THE doctor's adventure. 75 



thirsty. On inquiry of his attendant whether any water 

 could be obtained, he received a sulky and unsatisfactory 

 answer, and was about to prosecute his journey, when the 

 man thus abruptly addressed him : 



"You've got a very nice hat, sir, which you must give 

 me, or I will not stir another step." 



Under ordinary circumstances, to comply with such a re- 

 quest would have been inconvenient, but it was still more 

 annoying in the present instance, exposed as the doctor was 

 to a scorching sun. Finding himself, however, entirely at 

 the man's mercy, and seeing nothing but a howling wilder- 

 ness all around him, he grudgingly gave the hat, hoping to 

 be exempted from further importunity. But he was mis- 

 taken in this matter ; for he had not proceeded much farther 

 when the Hottentot sat himself quietly down on the sand, 

 complaining bitterly of the immense distance they had yet to 

 perform, adding, with a sly look at the doctor, that he 

 thought his jacket would fit him exactly! The medical 

 gentleman was amazed at the fellow's impudence, and at 

 first refused this new demand ; but, as the man said that un- 

 less he received the garment he would leave him to his fate, 

 he was obliged to comply. 



In this manner he gradually divested the chicken-hearted 

 doctor of his apparel, and would, in all probability, not have 

 left him in possession of the shirt on his back had it not been 

 for the timely arrival of Hans and another European, then on 

 their way to Walfisch Bay. The doctor's story was, of 

 course, soon told, and the rascally Hottentot was not only 

 deprived of his booty, but soundly thrashed into the bargain. 



After having given the animals the necessary rest, we set 

 out the next afternoon, about three o'clock, on the last stage 

 for Scheppmansdorf. As the evening was starlight, we pro- 

 ceeded at a brisk pace till about midnight, when there sud- 

 denly arose from the sea a gloomy, bitter cold mist, which 

 soon enveloped us in total darkness, and completely saturated 



