The Shadow of the Great Thirst 



still in position on his head. We dug a grave 

 by firelight, and at midnight we buried him, 

 with a parting salute from his comrades. At 

 2.30 a.m. our task was completed, and we 

 returned to Zwart Modder. I might add, in 

 conclusion, that nothing that could be done was 

 omitted, and nothing could have saved Private 

 Blank except an accidental meeting with some- 

 one. The first patrol left here immediately 

 after the arrival of the led horse on Wednesday 

 morning, and only reached the spot where the 

 deceased first left the road nearing sunset, and 

 by that time Private Blank must have been 

 dead. The two horses only broke loose when 

 desperate from want of water." 



So ended the Sub-Inspector's report. 

 • ..*»•• 



It is sometimes said that we must go slowly, 

 that we must not unduly hasten the progress 

 of South Africa. Perhaps by the white dumps 

 of the Rand this statement may carry a little 

 weight, but by the side of a flaming sand-dune 

 it is surely the grimmest satire. No one in 

 South Africa will soon forget those long hot 

 days that closed the old year and brought in 

 the new. It was over 100 degrees in the 

 shade. We grumbled and perspired, and sought 



55 



