ioo LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



front and one in the rear. The coverings of 

 the hind paws were to be joined, skin to skin, 

 in such a way that the combined result would 

 hang from the wearer's shoulders, and the 

 brushes were to be wound about his neck when 

 the weather was chilly. Piet Noona's nephew 

 would thus be reasonably protected, fore and 

 aft, both from Mrs Grundy and the weather. 

 Crowned with a chaplet of Ghanna leaves and 

 with his knob-kerrie for thyrsus, he might 

 have easily passed for a youthful but disreput- 

 able Dionysus. 



As we drew out towards the borders of the 

 desert the fingers of silence seemed to press 

 less heavily on our lips. Supper over, we laid 

 ourselves on the soft sand and conversed. 

 But at first our conversation was low-toned and 

 very serious. The imminence of infinity 

 abashed us ; it was as though earth and air were 

 full of ears bent to catch every word we 

 uttered. I do not think anyone, — even the 

 most feather-brained, could be garrulous in 

 the desert. 



The flames lit up the surrounding faces, — 

 the ruddy, rugged countenance of Andries, 

 with its blue, laughing eyes and cropped beard 

 streaked with grey. The visage of Piet Noona 

 was like that of an old baboon; his nephew's 



