ached within certain fairly well-defined limits which Thunder and
Juno seemed to have mutually agreed were too near; then indeed our
guardians would respond with low warning growls which, if the offenders
drew still nearer, rapidly merged into a deafening clamour of savage
barks that effectually aroused everybody.

But on the night in question the marauders gave the wagon a wide berth;
probably there was a sufficiency of game near the water-hole to supply
all their wants without the necessity for them to approach the hateful
blaze of the camp fire, and our rest was undisturbed. With the
appearance of the first gleam of dawn in the eastern sky, however, the
three blacks crawled out from underneath the wagon, made up the fire
afresh, fetched water from the river, and proceeded to prepare
breakfast, for Piet and I had agreed upon the wisdom of getting upon the
spoor of the elephants as early as possible, in order that the greater
part of the travelling might be done before the heat became oppressive.

It was about a quarter to seven o'clock when, having breakfasted and
completed our final preparations, Piet and I swung ourselves into our
saddles and started for the water-hole at an easy canter, Jan's
instructions being to follow with the wagon until he should reach a
certain signal which we would leave behind us, and which was to be the
intimation that he had trekked far enough and must outspan until he
received further orders. Piet was mounted on Punch, the chestnut, a
thoroughly steady and reliable animal, and carried the provisions for
the expedition, half the ammunition, and the elephant gun; while I rode
Prince, and carried the other half of the ammunition and my rifle, as
well as a stout, double-edged hunting knife which I wore in a sheath
attached to my belt. Thunder and Juno accompanied us as usual, and,
like the sensible animals that they were, trotted quietly along close to
the horses' heels, saving their strength for what was possibly to come
later, instead of wasting it, as in their younger and less experienced
days, by dashing hither and thither, in the exuberance of their spirits,
over an utterly unnecessary extent of ground.

Going at an easy pace, we reached the farther extremity of the pool in
about three-quarters of an hour, and at once picked up the spoor of the
elephants without the least trouble. It was very difficult to form a
close estimate of the number of animals in the herd by examining the