AGONIES OF THIRST 175 



gallop. Away — in the far distance — I saw 

 Hendrick approaching at a walk. 



I disembowelled the oryx and covered the 

 carcase with bushes so as to conceal it from 

 the vultures. Among the bushes I burnt a few 

 charges of gunpowder; this would serve to 

 keep off the jackals — at all events for a few 

 hours. Then I mounted and rode slowly to- 

 wards the wagon. Hendrick altered his course 

 and joined me, en route. Black Bucephalus 

 looked piebald as he approached, so flaked 

 was he with dried sweat. 



The wagon was about twelve miles from 

 where the oryx had fallen. It took us over 

 three hours — hours of intense physical anguish 

 — to travel those miles. My mouth was so 

 parched that the saliva had ceased to exude, 

 my lips were cracked and bleeding. For a 

 considerable portion of the time spent on that 

 dolorous journey I was on the verge of de- 

 lirium. Hendrick also suffered, but in a some- 

 what less degree, for his fibre was tougher than 

 mine. When about half-way to the wagon he 

 asked my permission to ride apart, stating as 

 his reason that he could not bear the sight of 

 my torment. Brabies and the white tilt of the 

 wagon seemed to recede before us. I then 

 realised clearly how people might die on the 



