The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-18

tie.
 It trails along to the accompani- ment of whip and voice, now on the high level of the rising hills, now lost to view in the hollows, where lie stretches of plain or may woodland. A herd of springbok dashes to the uttermost confines of the plain as the ponderous wheels rumble down the Hillside; a couple of harte-beest trot away at their mulish gait to the shell ter of the bush. Three quaggas throw up their heads and sniff in- quiringly at the hot air. It is an as- tonishing, nay, alarming, sight for them all, here in the remoteness of the desert reaches.
 But, all unconcerned, the train moves on, like some great machine, slow but inevitable. The vor-loopers are needless of their surroundings. Their thought is for the distance they have yet to go and for the meal of "pap," and the laze in the shelter of the wagon awaiting them at the end of the stage.
 A quarter of a mile ahead two white men are riding together in the manner of an advance guard" Two these, each wagon has two colored transport-riders sitting on the front seats. Twelve men in all accompany the train, besides the vor-loopers, who are merely counted as part of the team.
 The two leaders talk earnestly to- gether as they ride. They are both men we'll used to the long trek; they know the country, they know the life. The sight of game may stir them, but their rifles remain slung upon their backs. Just now they have no in- clination to waste time or ammuni- ton. All their attention is taken up by their work.
 One of the men is Free State Boer, the other is Sam Goodall. Sam is evidently in command, and as his companion is Dutchman he is forced to do most of the talking.
 There should be water beyond at ridge of rising ground. "Metito lies to the west, some fifty miles. We should find a spruit of the Molopo River. I calculate to strike a drift xx,bora <bar,, ye, ,o+er fl1r,,ip1. f,rfI, or on it becomes sand-river."
 "we shall camp there?" questioned the Boer, in his heavy way.
 eff the water has not dried up."
 The Free Slater looked up at the sky from beneath the Hopping brim of his black slouch hat. The sun was high in the heavens. we must camp soon." he said slowly, ''or the beasts will run in this heat.''
 Sam understood the threat. If the oxen ''ran'' it would mean a sort of sunstroke that would incapacitats them. They would die off like flies. But they were showing no sign of it yet, and the Boer's warning seemed unnecessary.
 ''we'll camp till the cool of the evening. Not more than a mile now. Let's ride on and prospect" The two men put their horses into a lope. The deep sand of the road made the going heavy. Africa is an ungenerous foe.
 TfSsv left the plains and breasted the hill. It was long and steep. At the summit new world opened out before their eyes-a world of broken hills and woods, interspersed with open patches dotted with small scrub. Below them was a bush-lined water course, winding its way east and west like monstrous snake. The desert road struck straight down towards it and mounted again on the farther side, vanishing as it narrowed to- wards the distant purple hills. It was a good camping-ground, and Sam Goodall eyed it with satisfaction
 'If waters plentiful down there.' he said, i've shall make twenty-five miles tonight and strike Gannessa the day after tomorrow. The water is good there at this time of the year. That will give us Matlapin two days later, Moseta the day after, Sitlago,i four more days, and Kunwana is an- other two. We shall do the whole journey under the fortnight
 Maybe" replied the Boer ph1eg- matically. He was gazing out be- yond the river at large spread of stink-wood bush. Goodall followed the direction of his eyes. A little puff of grey smoke was lolling on the still air just above the trees. Looks like a camp" he observed.
 Maybe it's a Kaffir herd"
 "Yes."
 Both men continued to watch the smoke with interest. There was no more rising; just the one patch.
 Wed better pay that camp a visit presently" said Goodall significantly, as they rode on down towards ths drift.
 "Yes; 1t would be well.'' eff it is herd we can get fresh meat"