378 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



At length I overcame all obstacles, and walked into the 

 middle of the merry-makers. Among them were several 

 strange Massara and their women ; while on the fires 

 was cooking a plentiful supply of elephant meat. As 

 may be expected, I did not waste much time or use 

 much ceremony in ordering my employes to the wagon. 

 Umganey at once arose to do my bidding, the driver 

 and another Kaffir sulkily followed his example; but the 

 foreloper sat still, looking me impudently in the face. I 

 went towards him to hasten his movements, but I sup- 

 pose, thinking I was going to lay hold of him, he 

 jumped up and fled into the bush, from which he 

 emerged in a few minutes, with an assegai in his hand. 

 I spoke to him, pointed to the wagon (kiloe), and waved 

 my hand, indicating that I wished him to go there. In 

 reply he brandished his weapon. None of the others 

 interposed, but looked on sullenly. It was a trying 

 moment. Should I shoot him down or not ? He was 

 guilty of breach of duty, insubordination, and now 

 threatened my life. But it is a fearful thing to take 

 upon oneself the responsibility of launching a human 

 being into eternity, even when one's own life is in 

 danger, so I desisted from further proceedings, and. 

 followed by the three others, returned to my encamp- 

 ment not a moment too soon, for I found the horse 

 down, and partially strangled by the halter, and all the 

 dogs and cattle in such alarm, that it took me quite 

 half an hour to get them back to a proper state of 

 quiet. 



What disturbed the camp that night I never knew 

 positively ; although the spoor of a black rhinoceros was 

 found in the vicinity next morning. Yet I do not think 

 it could have caused the uneasiness, for animals of this 



