278 



A Breath from the Veldt 



have got. We saw also before mid-day a troop of Roi Rhebuck on the hill- 

 side, and three koodoo cows. Then — about two in the afternoon — we struck 

 the spoor of the big buffalo herd, which were evidently trekking. Under 

 some hills, Clas said, was a half-dried watercourse where they might have 

 gone ; so we followed the spoor for about three miles, coming at length to 

 some large pools where the animals had obviously stayed for several days. On 



I 



St^^ti^yf 



A LION ROARING, SITTING DOWN 



then again, following the spoor to the base of some mountains, where we 

 finally gave up the pursuit, satisfied that the buffaloes had crossed right over 

 the mountains, and were heading for the lower part of the Bubye. 



We now turned homewards with a long journey before us ; and in 

 following up the watercourse a fine waterbuck ram sprang up within a few 

 yards of us. Both Van Staden and I hit him badly as he went slowly away, 

 and ultimately bagged him without difficulty ; but this necessitated a con- 

 siderable delay, and it was evening before we again reached the foot of Matexe 



