Part 19 (1/2)
By this tih to fire with effect
Denis knocked over one of the dogs, and the rest, frightened by the report, turned tail and scaer to obtain sonu The animal was already dead, so they were saved the trouble of shooting it They at once cut off sos, who had refused to remain with Gozo, ate a hearty meal
”We must take some of this back to the poor felloe left under the tree,” said Denis
Percy agreed; and much revived themselves, they set off by the way they had co to find Gozo still alive As they approached they shouted out to give his on this ran forward; but as they got near to the spot, stopped and gazed towards it, and then came back
”What can have happened?” asked Percy ”Surely Gozo cannot have died during the short tis would have reth where they had left hilessly Denis called him by name He made no reply He lifted his hand, it felt cold and clao; his heart had ceased to beat
Notwithstanding this, he pressed soht, into his mouth They lifted up his head, they rubbed his feet, but all in vain They saith sorrow that they had been too late to save hier would be useless, and already the journey back had occupied some time
”We must hurry on to save our own lives,” said Denis; ”if we don't find water in an hour or te shall be badly off indeed”
They therefore left the body of the Kaffir where it lay, his rifle by his side, but they wisely carried off his ammunition, in case their own should run short Sorow near water, but on getting up to thens of reatly revived them, still in a short time their thirst returned They pressed onward as before, the dogs ranging on either side, apparently aware of what they were in search of, or prompted by instinct to look out for thens of water They went on for fully an hour ot over only between two or three one so over the plain, now stopping, now going on again
”They are small animals of some sort,” said Denis, to whoet near theht Depend upon it they are not likely to be far from water”
There were some bushes at a little distance, to which the lads et near the creatures without being seen
”Why, I believe they are baboons!” cried Denis; ”the Kaffirs call the creature the chac for babiana root, which is always full of water We can drive theot hold of the roots we shall secure as many as ant for ourselves Had we seen theht have been saved”
They were now getting near to the bushes, and the baboons, being very busy, had fortunately not perceived theot within fifty yards of the aniot hold of roots which they were eagerly eating, others were busily digging away in the sand The lads had sos; for as soon as they saw the baboons they made efforts to rush at them, and very probably would have suffered severely in consequence
”Nohispered Denis, ”I see three or four have been digging away not far off, evidently expecting to find roots In a few seconds we'll fire, then shout, and let slip the dogs”
They did as he proposed The baboons, frightened at the unusual sounds, and seeing the unknown creatures coo Denis and Percy rushed forward to the holes which the baboons had erly with their hands, each of the off the sand which adhered to the outsides, put the and cool was the pulpy substance, full of the purest water The dogs eagerly gobbled up the portions they threay They went to another and another hole, in each of which a root was found The effect was althened Having satisfied their own thirst, they found two s; but the baboons had already extracted the roots fro for soh they theet the object of their expedition, and resolved to continue on; but it occurred to Denis that as the baboons had come to the place to obtain roots, it was not likely that they would find any water in the neighbourhood
”That makes it more important that we should push on as fast as possible,” said Percy; ”but I say, Denis, do you think there's any chance of our getting back to the waggon to-night? It is already late”
Denis looked at the sun, which was sinking towards the west
”Faith! I was not thinking how ti,” he answered; ”and, to say the truth, I'et back, and we ood fire to scare away the lions and other savage beasts, there will be no danger and no great hardshi+p”
Percy, who did not like the thought of passing the night in the wilderness, proposed that they should strike away to the right, or about due east, in the expectation of falling in with the track of the waggon, which he hoped ht have been able to move on Denis was of opinion that there was no chance of their getting as far before nightfall, and that it was very possible the oxen ht not have been found, or if they had been found, that they would have been able to ress towards the north
”We shall be wiser if we continue our search for water, and look out for some food; for now--thanks to the roots-- very peckish,” he added
”So agon to think er”
”You'll not be so indifferent about food before long, let me tell you,”
observed Denis ”You'll then feel that you'd rather bring down a springboc, or gnu, or any other ani ever so , and to feel that one's life depends on bringing down the ga Come, move on! ill keep our eyes about us on the chance of finding soets loill look out for a cluht wind, and give us fuel for our fire”
”I would rather find a stream or water hole,” said Percy