340 TRAVELS IN 
They were iinanimoijs for keeping watcb ^11 
night under arms; and I watched with them. 
It may v/ell be imagined, that the whole 
night was fpcnt in talking of Bernfry. Some 
related actions of his to which they had been 
witnefs; others, fuch as they had heard told; 
but all were deeds of the moft nefarious defcrlp- 
tion. Thefe ftories made me reflect deeply, 
1 reproached myfelf for the indulgence with 
which I had before- excufcd and attenuated his 
faults, and I congratulated myfelf for having 
him no longer in our company ; befide that 
he was now ufelefs to me, fmce I was foon to 
enter countries into which no white man had 
ever penetrated, where he was no more know^n 
than myfelf, and where his brutal and hafty 
temper, his vices and fpirit of plunder, might 
become dangerous to me, by exerting quarreb, 
and eaufe us both to be maffacred by the na- 
tives. 
1 his danger from a ftrange companion had 
determined me to refufe many honeft perfons 
at the Cape, when they offered to accompany 
me on my journey. Muft it not be imprudent 
in me, therefore, to take as an aflbciate a maa 
of this ftamp,^ from whom I could exped no- 
thing 
