f the great beasts in the list of the game they shot.

But during the next few days, with the exception of the daily shooting
of an antelope for the larder, they saw no great game, even failing to
put up the big rhinoceros when they rode over the same ground again.

They found the lair in amongst the thick bushes and dried grass, the
dogs running through it from side to side, while the three hunters sat
with presented pieces, ready to shoot at the first charge. They kept
well apart too, so as to be ready to help the one at whom the rhinoceros
came; but they saw nothing of the beast, and it was evident that it had
shifted its quarters.

The weather had been intensely hot and dry, so that the long reedy grass
crackled and rustled as they passed along, and in places the tramp of
the horses' hoofs sent the dust flying in clouds.

One evening towards sunset they were about ten miles from the camp, and
wearied out with the heat and sultriness of the air which for days past
had threatened a storm; they were riding listlessly across a wide plain
that was being rapidly turned into a regular desert for want of
refreshing rain.

Nobody had spoken for some time, when suddenly Jack exclaimed,--

"Look! the plain is on fire."

The horses were reined in, and as they gazed in the direction pointed
out, it was evident that there was what seemed to be a very large fire
rolling across the plain; the white smoke-clouds rising quite high.

"Is it the grass on fire?" said Dick, as Mr Rogers brought his little
double glass to bear.

"It is no fire at all," said his father, "but dust. There is a great
herd of buffalo crossing the plain, and we ought to get a shot."

Click! click! went the lock of Jack's rifle, and he leaped down to
tighten his girths.

"No!" said Mr Rogers; "they are oxen and horsemen. It is a large party
crossing the plain--an emigration of Boers, I'll be bound."

They rode gently on towards the long line of dust-clouds, which was
passing at right angles to them; and as they drew nearer they could
plainly see beneath the lurid sky figures of men on horseback, blacks
mounted on oxen, and waggon after waggon with its enormously long team.

As they approached, some of the sun-tanned, dejected-looking men riding
in front turned their heads, and stared sullenly at the little party,
but they seemed to have no desire for any friendly intercourse; and when
Mr Rogers spoke to them they replied sullenly in broken Engli