of the light when it came, for I was
anxious to be away, I drank a nip of Hollands and water and ate a
biscuit, making Anscombe do the same. Coffee would have been
more acceptable, but I thought it wiser not to light a fire for
fear of showing our whereabouts.

Now a faint glimmer in the east told me that the dawn was coming.
Just by the wagon grew a fair-sized, green-leaved tree, and as it
was quite easy to climb even by starlight, up it I went so as to
get above the ground mist and take a look round before we
trekked. Presently the sky grew pearly and light began to
gather; then the edge of the sun appeared, throwing long level
rays across the world. Everywhere the mist lay dense as cotton
wool, except at one spot about a mile behind us where there was a
little hill or rather a wave of the ground, over which we had
trekked upon the preceding evening. The top of this rise was
above mist level, and on it no trees grew because the granite
came to the surface. Having discovered nothing, I called to the
boys to drive up the oxen, some of which had risen and were
eating again, and prepared to descend from my tree.

As I did so, out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of
something that glittered far away, so far that it would only have
attracted the notice of a trained hunter. Yes, something was
shining on the brow of the rise of which I have spoken. I stared
at it through my glasses and saw what I had feared to see. A
body of natives was crossing the rise and the glitter was caused
by the rays of dawn striking on their spears and gun-barrels.

I came down out of that tree like a frightened wild cat and ran
to the wagon, thinking hard as I went. The Basutos were after
us, meaning to attack as soon as there was sufficient light. In
ten minutes or less they would be here. There was no time to
inspan the oxen, and even if there had been, stiff and weary as
the beasts were, we should be overtaken before we had gone a
hundred yards on that bad road. What then was to be done? Run
for it? It was impossible, Anscombe could not run. My eye fell
upon the horse munching the last of his mealies.

"Footsack," I said as quietly as I could, "never mind about
inspanning yet, but saddle up the horse. Be quick now."

He looked at me doubtfully, but obeyed, having seen nothing. If
he had seen I knew that he would have been off. I nipped round
to the end of the wagon, calling to the other two boys to let the
oxen be a