Indeed, as we afterwards discovered, usually they were wrapped in this gauze-like mist, which doubtless accounted for our not having seen them more clearly before.
Sheba's Breasts had scarcely vanished into cloud-clad privacy, before our thirst--literally a burning question--reasserted itself.
It was all very well for Ventvoegel to say that he smelt water, but we could see no signs of it, look which way we would.

So far as the eye might reach there was nothing but arid sweltering sand and karoo scrub.
We walked round the hillock and gazed about anxiously on the other side, but it was the same story, not a drop of water could be found; there was no indication of a pan, a pool, or a spring.
"You are a fool," I said angrily to Ventvoegel; "there is no water." But still he lifted his ugly snub nose and sniffed.
"I smell it, Baas," he answered; "it is somewhere in the air." "Yes," I said, "no doubt it is in the clouds, and about two months hence it will fall and wash our bones." Sir Henry stroked his yellow beard thoughtfully.

"Perhaps it is on the top of the hill," he suggested.
"Rot," said Good; "whoever heard of water being found at the top of a hill!" "Let us go and look," I put in, and hopelessly enough we scrambled up the sandy sides of the hillock, Umbopa leading.

Presently he stopped as though he was petrified.
"_Nanzia manzie_!" that is, "Here is water!" he cried with a loud voice.
We rushed up to him, and there, sure enough, in a deep cut or indentation on the very top of the sand koppie, was an undoubted pool of water.

How it came to be in such a strange place we did not stop to inquire, nor did we hesitate at its black and unpleasant appearance.