e not
laden with powder, or any substance easily injured.

The packs were at once removed from them and placed on the backs of
others,--an arrangement that, from that time forth, caused Congo and
Swartboy to make their journey on foot. With this, Congo seemed quite
satisfied. The loss of his "mount" did not trouble him so much as the
fear that he should lose Spoor'em, his favourite hound, whose
sufferings, as well as those of the other dogs, were now painful to
witness.

By this time they had journeyed a few miles beyond the poisoned pond;
the shade of night had again commenced gathering over the plain. They
saw they would have to continue their journey throughout the night. The
emergency would not admit of the least delay, for every hour was fast
taking away what little strength was left either to themselves or their
animals. But which way should they go? That was the question that
required answering.

They did not think of returning to the north; but there were the east,
south, and west for them to choose from. Which of those directions was
the likeliest for water? This question the young hunters were wholly
unable to answer, and must have left themselves to the guidance of
chance, had they not been accompanied by Swartboy.

The Bushman suggested a course, of which, not only the Makololo, but
Congo approved. For all this, his proposal was prefaced by the usual
complaint against the Kaffir, as the cause of all their misfortunes.
Having established this fact to his satisfaction, he proceeded to inform
his masters, that he had heard much in his boyhood of the manners and
customs of the Bechuanas.

Some weak tribe of that nation, he thought, had sought refuge from an
enemy by making their home in the great karroo, or desert, through which
the expedition was now passing. They had poisoned the pool for the
purpose of preventing their enemies from receiving a supply of water
while pursuing them. They who had done so could not be expecting an
enemy from the north, nor yet from the south, where other tribes of
their kindred dwelt. They could only look for foes from the east, from
the land of the Zooloo Kaffirs; whom Swartboy declared to be the curse
of the earth. For these reasons, Swartboy believed that a tribe of
Bechuanas would be found to the west, and that, by a journey of a few
hours in that direction, their kraal might be reached.

No one had any argument against this reasoning of Swartboy; and,
yie