CuAP.XXXV.J SOUTHERN AFRICA. 315 



of all sorts. They had fasted the preceding night, 

 and the plain being very open, we left them to graze 

 in a verdant hollow, from which it did not appear 

 probable that they would stray. About midnight, 

 however, the roar of a lion being followed by a 

 general rush towards the waggons, Andries was 

 appointed to keep watch ; but spent with fatigue, 

 and possessing withal a most gentlemanly abhorrence 

 of trouble, he did not preserve his vigil long, and 

 the consequence was, that at daybreak not an ox 

 was to be seen. This being an event of every day 

 occurrence, created so little uneasiness at first, that 

 Andries, whose business it also was to look for them, 

 instead of atoning for his carelessness by a suitable 

 display of activity, took his leisure to indulge in a 

 little more gossip with the pretty Bush-girl, who 

 very knowingly persuaded him that she had seen 

 the cattle not a quarter of a mile off only a minute 

 before. In the course of an hour, however, the 

 Hottentots, who had gone out to look for them, 

 returned for horses — the appearance of the trail 

 leading them to believe that the oxen had been 

 chased by lions. Owing to some intestine feuds and 

 jealousies, difficult to be explained, Piet alone ob- 

 tained a steed, but Andries and Cobus were also 

 mounted the moment we discovered the real state 

 of affairs ; and although much valuable time had 

 been unnecessarily thrown away, still no doubt was 

 entertained that the oxen would eventually be re- 

 covered. All that day, however, and part of the 

 next, were passed in a state of anxiety and suspense. 



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