292 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



through the dogs trying to drive the king of beasts off 

 some prey he has captured. From what I could learn, 

 they give tongue when hunting, and the pack run very 

 close together when in chase. 



I yoked the cattle at half-past two, and at three I 

 discovered that one of the oxen was missing. The 

 animal in question had for some time been ill, and the 

 Boers pronounced its ailment lung-sickness. In con- 

 sequence, I had ordered the driver to pay particular 

 attention that it was kept in front of the wagon, as I 

 knew, if it were allowed to straggle behind, it would 

 probably be left to its fate and reported to me as dead. 



On questioning the driver where the ox was, he 

 coolly told me, " Dead." Why had the circumstance 

 not been reported to me before, so that I might have 

 seen the carcase ? I asked quietly. " Didn't know, and 

 didn't care " with a few choice Hottentot expressions, 

 was the answer I got. 



For a time this fellow had been so insolent that I 

 had resolved on the first good occasion to give him a 

 severe pommeling, and see the effect it would have on 

 his future conduct ; so, without an instant's delay, I 

 rushed at him. He dropped his whip, and artfully 

 doubled under my arm. Having thus cleverly escaped 

 me, I started in pursuit ; but although the wretch was 

 bandy-legged, he could run like an antelope, so, breath- 

 less, and in anything but an amiable frame of mind, I 

 gave up the chase ; and there was nothing for it but for 

 me to take the whip and drive myself. This was the 

 more annoying as there was scarcely any perceptible 

 track, and the sand was fearfully heavy. The rascal 

 disappeared, going in the direction of our yesterday's 

 encampment ; this I supposed to be a ruse to frighten 



