XLV. 

 THE ROAN. 



OUR last camp, before turning back, we 

 pitched about two o'clock one afternoon. 

 Up to this time we had marched steadily 

 down wide valleys, around the end of mountain 

 ranges, moving from one room to the other of 

 this hill-divided plateau. At last we ended on 

 a slope that descended gently to water. It was 

 grown sparingly with thorn trees, among which 

 we raised our tents. Over against us, and across 

 several low swells of grass and scrub-grown hills, 

 was a range of mountains. Here, Mavrouki 

 claimed, dwelt roan antelope. 



We settled down quite happily. The country 

 round about was full of game ; the weather was 

 cool, the wide sweeps of country, the upward 

 fling of mountains and buttes were much like 

 some parts of our great West. Almost every 

 evening the thunderstorms made gorgeous piled 



