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the bounds of my endurance。 Last night I had walked fifty miles； and all day I had borne the torments of a dreadful suspense。 I had been bound and gagged and beaten till the force was out of my limbs。 Also； and above all； I had had little food； and I was dizzy with want of sleep。 My feet seemed leaden； my hands had no more grip than putty。 I do not know how I escaped falling into the pool； for my head was singing and my heart thumping in my throat。 I seemed to feel Laputa's great hand every second clawing at my heels。
I had reason for my fears。 He had entered the crack long before I had reached the top； and his progress was twice as fast as mine。 When I emerged on the topmost shelf he was scarcely a yard behind me。 But an overhang checked his bulky figure and gave me a few seconds' grace。 I needed it all； for these last steps on the shelf were the totterings of an old man。 Only a desperate resolution and an extreme terror made me drag one foot after the other。 Blindly I staggered on to the top of the ravine； and saw before me the Schimmel grazing in the light of the westering sun。
I forced myself into a sort of drunken run； and crawled into the saddle。 Behind me； as I turned； I could see Laputa's shoulders rising over the edge。 I had no knife to cut the knee… halter； and the horse could not stir。
Then the miracle happened。 When the rope had gagged me； my teeth must have nearly severed it at one place； and this Laputa had not noticed when he used it as a knee…halter。 The shock of my entering the saddle made the Schimmel fling up his head violently； and the rope snapped。 I could not find the stirrups； but I dug my heels into his sides； and he leaped forward。
At the same moment Laputa began to shoot。 It was a foolish move； for he might have caught me by running； since I had neither spurs nor whip； and the horse was hampered by the loose end of rope at his knee。 In any case； being an indifferent shot； he should have aimed at the Schimmel； not at me； but I suppose he wished to save his charger。 One bullet sang past my head； a second did my business for me。 It passed over my shoulder； as I lay low in the saddle； and grazed the beast's right ear。 The pain maddened him； and； rope…end and all； he plunged into a wild gallop。 Other shots came； but they fell far short。 I saw dimly a native or two … the men who had followed us … rush to intercept me； and I think a spear was flung。 But in a flash we were past them； and their cries faded behind me。 I found the bridle； reached for the stirrups； and galloped straight for the sunset and for freedom。
CHAPTER XVIII HOW A MAN MAY SOMETIMES PUT HIS TRUST IN A HORSE
I had long passed the limit of my strength。 Only constant fear and wild alternations of hope had kept me going so long； and now that I was safe I became light…headed in earnest。 The wonder is that I did not fall off。 Happily the horse was good and the ground easy； for I was powerless to do any guiding。 I simply sat on his back in a silly glow of comfort； keeping a line for the dying sun； which I saw in a nick of the Iron Crown Mountain。 A sort of childish happiness possessed me。 After three days of imminent peril； to be free was to be in fairyland。 To be swishing through the long bracken or plunging among the breast…high flowers of the meadowlands in a world of essential lights and fragrances； seemed scarcely part of mortal experience。 Remember that I was little more than a lad； and that I had faced death so often of late that my mind was all adrift。 To be able to hope once more； nay； to be allowed to cease both from hope and fear； was like a deep and happy opiate to my senses。 Spent and frail as I was； my soul swam in blessed waters of ease。
The mood did not last long。 I came back to earth with a shock； as the schimmel stumbled at the crossing of a stream。 I saw that the darkness was fast falling； and with the sight panic returned to me。 Behind me I seemed to hear the sound of pursuit。 The noise was in my ears； but when I turned it ceased； and I saw only the dusky shoulders of hills。
I tried to remember what Arcoll had told me about his headquarters； but my memory was wiped clean。 I thought they were on or near the highway； but I could not remember where the highway was。 Besides； he was close to the enemy； and I wanted to get back into the towns； far away from the battle… line。 If I rode west I must come in time to villages； where I could hide myself。 These were unworthy thoughts； but my excuse must be my tattered nerves。 When a man comes out of great danger； he is apt to be a little deaf to the call of duty。
Suddenly I became ashamed。 God had preserved me from deadly perils； but not that I might cower in some shelter。 I had a mission as clear as Laputa's。 For the first time I became conscious to what a little thing I owed my salvation。 That matter of the broken halter was like the finger of Divine Providence。 I had been saved for a purpose； and unless I fulfilled that purpose I should again be lost。 I was always a fatalist； and in that hour of strained body and soul I became something of a mystic。 My panic ceased； my lethargy departed； and a more manly resolution took their place。 I gripped the Schimmel by the head and turned him due left。 Now I remembered where the highroad ran； and I remembered something else。
For it was borne in on me that Laputa had fallen into my hands。 Without any subtle purpose I had played a master game。 He was cut off from his people； without a horse； on the wrong side of the highroad which Arcoll's men patrolled。 Without him the rising would crumble。 There might be war； even desperate war； but we should fight against a leaderless foe。 If he could only be shepherded to the north； his game was over； and at our leisure we could mop up the scattered concentrations。
I was now as eager to get back into danger as I had been to get into safety。 Arcoll must be found and warned； and that at once； or Laputa would slip over to Inanda's Kraal under cover of dark。 It was a matter of minutes； and on these minutes depended the lives of thousands。 It was also a matter of ebbing strength； for with my return to common sense I saw very clearly how near my capital was spent。 If I could reach the highroad； find Arcoll or Arcoll's men； and give them my news； I would do my countrymen a service such as no man in Africa could render。 But I felt my head swimming； I was swaying crazily in the saddle； and my hands had scarcely the force of a child's。 I could only lie limply on the horse's back； clutching at his mane with trembling fingers。 I remember that my head was full of a text from the Psalms about not putting one's trust in horses。 I prayed that this one horse might be an exception； for he carried more than Caesar and his fortunes。
My mind is a blank about those last minutes。 In less than an hour after my escape I struck the highway； but it was an hour which in the retrospect unrolls itself into unquiet years。 I was dimly conscious of scrambling through a ditch and coming to a ghostly white road。 The schimmel swung to the right； and the next I knew some one had taken my bridle and was speaking to me。
At first I thought it wa