we need be
of him; only remember, Crawford, that you don't step upon one, if you
can help it."

No accident, however, happened, and the waggon in a short time was
ascending the opposite height. Some further distance had to be
traversed before water was reached, when the travellers outspanned for
their morning meal, as also to afford the oxen rest after the toils they
had gone through.

The travellers had but meagre fare, as no meat had as yet been obtained,
but mealy cakes and bowls of tea were sufficient to satisfy their hunger
for the present. Scarcely had they begun breakfast, however, when
Umgolo, who had gone to the top of a slight elevation in the
neighbourhood, came hurrying back with the report that he had seen in
the far distance a herd of buffaloes, and he proposed setting out
immediately to shoot some. The meal was therefore hurried over, and
Hendricks and Umgolo, with two other Kaffir hunters, accompanied by
Crawford and the three lads, set off on foot, hoping to bring back a
sufficient supply of meat, not only for present consumption, but to turn
into beltong. The party first made for the hill, that they might take a
look over the country, and observe the direction in which the buffaloes
were moving, as also the quarter from whence the wind was blowing, so as
to approach the herd on the lee side, and thus avoid being discovered by
the keen-scented animals.

Far off to the right was a wood, towards which the herd was travelling
for shade and rest; but as the wind blew from where the hunters then
were towards the wood, it was necessary to make a long circuit before
they could approach from the desired quarter. So bright and pure was
the atmosphere, that distances seemed almost as nothing. The buffaloes,
which were in reality miles away, appeared so near that Crawford and
Percy, who were less accustomed to the country than the rest of the
party, fancied that they should be up to them in a quarter of an hour or
less. As it was, they had a weary tramp, the sun beating down on their
heads with intense force until they reached a wooded part of the
country, where they enjoyed some shade; but owing to the tangled roots
and creepers, they were compelled to make even slower progress than
before.

"Silence now, lads," said Hendricks, "no talking: we must creep up, and
not let our footfalls be heard. I bring you for the sake of giving you
a lesson. Remember, none of you are to fire until Umgolo and I have