Part 61 (1/2)

It caht his eyes swept the surface of the surrounding country The party had by chance halted on an eood view for lanced half around the circle, when an object caladness to his heart It was the white tent of the wagon!

The joyful excla to their feet; and all three stood gazing at the welcoradually gave place to feelings of surprise Was it their wagon, after all?

It certainly looked like theirs; but it was a full half-on would look just like another But what led the theirs? It was the appearance of the place in which they saw it Surely it was not the same place in which they had outspanned!

Theirs had been left in an oblong valley between two gentle ridges--in such a valley was this one standing Near a pool for--here, too, was the sa But in all other respects the situation was different The surface of the valley in which their wagon had been left was covered, both sides and bottorass; whereas the one now before their eyes was brown and bare! Not a blade of grass was to be seen--the trees sees that had any verdure Even the low bushes appeared to be destitute of leaves! The scene had no resemblance whatever to that where they had outspanned It ht they

They had fully arrived at this conclusion, when Swartboy, whose eyes had been rolling about everywhere, now rested upon the ground at his feet

After a ht now enabled him to make--he turned suddenly to the others, and directed their attention to the surface of the plain This they saas covered with tracks, as if a thousand hoofs had passed over it In fact, it presented the appearance of a vast sheep-pen; so vast, that as far as their sight extended, they beheld the same tracked and trampled appearance!

What could this mean? Hendrik did not know Von Bloolance It was no new sight to hi up in hisan vley--da same place--dar hab been um trek-boken!”

”A trek-boken!” cried Von Bloo one too; das da spoor of dem antelope--See!”

Von Bloom now comprehended all The bareness of the country, the absence of the leaves on the lower bushes, the ration of the springbok antelope, a ”trek-boken,” had swept over the spot That it was that had caused such a on they saas theirs, after all

They lost no ti their horses, bridled theh soon, Von Bloom was still apprehensive

As they approached, they perceived the two horses standing beside it, and tied to the wheels, the cow also was there--but neither goats nor sheep were in the neighbourhood

There was a fire burning in the rear of the hind-wheels, and a dark on, but no human form could be observed

The hearts of the horsemen beat loudly as they advanced Their eyes were bent earnestly upon the wagon They felt keen anxiety

They had got within three hundred yards, and still no one stirred--no human form made its appearance Von Bloom and Hendrik now suffered intensely

At this hed loudly; the dark on moved, rolled outward, rose up, and stood erect Totty was recognised!

And now the ”after-clap” of the wagon was hurriedly drawn aside, and three young faces were seen peeping forth

A shout of joy burst from the horsemen, and the next moment little Jan and Truey leaped out from the cap-tent into the arratulations of Hans and Hendrik, Swartboy and Totty, produced for some moments a scene of joyful confusion quite indescribable

CHAPTER XIII

THE TREK-BOKEN