with large black scales,
somewhat the size and shape of the husk of the artichoke, which
overlapped each other in a very curious and beautiful manner. David
quickly solved the mystery of the scaly ball. Being allowed to remain
quiet for a few minutes, it unrolled itself, when it was seen to possess
a head and a broad tail, likewise covered with scales. He pronounced it
to be one of the manides or scaly ant-eaters--a rare animal, and seldom
seen. It had a long extensile tongue, furnished with a glutinous mucous
for securing its insect food. It was entirely destitute of teeth, so
that it was evident it must suck in the creatures it caught, and swallow
them whole.

David said that the manides are very inoffensive animals; that they live
solely on ants and termites. They burrow to a great depth in the
ground. For this, as also for extracting their food from ant-hills and
decayed wood, we found that the creature's feet were armed with powerful
claws, which it could double up when walking.

"We are getting into a thorny district," observed Donald, who had joined
us, "very different to the thornless one we have passed through. What
do you think of this?" he observed, stooping down and picking up a round
disc with a sharp thorn in the centre. "Suppose this was to run into a
poor animal's foot; it would take him months to get it out, even if he
did not become lame for life."

Soon after we camped Donald started off on a hunt by himself. He had
not been gone long when we saw him returning from the north, with a
gemsbok, or oryx, as I have before called it, across his saddle.
Considering the weight he carried, he came pressing on at a rapid rate.
He was not a man much given to exhibiting his feelings, but I saw that
something was the matter.

"Quick, lads!" he exclaimed. "We must get ready to defend our camp
without loss of time. I thought as I rode along that I would just take
a look at our inhospitable friends, and see what they were about. When
I had got halfway between this and their village, I caught sight of a
large number of them stealing along across the plain. I think they must
have seen me, or perhaps they took me for a cameleopard or ostrich; for
I only showed for a moment behind an ant-hill, then quickly again got
under cover to reconnoitre them. There are some two or three hundred
fellows at least, and by the way they were marching I am very certain
that they intend to attack us. I had just shot th