282 A MEDLEY OF SPORT 



across the veldt. We had not proceeded far when G.'s 

 pony put a foot into an ant-bear's earth, and, turning a 

 complete somersault, gave his rider what looked to be 

 a very nasty "purler." G., who rode well under ten 

 stone, was but little the worse for his involuntary fall, 

 however, and was quickly in the saddle again. 



The first bright spears of the sun were beginning to 

 show above the horizon when we off-saddled near the head 

 of the dam. Here we held a pow-wow to instruct our 

 ebon beaters regarding the manner in which they were to 

 drive the lagoon. Having learnt their lessons, off went 

 the Kafhrs, led by a huge Zulu, who bore the unenviable 

 name of Mamba (venomous snake), and whom we had 

 instructed to give a good sjamboking to any of his fol- 

 lowers who disobeyed orders, or made too much noise 

 during the drive. While hobbling the ponies, preparatory 

 to turning them loose to nibble at anything green which 

 they might be fortunate enough to find on the boulder- 

 strewn, sun-baked veldt, a beautiful chanting goshawk 

 suddenly appeared on the scene, to the evident alarm of 

 the fowl assembled on the dam, for they instantly took 

 refuge in the dense reeds. The timely visit of the 

 goshawk augured well for sport, however, as waterfowl, 

 in common with most birds, lie very close upon sighting a 

 bird of prey. 



Having watched the natives enter the far end of the 

 lagoon until they commenced to wade through the evil- 

 smelling, breast-high slime and water in open order, 

 my companions and myself took up our respective stands 



