re them, by counselling them to
say nothing, but submit quietly,--trusting to time and patience. They
followed his instructions, for the want of knowing what else they could
do. They felt that they were in his hands; and, observing his confident
manner one and all awaited the end without murmuring.

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.

AN ODD SORT OF SUCTION PUMP.

It was not long before all were convinced of the prudent course which
Swartboy had counselled them to pursue. Had they insisted on being
supplied with water, or made an attempt to take it by force, they would
have been disappointed. They would not have been able to find a drop
within many miles of the place where more than two hundred people were
living. For all this, there was water not far off; and, trusting to
that feeling of generosity which rarely fails when relied upon, they
were at length supplied with it. Water was brought to them. Not much
at first, but in small quantities, and carried in the shells of
ostrich-eggs.

They soon had enough to satisfy their own thirst and allow them to turn
their attention to the wants of their cattle. After drinking off the
contents of an ostrich shell, Groot Willem by signs, directed the
attention of the woman who had given it to him, to the suffering
condition of his horse. The woman, who could not exactly be called an
"ornament to her sex," only shook her wool-covered head and walked
thoughtfully away.

"Unless we can get some drink for our horses," said Willem, turning to
his companions, "we must keep on. If we stop much longer here the
animals will die."

"Wait, baas Willem," said Swartboy; "the heart of the Bechuana grow
bigger soon. He like de Bushman."

Swartboy's prophecy proved correct. Not long after it was spoken, one
of the Bechuanas came to the camp, and asked to be conducted to the
chief. Groot Willem was immediately pointed out by Swartboy as the
individual who answered to that appellation, and the black walked up to
him. His errand was to say that the horses and cattle could only be
watered _one at a time_. This was satisfactory enough. Willem's horse,
as belonging to the chief of the party, should be supplied first, and
was led away by the man, its owner following at its heels. A short
distance from the kraal they came to a well, from which a covering of
earth had recently been removed. The well, for some purpose, had been
concealed, as if it were a pitfall for the capturing of elephan