must have been. Still I have a plan which may
defeat them, if they think to trap us here. But look, Victor, with my
glass, and tell me, do my eyes deceive me; is not that white object near
that large kraal, a woman's dress? and is not that Katrine? But I
forget, _you_ would not recognise her so far off, though I can; but tell
me if it is not a white woman's dress and manner."
Victor took the telescope, and making a slight alteration in the focus,
directed it at the object indicated. After a very brief examination,
Victor said--
"That, Hans, is a white woman without doubt; and following her, I see
another and a smaller woman, who I think also is white."
Hans, who had been solely occupied in examining the first female figure,
had not observed the second; but now, taking the glass, he at once found
that Victor's observation was correct.
"I know now that must be Katrine, and her sister is behind her. I will
let her know I am here."
"How can you do that, Hans?" inquired Victor with surprise; "she is more
than a mile from us."
"I will show you, Victor; it is an old way of letting her know, that I
practised for months, and she is accustomed to it. See this!"
Hans took from his pocket a small looking-glass, which was protected in
a tin case; examining the direction of the sun, he then held the
hand-glass so that its flash should be cast towards the plains; this he
did very cautiously, having placed himself so that some leaves of a tree
served to guide him as to the direction in which the reflection should
be cast. As soon as he had made these preparations to his satisfaction,
he said--
"Now, Victor, rest the telescope on the branch of that tree, and tell me
what Katrine does."
Victor arranged the telescope as requested, whilst Hans slightly moved
his mirror, so as to cast the flash in the direction of Katrine. During
the first few minutes no effect seemed to result from Hans' performance.
Katrine was walking slowly over the plain, her head cast down as though
she were in deep thought, and looking neither to the right nor left.
Her sister was, when first seen by Victor, nearly a hundred yards behind
her; but shortly afterwards she ran to her elder sister and took her
hand. All this Victor saw with his telescope and described to Hans, who
still flashed the mirror in what he believed to be the right direction.
"Now they see it," exclaimed Victor. "The little one has seen it and
drags her sister roun
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