SECOND EXPEDITION TO SOUTH AFRICA 107 



owner, a Mr. Cock, at first unwilling to part with him, I at 

 last purchased him for i5/. a large price then ; but he was 

 worth it. He had just done his 140 miles in thirty hours, 

 including five hours off saddling at Cradock. I was unfortunate 

 with my horses, and lost this one early in the campaign. I 

 had shot an eland or two just beyond the first chooi, and, 

 being alone, had tied ' Vonk ' (spark), as the men called him, to 

 a tree whilst I gave the coup de grace to the game. This done, 

 I walked up to loose him and remount ; but as I thought- 

 lessly placed my hand on the rein he got scent of the blood, 

 and suddenly starting back, broke away. I followed him a 

 long while, every moment hoping to catch him, as he let me 

 come quite close and then trotted on, feeding quietly till I 

 came up to him again. At length I grew weary and angry, 

 and twice covered him with the gun, that I might at all events 

 save my saddle and bridle ; but twice I relented the creature 

 was too good and too tame to shoot, and there was a chance 

 that I might find him next morning if he were not killed 

 by a lion during the night. So I let him go, and just before 

 sundown set my face towards the waggons, the encampment 

 lying ten miles off. I walked really, I think, for once by 

 instinct ; it was soon dark, and after three hours, afraid of 

 going astray, I decided upon making a fire and camping out, 

 knowing I should find the wheel-tracks next morning if I did 

 not overshoot them. I took out my tinder-box and trying 

 to strike a light, dropped the flint, and was on my knees 

 feeling for it on the ground with my head down, when a 

 muffled shot, which I at first took for a lion's pant s made me 

 start to my feet, and within i oo yards of where I was standing, 

 though hidden by a belt of thorns, by a second shot I was 

 directed to the waggons. I had come quite straight down upon 

 them through the night. We searched for the horse next 

 morning in vain ; his spoor was over-trampled by a large herd 

 of quaggas, and for two years I never heard any more of him ; 

 when I ascertained a wandering party of Barolongs had found 

 him in the veldt, and, unable to catch him, had driven him 



