38 LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



mounded sand between us and the plains — 

 thus affording concealment. The sun was high 

 when the yokes dropped once more. The un- 

 happy oxen, now very thirsty, wandered about 

 emitting low moans of distress. Their funda- 

 mental instincts told them that no water was 

 near; their inherited faith in the wisdom and 

 power of man had, however, given them the 

 thought that relief might be provided. Sud- 

 denly, however, primordial instinct gained 

 ascendency; their minds were made up. They 

 paced, lowing, to the trail ; then advanced 

 along it at a trot. Soon the trot altered to a 

 wild gallop. To-morrow, before noon, they 

 would charge down on Gamoep — and woe to 

 man or beast obstructing their course. Red- 

 eyed, and with blackened tongues extended 

 from roaring, tortured throats, they would fling 

 themselves into the pool and drink their fill. 

 At Gamoep they would remain for four restful 

 days; then they would be brought back to our 

 camp by Piet Noona and his nephew. 



So at length we were within the dominions of 

 the Thirst King — our gauntlet thrown down at 

 the gates of his wrath; we were almost within 

 the grasp of his awful hand. The last link 

 with the world inhabited by men snapped when 

 the hapless oxen disappeared over the rim of 



