Through broken scrub and thorny mimosas, and over rough stony ground, Tom Flinders and Frank Jamieson were hurried at a pace that was well-nigh killing (for when on the march Caffres move over the ground at a sort of double stride or trot, which is terribly trying to those unaccustomed to such rapid travelling) until at length their guards came to a halt on the banks of a small stream. Worn out with heat and fatigue, and suffering intense pain from their bleeding and swollen feet, the weary prisoners--after a long refreshing draught of cool water--sank down on the veldt with a sigh of relief; but one of the escort immediately seized Frank by the collar and dragged him up again, and Waishlahla, severing the thongs that bound his arms, ordered him to strip. Frank hesitated for a moment, and was about to remonstrate, when a sharp blow over the shoulders reminded him that resistance was worse than useless; and so, gulping down his wrath, he threw off all his garments, his shirt excepted, and flung them on the ground. "Now you may lie down," said the chief with a savage grin. "You can have an hour's rest, and then we go on again;" and picking up the clothes he distributed them amongst the escort, whilst Frank, with an exclamation of disgust, stretched himself beside his friend, who had been watching these proceedings with surprise and indignation. "We're in a pleasant fix, and no mistake," whispered Tom as they lay side by side; "why are they treating you in this manner? I thought they intended to leave you your clothes, but now it appears we're to fare alike!" "I suppose it is the Caffres' nature to maltreat those who fall into their power," answered Frank in the same low tone. "You see as long as Untsikana was present this fellow Waishlahla dared not annoy us, but now--well, you ought to remember the good old nursery rhyme, `When the cat's away the mice will play!'" "Precious rough play," growled the other. Then after a pause he said, "I'm afraid we shall not have much chance of getting away from these brutes; they're a deal too wide-awake." "They were not wide-awake enough to fasten my arms again," his friend rejoined, "and that is something in our favour! Never say die, old fellow! Remember the yarn John Richards spun us; he was in far greater straits than we are, nevertheless he managed to escape from two hundred Red-skins, every one of whom was eager to get his scalp. But turn your back, Tom," he went on, "and let me see if I cannot loosen your bonds; you will be more at ease then." "But I say, Frank, did you take in all that yarn?" asked Tom, as the other cast loose the thongs round his arms. "I didn't; at least I thought Richards was drawing on his imagination a good deal." "Not a bit of it; what he told us was true enough; Richards is not the sort of man to romance. I know him well, for he has acted as our agent at Graham's Town for the last seven years--in fact ever since he came to South Africa."