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I saw that it was a big wart…hog； and began to think。 Pig； unlike other beasts； drink not at night； but in the daytime。 The hog had； therefore； not come to drink； but to swim across。 Now； I argued； he would choose a safe place； for the wart…hog； hideous though he is； is a wise beast。 What was safe for him would； therefore； in all likelihood be safe for me。
With this hope to comfort me I prepared to enter。 My first care was the jewels； so； feeling them precarious in my shirt； I twined the collar round my neck and clasped it。 The snake… clasp was no flimsy device of modern jewellery； and I had no fear but that it would hold。 I held the pistol between my teeth； and with a prayer to God slipped into the muddy waters。
I swam in the wild way of a beginner who fears cramp。 The current was light and the water moderately warm； but I seemed to go very slowly； and I was cold with apprehension。 In the middle it suddenly shallowed； and my breast came against a mudshoal。 I thought it was a crocodile； and in my confusion the pistol dropped from my mouth and disappeared。
I waded a few steps and then plunged into deep water again。 Almost before I knew； I was among the bulrushes； with my feet in the slime of the bank。 With feverish haste I scrambled through the reeds and up through roots and undergrowth to the hard soil。 I was across； but； alas； I had lost my only weapon。
The swim and the anxiety had tired me considerably； and though it meant delay； I did not dare to continue with the weight of water…logged clothes to impede me。 I found a dry sheltered place in the bush and stripped to the skin。 I emptied my boots and wrung out my shirt and breeches； while the Prester's jewels were blazing on my neck。 Here was a queer counterpart to Laputa in the cave！
The change revived me； and I continued my way in better form。 So far there had been no sign of pursuit。 Before me the Letsitela was the only other stream； and from what I remembered of its character near the Berg I thought I should have little trouble。 It was smaller than the Klein Letaba； and a rushing torrent where shallows must be common。
I kept running till I felt my shirt getting dry on my back。 Then I restored the jewels to their old home； and found their cool touch on my breast very comforting。 The country was getting more broken as I advanced。 Little kopjes with thickets of wild bananas took the place of the dead levels。 Long before I reached the Letsitela； I saw that I was right in my guess。 It ran； a brawling mountain stream； in a narrow rift in the bush。 I crossed it almost dry…shod on the boulders above a little fall； stopping for a moment to drink and lave my brow。
After that the country changed again。 The wood was now getting like that which clothed the sides of the Berg。 There were tall timber…trees … yellowwood； sneezewood； essenwood； stinkwood … and the ground was carpeted with thick grass and ferns。 The sight gave me my first earnest of safety。 I was approaching my own country。 Behind me was heathendom and the black fever flats。 In front were the cool mountains and bright streams； and the guns of my own folk。
As I struggled on … for I was getting very footsore and weary … I became aware of an odd sound in my rear。 It was as if something were following me。 I stopped and listened with a sudden dread。 Could Laputa's trackers have got up with me already？ But the sound was not of human feet。 It was as if some heavy animal were plunging through the undergrowth。 At intervals came the soft pad of its feet on the grass。
It must be the hungry lion of my nightmare； and Henriques' pistol was in the mud of the Klein Letaba！ The only thing was a tree； and I had sprung for one and scrambled wearily into the first branches when a great yellow animal came into the moonlight。
Providence had done kindly in robbing me of my pistol。 The next minute I was on the ground with Colin leaping on me and baying with joy。 I hugged that blessed hound and buried my head in his shaggy neck； sobbing like a child。 How he had traced me I can never tell。 The secret belongs only to the Maker of good and faithful dogs。
With him by my side I was a new man。 The awesome loneliness had gone。 I felt as if he were a message from my own people to take me safely home。 He clearly knew the business afoot； for he padded beside me with never a glance to right or left。 Another time he would have been snowking in every thicket； but now he was on duty； a serious； conscientious dog with no eye but for business。
