up of a big animal and I set to work gathering branches 

 and grass to hide the carcase, meaning to send the 

 boys back for it. 



But the day's experiences were not over yet : a 

 low growl from Jock made me look sharply round, to 

 see half a dozen kaffirs coming through the bush with 

 a string of mongrel hounds at their heels. 



So that was the explanation of the koodoo's return 

 to us ! The natives, a hunting party, had heard the 

 shot and coming along in hopes of meat had met and 

 headed off the wounded koodoo, turning her back 

 almost on her own tracks. There was satisfaction in 

 having the puzzle solved, but the more practical point 

 was that here was all the help I wanted ; and the boys 

 readily agreed to skin the animal and carry the four 

 quarters to the camp for the gift of the rest. 



Then my trouble began with Jock. He flew at the 

 first of the kaffir dogs that sneaked up to sniff at the 

 koodoo. Shouting at him produced no effect what- 

 ever, and before I could get hold of him he had mauled 

 the animal pretty badly. After hauling him off I 

 sat down in the shade, with him beside me ; but there 

 were many dogs, and a succession of affairs, and I, 

 knowing nothing of his deafness, became thoroughly 

 exasperated and surprised by poor old Jock's behaviour. 



His instinct to defend our kills, which was always 

 strong, was roused that day beyond control, and his 

 hatred of kaffir dogs an implacable one in any case 

 made a perfect fury of him ; still, the sickening awful 

 feeling that came over me as he lay limp and lifeless 

 was too fresh, and it was not possible to be really angry ; 



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