Part 17 (1/2)
”None,” replied the old man; ”they all went to the southward”
”Did you hear what becaht the natives and were killed; the wolves ate the rest; not one left alive; they all perished”
”Were none of the women and children saved and kept as slaves?”
”No, not one; they had no meat, no milk, and they all died”
After some other inquiries, the old ly, stated that he had, with other Caffres, followed the last party; had seen them all dead, and had taken off their clothes, and that as they died they were buried by those who still survived
”A better fate, cruel as it was, than living as they must have lived,”
said Swinton
”Yes, truly,” replied Alexander; ”you don't knointon, what a load has been reht-hearted I feel, notwithstanding this recital of their sufferings My poor uncle! God grant that he ence, with the assurance that he has no grandchildren living the life of a heathen, and knowing no God What a relief will it prove to hirateful am I to God, that I have had so happy an issue to my mission! Nointon, ill return as soon as you please; as soon as we arrive at Daaka's kraal, I will take down in writing the statement of these people, and then ill hasten back to the Major”
”And I dare say,” said Swinton, as he remounted his horse, ”that you willhimself no relation to you, than if he had satisfactorily established himself as your own first cousin”
”You reater than ever could have been ht-hearted, Swinton, and so grateful to God, that I almost wish to dismount in my anxiety to return my thanks; but I do so inday they arrived at Daaka's kraal, and then Alexander took down very carefully in writing the statereed on the one point, which was, that the European descendants now living in the country recked in another vessel many years before the loss of the _Grosvenor_, and that not one of the _Grosvenor's_ people--men, women, or children--had survived, except the feho arrived at the Cape
Having obtained these satisfactory documents, they made a handsome present to Daaka and the other Caffres, and ions As they journeyed back to the ard, they found the Caffres quitting their huts, and driving away the cattle, that they ht not fall into the power of the army of Quetoo, which it was said was now inthe tribes before them As our travellers were not at all anxious to have any coe invaders, in two days they crossed the Uons A shout froave notice of their approach The shout was returned, and in a few hted to see them
”I did not expect you back so soon,” replied the Major; ”and I perceive that you are unaccompanied, I presume that your Caffre relations would not quit their kraals”
”You shall know all about it, Major, very soon; it will be enough at present to let you know that we have nothing but good news”
”That I rejoice to hear; but it ell you ca every preparation, and had you not returned in a few days, I should have retreated; the invaders are close at hand”
”We know it, and, if they are told that there are waggons here well loaded, they will come on quickly, with the hopes of plunder, so we er,” replied Alexander; ”to-morroill yoke and set off We can deter, but the first point's to retreat from this quarter”
”Exactly; the oxen are in pri day's march, and we know our country for some days, at all events; but enter o into the tent which I have pitched
You shall then tell me your adventures, while Mahomed fries a delicate piece of elephant's flesh for you”
”Have you killed an elephant?”
”Yes, but not without er, I assure you; I wanted your help sadly, for these Hottentots are too ood aim, and I had only my own rifle to trust to; but I have done very well considering, and I shall prove to our coarrison without putting hi upon greenthey are, if you do not happen upon a very old one”
When they entered the inclosure made by the Major, they were surprised at the state of defence in which he had put it His hedge of thorns upon rocks piled up was ions were in the centre, drawn up in a square; the entrance would only adht
”Why, Major, you ainst the whole force of the Amaquibi in this position”
”Yes, provided I had provisions and water,” replied the Major; ”but I fear they would soon have starved ainst any sudden night-attack, and therefore I fortified ain”
The nehich they had to ihted at the intelligence:--”And now,” said he, ”what do you ain, of course, but by what route?”