THE CAMP IN BECHUANA LAND. 37 



Before doing so, however, the boys surrendered the leopard kittens to Pongo and 

 Diedrick, who declared them to be two of the finest specimens they had ever seen. 

 They were given a hearty meal of goat's milk, after which they curled up in the strong 

 cage brought for such purposes in the rear of one of the large wagons, and sank 

 into dreamland, pictures of contentment and peace. 



Jack Harvey had been off on a ramble with his mustang, and had twice started 

 in pursuit of ostriches, but found it impossible to get near enough for a successful 

 shot. Consequently, he came back empty-handed, and, since Mr. Godkin hadn't 

 tried to capture anything, it will be seen that the success of the party for the day 

 was attained by Bob and Dick alone. 



The first thing done by Mr. Godkin, after the conclusion of the meal, was to 

 light his pipe, for he was an inveterate smoker. Jack Harvey did the same, since 

 he was also fond of the weed, while Bob and Dick lolled in lazy attitudes, which 

 were very restful after their long tramp. 



"We've made a pretty good beginning," remarked Mr. Godkin, " for I agree with 

 Pongo that we have two fine specimens of leopards which I hope will safely reach The 

 Greatest Show on Earth, though the voyage is a long and trying one to the animals." 



" I don't think we ought to call this a beginning," said Dick Brownell, " for Jack 

 lassoed a fine young hartbeest further east and we got an eland last week." 



The hartbeest, as you may not be aware, is found in the flat wooded districts 

 of South Africa, the eland also belonging to that part of the continent. The latter 

 is one of the largest and heaviest of all antelopes, and its flesh is excellent eating. 

 My friends disposed of many of them while pushing their way through South Africa. 



Some years ago one of the Earls of Derby attempted to domesticate the eland 

 in England, but I believe he did not meet with encouraging success. 



"We caught them so easily," said Mr. Godkin, replying to the remark of Dick, 

 " that I hardly count them." 



" But they are valuable none the less." 



" Yes, and they, too, are doing well. I hope we shall be equally fortunate with 

 what else we secure." 



"I had an easy job with that hartbeest," said the Texan; "the little fellow 

 started to run off, and I lassoed him as easy as if he had been a child. Then he 

 gave up right away and hasn't made any trouble, I believe." 



" He make no trouble he good," remarked Pongo, walking over from the other 

 group and joining his employers; " wait till we cotch oders then they not so good." 



" I think we shall have some fun to-morrow," observed Jack, removing his pipe 

 from his mouth and sending several rings of smoke toward the stars. 



The others looked inquiringly at him, but he smiled grimly and shook his head 

 with the remark: 



"I ain't going to give anything away; there may be a slip-up, but whether there 

 is or isn't, you've got to wait and see for yourselves."- 



It was useless to question him when he spoke that way, and no one did so. The 

 cousins were all eagerness, for, truth to say, though they had fully entered one ol 



