Well, if it came to the worst, Nahoon must die: it would be easy--hehad a loaded rifle, and now that his assegai was gone, Nahoon had onlya kerry. He did not wish to kill the man, though it was clear to him,seeing that his own safety was at stake, that he would be amplyjustified in so doing. Why should he not put it to him--and then beguided by circumstances?

Nahoon was walking across a little open space about twelve spaces aheadof him where Hadden could look at him somewhat well, whilst he himself wasunder the shadow of a large tree with low horizontal branches runningout from the trunk.