her, which they had to span with long strides, and which
shook beneath their weight, as they sprang from one tussock to another.

After two hours of this fatiguing work they came to a black spongy ooze,
which appeared firm enough on the surface, but as soon as it felt their
weight it admitted them up to their waists into the depths of the putrid
composition of wet grass and sedgy mould, over the surface of which
trickled many a miniature stream of oily slime. The sword leaves of the
pubescent reed and sedge slashed and cut their bodies as though razors
had been lightly drawn across them, and the blood streamed down their
chests and limbs. They presented a miserable spectacle as they finally
emerged from the swampy fen, and felt the firm ground under their feet
once more, for they were spattered all over with clots of black mud,
which, under the sun's heat, were rapidly baked, and formed a filthy
grey encrustation.

But heedless of all this they urged their steps until they had reached
the ridgy horizon, which, ever since morning, had loomed greyishly blue
before them. As it was night when they had reached this elevation, they
rested here, completely worn out with the dire march of the day, and so
great was their fatigue that they did not pay much heed to the thirst
they otherwise would have suffered from.

Long before day on the third morning they were on the way again, looking
with dismay at the extensive plain which waved and heaved before them
like a sea, and throughout all its prospect promised no amelioration of
the fatigue and pain they had endured the day before. Away, as far as
the vision could command, the land rose in successive ridges, of a
whitish hue, which they knew to be the result of the dry and parched
grass which clothed them. It was through such an inhospitable country
the march of the third day westward took them.

On the fourth morning Kalulu chose a broad ridge which ran
north-westerly, and led the way along its spine, whence they obtained
views of all around. Now and then the travellers dipped into hollows,
but regained rising ground as oft as they could, and towards night they
were gratified by observing dark mountainous masses in the distance,
which they were told would be reached in about twelve hours' march the
next day.

The night of the fifth day verified the prediction of Kalulu, for they
found themselves at the base of a conical hill, near a stream of pure
water, close by a bamb