As he spoke an arrow struck the rock close to them and dropped at their feet.  Others came in rapid succession; and, looking at the brow of the opposite side of the ravine, they saw a number of natives.

“Pull the bear’s body across the mouth of the cave,” Malchus said, “it will prevent the arrows which strike the rock in front from glancing in.  The little bears will do for food at present.”

They were soon in the cave, which opened beyond the entrance and extended some distance into the mountain; it was seven or eight feet wide and lofty enough to stand upright in.  Nessus lay down behind the bear, with his bow and arrow so as to command the angle of the rock.  Malchus seated himself further in the cave, sheltered by the entrance from the arrows which from time to time glanced in at the mouth.  Only once did Nessus have to shoot.  The natives on the ledge, informed by their comrades on the opposite side of the gorge that their foes had sought refuge in the cave, ventured to advance; but the moment the first turned the corner he fell over the precipice, transfixed by an arrow from the bow of Nessus, and the rest hastily retreated.

“Hand me your flint and steel, Nessus, and a piece of fungus.  I may as well have a look round the cave.”

A light was soon procured, and Malchus found that the cave extended some fifty feet back, narrowing gradually to the end.  It had evidently been used for a long time by wild animals.  The floor was completely covered with dry bones of various sizes.

As soon as he saw that this was the case Malchus tore off a strip of his linen shirt, and rolling it into a ball set it on fire.  On this he piled up small bones, which caught readily, and he soon had a bright and almost smokeless fire.  He now took the place of Nessus.  The latter skinned and cut up one of the small bears, and soon had some steaks broiling over the fire.  By this time it was getting dusk without.

When the meat was cooked Nessus satisfied his hunger and then sallied out from the cave and took his post as sentry with his spear close to the angle of the rock, as by this time the natives on the opposite side, being no longer able to see in the gathering darkness, had ceased to shoot.  Malchus ate his food at his leisure, and then joined his companion.

“We must get out of here somehow, Nessus.  Our company will search for us tomorrow; but they might search for a week without finding us here; and, as the army is advancing, they could not spare more than a day; so, if we are to get away, it must be by our own exertions.”

“I am ready to fight my way along this ledge, my lord, if such is your wish.  They cannot see us to fire at, and as only one man can stand abreast, their numbers would be of no avail to them.”

“Not on the ledge, Nessus; but they would hardly defend that.  No doubt they are grouped at the further end, and we should have to fight against overwhelming numbers.  No, that is not to be thought of.  The only way of escape I can think of would be to let ourselves down the precipice; but our bernouses would not make a rope long enough.”