taken possession of by the
British arms, we can travel to Cape Town, though it would be wise to
follow a different route. That is the substance of what Omatoko
advises."

"And you are inclined to trust him, Charles?" said Warley,
interrogatively.

"I am in two minds about it," replied Charles. "Part of what he says I
know to be true, and everything is consistent with truth. Still his
anxiety to get back to his own tribe is suspicious. He has let fall,
unconsciously, some hints of his burning desire to be avenged forthwith
on the enemies who had so nearly put him to a cruel death; and if he
were to conduct us to Cape Town, he would have to put off the
gratification of his revenge for many months at the least; and perhaps
before his return, the tribe he longs to punish will have moved hundreds
of miles away."

"And what do you advise that we should do?"

"I am inclined to follow his suggestions. If his tale is true, we
should be running into the face of the most imminent peril by following
the route I had marked out. And even if it is false, we shall probably
not be delayed very long at the Hottentot village. His measures will be
taken, I doubt not, promptly enough, and then he will be at liberty to
attend to our affairs."

"You think, in fact, that he really means friendly by us, though he may
care more for his revenge than our convenience."

"Just so, Ernest. His gratitude is, I believe, quite sincere."

"Then I agree with you that we had better do as you advise. What do you
two say?"

"I am of your opinion," said Wilmore.

"And I don't see what else is to be done," added Gilbert.

"That's agreed, then," said Lavie. "And now, there is another thing.
He says it won't be safe for us to sleep under these trees, even though
we light a fire, and keep it up all night. It seems that the
neighbourhood abounds with beast of prey. Indeed, if Omatoko is to be
believed there would be a considerable risk of our being devoured by a
lion or tiger--"

"Tiger!" repeated Warley. "There are no tigers in this country surely."

"Not the animal strictly called the tiger," returned the surgeon; "that
is not found in South Africa at all, or indeed anywhere, I believe,
except in Bengal. The beast they name the tiger here, is the leopard;
but he is quite fierce and savage enough. I should observe that the
leopard is not the only animal miscalled in this country. They talk of
the wild horse, the camel, and the wol