; "I'm your man,
at all events. Poor old Lion! we must leave him behind; but that can't
be helped."
"No," said Warley, "men must be thought of before dogs, however much one
may like them. Well, I agree, Charles, and so I can see does Nick."
"That's right, then," said Charles; "now we had better join them. Don't
let us give the notion that we are hanging back."
They went out accordingly, and found the party just preparing to start.
They were greeted by Umboo with feigned civility, which they returned
with similar politeness, and were requested to take their places in the
march next to him--Lavie and Frank on his right hand, and Warley and
Nick on his left, with Omatoko walking next to Frank and Leshoo to Nick.
In this order they proceeded at a rapid pace for several hours, until
the heat of the sun became overpoweringly oppressive; then they halted
in a place shaded by some trees, and provisions were served out, the
Hottentots digging roots to supply the place of water. Umboo seated
himself on the grass, and motioned to the Englishmen to do the same,
their two attendants, or jailers, as they might more properly be called,
taking the same positions as in the march.
They remained in their resting-place for three or four hours until the
great heat of the day was past, and then resumed their route. About
five o'clock a second halt was made, and Omatoko having spoken a few
words apart with the chief, addressed Lavie. He informed him that Umboo
intended to post them at various places of ambush, in the neighbourhood
of the Bushmen's camp, and their duty would be to pick off any fugitives
who might endeavour to make their escape--adding that Umboo would give a
large reward for every Bushman so killed. Lavie and the others accepted
the commission without the smallest hesitation--again apparently to the
surprise of Omatoko, and the evident disappointment of Leshoo. But
there was nothing more to be said on the subject. It only remained to
conduct the four whites to their several stations. They had now arrived
within a mile of their enemies; who it appeared had just succeeded in
killing two buffaloes, and were about to make a feast on the carcasses.
Just as they were on the point of setting out, Lavie purposely dropped
the case which contained his rifle bullets, which were scattered in all
directions on the ground. His companions ran to pick them up, and as
their heads met, he said in a subdued but perfectly clea
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