"This way," he whispered; but it seemed too late. On three sides there were enemies; but Wahika seized the poor girl's arm, and forced her towards the unthreatened side, dashing the foliage apart; and, more from the boldness of the act than the force of their attack, the young men were left free to follow, Katie's dress guiding them, as the savage drew her rapidly after him, while to the convicts the escape seemed almost incredible. Had they pursued, all efforts on the part of the fugitives would have been vain; but feeling assured that they were attacked by a strong party, they were content for a while to fire at random in the direction taken by their enemies, who were thus enabled to make some little progress before pursuit was attempted. Using almost superhuman exertions, Murray at last reached Katie's side, panted out a few words of encouragement, and tried to hurry her on; but now the savage stopped short, listened attentively for a few moments, and then turned in another direction, choosing a more arduous upward path, helping to drag the half-fainting girl from crag to crag, but not for far, since it was evident now that the convicts had recovered from their surprise, and were spreading in all directions in pursuit, encouraging each other with shouts as they pressed on. Twice the fleeing party had to double back, for it seemed that they were being headed; but Wahika was inexhaustible in his knowledge of the ground; and at last he reached once more one of the many little mountain streams, trickling down a steep chasm, whose sides were too precipitous to be scaled; and telling Murray to go first with the trembling girl, he laid his hand on Bray's arm. "They go--we stop fight," he whispered; but Bray refused. "Why should not Mr Murray stay, and fight for his lady-love?" he said bitterly. "No, no, no! Keep with me," whispered Katie, clinging to Murray's arm. Smothering his resentment, Murray slowly, and hardly able to press on himself, helped his tottering charge up the gully. Slow, cruel work, with Bray lingering behind, so as to keep them in sight, and the faithful savage covering their retreat. So far, the convicts had not hit upon the gully; and if they did find out their route, it was a place that two determined men could have held against a score. But though Murray made every effort he was but human; his wound had been a tremendous drain upon his system; and at the end of half a mile of incessant climbing, he sank at Katie's feet with a groan, saying, "I can go no farther." "Mr Bray," he said huskily, "I am dead beat. You must take my place; but while power is left me to lift my gun, no one shall pass here!" Bray leaped to Katie's side in an instant; but she held out her hands to keep him at bay. Murray pressed the poor girl hard to leave him. "Wahika would protect you," he said earnestly; "and after a while I could follow." "Would you leave _me_?" she whispered.