Jack looked quickly round, expecting to see an easy shot, and the big goat looked too, and took a step or two forward. Then the bleating began again and ended suddenly in a peculiar smothered way, as if the creature which uttered it had been suddenly strangled. The big goat looked puzzled, raised his head higher, and stared in the direction of the sound, stamped angrily, and uttered an angry, defiant _ba-a-a-a-a_! At the cry Jack's heart leaped, for a kid that he had not previously seen sprang into sight, and stood within thirty yards of the watcher, side on, offering an easy shot, while the rest of the herd trotted hurriedly up to their leader. _Twang_! Jack's arrow had sped after he had drawn it to the head, and as he was in the act of springing up to see if the shaft had taken effect, something heavy pitched on to his shoulders, throwing him face forward among the thick growth, and a pair of black hands clasped his neck and throat. It was all done so suddenly that he was half stunned. The stalker had been stalked, and as he was twisted round by the man who had leaped upon him, and who now sat upon his chest, half-a-dozen more black faces appeared, their owners grinning with triumph. Jack yelled with all his might-- "Run for it, Ned. Savages. Run!" The warning was all in vain, for the next minute four more blacks appeared, dragging the man after them bound hand and foot, and looking purple in the face, and scratched as if he had been engaged in a severe struggle. "There you are, Mr Jack," he panted. "They've 'most killed me. Jumped upon me just as I had a splendid chance. On my back. Five to one, the cowards. And then they come behind you, and can't hit fair. Are you hurt?" "Not much. Oh, Ned, and I thought we had got away from them." "Yes, but they must have been on the look-out, sir." The blacks were standing round them, spear in hand, ready to strike if an attempt was made to escape, and Jack said so. "Oh yes, sir, they'd let go at us if we tried to run, but it's of no use to do that, for they'd bring us down at once. There, we may as well look it straight in the face and make the best of it." "We can't, Ned," said Jack dismally; "there is no best to it. I only wish I knew what they were going to do with us. Only fancy, after us taking all that trouble to get away!" The bewailings were brought to an end by a stalwart black clapping him on the shoulder and saying something as he pointed over the ridge. "Ugh! you ugly, mop-headed Day and Martin dummy," cried Ned. "If I hadn't a better language than that I'd hold my tongue. No use to kick, Mr Jack; suppose we must go on." Jack was already stepping forward, urged by another powerfully-built fellow, who showed his teeth and pricked him forward with the point of the spear he carried.