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 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED BY "ffOODFALL AND KINDEB, 
 
 MILFORD LANE, STRAND, W.C.
 
 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 BY 
 
 CAPTAIN MAYNE EEID, 
 
 author op 
 "the rifle rangers," *'the scalp hunters," 
 
 ETC. ETC. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 VOL. I. 
 
 LOND ON: 
 HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHEES, 
 
 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET, 
 
 1867. 
 
 The right of Tratislation is reserved.
 
 y 

 
 W3 
 /J 
 
 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS, 
 
 CHAPTEE I. 
 
 ARRIVAL AT THE PROMISED LAND. 
 
 In that land of whicli we have so many 
 records of early and high civilization, and 
 also such strong evidences of present bar- 
 barism — the land of which we know so 
 much and so little — the land where Xature 
 exhibits some of her most wonderful crea- 
 tions and greatest contrasts, and where 
 she is also prolific in the great forms of 
 animal and vegetable life — there, my young 
 reader, let us wander once more. 
 
 VOL. I. B 
 
 ^
 
 2 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 Let us return to Africa, and encounter 
 new scenes in the company of old friends. 
 
 On tlie banks of the Limpopo brightly 
 blazes a hunter's fire, around which ,the 
 reader may behold three distinct circles of 
 animated beings. The largest is composed 
 of horses, the second of dogs, and the 
 lesser, or inner one, of young men, whom 
 many of my readers will recognize as old 
 acquaintances. 
 
 I have but to mention the names of 
 Hans and Hendrick Von Bloom, Grroot 
 WiUem, and Arend Van Wyk, to make 
 known that " The Young Yagers " are 
 again on a hunting expedition. 
 
 In the one in which we now encounter 
 them, all the parties are not inspired by 
 the same hopes and desires. 
 
 The quiet and learned Hans Von Bloom,
 
 ARRIVAL AT THE PROMISED LAND. 6 
 
 like many colonial youths, is affected witli 
 tlie desire of visiting tlie home of his fore- 
 fathers. He wishes to go to Europe, for 
 the purpose of making some, practical use 
 of the knowledge acquired, and the floral 
 collection made, while a " Bush Boy " and 
 a "Young Yager." 
 
 But, hefore doing so, he desires to en- 
 large his knowledge of natural history by 
 making one more expedition to a part of 
 South Africa he has not yet visited. 
 
 He knows that extensive regions of his 
 native land, containing large rivers and 
 immense forests, and abounding in a vast 
 variety of rare plants, lie between the 
 rivers Limpopo and Zambesi ; and before 
 visiting Europe he wishes to extend his 
 botanical researches in that direction. 
 
 His desire to make this new excursion 
 
 B 2
 
 4 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 amid the African wilds is not stronger 
 than that of Groot Willem, who, ever 
 since his return from their last expedition, 
 six months before, has been anxious to 
 undertake another, in quest of game such 
 as he has not yet encountered. 
 
 Our readers will search in vain around 
 the camp-fire for little Jan and Klaas. 
 Their parents would not consent to their 
 going so far from home, on an excursion 
 promising so many hardships and so much 
 danger. Besides, it was necessary that 
 they should become something better than 
 mere " Bush Boys," by spending a few 
 years at school. 
 
 The two young cornets, Hendrick Yon 
 Bloom and Arend Van Wyk, each en- 
 deavouring to wear the appearance of old 
 warriors, are present in the camp.
 
 ARRIVAL AT THE PROMISED LAND. 
 
 Although both are passionately fond 
 of a sportsman's life, each, for certain 
 reasons, had refrained from urging the 
 necessity or advantage of the present 
 expedition. 
 
 They would have preferred remaining 
 at home, and trying to find amusement 
 during the day with the inferior game 
 to be found near Graaff-Eeinet — not that 
 they feared danger, or were in any way 
 entitled to the appellation of '' cockney 
 sportsmen ; " but home has an attraction 
 for them that the love of adventure cannot 
 wholly eradicate. 
 
 Hendrick Yon Bloom could have stayed 
 very happily at home. The excitement of 
 the chase, which on former occasions he 
 had so much enjoyed, now no longer 
 attracts him half so much as the smiles
 
 6 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 of Wilhemina Van Wyk — tlie only sister 
 of Ms friends Groot Willem and Arend. 
 
 The latter young gentleman would not 
 have travelled far from the daily society of 
 little Trlley Yon Bloom, had he been left 
 to his own inclinations. 
 
 But Willem and Hans had determined 
 upon seeking adventures farther to the 
 north than any place they had yet visited ; 
 and hence the present expedition. 
 
 The promise of sport and rare adven- 
 tures, added to the fear of ridicule should 
 they remain at home, influenced Hendrick 
 and Arend to accompany the great hunter 
 and the naturalist to the banks of the 
 Limpopo. 
 
 Seated near the fire are two other indi- 
 viduals whom the reader of " The Young 
 Yagers" will recognize as old acquaintances.
 
 ARRIVAL AT THE PROMISED LAND. 7 
 
 One is the short, stout, heavy-headed Bush- 
 man, Swartboy, who could not have been 
 coaxed to remain behind, while his young 
 masters, Hans and Hendrick, were out in 
 search of adventures. 
 
 The other personage, not mentioned by 
 name, is Congo the Kaffir. 
 
 The Limpopo river was too far from 
 Graaff-Eeinet for the young hunters to 
 think of reaching it with waggons and 
 oxen. The journey might be made, but 
 it would take up too much time ; and 
 they were impatient to reach what Groot 
 Willem had long called the '* promised 
 land." 
 
 In order, therefore, to do their travelling 
 in as little time as possible, they had taken 
 no oxen, but, mounted on good horses, 
 had hastened by the nearest route to the
 
 8 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 banks of the Limpopo, — avoiding, instead 
 of seeking, adventures by tbe way. 
 
 Besides their own saddle-horses, they had 
 six others, famished with pack-saddles, and 
 lightly laden with ammunition, clothing, 
 and such other articles as might be re- 
 quired. 
 
 The camp, where we now encounter 
 them, is a temporary halting-place on the 
 Limpopo. They have succeeded in cross- 
 ing the river, and are now on the borders 
 of that land so long represented to them 
 as being a hunter's paradise. 
 
 A toilsome journey is no longer before 
 them, but only amusement, of a kind so 
 much appreciated, that they have travelled 
 several hundred miles to enjoy it. 
 
 We have stated that, in undertaking this 
 expedition, the youths were influenced by
 
 ARRIVAL AT THE PROMISED LAND. 9 
 
 different motives. This was, to a great 
 extent, true ; and yet tliey liad a common 
 j^urpose, besides that of mere amuse- 
 ment. 
 
 The Consul for the Netherlands had 
 been instructed by his Grovernment to pro- 
 cure a young male and female giraffe, to 
 be forwarded to Europe. 
 
 Five hundred pounds had been offered 
 for the pair, safely delivered either at Cape 
 Town or Port Natal; and several parties 
 of hunters, attempting to procure them, 
 had failed. These had shot and otherwise 
 killed camelopards by the score, but had 
 not succeeded in capturing any young ones 
 alive. Our hunters had left home with the 
 determination to take back a pair of young 
 giraffes, and pay all expenses of their 
 expedition by this, as also by the sale of
 
 10 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 liippopotamus' teeth. The hope was not 
 an unreasonable one. They knew that 
 fortunes had been made in procuring 
 elephants' tasks, and also that the teeth of 
 the hippopotamus were the finest of ivory, 
 and commanded a price four times greater 
 than any other sent to the European 
 market. 
 
 But the capturing of the young camelo- 
 pards was the principal object of their 
 expedition. The love of glory was 
 stronger than the desire of gain, especially 
 in Groot Willem, who, as a professed 
 hunter, eagerly longed to accomplish a feat 
 which had been attempted by so many 
 others without success. 
 
 In his mind, the fame of fetching back 
 the two young girafi'es far outweighed the 
 five hundred pound prize to be obtained ;
 
 ARRIVAL AT THE PROMISED LAND. 11 
 
 tliougli the latter was a consideration not 
 to be despised, and, no doubt, formed with 
 him, as with the others, an additional 
 incentive.
 
 12 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 ON THE LIMPOPO. 
 
 During the first night spent upon the 
 Limpopo, our adventurers had good reason 
 for believing that they were in the neigh- 
 bourhood of several kinds of game they 
 were anxious to fall in with. 
 
 Their repose was disturbed by a combi- 
 nation of sounds, in which they could 
 distinguish the roar of the lion, the 
 trumpet-like notes of the elephant, mingled 
 with the voices of some creatures they
 
 ON THE LIMPOPO. 13 
 
 could not remember having previously 
 heard. 
 
 Several hours of that day had been 
 passed in searching for a place to cross the 
 river, — one where the banks were low on 
 each side, and the stream not too deep. 
 This had not been found until the sun was 
 low down upon the horizon. 
 
 By the time they had got safety over, 
 twilight ^^'as fast thickening into darkness, 
 and all but Congo were unwilling to pro- 
 ceed farther that night. 
 
 The Kaffir suggested that they should 
 go at least half a mile up or down the 
 river, and Groot Willem seconded the 
 proposal, although he had no other reason 
 for doing so than a blind belief in the 
 judgment of his attendant, whether it was 
 based upon wisdom or instinct.
 
 14 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 In the end, Congo's suggestion had been 
 adopted, and the sounds that disturbed 
 the slumbers of the camp were heard at 
 some distance, proceeding from the place 
 where they had crossed the river. 
 
 " 'Now can you understand why Congo 
 advised us to come here ? " asked Groot 
 Willem, as they listened to the hideous 
 noises that were depriving them of sleep. 
 
 " No," was the reply of his companions. 
 
 " Well, it was because the place where 
 we crossed was the watering-place for all 
 the animals in the neighbourhood." 
 
 " That is so, baas Willem," said Congo, 
 confirming the statement of his master. 
 
 " But we have not come a thousand 
 miles for the sake of keeping out of the 
 way of those animals, have we?" asked 
 the hunter Hendrick.
 
 ON THE LIMPOPO. 15 
 
 "No," answered AYillem; "we came here 
 to seek them, not to have them seek us. 
 Our horses want rest, whether we do or 
 not." 
 
 Here ended further conversation for the 
 night, for the hunters, becoming accus- 
 tomed to the chorus of the wild creatures, 
 took no further notice of it, and one after 
 another fell asleep. 
 
 Morning dawned upon a scene of sur- 
 passing beauty. 
 
 They were in a broad valley covered 
 with magnificent trees, among which were 
 many gigantic baobabs {^Adansonia di(jitatd). 
 Wild date trees were growing in little 
 clumps, while the floral carpet, spread in 
 brilliant pattern over the valley, was ob- 
 served by Hans "with an air of peculiar 
 satisfaction.
 
 16 THE GIRAEFE HUNTERS. 
 
 He had reached a new field for the 
 pursuit of his studies, and bright dreams 
 were passing gently through his mind, — 
 dreams that anticipated new discoveries in 
 the botanical world, which might make 
 his name known anions: the savants of 
 Europe. 
 
 Before any of his companions were 
 moving, Groot Willem, accompanied by 
 Congo, stole forth to take a look at the 
 surrounding country. 
 
 They directed their course down the 
 riv^er. 
 
 On reaching the place where they had 
 crossed it, they chanced upon a tableau 
 that even a hunter, who is supposed to 
 take deUght in the destruction of animals, 
 could not look upon without unpleasant 
 emotions.
 
 ON THE LIMPOPO. 17 
 
 Within the space of a hundred yards 
 were lying five dead antelopes, of a species 
 Willem had never seen before. 
 
 Feedinsr on the carcasses were several 
 hyenas. On the approach of the hunters, 
 they slowly moved away, each laughing 
 like a madman who has just committed 
 some horrible atrocity. 
 
 By the " spoor " seen upon the river 
 banks, it was evident that both elephants 
 and lions had visited the place during 
 the night. 
 
 While making these and other recon- 
 noissances, Grroot Willem was joined by 
 Hans, who had already commenced his 
 favourite study by making an acquaintance 
 with the floral treasures in his immediate 
 locality. 
 
 On getting up with Grroot Willem, the 
 
 VOL. I. c
 
 18 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 attention of Hans was at once directed 
 to an examination of tlie mutilated ante- 
 lopes, which he pronounced to be elands, 
 but believed them to be of a new and 
 undescribed variety of this animal. 
 
 They were elands ; but each was marked 
 with small white stripes across the body, 
 in this respect resembling " koodoos." 
 
 After a short examination of the spoor, 
 Congo asserted that a troop of elands had 
 first visited the watering-place, and that 
 while they were there, four bull elephants, 
 also in search of water, had charged with 
 great speed upon the antelopes. 
 
 Three or four lions had also joined in 
 the strife, in which the only victims had 
 been the unfortunate elands. 
 
 " I think we are in a place where we 
 had better make a regular kraal, and stop
 
 ON THE LIMPOPO. 19 
 
 for a few days/' suggested Greet Willem, 
 on his return to the camp. " There is 
 plenty of feed for the horses, and we have 
 proof that the drift where we crossed is 
 a g]»eat resort for all kinds of game." 
 
 " I'm of the same opinion," assented 
 Hendrick ; hut I don't wish to encamp 
 quite so close to the crossing. We had 
 better move some distance off ; then we 
 shall not prevent game from coming to 
 the water, or he ourselves hindered from 
 getting sleep. Don't you think we'd do 
 well to move a little farther up the 
 river r 
 
 " Yes, yes ! " was the unanimous answer. 
 
 It was therefore decided that search 
 
 should be made for another camping 
 
 ground, where they could build themselves 
 
 a proper enclosure, or '^ kraal." 
 
 c 2
 
 20 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 After partaking of their first breakfast 
 upon tlie Limpopo, Groot Willem, Hans, 
 and Hendrick mounted their horses and 
 rode off np stream, accompanied by the 
 whole pack of dogs ; leaving Arend -with 
 Swartboy and Congo to take care of the 
 camp. 
 
 For nearly three miles the young hun- 
 ters rode along the bank of the river 
 -vxdthout finding any spot where access to 
 the water could be readily obtained. 
 
 The banks were high and steep, and 
 therefore but little visited by such animals 
 as they wished to hunt. 
 
 At this point, the features of the land- 
 scape began to change — presenting an 
 appearance more to their satisfaction. 
 
 Light timber, such as they would require 
 for the construction of a stockade, was
 
 ON THE LIMPOPO. 21 
 
 growing near the river ; which was no 
 longer inaccessible, though its banks ap- 
 peared but little frequented by game. 
 
 " I think this place will suit admirably," 
 said Groot "Willem. " We are only half 
 an hour's ride from the drift, and probably 
 we may find good hunting ground farther 
 up stream." 
 
 " Very likely," rejoined Hendrick ; " but, 
 before taking too much trouble to build 
 ourselves a big kraal, we had better be sure 
 about what sort of game is to be got here." 
 
 "You are right about that," answered 
 Willem ; " we must take care to find out 
 whether there are hippopotami and giraffes. 
 We cannot go home without a pair of the 
 latter. Our friends would be sorely dis- 
 appointed, and 8ome I Jcnoio would have a 
 good laugh at us."
 
 22 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 " And you, for one, would deserve it/' 
 reiterated Hans. " Eemember how you 
 ridiculed the other hunters who returned 
 unsuccessful." 
 
