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."

"How far shall we have to travel before we fall in with water again?"
inquired Alexander.

"Swinton says there may be water in a river about sixty miles from where
we started last night; if not, we shall have to proceed about thirty
miles further, to the Gykoup or Vet River. After that we shall have to
depend for many days upon the water we may find in the holes, which, as
the season is now coming on, may probably be filled by the rain."

Alexander and his party rode for seven or eight miles before they fell
in with t