Still I refused, saying that if they gave you up I would go with you, who saved my life from the lion and afterwards from the priests of Bonsa.

So the messenger went back and, white man, we march at once, and I pray you always to keep close to me that I may watch over you." Then began that long tramp down the river, which Alan always thought afterwards tried him more than any of the terrible events of his escape.
For although there was but little fighting, only rearguard actions indeed, every day the Asiki sent messengers renewing their offers of peace on the sole condition of the surrender of himself and Jeekie.

At last one evening they came to that place where Alan first met the Ogula, and once more he camped upon the island on which he had shot the lion.
At nightfall, after he had eaten, Fahni visited him here and Alan boded evil from his face.
"White man," he said, "I can protect you no longer.

The Asiki messengers have been with us again and they say that unless we give you up to-morrow at the dawn, their army will push on ahead of us and destroy my town, which is two days' march down the river, and all the women and children in it, and that afterwards they will fight a great battle with us.

Therefore my people say that I must give you up, or that if I do not they will elect another chief and do so themselves." "Then you will give up a dead man, Fahni." "Friend," said the old chief in a low voice, "the night is dark and the forest not so far away.