suspect something, and come over to reconnoitre. When
they found that we were gone, they would perhaps follow us, and overtake
the waggons; but if we remain here, and keep the fires up till daybreak,
the waggons will have gained so much more distance."

The Griquas were of the same opinion; and it was decided that they would
remain there till daybreak, and then set off.

"But," said Alexander, "shall we leave this before they can see us, or
allow them to see us?"

The Griquas said, that it would be better that the enemy should see
them, as then they would know that the fires had been kept up to deceive
them, and that the waggons were probably a long way off.

This having been agreed upon, a careful watch was kept upon the enemy
during the remainder of the night. Although the moon had discovered the
approach of the Matabili to the party, the spot where the camp had been
pitched was in the shade, so that from the opposite side of the river
only the fires could be distinguished. A little before dawn, some one
was heard approaching, and they were all prepared to fire, when they
discovered that it was Omrah, who, unknown to them, had crawled down to
the banks of the river, to reconnoitre the enemy.

Omrah, who was out of breath with running, stated that some of the
Matabili were crossing the river, and that six had landed on this side,
before he came up to give the information. He pointed to a clump of
trees, about three hundred yards off; and said that they had gone up in
that direction, and were probably there by that time.

"Then we had better saddle and mount," said the Major, "and ride away
gently to the wood on this side of the camp. We shall then be able to
watch their motions without being seen."

This advice was good, and approved by all. They led out their horses
without noise, and as soon as they had done so, they went back, and
threw more fuel on the fires. They then retreated to the wood, which
was about the same distance from the camp, on the other side, as the
clump of trees where the Matabili were secreted.

They had hardly concealed themselves, before the Matabili in the clump,
surprised at not seeing the awnings of the waggons, and suspecting that
they had been deceived, came out from their ambuscade; first crawling on
all-fours, and as they arrived at the camp, and found only fires
burning, rising up one after another. After remaining about a minute in
consultation, two of the party were s