I have no intention of falling into their hands alive, and going through terrible tortures before I am put to death." "That really seems to be the only thing to be done, Bullen.
However, we must hope for the best." When night fell, a fire was lit by the party on the path.
"The beggars evidently mean to stay here," Lisle said, "and even if they moved away we should be no better off for, as the column will be ten miles away by now, we should really have no chance of regaining it." When night fell they crept out of the bush, taking the greatest care not to make any noise, for the natives were but thirty yards away.

They crawled along for forty or fifty yards and then, a turn in the path hiding them from sight, they rose to their feet and pushed on.
They found, however, that it was no easy matter to make headway.

It was pitch dark, owing to the canopy of leaves, and they had to feel their way at every step.

The path, moreover, was constantly turning and twisting.

After travelling for upwards of two hours, they came to a point where two paths met and, without knowing, they took the one that led off to the left.