AFRICA. 309 
Then* noifmefs, however, had one good 
effect. My dogs, on approaching them, be- 
gan to bark fo loudly, that we thought proper 
to muzzle them ; and, but for the uproar that 
drowned their voices, they would infallibly 
have betrayed us. And now behold me for 
the firft time in my life in a ftate of war with 
a favage horde, and determined to carry it on 
with an, if I found myfelf oppofed by a fupe- 
rior force 1 
As it was no favourable moment for the at- 
tack, I deferred it til! break of day ; and, that 
it might be conduded in the moft advanta- 
geous manner, I intrenched both myfelf and 
my troop behind a thick patch of brufhwood^ 
which afforded us a fecure rampart againft the 
ofFenfive weapons of our enemies^ and ren- 
dered ours ftill more formidable. 
The bufii was large enough to contain and 
fhelter all my fufileers, and each of us, by fe- 
parating a few branches, made a fort of loop- 
hole, through which he could prefent the 
mouth of his piece and fire. 
In this fituation, we waited patiently and in 
filence for the moment of attack. The knaves 
^hemfelves feemed to favour us by their con- 
X 3 . dua. 
