George sprang up in terror, and he began to tremble. 'You wouldn't do that to me.' A wild prayer went up in his heart that mercy might be shown him, and then bitter anger seized him because he had ever come out to that country. 'You need not be afraid,' answered Alec coldly. 'In any case I must preserve the native respect for the white man.' 'I was half drunk when I saw the woman. I wasn't responsible for my actions.' 'In any case the result is that the whole tribe has turned against us.' The chief was Alec's friend, and it was he who had sent him the exploded cartridge. The news came to Alec like a thunderclap, for the Turkana were the best part of his fighting force, and he had always placed the utmost reliance on their fidelity. The chief said that he could not hold in his young men, and not only must Alec cease to count upon them, but they would probably insist on attacking him openly. They had stirred up the neighbouring tribes against him and entered into communication with the Arabs. He had been just at the turning point and on the verge of a great success, but now all that had been done during three years was frustrated. The Arabs had seized the opportunity and suddenly assumed the offensive. The unexpectedness of their attack had nearly proved fatal to Alec's party, and since then they had all had to fight for bare life. George watched Alec as he stared at the ground. 'I suppose the whole damned thing's my fault,' he muttered. Alec did not answer directly. 'I think we may take it for certain that the natives will go over to the slavers to-morrow, and then we shall be attacked on all sides. We can't hold out against God knows how many thousands. I've sent Rogers and Deacon to bring in all the Latukas, but heaven knows if they can arrive in time.' 'And if they don't?' Alec shrugged his shoulders, but did not speak. George's breathing came hurriedly, and a sob rose to his throat. 'What are you going to do to me, Alec?' MacKenzie walked up and down, thinking of the gravity of their position. In a moment he stopped and looked at Walker. 'I daresay you have some preparations to make,' he said. Walker got up. 'I'll be off,' he answered, with a slight smile. He was glad to go, for it made him ashamed to watch the boy's humiliation. His own nature was so honest, his loyalty so unbending, that the sight of viciousness affected him with a physical repulsion, and he turned away from it as he would have done from the sight of some hideous ulcer. The doctor surmised that his presence too was undesired. Murmuring that he had no time to lose if he wanted to get his patients ready for a night march, he followed Walker out of the tent. George breathed more freely when he was alone with Alec. 'I'm sorry I did that silly thing just now,' he said. 'I'm glad I didn't hit you.' 'It doesn't matter at all,' smiled Alec. 'I'd forgotten all about it.' 'I lost my head. I didn't know what I was doing.'