As the horsemen drew near the vultures rose into the air, and a score of half-devoured carcasses could be seen upon the ground.

The long curving horns that appeared beside each carcass, rendered it easy to tell to what sort of animals they belonged.

In the torn and mutilated fragments, Von Bloom recognised the remains of his lost herd! Not one was left alive.

There could be seen the remains of all of them, both cows and oxen, lying near the enclosures and on the adjacent plain--each where it had fallen.
But how had they fallen?
That was the mystery.
Surely they could not have perished of hunger, and so suddenly?
They could not have died of thirst, for there was the spring bubbling up just beside where they lay?
The vultures had not killed them! What then?
Von Bloom did not ask many questions.

He was not left long in doubt.
As he and his companions rode over the ground, the mystery was explained.