question to decide, seeing that the field for
adventure was equally enticing in every direction.

Beyond the deep valley in which Mac Mac nestled arose gradually a
great, shelving tract. In rough outline it resembled a plateau, but the
explorer found it to be much broken up and intersected by ravines, some
of which were impassable for miles of their length. This plateau was
very extensive; in fact, it stretched indefinitely to the north-east,
the only break in that direction being the distant gates of the
Oliphant. But on the south-east it ended in an enormous precipice,
occasionally several thousand feet in sheer height.

The view from the edge of this precipice was marvelous. From the lower
margin of the mighty wall the broken hills, covered with virgin forest,
fell away with lessening steepness to the plains. These, also, were
covered with trees; here, however, the woodland had a different
character, for there was little or no undergrowth. The plains stretched
away, to an immense distance. It was in this tract, far below the gazer
on the cliff-edge, that romance dwelt in the tents of enchantment. Over
it roamed the buffalo, the koodoo, and the giraffe. In the dark hour
just before dawn the dew-laden boughs shrouding it trembled to the
thunder-tones of the lion as he roared over his kill. Above all, its
thickets of mystery had hardly been trodden by the foot of civilized
man.

Even on the plateau itself large game was occasionally to be found.
Some lion, more enterprising than his fellows, would lead his mate and
her brood up one of the dizzy clefts in the precipice to prey on the
cattle which, in seasons of drought, the Lydenburg farmers occasionally
sent here for the sake of the rich pasturage.

One morning, when brewing a billy of tea in a small rocky basin, I
heard the sound of trampling. Looking round I saw nine elands
descending the side of the depression and making straight for me. They
came to within about eighty yards and then stood. The leader was an
immense bull by far the largest I have ever seen. All looked as sleek
and fat as stall-fed cattle. My only weapon was an old Colt revolver.
How I cursed my bad luck in not having a rifle. After gazing at me for
a few seconds the elands galloped on, changing their course slightly to
the right. They passed within less than fifty yards of my fire.

CHAPTER VII

Extended rambles--View from the mountain top--An unknown land--The deadly
fever--Gray's fate-