nd proceed after the retreating tribe. It was not to be done, however,
without a _ruse_; otherwise the Matabili would immediately cross and
follow them. But this very thing had been thought of by Hendrik, who
now laid his plan before the chief.

"Let all of your people steal off," said he to Macora. "The trees will
hinder the enemy from seeing them go. We that are mounted can easily
escape at any time. Let us stay, then, and keep showing ourselves to
the enemy as long as we can deceive them."

The plan appeared feasible, excellent. Macora at once gave consent to
its being put into execution.

"Stay," said Groot Willem. "Don't make any movement till I open
practice upon them with my long roer. I think the gun will carry to
where they are, over yonder. An occasional bullet whistling past their
ears will let them know that some of us are still here, and keep them
from suspecting that the others are gone."

As Willem spoke, he crept out to a projecting point upon the bank, and,
taking aim at a big Matabili who stood conspicuous on the other side,
let fly at him. The man, with a loud yell, tumbled over in his tracks,
while others, also exposed, hastened to conceal themselves behind the
bushes. At this crisis the Makololo stole silently away, leaving their
chief, with Sindo and one or two others who had horses, along with the
four hunters, to guard the crossing of the stream.

During nearly an hour that they remained by the drift, no other attempt
was made by the Matabili to approach near the bank. Nothing was seen of
them; and Macora, beginning to suspect that they might have withdrawn
from the place and got over by some other drift, suggested the giving up
the guard, and hastening on after his tribe. There was good sense in
the suggestion; for if the Matabili had found another crossing, the
tribe might be in danger. It was determined, therefore, to withdraw,
but in such a way that the enemy might still believe them to be there.

Several articles of dress were hung upon the bushes, only slightly
showing towards the opposite side of the stream, and in such fashion as
to look like a portion of their persons; and then, Groot Willem firing a
last shot from his great gun, the guard withdrew one after another,
riding stealthily off among the trees.

The sun was not more than an hour high, when they overtook their
retreating comrades on foot, and a little later, all going together,
came up with the women and ch