oise, and crowding
together of the town, to find ourselves here so quiet and solitary is
freedom."

"I had the same feeling," replied Alexander; "this wide-extended plain,
of which we cannot yet discern the horizontal edge; these brilliant
stars scattered over the heavens, and shining down upon us; no sound to
meet our ears but the creaking of the waggon-wheels in the slow and
measured pace, is to me delightful. They say man is formed for society,
and so he is; but it is very delightful occasionally to be alone."

"Yes; alone as we are," replied Swinton, laughing; "that is, with a
party of thirty people, well-armed, in search of adventure. To be clear
of the bustle of the town, and no longer cooped up in the fort, is
pleasant enough; but, I suspect, to be quite alone in these African
wilds would be anything but agreeable."

"Perhaps so."

"Neither would you feel so much at ease if you knew that your chance of
to-morrow's dinner was to depend wholly upon what you might procure with
your gun. There is a satisfaction in knowing that you have four
well-filled waggons behind you."

"I grant that also," replied the Major; "but still there is solitude
even with this company, and I feel it."

"A solitary caravan--but grant that there is some difference between
that and a solitary individual," rejoined Swinton; "however, we have not
come to solitude yet, for we shall find Dutch boors enough between this
and Graham's Town."

"I think, Wilmot," observed Henderson, "that I should, if I were you,
proceed by slow stages at first, that we may get our men into some kind
of order and discipline, and also that we may find out whether there are
any who will not suit us; we can discharge them at Graham's Town, and
procure others in their place, at the same time that we engage our
interpreters and guides."

"I think your plan very good," replied Alexander; "besides, we shall not
have our waggons properly laden and arranged until we have been out
three or four days."

"One thing is absolutely necessary, which is, to have a guard kept every
night," said Swinton; "and there ought to be two men on guard at a time;
for one of them is certain to fall asleep, if not both. I know the
Hottentots well."

"They will be excellent guards, by your account," said Alexander;
"however, the dogs will serve us more faithfully."

"I do not mean my remark to include all Hottentots; some are very
faithful, and do their duty; but it comprehends