midnight
cried Omar in delight . `` Floored him ! Let 's run for our lives . '' Ere the midnight murderer could spring to his feet , we had dashed away as fast as our legs could carry us , running along the fetish-grove , past the cluster of executioners ' houses , across the open space where in the centre stood the great tree under which Prempeh had sat to witness the wholesale sacrifice , and continuing until we came to a path through the high elephant-grass , we soon left the city far behind us , and plunged into the dark , dismal forest by the narrow winding way that led to the unexplored regions of the north . When at length we paused to take breath Omar , panting , said : `` At last we are free again . Betea will not seek us , for he naturally believes we were killed by the gree-gree . If Zomara favours us we shall yet live to enter Mo and lead our hosts into the country of Samory . ''