Page 141 - Adventures in Africa
P. 141
This, however, gave us a very wide scope* and we
fully expected to coine back with plenty of game of
some sort.
W e went on for some distance without meeting
with any live creatures, though we crossed the spoor
of numerous elands, buffaloes, giraffes, and occa
sionally of elephants. Neither Hans nor jan knew
more of the country than we did, but Harry said that
he had brought a compass, so that we should have no
difficulty in finding our way, even should clouds
gather in the sky or night overtake us. When,
however, he came to search for the instrument in his
pocket, it wras not to be found.
“ Never mind," he observed, ffas the sky is bright,
the sun will guide us by day, and the stars by night,
even if we are kept out, and there is no reason why
we should be if we turn back again in good time.”
On we went, therefore, intending on arriving at
the vlei, to wait until some animals should come to
drink, which they were sure to do, unless there were
other water-holes in the neighbourhood.
W e had brought very little food, expecting to be
able to supply ourselves with meat and fruits. From
the appearance of the country we had no doubt that
we should meet with melons, even though we might
not come across water before we arrived at the vim.
W e had, according to our calculation, gone about
two-thirds of the distance without having shot a
single animal, when the weather began to change.
Clouds gathered in the sky, and a thick mist swept
across the face of the country, such as occasionally,
though not often, occurs in that latitude. W e agreed,