There was also another reason why he persuaded us to go to the
Table Mountain, which was, that as soon as our escape was found out,
they would send parties to look for us; thinking, of course, that we
had made for the interior; and we should have less chance of being
retaken if we travelled after the first search was over. The soldiers
had told us of the lions, and other wild animals, and how dangerous it
was to travel, and Hastings said, that not finding us, they would
suppose we had been destroyed by the wild beasts, and would not look
for us any more."
"Foolish indeed," observed Mrs. Seagrave, "to set off you knew not
where, in a country full of wild beasts and savages."
"True enough, madam," replied Ready. "We ran at first until we were out
of breath, and then we walked on as fast as we could - not going right
up the mountain, but keeping a slanting direction to the south-west, so
as to get away from the town, and more towards False Bay.
"We had walked about four hours, and began to feel very tired, when the
day dawned, and then we looked out for a place to conceal ourselves in.
We soon found a cave with a narrow entrance, large enough inside to
hold half-a-dozen of such lads as we were, and we crawled in.
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