Finally a body of police with native runners at their stirrups rode on to the drift where the road crosses the Letaba.

The place is called Main Drift, and you will find it on the map.

The natives were first of all to locate Laputa, and prevent him getting out on the south side of the triangle of hill and wood between Machudi's, the road, and the Letaba.
If he failed there, he must try to ford the Letaba below the drift, and cross the road between the drift and Wesselsburg.

Now Arcoll had not men enough to watch the whole line, and therefore if Laputa were once driven below the drift, he must shift his men farther down the road.
Consequently it was of the first importance to locate Laputa's whereabouts, and for this purpose the native trackers were sent forward.

There was just a chance of capturing him, but Arcoll knew too well his amazing veld-craft and great strength of body to build much hope on that.
We were none too soon.