CHAPTER VIII. 



The Bivouac Hotman's story Terrible misfortune Both sides of the 

 story How to find water Kemp's story Death of Mabili Single 

 Elephants to be avoided Hendrich and the Leopard A struggle for 

 life A weary night A poisonous companion The rescue Savage 

 hermits The "Trek-boken." 



ONE evening the Boers wished me to tell them something 

 about England, but by a little tact I changed the subject to 

 their own adventures, and at length persuaded one of these 

 rnen to relate what had happened to himself. I listened to 

 his words with great interest, for the locality was good for a 

 tale of thrilling adventure. The only noises that disturbed 

 the stillness of the silvery moonlight night, were the lan- 

 guage of the Kaffirs, with its low harmonious expressions, 

 the crackling of the bivouac-fire as fresh fuel was added, 

 and the distant shriek of the jackal, and laugh of the 

 hyaena, which seemed in this demon-like language to hold 

 communion with the restless spirits who dwelt in the wild 

 regions around us. 



" Water is a fine thing, and none know its value who 

 have not suffered for want of it," said Hotman, one of our 

 party. 



"Tell us your story about the elephants," asked 

 another. 



" I was shooting," said Hotman, " some years back 

 near the Pongola, and had had very good sport; the 

 season was very dry, and we had been for two days with 

 very little water, and that was rather brackish. The vlei 

 being nearly exhausted, and the oxen having sore feet, 



