not long in doing, for the morning was foggy, and he came upon three
elands, within a few hundred yards of his night's resting-place.
Knowing that he would soon be miles away from his present position, he
did not hesitate to fire a shot, and therefore killed one of the elands,
selected the choice portions of the animal, and returning to his horse,
upsaddled, and at once commenced his journey.

A two hours' ride brought him to a convenient place for a halt, several
dead trees yielded firewood, a stream supplied water, and grass was
abundant. Making a careful examination of the surrounding country, and
seeing no signs of an enemy, Bernhard off-saddled, lighted a fire, and
commenced cooking his breakfast. Whilst thus occupied he heard
distinctly the sound of a heavy gun; this was to him better than the
voice of a friend, and when he heard a second and a third shot, which he
found came from some hills about four miles off, he shouted with
delight. Seizing his roer, and regardless of the expenditure of his
scarce and valued ammunition, he placed the barrels of his gun towards
the direction from which he had heard the firing, and in quick
succession fired off both barrels. Loading again with a heavy charge of
powder only, which he rammed down tightly in both barrels, he waited a
few minutes, and again pulled both triggers. Bernhard knew that if the
report of fire-arms which he had heard came from any of his own people,
the signal which he had given would be soon answered--at least, it would
be if it could be heard. In less than five minutes after his signal was
given he heard it answered, and he was thus aware that aid was at hand;
what that aid was he did not know. Great as was his requirement for
food, yet he was more anxious to discover what assistance was likely to
be afforded him, so he ran to a rising-ground near and looked in the
direction from which the sounds of firing had been heard. He then saw a
party of about thirty mounted men riding at a canter towards him, their
general appearance seeming to indicate that they were Dutchmen.

His uncertainty was soon set at rest, for as they approached, he
recognised familiar forms; and waving his hat as a signal, he was
answered by more than one, who, though ignorant as yet as to who he was,
were yet aware that a friend was greeting them.

It was not long before Bernhard was the centre of an eager and inquiring
circle, amongst whom were uncles, cousins, and other re