"Stay here," said Sihamba, "while I look," and she crept to the entrance.

Presently she returned and said: "A man watches there, and it is not possible to slip past him because of the moonlight.

Now, I know of only one thing that we can do; and you, Zinti, must do it.

Slip down the rock and cover the man with your gun, saying to him that if he stirs a hand or speaks a word you will shoot him dead.

Hold him thus till we are past you on our way to the wood, then follow us as best you can, but do not fire except to save your life or ours." Now the gifts of Zinti lay rather in tracking and remembering paths and directions than in fighting men, so that when he heard this order he was afraid and hesitated.