136 LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



through whose depths the Orange River swirls 

 and eddies with its drainage of a million hills. 



We were to travel with horses along a route 

 I had special reasons for wishing to take, but 

 which, had the drought still prevailed, we 

 would not have dared to traverse. But under 

 the existing circumstances it would never be 

 necessary to travel more than twenty miles 

 without finding a spot where a water-pit might 

 be dug. 



So Andries brought his spring-wagon in to 

 the Copper Mines and we made busy prepara- 

 tions for a start. Our wagon-team numbered 

 eight, four belonging to Andries and four to 

 me. Old Prince pulled as a wheeler; my two 

 young chestnuts as leaders. Besides the 

 wagon we had another vehicle, — a strange, 

 springless, nondescript contraption knocked 

 together by Andries out of the remains 

 of an old horse - wagon which he had 

 broken up. It had low, strong wheels set very 

 wide apart, with a rough framework of yellow- 

 wood boards superimposed. There was no 

 seat, but a box-like rim of woodwork edged 

 the frame. To this vehicle four half-trained 

 horses were yoked. It was intended to be used 

 in pursuing springbuck over the plains. Hen- 

 drick was to be the driver; his task would not 



