Of
course, we had other subjects in common, especially those connected
with Retief's massacre, whereof we were the only two survivors, but of
these I seldom cared to speak. They were and still remain too painful.
Therefore, for my part I was thankful when at last, in Zululand, we
fell in with some traders whom I knew, who hired us one of their
wagons. In this vehicle, abandoning the worn-out donkeys and the white
ox, which we presented to a chief of my acquaintance, Brother John and
the ladies proceeded to Durban, Stephen attending them on a horse that
we had bought, while I, with Hans, attached myself to the traders.
At Durban a surprise awaited us since, as we trekked into the town,
which at that time was still a small place, whom should we meet but
Sir Alexander Somers, who, hearing that wagons were coming from
Zululand, had ridden out in the hope of obtaining news of us. It
seemed that the choleric old gentleman's anxiety concerning his son
had so weighed on his mind that at length he made up his mind to
proceed to Africa to hunt for him.
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