to allow the oxen to run loose and graze all night; but lions were too numerous to make it a safe proceeding, and as soon as darkness set in they were all tied up to the dusselbooms. The boys had some superstition concerning winged-serpents, which were supposed to frequent these parts of the veldt, and attributed the cries of the night-hawks to these mythical monsters. They were also very nervous about lions, as only two of them had ever before been in the country where they are found, and these two so exaggerated the dangers to be apprehended, which they at last began to believe themselves, that not a boy would have stirred outside the fires for any earthly consideration.

This was the first night of our waggon life that we were able to consume an unlimited quantity of firewood, and the boys made the most of it.

During the afternoon they had cut down and brought to the waggons all the dead and dying trees and branches for some distance round, so all through the night the fires were kept piled up high with flaming and crackling boughs, making a blaze that no lion would approach within a mile of. We sat up far into the night with no more covering but our shirts on, for the warm temperature, even away from the fires, was such a delightful change from the bitter cold we had lately experienced, that we felt no inclination to turn in. The jackals and wild dogs, wandering round and round, kept up a yelping chorus until the dawn broke, when they showed their sagacity by disappearing.

Before the sun was up we treked on to Sand

River. From the name we expected to find a clear, bright, swift river, running along a channel of auriferous glittering sand, so we were disappointed to find instead a dull, muddy, sluggish stream, with slippery clay banks. The water was so thick and dirty that bathing was out of the question, and even the coffee made with it tasted muddy and unpalatable.

Two more long treks brought us to the other side of Pretoria Kop, and there we outspanned again for the night, taking the usual precautions of providing ourselves with a mighty pile of firewood, as the locality is especially famous for lions. During the day we killed a very curious and beautiful little partridge which is peculiar to the bush-veldt. It bears the same relationship to the large species as a bantam to a barn-door fowl, and when on the ground struts along and spreads out its tail feathers in exactly the same consequential manner. It is very swift on the wing, and is difficult to shoot, twisting in and out among the bushes and trees, but is dryer and not so well flavoured as the bigger bird.

We shot another variety rather smaller than the English partridge, but resembling it in plumage, with the exception of the breast, which is white and crossed with black bars, and of the legs, which are longer and more brilliant yellow.

The honey-bird again made its appearance, and this time pointed out a nest concealed in an old ant-hill; but the honey was not as good as that we found in the tree, and we left the greater part undisturbed.

Long Kop, or Saddle-back Kop, was now only five or six miles away, and we were told the boundary of the terrible tsetse fly ran along the base of it from north to south. As every year the line may either advance or retire, we dared not venture the horses and oxen any nearer. There was a very bad supply of water where we were outspanned, and the grass was not especially good, so we determined to trek about three miles to the south-east of Pretoria Kop, where we had discovered two deep water-holes and good pasturage, before making our permanent camp.

Accordingly at break of day we inspanned the oxen and soon reached our selected camping-ground. The two holes of water formed parts of a now driedup vley, which I have before explained is a chain of narrow marshes and pools, generally connected by a stream, which in the wet season may be a rushing torrent, but in the dry relapses into a dry channel. It was a very favourable spot for our purpose. In a straight line between the two most prominent landmarks of the neighbourhood, it would always be a comparatively easy place to find from any part of the veldt, however thickly wooded. Within a stone's throw lay the footpath used by the Kaffirs on their way to or from the diamond or gold fields, and by all going to Delagoa Bay from the Transvaal, so there was always a chance of getting news from the outer world. The ground began to rise at the vley right up to Pretoria Kop, and all the slope was covered with fresh, good grass for the oxen and horses. Just above the water stood a fine mimosa,

the largest tree for miles round, and under its shade. we drew up the waggons parallel with one another, and facing the footpath. On the left, and at the back of the waggons, was a small thicket of thorn bushes, entwined with creepers; and out of this, beginning at the side of the waggon, we cut out a square space, throwing the creepers into the sides left standing, and thus forming an impenetrable barricade. From the top of the waggon to the far side of this space we stretched a long canvas sail, thus making a secure stable, large enough for a dozen horses. Along the wheels we constructed mangers with sacks split open and supported on forked sticks. Adjoining the stable and yard, and along the side of the trek-tow, which it is comme il faut to have laid out at full length in a straight line with the dusselboom, so as to be ready for use at a moment's notice, we marked out an irregular circle, about twenty-five yards in diameter. Inside this space we felled all the thorns, trees, and prickly creepers; and round the boundary proceeded to build up a strong thick high wall of branches and logs to form a krall for the oxen, which no lion or other beast of prey could break through or jump over. By the foot of our tree we constructed a rough table, by nailing the lid of a large box upon four upright posts, and with the same materials put benches round it. Between the two waggons there was space enough to hang up the tent, which afforded shelter from the sun during the day, and from the dew at night. An enormous stack of firewood completed our arrangements, and we were then ready to give our undivided attention to the game.

Preparations for Hunting.

247

CHAPTER XXVI.

Hunting Big Game-Imparla-A Stampede-Quagga-Blue Wildebeeste-Water-holes-Lions-Story of the Lion-killer

-Guinea-fowl-Inconyama.

FOR hunting purposes we divided our forces into two parties. Mr. White and myself, and Woodward and A. paired off together. By this means we were able to cover more ground and also ran less chance of spoiling each other's sport. As far as the bag goes, I believe that one man has a better chance of making a good one than two combined; but best of all is one white man and a single Kaffir upon whom he can thoroughly depend. One man, alone and unattended, lays himself open to additional dangers. His horse may fall and break one of his limbs, or he may be injured by the branches or trunk of a tree as he gallops along. When his rifle is empty he is at the mercy of any wounded animal, and might lose his life in a case where a second rifle would have removed all danger. The first day we hunted, Mr. White and I set off, soon after the sun was risen, in the direction of the Long Kop. For several miles we had very easy riding up and down low ridges where the grass had only very recently been burnt off, and with very few trees or bushes growing on them; but as we neared the kop, riding became more