I wonder if those brutes have given him anything to eat! We'll secure the rest of this leg of mutton on chance.

At any rate, Mr.
Frank Muller sha'n't starve me to death," and with a cheerful laugh he left the room.
In a few minutes they were on their road again.

As they started Frank Muller came up, took off his hat, and informed them that probably he would join them on the morrow below Heidelberg, in which town they would find every preparation to enable them to spend the night comfortably.
If he did not join them it would be because he was detained on duty.
In that case the two men had his orders to escort them safely to Mooifontein, and, he added significantly, "I do not think that you will be troubled with any further impoliteness." In another moment he had galloped off on his great black horse, leaving the pair considerably mystified and not a little relieved.
"Well," said John, "at any rate that does not look like foul play, unless, indeed, he has gone on to prepare a warm reception for us." Jess shrugged her shoulders, she could not understand it; and then they settled themselves down to their long lonely drive.

They had forty odd miles to cover, but the guides, or rather the guard, would only consent to their outspanning once, which they did on the open veldt a little before sunset.

At sundown they inspanned again, and started across the darkening veldt.