he fertile plains south of the
Quathlamba Mountains, and near the Bay of Natal. He was induced to take
this step in consequence of the reports which he had received from some
connexions who had just previously started from Uitenhage and had joined
a small party of English at the Bay of Natal.

Finding these dissensions going on, Hans placed Katrine under the charge
of an aunt, and placed himself at the disposal of those whom he
considered fitted to rule the affairs of the emigrants.

"As soon as things are settled, Katie," he said, "when we have decided
where we are to rest, I will build a house, and we will marry; but I
doubt if I should be as ready for the trek and for fighting if I left
you a young wife behind, as if I left you free; and so we will wait."

The winter passed away, and towards the spring intelligence reached the
Boers' encampment that the Matabili, having heard of their enemy's
preparation for an attack, had driven all their cattle far into the
interior, and had themselves withdrawn so far that to pursue them would
neither be a wise nor a profitable proceeding. Thus the proposed
expedition against the Matabili was given up, and the whole attention of
the emigrants directed to emigrating to Natal A general movement of the
camp was immediately commenced, and Hans, attaching himself, with his
two companions Victor and Bernhard, to the waggons of Katrine and her
relatives, followed the leaders, who started for the long and
adventurous journey to the south-east.

During many weeks the emigrants journeyed on, following the track of
Retief and his party, who had found a means of passing through the
Quathlamba Mountains with their waggons, and in reaching the fertile
plains beyond. Here, on the banks of the Bushmen's river, Hans, with a
large party of his connexions, decided to halt. The country was well
watered and fertile, the climate all that could be wished, and abundance
of pasturage for the cattle; thus seeming to possess all those
qualifications which the emigrants had sought for when they started on
their expedition from the old colony of the Cape.

"We may rest here in peace," said Hans to his two friends. "We shall
not have English interference; we have plenty of grazing-ground; there
are enough of us to prevent any enemy from attacking us; there are
plains under the mountains on which we can hunt elands when we choose,
and we can cultivate our land with no fear of having to leave our farms