312 HUNTING FAVOURITES 



to do or how to act under any circumstances that 

 arose, for you loved your master, gave your heart to 

 your work, and never quarrelled or kicked at the 

 most presuming or intruding of your comrades. 



But Strawberry, although a lady, I introduce 

 last. To excuse myself for so doing, I may state 

 that she is the youngest and least experienced of my 

 trio, yet she has all the qualities (barring temper) 

 that will make her most valuable. In company she 

 is a little jealous, and a little fiery, and apt to pre- 

 sume on the good temper and skill in equitation of 

 the rider whom she does not know. When she 

 came into my possession she had never had a saddle 

 on her back, and her powers of buck-jumping were 

 of no mean order, but now she will bring an ante- 

 lope home on her back with the utmost sang froid. 

 Her courage, too, is marvellous, and you may ride 

 her up close to the most dreaded of carnivora 

 without her showing the slightest nervousness, let 

 alone fear. She reminds me very much of my dear 

 old charger, Tommy, which I rode from Peter- 

 maritzburg, Natal, to near here (the situation of 

 my present camp), and back again to my starting 

 place, without being sick, sore, or weary during this 

 terribly long and tedious journey. 



But, to return to Strawberry, if she was turned 

 loose at any time, unless driven off, she would not 

 leave camp, where she would have her nose into 

 everything edible, or otherwise, that excited her 



