96 LEAVE OF ABSENCE GRANTED. 



mented us on the dispatch with which we had broken-in the 

 oxen and performed the journey. 



Mr. Galton, I ascertained, had lately departed for Barmen, 

 Mr. Hahn's station. I determined to follow him as soon as 

 I had taken sufficient rest after my fatiguing journey. In the 

 mean time, the wagons were to remain at Richterfeldt till 

 our return to that place. 



At first we pitched our camp in the same spot we had oc- 

 cupied previously to our departure for Scheppmansdorf ; but 

 the high palisades that 23rotected it had been destroyed in our 

 absence by the natives, who had carried away the wood for 

 fuel. This, however, was of little consequence, as the old 

 inclosure would now have been too small to contain both the 

 cattle and our cumbersome conveyances. Moreover, as the 

 place was situated in the bed of a periodical stream, a tribu- 

 tary of the Swakop, and as the rainy season was fast ap- 

 proaching, it would have been imprudent to remain here any 

 length of time. Accordingly, we brought our wagons, &C.5 

 to Hans' own kraal, which was near at hand on the bank of 

 the river, as there we should be perfectly secure in case of 

 any sudden inundation. 



The day before our removal, the men had asked and ob- 

 tained permission to spend the evening with Hans at his en- 

 campment. Even the dogs had absented themselves, and I 

 was thus left altogether alone. This night, though some- 

 what warm, was delightfully bright and still. To enjoy the 

 beautiful weather, I had taken my bedding out of the wagon, 

 and placed it on the ground alongside the wheels, facing a 

 small clump of low tamarisk-trees, distant not above twenty 

 paces. Being a bad sleeper, I lay awake until a very late 

 hour. All nature was hushed and silent, and the night so 

 calm that I might have heard the falling of a leaf. Sudden- 

 ly my attention was drawn to the tamarisk grove, whence 

 proceeded a low, rustling noise like that of some animal cau- 

 tiously making its way through it. Thinking it probable that 



