270 TRAVELS IN 
of the Bofhmen and that of ravenous beaftl 
of prey. The vicinity of the ciftern might 
expofe us to either, and perhaps even to 
both at the fame time. Uncertain what 
enemy I had to combat, I caufed a few 
fhots to be difcharged towards the quarter 
which my ape pointed out, and from time 
to time I took care they fliould be repeated* 
Thefe fuppofed enemies were my people, 
who had gone in fearch of the whale. They 
were now on their retufn ; and, having difco- 
vered our camp by means of the fires we had 
kindled, were haftening to join us. The noife 
of our fufees had frightened them ; they kept 
therefore at a diftance ; and previoully to their 
advancing they difcharged a fhot in their turn 
to inform me who they were. 
At that moment, however, prepofTefled with 
the idea of being attacked, and having no ex- 
pedtation of their arrival at fo unfeafonable an 
hour, their fignal only increafed our alarm. 
We imagined them to be maroon Hottentots, 
who, provided with fire-arms, had come to 
affairmate us and plunder my camp. The 
difcharging of the fufee ftrengthened this idea, 
and was confidered by us in no other light 
thau 
