"But just look at it for a moment," said McCann earnestly. "This fountain is the only water there is in the country for miles around."
"Exactly. I knew that when I came here, and it is just the reason I am going to stay. The game always comes where the water is."
"Yes; and so do the hyenas, leopards, and lions. The hyenas will rob you of your goats, the leopards will show a partiality for your dogs, and the lions will drive off your horses, and perhaps gobble you or one of your men up for dessert."
"If they do it will be our own fault," answered Oscar, who began to believe that his after-rider was not quite as courageous as he said he was. "It is our business to look out for things. Here is the wagon. Outspan under those trees, and have supper ready for me in an hour."
"You are never going out to hunt!" exclaimed McCann. "It will be pitch dark before you know it."
"I shall not go far," was the reply. "I want to shoot one of those secretary-birds before I go to bed."
As soon as the wagon came to a standstill Oscar climbed into it, and after putting the rifle he had carried all day into its case he selected from among his other weapons a heavy double-barrelled shot-gun.
With this in his hand, and a belt full of cartridges about his waist, he mounted Little Gray, all unconscious that the animal's speed would soon be tested to its very utmost, and rode out in search of a secretary.
It was a lovely evening, and Oscar was in just the mood to enjoy it.
Turtle-doves cooed to one another from the trees over his head; long-tailed finches, commonly called the widahbird, flitted through the branches; a garrulous honey-bird tried hard to attract his attention as he rode past, and now and then flocks of Namaqua partridges sailed by, uttering their melodious notes, and settled down about the fountain.
Oscar looked at all these birds, but did not try a shot at any of them. He had no time to waste, for darkness would soon be upon him.
As soon as he was fairly out of the grove he discovered one of the birds of which he was in search, stalking along about two hundred yards in advance of him.
Oscar rode toward it, keeping close watch of every move the bird made, so that he might know how to set it up after he had shot it.