CHAPTER II 



ANDRIES ESTERHUIZEN SILVERFONTEIN THE KOEKER- 

 BOOM GAMOEP SAND GROUSE OUR HORSES 

 KANXAS NIGHT IN THE DESERT 'DAWN HEAT 

 THE MIRAGE BANTOM BERG THE DUNE MONSTER 

 THE FLIGHT OF THE OXEN. 



ANDRIES Esterhuizen had lived 

 all his life on the fringe of Bush- 

 manland. His farm, Silverfontein, 

 which lay a little more than twenty miles 

 from the Ookiep Mines, had been for 

 many years the principal jumping-off place 

 for expeditions to the desert. Andries was a 

 Field Cornet, an office which empowered him 

 to arrest offenders against the law. He was a 

 typical Boer of the better class. Large-boned 

 and tall, his increased bulk had for several 

 years prevented his doing that which his 

 soud loved above all else, riding down a herd 

 of oryx. His blue, laughing eyes shone from a 

 ruddy face. His brown beard was streaked 

 with grey. His great fist could have felled 

 an ox ; the tempest of his laughter was like the 

 neighing of war-steeds. 



