" said the Major.
"I ask that question because I am now looking at the enormous nests of
the grosbeaks. It is a regular town, with some hundreds of houses. These
birds, as well as those sagacious animals, the beaver, the ant, and the
bee, not to mention a variety of others, must have some way of
communicating their ideas."

"That there is no doubt of," replied Swinton, laughing; "but still I
believe that man only is endowed with speech."

"Well, we know that; but if not with speech, they must have some means
of communication which answers as well"

"As far as their wants require it, no doubt," replied Swinton, "but to
what extent is hidden from us. Animals have instinct and reasoning
powers, but not reason."

"Where is the difference?"

"The reasoning powers are generally limited to their necessities; but
with animals who are the companions of man, they appear to be more
extended."

"We have a grand supper to-night," said Alexander; "what shall I help
you to--harte-beest, sassaby, or rhinoceros?"

"Thank you," replied the Major, laughing; "I'll trouble you for a small
piece of that rhinoceros steak--underdone, if you please."

"How curious that would sound in Grosvenor Square."

"Not if you shot the animals in Richmond Park," said Swinton.

"Those rascally Hottentots will collect no fuel to-night if we do not
make them do it now," said the Major. "If they once begin to stuff it
will be all over with them."

"Very true; we had better set them about it before the feast begins.
Call Bremen, Omrah."

"Having given their directions, our party finished their supper, and
then Alexander asked Swinton whether he had ever known any serious
accidents resulting from the hunting of the rhinoceros.

"Yes," replied Swinton; "I once was witness to the death of a native
chief."

"Then pray tell us the story," said the Major. "By hearing how other
people have suffered, we learn how to take care of ourselves."

"Before I do so, I will mention what was told me by a Namaqua chief
about a lion; I am reminded of it by the Major's observations as to the
means animals have of communicating with each other. Once when I was
traveling in Namaqua-land, I observed a spot which was imprinted with at
least twenty spoors or marks of a lion's paw; and as I pointed them out
a Namaqua chief told me that a lion had been practicing his leap. On
demanding an explanation, he said that if a lion sprang at an animal,
and missed it by leaping