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more dreadful doom。 Even then Benita determined that if she could help
it this should not befall her。 She had the rifle and the revolver that
Jacob Meyer had given her。 Surely she would be able to find a moment
to use one or the other upon herself。 She clenched her teeth； and
struck the horse again and again； so that now they flew along。 The
Matabele soldiers were running their best to catch them； and if these
had been given but five seconds of start； caught they must have been。
But that short five seconds saved their lives。
When they rushed through them the foremost men of the nippers were not
more than twenty yards apart。 Seeing that they had passed； these
halted and hurled a shower of spears after them。 One flashed by
Benita's cheek； a line of light； she felt the wind of it。 Another cut
her dress； and a third struck her father's horse in the near hind leg
just above the knee…joint； remaining fast there for a stride or two；
and then falling to the ground。 At first the beast did not seem to be
incommoded by this wound； indeed； it only caused it to gallop quicker；
and Benita rejoiced； thinking that it was but a scratch。 Then she
forgot about it； for some of the Matabele； who had guns； began to
shoot them； and although their marksmanship was vile； one or two of
the bullets went nearer than was pleasant。 Lastly a man； the swiftest
runner of them all； shouted after them in Zulu：
〃The horse is wounded。 We will catch you both before the sun sets。〃
Then they passed over the crest of a rise and lost sight of them for a
while。
〃Thank God！〃 gasped Benita when they were alone again in the silent
veld； but Mr。 Clifford shook his head。
〃Do you think they will follow us？〃 she asked。
〃You heard what the fellow said；〃 he answered evasively。 〃Doubtless
they are on their way to attack Bambatse； and have been round to
destroy some other wretched tribe； and steal the cattle which we saw。
Yes； I fear that they will follow。 The question is； which of us can
get to Bambatse first。〃
〃Surely we ought to on the horses； father。〃
〃Yes； if nothing happens to them；〃 and as he spoke the words the mare
which he was riding dropped sharply upon her hind leg； the same that
had been struck with the spear； then recovered herself and galloped
on。
〃Did you see that？〃 he asked。
She nodded； then said：
〃Shall we get off and look at the cut？〃
〃Certainly not；〃 he answered。 〃Our only chance is to keep her moving；
if once the wound stiffens； there's an end。 The sinew cannot have been
severed； or it would have come before now。〃
So they pushed on。
All that morning did they canter forward wherever the ground was
smooth enough to allow them to do so； and notwithstanding the
increasing lameness of Mr。 Clifford's mare； made such good progress
that by midday they reached the place where they had passed the first
night after leaving Bambatse。 Here sheer fatigue and want of water
forced them to stop a little while。 They dismounted and drank greedily
from the spring； after which they allowed the horses to drink also；
indeed it was impossible to keep them away from the water。 Then they
ate a little； not because they desired food； but to keep up their
strength； and while they did so examined the mare。 By now her hind leg
was much swollen； and blood still ran from the gash made by the
assegai。 Moreover； the limb was drawn up so that the point of the hoof
only rested on the ground。
〃We must get on before it sets fast；〃 said Mr。 Clifford； and they
mounted again。
Great heavens！ what was this？ The mare would not stir。 In his despair
Mr。 Clifford beat it cruelly； whereupon the poor brute hobbled forward
a few paces on three legs； and again came to a standstill。 Either an
injured sinew had given or the inflammation was now so intense that it
could not bend its knee。 Understanding what this meant to them；
Benita's nerve gave out at last； and she burst into weeping。
〃Don't cry； love；〃 he said。 〃God's will be done。 Perhaps they have
given up the hunt by now； at any rate； my legs are left； and Bambatse
is not more than sixteen miles away。 Forward now；〃 and holding to her
saddle…strap they went up the long； long slope which led to the poort
in the hills around Bambatse。
They would have liked to shoot the mare； but being afraid to fire a
rifle； could not do so。 So they left the unhappy beast to its fate；
and with it everything it carried； except a few of the cartridges。
Before they went； however； at Benita's prayer； her father devoted a
few seconds to unbuckling the girths and pulling off the bridle； so
that it might have a chance of life。 For a little way it hobbled after
them on three legs； then； the saddle still upon its back； stood
whinnying piteously； till at last； to Benita's intense relief； a turn
in their path hid it from their sight。
Half a mile further on she looked round in the faint hope that it
might have recovered itself and followed。 But no mare was to be seen。
Something else was to be seen； however； for there； three or four miles
away upon the plain behind them； easy to be distinguished in that
dazzling air； were a number of black spots that occasionally seemed to
sparkle。
〃What are they？〃 she asked faintly； as one who feared the answer。
〃The Matabele who follow us；〃 answered her father； 〃or rather a
company of their swiftest runners。 It is their spears that glitter so。
Now； my love； this is the position；〃 he went on； as they struggled
forward： 〃those men will catch us before ever we can get to Bambatse；
they are trained to run like that； for fifty miles； if need be。 But
with this start they cannot catch your horse； you must go on and leave
me to look after myself。〃
〃Never； never！〃 she exclaimed。
〃But you shall； and you must。 I am your father and I order you。 As for
me； what does it matter？ I may hide from them and escape； orat least
I am old； my life is done； whereas yours is before you。 Now； good…bye；
and go on；〃 and he let go of the saddle…strap。
By way of answer Benita pulled up the horse。
〃Not one yard；〃 she said； setting her mouth。
Then he began to storm at her； calling her disobedient； and undutiful；
and when this means failed to move her； to implore her almost with
tears。
〃Father； dear；〃 she said； leaning down towards him as he walked； for
now they were going on again； 〃I told you why I wanted to run away
from Bambatse； didn't I？because I would rather risk my life than
stay。 Well； do you think that I wish to return there and live in that
place alone with Jacob Meyer？ Also； I will tell you another thing。 You
remember about Mr。 Seymour？ Well； I can't get over that； I can't get
over it at all； and therefore； although of course I am afraid； it is
all one to me。 No； we will escape together； or die together； the first
if we can。〃
Then with a groan he gave up the argument； and as he found breath they
discussed their chances。 Their first id