ot make a fire by day with damp wood.
By night we must not show the light of a fire; but that is more easily
avoided. We can cover the mouth of the cave, or we can make a fire
below here, and can thus cook our food safely, for the smoke cannot be
seen by night. We ought to cook enough to do without a fire for a week,
and then one risk only is run."

"In the water-course we came up the water has run under ground,"
remarked Victor; "there is room for a fire in that, and no light could
be seen from the distance."

"I remember," said Hans. "We will collect wood and grass, so as to be
ready for the night; then I will try to knock down some guinea-fowl or
pheasants."

Hans, having cut some stout sticks with a knob at the end, again made an
expedition into the kloof, and succeeded in knocking down several
guinea-fowl with these sticks, which he threw with the skill of a
Kaffir. The guinea-fowl, endeavouring to conceal themselves by hiding
or crouching amidst the long grass, would allow themselves almost to be
trodden on before they would fly away. In addition to the rabbits and
guinea-fowl, Hans collected a great many eggs, and thus was provided
with food enough to last a week, without incurring the necessity of
firing a shot. No sooner had this essential preparation been completed
than Hans cut several long, straight sticks, which he thrust into the
ground in front of the caves, and at about a foot apart: across these he
fastened several horizontal twigs; first by lacing them in and out, and
secondly by lashing the ends with the bark that he peeled off a tall,
soft-wooded greenish shrub. Having thus traced out a framework, he
thatched this with the long tambookie grass which grew in the kloof, and
thus before sundown he had formed a very complete room, perfectly
sheltered from the wind and rain. In front of this thatched doorway he
placed some branches of trees, and thus prevented any person at a
distance from being attracted by an artificial-looking construction.

Hans was much pleased with his work, and called to Katrine to examine it
from a short distance.

"You could not tell there was any thing there, Katie, except a few
bushes, unless you went much closer."

"No, Hans, it is cleverly done; but I fear there would be no escape for
us if any enemy once came on to this bit of ground."

"No, there would be none, Katie; so we will hope they will not come
here; some of them would leave their bones here, that is