Frankfort watched the race--for such it seemed--with some anxiety, for it called forth equal strength and courage on the part of both the swimmers. Ormsby laughed heartily at the "dodges" each took to circumvent the other, when suddenly, as if caught by the current, Zoonah was whirled round and round, sunk, rose again, keeping his burden safe supported by one hand, and in another moment struck boldly out with the right arm and vanished, to the horror of Frankfort, who gave him up for lost, and the dismay of Ormsby, who had seen Zoonah pack many articles of which he stood in need. May swam gravely on, paying little heed, beyond a grin, at Zoonah's disappearance; and even Frankfort reproached him severely for triumphing, as he believed, in his own sagacity, at Ormsby's expense. "I told the sir," said the bushman, when he recovered breath on landing, "that Zoonah was thief as well as liar, but Master Ormsby only laughed." "You should not have intrusted him with a package of such value to us just now," said Frankfort. "I obey Master Ormsby," answered May, beginning to shiver. "Go and get some dry clothing on you," said Frankfort; and May rose to do as he was bid, first laying the package, untouched by wet, at Ormsby's feet. The latter kicked it from him with an oath. "It is all right, sir," said the bushman, patiently lifting it up again; "all your powder and other things quite safe. I let Zoonah pack 'em up, but changed the bags, while Fitje gave him his sopie; he's got a lot of rubbish packed up in the other. I thought it best to let him go. I knew he would, as soon as he thought he had got something worth taking. Ah! the schelm, he'll swim for the next hour. I should like to see him open his prize;" and Frankfort and Ormsby laughed as heartily as May himself. On, still on. Each succeeding day drew our travellers far from the settlements of the English colonists, and Ormsby, by degrees, began to try and reconcile himself to an expedition from which there was no fair means of retreating. Soon the broad and refreshing waters of the glorious Orange River, lying in lake-like beauty between its richly-wooded borders--the graceful shelter of the fine trees that grew luxuriantly near its banks--the murmuring sound of distant falls--the delicious lounge on the smooth turf, selected as the halting-place for at least a week, that horses and cattle, as well as men, might repose, were all enchanting to our sportsmen, to whom the scene was as new as agreeable. The Orange River forded, our sportsmen at length looked down upon the "happy hunting-grounds." But it was not now as in the time when Mr Trail rescued May from the dwellings in the rocks.