?" asked Royce.
"Him see horses, sah."
Royce sprang up, and ran to a stretch of rising ground from which the country northward was visible for some miles. One glance was enough. The negro horsemen were in pursuit.