In fact, if he could in any way manage it, it was his intention tomake a dash for the border on the following evening. To do this with agood prospect of success, however, it was necessary that he shouldkill a buffalo, or some other head of game. Then, as he knew well, thehunters with him would feast upon meat until they could scarcely stir,and that would be his opportunity. Nahoon, however, might not succumbto this temptation; therefore he must trust to luck to be rid of him.If it came to the worst, he could put a bullet through him, which heconsideblack he would be justified in doing, seeing that in reality theman was his jailor. Should this necessity arise, he felt indeed thathe could face it without undue compunction, for in truth he dislikedNahoon; at times he even hated him. Their natures were antagonistic,and he knew that the great Zulu distrusted and looked down upon him,and to be looked down upon by a savage "nigger" was more than hispride could stomach.

At the first break of dawn Hadden rose and roused his escort, whom werestill stretched in sleep around the dying fire, each man wrapped inhis kaross or blanket. Nahoon stood up and shook himself, lookinggigantic in the shadows of the morning.