Part 19 (1/2)

”No, for we shall have no water to-night, that is certain We can not travel more than twentyhere and there to avoid the holes and ant-hills, the twenty miles will be at least thirty,” said Swinton; ”but now I o and tell the Hottentots to find me what I want: a pound of tobacco will procure it, I have no doubt”

”But I have one; ”we are too near the pool, and we shall be surrounded with lions to-night; the Hottentots o, but they will not”

”One can not well blame them; I'm sure a pound of tobacco would not persuade ree with you, we are too near the pool, and as we ht, I think we had better fill our water-kegs, and then yoke and take up a position for the night about half a ive us his advice”

As Swinton agreed with them, they yoked the oxen, and drove forward about a ons and lighted large fires round the caravan

The Major was correct as regarded the Hottentots' procuring an ant-eater for Swinton; they would not leave the fires, and the continual approach of the lions during the night proved that they ise in so doing

There was no occasion for the lions to roar; theof the dogs, and the uneasiness of the cattle, invariably gave notice of lions being at hand Shots were fired off during the night, to keep theht passed away undisturbed

They started the followingabout daybreak, and, at the same time, the Caffres took their departure to their own country The ground over which the caravan traveled was stony and sandy at intervals, and they had not proceeded far before they again discovered a great variety of game dispersed over the level plain They did not, however, atteo on as far as possible, so as to give the oxen an opportunity of picking up what little food they could during the middle of the day, at which tio in pursuit of game But before they had traveled three hours, they were surprised at a cloud of dust, which obscured the horizon, in the direction they were proceeding

”What can that be?” said Alexander

”I think it is springbok,” said Brebok! why, there must be thousands and thousands of theht,” said Swinton; ”it boks; I have never seen them, but I have often been told of them”

The body of antelopes now advanced toward theht path; and to state their nuht have been fifty or a hundred thousand, or more As far as the eye could see in any direction, it was onethe whole plain

As they approached the caravan, those nearest huddled on one side and occasionally bounded aith the resnot upon the earth, but, for want of roo in between the ranks

A hazy vapor arose from these countless herds as theyon the wagons, which had been stopped as the herd ca with the crowds to feast at his leisure The animals appeared very taons, for the evening's supper Notwithstanding that the herd moved at a rapid pace, it was more than two hours before the whole had passed by

”Well,” observed Alexander, ”I can now say that I have seen no want of gao directly on to the southward,” replied Swinton; ”the ration of these animals is one of the most remarkable proofs of the fecundity of ani before them; and if we journey in the direction they have come from, we shall find no food for the cattle until after the rains After the rains fall, these animals will return to their forht them so far to the southward”

”Their track is evidently from the north and eastward,” said the Major; ”had we not better change our course more to the northward?”

”No, I should think not; they have probably traveled on this side of the Nu Gariep or Black River We shall have neither water nor food for the cattle to-night, and therefore I think we had better go on as we are going, so as to make sure of water for the to feed the cattle, we had better continue right on till the evening; we shall sooner arrive at the river, and so gain by it”

It was but half an hour before dark that they unyoked the tired oxen

Water or grass there was none; and, as another misfortune, they could not find sufficient wood of any kind to keep up the necessary fires during the night All they could collect before dark was but enough for one fire, and they considered it better, therefore, that only one should be lighted

The wagons were drawn up so as to form a square, inside of which were tied the horses; the sheep were driven underneath, and the oxen were tied up outside They feasted well theboks, but the poor animals had neither food nor water after their hard day's journey

As soon as they had supped they retired to their wagons, and the Hottentots really supplied, that itin the vicinity was evident from the restlessness of the oxen, who tried to break the leathern thongs hich they were fastened

The ht, when they perceived the bodies of some anie, as they always do in an iht, and the Hottentots soon made out that they were five or six lions not forty yards distant The truth of this supposition was confirry roar from one of theuns, and soled furiously to escape, for the, roar of the lions had spread consternation