a girl who had lived amidst events which the denizen of
civilisation is unacquainted with: she had witnessed many rough scenes,
was accustomed to hear tales of dangers and risks, and was thus
seasoned, as it were, to a life of adventures. Just as the most
delicately nurtured English girl will travel by an express train without
any very great fear the very day after some fearful accident may have
happened on the railway by which she is a passenger, so did Katrine
trust that all might turn out well in spite of the apparent dangers
around. Still when she found that the approach of her party had been
heard by the men of this kraal, and heard them speaking to Hans, she
feared another scene of bloodshed would soon be enacted, such as that to
which she had been a witness when she was first captured by the Matabili
and her father slaughtered. Her trembling arm indicated to Hans her
fears, but his whispered encouragement gave her strength and hope.

The moment, however, was critical, and had not Hans' answer been
confident and distinct, he might have had to fight for his life under
circumstances where he could not well escape; for it would have been
almost certain death to have attempted to ride at speed on a night as
dark as that on which they were escaping. Fortunately the men were not
curious; and most Kaffirs having a dislike to move about much at night,
in consequence of snakes, centipedes, and scorpions, on which their
naked feet might tread, they waited inside their kraal until the party
had passed, and the sound of their footsteps was heard no more.

"We are safe so far," whispered Hans, "thank God! Can you tell me,
Katrine, where this path leads to?"

"It leads down to the stream about a mile on, and then is lost in the
plain beyond. It has been used for driving the cattle to and from
water, and also for hunting, there being many `_wilde_' on the plain
beyond."

"If, then, we can cross the river, we may consider ourselves safe,"
remarked Hans; "for we can then put you on the horses, and can ride all
night. Our spoor cannot be followed by night, and twelve hours' start
ought to enable us to reach our people before we are overtaken."

"But there are hundreds of the Matabili out on war," said Katrine, "and
we may fall in with some of them."

"Ah! and I have lost my far-seer," said Hans. "That is a loss. But we
had better not talk; let us listen and think; we may then be less liable
to a surprise."

The par