blanket, and after
assisting Smith to water the cattle, and taking a good drink myself, I
joined him, and left Rover and the stockman to keep guard.

We slept until dark, and, upon awakening, found that Smith had joined
us, and left the whole responsibility of giving warning, if the natives
approached, to the dog. The latter, however, was worth a dozen men for
such a purpose, and we commended Smith for his sagacity in securing rest
before the time arrived when we knew that demonstration would be made
against our encampment.

We gathered some dried grass and made a fire, sufficient to boil a
teakettle, and then deliberately prepared a dish of coffee, not knowing
but that it would be our last. After we had concluded our supper we
examined our rifles and revolvers, found them in good order, and then
carefully reviewing the animals so that it was impossible for them to
get loose without cutting their fastenings, we took up our positions at
an equal distance apart, and in a circle outside of the cattle.

Rover placed himself by my side, and looked into my face as much as to
say that he understood all that was going on, and hoped that he was to
be trusted with any important business which might come before us.

The night wore slowly away. Sleep we did not, for the insects were so
troublesome that it seemed as though we inhaled them at every breath.
They filled the air and dashed their dry wings in our faces while
flitting over our heads, and their eternal buzzing was like the
murmuring of a distant waterfall.

I judged that it was near two o'clock, and at the period when sleep is
the strongest, that my attention became riveted upon the singular
movements of some animal which appeared to be feeding upon the withered
grass which covered the plain. Sometimes it moved near enough to allow
me to almost discern what it was, and then it would recede and be lost
from sight for a few minutes, to again appear and approach nearer than
at first.

Rover appeared to be as deeply interested in the animal as myself, for
his eyes glowed like balls of fire as he watched the movements of the
strange nondescript, and appeared to wonder why I did not tell him to
investigate the matter instead of sitting there with staring eyes.

Presently a second and then a third animal came in sight, and their
movements were like that of the first. Slowly and in an irregular line
they approached me, halting every two or three seconds as though feeding