The guards were off guard,
supposing, I fancy, that none of Cetchwayo's people were near enough to
reach the camp. I saw two or three in the distance, but none came in my
way. My chief fear was that I might fall in with a prowling lion or
leopard, or encounter a snake of some sort crawling along. I did not,
however, allow myself to be troubled about such matters, I only thought
how I had best act should I meet with either of them. On and on I went;
but it was somewhat fatiguing work, as I could never venture to stand
upright, and had generally to make my way on all-fours, although
sometimes I ran on my feet, bending low down; but even in that position
I could not run fast. I at last reached the side of the hill up which I
had to climb. There were several open parts, where, had the Zulus been
keeping a bright look-out, I must have been seen, although they might
have taken me for a jackal or a lion. I crawled along as fast as I
could, not stopping even to look behind me, until I reached the brow of
the hill. On getting to the other side I saw a number of cattle, with
several horses among them, cropping the grass. Before I could venture
on I had to try and ascertain whereabouts the men herding the cattle had
posted themselves. I was pretty sure that they would be under shelter
somewhere, and as the night wind was chilly, they would be either seated
beneath the rocks, or would have built themselves huts of boughs. I
feared that if by chance I should creep near one of them, I might be
seen, when the fellow would to a certainty hurl his assegai at me, as he
would take me for a wild beast of some sort. At last, unable to
discover any one, I crawled down the hill, prepared at any moment to
take to my heels, should I be discovered. No sound reached my ears, and
I at length found myself close to several horses. As they were not
alarmed, I guessed that they were our own, which the Zulus had taken
from us. I knew that my beast would come to me, as I had taught him to
do, could I venture to call him. I whistled low. I saw one of the
horses lift his head. I could just distinguish him against the sky. As
I lay on the ground, I whistled again, and he began to move towards me.
The third time I whistled louder than the first, when, to my infinite
satisfaction, he trotted up. He had the rope bridle still round his
neck. Slipping it into his mouth, so as to be able to guide him, I
grasped his mane and leapt upon his back