86 THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 



Distant grass fires were wonderfully beautiful after 

 dark, throwing a glare into the heavens, and running 

 forward in long wavering lines of flame. Some of it 

 had crept to the top of the other side of the very dis- 

 tant hills, where first it showed like a star, and then burst 

 forth into a beacon. The high wind continued all night. 



Six hours; i2| miles; elevation, 6,250; morning, 60; 

 noon, 69; night, 60. 



August 9. — Since we sent back the syce and our 

 saddles, we are packing the mules. Sent out a relief 

 expedition to help Dolo and carry donkey loads if 

 necessary. 



Then Cuninghame and I started off together to ex- 

 plore. For an hour and a half we skirted the base of 

 the mountain, then crossed a small stream called the 

 Dorodedi where in some rocks we saw hyrax. From 

 this point Cuninghame headed straight west across the 

 plain toward the single lone kopje to scout for water for 

 the next camp, and I swung down to the left to look 

 over the game. Stacks of game — Tommy, Robertsi, 

 kongoni, zebra, ostrich, small antelope, and several 

 black compact herds of wildebeeste like ink spots in 

 the distance. A strong fresh wind blew from the east 

 and everything was wild and suspicious. Very hard to 

 shoot as the wind was strong enough to swing the gun, 

 and most of it had to be offhand, on account of the 

 long grass. Missed a Tommy twice at 120 yards. 

 Then after an interval missed a first shot at a Robertsi 



