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then look at the huge spaces of country over which Laputa's legs took him on that night； I am lost in admiration of the man。
About midnight he must have crossed the Letsitela。 Here he made a grave blunder。 If he had tried the Berg by one of the faces he might have got on to the plateau and been at Inanda's Kraal by the dawning。 But he over…estimated the size of the commandoes； and held on to the north； where he thought there would be no defence。 About one o'clock Arcoll； tired of inaction and conscious that he had misread Laputa's tactics； resolved on a bold stroke。 He sent half his police to the Berg to reinforce the commandoes； bidding them get into touch with the post at Blaauwildebeestefontein。
A little after two o'clock a diversion occurred。 Henriques succeeded in crossing the road three miles east of Main Drift。 He had probably left the kraal early in the night and had tried to cross farther west； but had been deterred by the patrols。 East of Main Drift； where the police were fewer； he succeeded； but he had not gone far till he was discovered by the Basuto scouts。 The find was reported to Arcoll； who guessed at once who this traveller was。 He dared not send out any of his white men； but he bade a party of the scouts follow the Portugoose's trail。 They shadowed him to Dupree's Drift； where he crossed the Letaba。 There he lay down by the roadside to sleep； while they kept him company。 A hard fellow Henriques was； for he could slumber peacefully on the very scene of his murder。
Dawn found Laputa at the head of the Klein Letaba glen； not far from 'Mpefu's kraal。 He got food at a hut； and set off at once up the wooded hill above it； which is a promontory of the plateau。 By this time he must have been weary； or he would not have blundered as he did right into a post of the farmers。 He was within an ace of capture； and to save himself was forced back from the scarp。 He seems； to judge from reports； to have gone a little way south in the thicker timber； and then to have turned north again in the direction of Blaauwildebeestefontein。 After that his movements are obscure。 He was seen on the Klein Labongo； but the sight of the post at Blaauwildebeestefontein must have convinced him that a korhaan could not escape that way。 The next we heard of him was that he had joined Henriques。 After daybreak Arcoll； having got his reports from the plateau； and knowing roughly the direction in which Laputa was shaping； decided to advance his lines。 The farmers； reinforced by three more commandoes from the Pietersdorp district； still held the plateau； but the police were now on the line of the Great Letaba。 It was Arcoll's plan to hold that river and the long neck of land between it and the Labongo。 His force was hourly increasing； and his mounted men would be able to prevent any escape on the flank to the east of Wesselsburg。
So it happened that while Laputa was being driven east from the Berg； Henriques was travelling north； and their lines intersected。 I should like to have seen the meeting。 It must have told Laputa what had always been in the Portugoose's heart。 Henriques； I fancy； was making for the cave in the Rooirand。 Laputa； so far as I can guess at his mind； had a plan for getting over the Portuguese border； fetching a wide circuit； and joining his men at any of the concentrations between there and Amsterdam。
The two were seen at midday going down the road which leads from Blaauwildebeestefontein to the Lebombo。 Then they struck Arcoll's new front； which stretched from the Letaba to the Labongo。 This drove them north again； and forced them to swim the latter stream。 From there to the eastern extremity of the Rooirand； which is the Portuguese frontier； the country is open and rolling； with a thin light scrub in the hollows。 It was bad cover for the fugitives； as they found to their cost。 For Arcoll had purposely turned his police into a flying column。 They no longer held a line； they scoured a country。 Only Laputa's incomparable veld…craft and great bodily strength prevented the two from being caught in half an hour。 They doubled back； swam the Labongo again； and got into the thick bush on the north side of the Blaauwildebeestefontein road。 The Basuto scouts were magnificent in the open； but in the cover they were again at fault。 Laputa and Henriques fairly baffled them； so that the pursuit turned to the west in the belief that the fugitives had made for Majinje's kraal。 In reality they had recrossed the Labongo and were making for Umvelos'。
All this I heard afterwards； but in the meantime I lay in Arcoll's tent in deep unconsciousness。 While my enemies were being chased like partridges； I was reaping the fruits of four days' toil and terror。 The hunters had become the hunted； the wheel had come full circle； and the woes of David Crawfurd were being abundantly avenged。
I slept till midday of the next day。 When I awoke the hot noontide sun had made the tent like an oven。 I felt better； but very stiff and sore； and I had a most ungovernable thirst。 There was a pail of water with a tin pannikin beside the tent pole； and out of this I drank repeated draughts。 Then I lay down again； for I was still very weary。
But my second sleep was not like my first。 It was haunted by wild nightmares。 No sooner had I closed my eyes than I began to live and move in a fantastic world。 The whole bush of the plains lay before me； and I watched it as if from some view…point in the clouds。 It was midday； and the sandy patches shimmered under a haze of heat。 I saw odd little movements in the bush … a buck's head raised； a paauw stalking solemnly in the long grass； a big crocodile rolling off a mudbank in the river。 And then I saw quite clearly Laputa's figure going east。
In my sleep I did not think about Arcoll's manoeuvres。 My mind was wholly set upon Laputa。 He was walking wearily； yet at a good pace； and his head was always turning； like a wild creature snuffing the wind。 There was something with him； a shapeless shadow； which I could not see clearly。 His neck was bare； but I knew well that the collar was in his pouch。
He stopped； turned west； and I lost him。 The bush world for a space was quite silent； and I watched it eagerly as an aeronaut would watch the ground for a descent。 For a long time I could see nothing。 Then in a wood near a river there seemed to be a rustling。 Some guinea…fowl flew up as if startled； and a stembok scurried out。 I knew that Laputa must be there。
Then； as I looked at the river； I saw a head swimming。 Nay； I saw two； one some distance behind the other。 The first man landed on the far bank； and I recognized Laputa。 The second was a slight short figure； and I knew it was Henriques。
I remember feeling very glad that these two had come together。 It was certain now that Henriques would not escape。 Either Laputa would find out the truth and kill him； or I would come up with him and have my revenge。 In any case he was outside the Kaffir pale； adventuring on his own。
I watched the two till they halted near a ruined building。 Surely this was the store I had built at Umvelos'。 The thought gave me a horrid surprise。 Laputa and Henriques were on