Thick and stifling in the immediate vicinity of the waggons, it enabled them to slip unobserved through the ruck of savages.

Many of these, still mounted, had seen them pass outward, but through the blue film had mistaken them for two of their own men.

They perhaps knew nothing of there having been horses inside the corral, and did not expect to see any of their caged enemies attempting to escape in that way.

Besides, they were now busy endeavouring to extinguish the fires, all resistance being at an end.
As yet there was no sign of pursuit, and the fugitives rode up with the projecting _nimbus_ around them.

In the soft sand their horses' hoofs made no noise, and they galloped towards the cliff silent as spectres.
On reaching its base, it became necessary for them either to change the direction of their flight, or bring it to a termination.