by the light of the fires still burning,
they all burst out laughing so excessively that they could not help him.

That it was the work of little Omrah there was no doubt, for Big Adam
had not forgotten the former trick the boy had played him, and had more
than once, when he caught the boy, given him a good cuffing. Big Adam
was on the ground, dragged away by two of the largest dogs. Omrah had
taken the bones he could find with most flesh upon them belonging to the
hippopotamus, and had tied them with leathern thongs to the great toes
of Big Adam as he lay snoring after his unusual repast. He had then
waited till all were asleep, and had let loose the two largest dogs,
which were always tied with the others under the wagons, and not
over-fed, to make them more watchful.

The dogs had prowled about for food, and had fallen in with these large
bones, which they immediately seized, and were dragging away, that they
might make their repast without interruption; but in attempting to drag
away the bones, they had dragged Big Adam some yards by his great toes,
and the pain and fright--for the Hottentot thought they were hyenas or
wolves--had caused him thus to scream for help. Bremen divided the
thongs with his knife, and the dogs ran off growling with the bones, and
Adam stood again upon his feet, still so much terrified as not to be
able to comprehend the trick which had been played him. Our travelers,
having indulged their mirth, retired once more to their resting-places.
The Major found Omrah and Begum both in their corners of the wagon, the
former pretending to be fast asleep, while the latter was chattering and
swearing at the unusual disturbance.

At daylight next morning they resumed their journey. Big Adam walked
rather stiff, and looked very sulky. Omrah had perched himself on a tilt
of the baggage-wagon with Begum, and was quite out of the Hottentot's
reach; for Bremen had told the others what had happened, and there had
been a general laugh against Big Adam, who vowed vengeance against
little Omrah. The country was now very beautiful and fertile, and the
Caffre hamlets were to be seen in all directions. Except visits from the
Caffres, who behaved with great decorum when they perceived that the
caravan was escorted by the king's warriors, and who supplied them
nearly every day with a bullock for the use of the people, no adventure
occurred for four days, when they crossed the Bashee or St. John's
River, to which t