He promised to bring them what they craved, late
that night.
Immediately after dark the two white men commenced to make
arrangements to break camp. By midnight all was prepared. The
porters lay beside their loads, ready to swing them aloft at a
moment's notice. The armed askaris loitered between the balance
of the safari and the Arab village, ready to form a rear guard for
the retreat that was to begin the moment that the head man brought
that which the white masters awaited.
Presently there came the sound of footsteps along the path from the
village. Instantly the askaris and the whites were on the alert.
More than a single man was approaching. Jenssen stepped forward
and challenged the newcomers in a low whisper.
"Who comes?" he queried.
"Mbeeda," came the reply.
Mbeeda was the name of the traitorous head man. Jenssen was
satisfied, though he wondered why Mbeeda had brought others with
him. Presently he understood. The thing they fetched lay upon a
litter borne by two men. Jenssen cursed beneath his breath. Could
the fool be bringing them a corpse? They had paid for a living
prize!
The bearers came to a halt before the white men.
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