Now we were up to our breasts; now we had lost the earth and were swimming towards the middle of the river, the dog Koos leading the way.
Then it was that the soldiers appeared upon the bank.

"Ah! little people," one cried, "you swim, do you?
Well, you will drown; and if you do not drown we know a ford, and we will catch you and kill you--yes! if we must run over the edge of the world after you we will catch you." And he hurled an assegai after us, which fell between us like a flash of light.
While he spoke we swam hard, and now we were in the current.

It swept us downwards, but still we made way, for we could swim well.

It was just this: if we could reach the bank before we were swept into the rapids we were safe; if not, then--good-night! Now we were near the other side, but, alas! we were also near the lip of the foaming water.

We strained, we struggled.