SOUTHERN AFRICA. 205 



necessary that our attack sliould be delaj^ed until the folio w- 

 ino- morning-. The hateful squaws had abandoned their 

 kraal the preceding day^ and it was not unlikely that a party 

 of the marauders might be lurking- in the hill, ready to fall 

 upon the wag'gons during- our temporary absence. After 

 much consultation, therefore, it was resolved to leave Claas 

 and Frederick, who confessed their inability to fig'ht, to- 

 o-ether with the two domestics, whose black beards were 

 calculated to instil terror into the stoutest heart --starting- 

 ourselves with the other five Hottentots in the dead of nig'ht, 

 in order if possible to avoid creating- suspicion of our 

 departure. All the preliminaries of a surprise thus skilfully 

 arrano-ed, the best horses were selected and fastened to the 

 wao-o-ons, and one hundred rounds of ammunition having- 

 been served out to each of the little band, we retired to rest, 

 leaving- the watch in charge of Cceur de Lion, Avith instruc- 

 tions to keep his eye steadily fixed upon the hands, and not 

 fail to arouse us when they pointed to the hour of twelve. 



