OF THE OLD -WOULD. 33D 



But he rode well, and carried a goat's skin full of 

 water, some grog, and a couple of bottles of cognac, 



S was armed with a double fowling-piece ; the 



Dutchman with a huge antediluvian single rifle, 

 nearly six feet in length, called a ' roah ;' and I had 

 my pet double rifle (ten-gauge), loaded with Jacob's 

 cylindro-conical balls, and a smooth-bore of the 

 same calibre, besides pistols in my holsters. "We 

 followed the trail for some time, passing through 

 a series of grassy plains, separated from each other 

 by copses of the delicate-leaved mimosa, covered 

 with golden-yellow blossoms, which emitted a de- 

 lightful perfume, until we came to a river, the banks 

 of which were covered with reeds, twenty yards in 

 breadth ; and as the stream was low, there havinrr 

 been a drought for some time, we managed to find a 

 ford, the water coming up to our saddle-girths. 

 When we arrived at the other side, we perceived 

 from the slots that the herd had scattered over the 

 plain, as if they had been suddenly alarmed ; and, 

 on closer investigation, we found the pugs of two 

 full-grown lions and a pair of half-grown cubs, 

 which fully accounted for the panic that had taken 

 place. It was evident that these animals had been 

 im-king in a mimosa-grove, by the side of the river, 

 and lying in wait for their prey as they came to 

 drink ; and, from the freshness of the pugs, I felt 

 sure they could not be far ofi", so I followed their 

 spoor for about a mile over the plain, (which was 

 hard, firm, and good riding-ground,) until I came 



