124 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



eyes brightened up most marvellously. I had 

 thought her inca'pable of moving. In this I was 

 mistaken, for when I tendered her a very mild 

 soupje of brandy, she turned round towards me 

 and jabbered a few words expressive of her thanks 

 and delight. Her aged husband quite won my 

 respect, from the gratitude he evinced towards me 

 for my good offices ; and, as proof that more than 

 mere gratitude of words is known amongst these 

 people, later on he brought a kid to the waggon, 

 not, as he expressed it, to sell, but as a present 

 for my attention. I further gladdened his heart 

 with some more tobacco and snuff, with an addition 

 of coffee and sugar luxuries these people have 

 learned to know and appreciate from occasional 

 contact with the Boers. 



This vley has quite a history attached to it ; it 

 was long the most favoured of Gordon Cumming's 

 hunting grounds, and in its vicinity every descrip- 

 tion of large game was killed by him. The old 

 chief remembered him well ; and when I informed 

 him that I had seen the big Highlander many 

 times in London and elsewhere, his wrinkled visage 

 became suffused with pleasure. But when I finally 

 told him that the great hunter was dead, sadness 

 seemed to overcome him, and he scarcely spoke 

 another word, but soon after departed to his kraal, 

 looking possibly in my imagination far less 

 youthful and elastic in his ""ait. 



