owder's running
so very short, that there are not above a dozen charges left. So we
must learn assegai throwing and archery, if we mean to have any sport in
future."

"I shall never make a hand at either," said Frank. "A fellow must be
born to it, to knock things over as these Basutos do. Well, I agree
with you, I don't think I can stand this much longer, without going
stark crazy."

"Suppose we _don't_ stand it, Frank," suggested Gilbert. "It quite
rests with ourselves. No one can compel us."

"I don't quite understand you," said Wilmore. "How can we help
ourselves?"

"By taking ourselves off," answered the other.

"Look here. They say we ought to remain until the messengers return
that were sent to Cape Town, and that it would be hard upon Lavie, if he
were to come here and find us gone. Very good. But De Walden and
Warley both mean to remain with Queen Laura; so that whenever he may
come (if he _does_ come) he will find them, and that will answer every
purpose. But you and I may go our way, and leave them to go theirs."

"What! you propose that we two should set off for Cape Town alone, hey?
Could we find our way, think you?"

"I don't see why we shouldn't. We know the exact position of Cape Town,
and the pocket compass, which Lavie gave me, will enable us to go at all
events in the right direction. It will take a long time, no doubt--"

"Three or four months, at least," said Wilmore.

"About that, I judge," rejoined Gilbert. "But then we shall be
tolerably sure to fall in with some Dutch village or farm before we have
got half-way; and the Dutch are hospitable, though not civil to the
English. They couldn't turn us out into the wilderness, anyhow."

"No, I suppose not," said Frank, "particularly as we have got money to
pay for what we want. But then, Nick, how are we to subsist till we
reach one of these villages or farms. The nearest, I believe, are fully
two hundred miles off, if we went ever so straight. With only six
charges in our guns--"

"We must reserve our fire for great emergencies," interrupted Nick. "I
have my knife, any way, and we have learned something by this time,
remember, and know where to find the roots and fruits these fellows eat.
Besides, it's the season for birds' eggs now, and there'll be heaps of
them."

"Yes, and we can take a lot of mealeys with us," added Wilmore. "They
will go into a small compass and last a long time. Well, Nick, I don't
mind, if I g