“It’s almost certain to be different with me. They think that they have defeated us in this little skirmish on the meadow and there’s no denying that they’re right.
“That will lead them to follow up their advantage by making an attack on us while we are supposed to be frightened and disabled.
“Well, let them come on. As long as I can get Dobbin into a place of safety I don’t care much what happens.”
Progress up the mountain was slow because the men had to go carefully in order to save Dobbin from injury.
His wound was a painful one, and in spite of his pluck, he showed that he was suffering intensely.
There were frequent halts for rest, therefore, and Trim began to fear that the Narugas might come up and detect them before they had reached the falls.
This did not happen, however, but just as the party came close to the base of the falls he looked back and caught a glimpse of a part of the meadow.
He then saw that a very large body of blacks was crossing it.
The blacks were going slowly and were scattered over a considerable portion of the meadow.
“That shows,” said Trim to himself, “that they are directed by intelligent white men.