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could； and checked thembetween us； Job and I；
besides the woman； killed or mortally wounded five men
with our pistols before they were emptied。 But we had
no time to reload； and they still came on in a way
that was almost splendid in its recklessness； seeing
that they did not know but that we could go on firing
forever。
A great fellow bounded up upon the platform； and Leo
struck him dead with one blow of his powerful arm；
sending the knife right through him。 I did the same by
another； but Job missed his stroke； and I saw a brawny
Amahagger grip him by the middle and whirl him off the
rock。 The knife； not being secured by a thong； fell
from Job's hand as he did so； and； by a most happy
accident for him lit upon its handle on the rock； just
as the body of the Amahagger； being undermost； hit
upon its point and was transfixed upon it。 What
happened to Job after that I am sure I do not know；
but my own impression is that he lay still upon the
corpse of his deceased assailant； 〃playing possum；〃 as
the Americans say。 As for myself； I was soon involved
in a desperate encounter with two ruffians who；
luckily for me； had left their spears behind them； and
for the first time in my life the great physical power
with which nature has endowed me stood me in good
stead。 I had hacked at the head of one man with my
hunting…knife； which was almost as big and heavy as a
short sword； with such vigor that the sharp steel had
split his skull down to the eyes； and was held so fast
by it that as he suddenly fell sideways the knife was
twisted right out of my hand。
Then it was that the two others sprang upon me。 I saw
them coming； and got an arm round the waist of each；
and down we all fell upon the floor of the cave
together； rolling over and over。 They were strong men；
but I was mad with rage； and that awful lust for
slaughter which will creep into the hearts of the most
civilized of us when blows are flying； and life and
death tremble on the turn。 My arms were round the two
swarthy demons； and I hugged them till I heard their
ribs crack and crunch up beneath my grip。 They twisted
and writhed like snakes； and clawed and battered at me
with their fists； but I held on。 Lying on my back
there； so that their bodies might protect me from
spear thrusts from above； I slowly crushed the life
out of them； and as I did so； strange as it may seem；
I thought of what the amiable head of my college at
Cambridge （who is a member of the Peace Society） and
my brother fellows would say if by clairvoyance they
could see me； of all men； playing such a bloody game。
Soon my assailants grew faint； and almost ceased to
struggle； their breath had failed them； and they were
dying； but still I dared not leave them； for they died
very slowly。 I knew that if I relaxed my grip they
would revive。 The other ruffians probably thoughtfor
we were all three lying in the shadow of the ledge
that we were all dead together； at any rate they did
not interfere with our little tragedy。
I turned my head； and as I lay gasping in the throes
of that awful struggle I could see that Leo was off
the rock now； for the lamplight fell full upon him。 He
was still on his feet； but in the centre of a surging
mass of struggling men； who were striving to pull him
down as wolves pull down a stag。 Up above them towered
his beautiful pale face crowned with its bright curls
（for Leo is six feet two high）； and I saw that he was
fighting with a desperate abandonment and energy that
was at once splendid and hideous to behold。 He drove
his knife through one manthey were so close to him
and mixed up with him that they could not get at him
to kill him with their big spears； and they had no
knives or sticks。 The man fell； and then somehow the
knife was wrenched from his hand； leaving him
defenceless； and I thought the end had come。 But no；
with a desperate effort he broke loose from them；
seized the body of the man he had just slain； and
lifting it high in the air hurled it right at the mob
of his assailants； so that the shock and weight of it
swept some five or six of them to the earth。 But in a
minute they were all up again； except one； whose skull
was smashed； and had once more fastened upon him。 And
then slowly； and with infinite labor and struggling；
the wolves bore the lion down。 Once even then he
recovered himself； and felled an Amahagger with his
fist； but it was more than man could do to hold his
own for long against so many； and at last he came
crashing down upon the rock floor； falling as an oak
falls； and bearing with him to the earth all those who
clung about him。 They gripped him by his arms and
legs； and then cleared off his body。
〃A spear；〃 cried a voice； 〃a spear to cut his throat；
and a vessel to catch his blood。〃
I shut my eyes； for I saw the man coming with a spear；
and myself； I could not stir to Leo's help； for I was
growing weak； and the two men on me were not yet dead；
and a deadly sickness overcame me。
Then suddenly there was a disturbance； and
involuntarily I opened my eyes again； and looked
towards the scene of murder。 The girl Ustane had
thrown herself on Leo's prostrate form； covering his
body with her body； and fastening her arms about his
neck。 They tried to drag her from him； but she twisted
her legs round his； and hung on like a bulldog； or
rather like a creeper to a tree； and they could not。
Then they tried to stab him in the side without
hurting her； but somehow she shielded him； and he was
only wounded。
At last they lost patience。
〃Drive the spear through the man and the woman
together；〃 said a voice； the same voice that had asked
the questions at that ghastly feast； 〃so of a verity
shall they be wed。〃
Then I saw the man with the weapon straighten himself
for the effort。 I saw the cold steel gleam on high；
and once more I shut my eyes。
As I did so I heard the voice of a man thunder out in
tones that rang and echoed down the rocky ways
〃 _i_ Cease！ _i_ 〃
Then I fainted； and as I did so it flashed through my
darkening mind that I was passing down into the last
oblivion of death。
CHAPTER IX
A LITTLE FOOT
WHEN I opened my eyes again I found myself lying on a
skin mat not far from the fire round which we had been
gathered for that dreadful feast。
Near me lay Leo； still apparently in a swoon； and over
him was bending the tall form of the girl Ustane； who
was washing a deep spear wound in his side with cold
water preparatory to binding it up with linen。 Leaning
against the wall of the cave behind her was Job；
apparently uninjured； but bruised and trembling。 On
the other side of the fire； tossed about this way and
that； as though they had thrown themselves down to
sleep in some moment of absolute exhaustion； were the
bodies of those whom we had killed in our frightful
struggle for life。 I counted them； there were twelve；
besides the woman and the corpse of poor Mahomed； who
had died by my hand； which； the fire…stained pot at
its side； was placed at the end of the irregular line。
To the left a body of me