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。 We determined that it would be better to travel at night； as there would be less fear of the wild beasts； or of being seen； so we went fast asleep for many hours。 Towards the evening； we found water for the horses； and then we fed them again； and proceeded on our journey。 I won't tell what passed every day for a fortnight； by which time we had pretty well killed our horses； and we were compelled to stop among a tribe of Gorraguas； a very mild； inoffensive people； who supplied us with milk； and treated us very kindly。 We had some adventures； nevertheless。 One day as we were passing by a tuft of small trees； a rhinoceros charged upon my horse； which very narrowly escaped by wheeling short round and getting behind him； the beast then made off without meddling with us any more。 Every day we used to shoot some animal or other； for provision： sometimes it was a gnu； something between an antelope and a bull； at other times it was one of the antelope kind。
〃Well； we stayed for three weeks with these people； and gave our horses time to refresh themselves； and then we set off again； keeping more towards the coast as we went southward； for the Gorraguas told us that there was a fierce native tribe； called Kaffers； to the northward； who would certainly kill us if we went there。 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。 Our horses； which were frightened； wheeled round and fled； for the animal was evidently about to attack us。 As it was； he did make one bound in our direction； we could not pull up until we had gone half a mile； and when we did； we saw the lion had torn down the horse which Romer had ridden； and was dragging away the carcass to the right at a sort of a canter； without any apparent effort on his part。 We waited till he was well off； and then rode back to the spot where Romer had fallen： we soon found him； but he was quite dead； the blow with the lion's paw had fractured his skull。
〃I ought to have said that the Gorraguas told us not to travel by night； but by day； and we had done so in consequence of their advice。 I believe it was very good advice； notwithstanding this unfortunate accident； for we found that when we had travelled all night the lions had more than once followed us the whole time； and indeed I have often thought since that we were altogether indebted to his mercy who ordereth all things； both in heaven and earth； that we escaped so well as we did。 Three days after poor Romer's death we first saw the wide ocean again。 We kept near the coast； but we soon found that we could not obtain the supply of game； or fuel for our fires at night； so well as we could in the interior； and we agreed to get away from the coast again。 We had a dreary plain to pass over； and we were quite faint for want of food … for we had been without any for nearly two days … when we came upon an ostrich。 Hastings put his horse to his speed； but it was of no use … the ostrich ran much faster than the horse could。 I remained behind； and； to my great joy； discovered his nest； with thirteen large eggs in it。 Hastings soon came back； with his horse panting and out of wind。 We sat down； lighted a fire； and roasted two of the eggs： we made a good dinner of them； and having put four more on our saddle…bows； we continued our journey。 At last； one forenoon； we saw the Table Mountain； and were as glad to see it as if we had seen the white cliffs of Old England。 We pushed on our horses with the hopes of being once more comfortably in prison before night； when； as we neared the bay； we noticed that English colours were flying on board of the vessels in the road。 This surprised us very much； but soon after that we met an English soldier； who told us that the Cape had been taken by our forces more than six months ago。 This was a joyful surprise； as you may suppose。 We rode into the town； and reported ourselves to the main guard； the governor sent for us； heard our story； and sent us to the admiral； who took us on board of his own ship。〃
Chapter XXXIX
The next morning； as there was no particular work on hand； Ready and Mr。 Seagrave took the lines to add to the stock of the fish…pond。 As the weather was fine and cool； William accompanied them； that he might have the benefit of the fresh air。 As they passed the garden； they observed that the seeds sown had already sprung up an inch or two above the ground； and that； apparently none of them had missed。 While Ready and Mr。 Seagrave were fishing； and William sitting near them； William said to his father
〃Many of the islands near us are inhabited； are they not； papa？〃
〃Yes； but not those very near us； I believe。 At all events； I never heard any voyagers mention having seen inhabitants on the isles near which we suppose the one we are on to be。〃
〃What sort of people are the islanders in these seas？〃
〃They are various。 The New Zealanders are the most advanced in civilization。 The natives of Van Diemen's Land and Australia are some portions of them of a very degraded class … indeed； little better than the beasts of the field。〃
〃I have seen them；〃 said Ready； 〃and I think I can mention a people； not very numerous indeed； who are still more like the beasts of the field。 I saw them once； and； at first； thought they were animals； and not human beings。〃
〃Indeed； Ready； where may that be？〃
〃In the Great Andaman Isles； at the mouth of the Bay of Bengal。 I once anchored in distress in Port Cornwallis； and the morning after we anchored； we saw some black things going upon all fours under the trees that came down to the water's edge。 We got the telescope； and perceived then that they were men and women； for they stood upright。〃
〃Did you ever come into contact with them？〃
〃No； sir； I did not； but I met； at Calcutta； a soldier who had； for at one time the East India Company intended making a settlement on the island； and sent some troops there。 He said that they caught two of them； that they were not more than four feet high； excessively stupid and shy； they had no houses or huts to live in； and all that they did was to pile up some bushes to keep the wind off。〃
〃Had they any arms？〃
〃Yes； sir； they had bows and arrows； but so miserably made； and so small； that they could not kill anything but very small birds。〃
〃Where did the people come from who inhabited these islands； papa？〃
〃That is difficult to say； William； but it is supposed that they have become inhabited in much the same way as this our island has been … that is； by people in canoes or boats driven out to sea； and saving their lives by effecting a landing； as we have done。〃
〃I believe that's the truth；〃 replied Ready； 〃I heard say that the Andaman Isles were supposed to have been first inhabited by a slaver full of negroes； who were wrecked on the coast in a typhoon。〃
〃What is a typhoon； Ready？〃
〃It is much the same as a hurricane； William； it comes on in India at the change of the monsoons。〃
〃But what are monsoons？〃
〃Winds that blow regular from one quarter so many months during the year； and then change round and blow from another just as long。〃
〃And what are the trade…winds； which I heard poor Captain Osborn talking about after we left Madeira？〃
〃The trade…winds blow on the equator； and several degrees north and south of it； from the east to the west； following the course of the sun。〃
〃Is it the sun which produces these winds？〃
〃Yes； the extreme heat of the sun between the tropics rarefies the air as the earth turns round； and the trade…winds are produced by the rushing in of the less heated air。〃
〃Yes； William； and the trade…winds produce what they call the Gulf Stream；〃 observed Ready。
〃How is that？ I have heard it spoken of； papa。〃
〃The winds； constantly following the sun across the Atlantic Ocean； and blowing from east to west； have great effect upon the sea； which is forced up into the Gulf of Mexico （where it is stopped by the shores of America）； so that it is many feet higher in the Gulf than in the eastern part of the Atlantic。 This accumulation of water must of course find a vent somewhere； and it does in what is called th