"Food all gone, sah," he began. "What can do? Must eat. Nuffin to eat. Boys all die. All berry hungry, sah." "I know. We have had little enough all along. We have now nothing at all. I am very sorry for you. But I want you to wait just one more day." The men talked among themselves. Then Gambaru said: "Boys no want to wait, sah. Tubus light fires; no go away. No more food; how can fight? Boys say all go out, run fast." "They would catch us on their horses." "Die all same, sah," said Gambaru. "No food, all die; Tubus catch um, all die same. One way die slow, other way die quick--boys say die quick best." Royce was wandering how he could persuade the men to wait, even one day longer, when the bark of a jackal startled them all. "Thank God!" said Royce, rising in excitement. "It is Massa Chally at last. That was John's cry." Some of the men shook their heads and declared that it was the cry of a real jackal, but Gambaru and Kulana assured them positively that it was John's imitation. They listened silently for a repetition of the cry. It had come from a distance; there was no other sound in the silence of the night. The whole garrison flocked to the walls and, holding their breath, peered out into the darkness. They could see nothing, hear nothing. Minutes passed; hope gave way to disappointment and despair. Even Royce himself felt that he had been mistaken, and the men began to murmur against Gambaru and Kulana. But suddenly they were startled to silence again by the cry, repeated softly close under the wall on the north-west side. Every one ran to the spot, even the sentries, and Royce did not send them back to their posts. For now, down the slope, they had caught sight of a dim, dark shape moving by almost imperceptible degrees towards the fort. "Let down a ladder, Kulana," said Royce, whispering through parched lips. The Hausa took up one of the scaling-ladders left behind by the Tubus and lowered it over the wall. In breathless silence the watchers saw the form crawl up to it, set his foot on it, and begin to climb. Murmurs of excitement burst from the eager crowd. "Hush!" said Royce. Leaning over the wall he whispered: "Tom?" "Right-o, old boy. Back at last!" said Challis's cheery voice. "Massy Chally back! Massa Chally back!" cried the negroes, irrepressibly laughing and shouting with joy. Royce bade them be silent in vain. His heart was too full to reprove them. "Thank God, you're back!" he said, giving his hand to Challis as he reached the top of the wall. "I had given you up." "Glad I'm in time," said Challis, pressing his friend's hand warmly. "But where is John?" asked Royce. "It was his cry we heard?" "Of course. I couldn't have done that. John has gone back to my army." CHAPTER XXIX TUBUS TO THE RESCUE