THE REDISCOVERED COUNTRY 119 



ing, led one to the right spot. Then we saw the long 

 procession of the beasts returning from the water to 

 their accustomed businesses. The great majority of 

 them plodded along the trail single file, adhering 

 strictly to the path, looking neither to right nor left, 

 being soberly respectable as suits the average middle 

 age of any body politic. But alongside capered the 

 youngsters, kicking up their heels, racing back and 

 forth, biting at each other. And always they were aided 

 and 'abetted and urged on by those striped clowns — 

 the zebras. Rank after rank, they went by, each with 

 his kind — the wildebeeste, the hartebeeste, the many 

 topi, the eland, the impalla, and all the little flanking 

 gazelles — and so over the rise of the next hill. Each as 

 he topped the ridge against the western sky stood out 

 sharp-cut, a silhouetted miniature, then dipped down 

 the other side out of sight. From the direction of the 

 waterhole rose lazily a great cloud of dust where yet 

 other hundreds of beasts were awaiting their turn, or 

 rolling luxuriously after their thirst had been assuaged. 

 Then we followed over the rise, to witness the 

 gradual fanning out of the procession. A little group 

 dropped off to right or to left, and fell to grazing. 

 Others kept on over yet more distant hills. Within 

 the half hour the great herd had broken into hundreds 

 of little groups, scattered over many miles, and count- 

 less hills and valleys. Again the green lawns were 

 covered with the black wildebeeste. 