 Having selected a place for the kraal, 
 should they decide on staying awhile in 
 the neighbourhood, the young hunters 
 proceeded farther up the river, for the 
 purpose of learning something more of the 
 hunting ground, before finally determining 
 to construct the enclosure.
 
 A TWIN TRAP. 23 
 
 CHAPTEE III. 
 
 A TWIN TRAP. 
 
 Not long after tlie departure of Grroot 
 Willem and his companions, Arend, 
 looking towards a thicket about half a 
 mile from the river, perceived a small herd 
 of antelopes quietly browsing upon the 
 plain. 
 
 Mounting his horse, he rode off with the 
 intention of bagging one of them, to serve 
 for the day's dinner. 
 
 Having ridden to the leeward of the
 
 24 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 herd, and getting near tliem, lie saw that 
 they were of the species known as " duy- 
 ker," or diver. 
 
 Near them was a small " motte" of the 
 Nerium Oleander — a shrub about twelve 
 feet high — loaded with beautiful blossoms. 
 
 Under the cover of these bushes, he rode 
 up close enough to the antelopes to insure 
 a good shot ; and picking out one of the 
 largest of the herd, he fired. 
 
 All the antelopes but one rushed to the 
 edge of the thicket, made a grand leap, 
 and dived out of sight over the tops lof 
 the bushes — thus affording a beautiful 
 illustration of that peculiarity to which 
 they are indebted for their name of 
 " divers." 
 
 Biding up to the one that had remained 
 behind, and which was that at which he
 
 A TWIN TRAP. 25 
 
 had fired, the young hunter made sure that 
 it was dead. 
 
 He then trotted back to camp ; and 
 despatched Congo and the Bushman to 
 bring it in. 
 
 They soon returned with the carcass, 
 which they proceeded to skin and make 
 ready for the spit. 
 
 Wliile thus engaged, Swartboy appeared 
 to notice something out upon the plain. 
 
 " Look yonner, baas Arend," said he. 
 
 " Well, what is it. Swart?" 
 
 " You see da pack horse dar ? He gone 
 too much off from camp." 
 
 Arend turned and looked in the direction 
 in which the Bushman was pointing. One 
 of the horses, which had strayed from its 
 companions, was now more than half a 
 mile oflP, and was wandering onward.
 
 26 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 " All right, Swart. You go on with 
 your cooking. I'll ride after it myself, 
 and drive it in." 
 
 Arend, again mounting his horse, trotted 
 off in the direction of the animal that had 
 strayed. 
 
 Tor cooking the antelope, Congo and 
 Swarthoy saw the necessity of providing 
 themselves with some water ; and each 
 taking a vessel for that purpose, they 
 set out for the drift — that heing the 
 nearest point where they could obtain 
 it. 
 
 They kept along the river bank ; and 
 just before reaching a place where they 
 could descend to the water, Congo, 
 who was in advance, suddenly disap- 
 peared ! 
 
 He had walked into a carefully-concealed
 
 A TWIN TRAP. 27 
 
 pit, dug for tlie purpose of catching hip- 
 popotami or elephants. 
 
 The hole was about nine feet deep ; 
 and, after being astonished by dropping 
 into it, the Kaffir was nearly blinded 
 by the sand, dust, and other materials 
 that had formed the covering of the 
 pit. 
 
 Congo w^as too well acquainted with this 
 South African device for killing large game 
 to be anyways disconcerted by what had 
 happened; and after becoming convinced 
 that he was uninjured by the fall, he 
 turned his glance upward, expecting assist- 
 ance from his companion. 
 
 But Swartboy's aid could not just then 
 be given. 
 
 The Bushman, amused by the ludicrous 
 incident that had befallen his rival, was
 
 28 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 determined to enjoy the fun for a little 
 longer. 
 
 Uttering a wild sliout of laughter, that 
 was a tolerable imitation of an enraged 
 hyena, Swartboy seemed transported into 
 a heaven of unadulterated joy. 
 
 Earth appeared hardly able to hold him, 
 as he leaped and danced around the edge 
 of the pit. 
 
 Never had his microscopic mind been 
 so intensely delighted; but the manifes- 
 tations of that delight were more speedily 
 terminated than commenced ; for in the 
 midst of his eccentric capers he, too, sud- 
 denly disappeared under ground, as if 
 swallowed up by an earthquake ! 
 
 His misfortune was similar to that 
 which had befallen his companion. Two 
 pitfalls had been constructed close to-
 
 A TWIN TRAP. 29 
 
 getlier; and Swartboy now occupied the 
 second ! 
 
 It is a common practice among the 
 natives of South Africa to trap the ele- 
 phant in these twin pitfalls — as the ani- 
 mals, too hastily avoiding the one, run 
 the risk of dropping into the other. 
 
 Swartboy and the Kaffir had unexpect- 
 edly found a place where this plan had 
 been adopted — and, much to their dis- 
 comfiture, without the success anticipated 
 by those who had taken the trouble to 
 contrive it. 
 
 The cavity into which Congo had fallen, 
 contained about tv/o feet of mud on the 
 bottom. The sides were perpendicular, 
 and of a soapy kind of clay ; so that 
 his- attempts at climbing out proved alto- 
 gether unsuccessful, thus greatly increas-
 
 30 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 ing the cliagriii of his unphilosophic 
 mind. 
 
 He had heard the Bushman's screams 
 of delio^ht: and the sounds had contri- 
 buted nothing to reconcile him to the 
 mischance that had befallen him. 
 
 Seve-iiil minutes passed, and he heard 
 nothing of Swartboy. 
 
 He was not surprised at the Bushman 
 having been amused, as well as gratified, 
 by his mischance. Still he expected that 
 in time he would lend assistance, and 
 pull him out of the pit. 
 
 But as this assistance was not a'iven, 
 and as Swartboy, not satisfied with laugh- 
 ing at his misfortune, appeared also to 
 have gone ofi* and left him to his fate, 
 the Kafl&r became frantic with rage. 
 
 Several more minutes passed, which to
 
 A TWIN TRAP. 31 
 
 Congo seemed hours, and still nothing 
 was seen or heard of his companion. 
 
 Had Swartboy returned to the camp ? 
 
 If so, why had not Arend, on ascer- 
 taining what was wrong, hastened to the 
 relief of his faithful servant? 
 
 As some addition to the discomforts of 
 the place, the pit contained many reptiles 
 and insects that had in some manner 
 obtained admittance, and, like himself, 
 could not escape. There were toads, frogs, 
 large ants called "soldiers," and other 
 creatures, whose company he bad no 
 relish to keep. 
 
 In vain he called "Swartboy" and 
 " Baas Arend." No one came to his 
 caU. 
 
 The strong vindictive spirit of his race 
 was soon roused to the pitch of fury ; and
 
 32 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 liberty only became desired for one object; 
 that was revenge — revenge on the man 
 who, instead of releasing him from his 
 imprisonment, only exulted in its con- 
 tinuance. 
 
 The Bushman had not been injured in 
 falling into the pit, as may be supposed. 
 
 After fully comprehending the manner 
 in which his amusement had been so sud- 
 denly brought to a termination, his first 
 thought was to extricate himself, without 
 asking assistance from the man who had 
 furnished him with the fun. 
 
 His pride would be greatly mortified 
 should the Kaffir get out of his pit, and 
 find him in the other : that would be a 
 humiliating revanche. 
 
 In silence, therefore, he listened to 
 Congo's cries for assistance; while at the
 
 A TWIN TRAP. 33 
 
 same time doing all in his power to get 
 himself out. 
 
 He tried to pull up a sharp-pointed 
 stake that stood in the bottom of the 
 
 pit. 
 
 This piece of timber had been placed 
 there for the purpose of impaling and 
 killing the hippopotamus or elephant that 
 should drop down upon it; and had the 
 Bushman succeeded in taking it from the 
 place where it had been planted, he might 
 have used it in working his w^ay to the 
 surface of the earth. 
 
 This object, however, he was unable to 
 accomplish ; and his mind became diverted 
 to another idea. 
 
 Swartboy had a system of logic, not 
 wholly peculiar to himself, by which he 
 was enabled to discover that there must be 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 34 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 some first cause for his being in a place 
 from which he could not escape. 
 
 That cause was no other than Congo. 
 
 Had the Kafl&r not fallen into a pit, 
 Swartboy was quite certain that he would 
 have escaped the similar calamity. 
 
 He would have liberated Congo from his 
 confinement, and perhaps sympathized with 
 his misfortune, after the first moments of 
 his mirth had been exhausted; but now, 
 on being entrapped himself, he was only 
 conscious that some one was to blame 
 for the disagreeable incident, and was 
 unable to admit that this some one was 
 himself. 
 
 The mishap had befallen him in company 
 with the Kaffir. It was that individual's 
 m.isfortunes that had conduced to his own : 
 and this was another reason why he now
 
 A TWIN TRAP. 35 
 
 snbmitted to his captivity in profound 
 silence. 
 
 Unlike Congo, he did not experience 
 the soul - harrowing thought of being 
 neglected; and could therefore endure his 
 confinement with some degree of patience, 
 not possible to his companion. Moreover, 
 he 'had the hope of speedy deliverance, 
 which to Congo was denied. 
 
 He knew that Arend would soon return 
 to the camp with the stray horse, and miss 
 them. 
 
 The water-vessel would also be missed ; 
 and a search would be made for it in the 
 right direction. 
 
 No doubt Arend, seeing that the bucket 
 was taken away from the camp, and 
 finding that they did not return, would 
 come towards the drift — the only place 
 
 D 2
 
 36 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 where water could be dipped up. In 
 doing so, he must pass within sight of 
 the pits. 
 
 "With this calculation, therefore, Swart- 
 boy could reconcile himself to patience 
 and silence, whereas the Kaffir had no 
 such consolatory data to build upon.
 
 IN THE PITS. 37 
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 IN THE PITS. 
 
 As time passed on, however, and Swart- 
 boy saw that the sun was descending, and 
 that the shades of night would soon be 
 gathering over the river, his hopes began 
 to sink within him. 
 
 He could not understand why the young 
 hunter had not long ago come to release 
 them. 
 
 Groot Willem, Hendrick, and Hans 
 should have returned by that time ; and
 
 38 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 the four should have made an effectual 
 search for their missing servants. 
 
 He had remained silent for a long time 
 under very peculiar circumstances. 
 
 But silence now became unbearable, and 
 he was seized with a sudden desire to 
 express his dissatisfaction at the manner 
 fate had been dealing out events, a desire 
 to be no longer resisted. The silence was 
 at last broken by his calling out, — 
 
 " Congo ! you ole fool, where are you ? 
 What for don't you go home ? " 
 
 On the Kaffir's ear the voice fell dull 
 and distant, and yet he immediately un- 
 derstood whence it came. Like himself, 
 the Bushman was in a living grave ! 
 
 That explained his neglect to render 
 the long-desired assistance. 
 
 " Lor, Swart ! why, I waitin' for you,"
 
 IN THE PITS. 39 
 
 answered Congo, for the first time since 
 his imprisonment attempting a smile. " I 
 don't want to go to tlie camp and leave 
 you behind me." 
 
 " You think a big sight too much of 
 yourself !" rejoined the B ashman. "Who 
 wants to be near such a black ole fool as 
 you. You may go back to the camp, 
 and when you get there, jus' tell baas 
 Hendrick that Swartboy wants to see him. 
 I've got something particular to tell him." 
 
 " Yery well," answered the Kaffir, be- 
 coming more reconciled to his position. 
 " What for you want see baas Hendrick ? 
 I'll tell him what you want, without 
 making him come here ; — what shall I 
 say? 
 
 In answer to this question, Swartboy 
 made a long speech, in which the Kaffir
 
 40 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 was requested to report himself a fool for 
 having fallen into a pit — that he had 
 shown himself more stupid than the sea- 
 cows that had apparently shunned the 
 trap for years. 
 
 On heing requested to explain how one 
 was more stupid than the other, hoth 
 having met with the same mischance, 
 Swarthoy went on to prove that his 
 misfortune was wholly owing to the fault 
 of Congo, hy the Kaffir having committed 
 the first folly of allowing himself to be 
 entrapped. 
 
 Nothing, to the Bushman's mind, could 
 be more clear than that Congo's stupidity 
 in falling] into the first pit, had led to 
 his downfall into the second. 
 
 This was now a source of much conso- 
 lation to him, and the verbal expression
 
 TN THE PITS. 41 
 
 of his wrongs enabled him for a while to 
 feel rather happy at the fine opportunity 
 afforded for reviling his rival. 
 
 The amusement, however, could not 
 prevent his thoughts from returning to 
 the positive fact that he was imprisoned 
 — that in place of passing the day in 
 cooking and eating duyker, he had been 
 fasting and fretting in a dark, dirty 
 pit, in the companionship of loathsome 
 reptiles. 
 
 His mind now expanded under the 
 exercise of a startled imagination. He 
 became apprehensive. What if some 
 accident should have occurred to Arend, 
 and prevented his return to the camp ? 
 What if Grroot Willem and the others 
 should have strayed, and not find their 
 way back to the place for two or three
 
 42 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 days ? He had heard of such events 
 happening to other stupid white men, and 
 why not to them ? What if they had 
 met a trihe of the savage inhabitants of 
 the country, and been killed, or taken 
 prisoners ? 
 
 These conjectures, and a thousand others, 
 flitted through the brain of the Bushman, 
 all guiding to the conclusion, that should 
 either of them prove correct, he would 
 first have to eat the reptiles in the pit, 
 and then starve. 
 
 It was no consolation to him to think 
 that his rival in the other pit would have 
 to submit to a similar fate. 
 
 His unpleasant reveries were interrupted 
 by a short angry bark, and, looking up to 
 the opening through which he had de- 
 scended, he beheld the countenance of a
 
 IN THE PITS. 43 
 
 savage creature — tlie ''wilde honden" of 
 the Dutch boers. 
 
 Uttering another and a different cry, the 
 animal started back ; and from the sounds 
 now heard overhead, the Bushman was 
 certain it was accompanied by many others 
 of its kind. 
 
 An instinctive fear of man led them to 
 retreat to a short distance ; but they found 
 out that " the wicked flee when no man 
 pursueth," and they returned. 
 
 They were hungry, and had the sense to 
 know that the enemy they had discovered 
 was, for some reason, unable to molest 
 them. 
 
 Approaching nearer, and more near, they 
 again gathered around the pits, and saw 
 that food was ready for them at the bottom 
 of both.
 
 44 THE GIRAFEE HUNTERS. 
 
 Tliey could contemplate their victims 
 unharmed, and this made them courageous 
 enough to think of an attack. 
 
 The human voice and the gaze of 
 human eyes had lost their power, and 
 the pack of wild hounds, counting several 
 score, began to show signs of taking 
 some steps towards satisfying their 
 hunger. 
 
 They commenced scratching and tearing 
 away the covering of the pits, sending 
 down showers of dust, sand, and grass, 
 that nearly suffocated the two men im- 
 prisoned beneath. 
 
 The poles supporting the screen of earth 
 were rotten with age ; and the whole 
 scaffolding threatened to come down, as 
 the wild dogs scampered over it. 
 
 " If there should be a shower of dogs,"
 
 JN THE PITS. 45 
 
 thought Swartboy, " I hope that fool Congo 
 will have his share of it." 
 
 This hope was immediately realized, for 
 the next instant he heard the howling of 
 one of the animals that had evidently fallen 
 into the adjoining pit. 
 
