“Very good,” I replied.  “Then tell him, if we do not meet, that I have returned to the camp.”

As I set out the sun was sinking below the horizon, but this did not trouble me overmuch, as I had a rifle with me, that same light rifle with which I had shot the geese in the great match.  Also I knew that the moon, being full, would be up presently.

The sun sank, and the kloof was plunged in gloom.  The place seemed eerie and lonesome, and suddenly I grew afraid.  I began to wonder where Pereira was, and what he might be doing.  I even thought of turning back and finding some way round, only having explored all this district pretty thoroughly in my various shooting expeditions from the camp, I knew there was no practicable path across those hills.  So I went on with my rifle at full cock, whistling to keep up my courage, which, of course, in the circumstances was a foolish thing to do.  It occurred to me at the time that it was foolish, but, in truth, I would not give way to the dark suspicions which crossed my mind.  Doubtless by now Pereira had passed me and reached the outspan.

The moon began to shine—­that wonderful African moon, which turns night to day—­throwing a network of long, black shadows of trees and rocks across the game track I was following.  Right ahead of me was a particularly dark patch of this shadow, caused by a projecting wall of cliff, and beyond it an equally bright patch of moonlight.  Somehow I misdoubted me of that stretch of gloom, for although, of course, I could see nothing there, my quick ear caught the sound of movements.

I halted for a moment.  Then, reflecting that these were doubtless caused by some night-walking creature, which, even should it chance to be dangerous, would flee at the approach of man, I plunged into it boldly.  As I emerged at the other end—­the shadow was eighteen or twenty paces long—­it occurred to me that if any enemy were lurking there, I should be an easy target as I entered the line of clear light.  So, almost instinctively, for I do not remember that I reasoned the thing out, after my first two steps forward in the light I gave a little spring to the left, where there was still shadow, although it was not deep.  Well was it for me that I did so, for at that moment I felt something touch my cheek and heard the loud report of a gun immediately behind me.

Now, the wisest course would have been for me to run before whoever had fired found time to reload.  But a kind of fury seized me, and run I would not.  On the contrary, I turned with a shout, and charged back into the shadow.  Something heard me coming, something fled in front of me.  In a few seconds we were out into the moonlight beyond, and, as I expected, I saw that this something was a man—­Pereira!

He halted and wheeled round, lifting the stock of his gun, club fashion.

“Thank God! it is you, Heer Allan,” he said; “I thought you were a tiger.”