"It is they who let free the thief of the forest--the dog Muata." "You lie, O woman stealer; Muata freed himself;" and out of the water, out of the blackness, came the voice, without warning, "Muata is here, by your side, man-thief." The Arab fired, and the flash from his discharged rifle flamed into the water, into which he peered with features convulsed.
"Kill him!" he yelled.
"Muata!" cried the paddlers.

"Haw! To the shore, to the shore, or we perish! The water-wolf, he!" "Yavuma!" cried the voice from the water; and the canoe heeled over as the chief rose under the sharp bow.

"Yavuma!"-- he wrenched a paddle from one of the men and hurled it at the Arab.

The crank craft rolled as some of the excited men in the stem tried to use their spears.

"Yavuma!"-- this time with a triumphant whoop, and the canoe turned over! With a couple of powerful strokes the swimmer had his hand on the Okapi.
"O great one," he cried, "Muata is come to work and to watch--to be your shield and your spear." Mr.Hume reached out a strong hand and pulled the chief on board.
Muata gave a low cry, and with a frightened whimper the jackal shot out from the bank and lighted on the deck.