ed outward, rose up, and stood erect. Totty
was recognised!

And now the "after-clap" of the wagon was hurriedly drawn aside, and
three young faces were seen peeping forth.

A shout of joy burst from the horsemen, and the next moment little Jan
and Trueey leaped out from the cap-tent into the arms of their
father--while the mutual congratulations of Hans and Hendrik, Swartboy
and Totty, produced for some moments a scene of joyful confusion quite
indescribable.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE TREK-BOKEN.

Those who remained by the camp had had their adventures too; and their
tale was by no means a merry one, for it disclosed the unpleasant fact,
that the sheep and goats were all lost. The flock had been carried off,
in a most singular manner; and there was but little hope of their ever
being seen again.

Hans began his tale:--

"Nothing unusual occurred on the day you left us. I was busy all the
afternoon in cutting 'wait-a-bit' thorns for a kraal. Totty helped me to
drag them up, while Jan and Trueey looked after the flock. The animals
did not stray out of the valley here, as the grass was good, and they
had had enough of trotting lately.

"Well--Totty and I got the kraal, as you see, all ready. So, when night
came, we drove the flock in; and, after milking the cow and getting our
supper, we all went to bed. We were precious tired, and all of us slept
soundly throughout the night without being disturbed. Both jackals and
hyenas came around, but we knew they would not break into that kraal."

Hans pointed to the circular enclosure of thorn-bushes, that had been
well constructed.

He then proceeded with his narration:--

"In the morning we found everything right. Totty again milked the cow;
and we had breakfast. The flock was let out upon the grass, and so were
the cow and the two horses.

"Just about mid-day I began to think what we were to have for dinner,
for the breakfast had cleared up everything. I did not like to kill
another sheep, if it could be helped. So bidding Jan and Trueey stay
close by the wagon, and leaving Totty to look after the flock, I took my
gun and started off in search of game. I took no horse, for I thought I
saw springboks out on the plain; and I would stalk them better afoot.

"Sure enough, there were springboks. When I got out of the valley here,
and had a better view, I saw what astonished me, I can assure you.

"I could scarce credit my eyes. The whole plain, towards the west,