142 



THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



long treks over moderately heavy ground brought 

 us to the expected vley, the water of which we 

 found in such a filthy state as to be utterly useless 

 for all human purposes. Nevertheless, the bullocks 

 drank abundantly and the horses and dogs sparingly, 

 so we resolved tp make as short a stay in the 

 vicinity as possible. 



Another reason for not delaying our departure 

 was that the grass in the neighbourhood had been 

 cropped so closely by the game that there was 

 scarcely an ox's mouthful to be obtained in an acre. 

 The edges of a horsepond in a farmyard could not 

 have been more thoroughly kneaded than were those 

 of this slough, while the variety of spoor indented 

 upon its margin was sufficient to warm the heart of 

 a sportsman, and drive into ecstasy the dabbler in 

 natural history. Accompanied by my Totties I made 

 a tour of inspection, but could not detect the slightest 

 trace of evidence that the king of -beasts had been 

 in the vicinity. I had almost expected this to be 

 different, for where the wild game assembles in force, 

 there His Majesty is almost certain to be found. This 

 pan of water was surrounded on every side by 

 dense brush ; thus, without searching for it, we had 



