278 CAPTURE OF THE WAGGONS. 



and he escaped. On ascending a mountain, he 

 looked back, saw the hut enveloped in flames, and 

 heard the reports from the muskets of his unfortunate 

 comrades, which were discharged by the fire as it 

 severally reached them. On the ground near the 

 tent, he beheld the mutilated remains of his master, 

 and the bodies of Thackwray* and Walker. 



On the same morning Queto's followers proceeded 

 to the spot where the waggons were waiting for the 

 return of Lieutenant Farewell, and where there was 

 a party of seventeen Hottentots and six Europeans, 

 with twenty guns and a large supply of ammunition. 

 It appears that the intelligence of the murder had 

 already reached them, and created among them so 

 great a panic, as completely to paralyse their energies. 

 They lost all power to defend their property ; and on 

 the approach of a body of these murderous Gaffers, 

 who entered the valley through a pass of which the 

 others were ignorant, a general flight ensued. The 

 plunder of the waggons happily engaging the atten- 

 tion of the savages, the party were thus enabled to 

 effect their escape. They commenced their return 

 forthwith to the Colony, suffering many privations on 

 the journey, until they reached the Missionary Station 



* This Mr. Thackwray was the father of the individual unfortunately 

 killed by an elephant, mentioned in a former chapter. It is a remark- 

 able and- lamentable circumstance, that another son was assassinated 

 by an Hottentot woman, a short time after the death of his father, 

 leaving the poor widow to deplore the bereavement of her husband and 

 two sons within the space of a few short months. 





