THE DESIRE FOR ADVENTURE 25 



in my old Blanket " ; from another perhaps you hear 

 " What care I how fair she be, if she be not fair to 

 me?" 



The cattle seem easier. The Overlanders begin to 

 think again of sleep. 



Suddenly a blinding flash, a smash of thunder, a 

 great roar as of pain, fury and fear from the cattle, 

 and they are away in a wild stampede. On the far 

 skyline is a forest of belar trees; for this they are 

 making. Reaching it, they will, many of them, be 

 killed and lost. That must, at all costs, be prevented. 



The men know, the horses know what is to be done. 

 In the black darkness, rent now and again by lightning, 

 through the stinging rain, the Overlanders rush at a 

 stretching gallop to " head the mob." On either 

 wing two horsemen fly, and as the moments pass get 

 in front of the cattle. Then a quick wheel right and 

 left, and with whips lashing, voices cursing, they are 

 heading the maddened beasts. It is for a while a 

 running fight. The horsemen must not get too 

 near to the cattle as to be trampled underfoot. They 

 must get so near that their voices and their whips 

 may be felt. Finally the men win. The cattle 

 hesitate, turn back. Now they are safe. They will 

 be kept moving whilst the storm lasts, but it will be 

 a quiet and an ordered movement. 



The life has enough of adventure to satisfy any 

 man ; enough of shared danger to bring out the best 

 in any man. I would have been willing enough to 



