meat; and it was necessary,
before they could proceed to any distance, to obtain a further supply.
Still Hendricks was anxious, as quickly as possible, to get out from
between the two contending forces, one of which was on his right hand
and the other on his left.

As soon as the meal was over, sentries being placed round the camp, and
careful watches, to keep a look-out on the oxen, the rest of the party
lay down with their arms by their sides, ready to start in the morning,
as soon as there was sufficient daylight to enable them to see their way
clearly. Scarcely had Lionel, with his young companions, placed their
heads on the saddles or rolls of cloth which served them as pillows,
than they were fast asleep, dreaming of the antics they had seen played
by Umbulazi's dusky warriors on the previous day. Even the howls of the
hyenas and jackals failed to disturb them, nor did the roaring of a
lion, which came up close to the camp, and made most of the Kaffir
servants start to their feet.

Before daylight, Hendricks, whom no exertion could fatigue, was on foot,
when he quickly aroused his followers. Being in a hurry to set off, he
did not wait for breakfast, but ordered the horses to be saddled and the
oxen to be inspanned, and the men taking their accustomed places on each
side of the waggon, the journey was commenced, just as the first streaks
of day appeared over the distant hills. The road was well known, or it
would have been difficult to find it in the gloom of morning; but as
soon as the sun rose, there was light enough and to spare, as well as
more heat than was pleasant, especially in the opinion of the young
English travellers. Moving on for some miles, they came to the edge of
the plateau, or rather to a broad valley which ran across it. As they
gazed down from their elevated position, it appeared sprinkled with
clumps of mimosa of various sizes, springing up from a sward of soft
green grass.

"That will be delightful for a gallop!" exclaimed Crawford, as they
halted for a short time to secure the drags to the waggon wheels.

"Wait until we get down to it," observed Hendricks, laughing. "We shall
find that seeming sward a tangled network of long coarse grass, as high
as our waists."

Such indeed was proved to be the case, although the oxen managed to
tramp through it.

"Look out for snakes!" cried Denis. "I saw a big fellow wriggling
through the grass just now. He seemed more afraid of us than