220 LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



returned, half an hour later, the ghoonyas and 

 the strangers had disappeared. I never en- 

 quired as to how Hendrick had disposed of 

 them. 



After darkness had fallen I took my kaross 

 and strolled down to the water's edge. There 

 I spent some peaceful, contemplative hours 

 waiting for the sea-cows which, however, did 

 not come. Then, with a contented heart I 

 welcomed the touch of the wing of sleep upon 

 my eyelids, and turned over to compose my 

 tired thews for recuperative repose against the 

 fatigues of the morrow. 



Just before dawn I woke up cold and very 

 damp. A thick fog had rolled in with the 

 westerly breeze. My kaross was soaked 

 through. So dense was the vapour that I had 

 to wait, shivering, until it was broad daylight 

 before attempting to find my way back to the 

 camp. Even then I had to bend down and 

 trace, step by step, my spoor of the previous 

 night. 



Hendrick, who brought no blanket, cowered 

 miserably over a few inadequate embers. He 

 was wet through. The fuel collected when 

 we camped had been all consumed. The 

 candle-bush — that boon to travellers in Bush- 

 manland — does not grow in the coast desert. 



