The fact is, we did not know
what to do. We had left the Cape without any exact idea where we should
go to, like foolish boys as we were, and we became more entangled with
difficulties every day. At last we decided that it would be better to
find our way back to the Cape, and deliver ourselves up as prisoners,
for we were tired out with fatigue and constant danger. All that we
were afraid of was that we had killed the Dutch farmer at Graaff
Reinet, who had treated us so brutally; but Hastings said he did not
care; that was his business, and he would take his chance: so when we
bade adieu to the Gorraguas, we turned our horses' heads to the
south-east, so as to make the sea and go to the southward at the same
time.
"I have now to mention a most melancholy event which occurred. Two days
after we had recommenced our travels, in passing through some high
grass, we stumbled on a lion, which was devouring a gnu. Romer, who
happened to be some ten yards foremost of the three, was so alarmed
that he fired at the animal, which we had agreed never to do, as it was
folly to enrage so powerful a beast, when our party was so small. The
lion was slightly wounded; he gave a roar that might have been heard
for a mile, sprang upon Romer, and with one blow of his paw knocked him
off the saddle into the bushes.
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