Swiftly, almost at a run, the badly frightened crowd, which a moment since had been bellowing for his blood, moved away, not halting to look back until it had reached a very respectable distance indeed. With difficulty Lamont restrained a hysterical roar of laughter. "A near thing, Father," he said to his companion. "But for that idea of mine they would have rushed the place. We are not out of the wood yet though. Hallo--what new excitement can be in the wind now?" For among those who had just been giving trouble a new hubbub had arisen, but this time their retreat was not its object, for glances were turned in the opposite direction, and now among the varying vociferations could be descried the word `Amakiwa.' And then, away beyond the stony ridge, rose the muffled, dropping roar of firearms. One of these two white men the sound thrilled like the thrill of harp-strings. Beneath, in the hollow, excitement became intense on every hand. Groups of warriors springing from nowhere, armed, were moving off in the direction of the sound; the large body by which they had just been threatened had already gone. Again and again that dropping volley-- somewhat nearer--and now from a new direction--and this time quite near, a renewed roar. "D'you hear that?" cried Lamont, eager with repressed excitement. "We could almost join these, only we don't know how many Matabele there may be between us and them." Ujojo and the other guards were no more impervious to the prevailing excitement. They were pointing eagerly, this way and that way, and taking in all the different points at which warriors were posted among the rocks to give the invaders a warm reception. That a large force of whites was advancing was manifest by the heaviness of the fire, which was now heard on the three open sides of the place. A little more of this, and still nearer and nearer drew the three lines of fire, the nearest of all being that on their own side; and now, warriors, by twos and threes, rifle in hand, were seen flitting by, clearly in full retreat or to take up some new position. And, around these, spits of dust from the invaders' bullets were already beginning to rise. "_Nkose_! It is time for us to leave now," called out Ujojo. "Your people will be here directly." "Good, Ujojo. After the war, all those who have guarded me shall have five cows apiece for to-day's work. Now go!" "_Nkose! Baba_!" they shouted with hand uplifted. Then they went. "I'm thinking out our best plan, Father," said Lamont. "If we show ourselves too soon we might get shot in mistake for Matabele. The only thing is to--" "Give it the schepsels, give it 'em! Give 'em hell!" sung out a voice just beneath. And renewed firing broke forth, presumably on the rear of the retreating guards. "That's Peters," pronounced Lamont. "Ahoy, there! Peters!" he bellowed.