aving
all their lives. We are not all alike, Hans, and few men know how to
love nature."

"If we live to get back to our friends, Victor, I will marry Katrine,
and join the first party that _treks_ for a new station, whenever that
may be. See those springbok, Victor, by the tall acacias there, they
scent an enemy, what is it? Oh, for my far-seer! the rascally Matabili
have that, and won't know how to use it."

"No need of a telescope, Hans," said Bernhard, who had joined the other
two; "there is the cause for the springbok running away. Those are
Matabili coming over the plain, and we had better be prepared for a
gallop, for if they see us we shall have to try what four legs can do
against two."

"I don't believe they would openly attack us, for there are not more
than forty men," replied Hans, "and thirteen to one is scarcely enough
odds to tempt them. They will follow us though, undoubtedly, and will
endeavour to surprise us. We had better saddle up and be ready for a
start at once."

"Katrine," said Hans, "are you ready to go on? there are enemies on the
plains below, and we had better ride forward."

"Yes, I am ready, Hans, but are the horses fit?" replied Katrine; "they
seem very tired."

Hans walked towards the horses, and for nearly a minute watched them
closely, particularly a well-bred hardy chestnut that had been ridden by
Katrine. This horse was standing with its head low, but did not feed,
though the grass was in plenty close to its mouth.

"Victor," said Hans at length, "come here."

Victor came to Hans, who, pointing at the chestnut said, "Look!"

Victor for an instant examined the animal, and then with an exclamation
said, "It is the sickness. We are lost if the others go in the same
way."

"They will go for certain," replied Hans, "and so we had better ride
whilst we can. That chestnut will be dead in an hour. We must leave
him here, and push on with the others."

The sickness to which Victor referred is the dreaded pest of every South
African traveller: the cattle disease which lately in England has
carried off whole herds, is not dissimilar to the so-called sickness
which affects South African horses and cattle. A horse may appear quite
well in the morning, and even when ridden indicate no signs of illness;
perhaps about mid-day he may appear slightly dull and lazy, and in the
evening be dead. No remedy has yet been found to be effective against
this sickness, and thus every