with us for five or six days. We tried by signs to inquire of them, if
there were any Dutch settlement about there; and they understood us, and
said that there was, in a direction which they pointed out to us, to the
north-east. We offered them a present if they would show us the way.
Two of the men agreed to go with us; the rest of the tribe, with the
women and children, went southward. The next day we arrived at a Dutch
settlement of three or four farmhouses, called Graaff Reinet; but I must
leave off now, for it is past bed-time."

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

The construction of the fish-pond proceeded rapidly, and on the third
day it was nearly complete. As soon as all the walls were finished,
Ready threw out sand and shingle, so as to make the part next to the
beach nearly as deep as the other; so that there might be sufficient
water to prevent the gulls and man-of-war birds from darting down, and
striking the fish. While Ready was thus employed, Mr Seagrave and
William collected more rocks, so as to divide the pond into four parts,
at the same time allowing a communication between each part. These
inside walls, as well as the outside, were made of sufficient width to
walk upon; by which means they would have all the fish within reach of
the spear, in case they wished to take them out. The day after the pond
was completed the weather changed. The rain poured down with great
force, but it was not accompanied with such terrific thunder and
lightning, nor were the storms of so long continuance, as at the
commencement of the rainy season. In the intervals of fine weather they
caught a great many fish, which they put into the pond, so that it was
well stocked. But a circumstance occurred, which was the occasion of
great alarm to them all; which was, that one evening William was taken
with a shivering, and complained very much of a pain in his head. Ready
had promised to continue his narrative on that evening, but William was
too ill to sit up. He was put into bed, and the next morning he was in
a violent fever. Mr Seagrave was much alarmed, as the symptoms were
worse every hour; and Ready, who had sat up with him during the night,
called Mr Seagrave out of the house, and said, "This is a bad case,
sir: William was working yesterday with his hat off, and I fear that he
has been struck by the sun."

The poor boy was for many days in great danger; and the cheerful house
was now one of gloom and silence. Ho