even in the most desperate circumstances.
You are back again, and I thank the Almighty for it with all my heart
and all my soul and all my strength, most fervently and most sincerely.
I have been very, very miserable, I can assure you, my dear fellows. The
idea of returning to the Cape without you was dreadful. Indeed, I never
would have left the country until I had found you, or had some clew to
your deaths."

"Our preservation has indeed been miraculous," replied the Major; "I
never thought to have raised my head out of the ant-hill again."

"Nor I," replied Alexander; "and next to the Almighty, we certainly owe
our lives to little Omrah. There is nothing that I would not do for that
boy, if you will only give him over to my care."

"Or mine, Swinton," replied the Major.

"Depend upon it," replied Swinton, "I will do all for him that ought to
be done; I owe him a debt of gratitude for preserving my friends, and
will not forget to repay it."

"Well then, you must allow us to help him as well," replied the Major.
"How far are we now from the Modder River?"

"About forty miles, I should think, and we had better push on as fast as
we, can; for although the river will contain water, the pools in the
desert between us and the river will soon be dried up. The cattle,
however, are still very weak, and, as I have stated, we have lost all
our relays. But you must long to have a good night's rest, so go to your
wagons, and we will watch and keep off the wild beasts. We have been
obliged to fire our guns all night long since your absence, and have
burned one of the spare poles of the wagons to cook our victuals."

Every thing is comparative. When our travelers first took up their
night's lodgings in the wagons they found their resting-places hard,
after sleeping in comfortable beds at Cape Town; but now, after having
passed their nights in the wild desert, their mattresses in the wagons
were a luxury that was fully appreciated. Returning thanks to Heaven for
their preservation, Alexander and the Major slept soundly till morning,
notwithstanding that the latter was often half roused by the
importunities of Begum, who appeared delighted at the return of her
master.

At daylight the oxen were yoked, and they proceeded on their journey.
There was no want of game; indeed they were so plentiful, that they shot
them from the caravan as they passed. At night they had made twenty-five
miles, and before they had unyoked, a deluge