s, several days' journey. But when we have passed Koodoo's kloof,
all safe."

"Koodoo's kloof? What, on the Vaal river? The river is not passable
there."

"Ah, you not know. We pass all safe, so they not catch us."

The missionary said no more. Kobo evidently knew what he was about, and
there was very little chance of their escaping from their pursuers
except through his help. By his skilful management they had probably
secured several hours' start, but that was all. The Bechuanas would be
sure to be on their track on the following day, and their swiftness of
foot was proverbial even among the Kaffir tribes. He resolved to attend
implicitly to Kobo's instructions, and a few words from him prevailed on
the lads to do the same.

They hurried on till the forenoon of the next day, and then rested only
a few hours during the meridian heat, resuming their journey with a
speed which taxed the boys' powers to the utmost, and against which they
would have rebelled, if they had not been plainly told by their guide
that their lives depended on the speed with which that and the following
day's travel could be accomplished. Kobo allowed another halt shortly
before midnight, and the lads were further refreshed by a bathe in a
deep cavity in the rock where the rain water had collected, before
setting out on the following morning. The character of the country they
were traversing now became more pleasing, and seemed to promise abundant
shade and plenty as they advanced. The landscape was varied by groves
of palms and sycamores; and not unfrequently date trees and figs offered
to the travellers their ripe and tempting fruit. The dark-foliaged
moshoma was relieved by the yellow of the mimosa, and the lilac of the
plumbago. Herds of antelopes, and occasionally graceful koodoos and
elands, bounded by them, and little rivulets, evidently on their way to
mingle with some large river, covered the ground with a carpet of
verdure.

"Vaal river near now," remarked Kobo, when they paused a little before
moonrise on the evening of the second day. "White boys travel fast--
travel like men. Bechuanas not catch them."

"That is good hearing at all events," remarked Nick. "A fellow never
knows what he can do till he's tried. I didn't believe I could have
gone such a distance in three days, as I really have gone in less than
two--no, not to save my life."

"Well, it has been to save your life," remarked Warley; "you forget
tha