196 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



quggas, and brindled gnoos, were every where to be seen 

 the sleek variegated coats of the two former species sparkling 

 in the rays of the sun ; and the fierce little eyes of the latter 

 glistening like fire beneath their shaggy forelocks. A short 

 chase was sufficient to seal the fate of three quaggas all 

 males, averaging thirteen hands high. During the run I had 

 not seen a human being, and fancied myself alone ; but I 

 had scarcely dismounted to secure my game, when a woolly 

 head protruded inself from every bush, and in an instant I 

 was surrounded by thirty Barolongs, who having by signs 

 expressed their approbation of my performance, proceeded to 

 devour the carcass with the greatest avidity greedily drink- 

 ing the blood, rubbing the fat upon their bodies, and not 

 leaving so much even as the entrails for the birds of prey. 



" Our unfortunate cattle had now tasted no water for six- 

 and thirty hours, and we resolved to travel day and night in 

 search of this necessary of life. The sun at length departed, 

 darkness overtook us, and no moon succeeded to guide our 

 course ; when, by a singular instinct, the two horses we had 

 obtained from Captain Sutton, and which were consequently 

 acquainted with the road, suddenly separated themselves from 

 us, and galloped off. Following them up, the scream of 

 water-fowl sounded like music in our ears, and we had the 

 gratification of perceiving a pond of mephitic water a little 

 to the right of the road. Both man and beast appeared 

 simultaneously apprised of the cheering discovery water 

 was the universal cry the Hottentots rushed to the edge of 

 the pond, and throwing themselves on their faces, swallowed 

 large quantities indifferent to the crowd of horses, oxen, 

 and sheep, which followed close upon their heels. The oxen 

 in the wagons were with difficulty restrained until the yokes 

 had been removed, when impatient of their burning thirst, 

 they also rushed headlong into the now muddy pool. 



" An accident deprived us of the handsome dog that we 

 had obtained from Brother Mark Graaff, the itinerant tutor ; 



