Part 30 (2/2)
”Well, we must have another elephant-hunt,” said the Major
”We may have hunts of every kind, I expect, here,” replied Swinton; ”we are now in the very paradise of wild anio the more we shall find”
”What a difference there is in one day's journey in this country,”
observed Alexander; ”yesterdaythere was not a creature to be seen, and all was silent as death Now listen to the noise of the birds, and as for beasts, I suspect we shall not have far to look for them”
”No, for there is a hippopotaain--there's food for a fortnight at one glance,” cried the Major
”How the horses and sheep are enjoying the up for lost tiet up and attend to my department,” said the Major
”I presuain now”
”Where there is food for lions, you must expect lions, Major,” said Swinton
”Very true, and fuel to keep them off; by the by, turtle soup for dinner, recollect; tell Mahomed”
”I'll see to it,” said Alexander; ”but wefor breakfast, as soon as I have had a wash at the river's side I would have a bath, only I have such a respect for the hippopotaet the as I have breath in my body, for they took all the breath out of it Coo with me, and lad to do so; for I am covered with the sand of the desert”
CHAPTER XXIV
Our travelers remained very quiet that day and the next The horses had suffered so much, that they required two days of rest, and they the journey over the desert The cattle enjoyed the luxuriant pasture, and although the tracks of the lions were discovered very near to them, yet, as they had plenty of fuel and attended the the night The Hottentots had been out to reconnoiter, and found a profusion of gae plain, about two miles distant; and it was decided that they would rest where they were for a day or two, if the gahtened away The river had been crossed by Swanevelt, who stated that there was a large herd of elephants on the other side, and the tracks of the rhinoceros were to be seen on both sides of the river
On the thirdafter their arrival at the Val, they set off, accompanied by the Hottentots, to the plain which they had spoken of; riding through roups of acacia or camelthorn trees, many of which were covered with the enorrosbeaks
As they descended to the plain they perceived large herds of brindled gnoos, quaggas, and antelopes, covering the whole face of the country as far as the eye could reach,each other and separating, so that the whole plain seemed alive with theht is worth all the trouble and labor which we have undergone What would they say in England, if they could but behold this scene?”
”There must be thousands and thousands,” said Alexander ”Tell me, Swinton, what beautiful animals are those of a purple color?”
”They are called the purple sassabys,” replied Swinton; ”one of the ant of the antelope tribe”
”And those red and yellow out there?”
”They are the harte beests I wish to have male and female specimens of both, if I can”
”See!” said the Major, ”there is a fine flock of ostriches We are puzzled where to begin Coh; noard,--to change it”
They rode down, and were soon within shot of the anian their work The Hottentots co frouns, the animals now fled away in every direction, and the whole place was one cloud of dust Our travelers put their horses to their speed, and soon caain, as their nuht Every shot told, for it was hardly possible to miss; and the Hottentots who followed on foot, put those ounded out of their ued and too much out of wind to continue the pursuit, and they reined up
”Well, Alexander, this has been sport, has it not?” said the Major
”Yes, a grand battue, on a grand scale, indeed”