66 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



Maritzburg, would not be able now to draw the wagon 

 on the flat." I required no further convincing. 



Once more we are ready to make another effort ; 

 the magic cry is given ; but my oxen refuse to pull. 

 Then commence a series of tortures double -thonging 

 those that lie down, biting and screwing the tails of 

 those that will not get up. Oh, it made my heart sick ! 

 yet what could I do but stand by and witness the 

 handsome cattle thus cruelly treated ? Several times I 

 felt disposed to remonstrate with the driver, but I 

 dared not; for well I knew he would have thrown down 

 his whip, and told me, "as I did not like his ways, 

 to drive myself." 



About this time I was getting savage ; my friend 

 had long retired to the quiet of the hotel ; and I felt 

 another crisis had been reached that required prompt 

 and decisive action. Thus I at once arranged with 

 the driver for the services of his cattle to assist mine. 

 They had to be sent for, as they were at pasture on the 

 hills ; in an hour the " herd " brought them up eight 

 powerful, well-broken, experienced oxen. Soon it was 

 arranged that he would supply the leaders, and the yoke 

 immediately behind them, also the after-oxen and the 

 yoke in front of them, while four pair of our brutes 

 filled up the intermediate space. 



By competent persons it takes but a short space of 

 time to yoke cattle ten minutes at the utmost. Time 

 was up : each beast stood in its place ; my staff of men 

 ready to assist ; the dogs were driven out from under 

 the wagon ; when again the whip sounded ; the wheels 

 creaked, revolved, and, thank God ! we were again 

 under way. In a delirium of joy, I shouted my hardest, 

 mounted my horse, and ordered Imp to go for Morris. 



