78 THE WILD MEN. 



the hill. Fully armed as were the whites, with their modern, improved weapons, 

 they could afford to despise a native force three times as numerous. 



" I wish the ragamuffins would attack us," said the Texan, who, to show his 

 contempt for the party, deliberately brought his gun to his shoulder and fired at the 

 group. 



The distance was too great to do any execution, and it is not probable the Bush- 

 men knew the meaning of the demonstration, for they kept their places, moving 

 their heads and arms in a way that showed they were holding a vigorous conver- 

 sation, of which, no doubt, the hunting party was the subject. 



All at once, the war party moved forward down the slope in the direction of the 

 camp. Their horses walked slowly, and Mr. Godkin, who brought his binocular to 

 his eyes, said that there was not the most primitive bridle or saddle in the whole party. 

 The Bushmen needed nothing of the kind to hold perfect control of their steeds. 



" I wonder whether they mean to attack," was the inquiring remark of Bob 

 Marshall, as he looked at Mr. Godkin, who still held his glasses before him. 



" They may, but not in that shape. They know better than to charge upon the 

 camp, where they, are sure to receive a welcome that will tumble half to the ground 

 before they can come within striking distance. Nevertheless, we will be ready for 

 them." 



Little was needed in the way of preparation. The natives showed some trepi- 

 dation, and, with the exception of Pongo and Diedrick, wanted to crawl into the 

 wagons, after the manner of a child who draws the bed-clothes over his head when 

 scared. 



A sharp sentence, however, from Mr. Godkin, prevented any such exhibition of 

 cowardice, which was likely to encourage the Bushmen to attack the camp. He 

 ordered them to be ready with their javelins to help repel an assault, while Mr. 

 Godkin and the other whites looked to their own weapons to make sure they were 

 in shape for any emergency. Pongo and Diedrick, who possessed some experience 

 in the use of fire-arms, would have done good service with the shot-guns in case of 

 a fight. 



The Bushmen advanced with a slow regularity that aroused the admiration of 

 the spectators. The thirty-odd kept side by side, the ponies stepping with an even- 

 ness that was not without a certain element of majesty. 



While the hunters, including Pongo, were wondering as to the cause of this 

 singular demonstration, the wild men halted. 



' They were within about two hundred yards, and stood absolutely motionless for 

 a full minute, during which the curious sounds meant for words could be plainly 

 heard by the hunters, who disdained to seek shelter against such a force. 



The language of the Hottentots sounds like the clucking of hens more than any- 

 thing else, and there is some resemblance between it and that of the Bushmen. 



It was easy to single out the leader of the party, for he was not only of larger 

 stature than the others, but showed, by his manner, that he controlled them.* While 

 they held their places in a mathematical line, he rode several paces in front, and 



