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had a wife and five children … lived upon mutton and the flesh of the antelope； which is very excellent eating。 We asked him to allow us a gun to procure better food； and he kicked Romer so unmercifully； that he could not work for two days afterwards。 Our lives became quite a burden to us； we were employed all day on the farm； and every day he was more brutal towards us。 At last we agreed that we would stand it no longer； and one evening Hastings told him so。 This put him into a great rage； and he called two of the slaves； and ordered them to tie him to the waggon wheel； swearing that he would cut every bit of skin off his body； and he went into his house to get his whip。 The slaves had hold of Hastings； and were tying him up； for they dared not disobey their master； when he said to us； ‘If I am flogged this way； it will be all over with us。 Now's your time； run back behind the house； and when he comes out with the whip； do you go in and seize the muskets； which are always ready loaded。 Hold him at bay till I get clear； and then we will get away somehow or other。 You must do it； for I am sure he will flog me till I am dead； and he will shoot you； as runaway prisoners； as he did his two Hottentots the other day。' As Romer and I thought this very probable； we did as Hastings told us； and when the Dutchman had gone towards him where he was tied up； about fifty yards from the house； we went in。 The farmer's wife was in bed； having just had an addition to her family； and the children we cared not for。 We seized two muskets and a large knife； and came out just as the Dutchman had struck the first blow with the rhinoceros whip； which was so severe； that it took away poor Hastings' breath。 We went up； he turned round and saw us： we levelled our muskets at him； and he stopped。 ‘Another blow； and we'll shoot you；' cried Romer。 ‘Yes；' cried I； ‘we are only boys； but you've Englishmen to deal with。' When we came up； Romer kept his piece levelled at the Dutchman； while I passed him； and with the knife cut the thongs which bound Hastings。 The Dutchman turned pale and did not speak； he was so frightened； and the slaves ran away。 As soon as Hastings was free； he seized a large wooden mallet； used for driving in stakes； and struck the Dutchman down to the earth； crying out； ‘That for flogging an Englishman； you rascal！'
〃While the man lay senseless or dead … I didn't know which at the time … we tied him to the waggon wheels； and returning to the house； seized some ammunition and other articles which might be useful。 We then went to the stables； and took the three best horses which the Dutchman had； put some corn in a sack for each of them； took some cord for halters； mounted； and rode away as fast as we could。 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。 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 nigh