Slowly then he began to edge away from the stone, toward the opening where he had seen the fleeting form vanish.
His intention was to make a dash for life, for he had heard a noise behind the rock, and remembered the guard.

He saw the savages glance behind him, and anticipated danger from that direction, but he must not turn.

A second there might be fatal.

He backed defiantly along the rock until he gained its outer edge.

But too late! The Indians glided before him, now behind him; he was surrounded.