in all probability, not be rejected by a naturalist, although it might be by people without much knowledge of the animal kingdom, who would not be able to judge by comparison whether the existence of such an animal was credible.  Even fabulous animals have had their origin from existing ones.  The unicorn is, no doubt, the gemsbok antelope; for when you look at the animal at a distance, its two horns appear as if they were only one, and the Bushmen have so portrayed the animal in their caves.  The dragon is also not exactly imaginary; for, the Lacerta volans, or flying lizard of Northern Africa, is very like a small dragon in miniature.  So that even what has been considered as fabulous has arisen from exaggeration or mistake.”

“You think, then, Swinton, that we are bound to believe all that travelers tell us?”

“Not so; but not to reject what they assert, merely because it does not correspond with our own ideas on the subject.  The most remarkable instance of unbelief was relative to the aerolites or meteoric stones formed during a thunder-storm in the air, and falling to the earth.  Of course you have heard that such have occurred?”

“I have,” replied the Major, “and I have seen several in India.”

“This was treated as a mere fable not a century back; and when it was reported (and not the first time) that such a stone had fallen in France, the savans were sent in deputation to the spot.  They heard the testimony of the witnesses that a loud noise was heard in the air; that they looked up and beheld an opaque body descending; that it fell on the earth with a force which nearly buried it in the ground, and was so hot at the time that it could not be touched with the hand.  It afterward became cold.  Now the savans heard all this, and pronounced that it could not be; and for a long while every report of the kind was treated with contempt.  Now every one knows, and every one is fully satisfied of the fact, and not the least surprise is expressed when they are told of the circumstance.  As Shakespeare makes Hamlet observe very truly—­’There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’”

CHAPTER XXIII.

There was no alarm during the night, and the next morning they yoked the oxen and changed their course to the northward.  The whole of the cattle had been led down to the river to drink, and allowed two hours to feed before they started; for they were about to pass through a sterile country of more than sixty miles, where they did not expect to find either pasturage or water.  They had not left the river more than three miles behind them, when the landscape changed its appearance.  As far as the eye could scan the horizon, all vestiges of trees had disappeared, and now the ground was covered with low stunted bushes and large stones.  Here and there were to be seen small groups of animals, the most common of which were the quaggas.  As our travelers were in the advance, they started six or seven ostriches which had been sitting, and a ball from the Major’s rifle brought one to the ground, the others running off at a velocity that the fastest horse could scarcely have surpassed.