"Tired as our horses were, they could have got up a gallop for a bit." "Yes, but for a very short distance," Dick Caister put in; "and as it was getting dusk, if the blacks had had anything like a start, we could not have overtaken them before it had got quite dark.
Those blacks can run like the wind.

It takes a well-mounted man to overtake them." An hour after the party had lain down, one of the sentries challenged; and the answer which came back, "All right, me Jim," at once brought everyone to their feet.
"Well, Jim, what is it?
Where have you been ?" Reuben asked.
"Jim hungry." "That you may be quite sure," Dick Caister said, with a laugh.

"Was there ever a native who wasn't hungry; unless he had stuffed himself, half an hour before ?" "Yes, I kept some supper for you, Jim," Reuben said; "but before you begin to eat, just tell me if everything is all right." "Everyting all right," Jim said, squatting himself beside the still glowing fire, and beginning to eat.
Reuben knew, by experience, that it was of no use questioning him until he had finished; and he therefore waited patiently, although one or two of the settlers grumbled at being kept waiting for the news.

When Jim had finished his meal, he looked round.

Reuben knew what he was expecting, and handed him a hornful of rum and water.
The black took a draught; and then, without any further delay, began to tell his story.
He had, while still some distance from the halting place, seen a light smoke coming up, and was sure that a party was already there.
"But why did you not tell us, Jim ?" Reuben interrupted.