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he same； but still you must not forget that they all may have perished； although we have been so mercifully preserved。 We must put our trust in God； sir。〃
〃We must； Ready； and if it is his will； we must not murmur。 I have schooled myself as much as possible； but thoughts will come in spite of my endeavours to restrain them。〃
〃Of course they will； sir； that's natural： however； sir； you must hope for the best； fretting is no good； and it is sinful。〃
〃I feel it is； Ready； and when I see how patient； and even happy； my wife is under such privations； I am angry with myself。〃
〃A woman； sir； bears adversity better than a man。 A woman is all love； and if she has but her husband and children with her； and in good health； she will make herself happy almost anywhere： but men are different： they cannot bear being shut out of the world as you are now。〃
〃It is our ambition which makes us unhappy； Ready；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃but let us say no more about it： God must dispose of me as he thinks fit。〃
After supper； Ready； being requested by William； continued his narrative。
〃I left off； if I recollect right； William； just as the Hottentot； with the cattle under his care； had frightened away the baboons who were tormenting us。 Well； we came out of the cave and sat down under the rock； so that the Hottentot could not see us； and we had a sort of council of war。 Romer was for going back and giving ourselves up again； for he said it was ridiculous to be wandering about without any arms to defend ourselves against wild beasts； and that we might fall in with something worse than the baboons very soon； and he was right。 It would have been the wisest thing which we could have done； but Hastings said； that if we went back we should be laughed at； and the idea of being laughed at made us all agree that we would not。 Bear this in mind； William； and never let the fear of ridicule induce you to do what is wrong； or if you have done wrong； prevent you from returning to what is your duty。〃
〃Many thanks for your advice； Ready； I hope William will not forget it；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。
〃Well； sir； such was our reason for not giving up our mad scheme； and having so decided； the next point of consultation between us was； how we were to procure arms and ammunition； which we could not do without。 As we were talking this over； I peeped from behind the rock to see where the Hottentot might be； I perceived that he had laid himself down； and wrapped himself up in his kross； a mantle of sheep…skins which they always wear。 Now we had observed that he carried his musket in his hand； when we first saw him； as the Hottentots always go out armed； and I pointed out to Hastings and Romer that if he was asleep； we might get possession of his musket without his perceiving it。 This was a good idea； and Hastings said he would crawl to him on his hands and knees； while we remained behind the rock。 He did so very cautiously； and found the man's head covered up in his kross and fast asleep； so there was no fear； for the Hottentots are very hard to wake at any time； that we knew well。 Hastings first took the musket and carried it away out of the reach of the Hottentot； and then he returned to him； cut the leather thong which slung his powder…horn and ammunition； and retreated with all of them without disturbing the man from his sleep。 We were quite overjoyed at this piece of good luck； and determined to walk very cautiously some distance from where the Hottentot lay； that in case he awoke he should not see us。 Keeping our eyes about in every direction； lest we should meet with anybody else； we proceeded nearly a mile towards Table Bay； when we fell in with a stream of water。 This was another happy discovery； for we were very thirsty； so we concealed ourselves near the stream after we had quenched our thirst； and made a dinner off the provisions we had brought with us。〃
〃But； Ready； did you not do wrong to steal the Hottentot's musket？〃
〃No； William； in that instance it could not be considered as a theft。 We were in an enemy's country； trying to escape； we were therefore just as much at war with the country as we were when they took us prisoners； and we no more stole the musket than they could be said to have stolen our ship。 Am I not right； Mr。 Seagrave？〃
〃I believe you are justified in what may seem extreme acts for the recovery of your liberty； after you have been made prisoners。 It has always been so considered。〃
〃Well； sir； to go on： we waited till dusk； and then we continued our march towards False Bay as fast as we could。 We knew that there were farmers down in the valley； or rather on the sides of the hills； and we hoped to obtain； by some means or other； two more muskets。 It was near twelve o'clock at night； with a bright moon； when we had a sight of the water in False Bay； and soon afterwards we heard the baying of a large dog； and not far from us we distinguished two or three farmhouses； with their cattle…folds and orchards。 We then looked for a hiding…place； where we might remain till the morning； we found one between some large pieces of rock。 We agreed that one should watch while the other two slept； this Hastings undertook to do； as he was not inclined to sleep。 At daylight he woke Romer and me； and we made our breakfast。 From the place we were concealed in； we had a bird's…eye view of the farmhouse； and of what was going on。
〃The farmhouse and buildings just below us were much smaller than the other two； which were more distant。 We watched the people as they went about。 In about an hour the Hottentots came out； and we perceived that they were yoking the oxen to the waggon； they yoked twelve pair； and then the Hottentot driver got in and drove off towards Cape Town。 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。 We crept down the hill； and gained the fence； which was at the back of the farmhouse； without being discovered： we remained there for about a quarter of an hour； when； to our great joy； we observed the farmer's wife go o