 It had gone down, but, fortunately 
 for Congo, not without injuring itself in 
 a way that he himself had but narrowly 
 escaped. The dog had got transfixed 
 on the sharp-pointed stake planted in 
 the centre of the pit ; and was now 
 hanging on it in horrible agon}^, unable 
 to get clear ! 
 
 Without lying down in the mud, the 
 Kaffir was unable to keep his face more 
 than twelve inches from the open jaws of 
 the dog, that in its struggles spun round 
 as on a pivot ; and Congo had to press
 
 46 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 against the side of the pit to keep out 
 of the reach of the fierce creature yelping 
 close to his ears. 
 
 Swartboy could distinguish the utter- 
 ances of this dog from those of its com- 
 panions above, and the interpretation he 
 gave to them was, that a fierce combat was 
 taking place between it and the Kaffir. 
 
 The jealousy and ill-will so often exhi- 
 bited by the Bushman, was not so strong 
 as he had himself believed. 
 
 His intense anxiety to know which was 
 getting the best of the fight, added to the 
 fear that Congo was being torn to pieces, 
 told him that his friendship for the Kaffir 
 far outweighed the animosity he fancied 
 himself to have felt. 
 
 The fiendish yells of the dogs, the un- 
 pleasant situation in which he was placed,
 
 IX THE PITS. 47 
 
 and tlie uncertainty of tlie time he was to 
 endure it, were well nigh driving him dis- 
 tracted, when just then the wilde honden 
 appeared to he heating a retreat — the only 
 one remaining heing that in the pit mth 
 Congo. 
 
 What was driving them away ? 
 
 Could assistance he at hand ? 
 
 Breathlessly the Bushman stood listen- 
 ing.
 
 48 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE Y. 
 
 AREND LOST. 
 
 In the afternoon, when Groot "Willem, 
 Hans, and Hendrick returned to the camp, 
 they found it deserted. 
 
 Several jackals reluctantly skulked off 
 as they drew near, and on riding up to 
 the spot from which those creatures had 
 retired, they saw the clean-picked bones 
 of an antelope. 
 
 The camp must have been deserted for 
 several hours.
 
 AREND LOST. 49 
 
 "What does this mean?" exclaimed 
 Groot Willem. "What has become of 
 Arend ? " 
 
 "I don't know," answered Hendrick; 
 "it is strange that Swart and Cong are 
 not here to tell us." 
 
 Something unusual had certainly hap- 
 pened; yet as each glanced anxiously 
 round the place, there appeared nothing 
 to explain the mystery. 
 
 "What shaU we do?" asked WiUem, 
 in a tone that displayed much concern. 
 
 "Wait," answered Hans; "we can do 
 nothing more." 
 
 Two or three objects were at this 
 moment observed, which fixed their at- 
 tention. They were out on the plain, 
 nearly a mile off. They appeared to be 
 horses — their own pack-animals ; and 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 50 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 Hendrick and Groot Willem started off 
 towards them, to drive them back to the 
 camp. 
 
 They were absent nearly an hour before 
 they succeeded in turning the horses and 
 driving them towards the camp. 
 
 As they passed near the drift on their 
 return, they rode towards the river to 
 water the animals they were riding. 
 
 On approaching the bank, several native 
 dogs that had been yelling in a clump, 
 were seen to scatter and retreat across the 
 plain. 
 
 The horsemen thought little of this, but 
 rode on into the river, and permitted their 
 horses to drink. 
 
 While quietly seated in their saddles, 
 Hendrick fancied he heard some strange 
 sounds.
 
 AREND LOST. 51 
 
 " Listen ! " said lie ; "I hear sometliing 
 queer. What is it ? " 
 
 " One of the honden," answered Willem. 
 
 "Where?" 
 
 This question neither for a moment 
 could answer, until Groot Willem ohserved 
 one of the pits, from the edge of wliich 
 the dogs appeared to have retreated. 
 
 " Tonder's a pit-trap ! " he exclaimed, 
 "and I believe there's a dog got into it. 
 Well, I shall give it a shot, and put the 
 creature out of its miseiy." 
 
 "Do so," replied Hendrick; "I hate 
 the creature as much as any other 
 noxious vermin, but it would be cruel 
 to let one starve to death in that way 
 — kiU it." 
 
 Willem rode up to the pits and dis- 
 mounted. Neither of them had as yet 
 
 E 2 
 
 LIBRARY 
 WWV£fiSITYOFIUiNOfS
 
 52 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 spoken loud enough to be heard in the 
 pits, and the two men down below were 
 at this time silent, the dog alone con- 
 tinuing its cries of agony. 
 
 The only thing TVillem saw on gazing 
 down the hole, was the wild hound still 
 hanging on the stake ; and taking aim at 
 one of its eyes, he fired. 
 
 The last spark of life was knocked out 
 of the suffering animal, but the report of 
 the great gun was instantly followed by 
 two yells more hideous than were ever 
 uttered by " wilde honden." 
 
 They were the screams of two alarmed 
 Africans, each frightened to think that 
 the next bullet would be for him. 
 
 " Arend," exclaimed Willem, anxious 
 about his brother, and thinking only of 
 him, " Arend, is it you ? "
 
 AllEND LOST. 53 
 
 " No, baas Willem/' answered the Kaffir, 
 " it is Congo." 
 
 Through the opening Willem reached 
 down the butt-end of his long roer, while 
 firmly clasping it by the barrel. 
 
 The Kaffir took hold with both hands, 
 and by the strong arms of Grroot Willem 
 was instantly extricated from his subter- 
 ranean prison. 
 
 Swartboy was next hauled out, and the 
 two mud-bedaubed individuals sfcood gazing 
 at one another, each highly delighted by 
 the rueful appearance presented by his 
 rival. 
 
 Slowly the fire of anger that seemed to 
 have all the while been burning in the 
 Kaffir's eyes became extinguished, and a 
 broad smile broke like the light of day 
 over his stoical countenance.
 
 54 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 He had been released at lengtli, and was 
 convinced that no one was to blame for 
 his protracted imprisonment. 
 
 Swartboy had been punished for his ill- 
 timed mirth, and Congo was williag to 
 forget and forgive. 
 
 "But where is Arend?" asked Willem, 
 who could not forget, even whilst amused 
 by the ludicrous aspect of the two Africans, 
 that his brother was missing. 
 
 "Don't know, baas Willem," answered 
 Congo; "I been long time there." 
 
 "But when did you see him last?" 
 inquired Hendrick. Congo was unable to 
 tell, for he seemed under the impression 
 that he had been several days in the 
 bosom of the earth. 
 
 From Swartboy they learned that 
 soon after their own departure, Arend
 
 AREND LOST. 55 
 
 had started in pursuit of one of the 
 horses seen straying over the plain. 
 That was the last Swartboy had seen 
 of him. 
 
 The sun was now low down, and with- 
 out wasting time in idle speech, Hendrick 
 and Groot Willem again mounted their 
 horses and rode off towards the place 
 where Arend had been last seen. 
 
 They reached the edge of the timber, 
 nearly a mile from the camp, and then, 
 not knowing which way to turn, or what 
 else to do, Willem fired a shot. 
 
 The loud crack of the roer seemed to 
 echo far through the forest, and anxiously 
 they listened for some response to the 
 sound. 
 
 It came, but not in the report of a rifle, 
 or in the voice of the missing man, but in
 
 56 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 the language of the forest denizens. The 
 screaming of vultures, the chattering of 
 baboons, and the roaring of lions were the 
 responses which the signal received. 
 
 "What shall we do, WiUem?" asked 
 Hendrick. 
 
 "Go back to the halting-place, and 
 bring Congo and Spoor em," answered 
 Willem, as he turned towards the camp 
 and rode off, followed by his cousin.
 
 spoor'em. 57^ 
 
 CHAPTEE YI. 
 
 spoor'em. 
 
 The last ray of da3^1iglit had fled from the 
 valley of the Limpopo, when Willem and 
 Hendrick, provided with a torch, and ac- 
 companied by the Kaffir and the dog 
 Spoor'em, again set forth to seek for their 
 lost companion. 
 
 The animal answering to the name 
 Spoor'em was a large Spanish bloodhound, 
 now led forth to perform the first duty 
 required of him in the expedition.
 
 58 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 The dog, when quite young, had been 
 brought from, one of the Portuguese settle- 
 ments at the north, purchased by Groot 
 Willem, and christened Spoor'em by 
 Congo. 
 
 In the long journey from Graaff-Eeinet, 
 this brute had been the cause of more 
 trouble thtin all the dogs of the pack. 
 
 It had shown a strong disinclination to 
 endure hunger, thirst, or the fatigues of 
 the journey; and had often exhibited a 
 desire to leave its new masters. 
 
 Spoor' em was now led out, in the 
 hope that he would do some service to 
 compensate for the trouble he had 
 caused. 
 
 Taking a course along the edge of the 
 forest that would bring them across the 
 track made by Arend in reaching the
 
 spoor'em. 59 
 
 place where tlie horse had strayed, the 
 spoor of Arend's horse, as well as the 
 other, was discovered. 
 
 The tracks of both were followed into 
 the forest, along a well-beaten path, 
 evidently made by buffaloes and other 
 animals passing to and from the river. 
 
 This path was hedged in by a thick 
 thorny scrub, which, being impenetrable, 
 rendered it unnecessary for some time to 
 avail themselves of the instincts of the 
 hound. 
 
 Congo led the way. 
 
 "Are you sure that the two horses 
 have passed along here?" asked Willem, 
 addressing himself to the Kaffir. 
 
 "Yaas, baas Willem," answered Congo; 
 " sure da both go here." 
 
 Willem, turning to Hendrick, added,
 
 60 THE GIRAFFE HUNTEUS. 
 
 '' I wish Arend had let the horse go to 
 the deuce. It was not worth following 
 into a place like this." 
 
 After continuing through the thicket 
 for nearly half a mile, they reached a 
 stretch of open ground, where there was 
 no longer a beaten trail, but tracks diverg- 
 ing in several directions. 
 
 The hoof-marks of Arend' s horse were 
 again found; and the bloodhound was 
 unleashed, and put upon them. 
 
 Unhke most hounds, Spoor'em did not 
 dash onward, leaving his followers far 
 behind. He appeared to think that it 
 would be for the common advantage of 
 himself and his masters that they should 
 remain near each other. The latter, there- 
 fore, had no difficulty in keeping up with 
 the dog.
 
 SPOOR EM. 61 
 
 Believing that they should soon learn 
 something of the fate of their lost com- 
 panion, they proceeded onward, with their 
 voices encouraging the hound to greater 
 speed. 
 
 The sounds of a contest carried on by 
 some of the wild denizens of the neigh- 
 bourhood were soon heard a few yards in 
 advance of them. They were sounds that 
 the hunters had often listened to before, 
 and therefore could easily interpret. 
 
 A lion and a pack of hyenas were 
 quarrelling over the dead body of some 
 large animal. 
 
 They were not fighting ; for of course 
 the royal beast was in undisputed posses- 
 sion of the carcass, and the hyenas were 
 simply complaining in their own peculiar 
 tones.
 
 62 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 The angry roars of the lion, and the 
 hideous, laughter of the hyenas proceeded 
 from a spot a few yards in advance, and 
 in the direction in which Spoor'em was 
 leading them. 
 
 The moon had arisen, and by its light 
 the searchers soon beheld the creatures 
 that were causing the tumult. 
 
 About a dozen hyenas were gib- 
 bering around a huge lion that lay 
 crouched alongside a dark object on the 
 ground, upon which he appeared to be 
 feeding. 
 
 As the hunters drew nearer, the hyenas 
 retreated to some distance. 
 
 " It appears to be the carcass of a 
 horse," whispered Hendrick. 
 
 " Yes ; I am sure of it," answered 
 Willem ; '' for I can see the saddle. My
 
 spoor'em. 63 
 
 Grod ! It is Arend's horse ! Where is 
 he?" 
 
 Spoor'em had now advanced to within 
 fifteen paces of where the lion lay, and 
 commenced baying a menace, as if com- 
 manding the lion to forsake his unfinished 
 repast. 
 
 An angry growl was all the answer 
 Spoor'em could obtain ; and the lion lay 
 still. 
 
 "We must either kill or drive him 
 away/' said Willem. " Which shall we 
 try?" 
 
 " Kill him/' answered Hendrick ; " that 
 will be our safest plan/' 
 
 Stealing out of their saddles, Willem 
 and Hendrick gave their horses in charge 
 to the Kaffir, and then proceeded to stalk. 
 
 With their guns at fall cock, they ad-
 
 64 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 vanced, side by side; Spoor'em sneaking 
 along at their heels. 
 
 They stole up within five paces of the 
 lion, which still held its ground. 
 
 The only respect it showed to their 
 presence was to leave off feeding and 
 crouch over the body of the horse, as 
 though preparing to spring upon them. 
 
 "Now!" whispered Hendrick ; "shall 
 we fire ? " 
 
 " Yes — ^yes ! Now ! " 
 
 Eoth pulled trigger at the same in- 
 stant, the two shots making but one 
 report. 
 
 Instinctively, each threw himself from 
 the direct line of the creature's deadly 
 leap. This was done at the moment of 
 firing; and the lion, uttering a terrific 
 roar, launched itself towards them, and
 
 SPOOREM. 65 
 
 fell heavily between the two, having 
 leaped a distance of nearly twenty 
 feet. 
 
 That effort was its last, for it was 
 nnable to rise again. 
 
 Without taking the trouble to ascertain 
 whether the fierce brute had been kiUed 
 outright, they turned their attention to 
 the carcass. 
 
 The horse was Arend's, but there was 
 not the slightest trace of the rider. 
 
 Whatever had been his fate, there was 
 no sign of his having been killed along 
 with his horse. 
 
 There was still a hope that he had 
 made his escape, though the finding of 
 the horse only added to their apprehen- 
 sions. 
 
 "Let us find out," counselled Hen- 
 
 VOL. I. P
 
 66 THE GIRAFFE HTTNTERS. 
 
 drick, " whether the horse was killed 
 where it is now lying, or whether it has 
 been dragged hither by the lion." 
 
 After examining the ground, Congo de- 
 clared that the horse had been killed upon 
 the spot, and by the lion. 
 
 That was strange enough. 
 
 On a further examination of the sign, 
 it was found that one of the horse's 
 legs was entangled in the rein of the 
 bridle. 
 
 This explained the circumstance to some 
 extent ; otherwise it would have been diffi- 
 cult to understand how so swift an animal 
 as a horse should have allowed itself to 
 be overtaken upon an open plain. 
 
 " So much the better," said Groot 
 Willem; ''Arend never reached this place 
 along with his horse."
 
 spoor'em. 67 
 
 " That is true," answered Hendrick ; 
 " and our next move will be to find out 
 where he parted from his saddle." 
 
 " Let us go back/' said Willem, " and 
 more carefully examine the tracks." 
 
 During this conversation the hunters had 
 reloaded their rifles, and now remounted, 
 for the purpose of riding back. 
 
 "Baas Willem," suggested Congo, "let 
 Spoor'em try 'bout here little more." 
 
 This suggestion was adopted, and Congo, 
 setting on the hound, proceeded to describe 
 a larger circle around the spot. 
 
 After reaching a part of the plain where 
 they had not yet been, the Kaffir called 
 out to them to come to him. 
 
