CHAPTER XX.
BY A HAIR'S BREADTH.
A nervous shiver passed through Guy as he recognized the repulsive faceof his old enemy, and instinctively he pulled his burnouse closer aroundhis head. Oko Sam darted a curious glance at the two motionless figureson the camels and then advanced to meet the head man, who broke off theconference and greeted his newly arrived chief in a most servile manner.
"Don't despair," whispered Guy; "those infernal Abyssinians have becomedrunk and allowed their captive to slip away just at this critical time,but all may go well yet."
It took but a short time to make Oko Sam acquainted with the facts ofthe case. He strode up to the camels, and gazed long and haughtily atthe two strangers. Then, apparently satisfied with his scrutiny, headdressed a few words to the weazened Arab, and, turning to his people,jabbered away volubly for two or three minutes. When he ceased, half adozen men started off in different directions, and the interpreterproceeded to communicate the decision to Guy, who, in spite of his calmexterior, was greatly agitated.
"Oko Sam say yes," began the Arab. "He friend of Makar Makalo; he nowant Makar lose Zaila; he give plenty food for journey; he give six,ten, twenty men go long, so bring back much gift from Makar. You sayMakar give much, hey?"
"Yes," replied Guy, repressing with difficulty his extreme joy, "Makarwill give big rewards to Oko Sam."
The Arab turned aside with a grunt of satisfaction as half a dozennatives came up, bearing leathern sacks of provisions, which were handedup, one at a time, to Guy and Canaris, and slung across the necks oftheir camels.
This proceeding was barely over, when, to Guy's amazement and disgust, aband of Gallas, fully armed, and bearing each a supply of food strappedon their backs, advanced into the open space.
This was Oko Sam's promised escort! Instead of two men there weretwenty.
"These good fellows here go long," said the Arab. "They no have camels;they go on foot one day's journey, then reach other tribe, where findplenty camel."
This statement relieved Guy considerably. It would not be so difficult,after all, to get rid of the troublesome escort if they were on foot.
And now came the crisis. At a signal from Oko Sam the guards about thehut flung open the entrance, and in a moment two emaciated, halfstarved figures were led forth, whom it was actually difficult torecognize as the pompous Sir Arthur Ashby and brave Colonel Carrington.
They still wore their uniforms, but the cloth hung in folds about theirshrunken limbs, and their faces were pitifully thin and distressed.
Guy's heart beat fast with indignation as he gazed on this melancholysight, and then he purposely half turned his face away, lest theprisoners should recognize him and unconsciously cause the failure ofthe whole plan.
The people drew back as the little group reached the camels. The twoEnglishmen were lifted up behind the supposed Portuguese--Sir Arthurwith Canaris, the colonel beside Chutney--and so weak and helpless werethey that it was necessary to partially strap them in their places.
All was now ready. Guy and Canaris were prepared to start, the prisonerswere in their possession, and the armed escort were exchanging farewellswith their comrades.
At this supreme moment, when the fullest success seemed assured, astartling diversion occurred.
A big Arab, a new arrival evidently, pushed his way forward, and as hisglance fell on the Greek he started with surprise, and exclaimed aloud,"Canaris!"
With wonderful self possession the Greek looked at him in muteignorance; but the Arab, who had probably but just come from Harar,pressed forward, and, joining Oko Sam a few paces away, began to talkexcitedly in a low voice.
"We are lost, Chutney," whispered Canaris in tones of despair.
At the mention of this name, Guy felt the colonel's arms clasp his waistin a convulsive thrill.
"Not a sound, Colonel Carrington," he muttered under his breath, "as youvalue your freedom."
The tightened grasp instantly relaxed, and Guy turned his head slightlyto obtain a clearer view of Oko Sam.
This action hastened the climax, for his burnous caught on the buttonof Colonel Carrington's coat and fell to the ground. A glaring torchpassing at the moment completed the catastrophe, and the keen eyedGalla chief uttered a howl of rage and amazement as he recognizedhis old enemy of the market place at Berbera.
