112 A SURPRISE, 



He also wrote to Jonker Afrikaner (having previously sent 

 messengers to him while at Richterfeldt), remonstrating with 

 him on the barbarity and injustice of his conduct. Jonker 

 is a leading chieftain among the Namaqua-Hottentots. He 

 headed in person the greater part of the marauding expedi- 

 tions into Damara-land. 



Having spent a few days agreeably and usefully at Bar- 

 men, we prepared to return to our camp at Richterfeldt ; but 

 when the day of departure had arrived, I felt very feverish, 

 and Galton was obliged to prosecute his journey without me. 

 In a short time, however, I was able to follow. 



On riding briskly along early one morning, I observed, as 

 I thought, a solitary zebra a few hundred yards in advance. 

 Instantly alighting, and leaving " Spring" to take care of 

 himself, I made toward the quarry, gun in hand, under cover 

 of a few small trees. Having proceeded for some distance, I 

 peeped cautiously from behind a bush, when I found, to my 

 astonishment, that the animal which I had taken for a zebra 

 was nothing less than a noble lion. He was quietly gazing 

 at me. I must confess I felt a little startled at the unex- 

 pected apparition ; but, recovering quickly from my surprise, 

 I advanced to meet him. He, however, did not think fit to 

 wait till I was within proper range, but turned tail, and fled 

 toward the Swakop. Hoping to be able to come to close 

 quarters with him, I followed at the top of my speed, and 

 was rapidly gaining ground on the brute, when suddenly, 

 with two or three immense bounds, he cleared an open space, 

 and was the next moment hidden from view among the thick 

 reeds that here lined the banks of the river. Having no 

 dogs with me, all my efforts to dislodge him from his strong- 

 hold proved unavailing. While still lingering about the 

 place, I came upon the carcass of a gnoo, on which a troop 

 of lions had apparently been feasting not many minutes pre- 

 viously. Undoubtedly my somewhat dastardly friend had 

 been one of the party. 



