Page 20 - Adventures in Africa

would b 3 further rewarded it' they would conduct us

to water. They at once agreed to do so, and one of
them, hurrying away to a spot at a distance where
they had left their travelling equipage, returned with

a dozen ostriches' eggs in a net at his back; he then
made a sign to us to follow him, while his companions
remained with the ostriches they had shot. Sooner

than we expected he reached a hole, into which he
rapidly dug with his hand ; then, inserting a long

reed, he began to suck away with might and main,
In a short time the water flowed, and was led down
by another reed into a hole at the end of an ostrich

egg, which was soon filled with water. A s we had a
leathern bucket*we were enabled to give our animals

a drink, though we could not allow them as much as
they would have liked.
The. Bosjeeman then, refilling the egg-shells, re­

turned with us to where we had left his companions.
W e found that they had built themselves a hut, if so

it could be called, in a thick mimosa bush, by bending
the boughs so as to form a roof, covered by reeds
lightly fastened together. The inside was lined with

dried leaves, grass, and the coarser feathers of the
ostrich. W hen they saw that we were encamped,

the; three hunters lighted a fire and sat themselves
down before it to enjoy a sumptuous repast of ostrich
flesh. Though unattractive in appearance, they were

honest little fellows, and we slept in perfect security,
knowing that they would give us timely notice of the
approach of an enemy.

Jan assured us that we might trust them, as it was
a high mark of confidence on their part to show us