They had never noticed the entrance to the big cavern under the falls. As they went further up the mountainside they were more and more puzzled to think what had become of their foes.
The white man who guarded the entrance through which the donkeys had been driven saw a dozen or more blacks pass within a hundred feet of him and examine the ground.
It was evident that they saw the tracks of the donkeys. It was just as clear that they were puzzled because the tracks all pointed in one direction.
They stopped a moment and consulted, and then began to follow the tracks along, gradually approaching the falls.
Trim, still busy with Dobbin’s needs, did not know what was happening until he heard the report of firearms at one of the entrances.
The white man in charge there had waited until the savages were less than fifty feet away. It seemed to him that the very next instant they would discover the hiding-place and make an attack.
He believed it to be right and wise to get in the first blow; accordingly, he told the blacks who were keeping watch with him to fire.
One of the blacks had a shotgun, the other a revolver, the white had a fine rifle.
The three weapons went off together, and evidently each shot took effect, for three of the attacking party staggered back and fell to the ground.
The others stood stock still in amazement for just a second and then began to dash down the slope.