CHAP. X.] HEAR THE FATE OF MY TWO OXEX. 289 



My first inquiries were about the fate of poor 

 Timmerman and Frieschland, and I at last found out 

 their history from some wandering Damaras, for they 

 never can keep a secret. The two oxen had both 

 returned to Okomavaka, but a lion caught Timmerman, 

 and in the morning the Damaras found him half eaten ; 

 they then spoored and found Frieschland whom they 

 stabbed and eat. I discovered who the man was that 

 actually killed my ox ; he was Kaipanga, the captain of 

 a werft of these wandering Damaras, and who naturally 

 had decamped when he heard of our arrival. 



I therefore held a consultation with Amiral on the 

 subject, whose eyes glistened with pleasm-e at the 

 notion of a raid upon the Damara werft. I, of course, 

 stipulated that we should have no firing, but only 

 catch the culprits and flog them. I had been desirous 

 of witnessing the aiTangement of a Hottentot attack, 

 and this case occurred opportunely, so I desired Amiral 

 to manage everything in exactly his own way, which 

 he did. He found out where Kaipanga was staying ; 

 it was opposite to a gorge two hours ahead of us, and 

 down in the flat at the foot of the ridge, but far from 

 it and among the trees, and quite two and a half hours 

 away from the watering-place there. 



Amiral then told everybody that we were going 

 home as quickly as we could, for we had no time to 

 spare to make further inquiries about the lost oxen, 

 and on we went. Our first day was three hovirs, and 

 we purposely overshot the gorge which was our mark, 

 that the Damaras who were on a keen look-out might 

 be con^inced that we knew nothing of Kaipanga's 



