i88 KLOOF AND KARROO. 



depths. After a magnificent swim in the cold and 

 bracing water, I felt transformed and ready for 

 breakfast ; but although the bathe had to some 

 extent revived my spirits, I could not forget the 

 sad beginning of our search the death of poor 

 Amazi, now, poor fellow, lying buried beneath a 

 cairn of stones, just away beyond the camp. 



" Well, breakfast was soon over, and then I spoke 

 to my men. I told them that I intended to stay at 

 this pool for a few days, and that in the meantime I 

 was going prospecting in the mountains bordering the 

 river. I despatched two of them to go and hunt for 

 mountain buck in the direction we had come from, 

 where we had noticed plenty of rhebok, duyker, and 

 klipspringer ; the others were to see that the oxen 

 fed round about the water, where pasture was good 

 and plentiful, and generally to look after the camp. 

 For Klaas and myself, we should be away till dusk, 

 perhaps even all night ; but we did not wish to be 

 followed or disturbed, and unless those at the camp 

 heard my signal of four consecutive rifle shots, they 

 were on no account to attempt to follow up our 

 spoor. My men by this time knew me and my ways 

 well, and I was convinced that we should not be 

 followed by prying eyes ; indeed, the lazy Africans 

 were only too glad of an easy day in camp after their 

 hard journey. 



"Taking some biltong (dried flesh), biscuits, and 

 bottle of water each, and each shouldering a rifle, 

 Klaas and I started away at seven o'clock. The 

 little beggar, who, I suppose, in his Bushman youth 

 had wandered baboon-like all over this wild country 

 till he knew it by heart, showed no sign of hesitation, 

 but walked rapidly down hill into a deep gorge at 



