AFTER GAZELLE.

ribs came as much through his skin after a gorging as they did before.

Near the camp we noticed tracks of various animals, chiefly gazelle and jackals, and used to wander out after them in the cool of the evening, though we rarely got anything. One thing struck me as rather peculiar, and that was the number of hoof marks all over the valley. We only had three ponies with us, belonging to three Hussars who were sent to help us, and we knew no Cavalry had passed that way, so I concluded they must be the tracks of Arab horsemen at some time or other. It was not long before we found out what they were.

One day, N and I started off on camels up the black gorge to explore, taking our rifles with us in case of game or niggers. It was very pretty when we got well inside. Patches of long green grass and rushes sprang up on either hand as we advanced, and the dhoum palms increased in greenness and size, showing up well against the precipitous dark rocks.

Under foot the sand showed signs of moisture, and every now and then a small pool glistened under some