"It would be better," I said, "to hunt in that direction, and come upon them 'by accident.' Don't you think so?"
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE LADIES CHASED BY A HERD OF BUFFALOES—HOW THEIR
LIVES WERE SAVED—IN CAMP AGAIN—STORIES OF
BUFFALO ADVENTURE.
"No, I don't," replied Harry; "I think it would be showing a greater respect to them for us to take the trouble of saddling our horses and going purposely to their kraal, instead of ignoring them until such time as we 'happen' upon them. They will learn from the natives that we are here, just as we have learned about them."
"I agree with Harry," said Jack; "but it's too late in the afternoon for us to visit them to-day; we can start out in the morning and ride over there."
"Well, that will do," said Harry; "it certainly is rather late in the day; if we were ready to start this minute we couldn't get there and back again before dark unless we limited our call to about five minutes, and that wouldn't do."
"You may be sure it wouldn't," said Jack; "when I call upon them I don't want to be cut short on five minutes."
It was agreed all around that we should make a visit to the ladies the next morning, and with that understanding everybody was cheerful. We had a substantial supper, and went to bed early. All were up in good season the next morning, and my companions were decidedly uneasy all the time that intervened between their waking and the saddling of the horses after breakfast. As we mounted and rode away I suggested that we had better ride slowly, as the distance was short, and we did not want to get there too early in the morning; the others assented, and we jogged on at a slow pace. We had several opportunities for shooting game while on the way, but resisted temptation, since a yielding to it would have involved loss of time. In due time we came in sight of the camp, and rode slowly up to it; the manager came forward to meet us, and informed us, to our dismay, that the ladies had taken an early start and gone out hunting.
"Which way did they go?" queried Jack.
"They went toward the northwest," replied the manager, "where the natives reported a herd of buffaloes. The after-rider went with them on horseback, and half a dozen Kafirs followed on foot. I think," he continued, "that you will have no difficulty in finding them, as they will be sure to be in the vicinity of the herd of buffaloes."