e present case.
His boundary lines ran right along the high _rand_ which shut in the
broad valley on either side, and the farm was an excellent one for sheep
and ostriches. In fact the valley portion of it was a perfect network
of wire fencing, and in their respective "camps" the great black bipeds
stalked to and fro, uttering their truculent boom, or lazily picking at
the aromatic grasses, which constituted their natural and aboriginal
food. And the name of the place was Lannercost.

"These confounded ostriches spoil half the shooting on the place, and,
for the matter of that, anywhere," remarked Bayfield, as they ambled
along through one of the large camps, where one exceptionally fierce
bird hung about their flank, only kept from a nearer approach by the
presence of the two dogs. "You flush a covey of partridges or a big
troop of guinea-fowl, and away they go and squat in complete security
under the wing of some particularly `kwai' bird in the next camp. It's
beastly tantalising. Ever shot any wild ostriches up-country,
Blachland?"

"Yes, on two occasions--and I enjoyed it for that very reason. I was
held up once on top of a rail for nearly two hours besieged on each side
by an infuriated tame one. Had to wait until dark to get down. So you
see it was a kind of poetic justice to turn the tables on the wild
ones."

"Rather. These are good game preservers though, in that they keep the
niggers from killing the small bucks in the camps. Look at those few
springbuck I'm trying to preserve. They'd all have been killed off if
it wasn't for the `kwai' birds in the camp. By George! the sun'll be
down before we get home. That isn't good for a man with fever still in
his system at this time of year."

"Oh, that's no matter. I'm a good deal too tough."

"Don't you be so sure about that. We'd better push the nags on a bit."

The house stood at the head of the valley, and had been growing larger
and larger as they drew near. The sun was dropping, and that wondrously
beautiful glow which heralds his departure from the vivid, clear South
African day was upon the surroundings, softening, toning everything.
Hundreds of doves cooed melodiously from the sprays, and as they passed
through a gateway, ascending a winding path between high quince hedges,
clouds of twittering finks and long-tailed mouse-birds scattered with a
whirr on either side of the way. Spreuws, too, whistling among the tall
fig-trees in the orch