The long day reached its close at last.  The western clouds flushed into fire; the shadows of the hills stretched out across the valley.  A ponderous Boer waggon, with its long team, crawled slowly along the track towards the town.  The Kaffirs collected their herds and drew around their kraal.  The daylight died, and soon it was quite dark.  Then, and not till then, I set forth, I hurried to the railway line, pausing on my way to drink at a stream of sweet, cold water.  I waited for some time at the top of the steep gradient in the hope of catching a train.  But none came, and I gradually guessed, and I have since found that I guessed right, that the train I had already travelled in was the only one that ran at night.  At last I resolved to walk on, and make, at any rate, twenty miles of my journey.  I walked for about six hours.  How far I travelled I do not know, but I do not think that it was very many miles in the direct line.  Every bridge was guarded by armed men; every few miles were gangers’ huts; at intervals there were stations with villages clustering round them.  All the veldt was bathed in the bright rays of the full moon, and to avoid these dangerous places I had to make wide circuits and often to creep along the ground.  Leaving the railroad I fell into bogs and swamps, and brushed through high grass dripping with dew, so that I was drenched to the waist.  I had been able to take little exercise during my month’s imprisonment, and I was soon tired out with walking, as well as from want of food and sleep.  I felt very miserable when I looked around and saw here and there the lights of houses, and thought of the warmth and comfort within them, but knew that they only meant danger to me.  After six or seven hours of walking I thought it unwise to go further lest I should exhaust myself, so I lay down in a ditch to sleep.  I was nearly at the end of my tether.  Nevertheless, by the will of God, I was enabled to sustain myself during the next few days, obtaining food at great risk here and there, resting in concealment by day and walking only at night.  On the fifth day I was beyond Middelburg, so far as I could tell, for I dared not inquire nor as yet approach the stations near enough to read the names.  In a secure hiding-place I waited for a suitable train, knowing that there is a through service between Middelburg and Lourenco Marques.

Meanwhile there had been excitement in the States Model Schools, temporarily converted into a military prison.  Early on Wednesday morning—­barely twelve hours after I had escaped—­my absence was discovered—­I think by Dr. Gunning.  The alarm was given.  Telegrams with my description at great length were despatched along all the railways.  Three thousand photographs were printed.  A warrant was issued for my immediate arrest.  Every train was strictly searched.  Everyone was on the watch.  The worthy Boshof, who knew my face well, was hurried off to Komati Poort to examine all and sundry people