, they had taken to flight. I hoped
to come up with them further on. Still, no traces could I see of the
deserters. As I had made up my mind to search for Leo before returning
to Kabomba, I gave up the pursuit, and turned on one side for the
purpose of intersecting the course I concluded, from Mango's account,
that he had taken.

Leo had promised to make crosses on trees, and where no trees existed to
cut the same mark on the grass, or to arrange stones in a like form, or
to stick little crosses into the ground, to show his course. "I always
thought that Leo had his wits about him, and this proves it!" I
exclaimed, though Mango probably did not understand me. We accordingly
examined the ground on either side as we went along. I could still see
in the far distance the outlines of the village, and, judging by the
sun, I calculated that it was about north-east of us, while I hoped by
travelling south-west to come up with my young friend.

We had been searching for some time, and at Mango's suggestion I had
mounted the ox. I have not before described the animal. It was
clean-limbed, almost white, with long pointed horns projecting
horizontally from its head; a thoroughly tame and tractable animal. It
went on at a steady pace, sufficient to keep Mango and the zebra at a
trot. We were searching carefully as we went for Leo's promised
indication of his route, when Mango suddenly started off, and running a
few paces, lifted up a small cross, formed of two pieces of wood,
fastened together by the material of which the natives make their mats.
Mango's delight was excessive. "See I see!" he exclaimed. "We now
find--we now find Massa Leo!" and running on ahead, he lifted up a
second cross made in the same way. The arms of both of them were
pointing in the direction which we supposed Leo had taken. This fact
also showed his forethought, for if a single cross only had been left,
we should have had to search about perhaps for a long time before
ascertaining his route. We now went on with more confidence. From the
start he had had, I feared it would be some time before we could come up
with him. Still, as he had his rifle and provisions to carry, I knew
that he could not proceed as fast as we were doing. We travelled on
till nightfall, when we tethered the animals with some rope which Mango
had brought, lighted our fires, and made a slight shelter from the wind.
As the weather was clear, there was no necessity for b