d made signs that they wished to come into
the camp, an angry bullet was sent instantly over their heads, which
made them take to their heels.

On the Monday morning they again started with their reduced trains, for
now they had barely sufficient cattle to drag the wagons. Fortunately
they were but a few miles from the Nu Gariep, and they arrived at its
banks before evening. The next day they crossed it with difficulty,
putting all the oxen to two of the wagons and then returning for the
others.

They were now once more in the colony, and their dangers and
difficulties were now to be considered over. It was not, however, till a
week afterward that they succeeded in crossing the Sweenberg and
arriving at Graff Reynet. At this beautiful spot they remained for a few
days, to make arrangements and to procure horses, that they might
proceed to Cape Town as fast as possible, leaving Bremen in charge of
the wagons, which he was to bring down to them as soon as he could. We
shall pass over the remainder of their journey on horseback, as there
was nothing remarkable to be related. Suffice it to say, that on the
11th of January, 1830, they arrived safe and sound at Cape Town, and
were warmly congratulated by Mr. Fairburn and their many friends, after
all the dangers and difficulties which they had encountered.

CHAPTER XXIX.

Alexander Wilmot again took possession of the apartments in Mr.
Fairburn's house, and was not sorry once more to find himself surrounded
by all the comforts and luxuries of civilization. He could scarcely
believe where he was when he woke up the first morning, and found that
he had slept the whole night without being disturbed by the roar of a
lion or the cries of the hyena and jackal: and after the habit to which
he had been so long accustomed, of eating his meals in the open air with
his plate on his knees, he could hardly reconcile himself for a few days
to a well laid-out table. The evenings were passed in narrating their
adventures to Mr. Fairburn, who was truly glad of the result of the
mission to Port Natal, as it would be so satisfactory to old Sir
Charles.

Alexander was now most anxious to return to England, and resolved to
take his passage in the first ship which sailed after the arrival of the
wagon with his effects. In the mean time his mornings were chiefly
passed with Swinton and the Major, the latter of whom intended to go to
England by the same vessel as Alexander. In three wee