THE END OF THE TRAIL 135 



We at once sent a messenger back to inform the 

 Major, who was a day farther back, and the three 

 of us started at daybreak in pursuit, leaving 

 behind everything not absolutely necessary in 

 order to travel as lightly as possible. With old 

 Rensberg leading, we cut across the bush between 

 the two rivers, hit the Quito again that evening, 

 and soon saw, from there being both camel and 

 horse spoor about four days old going up-stream, 

 that the natives had reported correctly. 



That evening, whilst camp was being made, I 

 went half a mile ahead to keep a look-out and 

 watched two big koodoo bulls come down to 

 water together. It was a fine sight to see them 

 stalking to the river, occasionally stopping to 

 look round and listen or to butt at each other 

 playfully with their long graceful horns. At 

 nightfall several lions started roaring quite close 

 to the camp, and they kept me in some anxiety ; 

 our fires were not very big, and a stampede or 

 accident with our horses and mules, at any rate 

 before we had caught the runaways ahead of us, 

 we did not want. 



Lying awake, it was curious to notice how 

 indifferent our mounts were to this unpleasantly 

 loud noise ; even " Major," my own pony, a most 

 nervous and highly strung little fellow, took no 

 interest in the lions, then making their presence 

 known to all the world, though, of course, he never 

 got their wind. 



The pursuit of the Germans took us about eight 



