“We need no longer fear losing our animals, for they will have water enough now to drink their fill,” observed Martin as his father overtook him.
Mr Vincent did not answer, but anxiously gazed at the sheet of water. “I know of no lake hereabouts, and it is too important an object not to be known to all who have ever travelled across the desert; yet my eyes cannot be deceived,” he remarked.
“Shall I ride back and tell the people?” asked Martin.
“Wait till we have ascertained how far off the water is,” said his father; “you may only disappoint them.”
“Surely it cannot be very far off, or we should not see those elephants so clearly,” remarked Martin.
They now put their horses into a trot, the poor animals were too much fatigued to gallop.
Just then the seeming elephants began to move, and suddenly, instead of elephants, a herd of zebras crossed their path, scampering over the ground. The next instant the lake had disappeared, and they found themselves on the borders of an immense expanse of salt, covering the ground as far as the eye could reach to the north and west. On looking behind them, however, they saw both their cattle and men moving rapidly towards the spot, as if they too had been deceived. Bitter was their disappointment when they discovered their mistake. Two of the poor animals dropped and died, now another, and now a fourth; still “Forward! forward!” was the cry. Masiko asserted that water would be at length reached, though it might be some hours’ journey ahead. Thus encouraged, even those who had hitherto been most inclined to despair exerted themselves.
“If this is to endure much longer, I fear that I shall be unable to stand it,” observed Martin to Kibo, who was riding by his side. “Should I die, you will promise me, Kibo, to remain with my father, and to do your best to serve him, and try and get him back safely to Mr Warden’s. Perhaps if I die he will be more ready to listen to him than he was during his last visit, and to think that is a great consolation to me. Oh, how willingly would I give up my life to save his, and much more, to enable him to learn the glorious truths which have brought joy to my heart!”
The sun was rapidly sinking in the west. They had left the salt expanse some way behind; still the country was as dry and inhospitable as ever. Masiko, at Mr Vincent’s order, had pushed on ahead of the caravan. Suddenly he was seen to wave his spear, and to point with it to a clump of trees, then to rush forward. Mr Vincent, with Martin and Kibo, followed him eagerly.