60 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



Boer is very nearly as skilful. Those that are selected 

 for leaders bell cattle are the most active, most 

 intelligent, and at the same time the most mischievous, 

 their success in villainy being the result of intelligence. 

 Watch wagons outspan, and see, as soon as all are loose, 

 if the water be distant, who takes the lead to guide 

 them to it the leader probably, or possibly an after-ox. 

 The reason why an after-ox should do this is that he 

 in all likelihood was a leader till lately, and only got 

 placed next the dissel-boom because age had increased 

 his weight, strength, and experience. Oxen that have 

 worked much together have a great dislike to their 

 places being altered at the treck-tow, and a good driver, 

 knowing this, punishes refractory beasts by giving them 

 a change. Again, all oxen have their names, and know 

 them as well as a dog does, and should invariably be 

 addressed by them. 



Two more days, a period of almost unceasing rain, 

 were spent at Ho wick in mending gear, repacking, and 

 getting ready for a fresh start. 



Now that we had got rid of our late companion, 

 Morris and I had to depend entirely on ourselves, and it 

 was a capital initiation in the troubles that were before 

 us. But the constant wet had produced its effect upon 

 both, he suffering from fever, I from incessant tooth- 

 ache of the most acute description. At length I could 

 stand the pain no longer, and although the offending 

 tooth was a large double one, I borrowed a pair of forceps, 

 and after a most determined and protracted resistance 

 extracted the supposed guilty tooth, much to the 

 astonishment of all who were aware of the operation 

 I was engaged in ; but as luck would have it, I soon 

 learned that I had made a mistake. 



