Kaffirs believed that they might have entirely obliterated other traces
in their hasty rush down the ravine. This induced them to seek on
further for fresh footprints instead of trying back, and Hans, who could
hear their loud voices, knew he should at least obtain a good start even
if they did discover his change of direction.

Having regained his breath, Hans decided to move on, not in great haste,
but quietly and with care, that he might not be seen by his enemies; for
this purpose he moved with the utmost caution over a ridge, and entered
a woody valley beyond; he was thus covered from the view of his
pursuers, who were still puzzled to find his footprints. He then walked
quickly on until he found an open plain about half a mile across,
between him and a line of willow-like trees, which he believed grew on
the banks of the Tugela. Hans knew that here he must encounter great
risk, not so much from the enemy behind, for he believed he should be
able to escape them, but from any parties of Zulus who might be out
spying, and who would see him and wait in ambuscade for him. He had,
however, so firm a conviction that the Zulus behind would only be
temporarily puzzled by his artifice that he decided the least risk would
be incurred by at once making a rush across this open ground. Waiting a
moment to decide for what part of the river he should run, he took one
glance around, and then ran off into the plain.

Hans had scarcely gone two hundred yards than he knew he had been
discovered by the Zulus in rear, who, immediately they were confused by
the spoor, had sent three men to the hill-tops to look out, in order, if
possible, to catch sight of him. These spies at once shouted to their
companions below, and joining them, the whole body were quickly in
pursuit. Hans had, however, more than five hundred yards start, and he
knew that he could reach the river long before he could be overtaken.
How or where to cross this river he knew not. In some places the Tugela
is deep and wide, in other places shallow, the banks marshy, and covered
with long reeds. Again the river forces itself between deep precipices,
where the baboon alone can ascend or descend. Seeing the willow-like
trees, Hans believed that the river might be deep where they grew; and
he had therefore selected another part where low bushes prevailed, and
where there was an indication of a rapid slope in the ground.

The Zulus were more than a quarter of a mil