By the time we reached the edge of the plateau he was quite near, not fifty yards behind, for I heard him whinny faintly.
Then began the descent.

The morning star was setting, the east grew grey with light.

Oh! could we get there before the dawn?
Could we get there before the dawn?
That is what my horse's hoofs beat out to me.
Now I could see the mass of the trees about the stead.

And now I dashed into something, though until I was through it, I did not know that it was a line of men, for the faint light gleamed upon the spear of one of them who had been overthrown! So it was no lie! The Kaffirs were there! As I thought it, a fresh horror filled my heart; perhaps their murdering work was already done and they were departing.
The minute of suspense--or was it but seconds ?--seemed an eternity.

But it ended at last.