434 LOSING THE WAY BY NIGHT. — PRECAUTIONS. 5, 6 Nov. 
that he had missed the track. We halted and examined the ground 
in all directions, carefully scrutinizing the bushes to discover if they 
bore any marks of a wheel having passed over them. But all our 
trouble was useless ; it grew darker and darker, and, after a half 
hour's search to no purpose, we gave up all hope of finding our 
way. As there was no alternative, we prepared for passing the 
night on the spot where we happened to halt. We unyoked the 
oxen, and made them fast with thongs to the waggon, that they 
might not stray away, and either fall into the hands of some un- 
friendly Bushmen, or become a prey to the lions, which, as appeared 
by their foot-marks, were numerous in this part of the country. 
At a great distance in the eastern quarter, we observed, during 
the whole night, two large fires, kept burning by some kraal of 
Bushmen as a signal, understood only by those to whom it was 
made. These people are always on the look-out ; and, wherever a 
strange fire is seen, send out spies to ascertain what the strangers 
are. On this account we durst not make any light, lest we should 
attract the notice of any hostile party, who, finding us but two men 
and a boy to defend ten oxen, and that in a dark night, might be 
tempted, by so favourable an opportunity, to make an attack upon us. 
We all suffered so much from thirst, that Philip resolved to 
make his way to the river, which we knew could not be more than 
a mile off, and with this view, took the boy with him to assist in 
carrying the calabashes. 
Being in the mean time left alone, I retired to the distance of 
thirty yards from the waggon, and took my post, with my gun 
loaded with buck-shot, behind a bush, where, lying flat on the 
ground, I could the more readily perceive an enemy approaching, 
as he would thus be rendered visible against the sky ; while on the 
contrary, from the low and dark situation in which I lay, it would 
not be very easy for any one to observe me. Had any strangers 
approached with evil intentions, and their number been small, I 
could, from my ambush, have fired upon them with effect ; but if, 
on the contrary, they had appeared too numerous, I might then 
have retreated, probably without being discovered. This plan gave 
