318 EXPEDITION INTO [Chap. XXXV. 



that a party of the marauders might be lurking in 

 the hill, ready to fall upon the waggons during our 

 temporary absence. After much consultation, there- 

 fore, it was resolved to leave Claas and Frederick, 

 who confessed their inabihty to fight, together with 

 the two domestics, whose black beards were calcu- 

 lated to instil terror into the stoutest heart — starting 

 ourselves with the other five Hottentots in the dead 

 of night, in order if possible to avoid creating sus- 

 picion of our departure. All the preliminaries of 

 a surprise thus skilfully arranged, the best horses 

 were selected and fastened to the waggons, and one 

 hundred rounds of ammunition having been served 

 out to each of the little band, we retired to rest, 

 leaving the watch in charge of Coeur de Lion, with 

 instructions to keep his eye steadily fixed upon the 

 hands, and not fail to arouse us when they pointed 

 to the hour of twelve. 



