e men supply, and yet we can do
nothing, however much we may suffer from this money-making feeling."

The oxen having treked for fully two hours, began to show signs of
distress, so the hunters agreed to halt and to dine, for they did not
consider any immediate attack was probable. They had scarcely lighted a
fire and began to prepare for cooking, than the welcome sight of their
companions greeted them. Two of the hunters were riding one horse, in
consequence of one having died from the effects of an assagy wound; but
there being five additional horses among the recaptured oxen, this loss
was not a very severe one.

The new-comers announced that the Matabili had retreated farther into
the forest, and did not appear disposed again to try their strength
against their white enemies. The whole party exclaimed loudly against
the treachery of the Matabili in attacking them when there was peace
between Moselekatse and themselves. They were not aware that a savage
is not very discriminating; and a raid having been made into
Moselekatse's country, some two months previously, by a party of
Griquas, the warriors could not distinguish any great difference between
a Dutchman and a Griqua, both being of a different colour to himself,
and both being strangers in his land. A speedy revenge was decided on
by the whole party as soon as they could collect a sufficient force for
the purpose.

That no time was to be lost in escaping from that part of the country,
was the unanimous opinion of the hunters; and so the oxen were inspanned
again, and the journey continued without any delay. Thus for two days
the party retreated without seeing any thing of an enemy. Game of
various kinds was abundant; but except to supply themselves with food
the hunters did not shoot, for they knew not how soon their lives might
depend upon a plentiful supply of ammunition being at hand. So that
each bar of lead was at once converted into bullets or slugs, the loose
powder was made up into cartridges, and every gun cleaned and carefully
loaded, so as to be as efficient as possible.

It was on the morning of the third day that the hunters observed in the
distance what appeared to be a broken-down waggon, but no oxen or human
beings seemed to be near it. Such a sight, however, as a wreck in the
desert at once excited the curiosity of the travellers, who, leaving the
waggons in charge of half the party, rode off to examine the scene on
which the waggon