STRENGTH OP THE STORM. 437 



tent door ; but the tent itself, owing to the pre- 

 cautions taken of securing it firmly on the previous 

 evening, gallantly withstood the shock. 



The servant had not found time to arouse Mac- 

 kenzie and Norman, on whom in consequence the 

 storm burst while they were still lying on their 

 beds, and they had actually to exert force to retain 

 their positions. The first fierce gust past, however, 

 all three dragged their beds into the little bechoba, 

 which was just large enough to contain them when 

 carefully arranged. 



For a couple of hours the rain continued to pour 

 down in torrents ; and all being wet, the remaining 

 portion of the night was passed in decided dis- 

 comfort. 



Directly the sun rose everything was spread out 

 in its rays to be dried. The tent was taken to 

 pieces also, and subjected to the same genial in- 

 fluence ; for in its present saturated state its weight 

 was too greatly increased to be easily portable. The 

 worst effect of the storm, however, was the condition 

 to which it had brought the guns, which, only after 

 much time and trouble, were rendered fit for use. 



As the hunters intended shooting their way along 

 the march it being reported that antelope were 

 plentiful it was the more necessary to get the 

 guns into working order, though the necessary 



