392 "VENUS'S" SAGACITY REACH KOBIS GOOD NEWS- 



and probably thinking that, from her diminutive size, she 

 would prove an easy conquest, boldly approached his sup- 

 posed victim. But he had reckoned without mine host ; for 

 the instant the cunning dog found her antagonist sufficiently 

 near, she leaped like a cat at his throat, and once there, the 

 beast had no chance. She then returned to camp, where her 

 contented looks and bloody jaws soon attracted the attention 

 of the men, who immediately went on her track and brought 

 the jackal, who was valued on account of his fur. 



Having dried some of the flesh of the rhinoceroses, and 

 given the rest to the hungry Bushmen, who had already be- 

 gun to flock round us, we set out for Kobis, which we reach- 

 ed after less than two hours' journeying. This place, owing 

 probably to heavy rains at no very distant period, was a mag- 

 nificent sheet of water (a glorious sight to our thirsty imag- 

 ination), swarming with geese and ducks. From the num- 

 ber of well and freshly trodden paths, we conjectured it to 

 be the great stronghold of game ; nor were we disappointed. 

 I therefore determined to devote a few days here to shoot- 

 ing, and selected my camp with caution and to the best of 

 my judgment. 



I had not been long settled in my new quarters when 

 some Bushmen made their appearance, carrying bundles of 

 reeds (intended as shafts for their arrows), which they had 

 brought from the Lake Ngami, or " Tlannis," as they called 

 it in their language. They had been five days on the road, 

 but said it might be reached in two. This was cheerful 

 news. But I was nearly foiled in my plans on the threshold 

 of the object of my ambition. 



Having late one night, with much danger and difficulty, 

 succeeded in dispatching an enormously large white rhinoc- 

 eros, I fell asleep toward morning, overpowered by the ex- 

 ertion and fatigue of several previous nights' watching. I 

 was awakened by a smarting sensation a little below the left 

 knee ; and when I reached my people the pain had become 



