242 LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



the spaces between, narrow sand-dunes, flat- 

 topped and steep, extended indefinitely, east 

 and west. At about three in the afternoon we 

 again struck spoor. It was apparently that of 

 the large herd whose track we had crossed a 

 few hours previously. Now it led north-east, 

 straight over the dune about a mile away on 

 our right — the dune parallel to which we had 

 been travelling for upwards of an hour. The 

 spoor was quite fresh ; it could not have been 

 more than half an hour since the herd had 

 passed. 



We halted and outspanned. After the 

 horses had indulged in a roll Andries and I 

 saddled up. We rode on the spoor; soon this 

 led us almost due north, straight to the dune, 

 which it crossed at right angles. The herd 

 had evidently been stampeded; it was clear 

 they had been at a run when they passed. 

 Their hoofs had struck deep into the wet soil 

 and there was a distinct series of wide gaps in 

 the dune where the crossing had been effected. 

 We dismounted and clambered up the steep 

 sand-slope. We looked carefully over, being 

 heedful not to reveal ourselves. The plain 

 before us lay empty, but about a mile to the 

 right the herd of springbuck were visible. It 

 was evidently one of the flying patrols of the 



