As we knew that we should
be pursued, we first galloped away as if we were going eastward to the
Cape; and then, as soon as we were on ground which would not show the
tracks of our horses' hoofs, we turned round to the northward, in the
direction of the Bushman country. It was dark soon after we had altered
our course; but we travelled all night, and although we heard the
roaring of the lions at a distance, we met with no accident. At
daylight we rested our horses, and gave them some corn, and then sat
down to eat some of the provision we had brought with us."
"How long were you with the farmer at Graaff Reinet?"
"Nearly eight months, sir; and during that time we could not only speak
Dutch, but we could make ourselves understood by the Hottentots and
other natives. While we were eating we held a consultation how we
should proceed. We were aware that the Dutchmen would shoot us if they
came up with us, and that they would come out in strong force against
us; and we were afraid that we had killed the man, and if so, they
would hang us as soon as we got to the Cape; so we were at a great loss
to know how to act. At last we decided that we would cross the country
of the Bushmen, and get to the sea-side, to the northward of the Cape.
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