Providence watched over them, and during their state of insensibility
the clouds again rose and covered the firmament, and this time they did
not rise in mockery; for, before the day was closed, torrents descended
from them and deluged the whole plain.

Omrah, who had held up better than his masters, crawled out of the
ant-hill into which he had crept; and as soon as the rain descended, he
contrived to pull the heads of the Major and Alexander, who still
remained senseless, from out of the ant-hills, and to turn their
blackened and swollen faces to the sky. As their clothes became
saturated with the rain and the water poured into their mouths, they
gradually revived, and at last were completely restored. The wind now
rose and blew fresh, and before morning they were shivering with cold,
and when they attempted to get up found that their limbs were cramped.

Soon after daylight the rain ceased, and they were glad to bask in the
then cheering rays of the sun, which had nearly destroyed them on the
day before. The horses had recovered their legs and were feeding close
to them; and the flesh of the antelope, which had been untasted, was now
greedily devoured. Most devoutly did they return thanks for their
preservation, and the hopes which were now held out to them of
ultimately regaining the colony; for they had abandoned all hopes of
reaching the caravan, as they considered the risk of crossing the desert
too great. They made up their minds to push for the Vaal River as fast
as they could, and proceed back by its banks.

They had two horses, and Omrah could ride behind one of them, when he
was tired; they had guns and ammunition; and although they were fully
aware of the dangers to which they would be exposed, they thought
lightly of them after what they had suffered. They now mounted their
horses, and proceeded at a slow pace towards the westward, for the poor
animals were still very weak. At sunset they had travelled about ten
miles, and looked out for a spot to pass the night. Wood to light fires
they had none, but they hoped, if their horses were not taken away by
the lions, to reach a branch of the river by the following evening.
There was now no want of water, as they repeatedly passed by small
pools, which, for a day or two at least, would not be evaporated by the
heat of the sun. But they knew that by that time, if no more rain fell,
they would have again to undergo the former terrible privations, and