h to lose my own life, nor to
risk those of others, and therefore we will remain here till his majesty
has had time to get out of our way; and I hope he may soon find a
dinner."

By this time the caravan had come up with them, and they then proceeded.
The face of the country became even more sterile, and at last not an
animal of any description was to be seen. As there was nothing for the
oxen to feed upon, they continued their route during the whole of the
day, and at night they halted and secured the cattle to the waggons.
Wood for fires they were not able to procure, and therefore they made
one half of the Hottentots watch during the night with their muskets to
scare off wild beasts. But, as Swinton observed, there was little
chance of their being disturbed by lions or other animals, as they were
so distant from water, and there was no game near them, upon which the
wild beasts prey; and so it proved, for during the whole night they did
not even hear the cry of a hyena or a jackal.

At the first gleaming of light the oxen were again yoked, with the hopes
of their being able to gain the Vaal River by night. The relay oxen
were now put to, to relieve those which appeared to suffer must. At
noon the heat was dreadful, and the horses, which could not support the
want of water as the oxen could, were greatly distressed. They
continued for about two hours more, and then perceived a few low trees.
Begum, who had been kept without water, that she might exert herself to
find it, started off as fast as she could, followed by Omrah. After
running to the trees, they altered their course to the eastward, towards
some ragged rocks. The caravan arrived at the trees, which they found
were growing on the banks of the river Alexandria, which they knew they
should pass; but not a drop of water was to be discovered; even the
pools were quite dry. As they searched about, all of a sudden Begum
came running back screaming, and with every mark of terror, and clung,
as usual, to the Major when:--

"Where is the Bush-boy?" said Bremen.

"Something has happened," cried Swinton; "come all of you with your
guns."

The whole party, Hottentots and all, hastened towards the rocks where
Omrah and Begum had been in search of water. As soon as they reached
within fifty paces, quite out of breath with their haste, they were
saluted with the quah, quah, of a herd of baboons, which were perched at
the edge of the rocks, and which threatene