, whose odd
butterfly-like leaves, now shrivelled and scorched to a brown sapless
condition by months of drought, bore eloquent testimony to the nature of
this terrible "thirst-land."

At evening, when the sun had set, and the air became a trifle cooler,
Hendrika prepared a scanty meal. She boiled half a kettleful of very
weak coffee, made some slops for Barend, ate some bread and meat
herself, drank a bare half _kommetje_ of coffee, parched though she was,
gave the Hottentot his rations, and then, bidding Andries to keep up a
good fire, she put her little son to bed on the kartel, and, lying by
his side, presently hushed him off to sleep. A little after she herself
fell asleep also. Towards the small hours Barend was up and wide awake,
hot and feverish, and clamouring, poor little soul, for something to
quench his thirst with. Hendrika lit a lantern, got out of the wagon,
procured the rest of the coffee, which, mixed with a little condensed
milk, she had left to cool, and brought the beakerful that remained to
her boy. The little fellow, with trembling hands, took the beaker and
eagerly emptied it at two draughts. His mother had not the heart to
stop him, and he lay down and went to sleep again.

Dawn came round, and the sun sprang up all ruddy, as if but too eager to
send his scorching beams upon the shadeless veldt. When Hendrika, after
heavy dreamful slumber, cast back the wagon-clap and looked forth,
behold, a hundred yards from her was outspanned another wagon, which had
evidently arrived during the night and which she quickly discovered
belonged to no other than Schalk Oosthuysen. Andries the Hottentot
coming up soon after, informed her that Baas Oosthuysen's oxen had been
outspanned and sent on to Inkouane about four that morning, being able
to trek no farther, and that the Baas himself, who had lost a quantity
of stock already, was asleep in his wagon. It was very vexing, Hendrika
thought. Here was the very man of all others she wished to avoid,
outspanned close beside her; neither of them could move backward or
forward, and a long day, perhaps even more, had to be got through
somehow in this unpleasant proximity. About noon, Oosthuysen, having
finished his sleep, emerged from his wagon and looked about him. He had
evidently heard from his servants whose was the wagon near, but he
appeared disinclined to trouble the occupants. For so much Hendrika
secretly thanked him. The burning sun moved slowl