d cattle, their flight
was too slow for safety.

This opinion Macora expressed to some of his followers, and, at the same
time, told them that there was one ox belonging to the tribe that the
Matabili should not have. He described the ox as the fattest one in
their possession.

His men took the hint; and in less than two hours an ox was killed,
cooked, and eaten.

Early in the evening, a fire was seen and shouts were heard not more
than half a mile from them. They believed that a body of their enemies
was encamped near, and only waiting for a concentration of their forces
before commencing another attack.

They were agreeably disappointed about this; for, when morning dawned,
their eyes were gratified by the sight of two large covered wagons
outspanned upon the plain, with several oxen and horses grazing near
them. They were at no great distance off, and must have come there in
the night. It could be nothing else than an encampment of white hunters
or traders.

Our adventurers, one and all, rode hastily for the camp, and in a few
minutes were exchanging salutations with the owners of the wagons. As
they had conjectured, it was a party of traders. They were from Port
Natal. They had been on an excursion to the north, and were now
returning to the Port. They were attended by some Kaffirs who had
accompanied them from Natal, and also a number of natives they had
picked up in the north.

While our adventurers were trying to obtain from them a supply of
ammunition and such other things as they stood in need of, their
attention was called to Macora, by seeing that individual behaving
somewhat after the manner of a mad man. Although his people were more
than half a mile away, he was shouting to them and gesticulating in the
most violent manner, as if imparting some communication or command.

The hunters looked in every direction, and with feelings of
apprehension. They expected to see the Matabili again coming to the
attack. But no foe was in sight.

It was not until the chief had succeeded in attracting the attention of
his followers, and had worked them into a high state of excitement, with
what he was saying to them, that our hunters understood the meaning of
his words and gestures. It turned out that some of the native
attendants who accompanied the white traders were from the country of
Sebituane, and, therefore, the kindred of Macora's people. Only a few
days before they had left their native plac