164 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



was entirely in my power, as I had only to spring from 

 my horse and bowl him over. I felt certain of him, but 

 resolved not to shoot as long as his course lay in the di- 

 rection of the wagons. At length, surprised at the res- 

 olute manner in which he held for my camp, I headed 

 him ; when, to my astonishment, he did not in the 

 slightest swerve from his course, but trotted along be- 

 hind my horse like a dog following me. This at once 

 roused my suspicions, and I felt certain that the cun- 

 ning old fellow was making for some retreat, so I re- 

 solved to dismount and finish him. Just, however, as 

 I had come to this resolution, I suddenly found myself 

 in a labyrinth of enormous holes, the burrows of the 

 ant-bear. In front of one of these the wild boar pulled 

 up, and, charging stern foremost into it, disappeared 

 from my disappointed eyes, and I saw him no more. I 

 rode home for my men ; and returning, we collected 

 grass and bushes, and endeavored to smoke him out, 

 but without success. 



On the 7th we inspanned at dawn of day, and trek- 

 ked east about ten miles, encamping beside a small, is- 

 olated farm-house, which had been lately vacated by 

 some Boer, owing to the impending war with the Gri- 

 quas. Here we found plenty of old cow-dung for fuel ; 

 an article which, throughout the whole of the blesbok 

 country, is very scarce, there often being great diffi 

 culty in obtaining sufficient fuel to boil the kettle foi 

 coffee. Beside the farm-house were two strong springs 

 of excellent water, in which cresses flourished. Game 

 was abundant on all sides, wildebeests and springboks 

 pasturing within a few hundred yards of the door as 

 we drove up. Below the fountains was a small gar- 

 den, in which I found a welcome supply of onions and 

 other vegetables. 



