Chav. XXXVI.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. • 321 



dawn with a degree of nervous impatience whicli 

 may be estimated by those who recollect that upon 

 its successful issue, the salvation of our waggons 

 and properly almost entirely dependetl. 



While thus watching the cold darkness of night, 

 which seemed as though it would have lasted ibr 

 ever, the bright morning star — that joyous herald 

 whose appearance I had never hailed with greater 

 delight, suddenly shot like a rocket above the horizon, 

 A faint light immediately pervaded the eastern sky, 

 before which, as it gradually increased, the stars 

 appeared to fade away, while the earth still continued 

 in night. Imperceptibly, almost, this light had 

 presently given place to a ruddy tint, which speedily 

 extended itself over the whole vault of heaven ; but 

 though the outline of objects in the extreme distance 

 could now be indistinctly traced, those immediately 

 about us were yet shrouded in darkness. Around, 

 all was silent as the grave, not a zephyr disturbing 

 the death-Uke stillness that was reigning. As objects 

 became gradually plainer, the forms of several 

 conical huts could be distinguished, and, lastly, by a 

 still less dubious light, the prostrate carcases of 

 many of our oxen became visible. Alas ! it was 

 then, as we had feared ; but, if indeed we were irre- 

 trievably ruined, our moment for taking vengeance 

 had arrived. Stealing over the parapet, every ritle 

 was noiselessly cocked, and a finger flew to every 

 trigger, as, with palpitating hearts and wary tread, 

 we approached the wretched wigwams. Woe unto 

 that luckless wight who had there been found 



P 5 



