174 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



to manifest indifference to my success, I should most 

 certainly have taken the law in my hands. 



Messrs. Taylor and Leask were most kind. I had 

 an invitation to take all my meals at the latter's table, 

 and took advantage of it, and for a short period enjoyed 

 the comforts of a home : very pleasant after all the 

 hardships I had suffered. But I am certain the reader 

 has been treated to a sufficiency of disagreeables, so I 

 will change the subject. 



I was still without a driver, and it was absolutely 

 necessary to procure one before going farther. My new 

 friends sent far and wide to procure one, but until they 

 succeeded, I went in for shooting, to pass the time. 

 Mr. Taylor was an excellent sportsman, and a good 

 shot; so I will give the outline of half a day's 

 performance. In his company I started after dinner to 

 ride to a neighbouring wooded ridge. We each took 

 a boy to look after the horses. A pointer of my friend's, 

 and Bonte and Bob, accompanied us. The distance we 

 had to go before commencing our sport was about three 

 miles. Scarcely had we commenced work when sundry- 

 partridges and coran were killed ; then a diker doe and 

 fawn were bagged, Bonte having a splendid course 

 after the former before he pinned it. 



The strip of wood that we were shooting was not 

 over one hundred yards wide, and a mile and a half 

 in length ; and during the whole distance we followed 

 it, game of some description was flushing in our front. 

 When near the end of the beat, my companion signalled 

 me. I joined him, and without asking questions 

 followed him up a slope on the velt. Approaching 

 its top we both went on our hands and knees till the 

 summit was reached, when, looking over, before us, 



