

AN ADVENTURE. 23 



travelled fast in the morning, as, from the un- 

 friendly reception our hosts had subtended us the 

 previous night, we were not without suspicion that 

 Pilau's chief was hostile, and that some of his 

 young men might follow, with instructions to despoil 

 myself and Cigar of our arms and horses should 

 opportunity offer. But now we had no reason to 

 fear such a contretemps, for over forty miles lay 

 between us and Pilan's kraal, and as he was at war 

 with an adjoining tribe (Sechilles people), nothing 

 less than a large and well-armed party would pre- 

 sume to come thus far into the enemy's country. 



So, in a beautiful tope of half a dozen trees, we 

 off saddled, knee-haltered our horses, and turned 

 them loose to feed, while Cigar stole off with the 

 rifle to see what food he could procure for our 

 evening meal. 



Having lit a fire, and made the camp as comfort- 

 able and home-like as possible, I heard a shot some 

 distance beyond the horses. Deeming the report 

 to have come from my attendant's gun, I thought 

 nothing of the matter for a few moments, but when 

 I raised my head I saw all the nags had got to- 

 gether, and looked as if uncertain whether some- 

 thing dangerous had not approached their neigh- 

 bourhood. 



My animals, from their residence in the wild 

 country, had become as watchful as dogs, but still 

 were far from alarmists, so I proceeded to drive 



