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had been already sacrificed。 After they had departed he remounted and
followed us。 Here I asked him why he had not overtaken us before we
came to the cemetery of elephants； as I presumed he might have done；
since he stated that he was close in our rear。 This indeed was the
case； for it was the head of the camel I saw behind the thorn trees
when I looked back； and not the trunk of an elephant as I had
supposed。
At the time he would give me no direct answer； except that he grew
muddled as he had already suggested； and thought it best to keep in
the background and see what happened。 Long afterwards； however； he
admitted to me that he acted on a presentiment。
〃It seemed to me； Baas；〃 he said； 〃that your reverend father was
telling me that I should do best to let you two go on and not show
myself； since if I did so we should all three be killed； as one of us
must walk whom the other two could not desert。 Whereas if I left you
as you were； one of you would be killed and the other escape； and that
the one to be killed would not be /you/； Baas。 All of which came about
as the Spirit spoke in my head； for Mar？t was killed； who did not
matter； andyou know the rest； Baas。〃
To return to Hans' story。 He saw us march down to the borders of the
lake； and； keeping to our right； took cover behind the knoll of rock；
whence he watched also all that followed。 When Jana advanced to attack
us Hans crept forward in the hope； a very wild one； of crippling him
with the little Purdey rifle。 Indeed； he was about to fire at the hind
leg when Mar？t made his run for life and plunged into the lake。 Then
he crawled on to lead me away to the camel； but when he was within a
few yards the chase returned our way and Mar？t was killed。
From that moment he waited for an opportunity to shoot Jana in the
only spot where so soft a bullet would； as he knew； have the faintest
chance of injuring him vitallynamely； in the eyefor he was sure
that its penetration would not be sufficient to reach the vitals
through that thick hide and the mass of flesh behind。 With an infinite
and wonderful patience he waited； knowing that my life or death hung
in the balance。 While Jana held his foot over me； while he felt me
with his trunk； still Hans waited； balancing the arguments for and
against firing upon the scales of experience in his clever old mind；
and in the end coming to a right and wise conclusion。
At length his chance came； the brute exposed his eye； and by the light
of the clear moon Hans； always a very good shot at a distance when it
was not necessary to allow for trajectory and wind； let drive and
/hit/。 The bullet did not get to the brain as he had hoped； it had not
strength for that； but it destroyed this left eye and gave Jana such
pain that for a while he forgot all about me and everything else
except escape。
Such was the Hottentot's tale as I picked it up from his laconic；
colourless； Dutch /patois/ sentences； then and afterwards； a very
wonderful tale I thought。 But for him； his fidelity and his bushman's
cunning； where should I have found myself before that moon set？
We mounted the camel after I had paused a minute to take a pull from a
flask of brandy which remained in the saddlebags。 Although he loved
strong drink so well Hans had saved it untouched on the mere chance
that it might some time be of service to me； his master。 The monkey…
like Hottentot sat in front and directed the camel； while I
accommodated myself as best I could on the sheepskins behind。 Luckily
they were thick and soft； for Jana's pinch was not exactly that of a
lover。
Off we went； picking our way carefully till we reached the elephant
track beyond the mound where Jana had appeared； which； in the light of
faith； we hoped would lead us to the River Tava。 Here we made better
progress； but still could not go very fast because of the holes made
by the feet of Jana and his company。 Soon we had left the cemetery
behind us； and lost sight of the lake which I devoutly trusted I might
never see again。
Now the track ran upwards from the hollow to a ridge two or three
miles away。 We reached the crest of this ridge without accident；
except that on our road we met another aged elephant； a cow with very
poor tusks； travelling to its last resting place； or so I suppose。 I
don't know which was the more frightened； the sick cow or the camel；
for camels hate elephants as horses hate camels until they get used to
them。 The cow bolted to the right as quickly as it could； which was
not very fast； and the camel bolted to the left with such convulsive
bounds that we were nearly thrown off its back。 However； being an
equable brute； it soon recovered its balance； and we got back to the
track beyond the cow。
From the top of the rise we saw that before us lay a sandy plain
lightly clothed in grass； and； to our joy； about ten miles away at the
foot of a very gentle slope； the moonlight gleamed upon the waters of
a broad river。 It was not easy to make out； but it was there； we were
both sure it was there； we could not mistake the wavering； silver
flash。 On we went for another quarter of a mile； when something caused
me to turn round on the sheepskin and look back。
Oh Heavens！ At the very top of the rise； clearly outlined against the
sky； stood Jana himself with his trunk lifted。 Next instant he
trumpeted； a furious； rattling challenge of rage and defiance。
〃Allemagte！ Baas；〃 said Hans； 〃the old devil is coming to look for his
lost eye； and has seen us with that which remains。 He has been
travelling on our spoor。〃
〃Forward！〃 I answered； bringing my heels into the camel's ribs。
Then the race began。 The camel was a very good camel； one of the real
running breed； also； as Hans said； it was comparatively fresh； and
may； moreover； have been aware that it was near to the plains where it
had been bred。 Lastly； the going was now excellent； soft to its spongy
feet but not too deep in sand； nor were there any rocks over which it
could fall。 It went off like the wind； making nothing of our united
weights which did not come to more than two hundred pounds； or a half
of what it could carry with ease； being perhaps urged to its top speed
by the knowledge that the elephant was behind。 For mile after mile we
rushed down the plain。 But we did not go alone； for Jana came after us
like a cruiser after a gunboat。 Moreover； swiftly as we travelled； he
travelled just a little swifter； gaining say a few yards in every
hundred。 For the last mile before we came to the river bank； half an
hour later perhaps； though it seemed to be a week； he was not more
than fifty paces to our rear。 I glanced back at him； and in the light
of the moon； which was growing low； he bore a strange resemblance to a
mud cottage with broken chimneys （which were his ears flapping on each
side of him）； and the yard pump projecting from the upper window。
〃We shall beat him now； Hans；〃 I said looking at