sume their search for lodgings. The streets presented a
bustling and animated scene; waggons with goods, or returning empty with
their long teams of oxen; horses, sheep, and other animals, just landed;
loud talking; busy inquirers; running to and fro of men; Hottentots busy
with the goods, or smoking their pipes in idle survey; crates and boxes,
and packages of all descriptions, mixed up with agricultural implements
and ironware, lining each side of the road, upon which were seated wives
and daughters watching the property, and children looking round with
astonishment, or playing, or crying.

Further out of the town were to be seen tents pitched by the emigrants,
who had provided themselves with such necessaries before they had
quitted England, and who were bivouacking like so many gipsies,
independent of lodgings and their attendant expenses, and cooking their
own provisions in kettles or frying-pans. As Alexander perceived the
latter, he said, "At all events, we have found lodgings now; I never
thought of that."

"How do you mean?"

"I have two tents in the luggage I brought from Cape Town; we must get
them on shore, and do as these people have done."

"Bravo! I am glad to hear that," replied Major Henderson; "anything
better than remaining on board to be nibbled by the cockroaches. Shall
we return at once?"

"By all means," said Mr Swinton; "we have but to get our mattresses and
a few other articles."

"Leave my man to do all that," said the Major; "he is used to it. In
India we almost live in tents when up the country. But here comes one
that I should know;--Maxwell, I believe?"

"Even so, my dear Henderson," replied the military officer who had been
thus addressed; "why, what brought you here?--surely you are not a
settler?"

"No; I am here because I am not a settler," replied Henderson, laughing;
"I am always on the move; I am merely on my way with my two friends here
to shoot a hippopotamus. Allow me to introduce Mr Wilmot and Mr
Swinton. But I see you are on duty; are you in the fort?"

"Yes; I came from Somerset about a month back. Can I be of any use to
you?"

"That depends on circumstances; we are now going on board for our tents,
to pitch them on the hill there, as we can get no lodgings."

"Well, I cannot offer you beds in the fort, but I think if you were to
pitch your tents outside the fort, on the glacis, you would be better
than on the hill; your baggage would be safer, and I shou