Notes on South African Hunting. 
39 
The Thirst. 
started on, discussing whether it was a lion, 
leopard, or wolf, when suddenly out it jumped 
at our side, and ran away into the bush. Even 
then we could not decide what it was, it was 
so dark; but evidently the beast had been 
wanting a horse for dinner, and was frightened 
by our voices. Presently the moon came out 
and we rode along for some hours, when, to 
our amazement, we heard the frogs croaking, 
and presently saw a little water—very little it 
looked by the moonlight. This, we thought, 
must be one of the vleys which we had been 
told would be nearly dry at that time of year. 
As the horses would not drink we went on, ex¬ 
pecting to get to water about mid-day next day. 
We rode on and on all through the next day, 
but no water appeared. Then the pack- 
horse knocked up and could travel no more; 
but as we felt sure water must be close by, this 
did not disturb us much, as we thought we 
could come back in the morning and fetch him 
on with the pack. So, at moonrise, we started 
on, taking a handful of biscuit and a tin of 
cocoa. Six miles passed, twelve, fifteen, and 
still no water. We began to get alarmed, and 
