s so fascinating, in his then ravenous condition, that he
cared for nought else, and followed his guide in silence.

Soon the herbage on the plain became more luxuriant, and in half an hour
the two horsemen found themselves riding among scattered groups of
mimosa bushes, the thorns of which were from three to five inches long,
while their sweet fragrance scented the whole atmosphere.

On reaching the ridge of one of the undulations of the plain, Hans
Marais drew rein and gazed intently towards the distant horizon. At the
same time Considine's horse pricked up its ears, pawed the ground, and
exhibited unwonted signs of a desire to advance.

"Hallo, Rob!" exclaimed its master, "what's wrong with you?"

"Your horse has been gifted by his Maker with a power," said Hans,
"which has been denied to man. He scents water. But before he shall
taste it he must help me to procure fresh meat. Do you see the boks on
that koppie?"

"Do you mean those white specks like ostrich eggs on the hillock to the
right of the big bush?"

"The same. These are springboks. Ride away down by that hollow till
you get somewhat in their rear, and then drive them in the direction of
that clump of bushes on our left, just under the sun."

Without waiting for a reply Hans rode off at a gallop, and Considine
proceeded to obey orders.

A few minutes sufficed to bring him close to the springboks, which
beautiful antelopes no sooner observed him than, after one brief gaze of
surprise, they bounded away in the direction of the bushes indicated by
Hans,--conscious apparently of their superior fleetness, for they seemed
in no great haste, but leaped about as if half in play, one and another
taking an occasional spring of six feet or more into the air. As they
passed the bushes towards which Considine drove them, a white puff was
seen to burst from them, and the huge roer of Hans Marais sent forth its
bellowing report. It seemed as if the entire flock of boks had received
an electric shock, so high did they spring into the air. Then they
dashed off at full speed, leaving one of their number dead upon the
plain.

When Considine came up he found that Hans had already disembowelled the
springbok, and was in the act of fastening the carcase on his horse
behind the saddle. Remounting immediately, the hunter galloped towards
a mound, on the top of which the bushes formed a dense brake. Skirting
this till he reached the other side, he pulled up, exc