We had a very pleasant dinner that night, although I was so
ashamed of my clothes with smart uniforms and white ties all
about me, and Anscombe kept fidgeting his feet because he was
suffering agony from his new pumps which were a size too small.
Everybody was in the best of spirits, for from all directions
came the news that the Annexation was well received and that the
danger of any trouble had passed away. Ah! if we had only known
what the end of it would be!

It was on our way back to the wagon that I chanced to mention to
Anscombe that there was still a herd of buffalo within a few
days' trek of Lydenburg, of which I had shot two not a month
before.

"Are there, by Jove!" he said. "As it happens I never got a
buffalo; always I just missed them in one sense or another, and I
can't leave Africa with a pair of bought horns. Let's go there
and shoot some."

I shook my head and replied that I had been idling long enough
and must try to make some money, news at which he seemed very
disappointed.

"Look here," he said, "forgive me for mentioning it, but business
is business. If you'll come you shan't be a loser."

Again I shook my head, whereat he looked more disappointed than
before.

"Very well," he exclaimed, "then I must go alone. For kill a