 They rode up, and were again shown 
 the spoor of Arend's horse leading away 
 from where its carcass was now lying, 
 
 F 2
 
 68 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 and in the opposite direction from the 
 camp. 
 
 It was evident that the horse had been 
 further off than the spot where its remains 
 now rested. It had probably lost its rider 
 beyond, and was on its return to the camp 
 when killed by the lion. 
 
 Once more Spoor'em started along the 
 tmck, Congo keeping close to his tail, the 
 two horsemen riding anxiously after. 
 
 But we must return to the camp, and 
 follow the trail of the lost hunter by means 
 more sure than even the keen scent of 
 Spoor'em.
 
 THE LOST HUNTER. G9 
 
 CHAPTEE YII. 
 
 THE LOST HTNTER. 
 
 As Arend came up to the horse that had 
 wandered from the camp, the animal had 
 arrived at the edge of an extensive thicket, 
 and was apparently determined upon stray- 
 ing still fai-ther. To avoid being caught 
 • ' driven hack, it rushed in among the 
 trees, taking a path or track made by 
 wild animals. Arend followed. 
 
 The path was too narrow to allow of his 
 heading the stray; apprehensive of losing
 
 70 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 it altogether, the youth followed on, in 
 hope of coming to a wider track, where 
 he might have a chance of passing the 
 runaway, and turning it towards the 
 camp. 
 
 This hope seemed about to be realized, as 
 the truant emerged from the thicket, and 
 entered upon an open plain clothed with 
 low heath, the Erica vestila, loaded with 
 white blossoms. 
 
 The hunter was no longer obhged to 
 follow upon the heels of the runaway, and, 
 spurring his own steed, he made an attempt 
 to get past it. 
 
 But the horse, perhaps inspired by a 
 recollection of the pack-saddle and its 
 heavy load, broke ojff into a gallop, j^rend 
 followed, increasing his own speed in like 
 proportion.
 
 THE LOST HUNTER. 71 
 
 "Wlien nearly across the plain; the run- 
 away suddenly stopped, and then bolted off 
 at a right angle to the course it had been 
 hitherto pursuing. Arend was astonished ; 
 but soon discovered the cause of this eccen- 
 tric action in the presence of a huge black 
 rhinoceros — the borele — which was making 
 a straight course across the plain, as if on 
 its way to the river. 
 
 The runaway horse had shied out of its 
 way ; and it would have been well for the 
 horseman if he had shown himself equally 
 discreet. 
 
 But Arend Yan Wyk was a hunter, and 
 an oflicer of the Cape Militia ; and as the 
 borele passed by him, presenting a fine 
 opportunity for a shot, he could not resist 
 the temptation to give it one. 
 
 Pulling up his horse, or rather trying
 
 72 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 to do SO, for the animal was restive in the 
 presence of such danger, he fired. 
 
 The shot produced a result that was 
 neither expected nor desired. 
 
 With a roar like the bellowing of an 
 angry bull, the monster turned and charged 
 straight towards the horseman. 
 
 Arend was obliged to seek safety 
 in flight, while the borele pursued, in a 
 manner that told of its being wounded, 
 but not incapacitated from seeking re- 
 venge. 
 
 At the commencement of the chase there 
 was but a very short distance between pur- 
 suer and pursued ; and in place of turning 
 suddenly out of the track and allowing the 
 monster to pass by him — which he should 
 have done, knowing the defect of vision 
 natural to the rhinoceros — the young hun-
 
 THE LOST HUNTER. 73 
 
 ter continued on in a straight line, all 
 the while employed in reloading his 
 rifle. 
 
 His mistake did not arise from any want 
 of knowledge or presence of mind, but 
 rather from carelessness and an unworthy 
 estimation of the abilities of the borele 
 to overtake him. 
 
 He had long been a successful hunter, 
 and success too often begets that over-con- 
 fidence which leads to many a mischance 
 that the more cautious sportsman will 
 avoid. 
 
 Suddenly he found his flight arrested by 
 the thick scrub of thorny bushes, known 
 in South Africa as the " wait-a-bits," and 
 the horse he was riding did wait a bit, 
 and so long, that the borele was soon close 
 upon his heels.
 
 74 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 There was now neitlier time nor room 
 to turn either to the right or to the 
 left. 
 
 The rifle was at length loaded. There 
 would have been but little chance of killing 
 the rhinoceros by a single shot, especially 
 with such uncertain aim as would have 
 been taken from the back of a frightened 
 horse. Arend therefore threw himself 
 from the saddle. 
 
 He had a twofold purpose in doing 
 so. His aim would be more correct ; 
 and there was a chance of the borele 
 keeping on after the horse, and leaving 
 him an undisturbed spectator of the 
 chase. 
 
 The field of view embraced by the eyes 
 of a rhinoceros is not large, but, unfortu- 
 nately for the hunter, as the frightened
 
 THE LOST HUNTER. 75 
 
 horse fled from liis side, it was he himself 
 that came within the limited circle of the 
 borele's vision. 
 
 Hastily raising the rifle to his shoulder, 
 he fired at the advancing enemy, and then 
 fled towards a clump of trees that chanced 
 to be near by. 
 
 He could hear the heavy tread of 
 the rhinoceros as it followed close upon 
 his heels. It seemed to shake the 
 earth. 
 
 Closer and closer he heard it, so near 
 that he dared not look around. 
 
 He fancied he could feel the breath of 
 the monster blowing upon his back ! 
 
 His only chance was to make a sud- 
 den deviation from his course, and leave 
 the borele to pass on its impetuous 
 charge.
 
 76 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 This he did, turning sharply to the 
 right, when he saw that he had just 
 escaped being elevated upon the creatures' 
 horn. 
 
 This manoeuvre enabled liim to gain 
 some distance as he started off in the 
 new direction; but it was not long main- 
 tained, for the borele was again in hot 
 pursuit, without any show of fatigue ; 
 while the tremendous exertions he had 
 himself been making, rendered him in- 
 capable of continuing his flight much 
 longer. 
 
 He had just sufficient strength left to 
 avoid an immediate encounter by taking 
 one more turn ; when fortunately he saw 
 before him the trunk of a large baobab 
 tree lying prostrate along the ground. 
 It had been blown down by some mighty
 
 THE LOST HUNTER. 77 
 
 storm, and lay resting upon its roots 
 at one end, and its shivered branches 
 the other, so as to leave a space of about 
 two feet between its trunk and the 
 ground. 
 
 Suddenly throwing himself down, Arend 
 glided under the tree, just in time to 
 escape the long horn, whose point had 
 again come in close proximity with his 
 posterior. 
 
 The hunter had now time to recover 
 his breath, and to some extent his 
 confidence. He saw that the fallen tree 
 would protect him. Even should the 
 rhinoceros come round to the other side, 
 he would only have to roll back again, 
 to place himself beyond the reach o 
 his terrible horn. 
 
 The space below was ample enough to
 
 78 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 enable him to pass througli, but too small 
 for the body of the borele. 
 
 By creeping back and forward he conld 
 always place himself in safety. 
 
 And this was just what he had to do, 
 for the enraged monster, on seeing him 
 on the other side, immediately ran round 
 the roots and renewed the attack. 
 
 This course of action was several times 
 repeated before the young hunter was 
 allowed much time for reflection. He 
 was in hope that the brute would get 
 tired of the useless charges it was making, 
 and either go away itself or give him the 
 opportunity. 
 
 In this hope he was doomed to dis- 
 appointment. The animal, exasperated 
 with the wounds it had received, appeared 
 mplacable, and for more than an hour
 
 THE LOST HUNTER. 79 
 
 it kept running around the tree, in vain 
 attempts to get at him. 
 
 As he had very little trouble in avoid- 
 ing these, there was plenty of opportunity 
 for reflection, and he passed the time 
 in devising some plan to settle the mis- 
 understanding between the borele and 
 himself. 
 
 The first he thought of was to make 
 use of his rifle. The weapon was within 
 his reach, where he had dropped it when 
 diving under the tree, but when about 
 to reload it he discovered that the 
 ramrod was tnissing ! 
 
 So sudden had been the charge of 
 the borele at the time the rifle was last 
 loaded, that the ramrod had not been 
 returned to its proper place, but left 
 behind upon the plain. This was an
 
 80 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 unlucky circumstance, and for a time 
 tlie young hunter could not think of 
 anything better than to keep turning 
 from side to side, to avoid the presence 
 of the besieger. 
 
 The borele at last seemed to show 
 signs of exhaustion ; or at all events 
 began to perceive the unprofitable nature 
 of the tactics it had been pursuing. 
 
 But the spirit of revenge was not in 
 the least weakened within it, for it made 
 no move towards taking its departure from 
 the spot. 
 
 On the contrary, it lay down by the 
 baobab, in a position to command a view 
 on both sides of the huge trunk, evidently 
 determined to stay there, and await the 
 chance of getting within reach of its 
 victim.
 
 THE LOST HUNTER. 81 
 
 Thus silently beleaguered, the young 
 hunter set about considering in what 
 manner he might accomplish the raising 
 of the siege. 
 
 vol.. I.
 
 82 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE YIII, 
 
 RESCUED, 
 
 The sun went down, the moon ascended 
 above the tops of the surrounding trees, 
 yet the borele seemed no less inspired by 
 the spirit of revenge than on first re- 
 ceiving the injuries it was wishing to 
 resent. 
 
 Por many hours the young hunter 
 waited patiently for it to move away in 
 search of food or any other object except 
 that of revenge, but in this hope he
 
 RESCUED. 83 
 
 was disappointed. The pain inflicted by 
 the shots would not allow either hunger 
 or thirst to interfere with the desire 
 for retaliation, and it continued to main- 
 tain a watch so vigilant that Arend 
 dared not leave his retreat for an 
 instant. 
 
 Whenever he made a movement, the 
 enemy did the same. 
 
 It was a long time before he could think 
 of any plan that would give him a chance 
 of getting away. One at length occurred 
 to him. 
 
 Although unable to reload the rifle with 
 a bullet, the thought came into his mind 
 that the borele might be blinded by a 
 heavy charge of powder, or so confused 
 by it as to give him an opportunity of 
 stealing away. 
 
 G 2
 
 84 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 This seemed an excellent plan, yet so 
 simple, that Arend was somewhat surprised 
 he had not thought of it before. 
 
 "Without difficulty he succeeded in pour- 
 ing a double quantity of powder into 
 the barrel, and in order to keep it there 
 until he had an opportunity for a close 
 shot, some dry grass was forced into the 
 muzzle. 
 
 The chance soon offered, and taking a 
 deliberate aim at one of the borele's eyes, 
 with the muzzle of the gun not more than 
 two feet from its head, he pulled the 
 trigger. 
 
 With a loud moan of mingled rage and 
 agony, the rhinoceros rushed towards him, 
 and frantically, but vainly, exerted all its 
 strength in an endeavour to overturn the 
 baobab.
 
 RESCUED. 85 
 
 "One more shot at the other eye," 
 thought Arend, " and I shall be free." 
 
 He immediately proceeded to pour 
 another dose of powder into the rifle ; but 
 while thus engaged, a new danger suddenly 
 presented itself. 
 
 The dry grass projected from the gun 
 had ignited, and set fire to the dead leaves 
 that were strewed plentifully over the 
 ground. 
 
 In an instant these were ablaze, the 
 flame spreading rapidly on all sides, and 
 moving towards him. 
 
 The trunk of the baobab could no longer 
 afibrd protection. In another minute it 
 too would be enveloped in the red fire, and 
 to stay by its side would be to perish in 
 the flames. There was no alternative but 
 to get to his feet and to run for his life.
 
 86 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 Not a moment was to be lost, and 
 slipping from under the tree he started 
 off at the top of his speed. 
 
 The chances were in his favour for 
 escaping unobserved by the rhinoceros. 
 But fortune seemed decidedly against 
 him. 
 
 Before getting twenty paces from the 
 tree, he saw he was pursued. Guided 
 either by one eye, or its keen sense of 
 hearing, the monster was following him — 
 at a pace so rapid that, if long enough 
 continued, it must certainly overtake 
 him. 
 
 Once more the young hunter began to 
 feel something like despair. Death seemed 
 hard upon his heels. A few seconds more 
 and he might be impaled on that terrible 
 horn. But for that instinctive love of
 
 RESCUED. 87 
 
 life which all feel, lie might have sur- 
 rendered himself to fate ; but urged by 
 this, he kept on. 
 
 He was upon the eve of falling to the 
 earth, through sheer exhaustion, when his 
 ears were saluted by the deep-toned bay 
 of a hound, and close after it, a voice 
 exclaiming, " Look out, baas Willem, 
 somebody comes yonder ! " 
 
 Two seconds more, and Arend was 
 safe from further pursuit. The hound, 
 Spoor'em, was dancing about the borele's 
 head, by his loud, angry yelps divert- 
 ing its attention from everything but him- 
 self. 
 
 Two seconds more, and Grroot Willem 
 and Hendrick came riding up, and, in less 
 than half a minute after, the monster, 
 having received a shot from the heavy
 
 88 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 roer, slowly settled down in its tracks — a 
 dead rhinoceros. 
 
 Willem and Hendrick leaped from their 
 horses, and shook hands with Arend in a 
 manner as cordial as if they were just 
 meeting him after an absence of many 
 years. 
 
 *' What does it mean, Arend ? " jocosely 
 inquired Hendrick ; " has this brute been 
 pursuing you for the last twelve hours ? " 
 
 *' Yes." 
 
 " And how much longer do you think 
 the chase would have continued ? " 
 
 " About ten seconds," replied Arend, 
 speaking in a very positive tone. 
 
 " Yery well,'* said Hendrick, who was 
 so rejoiced at the deliverance of his friend, 
 that he felt inclined to be witty. " We 
 know how long you are capable of running.
 
 RESCUED. 89 
 
 You can lead a borele a chase of just 
 twelve hours and ten seconds ! " 
 
 Groot WiUem was for some time un- 
 speakably happy, and said not a word 
 until they had returned to the place where 
 the lion had been killed. 
 
 Here they stopped, for the purpose of 
 recovering [the saddle and bridle from the 
 carcass of the horse. 
 
 Groot Willem proposed they should re- 
 main there till the morning ; his reason 
 being that, in returning through the 
 narrow path that led out to the open 
 plain, they might be in danger of meeting 
 buffaloes, rhinoceroses, or elephants, and 
 being trampled to death in the darkness. 
 
 "That is true," replied Arend; "audit 
 might be better to stay here until day- 
 light, but for two reasons. One is that I
 
 90 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 am dying of hunger, and should like a 
 roast rib of that antelope I shot in the 
 morning." 
 
 " And so should I," said Hendrick ; 
 " but the jackals have saved us the trouble 
 of eating that." 
 
 Arend was now informed of the events 
 that had occurred in his absence, and was 
 highly amused at Hendrick's account of 
 the misfortunes that had befallen Swart- 
 boy and Congo. 
 
 " We are making a very fine commence- 
 ment in the way of adventures," said he, 
 after relating his own experiences of the 
 day; "but so far, our expedition has been 
 anything but profitable." 
 
 "We must go further down the river," 
 said Willem. " We have not seen the 
 spoor of either hippopotamus or giraffe :
 
 RESCUED. 91 
 
 we must keep moving until we come upon 
 them." 
 
 "I never want to see another lion, 
 borele, or elephant." 
 
 ''But what is your other reason for 
 going back to camp ? " asked Hendrick, 
 addressing himself to Arend. 
 
