252 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



marked with black and white in fact, was just such 

 an animal as the eye of any one, connoisseur or not, 

 would have rested on with admiration. Having men- 

 tioned one of the dramatis persona who nourished in 

 what I am about to relate, I will give an outline ot 

 another. This was. a large, powerful bay horse, with 

 black points. Although not possessed of much speed, 

 it was very lasting and steady under fire, and had the 

 reputation of being the best elephant-horse in the 

 country. Being saulted although past mark of mouth 

 it cost one hundred and twenty pounds in Marico, 

 nearly two hundred miles to the south, so was of 

 considerably more value here. 



In accordance with my habit, I was ahead, walk- 

 ing about fifty yards in front of my leading-cattle, 

 with three or four of the dogs about me, when the 

 young trader came up and joined me. His conversa- 

 tion commenced with the remark, that he did not like 

 the appearance of the night, and that if lions were 

 about the ford, they would be certain to be up to 

 mischief. 



" What makes you think so ? " I inquired. 



" Just the night for them : on a clear night, or a 

 calm night, you have little to fear from them. They 

 will roar and make a row ; but when they do that you 

 need not trouble your head about them ; but on such a 

 night as this, they are as silent as a mute, and the first 

 thing you know about them is that they are on the 

 back of an ox or a horse. Captain, why don't you 

 carry your gun ? You might want it here, I tell you, 

 and I would not just keep so far ahead of the fore- 

 loper." 



So with him I returned to get my double -barrel, 



