NEVER GIVE IN. 121 



opened his mouth from ear to ear. The vision of 

 a future picking of the bones of two pauws was 

 sufficient pleasure in anticipation to account for this ; 

 but, when he heard that I had knocked over another 

 and that it could not be found, sorrow took the 

 place of mirth and regret that of anticipation. 



My sable attendant was a good " spoorer," but, 

 from the ground being dry and the grass withered, 

 it was no easy task to ask him, skilled as he was, 

 to unravel the mystery, more especially as I had 

 tramped a good deal over the locality. I pointed out 

 to him exactly where I thought the bird fell. Round 

 and round it he circled, at length gave a grunt, 

 and in satisfied words explained, "Him down!" 

 After that, noting the direction of the wind, he 

 made a cast skilful as ever was made by veteran 

 huntsman picked up the trail, ran it a short distance, 

 lost it, then took it up again. At length he came 

 to a dead stop. This was not to be wondered at, 

 for karroo brush grew here and there through the 

 veldt grass, thus affording considerable covering 

 to the soil. Mounting my mare and bearing my 

 troph^.s, I followed at a slow pace, now beginning 

 to despair of success ; but " never give in " is a 



