is oryx, and I had no
wish to leave it for them, or I might have been here sooner; but there
is time to get ready, if we are sharp about it."

Stanley, on hearing this, was in his element. He immediately ordered
out all hands to cut down the smaller trees from the group I spoke of,
to form palisades. The waggons and carts were placed on one side, while
palisades were fixed all round, and strong cross-beams secured to them.
This done, we set to work to throw up an embankment, which, with the
light sand, was easily accomplished, the upright posts keeping it in its
place. We thus, in a wonderfully short time, had a little fortress
which might have stood a siege against men armed with muskets. As we
hoped our expected assailants had no firearms among them, we felt no
apprehension as to the result. The chief danger was that they might try
to starve us out, which there was a possibility of their doing should
they persevere in surrounding us. We were working away till long after
dark by the light of our fires. Scouts were sent out, but came back
after some time stating that they could see nothing of the enemy. At
length Stanley expressed his belief that Donald had been mistaken; at
which our friend bristled up. No, he was certain he had seen an army of
blacks; probably, however, when they caught sight of him, they might
have thought better of the matter.

"But perhaps they were merely on a hunting expedition," said David, "or
collecting water-melons."

"They were keeping too close together for hunting; and as they were
following in our track, they would have found neither water-melons nor
water-roots," answered Donald. "Do not be too sure that they will not
come yet. These people, as I fancy you have experienced, like to take
their enemies by surprise; and they will not come on in broad daylight
with tom-toms and shouts, depend on that. It would be well that those
who have the morning watch should keep a bright look-out, or we may be
attacked when we least expect it."

Donald's advice was not thrown away on me. I had just relieved Stanley,
who had taken what would at sea be called the middle watch, Jack and
Timbo being my companions. The night was perfectly still. I could hear
the low muttering of lions in the far distance, with an occasional roar
as some other creature approached to dispute their prey with them. Now
and then the trumpeting of elephants reached me, probably on their way
to some distant foun