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fall； and tore down into the abyss with a shattering thunder。 I lay flat and clutched desperately at every hold； but I had loosened an avalanche of earth； and not till my feet were sprayed by the water did I get a grip of firm rock and check my descent。 All this frightened me horribly； with the kind of despairing angry fear which I had suffered at Bruderstroom； when I dreamed that the treasure was lost。 I could not bear the notion of death when I had won so far。
After that I advanced； not by steps； but by inches。 I felt more poised and pinnacled in the void than when I had stood on the spike of rock； for I had a substantial hold neither for foot nor hand。 It seemed weeks before I made any progress away from the lip of the waterhole。 I dared not look down； but kept my eyes on the slope before me； searching for any patch of ground which promised stability。 Once I found a scrog of juniper with firm roots； and this gave me a great lift。 A little further； however； I lit on a bank of screes which slipped with me to the right； and I lost most of the ground the bush had gained me。 My whole being； I remember； was filled with a devouring passion to be quit of this gully and all that was in it。
Then； not suddenly as in romances； but after hard striving and hope long deferred； I found myself on a firm outcrop of weathered stone。 In three strides I was on the edge of the plateau。 Then I began to run； and at the same time to lose the power of running。 I cast one look behind me； and saw a deep cleft of darkness out of which I had climbed。 Down in the cave it had seemed light enough； but in the clear sunshine of the top the gorge looked a very pit of shade。 For the first and last time in my life I had vertigo。 Fear of falling back； and a mad craze to do it； made me acutely sick。 I managed to stumble a few steps forward on the mountain turf； and then flung myself on my face。
When I raised my head I was amazed to find it still early morning。 The dew was yet on the grass； and the sun was not far up the sky。 I had thought that my entry into the cave； my time in it； and my escape had taken many hours； whereas at the most they had occupied two。 It was little more than dawn； such a dawn as walks only on the hilltops。 Before me was the shallow vale with its bracken and sweet grass； and farther on the shining links of the stream； and the loch still grey in the shadow of the beleaguering hills。 Here was a fresh； clean land； a land for homesteads and orchards and children。 All of a sudden I realized that at last I had come out of savagery。 The burden of the past days slipped from my shoulders。 I felt young again； and cheerful and brave。 Behind me was the black night； and the horrid secrets of darkness。 Before me was my own country； for that loch and that bracken might have been on a Scotch moor。 The fresh scent of the air and the whole morning mystery put song into my blood。 I remembered that I was not yet twenty。 My first care was to kneel there among the bracken and give thanks to my Maker； who in very truth had shown me 'His goodness in the land of the living。'
After a little I went back to the edge of the cliff。 There where the road came out of the bush was the body of Henriques； lying sprawled on the sand； with two dismounted riders looking hard at it。 I gave a great shout； for in the men I recognized Aitken and the schoolmaster Wardlaw。
CHAPTER XXII A GREAT PERIL AND A GREAT SALVATION
I must now take up some of the ragged ends which I have left behind me。 It is not my task； as I have said； to write the history of the great Rising。 That has been done by abler men； who were at the centre of the business； and had some knowledge of strategy and tactics； whereas I was only a raw lad who was privileged by fate to see the start。 If I could； I would fain make an epic of it； and show how the Plains found at all points the Plateau guarded； how wits overcame numbers； and at every pass which the natives tried the great guns spoke and the tide rolled back。 Yet I fear it would be an epic without a hero。 There was no leader left when Laputa had gone。 There were months of guerrilla fighting； and then months of reprisals； when chief after chief was hunted down and brought to trial。 Then the amnesty came and a clean sheet； and white Africa drew breath again with certain grave reflections left in her head。 On the whole I am not sorry that the history is no business of mine。 Romance died with 'the heir of John；' and the crusade became a sorry mutiny。 I can fancy how differently Laputa would have managed it all had he lived； how swift and sudden his plans would have been； how under him the fighting would not have been in the mountain glens； but far in the high…veld among the dorps and townships。 With the Inkulu alive we warred against odds； with the Inkulu dead the balance sank heavily in our favour。 I leave to others the marches and strategy of the thing； and hasten to clear up the obscure parts in my own fortunes。
Arcoll received my message from Umvelos' by Colin； or rather Wardlaw received it and sent it on to the post on the Berg where the leader had gone。 Close on its heels came the message from Henriques by a Shangaan in his pay。 It must have been sent off before the Portugoose got to the Rooirand； from which it would appear that he had his own men in the bush near the store； and that I was lucky to get off as I did。 Arcoll might have disregarded Henriques' news as a trap if it had come alone； but my corroboration impressed and perplexed him。 He began to credit the Portugoose with treachery； but he had no inclination to act on his message； since it conflicted with his plans。 He knew that Laputa must come into the Berg sooner or later； and he had resolved that his strategy must be to await him there。 But there was the question of my life。 He had every reason to believe that I was in the greatest danger； and he felt a certain responsibility for my fate。 With the few men at his disposal he could not hope to hold up the great Kaffir army； but there was a chance that he might by a bold stand effect my rescue。 Henriques had told him of the vow； and had told him that Laputa would ride in the centre of the force。 A body of men well posted at Dupree's Drift might split the army at the crossing； and under cover of the fire I might swim the river and join my friends。 Still relying on the vow； it might be possible for well…mounted men to evade capture。 Accordingly he called for volunteers； and sent off one of his Kaffirs to warn me of his design。 He led his men in person； and of his doings the reader already knows the tale。 But though the crossing was flung into confusion； and the rear of the army was compelled to follow the northerly bank of the Letaba； there was no sign of me anywhere。 Arcoll searched the river…banks； and crossed the drift to where the old Keeper was lying dead。 He then concluded that I had been murdered early in the march； and his Kaffir； who might have given him news of me； was carried up the stream in the tide of the disorderly army。 Therefore； he and his men rode back with all haste to the Berg by way of Main Drift； and reached Bruderstroom before Laputa had crossed the high