o stranger noises than those." And
Denis covered his head up again with his blanket.

The rest of the night passed quietly by, but at early dawn there was a
great hubbub among the Hottentots and Kaffirs. The horses had
disappeared; either the lions had put them to flight in spite of their
being knee-haltered, or they had gone in search of greener pastures.
Old Dos had not seen them go. He had been herding the cattle, and had
taken little note of them, thinking that they could take care of
themselves. The consequence was, he and another Hottentot boy, Tan,
were sent off in search of them as soon as daylight had increased
sufficiently to enable their spoor to be seen. The party had therefore
to remain encamped until they were brought back.

"I should have preferred more picturesque scenery to spend the day in.
I wonder our leader takes the matter so coolly," observed Crawford.

"It's just this, that he's accustomed to it," answered Denis. "A man
who travels in this country must have a vast amount of patience. He
must not value time as you do in the old country."

Hendricks, however, did not let his people remain idle. They were
employed in repairing or strengthening the harness, cutting thongs,
collecting fuel, and doing other odd jobs, while he and Umgolo went out
with their guns in search of a pallah or other game. Crawford and his
younger companions amused themselves in camp, for the heat was too great
to enjoy exercise. Before noon the horses were brought back, and the
hunters returning with a springboc, no time was lost in inspanning, and
the waggon proceeded on at a faster pace than usual, to make up for lost
time. A drift or stream was forded, the waggon sticking as it reached
the opposite bank, and much more time was lost in dragging it up, as the
oxen obstinately refused to pull all together. In vain the Hottentot
boys rushed in among them, endeavouring by soft blandishments to induce
them to move. The Kaffirs swore in strange-sounding tones, and Denis
flew here and there, poking one, lashing another, hauling at the head of
a third, his example being followed by the other Englishmen. Their
leader rode forward, merely observing--

"You must make haste, boys, for we have a worse bit than this to cross,
and cross it we must, before we outspan for the night."

Scarcely had he disappeared in the distance than the oxen, suddenly
pulling together, hauled the waggon out. Denis uttered a loud shout of