Page 43 - Adventures in Africa

In vain Jan and he tried to get it on its legs. He
and Jan took ofF the saddle and the remaining part
of the load, but all was of no use. A t last we came

to the melancholy conclusion that its death was in^
evitable. Our fears were soon realized; after it had
given a few struggles, its head sinking 011 the sand,

it ceased to move. W e had consequently to abandon
some more of our heavier things, and having trans­
ferred the remaining cargo to the ox, my uncle put

me on the back of the other horse. Scarcely, how­
ever, had we proceeded a mile than down it came,
and I was again thrown to the ground, this time to

be more hurt than at first,
I bore the suffering as well as I could, and made
no complaint, while my uncle and Jan tried to get

the horse up. It wvas soon apparent, however, that
its travelling days were done, and that we had now
the ox alone to depend upon.

“ I wish that I could walk," I said, but when I made
the attempt I could not ptoceed a dozen paces. Had
not my uncle supported me I should have sunk to the

ground. W e could not stay where we were, for both
we and our poor ox required water and food.
“ W e must abandon our goods/' said my uncle ;
better to lose them than our lives. W e will, however,

if we can find a spot near here, leave them tin cache, as
the Canadian hunters say; and if we soon fall in with

any friendly natives, we can send and recover them."
lie had just observed, lie said, a small cave, and
he thought that by piling up some stones in front of
it the things would remain uninjured from the weather

or wild beasts for a considerable time.