Page 101 - Adventures in Africa

of the tusks were gnawed, they were not otherwise
injured.
With the aid of Jan I lowered them down, and

secured them to the back of the ox. The poor brute
was now overloaded, but as we had not far to go, I
hoped that it would be able to carry its burden that

short distance.
Had I been strong I would have endeavoured to

carry some of the load, but I found my gun and
ammunition, with the birds I occasionally shot, quite
enough for me. A t length, greatly to my satisfaction,
we drew near the spot where I had left my uncle on

some high ground overlooking the river. Every
moment I thought that our poor ox would give in.

W e might, I suspect, have been indicted by the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, had
we been seen urging on the ox, but we had no choice,
for had we abandoned our goods, the natives would

have taken possession of them. At last, as evening
was approaching, we caught sight of my uncle's

camp-fire. W e shouted, as he did in return, when
he came hurrying down the hill to meet us.
“ What poor brute have you got there r** he ex­
claimed, after welcoming us.

When 1 told him it was our old ox, he would
scarcely believe it to be the same animal. Hardly

was the burden off its back, and Jan was about to
lead it down to the water, than the poor creature,
giving a convulsive shudder, fell to the ground, and in

a few minutes was dead, having faithfully performed
its duty to the last.
I felt more sad than I could have supposed it