The two friends stood a moment gazing blankly at the empty waggon; then
Webster clambered in to see if by any chance Miss Anstrade had left a
message, while Hume, in the fading light, hunted slowly around for spoor
of hoof-marks. Darkness, however, soon closed, and they sat down with
their faces in their hands.
"The infernal scoundrels!" muttered Webster, springing up in a moment;
"the cowardly hounds! If they had a grudge against us, why could they
not have wreaked their spite on us? Is it some mad freak, do you think,
of that crack-brained Dutchman?"
Hume was silent.
"Come, Frank," said Webster, stepping up to his friend, "have you no
idea? I am at a loss in the veld; but you, who have been here before,
should have some confidence."
"I made certain she would be with the waggon," said Hume drearily.
"Let us get a fire alight, and when we have had some food we may hit
upon something."
In a few minutes a bright fire was burning, with a kettle in position.
Food was brought out from the locker, and once more they sat down,
looking silently at the crackling flames. Gradually the fire burnt away
and they were left in darkness.
"Well," said Webster.
"We have overrun the spoor," said Hume gloomily.
"Why, here stands the waggon!"
"She never came as far as this. The waggon was brought on here to lead
us astray. They met the waggon in the road, and have gone off in a
direction opposite to this. They may have circled round, struck the
road below the old `outspan,' and returned towards Pretoria."
"Good heavens! then they may be fifty miles away?"
"Ay, and we are on foot."