He generally sought her out in his leisure hours.
Almost instinctively she turned her steps in the direction of the kopje which she had so often desired to climb.

It rose steep from the _veldt_ like some lonely tower in the wilderness.
Curious-shaped rocks cropped out unexpectedly on its scarred sides and a few prickly pear bushes stood up here and there like weird guardians of the rugged stronghold.

Sylvia had an odd feeling that they watched her with unfriendly attention as she approached.
Though solitude girt her round, she did not feel herself to be really alone.
It took her some time to reach it, for the ground was rough and sandy under her feet, and it was farther away than it looked.

She realized as she drew nearer that to climb to the round summit would be no easy task, but that fact did not daunt her.

She felt the need for strenuous exercise just then.
The shadows were lengthening, and the full glare of the sun no longer smote upon her.