e deserved a better fate."

Gozo, however, who was influenced by no such feelings, immediately set
to work to cut up the buffalo, and to preserve some of the more valuable
parts of the meat, but Denis suggested that in consequence of the state
of irritation the creature had been in, it could not be wholesome.

The Kaffir, however, laughed at this notion, and declared that it would
make no difference. Denis begged that he would be quick about it, as
Percy especially was suffering from thirst.

The Kaffir suggested that he should drink some of the blood, but Percy
naturally shuddered at the idea, and declared that the very thought of
it made him feel less thirsty.

"A proof that you are not dying of thirst," observed Denis. "However,
you are perfectly right. The chances are, had you followed Gozo's
advice, you would have been made very ill."

The Kaffir having secured a portion of the meat in a tree, and covered
it over with part of the hide, some boughs being placed on the top of
all, they rode on as fast as their tired horses could go in the
direction of the stream. They carried some of the meat, both of the
buffalo and wildebeest, with them, but to eat it would have been
impossible until they had quenched their thirst.

At last Gozo shouted out, "See, see! there is the water!" and they
caught sight below them of a stream glittering in the sun as it wound
its way through the broad valley. Their horses appeared to have seen it
also, for they moved forward with more alacrity than heretofore.
Presently, as they rounded a thicket, up sprang just before them a herd
of waterbok.

"Whollop-a-hoo!" cried Denis, his usual hunting cry, and he dashed
forward. "Venison will be better than tough wildebeest or heated
buffalo meat."

Reining in, as he was close to the animals, he fired, and brought one of
them down.

"Hurrah!" cried his companions.

"We must have another!" he exclaimed. "Lionel, see what you can do.
Gozo, stop and look after the beast I have shot;" and he rode forward,
loading as he went.

Lionel got ahead of him, and also pulling up fired, and stopped the
career of another of the herd.

"Capital!" cried Denis. "If we kill nothing else to-day, we shall have
done very well."

There was certainly no chance of their catching the rest of the
waterbok, which, dashing down to the river, swam across, and were
half-way up the opposite bank before the horsemen had reached the brink.
A little higher up