led to Willem,
who, by this, had come up.

"We have frightened the soul out of this woman," said he, as the great
hunter drew near. "She has left a child behind her. What shall we do
with it? It won't do to leave the poor thing here."

"This is unfortunate, certainly," said Willem; as he gazed at the dead
body. "The blacks will think that we killed the woman, and will ever
after have an opinion of white men they should not have. We must take
the child to the kraal, and give it up to them. We can tell them that
the woman died of her own folly, which is only the truth. Hand the
piccaninny to me."

As Hendrik attempted to obey this request, the child by loud screams
protested against being taken away from its mother. Its resistance was
not alone confined to cries. Like a young tiger, it scratched and bit
at the hands that held it; thus exhibiting a strange contrast to the
conduct of its adult kindred, the Bechuanas, who have an instinctive
fear of white men as well as a distaste for hostilities in any way.

Holding the young black under one arm, Willem galloped after the cattle,
that, with the aid of the others, in less than an hour, were driven up
to the kraal. The only one missing was the ox whose hide had been seen
upon the hut. The child was delivered over to the chief. Swartboy
explained to him the circumstances under which it had been found; and at
Willem's request advised the Bechuanas never again to molest the
property of other people. To the surprise of our adventurers, not only
the chief but several of his elders loudly declared that they knew
nothing whatever of the cattle, or the women found in charge of them;
but, while they were thus talking, the two Makololo pointed out the men
who were loudest in declaring their ignorance, as the very ones who had
driven the animals away!

To escape from the discordant clamour of their tongues, the hunters
turned hastily away, taking their cattle along with them.

Hendrik and Arend felt some inclination to punish the blacks for their
treachery, as well as the loss of time and the trouble they had
occasioned. This, however, was forbidden by the great-hearted Willem,
who could no more blame the natives for what they had done than the bird
that picks up a worm upon its path.

"These poor creatures," said he, "know no better. They have never been
taught the precepts of religion; and to them right and wrong are almost
the same thing. Leave them to learn a