he had, as usual, been the one to see the wildebeeste 

 and had * given the word ' in time ; the rest was only 

 one straight shot. That was fair partnership in which 

 both were happy ; but there was nothing to talk 

 about. 



There was very little wanton shooting with us, 

 for when we had more fresh meat than was re- 

 quired, as often happened, it was dried as * bultong ' for 

 the days of shortage which were sure to come. 



I started off early next morning with the boys to 

 bring in the meat, and went on foot, giving Snow- 

 ball a rest, more or less deserved. By nine o'clock 

 the boys were on their way back, and leaving 

 them to take the direct route I struck away east- 

 wards along the line of the pools, not expecting 

 much and least of all dreaming that fate had one of 

 the worst days in store for us : " From cloudless 

 heavens her lightnings glance " did not occur to 

 my mind as we moved silently along in the bright 

 sunshine. 



We passed the second pool, loitering a few minutes 

 in the cool shade of the evergreens to watch the green 

 pigeons feeding on the wild figs and peering down 

 curiously at us ; then moved briskly into more open 

 ground. It is not wise to step too suddenly out of the 

 dark shade into strong glare, and it may have been that 

 act of carelessness that enabled the koodoo to get off 

 before I saw them. They cantered away in a string with 

 the cows in the rear, between me and two full grown 

 bulls. It was a running shot end on and the last 

 of the troop, a big cow, gave a stumble ; but catching 



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