plan was perfectly carried out. Before the smoke cleared away they
had sprung back to their places of concealment, and had begun rapidly
reloading. The instant Denis was ready, he cautiously stepped out from
behind the trunk.

"Hurrah!" he shouted. "We did better than I expected."

There, within twenty yards, lay the leopard and the deer, both dead.
Under other circumstances they would have been eager to possess
themselves of the leopard's skin, which was of considerable value, but
as it was they were far more anxious to obtain a supply of meat. They
therefore set to work to cut off as much as they could carry from the
pallah, without stopping to skin or disjoint it, while Raff enjoyed an
abundant meal from the pieces which his master threw to him. The rest
of the pallahs had taken to flight.

"We must remember this spot; and if we find Hendricks before long, he
will be glad to send for this skin, supposing it is not torn to pieces
in the meantime by the rascally hyenas and jackals."

After the excitement of the chase, they were tempted to stop and take a
draught of water, which nearly exhausted their stock. Anxious to obtain
a fresh supply, they made their way through the forest in the hope of
coming across a stream, towards which they supposed the pallahs had been
bending their steps.

"There's the water!" suddenly exclaimed Denis; "I see the animals
drinking at it."

The animals were there, but as the young hunters approached they took to
flight. Having meat enough, they did not feel justified in firing a
shot after them.

On reaching the spot, great was their disappointment to find that
although there had been a little water, the pallahs had drunk it almost
dry, while the remainder had sunk through the bottom, in which their
feet had trampled. Not a drop could they obtain.

The wood formed an oasis in the wilderness; for farther on the country
assumed the same barren, arid aspect as before.

"We must either go back to the fountain we left this morning, or push
our way over this stony ground as fast as we can," said Denis.

"Let us go on," answered Percy; "we may find water again before long, or
may fall in with the waggon."

"Then I vote we fortify ourselves first with some meat," said Denis; and
collecting some wood, they speedily had a fire lighted, and some of the
venison roasting before it.

Eager to prosecute their journey, after a short rest, they again set
off. Night overtook them, ho