

ANTICIPA TIONS DISAPPOINTED. 49 



to the waggon, and with hurried steps we pursued 

 the remainder of our journey. No doubt we 

 rejoiced that the storm had passed ; but if I and 

 my Kaffirs did so, every creature imbued with life 

 appeared to do likewise. Thus the francolins and 

 korans, which had formerly been silent, now piped 

 and chattered from every ant-heap ; while the gor- 

 geous bee-eaters, sugar-birds, brilliant orioles, and 

 sociable grosbeaks disported themselves in every 

 direction. Even the grasshoppers and lizards had 

 found a voice, and with it seemed to thank the 

 Creator of the Universe that the danger had now 

 passed. Of course, after the rain the trecking was 

 heavy, but my fat and young bullocks, with a light 

 load behind them, soon traversed the intermediate 

 space to our new camping-ground. 



In a well-organized hunting expedition, every 

 member of it has his allotted task to perform ; thus, 

 when a halt is called, some are employed in cutting 

 thorn bushes to make the cattle kraal, while others 

 gather fuel for the night fires, or assist the cook 

 in preparing the evening meal. Where we had 

 outspanned timber was not abundant, and what 

 we obtained there was so saturated with the late 

 rain that it was not without considerable difficulty 

 a fire could be made from it. As the sky had 

 become clear and bright, master as well as man 

 anticipated a dry night ; but, as the sun went down, 

 dark opaque clouds again commenced rising to 



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