a long day's journey from one fountain or
pool to the next spot where water could be procured, and we knew well
that without the necessary supply we and our cattle would suffer
severely, even if we did not lose them altogether, in which case we
should be involved in their destruction. Though I much enjoyed my
gallops over the country, I was very thankful when Stanley was once more
able to mount his horse; and I had, in consequence, generally to proceed
on the back of one of the riding oxen, with Natty or Leo behind me. We
were now able to carry far more water than usual. I should have said
that the ostrich eggs were never broken. Their contents were extracted
through a hole in one end, and were carefully surrounded by a
basket-work of reeds, thus forming complete, and tolerably strong,
bottles. At each fountain we came to they were re-filled.

"We have a long day's journey before us," observed Mr Fraser one
morning as we were inspanning, as the colonists call yoking, the oxen to
the waggon; "and I wish I was sure that we should find water at the end
of it. We have not enough left for the oxen, as we must keep all we
have for the horses and ourselves."

He looked graver than usual, and not without reason. The heat was very
great, and we had a wide extent of country before us, the soil
consisting of light-coloured soft sand, which appeared incapable of
producing any green thing for the support of animals. Pass it, however,
we must, as it extended right across our path to the south, far away to
the east, from the very coast of the Atlantic. Notwithstanding this,
our party were in good spirits, from feeling that we were now making
steady progress towards home.

"We have encountered so many dangers, and escaped them, that we should
not mistrust the willingness of the kind hand of Providence to protect
us to the end of our journey," observed Kate.

Her calm confidence gave us all courage, and we resolved not to allow
any anticipation of evil to oppress us. Kate had never relaxed in her
resolution to instruct Bella under all difficulties, and the greater
part of the day they sat in the waggon with their books before them, or
their work in their hands, labouring away as diligently as they would
have done in their home in the colony. Leo and Natty were far more
idle, though they occasionally took their seats near the young ladies,
and either read to them, or listened to their reading. The Bible was
their chief bo