Where we camped was on the way to the river which Zolca and I had lately visited, and it struck me that I ought to show the captain the bay, as it might lead him to make a mistake if ever he visited the coast again. I proposed this to him, and he was well pleased at the idea. So we continued north, instead of returning home, having ample provisions with us. I promised the commander that, as we returned, we would go by way of the gold-mine.
The day was oppressively hot, and although no clouds were visible—nothing but a thick haze—a low and constant mutter of thunder seemed to rumble around us. We were all tired when we reached the river, and enjoyed a swim in a large pool which was in the bed just where we came on it.
After eating and resting we went on to the bay in which the river discharged itself.
The captain drew my attention to the clouds now gathering in the north-west; dark and sullen they looked, lit up every now and again by lurid flashes of lightning.
“We are going to have a gale,” said Hoogstraaten, “and I am glad that my ship is in safe quarters.”
I had heard from the natives that at times terrific winds blew from the north-west, but none of great magnitude had occurred during my residence with them.
As we stood on the beach, gazing at the bay, the captain, to my great surprise, burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Coming from a grave and serious man like my companion, I could scarcely believe my ears.
“Truly, Master Diedrich Buys,” he said at length, when he had exhausted his mirth, “I have found you out properly! You and your friends were, I verily believe, the mock Indians who opposed our landing when I examined this bay on our way south.”
I now knew the cause of his laughter, and joined heartily in it.
“Were you the officer in the boat?” I asked.