It is because for some days past I have purposely lost their spoor, which they knew we were following, and lit fires to puzzle them.

Now, thinking that they have done with us, they have become incautious and shown us where they are.

That is my reason, Hans." He heard and, although of course he did not believe that I had lost the spoor on purpose, stared at me till I thought his little eyes were going to drop out of his head.

But even in his admiration he contrived to convey an insult as only a native can.
"How wonderful is the Great Medicine of the Opener-of-Roads, that it should have been able thus to instruct the Baas," he said.

"Without doubt the Great Medicine is right and yonder those men-eaters are encamped, who might just as well as have been anywhere else within a hundred miles." "Drat the Great Medicine," I replied, but beneath my breath, then added aloud, "Be so good, Hans, as to go to Umslopogaas and to tell him that Macumazahn, or the Great Medicine, proposes to march at once to attack the camp of the Amahagger, and--here is some tobacco." "Yes, Baas," answered Hans humbly, as he snatched the tobacco and wriggled away like a worm.
Then I went to talk with Robertson.
The end of it was that within an hour we were creeping across that valley towards the spot where I had seen the line of smoke rising against the twilight sky.
Somewhere about midnight we reached the neighbourhood of this place.