OVER ROLLING STONES 267 



in the forenoon, and had continued steadily all day, 

 so that the tents had to be pitched under a severe 

 drizzle, which was by no means useful for our bedding. 

 We hoped to be able to get out shooting early next 

 morning, but the weather prevented this ; in fact, it 

 poured all day, and it was not until the evening that 

 the clouds gradually dispersed. Our cattle-driver had 

 not turned up in the afternoon, and want of meat was 

 beginning to be felt, when at last he arrived, saying 

 that he had lost his way in the hills, and had been 

 in search of us the whole day. I was much dis- 

 concerted about the big ram which J had wounded, 

 though I still cherished hopes of finding him again, 

 notwithstanding that we were now a good six hours' 

 ride from the ground where we lost him. 



Next morning, August 2nd, the weather being- 

 bright, we both started early to our new ground. 

 Littledale went up a valley in a southern direction 

 towards the higher snow-covered hills, whilst I went 

 westwards into country as yet unexplored by us. It 

 was freezing hard when we issued from our tents, and 

 the day was a promising one. We rode for three 

 hours, Taba and I, over nasty rolling stones, and 

 across swampy ravines, without catching sight of a 

 single animal. On reaching a row of grey, craggy 

 hills, Taba suddenly stopped me, saying it was no use 



