was supposed to know all about it had deserted, with 

 all he could carry off ; they were short of food and 

 money, and out of medicines ; the delays had been 

 great ; they were two hundred miles from any white 

 men ; there was no road but their own erratic track 

 through the bush ; the rains had begun and the fever 

 season set in ; the cattle they had one waggon and 

 span were worn out ; the fever had gripped them, 

 and of the six white men, three were dead, one dying, 

 and two only able to crawl ; most of their boys had 

 deserted ; one umfaan fit for work, and the driver 

 then delirious with fever completed the party. 



The long journey was almost over ; and they were 

 only a few treks from the store and camp for which 

 they were making ; but they were so stricken and 

 helpless it seemed as though that little was too much, 

 and they must die within reach of help. The driver, 

 a big Zulu, was then raving mad ; he had twice run 

 off into the bush and been lost for hours. Precious 

 time and waning strength were spent in the search, and 

 with infinite effort and much good luck they had found 

 him and induced him to return. On the second occa- 

 sion they had enticed him on to the waggon and, as he 

 lay half unconscious between bursts of delirium, had 

 tied him down fiat on his back, with wrists and ankles 

 fastened to the buckrails. It was all they could do 

 to save him : they had barely strength to climb up 

 and pour water into his mouth from time to time. 



It was midday then, and their dying comrade was 

 so far gone that they decided to abandon one trek 

 and wait for evening, to allow him to die in peace. 



456 



