flat stone, with head erect and long horns gracefully curving over its
back as it kept a lookout for danger; a slight movement upon my part a
few moments later making the beautiful animal utter a snort, and then
the whole party were off like the wind.

Their rush made Sandho spring to his feet with a neigh of alarm, and
then, as I made an effort and rose to a sitting position, he bounded up
to me, whinnying with pleasure, and thrust his muzzle over my shoulder.

To my delight, I found that, though painful and tender, the swelling of
my arms and wrists had gone down; while much of the pain had left my
leg, which was, however, stiff and helpless from the terrible wrench.

My first movement was to get to the spring above where the little stream
had been trampled and discoloured by the antelopes; and after a good
draught I stood up once more, feeling ready to attempt mounting again,
and see if I could reach the spot my father had appointed for the
meeting with Joeboy. I knew, too, from sundry symptoms, that I must be
better--far better than I could have expected, for I was ravenously
hungry; and as I realised this I could not keep back a laugh. A capital
sign this, though painful, for there was no chance of obtaining food
till I could reach some farm; but I could recall no likely place on my
way to the Nek, and so the hunger-pains had to be borne.

Leaving Sandho browsing upon the rich grass near the spring in a dainty
way, which, in combination with his appearance, suggested that he had
been feeding to his heart's content, I climbed over the rocks till I
reached the highest point of the kopje. There, lying down, I set myself
to carefully scan the open veldt in search of mounted men; till,
satisfied there were none to be seen, I descended, mounted my horse, and
rode gently away, not suffering more than was to be expected after what
I had gone through.

The country where I now was seemed fairly familiar, and I soon made out
mountain-tops in the distance, which served as guides. One peak in
particular I marked down as lying to the left of Echo Nek, or at all
events near the gap in the mountains I was to reach; and towards this
Sandho ambled for another hour, when the night began to close in fast.
After marking down the direction of the peak as well as I could before
the light died out on the misty horizon, I waited till it was quite
dark, then I selected a star which I calculated was just over where I
had last seen th