? They are already saying in Doppersdorp
that you will soon turn Catholic."

"One might `turn' worse. But Doppersdorp, as not infrequently happens,
is wide of the mark. When the old man and I make an evening of it our
conversation is not of faith, but of works. We talk about fishing."

"What? Always?"

"Always. Don't you know that the votary of the fly when, after long
abstinence, he runs against another votary of the fly, takes a fresh
lease of life. Now, Father O'Driscoll and myself are both such
votaries, the only two here. Wherefore, when we get together, we
enthuse upon the subject like anything."

"It's refreshing to learn that _you_ can enthuse upon any subject," Mona
rejoined.

"Oh, I can. Wait till we get up yonder among the rhybok."

"This way," cut in Suffield, striking into a by-track. "We must call in
at Stoffel Van Wyk's. That long _berg_ at the back of his place is
first-rate for rhybok."

"Most we?" expostulated Mona. "But we shall have to drink bad coffee."

"Well, the berry as there distilled is not first-rate."

"And try and make conversation with the _vrouw_?"

"That too."

"Well, don't let's go."

"Mona, are you in command of this expedition, or am I? The course I
prescribe is essential to its success. Hallo! Jump off, Musgrave!
There's a shot!"

They had turned off from the open plain now, and were riding through a
narrow _poort_, or defile, which opened soon into another hill-encircled
hollow. The passage was overhung with rugged cliffs, in which ere and
there a stray euphorbia or a cactus had found root. Up a well-nigh
perpendicular rock-face, sprawling, shambling like a tarantula on a
wall, a huge male baboon was making his way. He must have been quite
two hundred yards distant, and was looking over his shoulder at his
natural enemies, the while straining every muscle to gain the top of the
cliff.

Roden's piece was already at his shoulder. There was a crack, then a
dull thud. The baboon relaxed his hold, and with one spasmodic clutch
toppled heavily to the earth.

"Good shot!" cried Suffield enthusiastically. "It's not worth while
going to pick him up. I wonder what he's doing here all alone, though.
You don't often catch an old man baboon napping."

"Don't you feel as if you had committed a murder, Mr Musgrave?" said
Mona.

"Not especially. On the other hand, I am gratified to find that this
old Snider shoots so true. It's a Government one I borro