CHAPTER XV 
ANOTHER GAP IN OUR RANKS 
Give thy thoughts no tongue 
Hamlet 
Ay, but to die, and go we know not where 
Measure for Measure 
The poor pony which the leopard had pounced upon 
was now in grievous plight, hardly able to drag itself 
along, and the condition of his wounds, though we 
had done all we could, can better be imagined than 
described. I judged it kindest to read the death 
warrant, and the unfortunate creature was led away 
from camp, going very painfully, to be shot. His 
knell rang out as we were dressing, and rather spoilt 
our breakfast. We had grown by this time to be 
quite fond of all the ponies ; even “ Sceptre 55 counted 
as a friend of standing. 
Leaving Joh about 8.30, we passed the spot where 
the men had buried our steed, not deeply, I fear, and 
as the caravan came up a great horde of yellowish 
animals ceased their depredations and made off. 
Cecily, who was walking, dropped one, I am glad to 
say, and the others loped away at break-neck speed. 
It was a fine vicious-looking animal, the sort of creature 
you would not care to meet if it happened to be hungry, 
and we afterwards knew it to be a Cape hunting-dog. 