The moon went down； and the starry sky was our only light。 The thick gloom which brooded over the landscape pointed to the night being far gone。 I thought I saw a deeper blackness ahead which might be the line of the Berg。 Then came that period of utter stillness when every bush sound is hushed and the world seems to swoon。 I felt almost impious hurrying through that profound silence； when not even the leaves stirred or a frog croaked。
Suddenly as we came over a rise a little wind blew on the back of my head； and a bitter chill came into the air。 I knew from nights spent in the open that it was the precursor of dawn。 Sure enough； as I glanced back； far over the plain a pale glow was stealing upwards into the sky。 In a few minutes the pall melted into an airy haze； and above me I saw the heavens shot with tremors of blue light。 Then the foreground began to clear； and there before me； with their heads still muffled in vapour； were the mountains。
Xenophon's Ten Thousand did not hail the sea more gladly than I welcomed those frowning ramparts of the Berg。
Once again my weariness was eased。 I cried to Colin； and together we ran down into the wide； shallow trough which lies at the foot of the hills。 As the sun rose above the horizon； the black masses changed to emerald and rich umber； and the fleecy mists of the summits opened and revealed beyond shining spaces of green。 Some lines of Shakespeare ran in my head； which I have always thought the most beautiful of all poetry：
'Night's candles are burned out； and jocund day Walks tiptoe on the misty mountain tops。'
Up there among the clouds was my salvation。 Like the Psalmist； I lifted my eyes to the hills from whence came my aid。
Hope is a wonderful restorative。 To be near the hills； to smell their odours； to see at the head of the glens the lines of the plateau where were white men and civilization … all gave me new life and courage。 Colin saw my mood； and spared a moment now and then to inspect a hole or a covert。 Down in the shallow trough I saw the links of a burn； the Machudi； which flowed down the glen it was my purpose to ascend。 Away to the north in the direction of Majinje's were patches of Kaffir tillage； and I thought I discerned the smoke from fires。 Majinje's womankind would be cooking their morning meal。 To the south ran a thick patch of forest； but I saw beyond it the spur of the mountain over which runs the highroad to Wesselsburg。 The clear air of dawn was like wine in my blood。 I was not free； but I was on the threshold of freedom。 If I could only reach my friends with the Prester's collar in my shirt； I would have performed a feat which would never be forgotten。 I would have made history by my glorious folly。 Breakfastless and footsore； I was yet a proud man as I crossed the hollow to the mouth of Machudi's glen。
My chickens had been counted too soon； and there was to be no hatching。 Colin grew uneasy； and began to sniff up wind。 I was maybe a quarter of a mile from the glen foot； plodding through the long grass of the hollow； when the behaviour of the dog made me stop and listen。 In that still air sounds carry far； and I seemed to hear the noise of feet brushing through cover。 The noise came both from north and south； from the forest and from the lower course of the Machudi。
I dropped into shelter； and running with bent back got to the summit of a little bush…clad knoll。 It was Colin who first caught sight of my pursuers。 He was staring at a rift in the trees； and suddenly gave a short bark。 I looked and saw two men； running hard； cross the grass and dip into the bed of the stream。 A moment later I had a glimpse of figures on the edge of the forest； moving fast to the mouth of the glen。 The pursuit had not followed me； it had waited to cut me off。 Fool that I was； I had forgotten the wonders of Kaffir telegraphy。 It had been easy for Laputa to send word thirty miles ahead to stop any white man who tried to cross the Berg。
And then I knew that I was very weary。
CHAPTER XV MORNING IN THE BERG
I was perhaps half a mile the nearer to the glen； and was likely to get there first。 And after that？ I could see the track winding by the waterside and then crossing a hill…shoulder which diverted the stream。 It was a road a man could scarcely ride； and a tired man would have a hard job to climb。 I do not think that I had any hope。 My exhilaration had died as suddenly as it had been born。 I saw myself caught and carried off to Laputa； who must now be close on the rendezvous at Inanda's Kraal。 I had no weapon to make a fight for it。 My foemen were many and untired。 It must be only a matter of minutes till I was in their hands。
Mo