A F Pv I C A. 331 
a punlfhment for the theft committed on me, 
take tiiem away. 
I had taken every precaution for the de- 
fence of mine, fhoiil i we be ttacked again in 
the oight ; but whether the Boflimen loft our 
traci. in the dark, or whether they feared the 
affiftance that might be given me by the horde, 
they did not appear. 
To efcape them entirely and reach my camp, 
I had now, as nearly as I could eftimate, fifteen 
or fixteen leagues to travel ; and, as fo long a 
journey was n< t to be accomplifhed in one 
day, I could have wifhed to proceed as far as 
poffible by a forced march, and then halt for 
the night. But the condition of my oxen . 
prevented my executing this plan. As the 
thieves had compelled them to travel without 
retting, and had not even once allowed thera 
time to feed, they were fo extremely fatigued 
and reduced, that I defpaired of being able to 
drive them a ftep farther. I faw them ftretch- 
ed on the ground as if they were never more 
to rife. They were in the midfi; of excellent 
grafs ; yet, notwithftanding this circumftance, 
and hungry as they were, their, wearinefs was 
fo 
