It was just as much as we could do to reach it, for we were all utterly worn out, as were the horses.

Still we did get there at last, the hot sun warming us as we went.
Arrived at the kraal I helped Heda and Kaatje from the cart--the former could scarcely walk, poor dear--and into the guest hut which seemed clean, where food of a sort and fur karosses were brought to them in which to wrap themselves while their clothes dried.
Leaving them in charge of two old women, I went to see to Anscombe, who as yet could not do much for himself, also to the outspanning of the horses which were put into a cattle kraal, where they lay down at once without attempting to eat the green forage which was given to them.

After this I gave our goods into the charge of the kraal-head, a nice old fellow whom I had never met before, and he led Anscombe to another hut close to that where the women were.

Here we drank some maas, that is curdled milk, ate a little mutton, though we were too fatigued to be very hungry, and stripping off our wet clothes, threw them out into the sun to dry.
"That was a close shave," said Anscombe as he wrapped up in the kaross.
"Very," I answered.

"So close that I think you must have been started in life with an extra strong guardian angel well accustomed to native ways." "Yes," he replied, "and, old fellow, I believe that on earth he goes by the name of Allan Quatermain." After this I remember no more, for I went to sleep, and so remained for about twenty-four hours.