E 



HALF-WAY between the Crocodile and Komati Rivers, 

 a few miles south, of the old road, there are half a 

 dozen or more small kopjes between which lie broad 

 richly grassed depressions, too wide and flat to be 

 called valleys. The fall of the country is slight, yet 

 the rich loamy soil has been washed out in places 

 into dongas of considerable depth. There is no 

 running water there in winter, but there are a few 

 big pools long narrow irregularly shaped bits of 

 water with shady trees around them. 

 I came upon the place by accident one day, and 

 thereafter we kept it dark as our own preserve ; for it 

 was full of game, and a most delightful spot. It was 

 there that Snarleyow twice cleaned out the hunter's 

 pot. 



Apart from the discovery of this preserve, the day 

 was memorable for the reason that it was my first 

 experience of a big mixed herd ; and I learned that 

 day how difficult the work may be when several kinds 

 of game run together. After a dry and warm morning 

 the sight of the big pool had prompted an offsaddle ; 



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