The Somerset reporter., 1894-11-29
INA DESERT.

was that spent on the pleasant banks OF
the Limpopo river not many years since.
Two hunting friends were trekking
through Bochunanland toward the Fam
bezi, and it happened by great good for
tune that Just at the junction Of the
Notwani and lirpopo rivers they found
outspanned the wagons Of two hunters
and traders southwark bound from the
far interior These men were travelling
down country with heavy loads Of
ivory, ostrich feathers skins and other
produce, and they had with them big
troop of cattle, obtained in barter. In
these fitful encounters in the African
wilderness mon are always well nof,
and it needed no pressing from the 7cS
found acquaintance to induce them to
outspan together and combine forces
/ for Christmas cheer and Christmas
/ chatter. a brief council Of war soon
settled the all important question of
4 commissariat Smallfield, the younger
of the traders, had shot good rooibolt
/ the evening before, which furnished
reniso- for all, and they had already
! baked store of bread from fresh Boer
| meal. The newcomers, on their side
freshly equipped from Kimberley, could
/ provide timed plum buildings, timed
tomatoes, peas, jams and other luxuries
including dried onions, most precious
of vegetables in the vcldt, and they had,
| further, some excellent Scotch whisky
| They had besides half dozen brace of
! guinea fowl and pheasantS, shot during
the day in the jungles bordering the
river so that all the concomitants of a
capital African banquet were ready to
! hand.
Just at shutdown the preparations
We're complete and no merrier party,
You may sWear ever sat down to their
Christmas meal. They supped by the
| light of a roaring campfire, elled out by
"a lantern or two placed on the cases that
served for tables The servants We're
enjoying themselves at another fire Il
little distaht; the oxen lay peacefully
at their yolles; the wagons doomed large
alongside, their white fonts rejecting
cheerfully the ruddy blaze of the fire.
| The night WAS perfect, still and warm,
and the stars, like a million diamond
sparks, scintillated in the intense indigo
of the dome above. What wonder, then,
that all felt happy and contented?
Supper at length was over, The coffee
kettle was hanishcd to obscurity and
the whisky produced The travellers lit
| their pipes and toasted their absent
friends and each other, and then ensued
a long and delightful evening,
Tho ,n,,ita1 "
fellows, well versed in the sports and
| tolls and pleasures of the far interior.
The newcomers themselves had been i'll
the hunting veldt before, and they had
all, therefore, many things in common
Many and many yarn of the chase and
adventure they exchanged; many head
of gallant game they slew again by the
cheerful blaze. The up country trekkers
mentioned that they thought of trying
a new bit of yeldt rather away from the
beaten track, if they could but find wa
ter i'll the desert and good guides and
spoorers. They were bent on entering
the wild and little known tract of coun-
try north of the road to the Mabebo
veldt
''Well, said the elder of the traders
-Kenstone was his name-''you II find
game there after the rains-giraife,
gemsbok, hartebcost, Gland, koodoo,
roam antelope and perhaps a few ele-
| plants or a rhinoccroS or two But it's
wild, barren vcldt The country as
you go north is good deal broken, and
unless the rains have been good water
is terribly scarce
As for myself, " gazing rather mood
| lily at the campfire and strolling his
thick brown heard, 81 once went into
| that veldt and never wish to see it
again. | bad most uncanny adventure
there, an experience | never again wish
to repeat if live to be hundred In
all the years (and they are close Oh five
and twenty now | have been i'll the
hunting veldt | never spent so incom-
prehensible and horrible "a time as the
few days | am thinking of. UghI' and
the big man shiycred as he spoke.
Naturally tie curiosity of his auGi.
ence was at once excited The younger
trader, Smaideld, spoke first
Why, George, be said, 81 never
heard you speak of that country, | ney-
or even kuew you had been in it,.
What's the yarn: 1t must he something,
out of the common if it gives you tn"
blues. You're not sentimental as far as
/ remember
mo. Jim, returned Kenstone 81
never mentioned the thing to you on to
amy one else, bar perhaps two or thres
folks. It's II years gone since it all
happened. Ny old partner, Angus dies
down III the colony nowl. who was with
me at the time, knows all about it, and
| reported some Of the circumstances to
a Transvaai Landdrost when we got
back. Otherwise | have never ia KIDD
about the matter. ] should only be
/ chaffed, and it's not pleasant topic
o. the best Of times 1t gave me q very
nasty fright at the time, | remember.
However, it's all far enough away now.
1t you and these gentlemen would like
to hear the yarn, why, III break my
rule and tell you all about it. And,
mind, What l tell you are solid facts.
You know | don't blow, Jim, or spout
tall yarns for the benefit of down conn
try folks or bar loafers at Kimberley
What l saw l saw, and, please God.
hope never to see again -
All Wore as Keen rs mustard for the
story. and kVHstOMc went on
W ell, let me fill my pipe, and here
loes:
1t was in 1874 that Angus and were
s 70 third tti,, Ia tba | alrp