 " What would it be ? " replied Arend ; 
 " do you suppose our dear friend Hans has 
 no feelings ? " 
 
 " Oh, that's what you mean, is it ? " 
 
 " Of course it is. Surely, Hans will by 
 this time be half dead with anxiety on 
 our account." 
 
 All agreed that it would be best to 
 go on to the camp ; and after trans- 
 ferring the saddle and bridle from the 
 carcass of the horse to the shoulders of 
 Congo, they proceeded onwards, arriving
 
 92 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 in camp at a very late hour, and find- 
 ing Hans, as Arend had conjectured, 
 overwhelmed with apprehension at their 
 long absence.
 
 AN INCIDENT OP THE ROAD. 93 
 
 CHAPTEE IX. 
 
 AN INCIDENT OF THE ROAD. 
 
 Next morning they broke up their camp 
 and moved down the river, extending their 
 march into the second day. 
 
 After passing the drift where the 
 Limpopo had been first crossed, Groot 
 Willem, accompanied by Congo, was 
 riding nearly a mile in advance of his 
 companions. 
 
 His object in leading the way so far 
 ahead, was to bag any game worthy of
 
 94 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 his notice before it should be frightened 
 by the others. 
 
 Occasionally, a small herd of some of 
 the many varieties of antelopes in which 
 South Africa abounds, fled before him; 
 but these the great hunter scarce deigned 
 to notice. 
 
 His chief object was to find a 
 country frequented by hippopotami and 
 girafies. 
 
 On his way he passed many of the loffcy 
 pandanus, or screw pine trees. Some of 
 these were covered with parasitic plants, 
 giving them the appearance of tall towers, 
 or obelisks. 
 
 Underneath one of these trees, near the 
 river, and about three hundred yards from 
 where he was riding, he saw a bufialo cow 
 with her calf.
 
 AN INCIDENT OF THE ROAD. 95 
 
 The sun was low down, and tlie time liad 
 therefore arrived when some buffalo veal 
 would be acceptable both to the men and 
 dogs of the expedition. 
 
 Telling Congo to stay where he was, the 
 hunter rode to the leeward of the buffalo 
 cow, and, under cover of some bushes, com- 
 menced making approach. 
 
 Knowing that a buffalo cow, more espe- 
 cially when accompanied by her calf, is 
 easily alarmed, he made his advances with 
 the greatest caution. 
 
 Knowing also that no animal shows 
 more fierceness and contempt for danger 
 while protecting its young, he was anxious 
 to get a dead shot, so as to avoid the risk 
 of a conflict with the cow, should she be 
 only wounded. 
 
 When he had got as close as the cover
 
 96 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 would allow him, he took aim at the cow's 
 heart, and fired. 
 
 Contrary to his expectations, the ani- 
 mal neither fell nor fled, hut merely 
 turned an inquiring glance in the 
 direction from whence the report had 
 proceeded. 
 
 This was a mystery the hunter could 
 not explain. Why did the cow keep to 
 the same spot ? If not disabled by the 
 bullet, why had she not gone off, taking 
 her young one along with her ? 
 
 " I might as well have been stalking 
 the tree as this buffalo," thought Willem, 
 " for one seems as little inclined to move 
 as the other." 
 
 Hastily reloading his roer, he rode boldly 
 forward, now quite confident that the 
 cow could not escape liim.
 
 AN INCIDENT OF THE ROAD. 97 
 
 She seemed not to care about retreating, 
 and he had got close np to the spot 
 where she stood, when all at once the 
 buffalo charged furiously towards him, and 
 was only stopped by receiving a second 
 bullet from the roer that hit right in the 
 centre of the forehead. One more plunge 
 forward, and the animal dropped on its 
 knees, and died after the manner of 
 buffaloes — with legs spread and back 
 uppermost, instead of falling over on 
 its side. 
 
 Another shot finished the calf, which 
 was crying pitifully by the side of its 
 mother. 
 
 Congo now came up, and, while examin- 
 ing the calf, discovered that one of its 
 legs had been already broken. This ac- 
 counted for the cow not having attempted 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 98 THE GIUAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 to save herself by flight. She knew that 
 her offspring was disabled, and stayed 
 by it from an instinct of maternal solici- 
 tude. 
 
 While Willem was engaged reloading 
 his gun, he heard a loud rustling among 
 the parasitical plants that loaded the pan- 
 danus tree, under which he and Congo 
 were standing. 
 
 Some large body was stirring among 
 the branches. What could it be ? 
 
 " Stand clear ! " shouted Willem, as he 
 swerved off from the tree, at the same 
 time setting the cap upon his gun. 
 
 At the distance of ten or twelve paces 
 he faced round, and stood ready to meet 
 the moving object, whatever it might be. 
 
 Just then he saw standing before him 
 a tall man, who had dropped down from
 
 AN INCIDENT OF THE ROAD. 99 
 
 among the leaves, while Willem's back 
 was turned towards the tree. 
 
 The dress and general appearance of 
 this individual proclaimed him to be a 
 native African, but not one of those in- 
 ferior varieties of the human race which 
 that country produces. 
 
 He was a man of about forty years of 
 age, tall and muscular, with features well 
 formed, and that expressed both intelli- 
 gence and courage. 
 
 His complexion was tawny-brown, not 
 black, and his hair was more like that of 
 a European than an African. 
 
 These observations were made by the 
 young hunter in six seconds ; for the 
 person who had thus suddenly appeared 
 before him allowed no more time to elapse 
 before setting off from the spot, and in 
 
 H 2
 
 100 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 such haste that the hunter thought he 
 must he retreating in affright. And yet 
 there were no signs of fear accompanying 
 the act. Some other motive must have 
 urged him to that precipitate departure. 
 
 There was ; and Congo was the first to 
 discover it. The man had gone in the 
 direction of the river. 
 
 " Water ! water ! " exclaimed the Kaffir, 
 " he want water." 
 
 The truth of this remark was soon 
 made evident, for on following the stranger 
 with their eyes, they saw him rush into 
 the stream, plunge his head under water, 
 and commence filling himself in the same 
 manner as he would have done had his 
 hody heen a hottle ! 
 
 Hendrick and Arend, having heard the 
 reports of the roer, feared that something
 
 AN INCIDENT OF THE ROAD. 101 
 
 iniglit have gone wrong, and galloped 
 forward, leaving Hans and Swartboy to 
 bring np the pack-horses. 
 
 They reached the scene just as the 
 African, after having quenched his thirst, 
 returned to the tree, where the young 
 hunter and Congo had remained. 
 
 Without taking the slightest notice of 
 any one of the others, the man walked 
 up to Groot Willem, and, with an air of 
 dignity natural to most semi-barbarous 
 people, began making a speech. 
 
 Grateful for having been relieved from 
 his imprisonment, he evidently seemed to 
 believe that duty required him to say 
 something, whether it was understood or 
 not. 
 
 " Can you understand him, Congo ? " 
 asked Willem.
 
 102 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 " Yaas, a little, I can," answered tlie 
 Kaffir; and in Ms own peculiar manner 
 lie interpreted what tlie African had 
 said. It was simply that he owed his life 
 to Groot Willem, and that the latter had 
 only to ask for whatever he required, and 
 it should be given him. 
 
 " That is certainly promising a good 
 deal," exclaimed the sarcastic Hendrick ; 
 " and I hope that Willem will not be 
 too greedy in his request, but will leave 
 something for the rest of mankind." 
 
 Hans and Swartboy at this moment 
 came up with the pack-horses ; and select- 
 ing a spot near the place where the cow 
 had been killed, the party encamped for 
 the night. 
 
 For some time all hands were busy in 
 gathering firewood, and making other pre-
 
 AN INCIDENT OF THE ROAD. 103 
 
 parations for their bivouac, among which, 
 was the skinning and cooking of the 
 buffalo calf — duties that were assigned to 
 the Bushman. ' 
 
 During his performance of them, the 
 others, assisted by Congo as interpreter, 
 were extracting from the tall stranger a 
 full account of the adventure to which 
 they were indebted for his presence in 
 the camp ; and a strange story it was.
 
 104 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE X. 
 
 MACORA. 
 
 In the manner of the African there was 
 a certain hauteur which had not escaped 
 the observation of his hearers. This was 
 explained on their learning who and what 
 he was, — for his storj began by his giving 
 a tme and particular account of himself. 
 
 His name was Macora, and his rank 
 that of a chief. His tribe belonged to 
 that great nation of the Makalolo, though 
 living apart, in a " kraal," by themselves.
 
 MACORA. 105 
 
 The village, so called, was at no great 
 distance from the spot where the hunters 
 were now encamped. 
 
 The day before he had come up the 
 river in a canoe, accompanied by three 
 of his subjects. Their object was to pro- 
 cure a plant vrhich grew in that place, 
 from which the poison for arrows and 
 spears is obtained. 
 
 In passing a shallow place in the river, 
 they had attempted to kill a hippopota- 
 mus, which they saw walking about on 
 the bottom of the stream, like a buffalo 
 browsing upon a plain. 
 
 Bising suddenly to the surface, the 
 monster had capsized their canoe, and 
 Macora was compelled to swim ashore, 
 with the loss of a gun, which once cost 
 him eight elephant tusks.
 
 06 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 He had seen nothing of his companions 
 since parting with them in the water. 
 
 On reaching the shore, and a few yards 
 from the bank, he encountered a herd of 
 buffaloes, cows and young calves, on their 
 way to the river. These turned suddenly, 
 to avoid him, when a calf was knocked 
 down by one of the old ones, and so 
 severely injured, that it could not accom- 
 pany the rest in their flight. 
 
 The mother, seeing her ofispring left 
 behind, turned back, and selected Macora 
 as the object of her resentment. The 
 chief retreated towards the nearest tree, 
 hotly pursued by the animal, eager to 
 revenge the injury done to her young. 
 
 He was just in time to ascend among 
 the branches as the buffalo came up. 
 The calf, with much difficulty, succeeded
 
 MACORA. 107 
 
 in reaching tlie tree. Once tliere, it could 
 not move away ; and the mother would 
 not leave it. This accounted for Macora's 
 having been found among the branches of 
 the pandanus. He went on to say that, 
 during the time he had been detained in 
 the tree, he had made several attempts to 
 get down and steal off; but on each 
 occasion had found the buffalo waiting to 
 receive him upon her horns. 
 
 He was suffering terribly with thirst 
 when he heard the first shot fired by 
 Groot Willem, and perceived that assist- 
 ance was near. 
 
 The chief concluded his narrative by 
 inviting the hunters to accompany him 
 the next morning to his kraal, where he 
 promised to show them such hospitality 
 as was in his power.
 
 108 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 On learning that his home was down 
 the river, and at no great distance 
 from it, the invitation was at once 
 accepted. 
 
 " One thing this man has told ns," 
 remarked "Willem, " Vv^hich pleases me very 
 much. We have learnt that there is or 
 has been a hippopotamus near our hunting 
 ground, and perhaps we shall not have 
 far to travel before commencing our pre- 
 meditated war against them." 
 
 " Question him about sea-cows, Congo," 
 said Hendrick ; " ascertain if there are 
 many of them about here." 
 
 In answer to the Kaffir's inquiries, the 
 chief stated that hippopotami were not 
 often seen in that part of the river ; but 
 that a day's journey farther down, there 
 was a large lagoon, through which the
 
 MACORA. 109 
 
 stream ran ; there sea-cows were as plen- 
 tiful as the stars in the sky. 
 
 " That is just the place we have been 
 looking for," said Willem. " And now, 
 Congo, question him about camelopards." 
 
 Macora could hold out but little hope 
 of their meeting giraffes anywhere on that 
 part of the Limpopo. He had heard of 
 one or two having been occasionally seen ; 
 but it was not a giraffe country, and they 
 were stray animals. 
 
 "Ask him if he knows where there is 
 such a country," demanded WiUem, who 
 seemed more interested in learning some- 
 thing about giraffes than either of his 
 companions. 
 
 Macora could not, or would not, answer 
 this question without taking his own time 
 and way of doing it.
 
 110 THi; GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 He stated that the native country of 
 himself and his tribe was far to the 
 north and west ; that they had been driven 
 from their home by the tyranny of the 
 great Zulu king, Moselekatse, who claimed 
 the land and levied tribute upon all the 
 petty chiefs around him. 
 
 Macora further stated that, having in 
 some mysterious manner lost the good 
 opinion of Sekeletu and other great chiefs 
 of tlie Makalolo — his own people — they 
 would no longer protect him, and that he 
 and his tribe were compelled to leave their 
 homes and migrate to the place where he 
 was now about to conduct his new ac- 
 quaintances. 
 
 " But that is not what I wish to know," 
 said Grroot Willem, who never troubled 
 himself with the political affairs of his own
 
 M ACCRA. Ill 
 
 country, and therefore cared little about 
 those of an African petty chief. 
 
 On being brought back to the question, 
 Macora related tliat he was only giving 
 them positive proof of his familiarity with 
 the camelopards, since nowhere were these 
 more abundant than in the country from 
 which he had been expatriated by the 
 tyranny of the Zulu chief. It was his 
 native land, where he had hunted the 
 giraffe from childhood. 
 
 Swartboy here interrupted the conver- 
 sation by announcing that he had enough 
 meat cooked for them to begin their meal 
 with; and about ten pounds' weight of 
 buffalo veal cutlets was placed before the 
 hunters and their guest. 
 
 Macora, who to all appearance had been 
 waiting very patiently while the cutlets
 
 1J2 THE GIRAr^E HUNTERS. 
 
 were being broiled, commenced the repast 
 with some show of self-restraint. Tliis, 
 however, wholly forsook him before it was 
 finished. 
 
 He ate voraciously, consuming more 
 than the four young hunters together. 
 This, however, he did not do without 
 making an apology for his apparent greed, 
 stating that Jie had been nearly two days 
 without having tasted food. 
 
 The supper having at length come to 
 an end, all stretched themselves around 
 the fire and went to sleep. 
 
 The night passed without their being 
 disturbed, and soon after sunrise they 
 arose ; not all at the same time, for one 
 of the party had risen and taken his 
 departure an hour earlier than the 
 rest.
 
 MACORA. 113 
 
 It was Macora, whom tliey had enter- 
 tained the evening before. 
 
 " Here, you Swart and Cong ! " ex- 
 claimed Arend, when he discovered that 
 the chief was no longer in the camp, 
 "see if any of the horses are missing. 
 It is just possible we have been tricked 
 by a false tale, and robbed into the 
 bargain." 
 
 " By whom ? " asked Groot WiUem. 
 
 "By your friend, the chief. He has 
 stolen himself away, if nothing else." 
 
 " I'll bet my life," exclaimed Willem, in 
 a more positive tone than the others had 
 ever yet heard him use, "that that man 
 is an honest fellow, and that all he has 
 told us is true, though I can't account for 
 his absence. He is a chief, and has the 
 air of one." 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 114 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 "Yes, he is a chief, no doubt," said 
 Hendrick, sneeringly. " Every African in 
 this part of the world is a chief, if he 
 only has a family. "Whether his story be 
 true or not, it looks ugly, his leaving us 
 -in this clandestine manner." 
 
 Hans, as usual, had nothing to say upon 
 a subject of which he knew nothing, and 
 Swartboy, after making sure that no horses, 
 guns, or other property were missing, ex- 
 pressed the opinion that he had never 
 been so mystified in his life. 
 
