th. I think that will throw these Hottentots completely
out, and they will give up the pursuit."

"Well, I have no objection," said Nick, "and I don't suppose the others
have. Anything to get out of the hands of those dingy brutes. How sold
they will be! If they could only get hold of one of us, how they would
pay it off on him!"

"I am afraid they will pay it off on my poor Lion," said Frank.
"Whatever will become of him, poor fellow!"

"Oh, they'll use him kindly enough," said Lavie, soothingly. "He is too
valuable and useful an animal for them to hurt. As soon as we get to
Cape Town we'll send a fellow to ransom him. A dozen large beads or
brass buttons will soon induce them to give him up."

"Well, at all events we'll hope so," said Warley. "Well, now, Charles,
I am rested if the others are--enough, that is, to go on."

"All right," said the doctor. "Now, the first thing is to take off our
shoes and stockings."

This was soon done, and the party stepping down into the bed of the
rivulet, walked in Indian file one after another, taking particular care
to leave no footprints in the soft earth. Presently they came to a
place where the short scrub, with which the slopes were covered,
descended to the water's edge. They stepped out upon this, and
proceeded eastward for a considerable distance, taking the greatest
pains to leave no trace behind. After half a mile or so of this
cautious walking, Lavie considered the danger to be at an end. Again
resuming the sharp trot at which they had previously proceeded, in
another hour they reached some caves in a high range of limestone
cliffs, where they resolved to rest for the night. They were too much
wearied to keep watch. In five minutes all four were sound asleep.

The next morning they awoke tolerably refreshed, and resuming their
journey, proceeded still eastward for some seven or eight miles, when
they halted for their mid-day rest. There was no lack of food, for soon
after setting out, they had come upon a grove of bananas, of which each
of the party had gathered a large bunch. They could also perceive a
small streamlet making its way through the brushwood. Doubtless it
issued from a mass of limestone rock about a hundred yards distant. "We
had better go and drink there," said Lavie. "We have no drinking-cup
now, remember, and must use the hollows of our hands, I suppose, or a
large leaf. But we shall manage it more easily at the spring head."