t effects they
could take with them, and directed his course to the Orange River.

"He was soon out of the reach of his pursuers, for it required time in
so scattered a district to collect a sufficient force. Africaner fixed
his abode upon the banks of the Orange River, and afterward a chief
ceding to him his dominion in Great Namaqua land, the territory became
his by right as well as by conquest. I think I had better leave off now;
it is getting late, and we must to bed, if we are to start early
to-morrow morning."

"We will have mercy upon you, Swinton, and defer our impatience," said
the Major. "Good-night to you, and may you not have a lion's serenade."

"No, I hope not; their music is too loud to be agreeable;--good-night."

CHAPTER XX.

Having filled their water-kegs, the next morning at day-light they yoked
the oxen and left the banks of the Cradock or Black River, to proceed
more to the northward, through the Bushmen's country; but as they were
aware that there was no water to be procured, if they quitted the stream
altogether, till they arrived at the Val or Yellow River, they decided
upon following the course of the Black River to the westward for some
time, before they struck off for the Val or Yellow River, near to which
they expected to fall in with plenty of game, and particularly the
giraffe and rhinoceros.

Although at that season of the year the river was nearly dry, still
there was a scanty herbage on and near its bank, intermixed with beds of
rushes and high reeds; this was sufficient for the pasture of the
cattle, but it was infested with lions and other animals, which at the
dry season of the year kept near the river-bank for a supply of water.

By noon they had proceeded about fifteen miles to the westward, and as
they advanced they found that the supply of water in the river was more
abundant; they then unyoked the cattle to allow them to feed till the
evening, for it was too dangerous to turn them loose at night. As they
were in no hurry, they resolved that they would only travel for the
future from daylight till noon; the afternoon and evening were to be
spent in hunting, and at night they were to halt the caravan and secure
every thing as before, by inclosing the horses and sheep, and tying up
the oxen.

By this arrangement the cattle would not be exhausted with their labor,
and they would have time to follow the object of their journey--that of
hunting the wild animals with wh