o his Companions

CHAPTER XXIII.

A good Shot--Water scarce--Omrah in Trouble--Turtle
Soup--Sufferings--Sufferings at an end--An earthly Paradise

CHAPTER XXIV.

Aspect of the Country--Chase of a Rhinoceros--Omrah's Plan
succeeds--A Lion's Leap--Account of a Rhinoceros-Hunt--Elands
shot--A Lioness attacked--The Lion's Skin awarded--An expiring Effort

CHAPTER XXV.

Swinton's Astonishment--A Dialogue--Maternal Affection--An Alarm--Griquas
fallen in with--The Message to Moselekatsee--Fire!--The Matabili
King--Expectations

CHAPTER XXVI.

Chase of a Giraffe--Proposed Retreat--The Major's Object
attained--Treachery--Treachery defeated--Omrah's Scheme--Hopes
of Water disappointed

CHAPTER XXVII.

Further Progress--The Horses and Oxen break away--The
Pursuit--Hopes and Fears--The Caravan lost--Intense Heat--Omrah's
Courage--A Temporary Relief--Despair--Water at last obtained--Swinton's
Signals answered

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Panic produced by a Lion--Omrah's and Big Adam's Predicament--A Lion's
Mode of stimulating his Appetite--A Meeting with Bushmen--Cattle
stolen--Recovery attempted--Oxen poisoned--Death of Piets--Arrival
at Cape Town

CHAPTER XXIX.

Parting Scenes--Alexander and the Major embark--Alexander's
Arrival at Home--He relates his adventures--Sir Charles's
Health gradually declines--His Presents to Swinton and the
Major--His Death--Conclusion

THE MISSION, OR SCENES IN AFRICA.

CHAPTER I.

THE EXPEDITION.

It was in the autumn of the year 1828, that an elderly and infirm
gentleman was slowly pacing up and down in a large dining-room. He had
apparently finished his dinner, although it was not yet five o'clock,
and the descending sun shone bright and warm through the windows, which
were level with the ground, and from which there was a view of a
spacious park, highly ornamented with old timber. He held a newspaper in
one hand, and had the other behind his back, as if for support, for he
was bent forward, and looked very feeble and emaciated.

After pacing for some time, he sat down in an easy chair and remained in
deep thought, holding the newspaper in both his hands.

This old gentleman's name was Sir Charles Wilmot. He had in early life
gone out to India as a writer, and after remaining there for a few
years, during which he had amassed a handsome fortune, was advised to
leave the country for a time on account of his health. He returned to
England on furlough, and