ds,
and seeing the unknown creatures coming towards them, scampered off as
hard as they could go. Denis and Percy rushed forward to the holes
which the baboons had made, and digging eagerly with their hands, each
of them soon came to a root, and rubbing off the sand which adhered to
the outsides, put them to their mouths. Perfectly refreshing and cool
was the pulpy substance, full of the purest water. The dogs eagerly
gobbled up the portions they threw away. They went to another and
another hole, in each of which a root was found. The effect was almost
instantaneous; they at once felt refreshed and strengthened. Having
satisfied their own thirst, they found two more roots, which they gave
to the dogs; but the baboons had already extracted the roots from the
other holes, and after searching for some time they could find no more.
Although they themselves felt revived, they did not forget the object of
their expedition, and resolved to continue on; but it occurred to Denis
that as the baboons had come to the place to obtain roots, it was not
likely that they would find any water in the neighbourhood.

"That makes it more important that we should push on as fast as
possible," said Percy; "but I say, Denis, do you think there's any
chance of our getting back to the waggon to-night? It is already late."

Denis looked at the sun, which was sinking towards the west.

"Faith! I was not thinking how time was passing," he answered; "and, to
say the truth, I'm pretty sure we shan't get back, and we must make up
our minds to camp out. If we keep up a good fire to scare away the
lions and other savage beasts, there will be no danger and no great
hardship."

Percy, who did not like the thought of passing the night in the
wilderness, proposed that they should strike away to the right, or about
due east, in the expectation of falling in with the track of the waggon,
which he hoped might have been able to move on. Denis was of opinion
that there was no chance of their getting as far before nightfall, and
that it was very possible the oxen might not have been found, or if they
had been found, that they would have been able to make much progress
towards the north.

"We shall be wiser if we continue our search for water, and look out for
some food; for now--thanks to the roots--my thirst is quenched, and I am
getting very peckish," he added.

"So am I," said Percy; "but I am too anxious to get back to the waggon
to think mu