20 PEKILS OF THE DESERT. [chap. i. 



the horses would never perhaps be overtaken by the 

 men, who would possibly foUow their tracks till they 

 were exhausted, and so be themselves unable to return. 

 I therefore sent two natives directly, — Mr. Bam inter- 

 preting for me — one with provisions, and the other with 

 orders to go on after the tracks, and bring the animals 

 back. Late in the afternoon my men made their 

 appearance, looking sadly exhausted. They had gone 

 very far, until they dared not go further; and then, 

 intending to return by a short cut back, soon became 

 bewildered among the sand-hUls, and quite lost their 

 course. They were on the point of going altogether 

 wrong, when the mist cleared away, and showed them 

 the sea and the Bay, with the schooner in it, in the 

 far distance. After a long walk they came to the 

 waggon-tracks, which took them to Sand Fountain, 

 where they obtained water, and there the Hottentots 

 met them. 



The sailors had landed some of my things very 

 carelessly indeed, dropping bags of flour into the sea. 

 I made a great row, with much effect, about it. Some 

 goats were driven down to sell. I bought two kids for 

 a second-hand soldier's coat, without the buttons : I 

 had three dozen, and gave sixpence each for them 

 at a Jew's shop in Cape Town. 



The horses were still missing. I sent the ca]otain, 

 " Frederick," and another man, on their ride-oxen 

 upon the spoor, for I became extremely anxious 

 for their lives ; there is not a blade of grass or a drop 

 of water where they are gone. Frederick would not 

 not go unless I promised him and his friend a really 



