152 



THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



possible to imagine, for his limbs were no thicker 

 than broomsticks ; yet his stomach protruded to an 

 extent quite impossible to be imagined by a person 

 not acquainted with the race. On the other hand, the 

 little imp had a bright, merry eye, with a mouth that 

 appeared destined for constant laughter. He was, I 

 should think, about twelve years of age ; his manner 

 and intelligence said that he could not be less ; still, 

 I doubt if he exceeded four feet in height. 



A species of iguana is very common in nearly 

 all parts of South Africa, some of which grow to a 

 considerable size. One of these brutes I spied in 

 the river bed. Its attitude indicated that it was 

 alarmed, and that it would be off into the reeds in 

 another moment, so I fired a barrel at it. The shot 

 was not deadly, but the reverse, for it seemed to put 

 new life into the creature ; for, with a spring in the air 

 and a couple of summersaults, it gained the water, 

 which it soon lashed into a strong resemblance of 

 soap-suds. I would now have given the stricken 

 creature another barrel, and probably so ended matters, 

 but that my retriever, my black boy, had not been 

 taught to down charge, so rushed after the prey, 

 directly in my line of fire. This tadpole of a creature 



