“Quite time,” said the Major; “so now let us show ourselves, and then trust to our heels.”

The Matabili force was now within four hundred yards of the camp.  It was broad daylight; and, with their white and red shields and short spears in their hands, they presented a very formidable appearance.

There was no time to be lost, so the party rode out of the end of the wood nearest the river, and, as soon as they made their appearance, were received by a yell from the warriors, who dashed forward in the direction where they stood.  The Major had directed that no one should fire, as he and Alexander did not wish that any blood should be shed unnecessarily.  They therefore waved their hands, and turning their horses’ heads galloped off by the banks of the river, keeping in the tracks made by the wagons when they came up.

As soon as they galloped a quarter of a mile, they pulled up, and turned their horses’ heads to reconnoiter.  They perceived that the Matabili force was pursuing them at the utmost speed:  but as they had no horsemen, that speed was of course insufficient to overtake the well-mounted party in advance.  As soon as they were near, our party again galloped off and left them behind.  Thus they continued for four or five miles, the Matabili force pursuing them, or rather following the tracks of the wagons, when they observed a belt of trees before them about a mile off; this the Major considered as a good screen to enable them to alter their course without being perceived by the enemy.  They therefore galloped forward, and as soon as they were hidden by the trees, turned off in a direction by which they made certain to fall in with the track which the wagons had made on their departure during the night.

They had ridden about two miles, still concealed in the wood, when they had the satisfaction of perceiving the Matabili force still following at a rapid pace the tracks of the wagons on the riverside.  Having watched them for half an hour, as they now considered that all was safe, they again continued their course, so as to fall in with the wagons.

“I think we are clear of them now,” said the Major; “they have evidently fallen into the trap proposed by that clever little fellow, Omrah.”

“He is a very intelligent boy,” observed Alexander, “and, traveling in this country, worth his weight in gold.”

“I wish Swinton would make him over to me,” said the Major; “but, Alexander, do you observe what a change there is already in the country?”

“I do indeed,” replied Alexander; “and all ahead of us it appears to be still more sterile and bare.”

“Yes, when you leave the rivers, you leave vegetation of all kinds almost.  There is no regular rainy season at all here, Swinton says; we may expect occasional torrents of rain during three months, but they are now very uncertain; the mountains attract the greater portion of the rain, and sometimes there will not be a shower on the plains for the whole year.”