Lost at Nightfall. 253 



fact while some daylight remains, and to make 

 timely preparations for passing the night on the 

 A'eldt, such as choosin2: a o^ood tree to A\'hich to 

 attach vour horse, and collecting an jimple stock 

 of tire wood to last through the night. If these 

 preparations are postponed too long, darkness super- 

 venes, and the hunter is helpless. Also, if being- 

 lost on the veldt you happen to kill a buck, choose 

 your resting-jDlace for the night some distance 

 away from the dead game, Avliich is likely to 

 attract either wohes oi' lions, in whose Aicinity at 

 night it is well not to l^e. I found my way to the 

 road, and shortly afterwards to the waggons, without 

 much difficulty, and despatched the ''Baboon" to 

 search for and bring in the two dead buck, A\diicli 

 task he successfully accomplished l)efore dark. 



At sundown I was surprised l^y the arri\'al of 

 Messrs. Perkins and Rolker, A^'llo I thought had 

 gone with Captain Williams along the loAver road. 

 Thev brought the somewhat gloomy intelligence 

 that the span of oxen which had been hired for 

 the Scotch cart had strayed and been lost, oAving 

 to the carelessness ol' our lioys, and that Captain 

 Williams had remained behind to try and recover 

 them. L^p to this moment nothing had been heard 

 of these lost oxen, although parties Avere sent in 

 all directions to search for them, and Captain 

 AVilliams eA^entually arrived at Hartley Hill with 

 another span, AAdiich had been kindly lent him by 

 the officials of the Chartered Company. On the 

 foUoAvino; mornino- 3Iessrs. Perkins and Piolker 

 proceeded on their A\'ay, Avhile I contented mA'sell' 



