de sun.

They had passed over mountain and dale into the burning plains of the
karroo, and for many hours had travelled without water or shelter from
the scorching heat. Lucas Van Dyk, who guided them, said he knew where
water was to be got, but there was no possibility of reaching it before
evening. This announcement was received in silence, for not a drop of
the life-giving fluid had passed the lips of man or beast since an early
hour on the previous day, and their powers of endurance were being tried
severely. The insupportable heat not only increased the thirst, but
rendered the hunters less able to bear it. All round them the air
quivered with the radiation from the glaring sand, and occasionally the
_mirage_ appeared with its delicious prospects of relief, but as the
Dutchmen knew the ground well, none were deceived by it, though all were
tantalised. Compressing their lips, and urging their wearied cattle to
the utmost, they pushed steadily on, no sound breaking the stillness of
the desert save the creak of a waggon-wheel or the groan of an exhausted
animal.

At last Charlie Considine sought to relieve his feelings by
conversation.

"This is one of the unpleasant experiences of African travel."

Hans Marais, to whom the remark was made, replied "Ja," but as he added
nothing more, and looked stern, Charlie relapsed into silence.

Ere long one of the weaker oxen fell. The party halted a few minutes,
while the Hottentot drivers plied their cruel whips unmercifully, but in
vain. One more merciful than the drivers was there--death came to
release the poor animal. Immediately, as if by magic, vultures appeared
in the burning sky. From the far-off horizon they came sailing by twos
and threes, as if some invisible messenger, like death himself, had gone
with lightning-speed to tell that a banquet awaited them.

No time was wasted; a brief word from the leader sufficed. The dying ox
was released from the yoke that had galled it so long, and the party
proceeded. Before they were a mile off the ox was dead, its eyes were
out, its carcass torn open, and the obscene birds were gorging
themselves. Before night it was an empty skeleton covered with a dried
hide! Not many hours would suffice to remove the hide and leave only
the bleaching bones. Such remains are familiar objects on South African
roadsides.

That evening, according to their leader's prophecy, water was reached.
It was a thick muddy pool, but