SIGNALS OF DISTRESS. 117 



thus one of the finest specimens of horns that I ever saw on 

 an eland's head was lost. The animal must have miserably 

 perished in some ravine, and found an ignoble tomb in the 

 maws of hyaenas and wolves, instead of assisting at the 

 festivities of our al fresco repast, or adding strength to 

 the sinews of some worthy Dutch Boer, his " vrow " or 

 " kinders." 



We did not reach the outspanned waggons until long 

 after dark, and were directed to them by the firing kept 

 up at intervals by the Hottentots at the waggons. 



There is an established custom in Africa, that when any 

 one is absent from the nightly gathering, a man is sent on 

 to the nearest rise, when, putting the muzzle of his gun 

 close to the ground, he fires the two barrels in quick 

 succession: this is repeated at short intervals, and on a 

 still night the report is heard many miles off. Should any 

 one be lost, or in distress, at any time, the same signal 

 from him serves to indicate it. I asked all the Dutchmen 

 into my tent, and we had our beef and bread brought in 

 hot-and-hot, with a steaming basin of tea from the 

 bivouac-fire. I had with me a plentiful supply of brandy 

 and gin, which I distributed to my guests with a free 

 hand. They talked a great deal, the run we had had being 

 the principal topic; they were generous enough to say 

 that they thought I should have killed the eland at once, 

 had I been allowed to go off after him. 



I was much amused to discover by their conversation 

 in what poor estimation they held English sportsmen 

 generally. Many of my gallant friends (oracles in their 

 sporting world) would be struck dumb with horror if they 