 Nothing was gone from the camp, and 
 yet he was quite certain that any one 
 speaking a native African language under- 
 stood by Congo, could not be capable of 
 acting honestly, if an opportunity was 
 allowed him for the opposite ! 
 
 Having allowed their horses an hour
 
 MACORA, 115 
 
 to graze, while they themselves break- 
 fasted upon buffalo veal, our adventurers 
 broke up their bivouac, and continued 
 their march down the bank of the 
 river. 
 
 1 1
 
 116 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE XI. 
 
 MA Cora's kraal. 
 
 After journeying about three hours, the 
 young hunters came to a place that gave 
 unmistakeable evidence of having been 
 often visited by human beings. 
 
 Small palm trees had been cut down, 
 the trunks taken away, and the tops left 
 on the ground. 
 
 Elephants, giraffes, or other animals that 
 feed on foHage, would have taken the 
 tops of the trees, and, moreover, would
 
 MACORA S KRAAL. 117 
 
 not have cut them down with hatchets, — 
 the marks of which were visible in the 
 stumps left standing. 
 
 Half a mile further on, and fields could 
 be seen in cultivation. 
 
 They were evidently approaching a place 
 inhabited by a people possessing some in- 
 telligence. 
 
 " See ! " exclaimed Arend, as they rode 
 on ; " there's a large body of men coming 
 towards us ! " 
 
 All turned to the direction in which 
 Arend was gazing. They saw about fifty 
 people coming along the crest of a ridge, 
 that trended towards the north. 
 
 '' Perhaps they mean mischief ? " said 
 Hans. "What shall we do?" 
 
 ''Eide on and meet them," exclaimed 
 Hendrick; "if they are enemies it is
 
 118 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 not our faTilt. We have not molested 
 them/' 
 
 As tlie strangers came near, the hunters 
 recognized their late guest, who was now 
 mounted on an ox, and riding in advance 
 of his party. 
 
 His greeting, addressed to Grroot WiUem, 
 was interpreted by Congo. 
 
 "I have invited you to come to my 
 kraal," said he, " and to bring your friends 
 along with you. I left you early this 
 morning, and have been to my home, 
 to see that preparations should be made 
 worthy of those who have befriended 
 Macora. Some of my people — the bravest 
 and best among them — are here to bid 
 you welcome." 
 
 A procession was then formed, and 
 all proceeded on to the African village,
 
 macora's kkaal. 119 
 
 which was but a short distance from the 
 spot. 
 
 On entering it, a group of about a 
 hundred and fifty women received them 
 with a chant, expressed in low, murmur- 
 ing tones, not unlike the lullaby with 
 which a mother sings her child to 
 sleep. 
 
 The houses of the kraal were constructed 
 stockade fashion — in rows of upright poles, 
 interlaced with reeds or long grass, and 
 then covered with a plaster of mud. 
 Through these the hunters were conducted 
 to a long shed in the centre of the village, 
 where the saddles were taken from their 
 horses, which were afterwards led off to 
 the grazing ground. 
 
 Although Macora's subjects had been 
 allowed but three hours' notice, they
 
 120 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 had prepared a splendid feast for his 
 visitors. 
 
 The young hunters sat down to a dinner 
 of roast antelope — hiUonfjue — stews of hip- 
 popotamus and buffalo flesh, baked fish, 
 ears of green maize (roasted), with wild 
 honey, stewed pumpkin, melons, and 
 plenty of good milk. 
 
 The young hunters and all their fol- 
 lowers were waited on with the greatest 
 courtesy. Even their dogs were feasted; 
 while Swartboy and Congo had never in 
 all their Kves been treated with so much 
 consideration. 
 
 In the afternoon Macora informed his 
 guests that he should give them an enter- 
 tainment; and in order that they should 
 enjoy the spectacle intended for them, he 
 informed them, by way of prologue, of
 
 macora's kraal. 121 
 
 the circumstances under which it was to 
 be enacted. 
 
 His statement was to the effect that his 
 companions in the canoe at the time it was 
 capsized by the hippopotamus had reached 
 home, bringing with them the story of 
 their mishap ; that the tribe had after- 
 wards made a search for their chief, but 
 not finding him, had come to the conclu- 
 sion that he had been either drowned or 
 killed by the sea-cow. 
 
 They had given him up for lost ; and 
 another important member of the com- 
 munity, named Sindo, had proclaimed 
 himself chief of the tribe. 
 
 When Macora reached home that morn- 
 ing, Sindo had not yet come forth from 
 his house, and before he was aware of the 
 chief's re-appearance, the house had been
 
 122' THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 surrounded, and the usurper made a 
 prisoner. 
 
 Sindo, fast bound and guarded, was 
 now awaiting execution : and this was the 
 spectacle which the hunters were to be 
 treated to ! 
 
 It was a scene at which none of the 
 young hunters had any desire to be pre- 
 sent ; but yielding to the importunities of 
 their host, they accompanied him to the 
 spot where the execution was to take place. 
 This was on the outskirts of the village, 
 where they found the prisoner fast tied to 
 a tree. 
 
 Nearly all the inhabitants of the com- 
 munity had assembled to see the usurper 
 shot — this being the manner of death that 
 had been awarded to him. 
 
 The prisoner was rather a good-looking
 
 macora's kraal. 123 
 
 man, apparently about thirty-five years of 
 age. 
 
 No evil propensity vp-as expressed iii his 
 features; and our heroes could not help 
 thinking that he had been guilty of no 
 greater crime than a too hasty ambition. 
 
 " Can we not save him from this cruel 
 fate ? " asked Hans, speaking to Groot 
 Willem ; "I think you have some influence 
 with the chief." 
 
 "There can be no harm in trying," 
 answered Willem; "111 see what I can 
 do." 
 
 Sindo was to be shot with his own 
 musket. The executioner had been already 
 appointed, and all other arrangements made 
 for carrying out the decree, when Willem, 
 advancing towards Macora, commenced 
 interceding for his life.
 
 124 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 His argument was that the prisoner 
 had not committed any great crime — ^that 
 had he conspired against his chief for the 
 purpose of placing himself in authority, it 
 would have been a different affair. Then 
 he would have deserved death. 
 
 Willem further urged that had he, 
 Macora, really been lost, some one of the 
 tribe would have become chief, and that 
 Sindo was not to blame for aspiring to 
 resemble one who had ruled to the evident 
 satisfaction of all. 
 
 Macora was then entreated to spare the 
 prisoner's life, and the entreaty was backed 
 by the promise of a gun to replace the one 
 lost in the river, on condition that Sindo 
 should be allowed to live. 
 
 Por a time Macora remained silent, but 
 at length made reply by saying that he
 
 macora's kraal. 125 
 
 should never feel safe if the usurper were 
 allowed to remain in the community. 
 
 Groot Willem urged that he could he 
 banished from the kraal, and forbidden to 
 return to it on penalty of death. 
 
 Macora hesitated a little longer ; but 
 remembering that he had promised to grant 
 any favour to the one who had released him 
 from imprisonment in the tree, he yielded. 
 
 Sindo's life should be spared oif condition 
 of his expatriating himself at once and 
 for ever from the kraal of Macora. 
 
 On granting this pardon the chief wished 
 all distinctly to understand that it w^as 
 done out of gratitude to his friend, the 
 big white hunter. 
 
 He did not wish it to be supposed that 
 the prisoner's life had been purchased with 
 a £]:un.
 
 126 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 All Macora's subjects, including the con- 
 demned man himself, appeared greatly 
 astonished at a decision so contrary to all 
 precedents among his fellow-countrymen. 
 
 The exhibition of mercy, along with the 
 refusal of the bribe, proved to the young 
 hunters that Macora had within him the 
 elements of a noble nature. 
 
 Sindo, accompanied by his family, im- 
 mediately took his departure from the 
 place, going off to seek a home among 
 kindred tribes, where his ambition would 
 no doubt be exercised with greater caution. 
 
 During the evening, Macora provided a 
 varied entertainment for his guests. It 
 included a grand feast, with songs and 
 dancing, the latter done to the sounds of 
 the tom-tom drum and one-stringed African 
 fiddle.
 
 macora's kraal. 127 
 
 All retired for the night, with the under- 
 standing that the hunters should the next 
 day be conducted to a place where hippo- 
 potami were plentiful.
 
 128 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE XII. 
 
 SPYING OUT THE LAND. 
 
 Early next morning, after tlie hunters had 
 reciprocated Macora's hospitality by giving 
 him the best breakfast they were capable 
 of cooking, they started off on their search 
 for sea-cows. 
 
 Macora, accompanied by four attendants, 
 acted as guides, while fifty others were to 
 follow, to assist in the chase. 
 
 The pack-horses and all other property 
 were taken along with them, as they did
 
 SPYING OUT THE LAND. 129 
 
 not intend to return to the kraaJ^ 
 although the chief earnestly requested 
 them to remain, and make his village 
 their home so long as they remained in 
 the neighbourhood. 
 
 For more than a mile their way led 
 through small plantations of maize owned 
 by Macora's subjects, and cultivated by 
 the women and younger people of the 
 tribe. 
 
 Our adventurers had seen many kraals 
 of Bushmen, as also of Bechuanna and 
 Kaffir tribes, and were surprised to ob- 
 serve such evidences of civilization so far 
 removed from the teachings and example 
 of the Cape colonists. 
 
 On their way down the river, buffalo es^^ 
 were observed in small droves, as also herds 
 of koodoos and zebras. They had reached 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 130 THE GIKAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 a land that gave good promise of the very 
 adventures they were in search of. 
 
 About five miles from the village, they 
 came upon a small open space, thickly 
 covered with grass. Here Macora sug- 
 gested that they should make their hunting 
 camp, as the thick growth of timber seen 
 farther down the river was the resort 
 of every species of game to be found for 
 many miles around. 
 
 Macora's suggestion was adopted; and 
 his followers soon constructed a stockade 
 enclosure, or kraal, to protect the camp. 
 While this was being done, the young 
 hunters were not idle. 
 
 On the open plain beyond some ante- 
 lopes were seen grazing, and Hendrick and 
 Arend went after them for the purpose of 
 providing Macora's people with food.
 
 SPYING OUT THE LAND. 131 
 
 Grroot Willem, on tlie other hand, pre- 
 ferred going towards the timber, where he 
 had been told there was larger game ; and, 
 accompanied by Macora and four attend- 
 ants, he started off, leaving Hans, with 
 Swartboy and Congo, to take care of the 
 pack-horses and other irnpedimenta, as 
 also to superintend the building of the 
 kraal. 
 
 Xot far from the river bank, Macora with 
 Willem entered a dense forest, standing in 
 a tract of low, marshy ground. 
 
 They had not gone far before they came 
 within sight of some riet boks (red bucks, 
 Antelope JEleofrap/s, Schreber). 
 
 These were not more than three hundred 
 yards away, and from the unconcerned 
 manner in which they continued their 
 occupation, Grroot Willem saw that they 
 
 K 2
 
 132 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 had never been hunted by men carrying 
 fire-arms, although so near to a village of 
 the Makalolo. 
 
 The innocent creatures were unworthy 
 of a shot from his roer, and he passed on 
 without molesting them. 
 
 He was soon upon a path that showed 
 signs of being nightly trodden by large 
 animals, on their wa}^ to the water. 
 
 Amongst other spoor, he was pleased 
 to observe that of the hippopotamus. 
 Several of these animals had evidently 
 left the river only two or three hours 
 before, and were then probably grazing 
 in the neighbourhood. They had been 
 so little disturbed by man, that, con- 
 trary to their usual custom, they came 
 out upon the land to browse by day. 
 
 Willem was satisfied that they had
 
 SPYING OUT THE LAND. 133 
 
 reached a place were they would be con- 
 tent to stop for awhile ; and without 
 proceeding any farther, he resolved to 
 commence business by bringing down 
 one of two buffaloes he saw lying at some 
 distance off, under the shade of a clump 
 of trees. 
 
 Leaving Macora and his men in care 
 of his horse, and three dosfs which he 
 had brought with him, he passed to 
 leeward of the game, trying to get between 
 the buffaloes and the forest, to head them 
 off, in case of their retreating to the 
 cover. 
 
 Willem was too much of a sportsman 
 to think of stalking upon the buffaloes, 
 and shooting at them while asleep; and 
 after gaining the desired station, he 
 whistled for his dogs, for the purpose
 
 134 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 of giving tlie buffaloes a bit of a chase, 
 and trying a shot at tliem while on the 
 run. 
 
 His signal was scarce given, when he 
 heard loud yells from the natives, and the 
 report of Macora's musket. 
 
 Something had gone wrong, for he saw 
 that his own horse was loose and galloping 
 over the plain, while the natives were 
 scampering in different directions — evi- 
 dently under the inspiration of fear. 
 
 The ox upon which Macora sat seemed 
 trying its speed with his horse. 
 
 The three dogs had answered his call, 
 and were coming towards him, 
 
 They were pursued by something — by 
 a creature that passed over the ground 
 in a succession of long, low leaps ; and 
 yet so much time was lost in gathering
 
 SPYING OUT THE LAND 135 
 
 strengtli for each spring, that it did not 
 much lessen the distance between itself 
 and the animals it was pursuing. 
 
 The bufialoes had started up, and gone 
 off at full canter towards the timber, 
 passing within less than fifty paces of 
 the spot where Willem stood. 
 
 He allowed them to escape unmolested. 
 A creature more deserving of his attention 
 was rapidly approaching from the other 
 side.
 
 136 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE XIII. 
 
 THE FAITHFUL " SMOKE." 
 
 As yet, the dogs did not seem aware 
 that an enemy was after them. They 
 had heard their master's whistle, and, 
 having been released from the leash, 
 were only intent on obeying the com- 
 mand. 
 
 When the buffaloes were roused from 
 their repose, the dogs probably thought 
 that they had been called for the express
 
 THE FAITHFUL " SMOKE. 137 
 
 pm-pose of pursuing and destroying them ; 
 and, heedless of all else, they followed 
 upon the heels of the great quadrupeds, 
 passing close to the hunter, who in 
 vain endeavoured to call them off. 
 
 He was soon otherwise occupied. 
 
 The creature in pursuit of the dogs, 
 and which had caused the flight of 
 Macora and his attendants, was a large 
 leopard. 
 
 It was a female, and rapidly there 
 passed through the hunter's mind a con- 
 jecture of the circumstances under which 
 the animal was acting. 
 
 It had left its young in its forest lair, 
 and had been on a visit to the river 
 for water or food. It had not pursued 
 Macora, or his attendants, as its solici- 
 tude was for its young ; and the dogs
 
 138 THE GIRAITE HUNTERS. 
 
 were now running in the direction where 
 these were concealed. 
 
 At sight of Groot Willem, the leopard 
 desisted from its pursuit of the dogs ; 
 and, crouching low upon the ground, 
 crawled towards him, not slowly, but 
 with a speed only checked by instinctive 
 caution. 
 
 As it advanced, its whole body was 
 covered by the head, its eyes being the 
 highest part of it presented to the view 
 of the hunter. 
 
 The fehda was now within ten yards 
 of him, and rapidly drawing nearer. 
 Something must be done. The roer was 
 raised to his shoulder, and with a steady 
 hand and eye, nerved by the perilous 
 position he was in, he drew a fine sight 
 at the creature's snout, and fired.
 
