ford?" inquired Donald Fraser of me the
following morning. "Because it strikes me that, unless you are a good
horseman, you'll be little fit to take the journey the captain proposes,
at the rate he goes over the ground."

I confessed that some years had passed since I had mounted a horse,
though in my father's prosperous days I had owned one, and was then a
fair rider.

"Well, then, we'll just take a canter across the plain this afternoon.
It will not tire the horses, and it will help to get your muscles into
play for the exertion you'll have to make by-and-by," he said.

I was very glad to accept his offer. After dinner, with our rifles at
our backs--to be ready for any lion, panther, elephant, or rhinoceros
which might cross our path--we set out for an hour's ride towards the
south, Stanley cautioning us not to go far and fatigue the horses.

"Never fear, captain," answered Mr Fraser. "We'll just go far enough
to stretch our steeds' legs, and see how our young friend here sticks to
his saddle."

As we rode along my companion gave me many valuable hints with regard to
the journey I was about to undertake.

"Keep your horse well in hand," he observed, "your eyes about you, and
your ears open; never press him unnecessarily; and then, should you meet
a lion or be attacked by savages, you will be ready for action, and do
what in my opinion is the wisest thing under such circumstances--get out
of their way."

We had not gone far when an exclamation of pleasure burst from Donald,
and I saw to the southward a vast herd of springboks crossing from east
to west. Numerous as were the wild animals we had met with, I had never
seen so many of one species together. They formed an immense herd
extending for a full mile across our path, and, as far as we could
judge, of the same width. On they went, bounding and leaping. "On!
on!" cried my companion, forgetting all about our tired steeds; and
putting spurs to the flanks of his, away he galloped, calling on me to
keep up with him. The wary animals saw us coming, and, apprehending
danger, immediately began to scour over the plain, turning, however, to
the south-west. This placed us directly behind them. They would lead
us a long chase, of that there was no doubt; but Donald was too eager to
think of letting them escape. Mile after mile was passed over. We were
approaching the herd. They now, however, began to scatter to the right
and left, though still keeping in c