132 



THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



are very rare. In Spain I have often witnessed 

 the adroitness and grace with which a matador, 

 or tulero, avoids a bull's charge. A smart and ex- 

 perienced Tottie is quite as adroit as the Spaniard ; 

 of his grace we will say nothing. 



If the traveller in Africa wishes to make a long 

 and quick trek, let him do it at night, particularly 

 when there is a moon, and he will be surprised how 

 his cattle get over the road. The coolness pre- 

 vailing at those hours doubtless does much towards 

 this. At the same time I think the uncertain light 

 gives a helping hand, for in it the beasts have not 

 the power of distinguishing in the distance, pas- 

 tures by which they would love to linger or wade 

 belly deep in. 



A good start was made. The sand was nowhere 

 heavy enough to be a serious obstacle, so, with 

 the exception of an " outspan " of an hour shortly 

 after midnight, nothing took place to prevent our 

 logging a good journey. All night was to be 

 heard on either side the bleating call of springboks, 

 the whistle and rasping neigh of quahas, the gut- 

 tural, jerky note of ostrich, while the pretty little 

 jackal tittered away from the adjoining ridges, and 



