“What animal was that which has frightened them off?” said the Major.

“It was the growl of a leopard,” replied Swinton; “we must keep a sharp look-out; it can’t be far off.  The leopard is the great enemy of the baboons.  But where is Omrah?”

They all looked round, but the boy was not to be seen.  At last he showed his head above the foot of the rocky hill, where there was a descent of four feet, as we have mentioned, then sprang up the rock, and began capering, and imitating the baboons as they came on to the attack.

As they were laughing at him, all at once he stopped, and putting his hands to his mouth he gave the growl and roar of a leopard, which they had heard, and then set off running away baboon fashion.

“It was the Bushman, then, that frightened them off; he is a clever little fellow.”

“And I am not sure that he has not saved our lives,” replied Swinton; “but he has been brought up among them, one may say, and knows their habits well.  If he had not hid himself below the rocks before he imitated the leopard, it would have been of no use, for they would not have been frightened, hearing the growl proceeding from him.  I admire the boy’s presence of mind.”

“I thought at one time that the baboons had an idea that Omrah was one of them.  What a snatch they made at him!”

“It would not have been the first time that these animals have carried off a boy,” said Swinton; “I saw one at Latakoo, who had lived two years with the baboons, which had carried him off.”

“How did they treat him?”

“Very well indeed; but they kept him a prisoner.  When they found that he would not eat the coarse food which they did, they brought him other things; and they invariably allowed him to drink first at the pools.”

“Well, that was homage to our superiority.  Confound their quahs, I shall not get them out of my head for a week.  What terrible large tusks they have!”

“Yes, their incisors are very strong.  They often destroy the leopard when they meet it in numbers; but if one happens to be away from the herd, he has, of course, no chance with such an animal.  Begum did not appear at all willing to renew her connection.”

“None of the monkey tribe, after they have lived with man, ever are; indeed it is a question, if they had taken possession of her, whether they would not have torn her to pieces immediately, or have worried her to death some way or other.”

“Well, at all events, Swinton, you have been rewarded for your kindness to that poor little Bushman, and we have reaped the benefit of it,” observed Alexander.  “But here come some of the oxen; I hope we shall be able to start early on Monday.  The native Caffres say that the wagons can not proceed much further.”

“No, not further than to the banks of the Umtata River:  but you will then be not a great way from your destination.  Daaka is the chief’s name, is it not?”