; leave me Swanevelt and
the other Hottentots."

"Yes, that will do very well; we will leave the Caffre head man with
you."

"No; he must go with the larger portion of his party; he could not well
be separated from them. I will find a proper place for the wagons, and
stockade myself regularly in; that will be a good job for the
Hottentots, and I dare say I shall do very well."

"I shall not leave you Omrah, Major," said Swinton; "for, as we shall
take four horses with us, I wish him to ride one, and he can attend upon
us, as you have Mahomed."

"You may have Begum to ride the other," replied the Major, "if you
please; then you will each have a groom."

"No, no, it would be a pity to part you and her; however, there is no
time to be lost, for if this great chief and warrior Quetoo is
advancing, it may be as well to be ready for a retreat; the sooner we
are off, the sooner we shall be back; so now to pack up."

CHAPTER XVI.

The first step taken by Alexander was to send for the Hottentots, and,
after again reproving them for their former behavior, he asked who were
ready to volunteer to proceed with him, as he had decided to leave the
wagons with Major Henderson, and proceed on horseback the short distance
of his journey which remained to be accomplished.

Several of the Hottentots immediately came forward; the heads of the
mutiny held back, and thus proved to Alexander that the men who had come
forward were persuaded into it by the others, and regretted what they
had done. He therefore immediately accepted their services, and their
muskets were returned to them. Alexander then stated his intentions to
the Caffre head man, who selected the thirty warriors that were
required, and in the course of three hours every thing was ready for
their departure.

It was arranged that in case of danger arising to either party, they
should, if possible, fall back to the newly established Mission of
Morley, on the sea-coast; but otherwise, the wagons would remain where
they were till Alexander's return. Having packed up all they required in
small packages, to be carried by the Caffres, they bade farewell to the
Major, and set off, having no baggage but what we have mentioned; for
Alexander would not be encumbered with a load of heavy articles which
must prevent rapid progress, or rapid retreat if necessary.

In two hours they arrived by difficult passes at the banks of the Umtata
River, which they crossed, and soon a