gradually rising ground, we found ourselves on the further edge of a
great bush-clad depression something like the bottom of a lake. This
depression, through which we had been travelling, was covered with bush
to a very great extent, indeed almost altogether so, except where it was
pitted with glades such as that wherein I had shot the elephants.

"At the top of this slope Maiwa halted, and putting her hand over her
eyes looked back. Presently she touched me on the arm and pointed across
the sea of forest towards a comparatively vacant space of country some
six or seven miles away. I looked, and suddenly I saw something flash in
the red rays of the setting sun. A pause, and then another quick flash.

"'What is it?' I asked.

"'It is the spears of Wambe's impi, and they travel fast,' she answered
coolly.

"I suppose that my face showed how little I liked the news, for she went
on--

"'Fear not; they will stay to feast upon the elephants, and while they
feast we shall journey. We may yet escape.'

"After that we turned and pushed on again, till at length it grew so
dark that we had to wait for the rising of the moon, which lost us
time, though it gave us rest. Fortunately none of the men had seen that
ominous flashing of the spears; if they had, I doubt if even I could
have kept control of them. As it was, they travelled faster than I had
ever known loaded natives to go before, so thorough-paced was their
desire to see the last of Wambe's country. I, however, took the