CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.
HANS CHASED BY THE WILDEBEEST.
"Well," began Hans, "you had not been gone more than an hour, when a herd of wildebeests was seen approaching the vley.

They came on in single file; but they had broken rank, and were splashing about in the water, before I thought of molesting them in any way.
"Of course I knew what they were, and that they were proper game; but I was so interested in watching their ludicrous gambols, that I did not think about my gun, until the whole herd had nearly finished drinking.
Then I remembered that we were living on dry biltongue, and would be nothing the worse of a change.

I noticed, moreover, that in the herd of gnoos there were some young ones--which I was able to tell from their being smaller than the rest, and also by their lighter colour.

I knew that the flesh of these is most excellent eating, and therefore made up my mind we should all dine upon it.
"I rushed up the ladder for my gun; and then discovered how imprudent I had been in not loading it at the time you all went away.

I had not thought of any sudden emergency,--but that was very foolish, for how knew I what might happen in a single hour or minute even?
"I loaded the piece in a grand hurry, for I saw the wildebeests leaving the water; and, as soon as the bullet was rammed home, I ran down the ladder.