Never did Captain Chutney's quick wits do him a better service than atthat moment.
In one glance he took in the whole situation, the astounded chief andhis counselors, the swarthy mass of savages ready for instant action,the armed escort that stood between him and the edge of the encampment.
More speedily than words can tell it, his determination was reached.With a warning cry to Canaris, a hasty injunction to Colonel Carringtonto hold fast, he snatched a short dagger from his waist and plunged itan inch or more into the flank of the Greek's camel, and then into thatof his own animal.
The frightened and agonized beasts pranced madly for a second or two andthen plunged desperately forward, trampling the amazed guards right andleft.
It was over in a moment; a howl from the infuriated chief, a terrificuproar from the vast throng, and then, spurred to greater efforts by thetumult in their ears, the valiant camels thundered out into the desert,heedless of the scattered rifle-fire, the volley of whizzing spears.With tremendous strides they bore their precious burdens toward safetyand freedom, while the silence of the African night was rent by thevenomous cries of their bloodthirsty pursuers.
For the moment they were safe, but in that long four mile race that layahead many perils might be encountered, and it was even within the realmof possibilities that the fleet-footed Gallas would overtake theheavily-burdened camels.
It was no time for conversation or explanation. A fervent "Thank God!"burst from Colonel Carrington's lips as he realized that he had falleninto the hands of friends, while Sir Arthur, feebly beginning tocomprehend what had happened, ejaculated several times, "Bless my soul,"as he clung with might and main to the Greek's waist.
Faster and faster they sped over the plain, until the tumult behind themwas lost in the muffled tramp of the camels' hoofs. They rode side byside, with arms ready for instant use, but no foe appeared in front orbehind, and at last, with a glad cry, Canaris pointed to the distantgleam of the Abyssinian camp.
"We are safe now," exclaimed Guy. "The Gallas feared to pursue us anyfurther lest their anticipated attack on the Abyssinians should bespoiled."
"Yes," replied Canaris, "either that or they have circled round, hopingto cut us off at yonder gap in the mountains where the road breaksthrough to the coast. And now the rock must be close by. Ha! What doesthat mean?"
Bang! went a rifle shot directly ahead, and a brief red flash piercedthe gloom.
"It is Forbes!" cried Chutney. "He is in danger. Quick, quick, to therescue."
A loud shout followed closely on the heels of the report, andrecognizing Melton's voice, Guy, lost to all sense of prudence, criedaloud:
"Don't give in Forbes; we are coming."
An answering hail came distinctly back, followed immediately by a secondshot.
The agony of suspense was brief. A moment later the rock loomed intoview, and the panting camels came to a halt before the entrance to thecavern.
"Oh, you've come back safe?" exclaimed Melton coolly, as he came forwardwith a smoking rifle in his hand. "I've had a brush with a party ofAbyssinians. They were hunting their camels, I suppose, and took me bysurprise. I dropped one of the rascals, and----Look out! There they areagain."
All dodged to the ground as a shower of spears fell about the rock. Witha hollow groan one of the camels dropped heavily over, pierced in thethroat by a short spear, and his huge bulk formed a natural barrierbefore the cavern. Melton's rifle cracked sharply and a howl of painattested the accuracy of his aim.
"Into the cavern, all of you," cried Guy. "The Abyssinians are coming inforce; the firing has attracted them to the spot."
Already a shadowy mass wa
s visible some hundred yards off, and the soundof voices was distinctly heard.
The Greek hastily motioned Sir Arthur and the colonel into the cavern,and hurriedly tossed in the provisions bag by bag.
The enemy were now quite close, and as Canaris stowed away the last bagthey came on with a wild rush.
From behind the dead camel Guy and Melton poured in a hot fire thatchecked their impetuous advance instantly, and before they could rallyfor another charge, both had bolted into the gloomy hole, and the stonewas deftly rolled into place.