38 LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS 



mounded sand between us and the plains 

 thus affording concealment. The sun was high 

 when the yokes dropped once more. The un- 

 happy oxen, now very thirsty, wandered about 

 emitting low moans of distress. Their funda- 

 mental instincts told them that no water was 

 near; their inherited faith in the wisdom and 

 power of man had, however, given them the 

 thought that relief might be provided. Sud- 

 denly, however, primordial instinct gained 

 ascendency; their minds were made up. They 

 paced, lowing, to the trail ; then advanced 

 along it at a trot. Soon the trot altered to a 

 wild gallop. To-morrow, before noon, they 

 would charge down on Gamoep and woe to 

 man or beast obstructing their course. Red- 

 eyed, and with blackened tongues extended 

 from roaring, tortured throats, they would fling 

 themselves into the pool and drink their fill. 

 At Gamoep they would remain for four restful 

 days ; then they would be brought back to our 

 camp by Piet Noona and his nephew. 



So at length we were within the dominions of 

 the Thirst King our gauntlet thrown down at 

 the gates of his wrath; we were almost within 

 the grasp of his awful hand. The last link 

 with the world inhabited by men snapped when 

 the hapless oxen disappeared over the rim of 



