o see
clearly for some distance around them. Many strange forms were seen
during their journey, for Africa is full of night wanderers, and
occasionally the deep growl of the lion, or the cry of the leopard was
audible, within a few yards of them; but Hans and his companions were
bent upon an expedition, and against foes of such importance, that even
lions and leopards were looked upon as creatures not to be noticed,
unless they seemed disposed to attack the travellers. The rapidity with
which Hans and his companions rode, the silence maintained by them, and
the purpose-like manner in which they continued a straight course,
turning neither to the right nor left, even though a lion roared before
them, gave to their journey a weirdlike character and reminded them of
the dangers to which they were exposed; for, the Matabili, smarting as
they just were from the defeat at Mosega, were not likely to delay the
slaughter of any white men who might fall into their hands. Hans and
his companions knew that the expedition was one for life or death; but
it was not the first time that these men had looked on death calmly; and
they were so confident in their own expedients that there were few
circumstances for which they were not prepared.

As soon as the first light of morning began to appear, the three hunters
rode into a ravine covered with brushwood and trees; having ascended
this for some distance they found that it was possible to ride out of it
in three directions besides that in which they had entered, and thus
that a retreat was easily effected, should they be attacked from any one
direction. They then dismounted, slackened the girths and took off the
saddles, removed the bits from their horses' mouths, and allowed the
animals to enjoy a roll in the grass, this being a proceeding which
invariably refreshes an African steed, and without it he seems only half
capable of enjoying his feed of grass; no sooner, however, had the
animals rolled, than each was again saddled, and with the exception of
loosened girths, was ready to be mounted in half a minute. The guns
were examined, to see whether the night dew had rendered a miss fire
probable; and then, having made a careful examination of the surrounding
country with his telescope, Hans announced that after eating some of the
_beltong_, [Meat dried in the sun], with which each was provided, two
had better sleep whilst one watched, and so they could all have enough
rest to fit t