246 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



dear." I then rode in the dh-ection from which the 

 birds had come, and before proceeding far we discover- 

 ed a sli2;ht hollow runnins^ north and south. This 1 

 determined to follow, and presently I discovered fresh 

 spoor of a rhinoceros: this was a certain sign that water 

 was somewhere not very distant. 



Once more my dying hopes revived. I looked north 

 at the glorious sky, which on this particular day was 

 quite different from any thing I had beheld for months 

 It was like one of those glorious days when the bright 

 blue sky in my own dark land is seen through ten thou- 

 sand joyous fleecy clouds, and all nature seems io strive 

 in its sunny hour to make poor unhappy man forget his 

 cares and sorrows. I took it as a favorable omen, and, 

 stirring my good and lively steed, I cantered along the 

 glade. The hollow took a turn, on rounding which I 

 perceived that I was in an elevated part of the forest ; 

 and I, for the first time, obtained a distant view of the 

 surrounding scenery. Far as the eye could strain, it 

 was all forest without a break ; but there was now an 

 undulating country before me, instead of the hopeless 

 level through which I had come. I felt certain of suc- 

 cess. We soon discovered vleys that had recently con- 

 tained water, and at last a large pool of excellent water, 

 enough to supply my cattle for several days. This was 

 to me a joyous moment ; it was a grand step toward 

 attaining my object, and, as ray difliculties had seemed 

 to increase, my wish and determination to overcome 

 them had become stronger. I knew that, whether I 

 reached Bamangwato or not, if I could now only man- 

 age to travel north about eight days' journey I should 

 fall in with elephants. 



I was extremely fortunate in regaining my wagons, 

 which I did without a turn in my course. On reach- 



