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CHAPTER XXXIX. 



ON THE LINE OF MARCH. 



Our first day's march was through heavily-tim- 

 bered land ; at sundown, however, we again came 

 upon open country, the continuation of spurs that 

 pointed eastward from the " foot-hills," that led 

 again from higher altitudes. These doubtlessly are 

 the Lebombo Mountains. Here we encamped for 

 the night, and, undisturbed by nocturnal prowlers, 

 slept the sleep that generally rewards a day of toil. 



Next day our journey was much the same as its 

 predecessor, only the country was less wooded and 

 more undulating ; while our path was intersected by 

 numerous water- courses, clear and bright as any 

 burn descending Scotch hill-sides. Some of the 

 pools that I examined were abundantly stocked with 

 fish, each about a quarter of a pound in weight, but 

 they much more resembled in appearance and manner 

 the dace of southern English waters than the bonny 

 speckled beauties so anxiously sought after by every 

 wielder of the pliant trout-rod. If time had not 

 been an object, I, doubtless, could have captured 

 some of these fish by converting my mosquito-curtain 

 into a draught-net, and thus had an opportunity 

 of learning to what race they belonged, but en avant 



