t if we went back we should be laughed at, and the idea of being
laughed at made us all agree that we would not. Bear this in mind,
William, and never let the fear of ridicule induce you to do what is
wrong; or if you have done wrong, prevent you from returning to what is
your duty."

"Many thanks for your advice, Ready; I hope William will not forget it,"
said Mr Seagrave.

"Well, sir, such was our reason for not giving up our mad scheme; and
having so decided, the next point of consultation between us was, how we
were to procure arms and ammunition, which we could not do without. As
we were talking this over, I peeped from behind the rock to see where
the Hottentot might be; I perceived that he had laid himself down, and
wrapped himself up in his kross, a mantle of sheep-skins which they
always wear. Now we had observed that he carried his musket in his
hand, when we first saw him, as the Hottentots always go out armed, and
I pointed out to Hastings and Romer that if he was asleep, we might get
possession of his musket without his perceiving it. This was a good
idea, and Hastings said he would crawl to him on his hands and knees,
while we remained behind the rock. He did so very cautiously, and found
the man's head covered up in his kross and fast asleep; so there was no
fear, for the Hottentots are very hard to wake at any time; that we knew
well. Hastings first took the musket and carried it away out of the
reach of the Hottentot, and then he returned to him, cut the leather
thong which slung his powder-horn and ammunition, and retreated with all
of them without disturbing the man from his sleep. We were quite
overjoyed at this piece of good luck, and determined to walk very
cautiously some distance from where the Hottentot lay, that in case he
awoke he should not see us. Keeping our eyes about in every direction,
lest we should meet with anybody else, we proceeded nearly a mile
towards Table Bay, when we fell in with a stream of water. This was
another happy discovery, for we were very thirsty; so we concealed
ourselves near the stream after we had quenched our thirst, and made a
dinner off the provisions we had brought with us."

"But, Ready, did you not do wrong to steal the Hottentot's musket?"

"No, William; in that instance it could not be considered as a theft.
We were in an enemy's country, trying to escape; we were therefore just
as much at war with the country as we were when they took us priso