en we want it, is better than
much--when we court it. I will sleep at once, so call me when you want
me."

Hans listened at the door of Katrine's cave, but hearing only the
slightest breathing, he concluded that she and her sister slept; and so
retiring to his own cave, he, with that necessary capacity of the hunter
or soldier, was in five minutes fast asleep, and untroubled by dreams or
anxieties.

"Half the night is past, Hans," said Victor, as he entered the cave and
gently touched Hans.

"I am ready," said Hans; "is all quiet?"

"No, not quiet: there are more lions here than in any part of the
country I have ever been in; they have been fighting about our horses;
the roars and growls have been tremendous ever since you left. The
baboons too have been barking occasionally; but there seems no other
creatures about except jackalls and hyenas. It would not do to walk
down on those plains alone by night, we should be lions' food in a very
few minutes. Now, I am for sleep, so you watch, Hans."

It was now Victor's turn to sleep whilst Hans kept watch, and sat with
his back to the rocks, a couple of assagies within reach of his hand,
and his trusty roer resting on his arm. He listened attentively to
every sound that broke the stillness of the night, and pictured to
himself the scene that was going on near his poor horses. The
occasional deep growl of the lion, or its angry roar, caused him
considerable anxiety, not on his own account, but for that of Bernhard.
"If Bernhard's horse is killed or falls sick," he thought, "we may never
leave this place; and poor Katie! what will become of her?"

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THE MATABILI APPEAR, AND FOLLOW THE SPOOR OF HANS' PARTY--THE
DISCOVERY--THE ATTACK--THE REPULSE OF THE SAVAGES.

The day broke with all the splendour of an African morning; the rain of
the previous day had refreshed the ground, and filled the various pools
with water, and thus the animals and feathered denizens of the plains
were cheerful and busy in their various occupations. Numbers of green
parrots were screaming in the kloofs near Hans' retreat, whilst the
sweet double whistle of the quail resounded from every patch of grass.
The vulture, with its graceful sweeping flight, circled high in the air
over the spot where the carcases of the horses still remained; whilst
here and there a black-breasted eagre sat on a withered tree, and
scanned the surrounding earth and sky, in order to select the