Unfortunately he made a mistake and said northwest instead of southeast--otherwise his directions were perfect.
For three hours more Clark and his porters went bumping through the night, stumbling through the long grass and falling into hidden holes.
The porters began to be mutinous and the guides were thoroughly and hopelessly lost.

It was then that they one and all laid down in the tall grass, made a fire to keep the lions and leopards away, and slept soundly until daylight.

Even then the situation was little better, for the guides were still at sea.

About the time that Clark decided, to return to the river, miles away, and take a fresh start, he fired a shot in the forlorn hope of getting a response from some section of the compass.

A distant shot came in answer and he pushed on and soon came up with the colonel and Tarlton returning home after a night in the temporary elephant camp.