Swallow: a tale of the great trek by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard
page 163 of 358 (45%)
page 163 of 358 (45%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
|
question your wisdom?" and, turning his horse's head, he rode forward
across the gloomy veldt as certainly as a homing rock-dove wings its flight. So they travelled till the sun rose behind a range of distant hills. Then Zinti halted and pointed to them. "Look, lady," he said. "Do you see that peak among the mountains which has a point like a spear, the one that seems as though it were on fire? Well, behind it lies Bull-Head's kraal." "It is far, Zinti, but we must be there by night." "That may be done, lady, but if so we must spare our horses." "Good," she answered. "Here is a spring; let us off-saddle a while." So they off-saddled and ate of the food which they had brought, while the horses filled themselves with the sweet green grass, the _schimmel_ being tied to the grey mare, for he would not bear a knee-halter. All that day they rode, not so very fast but steadily, till towards sunset they off-saddled again beneath the shadow of the spear-pointed peak. There was no water at this spot, but seeing a green place upon the slope of a hill close by, Zinti walked to it, leading the thirsty beasts. Presently he threw up his hand and whistled, whereon Sihamba set out to join him, knowing that he had found a spring. So it proved to be, and now they learned that Sihamba had been wise in heading straight for Swart Piet's hiding-place, since round about this spring was the spoor of many horses and of men. Among these was the print of a foot that she |
|


