r across the pools, eh, Griggs?"

"That's right, sir. They'd be worth stalking too, but I don't think we
could follow them through that swamp. I dare say, though, that we could
get a shot at them some other day. Might perhaps as we come back."

"We'll be ready for them then," said the doctor quietly. "Now then, the
ground's firm, and the grass getting shorter; let's try a canter."

He pressed his pony's sides and led off, the rest following in single
file now, with the ground slowly rising, the grass getting shorter and
shorter, till at the end of about half-an-hour the doctor reached the
bottom of a mound, drew rein, and let his mount walk to the summit,
where he halted for his companions to join him and drink in the soft
cool air as yet unheated by the ardent sun.

The next few minutes were spent in sweeping the country round, and in a
very short time they were pretty well acquainted with their position.
For right away forward and to their left the grass grew shorter and
shorter for a couple of miles, till it looked more than ever like some
lawn whose soft green grew greyer and greyer till it was of a dull
shimmering white.

"A great lake," cried Chris.

"Try again, my boy," said his father.

"'Tisn't salt desert, is it?" said the boy.

"Breathe in the air that is coming from it, my lad."

"Hot and dry," cried Chris excitedly. "That's why I was getting so
warm. I thought it was from riding so fast."

"We're skirting the edge of the desert," said the doctor, using his
glass. "Yes, as far as I can see it is all tableland that way; the
grass soon ends, and all is dusty sand with the air quivering over it as
it sweeps away towards the mountain chain, while this way to the right
the grass and trees seem to run up green and beautiful into the hills,
which widen out into a valley."

"Can you see water, sir?"

"Yes," said the doctor, scanning the land to his right and away forward;
"water in two places. Our course is plain enough--to keep along here at
the edge of the great plain where the grass is short and the ground
firm. We are on a dividing line between the bad land and the rich
park-like patches and the pools and swamp. This ought to take us into
the valley yonder and to one of those hills where we can camp in what
must be a good hunting country. Forward!"

They cantered on, drawing rein now and then to breathe their horses, to
find that the desert land with its quivering layer of air grew more