partly hidden by the flood, but the force of the 

 stream had half-floated and half-forced it round on 

 to higher ground ; only the anchoring chain had 

 saved it. We had to wait some hours for the river 

 to run down, and then to my relief the rested but 

 staggering oxen pulled it out at the first attempt* 



Rooiland, the light red ox with blazing yellow eyes 

 and topped horns, fierce and untamable to the end, 

 was in the lead then. I saw him as he took the strain 

 in that last pull, and it was pitiful to see the restless 

 eager spirit fighting against the failing strength : he 

 looked desperate. The thought seems fanciful 

 about a dumb animal and perhaps it is ; but what 

 happened just afterwards makes it still vivid and 

 fitted in very curiously with the superstitious notions 

 of the boys. We outspanned in order to re-pack the 

 loads, and Rooiland, who as front ox was the last to be 

 released, stood for a few moments alone while the rest 

 of the cattle moved away ; then turning his back on 

 them he gave a couple of low moaning bellows and 

 walked down the road back to the drift again. I had 

 no doubt it was to drink ; but the boys stopped their 

 work and watched him curiously, and some remarks 

 passed which were inaudible to me. As the ox dis- 

 appeared down the slope into the drift, Jim called to 

 his leader to bring him back, and then turning to me, 

 added with his usual positiveness, " Rooiland is mad. 

 Umtagati ! Bewitched ! He is look- 

 ing for the dead ones. He is going to Mil 

 die to-day ! " 



The boy came back presently 



447 



