The sun shone brightly from the unclouded sky; the atmosphere was clear, and we could see objects at a great distance.  We looked out, as we rode along, for any of the natives who might be passing either on the war-path or engaged in hunting, as we resolved to endeavour to avoid them rather than risk an encounter.  They might prove to be friends; but if enemies, we knew that we should have a poor chance of coming off victorious.  Whenever the country was open, we galloped across it as fast as we could venture to push our horses without over-fatiguing them; but when we came to woody districts we kept as much as possible under shelter of the trees, so as to avoid being seen.  We did not forget that, should enemies cross our trail, they would probably follow us.  We therefore very frequently looked about us, to ascertain if we were pursued.  We agreed that, in that case, we would run for it, trusting to the mettle of our horses for escape.