Their first thought was to avoid them, but the Mungana, creeping up to Alan, for Jeekie he would not approach, whispered: "Not Asiki, Ogula chief and slaves who left Bonsa Town yesterday." They crept nearer the fire and saw that this was so.

Then rejoicing exceedingly, they awoke the old chief, Fahni, who at first thought they must be spirits.

But when he recognized Alan, he flung himself on his knees and kissed his hand, because to him he owed his liberty.
"No time for all that, Fahni," said Alan.

"Give us food." Now of this as it chanced there was plenty, since by the Asika's orders the slaves had been laden with as much as they could carry.

They ate of it ravenously, and while they ate, told Fahni something of the story of their escape.