until we come to the
banks of one of the rivers which run southward into the Gariep. I know
there are several at no very great distance from the coast: we can
follow any one of these to its junction with the great river. When we
have once got there, I have no doubt what Frank suggested is true
enough. We shall come to the farmhouse of a Dutch boor, or a Hottentot
village, or fall in with a hunting party, and so find the means of
reaching Cape Town."

"That sounds feasible," said Frank. "We shall be sure of water, at all
events, by going that way, and water's the first thing to be thought
of."

"And there'll be plenty of game, most likely," added Lavie, "and, any
way, fish."

"And shade from the heat of the sun, and resting-places at night," said
Warley.

"But how about the wild beasts and the snakes?" struck in Nick.
"Wouldn't it be better to make a canoe, or a raft, and sail down the
river itself?"

"That is not a bad idea, Nick," said Frank. "What do you say to that,
Charles?"

"That it would be a very good idea on some rivers, but not on these,"
answered Lavie. "Nick has never seen one of these South African rivers,
or he'd never suggest it. At times, the channels here are reduced to
mere threads, along which no boat that was ever made could pass; at
others, they are swollen to raging torrents, which would shatter them to
fragments. A boat journey to the Gariep is out of the question."

"Very well, then, we must make the journey along the banks," said
Warley. "Of course we must follow your advice, Charles. You know a
good deal about the country between this and Table Bay, while we know
absolutely nothing. I suppose you would recommend that we should set
off, as soon as possible, for the nearest river that runs southward?"

"Yes," said Lavie, "there is no kind of object in delaying here. There
is neither food nor shelter to be had here, neither shade nor water; and
the stench from the mud and the dead fish is very far from fragrant. I
counsel that we move off with as little delay as possible."

"Hear, hear," said Frank; "I am quite of the same mind. Well, then,
Charles, the next thing is, what are we to take with us? The boat would
have held as much as we were likely to want; but our backs and pouches
are different things."

"Quite so, Frank--that was the next thing I was going to speak about.
We must, of course, leave by far the greater part of our cargo behind.
In fact, we must cumber ou