1 68 THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



Having some time to wait, I lit my pipe an< 

 took a quiet survey of the surroundings. They 

 were indeed charming, the trees and grass being 

 abundant and green from the dampness of the 

 situation, while the rocks and boulders that over- 

 looked the expanse of this miniature valley were 

 of that soft reddish tinge that never fails to give 

 a mellow, warm tint to the landscape. In the 

 sky, with the exception of a few fleecy fragments, 

 there was not what could properly be designated 

 a cloud, and the sun, though bright, had not yet 

 become sufficiently powerful to be objectionable. 

 Moreover, there was just sufficient breeze stealing 

 down the kloof to make outdoor exercise attractive. 

 After being occupied for a quarter of an hour, or 

 thereabouts, inhaling into my soul the beauties 

 of the scene that surrounded me, and appreciating 

 the enjoyable circumstances under which I witnessed 

 them, I heard the preconcerted signal which was 

 to announce that the beat had commenced ; so 

 forthwith my pipe went into my pocket, and all 

 the attention of myself and boys was devoted to 

 the object of our vigil. 



Wild animals become wonderfully soon aware 



