230 A Breath from the Veldt 



must have been killed. As it was, two of them were buried in the sand 

 underneath the fore part of the waggon, where we found them lying groaning 

 on their sides, while two more were floored under the disselboom, and the rest 

 wound up in the harness like a fly-fisher's cast in a tree. It was not a cheering 

 spectacle, and I need hardly say we made all haste to extricate the unfortunate 

 animals from their dangerous position. To throw the stores on one side and 

 each seize and lift at a wheel was the work of a minute, but even then we 

 found our united efforts only able to heave the cumbersome thing slightly. It 

 was a good quarter of an hour before all the donkeys were extricated ; and 

 after that experience I think that proverb about the cat might well be applied 

 to the patient and long-suffering creature which is always held up to ridicule. 



Three hours elapsed before we were again on our way, for, strange to say, 

 none of the team seemed much the worse for the accident. So on we went 

 again till nightfall, in the hope of finding water or natives. And now we 

 were fairly in a fix. The donkeys could never reach the Nuanetsi again with- 

 out water, and we had only one kettleful for the four of us. The old man 

 and I sat and discussed the situation. For ourselves we had no fear, as we 

 were only about fifteen miles from the river and I had brought " Brenke," the 

 Basuto pony, with me ; but there seemed every prospect of having to abandon 

 the donkeys, for they were done up. Finally we determined to struggle on 

 after a night's rest towards the line of hills before us, beneath which we hoped 

 to find water, if only the donkeys would last out so far. 



We had just settled this when we heard the weird thump of a native 

 tomtom echoing in the distance — the sweetest sound that could have greeted 

 our ears at that moment. Leaving orders for Prince to inspan again, my 

 companion and I hurried on in the direction of the sound, and soon came on 

 a small mealie patch, near which were seated a Shangan and his two wives. 

 Oom addressed him in Zulu, and, to our great joy, he took us to a water-hole 

 close by, where we found refreshment of a sort for man and beast. And then, 

 after some bargaining, the native, who seemed intelligent, said he would return 

 on the morrow and take us to a big spruit half-way between the Nuanetsi and 

 the Lundi, where we should find a trail to the river. 



About midnight I was awakened by excited voices, and, seizing my rifle, out 

 I tumbled in a hurry. One of the young donkey foals, straying away from 

 the others, had galloped up to the fire closely pursued by some large animal — a 

 big hyasna it seemed — and Oom was now sitting up, rifle in hand, with intent 

 to slaughter. Presently a big grey body loomed up about ten yards away, and 



