ey bartered for cotton, and
having concluded their bargains wandered about in the camp, as was the
custom of the natives, peeping into the waggons, examining the bullocks,
and looking at all the arrangements with childish curiosity.

"I expect these fellows have come as spies rather than traders," Mr
Harvey said to the lads. "As a general thing the natives come in with
their wives and children; but, you see, these are all men. I observed
too that they have particularly examined the pile of muskets, as if
reckoning up our means of defence. In future, instead of merely a
couple of men to look after the cattle and keep off any marauders, I
will put six every night on guard; they shall be relieved twice during
the night, and one of the hunters shall be in charge of each watch,--if
there are signs of trouble, we will ourselves take it by turns."

Two or three times that night the sentries perceived moving objects near
the camp, and challenged; in each case the objects at once disappeared;
whether they were hyenas or crawling men could not be discerned.

At the halt next day a much larger number of natives came in, and a
satisfactory amount of trade was done. Their demeanour, however, was
insolent and overbearing, and some of them went away with their goods,
declining to accept the exchange offered. After they had left the camp
several small articles were missed.

The next day they passed across a plain abounding in game, and Mr
Harvey said that the boys and the three hunters might go out and kill
some fresh meat; but he warned Dick and Tom not to allow their ardour in
the chase to carry them away from the hunters, but to keep as much as
possible together. When they had killed as many animals as could be
carried on their horses and the hunters' shoulders, they were to return
at once.

It was the first time that Tom had been out hunting since his accident;
his bones had all set well, and beyond a little stiffness and occasional
pain he was quite himself again.

"I am glad to be riding out again with you, Dick," he said; "it has been
awfully slow work jogging along by the side of the caravan."

In addition to the three hunters they took as usual a native with them,
to hold the horses should it be necessary to dismount and stalk the
game, instead of chasing it and shooting it from the saddles, an
exercise in which by this time the boys were efficient. They found more
difficulty in getting up to the game than they h