"It would take more than ten days to get there. Everybody would starve before help came. Besides, there are only about a dozen men in charge, and they wouldn't be strong enough to undertake an expedition such a long distance, and fight their way through some hundreds of horsemen." "How many do you think they really muster?" "I've never had a good enough view of them in mass; but, at a guess, I should say six hundred or so." "They'll take some feeding." "Yes, but they have the whole country to forage in, and I daresay there are foraging parties out in all directions. They may bring their total number up to a thousand." "Well, old sport, if we can manage to stick it with our forty, we shall deserve at least a line or two in history." "Skittles! I'd give a good deal not to be mentioned in your history!" "'One crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name.'" "D'you call this glorious?" "Don't you? I don't mean that it's glorious to lick a crowd of heathens, but I do think it's a fine thing to have been able to win the confidence of our forty men." "So it is, and it will be a finer thing to show that we deserve it." The day passed; dusk fell. The arrangements for the night were as before. Royce took the first watch, with half the garrison. Challis, leaving him at his post on the north-east bastion, made his way along the passages that separated the several chambers of the building, towards his quarters, picking his way carefully in order not to trip over the fallen brick and other debris that strewed the floor. Turning a corner, he saw in the half-light, a little way ahead, the figure of a negro cross his path from left to right. At first he thought it was John or Kulana, the only men who might have any reason to be in the neighbourhood of the white men's quarters. John looked after the food, which had been placed in an adjacent chamber for security; Kulana acted as body servant. But it immediately occurred to Challis that neither of the men had any business there at this hour. Then he remembered that John was actually on duty with Royce. Was it possible that some other member of the party was making a private raid on the stores? He hurried on after the man, who had passed the room in which the stores were kept and was going in the direction of the well-yard. His back was towards Challis--a broad back, belonging to a man of huge stature. "Great snakes!" Challis inwardly ejaculated. He quickened his pace. The man heard his steps, and glanced round; then dashed through a ruined doorway leading to the well-yard. Challis gave a shout and rushed after him. It was now dark inside the building, and he groped about without finding the negro. His shout had brought Royce up at a run. "What is it?" he cried anxiously. "A strange nigger--a big fellow--Goruba?" said Challis. "Surely not!" said Royce, flashing his electric torch. "There's no one here.'" "He's got away. We must search the place."