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turning half round they one and all grasped the
handles of their spears with the right hand； and then
simultaneously let them go。
〃Is it an ox？〃 said the man again。
〃It is an ox without horns； and more than an ox； and
we shall slay it；〃 was the answer； and again the
spears were grasped； and again let go。
Then came a pause； and I noticed； with horror and a
rising of the hair； that the woman next to Mahomed
began to fondle him； patting his cheeks； and calling
him by names of endearment； while her fierce eyes
played up and down his trembling form。 I do not know
why the sight frightened me so； but it did frighten us
all dreadfully； especially Leo。 The caressing was so
snakelike； and so evidently a part of some ghastly
formula that had to be gone through。 I saw Mahomed
turn white under his brown skin； sickly white with
fear。
〃Is the meat ready to be cooked？〃 asked the voice；
more rapidly。
〃It is ready； it is ready。〃
〃Is the pot hot to cook it？〃 it continued； in a sort
of scream that echoed painfully down the great
recesses of the cave。
〃It is hot； it is hot。〃
〃Great heavens！〃 roared Leo； 〃remember the writing；
'The people who place pots upon the heads of
strangers。'〃
As he said the words； before we could stir； or even
take the matter in； two great ruffians jumped up； and；
seizing the long pincers； plunged them into the heart
of the fire； and the woman who had been caressing
Mahomed suddenly produced a fibre noose from under her
girdle or moocha； and； slipping it over his shoulders；
ran it tight； while the men next him seized him by the
legs。 The two men with the pincers gave a heave； and；
scattering the fire this way and that upon the rocky
floor； lifted from it a large earthenware pot； heated
to a white heat。 In an instant； almost with a single
movement； they had reached the spot where Mahomed was
struggling。 He fought like a fiend； shrieking in the
abandonment of his despair； and； notwithstanding the
noose round him； and the efforts of the men who held
his legs； the advancing wretches were for the moment
unable to accomplish their purpose； which； horrible
and incredible as it seems； was to put the red…hot pot
upon his head。
I sprang to my feet with a yell of horror； and drawing
my revolver fired it by a sort of instinct straight at
the diabolical woman who had been caressing Mahomed；
and was now gripping him in her arms。 The bullet
struck her in the back and killed her； and to this day
I am glad that it did； for； as it afterwards
transpired； she had availed herself of the
anthropophagous customs of the Amahagger to organize
the whole thing in revenge of the slight put upon her
by Job。 She sank down dead； and as she did so； to my
terror and dismay； Mahomed； by a superhuman effort；
burst from his tormentors； and； springing high into
the air； fell dying upon her corpse。 The heavy bullet
from my pistol had driven through the bodies of both；
at once striking down the murderess； and saving her
victim from a death a hundred times more horrible。 It
was an awful and yet a most merciful accident。
For a moment there was a silence of astonishment。 The
Amahagger had never heard the report of a firearm
before； and its effects dismayed them。 But the next a
man close to us recovered himself； and seized his
spear preparatory to making a lunge with it at Leo；
who was the nearest to him。
〃Run for it！〃 I shouted； setting the example by
starting up the cave as hard as my legs would carry
me。 I would have made for the open air if it had been
possible； but there were men in the way； and； besides；
I had caught sight of the forms of a crowd of people
standing out clear against the skyline beyond the
entrance to the cave。 Up the cave I went； and after me
came the others； and after them thundered the whole
crowd of cannibals； mad with fury at the death of the
woman。 With a bound I cleared the prostrate form of
Mahomed。 As I flew over him I felt the heat from the
red…hot pot； which was lying close by； strike upon my
legs； and by its glow saw his handsfor he was not
quite deadstill feebly moving。 At the top of the
cave was a little platform of rock three feet or so
high by about eight deep； on which two large lamps
were placed at night。 Whether this platform had been
left as a seat； or as a raised point afterwards to be
cut away when it had served its purpose as a standing…
place from which to carry on the excavations； I do not
knowat least； I did not then。 At any rate； we all
