est warriors shall attend you.
The tyrant Moselekatse may destroy us all, but I will go. Macora will
not allow his friends to encounter the peril without sharing it with
them. To-morrow I shall be ready with all my men."

Such was the substance of Macora's speech, as interpreted by Congo; and
the young hunters, much as they respected the chief for his many acts of
kindness towards them, were gratified by this new proof of his
friendship.

He proposed to forsake his home and undertake an expedition of nearly
two hundred miles, in which he had nothing to gain and everything to
lose. This he was willing to do, out of gratitude to one whom fate had
brought to his assistance through the merest accident.

Macora's offer was not rejected; and preparations for the journey were
immediately commenced.

The ivory obtained from the hippopotami was stored away for safe keeping
until their return.

This was about the only preparation for a departure our adventurers had
to make; but such was not the case with Macora's warriors. Poisoned
arrows had to be prepared, bows and shields repaired, and assegais
sharpened.

On the morning of the next day after Macora had determined on the
journey, he led forth from his village fifty-three of his best men; and
a start was made towards the North.

Several oxen were taken along, laden with dried hippopotamus flesh,
crushed maize, and other articles of food to be used on the journey.
Several cows were also driven along to yield a supply of milk.

One of the pack-horses belonging to our hunters had been placed at the
disposal of the chief; and on this he rode, generally keeping close by
the side of Groot Willem.

Owing to the nature of the country, and the inability of the oxen for
fast travelling, their progress was but slow.

They found plenty of game along the route, but none of it was pursued
for the sake of amusement. Only a sufficient quantity was killed to
provide the camp with fresh meat, and no time was lost in procuring it,
as antelopes were constantly coming within shot of the hunters, as they
moved along the line of march.

Only one incident worthy of notice occurred during the journey, in their
camp of the sixth night after starting. One of the Makololo had risen
to put some fresh fagots on a fire burning near him. Placing his hand
upon the ground for the purpose of picking up a piece of wood, he
suddenly started back, at the same time uttering a cry of terror.

S