r
another, both to the wagon itself, of which the woodwork had shrunk with
long standing in the sun, and to the cattle, which, being unused to the
yoke, tied themselves in a double knot upon every opportunity, that we
only arrived there at the approach of night.

The last mile of that trek was through a narrow gorge cut out by water
in the native rock. Here trees grew sparsely, also great ferns, but the
bottom of the gorge, along which game were accustomed to travel, was
smooth enough for wagons, save for a few fallen boulders, which it was
necessary to avoid.

When at length we reached the outspan I asked the Hottentot, Klaus, who
was assisting me to drive the team, where his master was, for I could
not see him anywhere. He answered that he had gone back down the kloof
to look for something that had fallen from the wagon, a bolt I think he
said.

"Very good," I replied. "Then tell him, if we do not meet, that I have
returned to the camp."

As I set out the sun was sinking below the horizon, but this did not
trouble me overmuch, as I had a rifle with me, that same light rifle
with which I had shot the geese in the great match. Also I knew that the
moon, being full, would be up presently.

The sun sank, and the kloof was plunged in gloom. The place seemed
eerie and lonesome, and suddenly I grew afraid. I began to wonder where
Pereira was, and what he might be doing. I even thought of turning
back and finding some way round, only having explored all this district
pretty thoroughly in my various shooting expeditions from the camp, I
knew there was no practicable path across those hills. So I went on
with my rifle at full cock, whistling to keep up my courage, which, of
course, in the circumstances was a foolish thing to do. It occurred to
me at the time that it was foolish, but, in truth, I would not give way
to the dark suspicions which crossed my mind. Doubtless by now Pereira
had passed me and reached the outspan.

The moon began to shine--that wonderful African moon, which turns night
to day--throwing a network of long, black shadows of trees and
rocks across the game track I was following. Right ahead of me was a
particularly dark patch of this shadow, caused by a projecting wall of
cliff, and beyond it an equally bright patch of moonlight. Somehow I
misdoubted me of that stretch of gloom, for although, of course, I could
see nothing there, my quick ear caught the sound of movements.

I halted for a moment. T