in of
the cattle disease had been disclosed by the natives, who had been aware
of the facts from the first, but afraid to tell them. Chuma saw how he
had been deceived as to the white man's truth and honesty, and was
sincerely grieved at having so misused him. He promised that as soon as
Lavie, or any emissary from him should appear, the tidings should be at
once forwarded to the Basutos. These might now be looked for every day.
It was strange that they had not arrived long before. If, then, Warley
and the others were to set out for Cape Town now, they would inevitable
miss the expected messengers, and might not see their friends for
months, instead of for a few days only. Then there was Kobo. It was
not at all certain that he was not still on the search for them. It
would be a breach of faith if they were to leave him in the lurch; and
after all his exertions in their behalf, this was not to be thought of.
And, lastly, if Mr Lavie should not be at Cape Town when they arrived--
and the chances were very greatly against his being there--there was no
one to whom he could appeal for help or maintenance, excepting his
brother. And the idea of applying to him was so repulsive, that he felt
he would rather do anything than resort to it. No. Departure from the
Basuto village was impossible at the present crisis. He must wait
patiently, for a few weeks more, at all events.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

FRANK AND NICK REBEL--A HAZARDOUS DETERMINATION--A SUDDEN DEPARTURE--A
WOUNDED BUFFALO--OMINOUS SOUNDS--RESCUE AT THE LAST MOMENT.

Of all the party, De Walden was now the only one who was contented to
remain in his present position. He was, indeed, in a more contented
frame of mind than any he had enjoyed since he first entered the Cape
Colony. It seemed as if his wishes, so long frustrated, had on a sudden
received their full accomplishment--as though the seed he had been
vainly sowing for so many years, had sprung up to ripeness in an hour.
Not only had he his band of regular worshippers, who every Sunday
publicly attended his ministrations; not only had he his school filled
with boys and girls, learning, with an intelligence which would hardly
have been found among European children of the same age, the rudiments
of Christianity--but there were several adult converts, who were so far
advanced that they were almost ready to receive baptism; and many more,
though they had not openly given in their adhesion to the n