Harry and I looked in the same direction. There was no doubt about the matter.
“Who can they be?” exclaimed Harry.
“Perhaps they are natives,” I answered. “If so, we must be careful how we approach them.”
“I think it is more likely that they are our friends coming to search for us,” said Harry. “They will be surprised at our not appearing yesterday, and may have pushed forward a party who, if on horseback, would soon be up with us.”
I at length agreed that such was probably the case, and we accordingly settled at once to go towards the fire. We should probably, even at a distance, be able to discover whether or not it was made by our friends. Jan was of our opinion.
Having hastily finished our meal, we made our way in the direction we proposed. On getting near the fire, Jan offered to go forward and to bring word while we lay hid, so that we might retreat if necessary before we were discovered.
When I was in the forests of Africa, I always remembered that while I was stalking an animal, a lion or leopard might be stalking me; and we therefore, while we waited for the return of Jan, kept our eyes about us, and our ears open to detect the slightest sound.
We had longer to wait than we expected. At length we heard a rustling of leaves near us, and Jan’s voice exclaiming—
“Dey de Capt’n’s party, and Toko, and two, three, Makololoes; dey all got horses!”
This was good news. As we went along he told me that he had not informed them that we were near, as he wished to give us the pleasure of announcing ourselves.