418 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



road eight or ten deep ; the advance-guard of this 

 regiment I could not see, and the rear-guard appeared 

 equally distant. Many of them were nearly a foot 

 long, and as thick as a child's wrist. Their skins I had 

 constantly found on the velt previously, bleached as 

 white as snow, and consequently looking at a distance 

 more like a shin-bone of some large mammal than any- 

 thing else, yet never for a moment had I believed that 

 they existed in such countless numbers. These are not 

 to be confounded Vith centipedes, for between the two 

 there is no resemblance, except that they both seem to 

 have more legs than they know what to do with. 



But what is that patter, patter, coining rapidly over 

 the firm sand behind me ? A glance back reveals an old 

 familiar and dear face it is Bonty, the only dog that 

 has come scathless through the battle. Dear old fellow, 

 he would not let me go alone ; possibly he thought he 

 might yet be of assistance ; and, faithful to the last, had 

 followed me up to give his aid, if called upon. Between 

 Bonty and the mare existed great affection. When the 

 latter has been feeding, probably half a mile from the 

 wagon, I have seen the former of his own accord go and 

 visit her, remain long enough to say, " How do you do ? 

 Feel all right to-day ? No suspicious characters about," 

 and then return in the most matter-of-fact way. Bonty 

 was not by any means a gushing dog; but what he 

 said he really meant. 



Again Ruby wants to be moving; gaily and easily 

 she covers the ground, so that at half-past eleven I am 

 at the dry river-bed, close to Kama's cattle kraals. After 

 some searching, I find a pool, the mare has a drink, a 

 roll in the sand, and half-an-hour's leave to pick up 

 some mouthfuls of grass. I had finished eating, when 



