238 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



Next afternoon I met some traders, who were out- 

 spanned, so I unyoked, to spend the night in their com- 

 pany. They had their boys busily engaged gathering 

 wood for the night-fires, as many lions had lately been 

 seen in the neighbourhood. My people, in consequence, 

 were instructed to do likewise. 



As the sun was still two hours high, we determined 

 on having a hunt, as there was an abundance of game 

 around us. They were both well mounted, and, like 

 the majority of Africanders, were fearless horsemen. 



After riding about half a mile, we were within a 

 few hundred yards of a troop of hartebeests (kama], 

 At a pre-arranged signal, off we started in pursuit as 

 fast as our nags could carry us. From the first, I found 

 that I was outpaced, and to such an extent that I pulled 

 up to watch the actions of my companions. It was a 

 glorious sight, and almost recompensed for the labour 

 and trouble I had gone through. Eegardless of holes 

 and irregularities of the ground, both traders seemed to 

 fly, while the game, no longer in doubt of their inten- 

 tions, emulated each other in their desire to be first. 

 But the horsemen by degrees, and afterwards faster, 

 commenced to overhaul them. Seventy yards barely 

 sever the pursuers from the pursued, when one of the 

 hunters drops from his horse, fires, and in a moment is 

 in the saddle, and careering in chase of the game at the 

 same headlong, break-neck pace. 



The shot has apparently been ineffective, for no 

 animal has fallen. Soon the other trader jumps off and 

 shoots, but with the same result. However, the quarry 

 are getting fagged sure sign that they are fat and 

 the hunters ride closer up to them before using their 

 weapons. Twenty yards do not part the sportsmen 



