the bullocks must again claim our attention,and I unwillingly revert to my subject.
On the night of our arrival at the Rakaia I did not yard the bullocks,as they seemed inclined to stay quietly with some others that were about the place;next morning they were gone.Were they up the river,or down the river,across the river,or gone back?You are at Cambridge,and have lost your bullocks.They were bred in Yorkshire,but have been used a good deal in the neighbourhood of Dorchester,and may have consequently made in either direction;they may,however,have worked down the Cam,and be in full feed for Lynn;or,again,they may be snugly stowed away in a gully half-way between the Fitzwilliam Museum and Trumpington.You saw a mob of cattle feeding quietly about Madingley on the preceding evening,and they may have joined in with these;or were they attracted by the fine feed in the neighbourhood of Cherryhinton?Where shall you go to look for them?
Matters in reality,however,are not so bad as this.A bullock cannot walk without leaving a track,if the ground he travels on is capable of receiving one.Again,if he does not know the country in advance of him,the chances are strong that he has gone back the way he came;he will travel in a track if he happens to light on one;he finds it easier going.Animals are cautious in proceeding onwards when they don't know the ground.They have ever a lion in their path until they know it,and have found it free from beasts of prey.If,however,they have been seen heading decidedly in any direction over-night,in that direction they will most likely be found sooner or later.Bullocks cannot go long without water.They will travel to a river,then they will eat,drink,and be merry,and during that period of fatal security they will be caught.