of horses and Cape tigers, he became alarmed.

A diligent examination was made. Drops of blood were found on the
ground. The leopard itself was ultimately discovered stone dead in a
thicket with the poisoned arrow in its side, the horse-spoor was
followed up a long way, and then it was pretty clearly seen that the
child had been carried off by marauders of some sort.

Of course a thorough search was made and pursuit was immediately
instituted. Groot Willem and McTavish pushed on promptly to follow the
spoor, while men were sent back to the glen for a supply of ammunition,
etcetera, in case of a prolonged search becoming necessary.

The search was ably planned and vigorously carried out; but all in vain.
Junkie had departed _that_ life as thoroughly as if he had never been,
and Mrs Scholtz remained at Glen Lynden the very personification of
despair.

We shall now turn to the exploring party which had left the Baviaans
River on the previous day.

About this time the rumours of war among the natives of the vast and
almost unknown interior of the land had become unusually alarming. A
wandering and warlike horde named the Fetcani had been, for some time
past, driving all the other tribes before them, and were said at last to
be approaching the Winterberg frontier of the colony. In order to
ascertain what foundation there was for these reports, as well as to
explore the land, the party under Rennie was sent out. Among those who
formed this party were Charlie Considine, Hans Marais, Sandy Black and
his satellite Jerry Goldboy, Andrew Rivers, Diederik and Christian
Muller, and the tall black-bearded hunter Lucas Van Dyk, besides
Slinger, Dikkop, and other Hottentots and Bushmen.

"This is what I call real enjoyment," said Considine, as he rode with
Hans, somewhat in advance of the cavalcade;--"splendid weather,
magnificent scenery, lots of game big and little, good health and
freedom. What more could a man wish?"

"Ja," said Hans quietly; "you have reason to be thankful--yet there is
more to wish for."

"What more?" asked Considine.

"That the whole world were as happy as yourself," said Hans, looking
full at his friend with a bland smile.

"And so I do wish that," returned Considine with enthusiasm.

"Do you?" asked Hans, with a look of surprise.

"Of course I do; why do you doubt it?" asked his friend, with a
perplexed look.

Hans did not reply, but continued to gaze at the mountain-range towards
whic