ming over the horizon. The Philistines of civilization
were almost riding into the kraal before Carrot had really gone.
My Adullamite friend was slow indeed with his farewells. Would he
ever be through with them? 'Good-bye!' he said. He was enjoying
the emergency hugely now that he was sobered. 'You'd better walk
down the road and meet 'em. Do remind 'em not to lose their mules
this time. No, I won't worry you to see me off. They might ask
questions. You must honor and obey the King and those who are set
in authority. But you won't want to give me away exactly. So
good-bye till next time!'

A hundred yards from Carrot's dwelling I met Troopers 1 and 2
Trooper No. I dusty and disheveled and livid with fever a lanky,
dark man; Trooper No. 2 trim and ruddy. The former could hardly
sit his mule as he trotted up to me. 'Have you seen Carrot?' he
asked in a sort of groan. I said 'Good evening,' and passed on.
Promptly he gasped to two native police to bring me along, and
went his way forward to explore the ruinous kraal. He felt
doubtful whether I was or was not Carrot, he told me afterwards.
He went for the three Carrot huts at once and began to search
them. There were no finds there. Then he questioned me sharply.
Two of his black watch knew me by sight, and I was soon set free
to go my ways. Then he gave clear decisive orders to No. 2 to
ride for all he was worth to the drift. 'The river's the border,'
he said; 'it's his old game to dodge across it. If he's taken his
kids with him he can't cross anywhere. It's a big river, and
there's only the one drift so far as I know. Go for the drift,
man, and we'll have him yet!'

So Trooper No. 2, with the glory-thirst upon him, bustled off
with one black boy and four black men in red and blue.

After he was safely out of the way Trooper No. I fainted. It had
been hard for him to keep going so long as he had. I spread a
blanket for him and made him a pillow. He was not long in coming
round. Meanwhile the great moon had climbed a little. The light
of the sunset was losing its brilliance as hers grew splendid.

The sound of two shots came sharply to us. A minute or so after
No. 2's mule was galloping wildly past us through rocks and
ruins. A native trooper rushed for it, but missed its bridle.
Soon after that Trooper No. 2 galloped up on his feet. I should
judge from the pace he showed that he was a real sprinter. I had
noted him before as a trim little man and ruddy, and a sort