XV
THECHASE
TheMatabeleitwas，sureenough；therecouldbenodoubtofit，forsoonthreeothermenjoinedthesentryandbegantotalkwithhim，pointingwiththeirgreatspearsatthesideofthehill。Evidentlytheywerearrangingasurprisewhentherewassufficientlighttocarryitout。”Theyhaveseenourfire，”whisperedherfathertoBenita；”now，ifwewishtosaveourlives，thereisonlyonethingtodo——rideforitbeforetheymuster。Theimpiwillbecampedupontheothersideofthehill，sowemusttaketheroadwecameby。””ThatrunsbacktoBambatse，”falteredBenita。”Bambatseisbetterthanthegrave，”saidherfather。”PrayHeaventhatwemaygetthere。”
Tothisargumenttherewasnoanswer，sohavingdrunkasupofwater，andswallowingafewmouthfulsoffoodastheywent，theycrepttothehorses，mountedthem，andassilentlyaspossiblebegantoridedownthehill。
Thesentrywasaloneagain，theotherthreemenhavingdeparted。Hestoodwithhisbacktowardsthem。Presentlywhentheywerequitecloseontohim，heheardtheirhorses’hoofsuponthegrass，wheeledroundatthesound，andsawthem。Thenwithagreatshoutheliftedhisspearandcharged。