"Oh, he has to me, sir. He has seen them over and over again when he has been out with hunting gentlemen. He says they are as big as a good-sized dog, and a bit like one about the head. But they've got next to no tail. Go in packs, they do, like dogs, and make a sort of a barking noise. Pretty fierce too, he says they are, and bite like all that. Don't you think it might be one of them? Buck says they live in the kopjes." "But would one be likely to be about here in the dark?" "There's no knowing, sir--hanging round our kraal to see if it could pick up a bit of anything to eat. But there, I'll keep a sharp look out, and if I see anything worth while I'll fire." "Do," said Mark. "Good-night." "Good-night, sir." Mark went to his blanket, and forgot all about the incident till after breakfast when he met his relief, who signed to him to follow into the clearing they had made by cutting down and burning the bushes. "What is it, Dan?" "Only this, sir. Remember what you saw last night?" "Yes," cried Mark eagerly. "Did you see it too?" "Well, I'm not sure, sir; only think I did." "Think?" "Well, you see, sir, what you said seemed to make me expect that I should see something. I could not be sure." "Well, we had better tell my father and the doctor, and let's do it now." Mark led the way straight to where the above were busily talking together and just about to start for a further exploration of the gigantic walls whose ruins cropped up in all directions; and after the matter had been discussed it was decided that though there was a doubt as to whether it was not all imagination, it would be wise to try to keep up a stricter watch by night. "You see," said Dan, as Sir James and the doctor resumed their search, "it's like this, sir. It might be some animile or one of them doggy monkey things come stealing about in the night, or even one of the niggers come to see if he could pinch something good out of the stores." "That's hardly likely," said Mark. But a morning or two later Mark went up to his father and startled him with a question: "Have you taken my rifle away, father?" "Your rifle? No! Why?" "It isn't hanging on the pegs with the others." "Nonsense! Perhaps you did not look in the right place. Let's see." Sir James led the way to where a number of pegs had been driven into the old wall beneath the canvas roof. "They are not all there, certainly," he said. "Perhaps the doctor has taken yours by mistake." "No; he has got his own." "Mark, my boy, I'm afraid you have had it out somewhere and left it standing up against a rock or tree--forgotten it." "Oh, father," cried the boy excitedly, "I am sure I haven't! I had it last night, cleaned it and oiled it carefully, and then put it back in its place." "Are you sure? Last night?" "Yes, father, certain. Here, I will call Dean." The latter came trotting up in answer to his cousin's whistle, heard what was wrong, and corroborated Mark's words.