One of them spoke to him sullenly.
"Yoi-aloo!" cried John, laughing. "Dey say Goruba gone lost, sah!"
"Lost, is he?" said Challis. "They were searching for him, then. How was he lost?"
"Went away, sah," returned John, after questioning the man. "No savvy what for. 'Fraid him gobbled up."
"That's good news. What will they do if they don't find him?"
"Very sad all same, sah. Dey go back over Yo; had 'nuff; plenty sick, sah."
It was good news indeed that the Tubus had lost their leader; still better that they were disheartened and thinking of returning to their own country.
"Well, John," said Challis, "take these fellows back to our men; then come after me as fast as you can. I will go on and see what is happening."
John went off, driving the negroes in front of him. Challis waited until they were out of sight; then, going to the edge of the wood, he looked all around to make sure that no more Tubus were in sight, and continued his journey, taking cover from bush to bush.
In a few minutes he saw the fort on the hilltop some distance away. Making a round, he approached it from the north-west side, stopping every now and then to listen. Apparently there were no Tubus between him and the fort, but he dared not go too close to it while daylight lasted, for he would certainly be seen as he mounted the hill.