"Yes, there's plenty of game about the fort, isn't there? Which is lucky for us, considering that we have so many more mouths to feed."
Poor as the fare was, they ate it with a good appetite. Then Royce rose.
"I'll come with you," said Challis. "I'm curious to take a look at this fort of yours."
"Come along, then. It's only about two hundred yards to the top of the cliff. John will give us warning if anything happens."
Taking their rifles they set off, walking round the margin of the lake. On their left stretched an open grassy space, beyond which was the forest from which they had lately emerged.
The ground rose gradually. They were halfway up the ascent to the cliff when Royce stopped suddenly.
"What on earth's that?" he said.
They halted, puzzled to account for a strange noise which seemed to proceed from the forest on their left. At first a dull rumble, it grew in a few seconds to a succession of heavy thuds, becoming louder moment by moment, and mingled with sharp cracks like pistol shots.
"It can't be the Tubus charging through the trees," said Challis.
A shout from behind caused them to turn their heads. The men had leapt to their feet, and were standing in a huddled group, with every sign of fear. One, a young negro from among the released prisoners, was sprinting towards them at full speed.