IN AUSTRAL AFRICA. 299 



"big Dane." This is my favourite, and my most 

 frequent attendant. He possesses both courage and 

 strength to attack almost anything, yet knows how to 

 take care of himself — a matter of no small import- 

 ance — and has such an admirable nose that wounded 

 game seldom escapes him, for he is possessed of 

 great speed and bottom, but his temper is uncertain, 

 so that I seldom chastise him without fear that he 

 will turn upon me. With his companions he is 

 simply king, and with corresponding dignity so 

 treats them. He has long won his spurs, for in 

 single combat he has killed striped hyaena, a serval 

 (the largest of the lynx family), and a huge baboon, 

 this last performance being almost without precedent. 

 As to springbok, duykers, steinbok, hares, and 

 jackals, all the other dogs have had a turn at them 

 and similar small game, and have acquitted them- 

 selves with credit. After distributing among the 

 hungry pack a few pounds of biltong (sun-dried 

 meat), I proceed to inspect the rest of my belong- 

 ings, followed by the entire pack. By this time the 

 sun commences to show his ruddy, burnished face 

 amid a retinue of clouds as brilliant in colour as 

 himself. This is the most delightful portion of the 

 twenty-four hours in Africa, and I affirm that in no 

 part of the earth have I seen such sunrises. Their 

 beauty word-painting could never do justice to. 

 although the landscape artist might be more success- 

 ful with his brush. But would such a work be sale- 



