struggle that
they were forced away from it.

The hunters now rode back to meet their companions and warn them off,
till the water in the pool should be tested by Swartboy, Congo, and the
Makololo.

CHAPTER FORTY SIX.

THE POOL OF DEATH.

On coming up with their companions the two pioneers reported the glad
tidings that water had been found. But the joy caused by this
announcement was at once changed into gloom, when they expressed their
doubts as to the purity of the element. Hans and Arend at once
dismounted, and, taking Swartboy and two of the Makololo along with
them, went on towards the pool.

On reaching it, Swartboy at once pronounced the water to be poisoned.
It had been done, he said, with two separate kinds of poison, both of
the deadliest nature. A bundle of roots that had been mashed between
two stones was seen lying in the water, and floating on its surface was
a large quantity of the skins of some poisonous species of berry.

There was no help for it. They must avoid the danger by going another
way, or their animals, at scent of the water, could not be restrained
from drinking it.

The buffalo had quenched its thirst and then sought the shade of the
trees to lie down and die. The strong lion had tasted of the poisoned
fluid, but his strength had not saved him. A few paces from the pool,
and he had fallen down in his tracks. The jackals had partially
devoured the lion, then slaked their thirst with the deadly draught, and
returned to their repast only to renew, but never to finish it. After
satisfying themselves that the pool had been poisoned, they were about
returning to their companions, when they observed a great commotion
amongst the cattle and horses of the expedition. The former were
lowing, the latter neighing, in an unusual manner. The two horses which
had already visited the imperilled spot, seemed especially impatient of
control; and, in the efforts made by Hendrik to restrain him, the girth
of his saddle got loose and was broken. As he dismounted for the
purpose of repairing it, the horse broke away from him and galloped back
towards the pool, uttering its shrill neigh, as if a signal for the
others to follow.

The invitation was not slighted. The pack-horses immediately swept off
in pursuit. The oxen seemed suddenly awakened to new life. Either
instinct, or the example of the horses, had admonished them that water
was near. The oxen, carrying heavy loads, that for