108 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



the solid adamantine rock was worn hollow by the feet 

 of the mighty game which most probably for a thou- 

 sand years had passed over it. Here I found fresh 

 spoor of most of the larger game, and, resolving to play 

 havoc by light of the coming moon, I left the glen and 

 rode for camp. 



On the 25th, after breakfast, I started with bedding 

 and provisions to hunt for a few days on the other side 

 of the hills. We visited the first water, and established 

 a place of concealment with rocks and green boughs on 

 the rock. While we were making this bothy a wild 

 boar hove in view, but, observing us, he escaped. We 

 then held on to the further ravine, and on my way 

 thither I nearly rode down a fine old bastard gemsbok, 

 which got away among the rocks. I repaired an old 

 hiding-hole at this water, building it up with fragments 

 of rock. I then sent the steeds to a proper distance, 

 put out my fire, and lay down to watch for the night. 



First came a pallah, closely followed by a wild dog. 

 The pallah escaped ; the wild dog presently returned, 

 and, observing my retreating men, barked loudly; ten 

 minutes after, about eight wild dogs came up the glen 

 and drank. Night now set in, and the moonlight very 

 faint. Presently an occasional loud displacement of 

 rock and stone announced the approach of large game: 

 it was two old bull buffaloes; they came and drank, 

 and went away without approaching within shot. Soon 

 after, fourteen buffaloes came ; but before these had fin- 

 ished drinking, they got an alarm, and charged panic- 

 stricken up the rugged mountain side. They had wind- 

 ed two lions, which came up to the fountain head, and 

 drank within eighteen yards of me, where they lay lap- 

 ping loudly, and occasionally halting for four or five min- 

 utes, but, from their light color and the masses of rock 



