About two hours after noon
`` We watched for another hour , and then the farmer himself made his appearance , with a pipe in his mouth , and sat down on a bench . When his pipe was out , he called to the house , and a Hottentot woman came to him with more tobacco and a light . During the whole of the day we did not see any other people about the house , so we concluded that there were no more than the farmer , his wife , the Hottentot woman , and two children . About two hours after noon the farmer went to the stable and led out his horse , mounted , mid rode away ; we saw him speak to the Hottentot woman when he rode off , and she soon after went down the valley with a basket on her head , and a long knife in her hand . Then Hastings said it was time that we moved , for there was but one woman in the house , and we could easily overpower her and get what we wanted ; still there was a great risk , as she might give the alarm , and we should have to escape in the day-time , and might be seen and taken prisoners again . However , as it was our only chance , we resolved to go down to the farmhouse very cautiously , and be all ready to seize any opportunity . We crept down the hill , and gained the fence , which was at the back of the farmhouse , without being discovered : we remained there for about a quarter of an hour , when , to our great joy , we observed the farmer 's wife go out of the house , leading a child in each hand ; apparently she was going to visit one of her neighbours , for she went in the direction of one of the other farms .