noon
Well , he is of no value to us , except as a contribution to our larder , so we may as well be going . We will mark the spot where he lies , and send Mafuta and Jantje for one of his feet , which will furnish us with an epicurean dinner to - night . And now I suppose we may as well go and look for the wagon , for of course the giraffes cleared out directly the rumpus began . '' They camped that night in the midst of a wide plateau dotted here and there with low _ kopjes _ of outcropping granite , and clothed for the most part with _ melkboom _ interspersed with patches of low thornbush and sun - dried grass ; and , from the fact that they had met with no water since noon , they greeted with much satisfaction the discovery of a shallow water-hole of some two acres in extent , within about half a mile of which they outspanned for the night , an hour before sunset . They did not care to approach nearer to the water than this , for upon inspecting the place they became aware , from the spoor in the mud all round the margin , that it was the favourite if not the only drinking place for all the animals in the neighbourhood , and past experienced had taught them that the nocturnal sounds emanating from such a spot were the reverse of favourable to sleep . Moreover , they had detected among the most recent spoor that of lions ; and for the sake of their cattle they preferred to keep at a respectful distance from a place frequented by such formidable animals . At one spot this miniature lake was bordered by a patch of reeds of considerable extent , which looked as though it might harbour a few wild duck ; therefore , as soon as the wagon was outspanned , the two friends took their shot guns and a couple of dogs which had manifested some talent at retrieving , and made their way toward the reeds , warning Jantje to be careful to water the cattle as far as possible from the spot toward which they were making .