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that I had to climb a waterfall to get to the rocky pool where I had bestowed the rubies。
'You must take off this thong；' I said。 'I must climb to get the collar。 Cover me with a pistol if you like。 I won't be out of sight。'
Laputa undid the thong and set me free。 From his belt he took a pistol； cocked it； and held it over his left hand。 I had seen this way of shooting adopted by indifferent shots； and it gave me a wild hope that he might not be much of a marksman。
It did not take me long to find the pool； close against the blackened stump of a tree…fern。 I thrust in my hand and gathered up the jewels from the cool sand。 They came out glowing like living fires； and for a moment I thrilled with a sense of reverence。 Surely these were no common stones which held in them the very heart of hell。 Clutching them tightly； I climbed down to Laputa。
At the sight of the great Snake he gave a cry of rapture。 Tearing it from me； he held it at arm's length； his face lit with a passionate joy。 He kissed it； he raised it to the sky； nay； he was on his knees before it。 Once more he was the savage transported in the presence of his fetich。 He turned to me with burning eyes。
'Down on your knees；' he cried； 'and reverence the Ndhlondhlo。 Down； you impious dog； and seek pardon for your sacrilege。'
'I won't；' I said。 'I won't bow to any heathen idol。'
He pointed his pistol at me。
'In a second I shoot where your head is now。 Down； you fool； or perish。'
'You promised me my life；' I said stubbornly； though Heaven knows why I chose to act thus。
He dropped the pistol and flung himself on me。 I was helpless as a baby in his hands。 He forced me to the ground and rolled my face in the sand； then he pulled me to my feet and tossed me backward； till I almost staggered into the pool。 I saved myself； and staggered instead into the shallow at the foot of it； close under the ledge of the precipice。
That morning； when Machudi's men were cooking breakfast； I had figured out a route up the cliff。 This route was now my hope of escape。 Laputa had dropped his pistol； and the collar had plunged him in an ecstasy of worship。 Now； if ever； was my time。 I must get on the shelf which ran sideways up the cliff； and then scramble for dear life。
I pretended to be dazed and terrified。
'You promised me my life；' I whimpered。
'Your life；' he cried。 'Yes； you shall have your life； and before long you will pray for death。'
'But I saved the Collar；' I pleaded。 'Henriques would have stolen it。 I brought it safe here； and now you have got it。'
Meantime I was pulling myself up on the shelf； and loosening with one hand a boulder which overhung the pool。
'You have been repaid；' he said savagely。 'You will not die。'
'But my life is no use without liberty；' I said； working at the boulder till it lay loose in its niche。
He did not answer； being intent on examining the Collar to see if it had suffered any harm。
'I hope it isn't scratched；' I said。 'Henriques trod on it when I hit him。'
Laputa peered at the gems like a mother at a child who has had a fall。 I saw my chance and took it。 With a great heave I pulled the boulder down into the pool。 It made a prodigious splash； sending a shower of spray over Laputa and the Collar。 In cover of it I raced up the shelf； straining for the shelter of the juniper tree。
A shot rang out and struck the rock above me。 A second later I had reached the tree and was scrambling up the crack beyond it。
Laputa did not fire again。 He may have distrusted his shooting； or seen a better way of it。 He dashed through the stream and ran up the shelf like a klipspringer after me。 I felt rather than saw what was happening； and with my heart in my mouth I gathered my dregs of energy for the last struggle。
You know the nightmare when you are pursued by some awful terror； and； though sick with fear； your legs have a strange numbness； and you cannot drag them in obedience to the will。 Such was my feeling in the crack above the juniper tree。 In truth； I had passed the bounds of my endurance。 Last night I had walked fifty miles； and all day I had borne the torments of a dreadful suspense。 I had been bound and gagged and beaten till the force was out of my limbs。 Also； and above all； I had had little food； and I was dizzy with want of sleep。 My feet seemed leaden； my hands had no more grip than putty。 I do not know how I escaped falling into the pool； for my head was singing and my heart thumping in my throat。 I seemed to feel Laputa's great hand every second clawing at my heels。
