344 BELIEF IN GHOSTS. 



the circle of light that bounded the fire. In a 

 second or two afterwards he dismounted, when I 

 asked him to accept the hospitality and shelter that 

 my waggon could afford him. 



Let me describe the stranger. He was a tall, 

 powerfully-built man, but not possessed of a super- 

 fluous ounce of fat. Determination and energy 

 were stamped upon his countenance, while the big 

 sinews and veins that showed themselves in his 

 neck and hands told plainly as words could say, that 

 he was possessed of strength almost superhuman. 

 From his complexion (which was what the Boers 

 call " rooi ") and his voice, to an observant person 

 there could be no doubt but that he hailed from the 

 old country. That Africa had known him for years 

 was equally certain from his sunburnt throat and 

 hands. Such a man would be expected to possess 

 a wonderful horse ; the stranger's animal was to the 

 equine family what he was to the human — in fact, 

 such a beast as could cover a hundred miles in 

 twenty-four hours and be willing to repeat the same 

 operation next day, provided he had an occasional 

 good roll in the sand and half a bucket of mealies 

 every twenty-four hours. 



While my guest was doing justice to my larder, 

 the Hottentot driver returned to his story, upon 

 which I abruptly and uncourteously shut him up, 

 desiring him to cease frightening his listeners by 

 such absurd narratives. 



