CHAPTEE XVIII. 



AN OBJECTIONABLE HOST TRAVELLING COMPANIONS. 



A Rough and Ready Entertainment The Pests of the Stock-Farmer A Sheriff 

 in Pursuit A Character Fond of Brandy and Snuff Uninviting Premises 

 A Sunday Dinner Dirty Habits My Host imperturbable Request for 

 more Drink A Fair Exchange A Mongrel Another Useless Cur 

 Macguire Bitten by a Snake Cured Worried by the other Dogs Two 

 Travelling Boers Description A Cross-examination Repository of Secrets 

 A Chance of Marriage My Captain's Biscuits become Inhabited Beware 

 of Microscopical Examinations Bee-eater Supposed New Species Cow 

 and her Calf against Three Hyaenas The Cowardly Assailants Knocked 

 over Aard-wolf A Solomon An Offer to Barter A Strange Fence 

 My Companions depart I arrive at Jacobsdal Commotion among the 

 Population A Canny Scot My Host and his Family I reach Zeerust 

 Mr. Niccoti Winkle. 



NEXT day we entered Leichtberg, a straggling village of 

 adobe, or semi-dried brick houses. Each dwelling had 

 an extensive garden in front of it, running down to the 

 road, and apparently bearing prolific crops of vegetables, 

 chief among which appeared the water-melon and 

 tomato. Passing through, we outspanned on the 

 north side of the village, and ere the coffee was made 

 I was joined by several of the inhabitants, among 

 whom were an Englishman and his son. Spreading 

 my rugs upon the ground, and producing my chairs, I 

 made all as comfortable as I could ; and that they were 

 satisfied with the entertainment, which consisted of 

 as much coffee and biscuit as they could drink and 

 eat, with a petit verre de cognac after, was apparent in 

 their bonhomie manner, so different from what had 