I had reason for my fears。 He had entered the crack long before I had reached the top； and his progress was twice as fast as mine。 When I emerged on the topmost shelf he was scarcely a yard behind me。 But an overhang checked his bulky figure and gave me a few seconds' grace。 I needed it all； for these last steps on the shelf were the totterings of an old man。 Only a desperate resolution and an extreme terror made me drag one foot after the other。 Blindly I staggered on to the top of the ravine； and saw before me the Schimmel grazing in the light of the westering sun。
I forced myself into a sort of drunken run； and crawled into the saddle。 Behind me； as I turned； I could see Laputa's shoulders rising over the edge。 I had no knife to cut the knee… halter； and the horse could not stir。
Then the miracle happened。 When the rope had gagged me； my teeth must have nearly severed it at one place； and this Laputa had not noticed when he used it as a knee…halter。 The shock of my entering the saddle made the Schimmel fling up his head violently； and the rope snapped。 I could not find the stirrups； but I dug my heels into his sides； and he leaped forward。
At the same moment Laputa began to shoot。 It was a foolish move； for he might have caught me by running； since I had neither spurs nor whip； and the horse was hampered by the loose end of rope at his knee。 In any case； being an indifferent shot； he should have aimed at the Schimmel； not at me； but I suppose he wished to save his charger。 One bullet sang past my head； a second did my business for me。 It passed over my shoulder； as I lay low in the saddle； and grazed the beast's right ear。 The pain maddened him； and； rope…end and all； he plunged into a wild gallop。 Other shots came； but they fell far short。 I saw dimly a native or two … the men who had followed us … rush to intercept me； and I think a spear was flung。 But in a flash we were past them； and their cries faded behind me。 I found the bridle； reached for the stirrups； and galloped straight for the sunset and for freedom。
CHAPTER XVIII HOW A MAN MAY SOMETIMES PUT HIS TRUST IN A HORSE
I had long passed the limit of my strength。 Only constant fear and wild alternations of hope had kept me going so long； and now that I was safe I became light…headed in earnest。 The wonder is that I did not fall off。 Happily the horse was good and the ground easy； for I was powerless to do any guiding。 I simply sat on his back in a silly glow of comfort； keeping a line for the dying sun； which I saw in a nick of the Iron Crown Mountain。 A sort of childish happiness possessed me。 After three days of imminent peril； to be free was to be in fairyland。 To be swishing through the long bracken or plunging among the breast…high flowers of the meadowlands in a world of essential lights and fragrances； seemed scarcely part of mortal experience。 Remember that I was little more than a lad； and that I had faced death so often of late that my mind was all adrift。 To be able to hope once more； nay； to be allowed to cease both from hope and fear； was like a deep and happy opiate to my senses。 Spent and frail as I was； my soul swam in blessed waters of ease。
The mood did not last long。 I came back to earth with a shock； as the schimmel stumbled at the crossing of a stream。 I saw that the darkness was fast falling； and with the sight panic returned to me。 Behind me I seemed to hear the sound of pursuit。 The noise was in my ears； but when I turned it ceased； and I saw only the dusky shoulders of hills。
I tried to remember what Arcoll had told me about his headquarters； but my memory was wiped clean。 I thought they were on or near the highway； but I could not remember where the highway was。 Besides； he was close to the enemy； and I wanted to get back into the towns； far away from the battle… line。 If I rode west I must come in time to villages； where I could hide myself。 These were unworthy thoughts； but my excuse must be my tattered nerves。 When a man comes out of great danger； he is apt to be a little deaf to the call of duty。
Suddenly I became ashamed。 God had preserved me from deadly perils； but not that I might cower in some shelter。 I had a mission as clear as Laputa's。 For the first time I became conscious to what a little thing I owed my salvation。 That matter of the broken halter was like the finger of Divine Providence。 I had been saved for a purpose； and unless I fulfilled that purpose I should again be lost。 I was always a fatalist； and in that hour of strained body and soul I became something of a mystic。 My panic ceased； my lethargy departed； and a more ma