Part 15 (2/2)
At night they were about ten miles from the Umtata River, and it was doubtful, from the accounts received froo further with the wagons than to its bank But in the evening, neas brought that the Aoverned by Quetoo, and which had come from the north, had been attacked by two of the native tribes, aided by souns; that the white men had all been destroyed, and that the hostile ar south
The native Caffres appeared to be in a panic, and this panic was soon cos were heard as they sat round the fire, and at last they broke out into openAdam, with three others, ca, and intimated that they must return immediately, as they would proceed no further; that if it was decided to go on, the Hottentots would not, as they had no intention of beingSwinton, who could speak the Dutch language, having consulted with Alexander and the Major, replied that it was very true that the army of Quetoo was to the northward; but that the report of the defeat of the Caffres and of the arht all be false; that even if true, it did not follow they were advancing in the direction in which they themselves were about to proceed; that it would be sufficient time for them to retreat when they found out ere the real facts, which would be the case in a few days at the furthest But the Hottentots would not listen to any thing that he said; they declared that they would proceed no further
By this time all the other Hottentots had joined the first who ca their determination not to proceed a mile further Only Bremen and Swanevelt opposed the rest, and declared that they would follow their masters wherever they chose to lead them Alexander now sent for the interpreter and the chief of the Caffre warriors, lent him by Hinza, and desired the interpreter to ask the Caffre whether he and his band would follow theiven thee, and they could not return and say that they had left them because there was an enemy at hand Hinza would kill the back the travelers safe, or lose their lives in their defense
”Well, then,” said the Major, ”noe can do without these cowardly felloho are no use to us but to eat and drink; so now let us discharge theree with you, Major,” said Alexander; ”what do you think, Swinton?”
”Yes, let us discharge them, for then they will be in a precious dileo home; that they dare not do, so they will remain But let us first secure their muskets, which lie round their fire, before we dismiss them; or they will not, perhaps, surrender them, and we may be in an aard position I will slip away, and while I am away, do you keep them in talk until I return, which I shall not do until I have locked up all the guns in the store-wagon”
As Swinton rose, the Major addressed the Hottentots ”Now, my lads,”
said he, ”here are Bremen and Swanevelt who consent to follow us; all the Caffre warriors agree to follow us; and here are about twenty of you who refuse Now I can not think that you will leave us; you know that we have treated you well, and have given you plenty of tobacco; you know that you will be punished as soon as you return to the Cape Why then are you so foolish? Now look you: I am sure that upon reflection you will think better of it Letwith us; I wish to hear theain, and let each an to state over again their reasons for not going on; and thus the Major, who ained their attention, and the time which was required
Before they all had spoken, Swinton came back and took his seat by the fire
”All's safe,” said he; ”Breuns have been locked up with the others” Our travelers had their own lying by the behind the Hottentots, had all their assaguays in their hands; but their shi+elds, as usual, were hanging to the sides of the wagons The Major allowed the whole of the Hottentots to speak, and when they were done, he said, ”Now, Wilot up with his gun in his hand, the Major and Swinton did the same, and then Alexander told the Hottentots that they were a cowardly set of fellows; that with Bremen and Swanevelt, and the band of Caffre warriors, he could do without theht now leave the ca else from them in future ”So now be off, the whole of you; and if I find one to-ht of the camp, or if one of you dares to follow us, I will order the Caffres to run hih You are dismissed, and to-morroe leave without you”
Alexander then called the chief of the Caffre warriors, and desired hie of the cattle, horses, and sheep, to his warriors during the night; and if any one atteh the body ”Do this immediately,” said Alexander to the chief, ithout delay spoke to his men, and they went off in obedience to his orders
The Hottentots, who had heard all this, now retreated to their wagon, but were struck with consternation when they found that their guns had been reuns and ammunition to enable them to procure food and protect theether in a low voice; they looked round and perceived that our three travelers had quitted the fire, and were keeping guard with their guns upon the wagons, to prevent any atte them open, on the part of the Hottentots Moreover, ten of the Caffres, with their spears, had since the breaking up of the conference, been put in charge of the wagons by the chief, at the request of the Major The Hottentots now perceived their forlorn position
How could they, without arms and ammunition, and without provisions, return to the Cape, such a number of miles distant? How could they exist, if they remained where they were? When they insisted upon our travelers returning, they had quite overlooked the circumstance that these could protect themselves with the Caffre warriors, and that they were not in a condition to enforce their de conversation, they did what all Hottentots will do under any eency,--they lay down by the fire, and fell fast asleep
Swinton, having ascertained that they were really asleep, proposed that they theuard, which they did; as they well knew that a Hottentot once fast asleep is not easily roused up even to ”treason, stratagem, or spoil”
Shortly after break of day, Breons could proceed no further, as he had walked on, and discovered that a mile before them there was a ravine so deep that it would be difficult for the cattle to go down, and for the wagons impossible; that at a distance of three miles below he could see the river, which was also so eons
The Major immediately ith Bremen, to satisfy hi that further progress agons was impossible
”Well, then, we must now hold a council,” said Swinton ”Of course, proceed you will, Wilmot, that is decided; the only question is, as we must now proceed on horseback, what force you will take with you, and what shall be left in charge of the wagons?”
”I think we can trust the Caffres, do not you?”
”Yes, I do; but I wish froh in some respects cowardly fellows, yet with their muskets they are brave, and their muskets keep the natives in order”
”To the Caffres, the contents of the wagons would prove a temptation; but these are not teet back safe, and receive their wages Thus we play theainst each other”
”Here are all the Hottentots co up to us,” said the Major; ”I hope it is to make submission; it is very desirable that they should do so before they know that the wagons proceed no further”
The surain canvassed thethe helplessness of their position, had coiveness, and to offer to accompany our travelers wherever they pleased to take the while before Alexander would consent to receive theain, and not until they had made promise upon promise, that he seemed at last to be mollified Swinton then interceded for theood behavior, to overlook their conduct This ed, the former question was resumed