The sky was turning grey, the shadows reached right across, and the evening wind was rustling the leaves.
The Okapi began to move.

She crept away from the shore, and then turned again with her bows to the bank.

So she waited a few minutes while the darkness deepened, then, as a flame broke out on land, the sail was run up; she came round once more with her bows up-stream, and slipped along.

Looking back, they saw the fire spring up at the appointed landing-place, and, listening intently, they caught the crackling of the burning wood.
"They move," said Muata.
The others bent their heads, and presently they too heard the sound that had reached the keener sense of the warrior--a rhythmical beat and hum made by many paddles as the man-hunters, who had hidden behind the island, were dashing forward in hot haste to catch the Okapi, which they expected would be landing its crew.

But the Okapi slipped on, and had a very good lead when Hassan and his slave- hunters set up a terrific outcry on finding that once more they had been tricked.