FAVOURITE POINTERS. 159 
return here. It has ended in my buying two new 
waggons, and selling the old one. . . . The great 
difference in my plans, however, is, that I have 
found a Dutchman and his little boy, who have 
agreed to accompany me. The former wanted to 
go hunting with some one, and I engaged him to go 
with me as driver and general overseer, but have 
stipulated that he shall only hunt when and where I 
think fit, as, for instance, when I leave the waggon 
standing to visit the Zambesi. Of course if he gets 
any ivory or feathers he gives me half, as is always 
done in these cases, and there may be enough to 
pay his wages as driver. His boy is a handy little 
fellow, and can take charge of a waggon." 
It was the 13th of May, when again, for the 
third time, Frank Oates started north, but the further 
tracing of his fortunes must be left to the succeeding 
chapter. Before, however, concluding the present 
period of his wanderings, the following brief extract 
may be given from another of his letters, written 
about this time, with reference to his does. He 
says : — 
" I have the nicest dog now I ever had. He is 
a pointer, and a most sensible creature. Dogs are 
indispensable here, if only to guard the waggon. 
My pointers are both well ; I had four originally, but 
sold two here when I went further into the interior. 
One poor thing is dead, and the other far from 
flourishing. It was August when I left them, having 
a difficulty in feeding so many dogs ; and now when 
I return in April, poor ' Flirt ' knows me, and won't 
