"Did you see that?" he asked.
She nodded; then said:
"Shall we get off and look at the cut?"
"Certainly not," he answered. "Our only chance is to keep her moving;
if once the wound stiffens, there's an end. The sinew cannot have been
severed, or it would have come before now."
So they pushed on.
All that morning did they canter forward wherever the ground was smooth
enough to allow them to do so, and notwithstanding the increasing
lameness of Mr. Clifford's mare, made such good progress that by midday
they reached the place where they had passed the first night after
leaving Bambatse. Here sheer fatigue and want of water forced them to
stop a little while. They dismounted and drank greedily from the
spring, after which they allowed the horses to drink also; indeed it was
impossible to keep them away from the water. Then they ate a little, not
because they desired food, but to keep up their strength, and while
they did so examined the mare. By now her hind leg was much swollen, and
blood still ran from the gash made by the assegai. Moreover, the limb
was drawn up so that the point of the hoof only rested on the ground.
"We must get on before it sets fast," said Mr. Clifford, and they
mounted again.
Great heavens! what was this? The mare would not stir.
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