th a sigh, "I cannot go along with
them."

The young hunters asked for an explanation, and it was given. Owing to
some long past misunderstanding, Macora had incurred this ill-will of
Sebituane, who never forgot nor forgave an offence, and, were he to
return there, would surely order him to be killed.

Macora's advice to the hunters was, that, provided as they were with
horses, they should remove themselves out of the reach of danger, by
taking their departure for their homes. This generous counsel Groot
Willem at once refused to follow, and all the rest joined him in
declining it, each saying something to give encouragement to the other.
As for Macora's own people, they now gave a rare proof of their loyalty.
When counselled by their chief to save themselves, and leave him to his
fate, one and all rebelled against the proposal; the warriors loudly
declaring that sooner than forsake him they would die by his side.

For the first time in their lives our adventurers saw a chief who
appeared to suffer affliction from being too much beloved by his people!
He proposed saving their lives at the expense of his own, by requesting
them to carry him a captive to Sebituane! But his followers were loyal
to a man: to a man they rejected the proposal.

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

WELCOME TIDINGS.

The white hunters were greatly vexed at thought of the trouble they had
brought upon the chief and his tribe, and tried to devise some plan by
which all might be extricated from their difficulties.

They proposed that Macora and his people should seek refuge from their
enemies by retreating to the country of the Bakwains,--a western branch
of their own great nation, the Bechuanas, which was not far-away.

In reply to this proposal, Macora said that none of those people would
give them protection. They dreaded to incur the displeasure of
Moselekatse, and, to keep friends with him, would even assist his
warriors in their destruction.

The hunters then proposed that Macora should take leave of his tribe and
accompany them to the south, while his followers might go on to the
country of Sebituane.

This plan the chief emphatically declined to adopt. Death would be
preferable to that. He would not desert those who had so nobly stood by
him.

Moreover, it was still doubtful whether they could succeed in reaching
Sebituane. They might look for the Matabili by the break of day; and,
encumbered as they were with women, children, an