doo
would make their appearance, sorely tempting the hunters to go in chase.
Hendricks, however, was anxious to proceed as fast as he could through
the country, until he could reach a region where elephants and other
more valuable animals abounded.

Although the sun was intensely hot during the day, the air was pure and
exhilarating, especially in the early morning. Day after day the party
travelled on, occasionally passing near kraals, but Hendricks generally
avoided them, unless he wished to do a stroke of trade with the
inhabitants. The country as they advanced became wilder and rougher,
and game of all sorts abounded, so that after outspanning in the
afternoon, the hunters who went out with their guns never failed to
bring back an ample supply of meat for the camp. When there was time,
and there was more than was required for immediate consumption, the
flesh, whether of deer, or quagga, or gnu, was cut up into long strips,
and after being slightly salted, was strung up, either outside the
waggon, or on a rope fastened from it to a tree, where it quickly dried
in the warm air. The meat thus prepared is called beltong, and requires
no further cooking to suit the palate of the hunter. It is to be sure
somewhat hard, but not bad tasted. Even the flesh of the quagga, which
few white men would eat willingly, becomes, when thus prepared,
tolerably palatable.

Occasionally it was necessary to give the oxen a rest, when they might
regain, on an abundant pasture, their strength, exhausted by the toils
they had encountered.

Next time they stopped, Denis, Percy, and Lionel agreed that they would
go hunting together, so that they might have all the glory to
themselves; for, should they accompany Hendricks and Umgolo, or even
Crawford, who had become a good shot and a daring hunter by this time,
they would, as Denis observed, "not have a chance of shooting anything."

Two days after this, having arrived at a suitable spot, away from any
kraal, where there was an abundance of grass, and a stream of bright
water flowing at the bottom of the valley; their leader calling a halt,
the oxen were outspanned and the camp formed. As there was sure to be
plenty of game in the neighbourhood, the three lads at once made
arrangements for their trip. As their steeds had merely followed
quietly behind the waggon, they were perfectly fresh, and it was settled
that they should ride them. They agreed also to take with them a Kaffir
s