Soon
after that, another Hottentot drove the cows up the valley to feed; and
then a Dutch woman came out of the house with two children, and fed the
poultry.
"We watched for another hour, and then the farmer himself made his
appearance, with a pipe in his mouth, and sat down on a bench. When his
pipe was out, he called to the house, and a Hottentot woman came to him
with more tobacco and a light. During the whole of the day we did not
see any other people about the house, so we concluded that there were
no more than the farmer, his wife, the Hottentot woman, and two
children. About two hours after noon the farmer went to the stable and
led out his horse, mounted, mid rode away; we saw him speak to the
Hottentot woman when he rode off, and she soon after went down the
valley with a basket on her head, and a long knife in her hand. Then
Hastings said it was time that we moved, for there was but one woman in
the house, and we could easily overpower her and get what we wanted;
still there was a great risk, as she might give the alarm, and we
should have to escape in the day-time, and might be seen and taken
prisoners again. However, as it was our only chance, we resolved to go
down to the farmhouse very cautiously, and be all ready to seize any
opportunity.
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