Page 46 - Adventures in Africa

“ Thank heaven ! there's water, sure enough. I see
the moon beam s playing- on the surface of a pool.”

I believe I fainted, for I remember no more until T
found him splashing water over my face ; and, open­
ing my eyes, I saw him kneeling bv my side. Jan

was busily engaged in lighting a fire, while the ox
was feeding not far off, A hut was then built for me,

and as soon as 1 was placed in it I fell asleep. In
the morning [ awoke greatly revived. My uncle
said he was determined to remain at the spot until I

was sufficiently recovered to travel, and 1 promised to
get well as soon as I could. W hen breakfast was
over he started off with his gun to try and shoot a

deer, for we had just exhausted the last remnant of
venison we possessed.
As, sheltered from the rays of the sun, I lay in my

hut, which was built on a slight elevation above the
lakelet, I could enjoy a fine view of the country in

front of me.
jan, having just finished cleaning my gun, was en­
gaged a little way below me in cutting up the wood

for the fire, singing in a low voice one of his native
songs.
Presently I caught sight of my uncle in the far

distance advancing towards a rounded hillock which
rose out of the plain below. Almost at the same
moment, I saw still further off several animals which

I at once knew to be deer coming on at a rapid rate
towards our camp. They were taking a direction

which would lead them close to where my uncle lay
in ambush. They were followed by others in quick
succession, until a vast herd came scampering and