forming a grand arch of light, towards which darted upwards the
rays of the coming sun.

But it was not only the sunrise that was glorious in the extreme, nor
the beauty of the broad valley that held the spectators' eyes, but the
occupants of the scene below.

The General had undertaken to guide them to what he called the great
game country, and he had kept his word. For below them--to right, to
left, and away towards the golden burst of glory where the sun was about
to rise--the land was literally alive with game.

Down to their right spread broad marshy lagoon after lagoon, in which
swam, dived or waded, countless ducks and crane. Here, writhing its
snaky neck and curious head and beak, was the flamingo, all white and
rose; there, soft grey cranes and others, with a lovely crest, as if in
imitation of the rays of the rising sun.

But it was not the wondrous variety of birds alone that took their
attention, but the large game, feeding, gambolling, and careering in
countless herds. To the left were zebras, and beyond some quaggas, or
wild asses, the peculiar bray or cry of _quay-gah_! _quay-gah_! reaching
to their ears. On their right there were gnus, or wildebeestes, as the
Boers called them, brindled and the blue--curiously fierce-looking
little animals, partaking both of the character of the deer and the
buffalo. Some grazed placidly in the morning light, others were engaged
in tilting at each other with their horns, while their companions looked
on as if waiting for their turn; and every now and then the sound of the
striking horns ascended to the woody ridge with a loud crash.

But while these creatures contended together, groups of antelopes were
dotted here and there, while others careered at lightning speed over the
plain.

The sight was wonderful, and the boys felt as if they would never tire
of watching the evolutions of the graceful creatures, which, with their
skins glistening and horns looking golden in the morning light, seemed
to be going through a series of military evolutions with the greatest
precision.

"Koodoo, pronghorn," said Mr Rogers, looking at the herd through his
glass. "There are a dozen elands too," he continued, and then passed
the glass to his sons.

"Oh, this is grand," cried Dick enthusiastically. "I could stay here
for ever watching the graceful creatures."

"So could I," said Jack, after breakfast. "I say, father, hadn't we
better shoot something--the stock's getting