14 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



without water-bottles — no need of those trouble- 

 some things here — and plenty of biltong, biscuit, 

 and tobacco in our pockets, we started in pursuit. 



Our tactics were to spoor the herd from the 

 drift ; but, if after we found the game and got sepa- 

 rated, Sunday was to remain with Selwin, Umpiqua 

 — a cross-eyed, ugly little beggar, but a good hunter 

 — go with Dillon, and a jovial, handsome savage, 

 that I had christened Jim, for brevity, accompany 

 me. From fear of disturbing the elephants, the 

 greatest quiet prevailed when wading across ; but 

 all got over safely, as Dillon feelingly said, " without 

 even a nibble, let alone a bite," crocodiles being 

 numerous in these waters. 



The trail was easy enough to follow, for it was 

 as wide as a garden walk, although a little more 

 irregular in surface. One of the Zulus kept about 

 a hundred yards in front of the party to give us due 

 warning of the proximity of game, which he did 

 after half-an hour s tramp. Then this wily savage 

 stopped, and indicated with his hands for us to 

 hurry up. Such a request did not require repeti- 

 tion. On reaching him, he simply pointed, with the 

 air of an emperor, to the eastward, and, true 

 enough, there were the objects of our search, and it 

 only now remained for us to kill them. My com- 

 panions I will now leave to pursue their own 

 devices, so will confine myself to my experiences. 



Dropping behind my friends, I passed silently 



