d be found
living somewhere near a stream of water, they resolved to first proceed
down the river on which they had their camp; and in this direction they
set off.

For the first five miles nothing could be seen of the spoor of either
horses or cattle. But the ground was hard and dry, and, even if cattle
had been driven over it, it would have been impossible to take up their
spoor. It had rained heavily, and that would do something to obliterate
any tracks that might have been made. Soon they came to a place where
the river-bank was low and marshy, and this they examined with care.
They saw the hoof-marks of many animals that had quenched their thirst
at the stream, all plainly impressed upon the soft earth. To their joy
they perceived amongst them the tracks of horses and cattle, and easily
recognised them as those of the animals they had lost. Beyond doubt
they had been driven over the river at that point. Pleased at such a
good beginning, they continued on, more hopefully. They were now sure
that they had come in the right direction. The spoor still led down the
bunks of the stream. Three or four miles farther on, they came within
sight of a kraal, containing about forty huts. As they drew near,
several men ran forward to meet them, and instantly demanded their
business.

Swartboy informed them that they were looking after some stolen horses
and cattle.

A tall, naked man, carrying a huge parasol of ostrich-feathers, acted as
spokesman for the villagers. In reply to Swartboy, he stated that he
knew what cattle were; that he had often seen such animals, but _not
lately_. He had never seen any horses and knew not what sort of animals
they were. As it chanced, the rain that had fallen upon the preceding
night had so softened the ground that all footmarks made since could be
distinguished without the slightest difficulty. It was evident the man
with the parasol had not thought of this; for our adventurers at once
saw that he was telling them a story. They had proofs that he was, by
the sight of several horse-tracks with which the ground was indented
around the spot where they had halted. They were so fresh as to show
that horses must have been there but an hour ago; and it was not likely
they could have been on that ground without being seen by the villagers
and their chief.

Without saying another word to the natives, our party preceded on to the
kraal. As they drew near, the first thing that fixed