Further out of the town were to be seen tents pitched by the emigrants, who had provided themselves with such necessaries before they had quitted England, and who were bivouacking like so many gipsies, independent of lodgings and their attendant expenses, and cooking their own provisions in kettles or frying-pans. As Alexander perceived the latter, he said, “At all events, we have found lodgings now; I never thought of that.”
“How do you mean?”
“I have two tents in the luggage I brought from Cape Town; we must get them on shore, and do as these people have done.”
“Bravo! I am glad to hear that,” replied Major Henderson; “anything better than remaining on board to be nibbled by the cockroaches. Shall we return at once?”
“By all means,” said Mr Swinton; “we have but to get our mattresses and a few other articles.”
“Leave my man to do all that,” said the Major; “he is used to it. In India we almost live in tents when up the country. But here comes one that I should know;—Maxwell, I believe?”
“Even so, my dear Henderson,” replied the military officer who had been thus addressed; “why, what brought you here?—surely you are not a settler?”
“No; I am here because I am not a settler,” replied Henderson, laughing; “I am always on the move; I am merely on my way with my two friends here to shoot a hippopotamus. Allow me to introduce Mr Wilmot and Mr Swinton. But I see you are on duty; are you in the fort?”
“Yes; I came from Somerset about a month back. Can I be of any use to you?”
“That depends on circumstances; we are now going on board for our tents, to pitch them on the hill there, as we can get no lodgings.”