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e free, so stretch your limbs, and be ready for a battle for life and freedom." "What is your plan, Hans?" said Victor; "let us hear." "It is not my plan; it is Katrine's information. That ball of clay that the girl threw contained a roll of paper from Katrine. This is what she says:-- "`An hour after sundown, there will not be a man in the kraal, only six boys to watch you and two old women to watch us. Free your arms and make your escape; then your guns are in the chief's hut, the one with the large ox-horns over the doorway, the horses are in the kraal next the cow's kraal: we will be ready. The girl who takes this I have won by presents. I leave to you, Hans, the plan: you may depend I tell you truth; I have learned all this from the girl.'" "And that was in the clay ball," exclaimed Victor. "Ah, Bernhard, we are but stupid hands on the spoor. Hans, after all, is the born leader. What made you think there was any thing in the ball, Hans?" "I did not think the girl looked cruel," replied Hans, "and she seemed acting a part as I looked at her." "Let us make our plans now. What do you propose, Hans?" inquired Victor. "We will try my plan first, if that fail we will just rush out and drive off the boys, and so escape. I must find out where the men are all going to, for it depends on that where we ride to. Our horses may not be very fit for a journey, however, and as we shall certainly be followed, and our spoor will be as plain as a waggon-track, we must take care; for once again captured, we shall never have another chance. Ah, here comes the girl again." The Matabili girl again came to the door, and with a loud laugh threw in a handful of dirt which she had appeared to pick up from the cattle-kraal near. Amidst this heap was another lump of clay, from which Hans drew a piece of paper, and read, "I can give you no other weapons than three assagies, these will be pushed through your hut soon after sunset; look out for them and draw them in rapidly, so as not to be seen. We must first ride _north_. God help us!" "Katrine is better than gold," exclaimed Victor, "and I for one am glad to be, running this risk for her, and will readily die without complaint, if need be. She will be a fit wife for you, Hans." A gratified smile passed over Hans' face as he heard Katrine thus spoken of; but being more disposed to discuss with his companions any other subject than the merits of his beloved K
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