SECOND EXPEDITION TO SOUTH AFRICA 107 
owner, a Mr. Cock, at first unwilling to part with him, I at 
last purchased him for 15/.—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 
_ atree whilst I gave the coup de gréce 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 
_ bya 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 
_imstinct ; 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, made me 
Start to my feet, and within 100 yards of where I was standing, 
jough hidden by a belt of thorns, by a second shot I was 
directed to the waggons. I had come quite straight down upon 
n through the night: We searched for the horse next 
ing in vain ; his spoor was over-trampled by a large herd 
