188 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



even yelled at them, but all was of no avail ; the 

 spring-bucks bounded away gloriously, and the dogs 

 did their best to overtake them. 



I told Umganey to bring the horse to prevent 

 mischief being done, but Jacob, who had been con- 

 versing with the old lady, assured me that there was no 

 necessity for that : they were hunted by the dogs of 

 every wagon that passed ; that if they took a run out 

 on the velt now, they would find their way back at 

 milking-time. 



I do not know an animal that makes a more grace- 

 ful, attractive pet than a spring-buck : they appear 

 capable of great attachment, and are well able to dis- 

 criminate who are their friends. Mrs. Leask of Klerks- 

 dorp had one ; it played with the children, bullied 

 the dogs, and walked about the village as if conscious 

 that it was as worthy a member of the community as 

 any one in it, as I daresay it was. In the morning it 

 was in the habit of crossing the river and going out 

 on the velt to feed, where it would associate with the 

 wild ones, still never failed to return at night. It 

 ate almost anything of a vegetable character, from 

 bread to fruit, and was particularly fond of sugar. 

 Strange dogs would occasionally chase it, but its 

 speed was so great that it soon distanced them. 

 Like many pets, the poor thing came to grief. It 

 returned one day from its wanderings with a broken 

 leg : efforts were made to set it, but all that could 

 be done by a kind master was of no avail, and after 

 a lingering illness it had to be destroyed. 



The same estimable lady had a pair of crowned 

 cranes (called by the Boers mahems), which are equally 

 deserving of notice as pets. They were so tame that 



