

TRAMP TO THE WAGGONS. 141 



lling to do my bidding. So the doe and young 

 buck were soon skinned, cut up, and on their way 

 to my waggon, which service I paid for with the 

 body of the ostrich. The price might appear high, 

 but I do not hanker after the flesh of an old bird 

 of this species. The only rival it has in giving jaw 

 exercise is an owl. Between the two it must be a 

 tight race ; if there are any odds, I think I should 

 bet upon the owl. 



I have said that I anticipated that I had ten 

 miles to go before reaching the waggons. I should 

 have been more correct if I had said fourteen or 

 fifteen, for it was nearly midnight ere I regained 

 their friendly shelter, although my companions and 

 myself had pushed on at our very best pace. The 

 tramp was not by any means a lively one, for the 

 night was dark and the face of the heavens, from 

 the heavy scud that was drifting overhead, indicated 

 a probable near approach of stormy weather. The 

 scent of the meat we carried, moreover, had brought 

 a number of hyaenas and jackals on our trail, the 

 former of which, on several occasions, became so 

 bold as to receive a salute from some of the men's 

 assegais. Whether, in the uncertain light, any 

 successful shots with these weapons were made, I 

 cannot say, although one beast sung out most lustily. 

 When only a short distance intervened between 

 ourselves and the camp I thought I heard a distant 

 note familiar to my ears. Stopping to listen, it was 



