LESSONS IN DRIVING. 135 



depended on the issue, when in goes the wagon down 

 the precipitous spongy bank with such a rush as nearly 

 to bury the forepart of the box under water ; the hind 

 wheels soon after follow, the whole fabric swaying to 

 and fro, threatening an upset; then slowly righting 

 itself, it moves forward at a snail's pace. The far side 

 is almost reached when snap ! goes the treck-tow, and 

 the released oxen rush up the bank, leaving the wagon 

 so deeply buried that but for its heavy load it would 

 have almost floated. 



To rectify the breaking of the treck-tow is always a 

 tedious job, for when out of the reach of a blacksmith 

 a green reim has to be procured and woven in and out 

 through three or four of the links on either side of the 

 fracture. Seeing that half an hour at least must elapse 

 before we could extricate ourselves, Morris took his gun 

 and went down the spruit in search of wildfowl, while 

 I remained to assist William and to learn all the devices 

 necessary for getting wagons out of difficulties under 

 any circumstances that may arise. 



I did not expect ever to become a good driver ; still 

 without being so, when alone on the velt and no 

 European to assist, I might be able to detect at a glance 

 what would be the proper means to adopt under emer- 

 gencies, and, if necessary, show how to do it. On a 

 cargo of knowledge you do not require to pay any 

 freight. 



Our predicament was worse than we anticipated ; 

 the delay had allowed the wagon to settle in the 

 soft spongy bottom, so that all the efforts of our cattle 

 could not move it. But Hendrick had now come 

 up ; disrobing himself till he was in the costume of 

 ancient Gaul, he brought his sturdy team over, hitched 



