shelter of a rock which stood on a knoll above the stream. My bed-
chamber was well hidden, but at the same time, if anything should
appear in the early dawn, it gave me a prospect. With my waterproof
I was perfectly warm, and, after smoking two pipes, I fell asleep.

My night's rest was broken. First it was a fox which came and
barked at my ear and woke me to a pitch-black night, with scarcely
a star showing. The next time it was nothing but a wandering hill-
wind, but as I sat up and listened I thought I saw a spark of light
near the edge of the sea. It was only for a second, but it disquieted
me. I got out and climbed on the top of the rock, but all was still
save for the gentle lap of the tide and the croak of some night bird
among the crags. The third time I was suddenly quite wide awake,
and without any reason, for I had not been dreaming. Now I have
slept hundreds of times alone beside my horse on the veld, and I
never knew any cause for such awakenings but the one, and that
was the presence near me of some human being. A man who is
accustomed to solitude gets this extra sense which announces like
an alarm-clock the approach of one of his kind.

But I could hear nothing. There was a scraping and rustling on
the moor, but that was only the wind and the little wild things of
the hills. A fox, perhaps, or a blue hare. I convinced my reason, but
not my senses, and for long I lay awake with my ears at full cock
and every nerve tense. Then I fell asleep, and woke to the first flush
of dawn.

The sun was behind the Coolin and the hills were black as ink,
but far out in the western seas was a broad band of gold. I got up
and went down to the shore. The mouth of the stream was shallow,