and poke it at that bush." "What's that?" "Yes, sir. He jes' sprung the trap. Of course, soon's he poked the bush the spring give, and the jaws flew together with a snap that bit clean through the stick. Then that there witch reached for the bush with his claw, and fetched a grin that spread all over his face like a gash in a water-melon. Then he smelt that trap all over and began to switch his tail, and with a growl in his stummick off he went slinking on my trail, taking long strides with his ears flattened. Luckily he went on the long trail leading from the house, and soon's he'd gone I lit out for the top of the krantz, where I could see the veld right up to my door." "Well?" "Well, after a time, I saw him crossing the veld, making himself small when he was on the level, and running when he got in a holler. Right up near the house he went and hid himself in a clump of wild cotton, waiting and watching for me to come out o' the door. I tell you he stopped there till the sun was right over head, then suddenly he ran right up to the house and looked in at the winder. I never was so glad at being not at home to a visitor. He walked all round the house and got on the roof; then he came back, full lick, having made up his mind I was in the kloof. Yes, then I made a bee line for home, and shut myself in." "And that ends it?" "No, sonny, it's the beginning of the chapter. He's jes' scheming to get me; but the ole baboon's on the watch and maybe I'll have the black skin yet." CHAPTER FOURTEEN. BUFFALO BULL AND THE SHORTHORN. In one of the kloofs near the Fish River, an old buffalo bull had taken up his quarters, and, like all solitary males, he was suspicious and savage. "And I don't wonder at it," said Abe Pike, when discussing the bull's points. "Trouble sours the best of us, and he's had his share of trouble--what with his struggles as a youngster to get a footing in the herd, and his struggles, when he became leader, to guard his position against enemies without in the shape of tigers and hunters, an' against enemies within in the shape of younger bulls, not to speak of the jealousy of his wives; and then on top of all this, the trouble of being driven from the family when his powers were failing, maybe by a own son of his. Yes, sir, that lonely animile, for all he's so savage, an' a'most knocked the life outer me, has my sympathy in his proud old age. Proud he is, you believe me. He might a stayed with the herd ef so be he choose to behave himself and foller with the calves, but once a king always a king. Ef he can't rule in the herd, he'll rule all alone in that kloof--nursing his pride and his memories--and going scatter-- dash--on sight for any critters mad enough to enter his domain." "Did you run against him, Uncle?"