Almost at the same moment, twenty yards away, John, as noiselessly as a panther, had leapt upon the back of the second Tubu and fallen on top of him. Depriving the man of his spear, he was now forcing him to crawl on all fours towards his prostrate companion, threatening to prick him with the spear if he made a noise or did not move fast enough. While Challis kept guard over the men, John cut from the undergrowth a number of pliant tendrils. With these he tied the Tubus' wrists, and fastened them also neck to neck, telling them, in their own language, that they were silly fellows. One of them spoke to him sullenly. "_Yoi-aloo!_" cried John, laughing. "Dey say Goruba gone lost, sah!" "Lost, is he?" said Challis. "They were searching for him, then. How was he lost?" "Went away, sah," returned John, after questioning the man. "No savvy what for. 'Fraid him gobbled up." "That's good news. What will they do if they don't find him?" "Very sad all same, sah. Dey go back over Yo; had 'nuff; plenty sick, sah." It was good news indeed that the Tubus had lost their leader; still better that they were disheartened and thinking of returning to their own country. "Well, John," said Challis, "take these fellows back to our men; then come after me as fast as you can. I will go on and see what is happening." John went off, driving the negroes in front of him. Challis waited until they were out of sight; then, going to the edge of the wood, he looked all around to make sure that no more Tubus were in sight, and continued his journey, taking cover from bush to bush. In a few minutes he saw the fort on the hilltop some distance away. Making a round, he approached it from the north-west side, stopping every now and then to listen. Apparently there were no Tubus between him and the fort, but he dared not go too close to it while daylight lasted, for he would certainly be seen as he mounted the hill. Accordingly he halted in a wooded hollow to wait for darkness. He wondered how the little garrison was faring, whether the Tubus had attacked, whether they were really on the point of giving up the siege. The time passed too slowly for his impatience, and he longed for the sun to go down. Suddenly, about an hour before sunset, he heard shouts. They ceased immediately. What was happening? He stole up the slope of the hollow, intending to lie flat just below the top and peep over. But before he had reached it there were loud shouts, followed by rapid rifle fire. It was clear that the garrison was defending itself against a fierce assault.