It started at that hour, and was to get as far as possible by nightfall; so that it would be able to reach the camp by the following evening.

After seeing it in motion, Harry started with his escort for the ride back.

He was some ten miles away from the convoy when night fell.
Bhurtpoor, like Deeg, stood on a plain, surrounded by swamps and morasses; the situation having been chosen from the difficulties these offered to the advance of an enemy.
After proceeding for five miles farther, Abdool, who was riding with Harry, said: "I do not know, sahib, but it seems to me, by the sound of the horses' hoofs, that we have left the track." Harry called a halt; and Abdool dismounted, and found that his suspicion was correct, and that they had certainly left the road.
"This is awkward," Harry said, "for we do not know how long it is since we left it, or whether it is to the right hand or left." The night was indeed a very dark one, a mist almost covered the sky, and it was only occasionally that a star could be seen.
"We must go carefully, or we shall fall in one of these morasses." Two troopers were sent off, one to the right, the other to the left.

One of them, when he had gone about a quarter of a mile, was heard to shout that he was fast in the morass.

Abdool and four of the men rode to his assistance, and presently returned with him, having with the greatest difficulty extricated his horse.