CHANGE OF PLANS. 227 
he writes, "as the season is so far advanced. I am 
principally afraid for my boys, who are far more 
likely to suffer than a white man is, who has a snug 
dry bed to lie on, and other comforts ; and I distrust 
my old waggon, which has played me false once 
already," On further discussing the subject with 
Stoffel and his companion, he found, moreover, that 
he had somewhat misunderstood their plan, which 
was only to be travelling towards the Zambesi now, 
and wait about upon the road till April or May, 
when they would go forward to the river. It 
was too late, they considered, to attempt to reach 
the Zambesi the present season. Though strongly 
tempted on some accounts to fall in with their pro- 
posal and accompany them, upon reflection he decided 
not to do so. It was the result, however, of what had 
passed with them upon the subject that led him to 
abandon, as intimated above, his projected trip to the 
Shashani, and accompany the trading party instead, 
as far upon the road towards the Zambesi as they 
meant to travel before coming to a stand. This 
would give him an opportunity of seeing an entirely 
fresh part of the country beyond the Makalakas, and 
he could return when it suited him. It is probable, 
too, that he still — if hardly acknowledging it to him- 
self — may have entertained an ill-defined hope that 
by travelling in the direction of the Zambesi he 
might even yet, through some unlooked-for turn of 
circumstances, find himself enabled to reach that 
river before the commencement of another year. 
That hope, assuming its existence, was one destined 
