390 TRAVELS IN 
I did net let him loofe on the credit of his word, 
I promifed, however, that no harm fhould be 
done himj unlefs an attack were made upon us, 
when he might be allured he fhould be the 
firil vid-lim. This little nodurnal adventure 
convincing us that we had really reafon to be 
apprehenfive of the Boihmen, we- took the re- 
folution of quitting the trees by the river's 
fide and marching acrofs the plain, where, 
being more open, we ran lefs rifque of being 
furprifed. Our fettered Hottentot retarded 
our progrefs confiderably, fo that we were obli- 
ged to untie his legs in order to advance with 
greater fpeed. When we were four leagues 
from the camp, night overtook us ; and, not- 
withftanding our wilh to arrive there as foon 
as poffible, we were obliged to halt, being 
xompletely fatigued with the journey of the 
day, in which we had travelled at leaft a dozen 
leagues over a fandy country, and unfheltered 
from the beams of a fcorching fun. Having 
taken all necelTary precautions to prevent the 
cfcape of our prifoner, we paffed the night in 
perfe^ quiet. At day-break, having nothing 
more to fear from his connexions as we were 
fo nigh the camp^ I ordered him be unbound 
