386 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



also imagined they could hit upon the haunts of the 

 cattle-lifters. 



Having buried our superfluous baggage, we set off 

 in light marching order as soon as the day broke ; 

 and falling upon the trail almost immediately, fol- 

 lowed it up in Indian file, as fast as the rocky nature 

 of the ground permitted. It appeared that the cul- 

 prits were six in number, as there were marks of 

 two having remained in charge of six horses some 

 short distance off, whilst four others prowled about 

 our bivouac in search of plunder. 



After a fatiguing ride of several hours' duration, 

 over hill and dale, through woods and across rivers, 

 we came to a marshy swamp which bore the appear- 

 ance of having recently been disturbed by horses' 

 hoofs ; so on we pushed with renewed vigour, and 

 I refrained from letting drive at seven gigantic 

 cranes, who, regardless of our presence, continued to 

 wade less than two hundred yards distant, which was 

 a sore temptation, as they appeared of a rare kind, 

 and I would have got them all in line with a little 

 judicious stalking. 



There could be no doubt of our being on the track 

 of the right party, as in several places I perceived 

 the trail of my baggage-pony, which was shod with 

 the broad Turkish shoe on the fore-feet,, whereas 

 none of the other animals had any. Towards noon, 

 after clambering up the steep rocky side of a low 

 ridge of hills, I perceived, in the ravine below, a 

 light column of smoke curling up from some broken 



