And signing to the natives to get out of the way, the Colonel urged his horse into a hand-gallop, his companions following his example.
But his physical powers were unequal to the demand of his moral strength and resolution; for upon arriving at Kilembonga he fell forward in his saddle in a swoon. Van der Wyck was only just in time to save him from a dangerous tumble.
So far the search for the missing lads had not only been unsuccessful, but other misfortunes had descended upon this little outpost of civilisation in the wilds of East Africa.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE RAVING OF THE WITCH-DOCTOR
On Piet Van der Wyck, the Colonel's guest, descended the mantle of responsibility. With the exception of the dour Scot, McFrazer, he was the only active white man on the estate, and in spite of his years he rose nobly to the occasion.
The first step was to have the injured man carried to his bed. Here the Afrikander, skilled in veldt surgery and medicine, deftly removed Colonel Narfield's boots and leggings. Already the sprained ankle had swollen badly, and once the compression of the foot gear was removed, the foot enlarged to greatly abnormal dimensions.
With the aid of embrocation and hot water Van der Wyck dressed the injury and then proceeded to restore the patient to consciousness.
Colonel Narfield's first act upon opening his eyes was to attempt to get out of bed, protesting that happen what may he was not going to lie there while his two young charges were still missing.