54 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



The cattle were then sent for. When they arrived, 

 the leaders, the most valuable animals of the whole 

 team, had been lost or stolen. In England they 

 probably would have been found ; in Natal, seldom ; not 

 that the people are less honest, but that the country, 

 from its rolling formation, is so admirably suited for 

 concealing them. 



Decision and action were the only things that now 

 could save us, and promptly I acted. A dissel-boom 

 was made, the treck-tow mended, and, after hours of 

 labour, I induced Mr. Zeiderberg to bring one of his 

 strongest teams of treck-oxen, place my beasts in the 

 yoke with them, so as to have fourteen couple before 

 the load, and thus, in spite of wind and weather, reach 

 Howick to-morrow. That night I laboured as I never 

 did before ; the rain descended in torrents, and the red 

 clayey soil filled up the wheels from hub to tire, making 

 them solid. Again and again we halted from sheer 

 exhaustion, or with the knowledge that the cattle were 

 fairly worn-out. An hour past midnight we reached 

 the summit, and outspanned amid a perfect war of 

 elements. Sleep none of us could; the soil was a quag- 

 mire, and no fire could be kept lighted. Soon after 

 break of day the cattle were again put in the yoke. 

 Mr. Zeiderberg and self had some grog and a biscuit, 

 the boys bread, and we managed at much risk and 

 no ordinary amount of trouble to ford Eeed Spruit. 

 Here we again outspanned, and breakfasted. At half- 

 past two in the day the wagon was at Howick. We 

 were all worn-out, even the cattle ; but plenty of food 

 and rest had done much to restore us to our accustomed 

 spirits and strength before evening. For this service 

 we paid Mr. Zeiderberg three pounds; he drove the 



