Then
with an oath the remaining man sprung at the rock and clambered over it
in safety. Aghast at the awfulness of what had happened, I stood still,
till I saw the great blade of a Matuku spear pass up between my feet.
That brought me to my senses, and I began to clamber up the rock like
a cat. I was half way round it. Already I had clasped the hand of that
brave girl Maiwa, who came down to help me, the men having scrambled
forward with the ivory, when I felt some one seize my ankle.
"'Pull, Maiwa, pull,' I gasped, and she certainly did pull. Maiwa was a
very muscular woman, and never before did I appreciate the advantages
of the physical development of females so keenly. She tugged at my left
arm, the savage below tugged at my right leg, till I began to realize
that something must give way ere long. Luckily I retained my presence
of mind, like the man who threw his mother-in-law out of the window, and
carried the mattress down-stairs, when a fire broke out in his house.
My right hand was still free, and in it I held my revolver, which was
secured to my wrist by a leather thong. The pistol was cocked, and I
simply pointed it downwards and fired. The result was instantaneous--and
so far as I am concerned, most satisfactory. The bullet hit the man
beneath me somewhere, I am sure I don't know where; at any rate, he let
go of my leg and plunged headlong into the gulf beneath to join Gobo. In
another moment I was on the top of the rock, and going up the remaining
steps like a lamplighter.
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