AT THE VILLAGE. 283 



At sunrise they debouched into the trail again, and, before the forenoon was 

 half gone, overtook the astonished thieves and recovered all the stolen property. 



The pursuit of Jack Harvey was somewhat similar, or, more properly, it would 

 have been, had he been able to continue it very long. He glanced over the country 

 in front and asked : 



" Carl, where do you s'pose those chaps went ? " 



" The trail, so far as I can judge, leads southward/' 



" But that may be a blind : do you think they crossed the river off there to the 

 left ?" 



" I haven't the slightest knowledge upon which to base a guess ; we're in a 

 business now where you are the leader." 



"I'm satisfied the party have set out to go to their home, but whether it is on 

 this side of the stream or the other, why, we've got to find out." 



" Since they cannot have much the start of us," ventured Bob, " why not keep 

 to the trail and ride fast ? " 



"That's sound sense," replied Jack ; "we'll follow the advice." 



With his usual promptness, he struck his mustang into a brisk gallop, his com- 

 panions quickly closing around him, all on the alert for the natives, who they knew 

 could not be far off. 



The surprise of the party was as great as that of Dick Brownell, earlier in the 

 morning, for, long before they expected to gain sight of the village, it burst upon 

 their view. There were nine huts, precisely similar to hundreds they had looked 

 upon in Southern Africa, and there were the native Korahs, moving to and fro, 

 with their flocks grazing on the large hills beyond. 



"I'll be hanged ! " exclaimed Jack Harvey ; " I didn't expect this. I meant to 

 halt and take a look at things before going so far, but they have seen us, and it 

 won't do to show any fear." 



In addition to the ten natives whom I have referred to as the captors of Dick 

 BrowHell, there was about the same number that remained behind while the party 

 were prospecting through the country. 



Little, half-naked children were running to and fro, women occasionally showing 

 themselves, for the Korah, like the red man of our own country, never objects to 

 his better-half performing the greater share of the manual labor. 



Near the middle hut, six natives were standing together, evidently discussing 

 some matter. They looked up almost at. the moment the four horsemen appeared 

 on the top of the hill, ceased speaking, and walked forward to meet the white men, 

 who had also given rein to their ponies and were coming down the slope in the 

 direction of the huts. 



" Pongo," said Jack, "your turn has come to give us a lift : can you make your- 

 self understood with them ? " 



"Talk much like Hottentot," said he; "they Korah ain't bad man." 



" That may be, but I would like to know what they mean by running off with a 

 youngster that belongs to us. Have you ever seen any of this party before ? " 



