THE WAGON AT LAST 247 



until morning. I had quite made up my mind 

 that Andries would not be able to find me. 

 The night was too black; there were no hills 

 nor other salient landmarks to guide him to 

 the spot. Looking to westward before we 

 started I could see that the dune was full of 

 forks and branches in that direction. I tried 

 to comfort myself with anticipation of the 

 enormous candle-bush fire I would make as 

 soon as day broke, and the breakfast of broiled 

 springbuck liver I would consume. My 

 matches were safe in a waterproof pouch. 

 How leaden-footed is time when one is miser- 

 able ! 



An earth-tremor ; a telephone-message thrill- 

 ing along the earth's sensitive surface telling 

 of hoofs and wheels in rythmic motion. Had 

 the miracle happened? Yes, the wagon 

 rolled up and my martyrdom was at an end. 

 Deo gr alias \ 



But how did Andries manage it? He heard 

 no shot, he saw none of my flares. He could 

 not tell me; as a matter of fact he, himself, 

 did not know. His feat could only be ex- 

 plained through some theory of unconscious 

 cerebration. Andries was elderly, stout and 

 somewhat lethargic, he had never read any 

 book but the Bible, and of that there was quite 



