WHO WILL STALK? 71 



asked, " Who will stalk ? " my heart sank within me, for 

 I expected to hear as noisy an " Ego '' as when a school- 

 boy cries " Quis " to a slice of plum-cake. A short 

 silence followed; and then one was so horribly tired, 

 another had a violent attack of salmon-fishing, another 

 had blistered his heel, and several preferred grousing. 

 At length, catching my host's eye, it was settled I should 

 go. Archie was warned for duty, and breakfast ordered 

 for half-past five. From that moment until I was under 

 way next morning I was in a state of anxious excite- 

 ment. The smoking-room being reached, I was soon 

 being cross-examined about my rifle Who built it ? 

 what was the groving ? how was it sighted ? &c., &c., 

 to all of which questions I could only say, " Don't know," 

 and tell the story of how I procured one at all. So it 

 was sent for, examined, and condemned, as one of the 

 stops would not work after rough usage at The Cape. 



My host sent for one of his, and put into my hand a 

 splendidly finished '450 express, saying, it was at my 

 service. It was past midnight before we retired, and 

 after setting the aneroid and cleaning a pair of binocu- 

 lars, for, in addition to having no rifle, I also had no 

 telescope, I turned into bed, thinking to myself this 

 was fifty times better fun than Doncaster, and with a 

 farewell sigh to the hundred and fifty pounds I had on 

 next day's Leger, was soon sound asleep. 



The next morning, having first assured myself it was 

 fine, and the hills free of mist, I quickly dressed, break- 

 fasted, and making sure nothing was left behind, found 

 Archie at the door with two good-looking, rough and 

 strong ponies. He was in high spirits at the wind 