 139 
 
 The shot took effect, for tlie leopard 
 rolled over, rose up, turned around two 
 or tliree tiraes, and for a wliile seemed 
 to have lost all consciousness of what had 
 transpired. 
 
 Its young and its enemy were for a time 
 apparently forgotten, in the agony it was 
 suffering from a broken jaw. 
 
 This, however, was but for a few seconds, 
 for the sight of the hunter soon after 
 aroused it to a perfect realization of all 
 that had taken place. 
 
 Willem, after firing, had run off to 
 about fifty paces, and then stopped to re- 
 load. 
 
 While so engaged, he kept his eyes 
 fixed upon the leopard. It was again 
 coming towards him — no longer with the 
 caution it had before exhibited, but in
 
 140 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 a manner that showed its wliole animal 
 nature was absorbed by the spirit of 
 revenge. 
 
 By the time he had placed the bullet in 
 the barrel of his gun and driven it home, 
 the brute was close upon him. 
 
 There was not time for him to with- 
 draw the ramrod, much less to put on a 
 cap. 
 
 Grrasping his roer by the barrel, he 
 prepared to defend himself, intending to 
 use the weapon as a club. 
 
 The enraged creature was about to 
 make a spring upon him, when assist- 
 ance came from a quarter altogether 
 unexpected. 
 
 One of the dogs, a large bulldog, called 
 " Smoke," had not followed the buffaloes 
 to cover.
 
 THE FAITHFUL " SMOKE." 141 
 
 It had obeyed its master's command 
 when called back from the chase. 
 
 Just as the leopard was crouching npon 
 the earth to gather force for the final 
 spring, Smoke seized it by one of the hind 
 legs. !Not a second of time was lost by 
 Willem. One more chance for life had 
 been thus given him, and he hastened to 
 avail himself of it. 
 
 The hammer of the lock was thrown 
 back, and a cap placed on the nipple in 
 less time than nine out of ten well-drilled 
 soldiers could have performed the same 
 feat ; but by the time it was done, and 
 the gun brought to his shoulder, poor 
 Smoke was lying in his death struggle along 
 the grass. 
 
 The felida had turned to renew the 
 attack on its human enemy.
 
 142 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 One second more, and its huge body 
 would have been launched against him, 
 its sharp claws buried in his flesh. 
 
 He pulled the trigger, and sprang back- 
 wards. A cloud of smoke rolled before his 
 eyes, and as this cleared away, he saw the 
 leopard laid out along the earth by the side 
 of the wounded dog, like the latter, kicking 
 out its legs in the last throes of death. 
 
 On looking for his companions, Willem 
 saw that Macora and his men, having 
 stopped at a distance of about five hundred 
 yards ofP, had witnessed his victory. The 
 chief was now hastening towards him on 
 foot, and was soon by his side, when, 
 pointing to the ox about half a mile away, 
 he tried to make Willem understand that 
 that animal had carried him, unwillingly, 
 away from his friend.
 
 THE FAITHFUL " SMOKE. ' 143 
 
 Perceiving all danger was over, the 
 others came up, when, by signs, the big 
 hunter gave them to understand he wanted 
 the hide taken off the leopard. 
 
 The four attendants went to work with 
 their short assegais, in a manner that told 
 him he would not have long to wait for a 
 beautiful leopard- skin as a trophy of his 
 victory, as also a memento of the danger 
 through which he had passed. 
 
 He himself turned his attention to the 
 wounded dog, which was still moaning on 
 the ground, and looking at him with an 
 expression that seemed to say, " Why do 
 you not first come and assist me ? " 
 
 Poor Smoke had sacrificed his own life 
 to save that of his master. 
 
 The creature's back was broken, and it 
 was otherwise severely injured. It was
 
 144 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 evident that nothing could be done for it. 
 The dog must die, and the great heart of 
 Grroot Willem was sorely afflicted. 
 
 Turning to Macora, he observed that 
 the chief had reloaded his musket. 
 
 Willem pointed to the dog's head, and 
 then to the gun. 
 
 The chief took the hint, and raised the 
 weapon to his shoulder. 
 
 Groot Willem turned away, with his 
 eyes full of tears, and went off in pursuit 
 of his horse.
 
 THE LAGOON. 145 
 
 CHAPTEE XIV. 
 
 THE LAGOON 
 
 On returning to the camp, they found that 
 Hendrick and Arend had heen successful 
 in their chase of the antelopes, and the 
 greater part of two were cooking over a 
 large fire. 
 
 A quantity of felled timher had been 
 brought to the ground for the construction 
 of the kraal, and the work of building 
 it had already commenced. 
 
 For the labour of his followers, Macora 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 146 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 would accept notliing but a small quantity 
 of coffee, a bottle of Schiedam, and some 
 tobacco ; and in the evening he took his 
 departure, after seeing his friends safely 
 established in their camp. 
 
 Three of his people were left with the 
 hunters, with orders to make themselves 
 useful in whatever way they could be 
 employed. 
 
 This addition to their company was, 
 however, a source of great annoyance to 
 the Bushman. Any communication made 
 to them required the assistance of his 
 rival, Congo. 
 
 Congo had others under him, — people 
 to whom he gave instructions and 
 commands. Swartboy had not, and was 
 therefore very discontented with the 
 arrangement.
 
 THE LAGOON. 147 
 
 " You and I must do sometliiiig to-day," 
 said Arend to Hendrick, as " they were 
 eating their first breakfast at the new 
 camping place. 
 
 " Yes," replied Hendrick, " Willem has 
 one day the start of us in adventures, but 
 I dare say fortune will favour us ere 
 long." 
 
 " She has favoured us all, I think," 
 said Willem. " How could we have 
 a better prospect of success? There is 
 apparently an abundance of game ; and 
 we have found people willing to assist 
 us in getting at it — willing to perform 
 most of the toil, and leave us all of the 
 sport." 
 
 " You are quite right," said Hendrick, 
 " our brightest hopes could not have been 
 crowned by a more favourable commence- 
 
 L 2
 
 148 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 ment, althougli two days ago we were 
 repining." 
 
 " What do you say, Swartboy ? " lie 
 added, turning to the Bushman, " are you 
 content ? " 
 
 " I berry much content, baas Hendrick," 
 answered Swartboy, with an expression 
 that did not confirm his words. 
 
 That day the young hunters, leaving 
 -Swartboy and the Kaffir in charge of the 
 camp, made a visit to the lagoon, where 
 they expected to find hippopotami. 
 
 They passed by the place where Grroot 
 Willem had killed the leopard, and 
 observed that the bones of that animal, 
 mingled with those of the faithful Smoke, 
 were scattered over the ground, clean 
 picked of their fiesh by the jackals and 
 hyenas.
 
 THE LAGOON. 141>' 
 
 Half a mile farther on they reached 
 the lagoon ; and while riding along its 
 shore, they all pulled up to listen to an 
 unfamiliar and indescribable sound, that 
 seemed to proceed from two dark objects 
 just visible above the surface of the 
 water. 
 
 They were the heads of a brace of 
 sea-cows. 
 
 The animals were making towards them, 
 uttering loud cries, that * could not be 
 compared with anything the hunters had 
 previously heard. 
 
 Any attempt to kill them in the water 
 would only have resulted in a waste of 
 ammunition ; for with only the eyes and 
 nose above the surface, there was no 
 chance for a bullet to strike them w^ith 
 fatal effect.
 
 150 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 The monsters showed some intention of 
 coming out and making war ; but on 
 getting nearer they changed their design, 
 and, turning about, floundered out of 
 reach. 
 
 Before proceeding many yards farther, 
 they saw three other hippopotami, this 
 time not in the water, but out upon the 
 plain. They were browsing on the grass, 
 unconscious of any enemy being near. 
 
 " Let us get between them and the 
 water," suggested WiUem ; " by that 
 means we wiU make sure of them." 
 
 Eiding forward at a sharp pace, the 
 hunters succeeded in their design; and 
 for a time the retreat of the hippopotami 
 appeared impossible. 
 
 Instinct does not lead these animals to 
 flee from a foe. They only make for the
 
 THE LAGOON. 151 
 
 water, without regard to the position of 
 the enemy. 
 
 On the first alarm, therefore, the three 
 hippopotami started for the lagoon, going 
 at a iieavy, rolling pace, and much faster 
 than might have heen supposed possible 
 for creatures of such ungainly shape. 
 
 As they ran in a direct Hne, the hunters 
 were compelled to glide out of their way, 
 or run the risk of being trodden under 
 foot. 
 
 Hans and Grroot Willem were together ; 
 and as soon as the broad side of one of the 
 hippopotami was presented fairly before 
 them, both fired at it, taking aim behind 
 the shoulder. 
 
 Hendrick and Arend fired about the 
 same time at another. 
 
 Onward rolled the immense masses to-
 
 152 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 wards tlie river ; but before reaching it the 
 one to which Hans and Willem had devoted 
 their attention was seen to go unsteadily 
 and with less speed. 
 
 Eefore arriving at the bank, it gave a 
 heavy lurch, like a water-logged ship, and 
 fell over upon its side. Two or three abor- 
 tive efforts were made to recover its feet, 
 but these soon subsided into a tremulous 
 quivering of its huge frame, that ended in 
 the stillness of death. 
 
 Its two companions plunged into the 
 water, leaving Hendrick and Arend a little 
 chagrined by the failure of their first 
 attempt at killing a hippopotamus. 
 
 Hans and Groot Willem had no preten- 
 sions to military prowess, and the first was 
 generally absorbed in some subject con- 
 nected with his botanical researches. But
 
 THE LAGOON. 153 
 
 he could claim his share in killing a hip- 
 popotamus, under circumstances no more 
 favourable than the two who had allowed 
 their game to escape.
 
 154 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS, 
 
 CHAPTEE XV. 
 
 HIPPOPOTAMI. 
 
 Herodotus, Aristotle, Diodorus, and Pliny, 
 have all given descriptions, more or less 
 correct, of the hippopotamus, Eiver-horse, 
 or Zeekoe (sea-cow) of the South African 
 Dutch. 
 
 So great has been the interest taken in 
 this animal, of which European people have 
 long read, but which, until lately, they had 
 never seen, that the Zoological Society 
 cleared £10,000 in the year of the Great
 
 HIPPOPOTAMI. 155 
 
 Exhibition of 1851, by their specimen ex- 
 hibited in the Gardens at Eegent's Park. 
 
 Hippopotami, procured from Northern 
 Africa, were not uncommon in the E-oman 
 spectacles. Afterwards, the knowledge of 
 them became lost to Europe for several 
 hundred years ; and, according to the 
 authority of several writers, they entirely 
 disappeared from the Nile. 
 
 Several centuries after they had been 
 shown in Eome and Constantinople, it 
 was stated that hippopotami could not be 
 transported alive to a foreign country ; but 
 the progress of civilization has refuted this 
 erroneous hypothesis, and the harsh, heavy 
 sound of its voice, since May, 1851, has 
 been familiar to the frequenters of a 
 London Park. 
 
 According to Michael Boyne, the hip-
 
 156 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 popotamus has been found in tlie rivers 
 of China. 
 
 Marsden has placed them in Sumatra, 
 and others say they exist in the Indies; 
 but these statements have never been 
 sustained by well-authenticated facts, and 
 the creature is now believed to be exclu- 
 sively a native of Africa. 
 
 M. Desmoulins describes two species — 
 one the Hippojjotamus Cafpensis, or the hip- 
 popotamus of ttie Cape ; and the other the 
 IIippoj)ofamus Senegalensis, or the hippopo- 
 tamus of the Senegal Eiver. 
 
 How the animal obtained its name Avould 
 be difficult to imagine, since a quadruped 
 more unlike a horse could hardly exist. 
 
 When in the water, the hippopotamus 
 can place its eyes, ears, and nose on a level 
 with the surface, and thus see, hear, and
 
 HIPPOPOTAMI. 157 
 
 breathe witli but little danger of being 
 injured by a sliot. 
 
 It is often ferocious in this element, 
 where it can move with much ease; 
 but on dry land it is unwieldy, and, con- 
 scious of its awkwardness, it is rather 
 timid, and sometimes cowardly. 
 
 These huge creatures are supposed to 
 serve a good purpose by uprooting and 
 destroying large water-plants, that might 
 otherwise obstruct the current of the 
 stream, and hinder the drainage of the 
 surrounding country. 
 
 The hide of the hippopotamus is used by 
 the natives for many purposes. Although 
 soft when stripped off, it becomes so hard 
 when thoroughly dry, that the Africans 
 manufacture shields and spears of it. 
 
 Many of the Cape colonists are very fond
 
 158 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 of what they call "leekoe speek," which 
 is a portion of the flesh, salted and pre- 
 served. 
 
 The greatest value the hippopotamus 
 has in the eyes of man is found in its teeth, 
 its large canine tusks being the finest 
 ivory known, and much prized by the 
 dentist. 
 
 It keeps its colour much better, and lasts 
 longer, than any other used in the manu- 
 facture of artificial teeth. 
 
 Tusks of the hippopotamus are some- 
 times found sixteen inches in length, and 
 weighing as much as a dozen pounds. 
 
 Travellers have even afiirmed that some 
 have been seen measuring twenty -six 
 inches in length; but no specimens of this 
 size have as yet been exhibited in the 
 museums of Europe.
 
 HIPPOPOTAMI. 159 
 
 The liide of a full-grown hippopotamus 
 is thicker than that of the rhinoceros : 
 otherwise, it very much resembles the 
 latter. 
 
 Its thickness protects the animal against 
 the poisoned arrows and javelins of the 
 natives. But for this, it would soon 
 become extinct in the rivers of Africa, 
 since, unlike most animals, there is no 
 difficulty in approaching the hippopota- 
 mus within bowshot distance. 
 
 It can only be killed by the natives 
 after a great deal of trouble, combined 
 with ingenuity. 
 
 The plan generally adopted is by digging 
 pits in places where the hippopotamus is 
 known to pass, in leaving the water to 
 feed on the herbage of the neighbouring 
 plain. These pits have to be dug in the
 
 160 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 rainy season, when the ground is soft, for 
 during the dry months the earth becomes 
 so hard as to resist the poor implements 
 used by the natives in place of spades. 
 
 The pit is concealed with much care ; 
 and as months may pass without a hip- 
 popotamus straying into the trap, it may 
 be imagined how strong an effort of per- 
 severance and patience is required in cap- 
 turing one of these amphibious creatures. 
 
 Another method of killing them is by 
 suspending heavy, pointed beams over the 
 paths by which they proceed from the river 
 to the meadows adjoining. 
 
 These beams are elevated, thirty or forty 
 feet high, by a line which extends across 
 the sea-cow's track. This line is connected 
 with a trigger, and when rudely dragged 
 by the force of the moving body, the beam
 
 HIPPOrOTAMI. 161 
 
 descends upon the animars back, burying 
 the sharp point in its flesh. 
 
 The use of fire-arms is now becoming 
 general among the natives of Africa, and 
 as the value of hippopotamus ivory well 
 repays the trouble of procuring it, it is not 
 unreasonable to suppose that the ungainly 
 animal — now one of the commonest sights 
 in the rivers of Southern Africa — will soon 
 become one of the rarest. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 162 THE GIRAPEE HUNTERS. 
 
 CHAPTER XYI. 
 
 HUNTING HIPPOPOTAMI. 
 
 The hippopotamus killed by Grroot Wil- 
 lem and Hans was a fine specimen — a 
 bull, fall-grown, and with teeth and tusks 
 large and perfect. 
 
