Reuben, aided by Jim, quickly threw off the hobbles; and leaped on to its back as it rose to its feet, just as Mr.Blount, with his party, rode up.
"Keep close together," Reuben exclaimed, as he dashed forward, "we may find some of the scoundrels." But the chase was in vain.

It was already growing dusk, and there was no saying in which direction the natives had crawled away in the bush.

After riding for a mile, Reuben reined in his horse.
"It is no use," he said; "we may as well get back to the fire.
"What made you so late, Mr.Blount?
We were fighting for three quarters of an hour, before you came up." "I am very sorry," Mr.Blount replied; "somehow or other, we went wrong altogether.

There is nothing to guide one in this flat bush, and the tracker who was leading the way said he was certain he was going as you ordered him.

Just before six o'clock we halted, and looked in the direction in which we expected to see your smoke, but there were no signs of it.