Of this we served out an ample supply together with salt, and soon the cooking pots were full of porridge.

My word! how those poor creatures did eat, nor, although it was necessary to be careful, could we find it in our hearts to stint them of the first full meal that had passed their lips after weeks of starvation.

When at length they were satisfied we addressed them, thanking them for their bravery, telling them that they were free and asking what they meant to do.
Upon this point they seemed to have but one idea.

They said that they would come with us who were their protectors.

Then followed a great _indaba_, or consultation, which really I have not time to set out.
The end of it was that we agreed that so many of them as wished should accompany us till they reached country that they knew, when they would be at liberty to depart to their own homes.