three reached it； and； jumping on it； prepared to sell
our lives as dearly as we could。 For a few seconds the
crowd that was pressing on our heels hung back when
they saw us face round upon them。 Job was on one side
of the rock to the left； Leo in the centre； and I to
the right。 Behind us were the lamps。 Leo bent forward
and looked down the long lane of shadows； terminated
in the fire and lighted lamps； through which the quiet
forms of our would…be murderers flitted to and fro
with the faint light glinting on their spears； for
even their fury was silent as a bulldog's。 The only
other thing visible was the red…hot pot still glowing
angrily in the gloom。 There was a curious light in
Leo's eyes； and his handsome face was set like a
stone。 In his right hand was his heavy hunting…knife。
He shifted its thong a little up his wrist； and then
put his arm round me and gave me a good hug。
〃Good…bye； old fellow；〃 he said； 〃my dear friendmy
more than father。 We have no chance against those
scoundrels； they will finish us in a few minutes； and
eat us afterwards； I suppose。 Good…bye。 I led you into
this。 I hope you will forgive me。 Good…bye； Job。〃
〃God's will be done；〃 I said； setting my teeth； as I
prepared for the end。 At that moment； with an
exclamation； Job lifted his revolver and fired； and
hit a mannot the man he had aimed at； by the way；
anything that Job shot at was perfectly safe。
On they came with a rush； and I fired too as fast as I
could； and checked thembetween us； Job and I；
besides the woman； killed or mortally wounded five men
with our pistols before they were emptied。 But we had
no time to reload； and they still came on in a way
that was almost splendid in its recklessness； seeing
that they did not know but that we could go on firing
forever。
A great fellow bounded up upon the platform； and Leo
struck him dead with one blow of his powerful arm；
sending the knife right through him。 I did the same by
another； but Job missed his stroke； and I saw a brawny
Amahagger grip him by the middle and whirl him off the
rock。 The knife； not being secured by a thong； fell
from Job's hand as he did so； and； by a most happy
accident for him lit upon its handle on the rock； just
as the body of the Amahagger； being undermost； hit
upon its point and was transfixed upon it。 What
happened to Job after that I am sure I do not know；
but my own impression is that he lay still upon the
corpse of his deceased assailant； 〃playing possum；〃 as
the Americans say。 As for myself； I was soon involved
in a desperate encounter with two ruffians who；
luckily for me； had left their spears behind them； and
for the first time in my life the great physical power
with which nature has endowed me stood me in good
stead。 I had hacked at the head of one man with my
hunting…knife； which was almost as big and heavy as a
short sword； with such vigor that the sharp steel had
split his skull down to the eyes； and was held so fast
by it that as he suddenly fell sideways the knife was
twisted right out of my hand。
Then it was that the two others sprang upon me。 I saw
them coming； and got an arm round the waist of each；
and down we all fell upon the floor of the cave
together； rolling over and over。 They were strong men；
but I was mad with rage； and that awful lust for
slaughter which will creep into the hearts of the most
civilized of us when blows are flying； and life and
death tremble on the turn。 My arms were round the two
swarthy demons； and I hugged them till I heard their
ribs crack and crunch up beneath my grip。 They twisted
and writhed like snakes； and clawed and battered at me
with their fists； but I held on。 Lying on my back
there； so that their bodies might protect me from
spear thrusts from above； I slowly crushed the life
out of them； and as I did so； strange as it may seem；
I thought of what the amiable head of my college at
Cambridge （who is a member of the Peace Society） and
my brother fellows would say if by clairvoyance they
could see me； of all men； playing such a bloody game。
Soon my assailants grew faint； and almost ceased to
struggle； their breath had failed them； and they were
dying； but still I dared not leave them； for they died
very slowly。 I knew that if I relaxed my grip they
would revive。 The other ruffians probably thoughtfor
we were all three lying in the shadow of the ledge
that we were all dead together； at any rate they did
not interfere with our little tragedy。
I turned my head； and as I lay gasping in the throes
of that awful struggle I could s