AFRICA. ^95 
pretty feverely, the evening before, for robbing 
me of my fupper ; and I did not imagine that 
he would have fo foon forgot his punifhment^ 
ms to be guilty of this new fault almoft imme- 
diately after it. He had however difappeared ; 
but as he always waited for the return of 
night, when he had committed any error, be- 
fore he again made his appearance, I well 
knew that he could not efcape me. It was gene- 
rally at the time when I was drinking tea that 
he glided in, without noife, and took his fta- 
tion near me, in his accuftomed place, with 
an air of innocence, as if nothing had hap- 
pened. That evening he did not appear ; and 
aext morning, as no one had feen him, I be- 
gan to be very uneafy, and to be apprehenfive 
that he had deferted me entirely. This lofe' 
would have been the more diftreffing, as, be^ 
fides the amufement he 3.fForded me, he was 
really of great utility, and rendered me fuch 
fervices that his place could not have beea 
fupplied by another. On the third day, how- 
ever, one of my people, who had been in 
fearch of water, aflured me that he had feen 
him in the neighbourhood ; but that he had 
hid himfelf as foon as he found that he Vv^as diQ 
covered. Setting out immediately in queft of 
U 4 him, 
