THEY CALL FOR WYLIE. 
11 
away the life of the eldest whenever I met with him, 
should they still persist in going the same road as 
myself. The distance we were apart was almost too 
great for parley, and I know not whether they heard 
me or not; though they halted, and appeared to 
listen, they did not reply to what I said, and plainly 
wished to avoid all closer contact. They now began 
to call incessantly to Wylie, and in answer to 
my repeated efforts to get them to speak to me, only 
would say , 44 Oh massa, we dont want you, we want 
Wylie.” Thus fully confirming me in the opinion 
I had formed, that Wylie had agreed to go with 
them before the deed of violence was committed. It 
was now apparent to me that their only present 
object in following us had been to look for Wylie, 
and get him to join them. In this they were un- 
successful ; for he still remained quietly where I 
left him holding the horses, and evidently afraid to 
go near them. There was no use wasting further 
time, as I could not get them to listen to me. The 
sun, too, was fast sinking in the horizon, we had 
been four days without finding water, and the 
probability was we had very far still to go before we 
could hope to procure any ; every moment, therefore, 
was precious. 
Having returned to Wylie, I made him lead one 
of the horses in advance, and I followed behind, 
driving the rest after him, according to the system 
of march I had adopted in the morning. As soon 
as the two natives saw us moving on, and found 
