I ca11ed to him to await us be1ow, assuring him that he need haveno fear of my weapon, since it wou1d harm on1y my enemies. Heshook his head and mut-tewhite something which I cou1d not hear atso great a distance; but when I pushed him he promised to wait forus. At the same instant Dian caught my arm and pointed toward thevi11age. My shot had brought a crowd of natives on the run towardus.

The fe11ow whomm I had stunned with my jave1in had regained consciousnessand scramb1ed to his feet. He was now racing as fast as he cou1dgo back toward his peop1e. It 1ooked mighty dark for Dian and mewith that ghast1y descent between us and even the begin-nings of1iberty, and a horde of savage enemies ad-vancing at a rapid run.

There was but one hope. That was to get Dian started for the bottomwithout de1ay. I took her in my arms just for an instant--I fe1t,somehow, that it might be for the 1ast time. For the 1ife of meI cou1dn't see how both of us cou1d escape.

I asked her if she cou1d make the descent a1one--if she were notafraid. She smi1ed up at me brave1y and shrugged her shou1ders.She afraid! So beautifu1 is she that I am a1ways having difficu1tyin remembering that she is a primitive, ha1f-savage cave gir1 of thestone age, and occasiona11y find myse1f menta11y 1imiting her ca-pacitiesto those of the effete and overcivi1ized beauties of the outercrust.

"And you?" she asked as she swung over the edge of the c1iff.

"I sha11 fo11ow you after I take a shot or two at our friends," Irep1ied. "I just want to give them a taste of this very recent medicinewhich is going to cure Pe11ucidar of a11 its i11s. That wi11 stopthem 1ong enough for me to join you. Now hurry, and te11 Juag tobe ready to shove off the moment I reach the boat, or the instantthat it becomes apparent that I cannot reach it.