go to black fellows in de bush. Jim not care for
dem, follow de two."

"But how could you follow them, in the dark?"

"Jim were sure de way dey go, dat enough for Jim. He suppose dat
dey 'top after a bit; and when dey see de white men all 'top quiet
at de water hole, and light fire, dey tink it all right. No make
hurry, perhaps 'top and light a fire demselves.

"So Jim go on quiet for two, tree hour; den at last he see fire,
sure 'nough. He crawl up quiet and see two black fellow dar, and
hear what 'em say. Dey tired, make long walk today to water hole;
say no hurry, white men all go sleep round fire, not go on till sun
get up, so dey stop for two, tree hour to rest demselves.

"Jim get quite close and jump up, den cut off one black fellow head
with sword, run sword through de body of other, finish 'em both,
and den come back to camp."

"Well done, indeed, Jim!" Reuben exclaimed, and a chorus of
satisfaction rose from all the party at hearing that the men--who,
had they reached the bush rangers, would have given the alarm, and
so enabled them to make their escape before the expedition
arrived--had been killed. The news, however, that two of the party
had escaped, and might bring the blacks down upon them before
morning, necessitated an increase of precautions.

Reuben at once divided the force into four parties, each consisting
of five constables and seven settlers. One party were at once
placed on watch, and were to be relieved in two hours' time.

"I not tink dey come before morning, sah," Jim said. "No water hole
near here. Tomorrow plenty black fellow come."

"All right, Jim. We don't care for them, in the daylight; and now
that I know the bush rangers won't be alarmed, I don't mind."

Jim's prediction proved correct. The night passed off quietly, and
the party again started at daylight. The country became more and
more broken, as they proceeded. The undulations became hills. Some
of these were so steep that all had to dismount, and lead their
horses up.

"Is Bobitu's camp among these hills, Jim?"

"Ober toder side, sah. Him place in valley, toder side; bush,
plenty game for black fellow."

"How far is it to this valley, Jim?"

Jim's ideas of figures were but vague, and he could only say that
they would get there somewhere about sunset.

"That would be a bad time to get there, Jim. We must halt, a mile
or two this side of them; and you must lead half the party round,
so as to cut off their retreat