n dhry land."

The king was disappointed at the party going so soon; but a present of a
bottle of sweets, and some ammunition, brought smiles into his face--
smiles that grew broader as he heard that they would stop if possible at
the town as they came back.

They started at sunrise, so as to get a good trek over before the heat
of the day should commence, and with oxen well rested and in excellent
condition they got over the ground pretty swiftly for an oxen-team. The
horses too were fresh, and so full of excitement and fun that the dogs
were taken, after the particular mountain to which they intended to make
had been marked down; and the boys had a good canter, Coffee and Chicory
thoroughly enjoying the excitement, and keeping up with the two cobs
with the greatest ease.

The mountain was reached in due time, a midday halt indulged in, and
after a good long rest they continued their journey, so as to get well
beyond reach of Moseti's town, and away from the interruptions that
might have resulted in their being too near the king. But the General
had no intention of going far after the fine promise he had seen for
game; and two days' march away from the town he proposed that they
should halt, and make a good strong kraal for the horses in the place he
selected.

It was admirably adapted for the purpose, there being an abundance of
thorns, with a steep rocky escarpment to act as the back of the kraal.
Besides this, there was a spring of beautifully clear water gushing from
amongst the rocks, which rose right up here into mountains.

The General's advice had always proved so good that the halt was called,
and quite a fortification of thorns made, large enough to protect the
cattle.

The fire was started again, and as much care taken as if they had been
in an enemy's country. And so they soon found that they were, though
their enemies were not near.

The very first night at the new camp they were visited by lions, which
were audacious enough, in spite of the fire, to pretty well frighten the
oxen into a stampede; but they were ultimately calmed down; while the
poor horses suffered so that they were haltered up to the side of the
waggon, with their heads so near the tilt that they could hear their
masters' voices; and this had the effect of calming them, when the lions
were most daring.

Snakes too proved to be more plentiful here than they had been found
since they left the glen at the head of the valley, wher