The yoke had been slipped over the rudder, and, using the lines, Mr.Hume sailed the Okapi single-handed, taking her across the lake-like width till he was under the wooded hills of the south bank, where he beat about for an hour or so in the hope that Muata might have covered the distance at the native's trotting-pace.

It was, he told himself, not likely, however, that the chief could have done so, after being for hours bound to a post; and after a time he beat out again into mid- stream afar off, so that no village natives should spy upon the craft.

He did not share in the triumph of his young companions.

Too well he knew that they had risked everything by their secret departure; but he could not see that any other course was open to them, as if they had remained it would have been difficult for them to prove that they were not concerned in Muata's escape.

He knew, too, that if he had abandoned the chief, as the price of security, the boys would have lost all faith in him.
What, however, he did feel was, that the responsibility rested on him.