AN EARLY START 59 



a logarithm, but he knew what it was we were 

 going to attempt, and that if our adventure 

 were to have any chance of success, we should 

 set about it without delay. 



Before waking me, Hendrick had brewed 

 the coffee, so after hurriedly emptying a 

 pannikin and adding a few rusks to the con- 

 tents of my haversack, I seized a rifle and 

 made a start. My course lay due south, my 

 objective being the vicinity in which the troops 

 of ostriches had been visible on the previous 

 morning. It had been arranged that Hendrick 

 was to start an hour later and make a wide 

 detour to the right, for the purpose of stamped- 

 ing any birds he could manage to get to the 

 westward of. It was trusted that such birds 

 might run towards the spot where I intended 

 to lie concealed. 



The sky was clear as a crystal lens, for the 

 copious dew had caught all dust particles 

 which were left suspended in the atmosphere 

 after yesterday's outburst, and carried them 

 back to earth. The waning moon had just 

 arisen; fantastic shadows were cast by every 

 shrub and tussock. The air was cool almost 

 cold ; not a breath stirred. Every few yards I 

 stumbled over irregular heaps of soft sand, 

 varying in height, in size and in contour. 



