Did they know of the great danger, I wondered.

All the way down the glen I saw no sign of human presence.

The game-birds mocked me from the thicket; a brace of white berghaan circled far up in the blue; and I had for pleasant comrade the brawling river.

I dismounted once to drink, and in that green haven of flowers and ferns I was struck sharply with a sense of folly.

Here were we wretched creatures of men making for each other's throats, and outraging the good earth which God had made so fair a habitation.
I had resolved on a short cut to Umvelos', avoiding the neighbourhood of Sikitola's kraal, so when the river emerged from the glen I crossed it and struck into the bush.