

A RIDE FOR DEAR LIFE. 13 



astonishment, and, touching me on the arm, pointed 

 back to the village near the entrance to the valley. 



On looking with the glasses, I saw a party of about 

 a dozen women descending into the plain, carrying hoes 

 and implements for field-work. They were apparently 

 going straight down towards the cultivated land on 

 which we had trespassed during the night. 



Said Trooper G : " If they find our spoor of last 



night, we must gallop for it, for the whole of the people 

 will turn out and search the valley until they find us ". 



We watched their progress with overwhelming anxiety. 

 They reached the cultivated ground and began walking 

 across it straight towards the spot we had traversed the 

 night before. 



" By George ! it is all up," said G . " We might 



as well start off now. I't will be a miracle if they don't 

 see the spoor. We'll wait a bit, though, to see whether 

 chance doesn't save us. No, no ; not a bit of good. 

 See, they are almost on the very spot. Look, they are 

 all running together to the very spot ; and now, by 

 George ! look again ; they have set off running to the 

 village as hard as they can go. Come on, there isn't a 

 moment to lose. Chuck on the saddles and let us be 

 off for a life and death gallop." 



As he spoke we sprang to our feet and rushed down 

 the hillock to where our horses were picketed, threw on 

 the saddles and bridles (surely horses were never so 

 swiftly saddled before), and in less than a minute were 

 heading back for the entrance of the valley at a smart 

 hand gallop. 



" Hold your horse together, Mr. X , there is no 



saying what call we may not have to make upon the 

 nags." 



