82 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



made the first camp, we remained there only 

 long enough to put things in working order and 

 then rode across the veldt for half a day to Sir 

 Alfred Pease's ranch. 



All along the route we saw thousands of ani- 

 mals. It seemed impossible that in this age 

 there could be any spot on the earth where ani- 

 mal life was so abundant. Herds of zebras, 

 hartebeests, Thompson's gazelles, and wilde- 

 beests, in separate bands and sometimes min- 

 gled together in one great herd, were feeding on 

 all sides. 



The wildebeest is a remarkable animal. Some 

 herds are so shy that it is almost impossible to 

 stalk them. Others seem full of a spirit of play- 

 fulness and will caper about a hunter as if try- 

 ing to induce him to join them in a frolic. 



Doctor Mearns was once pursuing, on horse- 

 back, a wounded animal when a herd of wilde- 

 beests joined in the chase and for half a mile 

 ran by his side, tossing their heads in the air 

 and bucking and kicking as if they were thor- 

 oughly enjoying the hunt. 



It was the dry season, and as there was a 

 scarcity of water at Sir Alfred's place and his 

 shooting-box was too small to accommodate 



