“Is that your plan?”

“It is a good plan.  When the leopard is caged his cunning goes.  Your men will know where to hide; I have overlooked the place.”

“Good.  The plan will be carried out.”

“There is also a second plan;” and Muata fixed his eyes on Compton.  “Some men will be hidden within the valley, to fall upon those who enter.  I wish the young lion to remain with them.”

“I should like that,” said Compton, quietly.

“Very well, my lad,” said Mr. Hume; “and I think Venning had better go with you.  I prefer it.  And hark! if the plan fails, you know the way to the boat.  Shake hands.”

They shook hands, and the two lads placed themselves beside Muata as he went off with the second band.  Mr. Hume, with the last company, followed at a slower gait, along a path that skirted the river with its fringe of banana trees, whose broad leaves shone in the sun.  After a couple of miles, the river entered the defile through which long since it had cut its way out of the valley.  It was at the entrance to the defile that an ambush was formed by Muata of fifteen men, with Compton and Venning.  The warriors were already in position behind fallen rocks, the two lads being higher up the slope.  They showed themselves as Mr. Hume came up, and waved their hats to him.

“Good luck!” they shouted, with a lump in their throats, for they loved the “great one,” and they feared the task allotted to him was full of danger.

“Take cover,” he said cheerily; “take good aim; and remember the palm tree, if things go wrong.”

“And remember,” they cried, “that we want you back safe and sound.”

“I’ll take precious care of myself,” he said with a smile, and followed his men into the dark defile.

“I wish we were going with him,” said Venning.

“The next best thing is to do our part as well as we can.”

They stretched themselves out each behind a rock and waited.

“There is one thing,” muttered Venning, after fidgeting about; “we cannot wait long, for it will be dark within an hour.”

“The sooner they come the better.”

They watched the shadows creeping across the valley—­already over the river and halfway up the opposite slope; they watched the light on the cliffs above; but, most of all, they watched the young warriors crouching below them.

“They hear something,” said Venning; and his finger curled round the trigger.

“Keep cool, old chap.  Remember, we don’t fire until after these men have given the sign.  They are coming!”