"EVIL IS WROUGHT ST WANT OF THOUGHT." 91 



before mentioned, resided a wright, so we consented to 

 carry their wheel to him, then continue our treck till 

 they overtook us. The wagon-maker was a well-to-do 

 person, and this hill apparently brought him abundant 

 employment. He was a hard man at a bargain, and 

 well knew how to take advantage of others' misfortunes. 

 The poor Boers were inconsolable when they learned 

 that two pounds would be the charge for the necessary 

 repairs. However, there was no way out of the scrape 

 but to pay and look happy; and though they had no 

 money, that did not matter ; we advanced it, and so 

 parted with Pater and Hendrick, to cover as much 

 ground as we could before they overtook us. 



That morning we made a long treck before out- 

 spanning, our halting-place being on the summit of 

 a hill surrounded by deep valleys, through each of 

 which ran streams of clear cold water. At one p.m. 

 fell a short but heavy shower of rain ; this delayed 

 our trecking till nearly four o'clock. Down the incline 

 we went splendidly, but when we attempted the ascent 

 we found our work cut out for us. The cattle were 

 willing, but the track was so slippery from the rain that 

 it required all their exertions to retain their footing. 

 By dint of careful driving we got over about two 

 hundred yards, when an evil thought struck William 

 he resolved to leave the road and take the velt. I 

 did not remonstrate, as he was the better judge in 

 such matters. Soon the wagon was on the grass ; for a 

 short distance there was an improvement in pace ; but, 

 smash ! there goes something, and the wagon gradually 

 sank down and remained at an angle of forty-five 

 degrees. The side of an earth-crack several feet deep 

 had suddenly given way, leaving us in a most awkward 



