CROSSING THE TUGELA. 
357 
what they had to say for and against the attempt, the 
convincing argument at last being, if we did not get 
over, we should have no supper, they agreed to make 
trial. Acting on their good impulse, I inspanned 
at once, every spare rheim being knotted together 
to make as long a fore-tow as possible ; and the cart 
being very light, for fear the force of the stream 
should upset it, I put in some very large, heavy 
stones for ballast, and Matakitakit on his hams 
inside to keep them in their places. I fastened the 
remnant of the sail down fore and aft, having 
previously lashed all fast to the axle-tree to prevent 
everything from going asunder, and having taken the 
precaution to strip, and fasten money, promissory notes, 
&c., round my neck in a small bag, I mounted the 
box, whip in hand. Mick and Inyous took the tow, 
and got some twenty yards ahead of the oxen, which 
were standing in the water, as deep as they could 
get without swimming. It was pretty good ground 
going in, when I shouted 6 Trek !’ and away we went. 
The stream carried the leaders down very fast, and 
the oxen were gaining on the lads, the cart float¬ 
ing beautifully, and I thought all would go well, 
and was chuckling with inward satisfaction. When 
the front oxen had reached the boys, I shouted, 
‘ Let go the tow, and get out of the road ; ’ they got 
confused, stuck fast, and pulled the oxen round in 
the middle of the stream, and just as the leading 
oxen’s heads were within two feet of my knees, 
sailing down with the full force of the current, 
