a bedrock of austere granite we
slept in peace. At glimmer of dawn we were saddling up. We rode
to another kraal, but the folk there had no news for us.

We were close on the hills now at last. We came to a low river at
the foot of them. We chose a landlocked pool that seemed to be
immune from crocodiles, for a plunge. Next I girded myself for
Sacrifice, and he served me. Then we made a fire and cooked a
huge breakfast in the hungry morning air. Drayton grew quite
lyrical as to the charm of the country before the meal was over.

'Browne's not far wrong about her,' he said; 'but there's reason
in all things.'

That whole day we heard no news and found no spoor or sign. The
hill-country gave us stiff climbing and rocky paths to ride.
Kraals and clusters of gardens places where we might hope to hear
tidings how few they were in that hill-country! We camped
disconsolately at last in a forlorn garden among grey boulders
where stumps of trees were burning. We found no trouble in
building up a good night fire of half-burnt logs. We gave our
ponies their nosebags and ate our own bread and bully rather
silently. Then we surmised with some weariness and gloom over our
pipes. At last we slept under the many eyes of the heavens.

About first cock-crow, when a chill struck through my blanket, I
opened my eyes and looked towards the fire. Someone was sitting
beside it watching me. Now that he saw me stirring he greeted me.

It was Johannes. 'I saw your fire but just now,' he said. 'Our
fire is up there beyond great rocks. The white man has been very
sick. I think he will come home now.'

I sprang to my feet and roused Drayton. He would not get up for a
long time. I suspect he combined breakfast and lunch fairly often
at Oxford. But I roused him mercilessly. I told him the news.

He argued in desperate fashion at first. 'How far's the sick
bed,' he asked.

'Not more than a mile or so,' said I.

'Need we go till morning?' said he.

'Shame!' said I.

At last he sprang up.

As we clambered among the boulders, piloted by Johannes, he
droned away at his chorus part:

'She took me to her elfin grot, And there she wept, and sighed
full sore, And there I shut her wild, sad eyes With kisses four.

'And there she lulled me asleep, And there I dream'd Ah woe
betide! The latest dream I ever dream'd On the cold hill's side.'

We found Browne in a nook among the rocks. A fire was burning
beside him. He seemed to be sleeping.