 Measuring it with the barrel of his roer, 
 Willeni pronounced it to be sixteen feet in 
 length, and he estimated its circumference 
 round the body at about one foot less. 
 
 Leaving it where it had fallen, they rode 
 to another part of the lagoon.
 
 HUNTING HIPPOPOTAMI. 163 
 
 The five liippopotami they had seen, 
 inspired them with a cheerful prospect 
 for the future, as far as hunting that 
 species of game was concerned ; but 
 a still brighter one was in store for 
 them. 
 
 Not half a mile from where the first was 
 killed, they reached a small pool, about 
 four feet in depth. Seven hippopotami 
 were wallowing within it, and others were 
 seen grazing the low swampy ground, not 
 far away. They had been so little mo- 
 lested by man, that they were not afraid 
 of feeding by daylight. 
 
 Those in the pool were wholly at the 
 mercy of the hunters, for they had not the 
 courage to leave it ; and the water was 
 not of sufficient depth either to conceal or 
 protect them. 
 
 M 2
 
 164 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 For nearly half an hour the young 
 hunters stood by the side of the pool, 
 loading and firing whenever a favourable 
 opportunity presented. 
 
 The seven huge creatures were then left 
 dead or dying, and the hunters returned 
 to their kraal. 
 
 Macora was waiting for them, having 
 come over for the purpose of making a 
 "morning call." 
 
 As a present to the young hunters, he 
 had brought them a milch cow, for which 
 they were very thankful. 
 
 The cow was consigned to the keeping 
 of Swartboy, who had strict injunctions 
 to look well after it. 
 
 " That cow is worth more to us than 
 either of the horses," remarked Hendrick 
 to the Bushman, " and I would not trust
 
 HUNTING HIPPOPOTAMI. 165 
 
 it to the keeping of Congo ; but I know it 
 will be safe with you." 
 Swartboy was delighted. 
 When Macora was told that they had 
 that morning killed eight hippopotami, he 
 became roused to a state of tremendous 
 excitement. 
 
 Two of his attendants were despatched 
 immediately to his village, to convey the 
 pleasing intelligence to his people that ^n 
 unlimited amount of their favourite food 
 was waiting for them. 
 
 Having done enough for one day, the 
 hunters reposed in the shade of their tent, 
 until about two hours before sunset, when 
 they were aroused by the arrival of nearly 
 three hundred people — men, women, and 
 children, of Macora's tribe, all anxious to 
 be led to the bodies of the hippopotami.
 
 16G THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 Grroot Willem was afraid that the dis- 
 turbance made by .so many people would 
 drive every sort of game from the neigh- 
 bourhood, and that they would have to 
 move their camp. But knowing this argu- 
 ment would not be strong enough to con- 
 vince several hundred hungry people that 
 so large a quantity of good food should be 
 wasted, no objection was made to conduct- 
 ing them to the scene of the morning's 
 sports. 
 
 Grroot "Willem and Hendrick, attended by 
 Congo, were soon in theu^ saddles, prepared 
 for a night's shooting at the lagoon. 
 
 They started off, accompanied by Macora 
 and all his following, leaving Hans and 
 Arend with Swartboy, to take care of the 
 kraal. 
 
 On reaching the place where the first
 
 HUNTING HIPPOPOTAMI. 167 
 
 liippopotamus had been killed in tlie morn- 
 ing, a flock of vultures and a pack of 
 jackals were driven from the carcass ; and 
 several of the natives stopped to prevent 
 these carnivora devouring any more of 
 the animal's body, by appropriating it to 
 themselves. 
 
 In compliance with the instructions of 
 their chief, Macora's followers had brought 
 with them long and stout rheims — that 
 is, cords made of rhinoceros' hide — and, 
 on reaching the pool in which the seven 
 dead hippopotami were lying, Macora 
 gave orders for the carcasses to be hauled 
 out. 
 
 This work, under ordinary circumstances, 
 would have been next to impossible; but 
 taking into consideration the flatness of 
 the ground, and the united strength of
 
 168 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 some hundred and fifty men capable of 
 handling a rope, the thing was soon ac- 
 complished. The task of skinning and 
 cutting up then commenced ; while the 
 women and children kindled fires, and 
 made other preparations for a grand ban- 
 quet. 
 
 Until a late hour of the night, the 
 natives remained at work. 
 
 All the flesh not required for immediate 
 use was separated into long slips, to be 
 dried in the sun ; and thus converted into 
 hiltongue. While the whole of the teeth 
 were retained, as the sole property of the 
 slayers. 
 
 The two himters, Groot Willem and 
 Hendrick, on that night, had not far to 
 travel in order to obtain a sufiiciency of 
 their favourite sport.
 
 HUNTING HIPPOPOTAMI. 169 
 
 Attracted by the odour of tlie slain 
 pachyderms, lions, hyenas, and jackals 
 came prowling about the pool, loudly ex- 
 pressing their disapprobation of the fact 
 that they themselves had not been invited 
 to partake of the feast. 
 
 Notwithstanding the large number of 
 human beings collected upon the spot, the 
 hyenas came close up, and, with deafening 
 roars, threatened to make an attack. 
 
 The guns of Groot Willem and Hendrick 
 were for a time kept constantly cracking, 
 and the ugly brutes at length grew more 
 wary, betaking themselves to a safer 
 distance. 
 
 The hunters had no desire to lose time 
 or ammunition in mere wanton destruction 
 of life. 
 
 They only desired to kill such game as
 
 170 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 might contribute towards remunerating 
 them for the long journey ; and they soon 
 ceased firing at hyenas and jackals. 
 
 Leaving the pool, they walked' along 
 the shore of the lagoon, towards the 
 ground where they had seen the hip- 
 popotami during the earlier hours of the 
 day. 
 
 Night being the usual 'time for those 
 animals to feed, the youths calculated upon 
 making an addition to the list of their 
 prizes — nor where they disappointed. 
 
 Half a mile from the spot where Macora 
 and his tribe had been left feasting, was 
 an open plain, lit by the beams of a 
 brilliant moon. 
 
 Ten or fifteen dark objects were seen 
 moving slowly over its surface ; and, lean- 
 ing forward in their saddles, the hunters
 
 HUNTING HIPPOPOTAMI. 171 
 
 could see that they were hippopotami. 
 They rode gently towards them. 
 
 The animals, entirely unacquainted with 
 the dangerous character of those who were 
 approaching, neither stirred from the spot 
 nor took any notice of the horsemen, until 
 the latter were within close range of them. 
 
 " That seems to be one of the biggest of 
 them," whispered Grroot Willem, pointing 
 to a large bull that was browsing at less 
 than a hundred paces off. " I shall make 
 sure of him. You, Hendrick, take another, 
 and let us both fire together." 
 
 Willem, as he spoke, raised the heavy 
 death-dealing roer to his shoulder. Taking 
 aim for the centre of the head, he fired. 
 
 The next moment the monster was seen 
 staggering backward, drawing its shattered 
 head along the ground.
 
 172 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 It was not thinking of a retreat to the 
 water — of retiring through fear of farther 
 danger, or of anything else. It was in the 
 agonies of death. 
 
 This manner of action was not long 
 sustained, for after trailing about ten 
 yards from where it was struck, it fell 
 heavily on the earth, and turned over on 
 one side, to move no more in life. 
 
 Hendrick had fired almost at the same 
 instant of time, but for some seconds the 
 creature to which his attention had been 
 directed, made no acknowledgment of the 
 favour. 
 
 It started off, and, along with the others, 
 made straight towards the lagoon. 
 
 For a time, Hendrick was again cha- 
 grined to think that the rival hunter had 
 been more successful than himself.
 
 HUNTING HIPPOPOTAMI. 173 
 
 His cliagrin was not destined to long 
 continuance, for on their way to the water, 
 one of the hippopotami was observed to 
 tumble over in its tracks. 
 
 After loading their guns, the horsemen 
 rode up to the prostrate animal, and found 
 it struggling to rise. 
 
 The bullet from Hendrick's rifle had 
 penetrated its right shoulder, and another 
 from the same gun now put a period to 
 its struggles as well as existence. 
 
 The two hunters, not yet contented with 
 their success, took cover under a cluster of 
 trees, and dismounting from their horses, 
 lay in wait to see if the hippopotami would 
 again oblige them by coming out upon the 
 plain. 
 
 Neither in this watch were they dis- 
 appointed. Occasionally they could hear
 
 174 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 the harsh bellowing of the animals, as 
 they came to the surface of the water, 
 and before long, the bodies of three 
 huge monsters were seen moving towards 
 them. 
 
 E-eserving fire until one came within a 
 few yards of their position, both hunters 
 discharged their pieces almost simulta- 
 neously. 
 
 With a cry that resembled the combined 
 snorting of a hog and the neighing of a 
 horse, the " zeekoe " faced back towards 
 the lagoon, but instead of moving off, 
 it commenced turning slowly round and 
 round, as a dog may be sometimes seen 
 before laying liimself down to repose. 
 
 In a similar fashion did the hippopotamus 
 lie down^ — to rise no more. 
 
 Three others were shot on that same
 
 HUNTING HIPPOPOTAMI. 175 
 
 night, making fourteen hippopotami killed 
 within twenty-four hours. 
 
 This was a greater number, so Macora 
 said, than had been killed by his own 
 people during the two preceding years.
 
 176 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE XVIT. 
 
 TO THE GIRAFFE COUNTRY. 
 
 After passing some four or five weeks 
 in hippopotami- hunting, Grroot Willem 
 became anxious to engage in the real 
 business for which he had undertaken the 
 expedition. 
 
 They had collected more than seven 
 hundred pounds weight of the finest ivory ; 
 but this success did not hinder them from 
 becoming weary of a pursuit that was no 
 longer amusement, but business.
 
 TO THE GIRAFFE COUNTRY. 177 
 
 From several conversations held with 
 Macora ahoat giraffes, they had learnt that 
 the young of those animals could not be 
 taken ahve without the greatest ingenuity 
 and trouble. 
 
 Where camelopards are discovered, they 
 can easily be run down and shot ; but to 
 secure the young unharmed, is a different 
 affair, and an undei-taking of which, from 
 Macora's account, promised to occupy all 
 the time that the hunters wished to remain 
 away from Grraaff-Eeinet. 
 
 Grroot Willem was anxious to secure the 
 name, fame, and reward novr depending 
 upon the delivery of the two young giraffes 
 to the Dutch Consul. Hendrick and 
 Arend wished to return to their sweet- 
 hearts, and Hans was longing to undertake 
 his intended voyage to Em'ope. 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 178 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 Under these circumstances, a proposal 
 from Willem, that they should make a 
 move, was well received by all. 
 
 When the intention and object of their 
 leaving was made known to Macora, the 
 chief seemed in much trouble. 
 
 '' I cannot allow you to go alone/' said 
 he; "there would be danger in your 
 journey to my native land — ^perhaps death. 
 Instead of capturing camelopards alive, 
 you might leave your bones to bleach 
 upon the plain. 
 
 " You must not go alone. Though 
 we may not procure what you are in 
 search of, I shall be your comjDanion, 
 and my best warriors shall attend 
 you. 
 
 " The tyrant Moselekatse may destroy us 
 all ; but I will go. Macora will not allow 
 
 I
 
 TO THE GIRAFFE COrXTRY. 179 
 
 his friends to encounter the peril with- 
 out sharing it with them. To-morrow I 
 shall be ready with all my men." 
 
 Such was the substance of Macora's 
 speech, as interpreted by Congo, and the 
 young hunters, much as they respected the 
 chief for his many acts of kindness towards 
 them, were gratified by the new proof of 
 his friendship. 
 
 He proposed to forsake his home, 
 and undertake an expedition of nearly 
 two hundred miles, in which he had 
 nothing to gain, and everything to 
 lose. 
 
 This he was willing to do, out of 
 gratitude to one whom fate had brought 
 to his assistance through the merest 
 accident. 
 
 Macora's offer was not rejected; and 
 
 N 2
 
 180 THE GmAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 preparations for the journey were imme- 
 diately commenced. 
 
 The ivory obtained from the hippopo- 
 tami was stored away for safe keeping 
 until their return. 
 
 This was about the only preparation for 
 a departure our adventurers had to make : 
 but such was not the case with Macora's 
 warriors. 
 
 Poisoned arrows had to be prepared — 
 bows and shields repaired, and assegais 
 sharpened. 
 
 On the morning of the next day, after 
 Macora had determined on the journey, he 
 led forth from his village fifty-three of his 
 best men, and a start was made towards 
 the north. 
 
 Several oxen were taken along, laden 
 with dried hippopotamus' flesh, crushed
 
 TO THE GIRAFFE COUNTRY. 181 
 
 laaize, and other articles of food, to be 
 used on the journey. Several cows were 
 also driven along, to yield a supply of 
 milk. 
 
 One of the pack-horses belonging to our 
 hunters had been placed at the disposal of 
 the chief; and on this he rode, generally 
 keeping close by the side of Groot 
 Willem. 
 
 Owing to the nature of the country, and 
 the inability of the oxen for fast travelling, 
 their progress was but slow. 
 
 They found plenty of game along the 
 route ; but none of it was pursued for the 
 sake of amusement. 
 
 Only a sufficient quantity was killed to 
 provide the camp with fresh meat ; and no 
 time was lost in procuring it, as antelopes 
 were constantly coming within shot of the
 
 182 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 hunters as they moved along the line of 
 march. 
 
 Only one incident^ worthy of notice oc- 
 curred during the journey. In their camp 
 of the sixth night after starting, one of the 
 Makalolo had risen to put some fresh 
 faggots on a fire burning near him. 
 
 Placing his hand upon the ground for 
 the purpose of picking up a bit of wood, 
 he suddenly started back, at the same time 
 uttering a cry of terror. 
 
 Several of liis companions sprang to 
 their feet ; and for a moment a scene of 
 confusion ensued that baffled every attempt 
 on the part of the young hunters to obtain 
 an explanation of it. 
 
 At length it transpired that a snake 
 had caused the commotion, — one of about 
 eight feet in length, was dragged up to
 
 TO THE GIRAFFE COUNTRY. 183 
 
 the light of the fire and submitted to 
 examination. 
 
 It was writhing in the agonies of death. 
 Its head had been crushed by a blow. Its 
 colour, which was nearly black, left no 
 doubt in the minds of the natives as to 
 the nature of the reptile they had killed. 
 
 " Pickahola ! pickahola ! " exclaimed 
 several at the same time ; and their atten- 
 tion was immediately turned to the man 
 who had first made its acquaintance. 
 
 He exhibited two deep scratches on the 
 back of his right hand ; on beholding them, 
 his companions uttered a cry of commise- 
 ration, and stood gazing at the unfortunate 
 man with an expression that seemed to say, 
 " You must surely die." 
 
 His colour soon changed to a deeper 
 brown. Then his fingers and lips began to
 
 184 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 move spasmodically ; and liis eyes assumed 
 a fixed and glassy expression. 
 
 In about ten minutes from tlie time lie 
 had been bitten, lie seemed quite uncon- 
 scious of anything but agony; and would 
 have rolled into the fire had he not been 
 held back by those around him. 
 
 In less than half an hour he was dead — 
 dead, while the body of the serpent, with 
 the mangled head, was still writhing along 
 the grass. 
 
 The Makalolo was buried at sunrise — 
 three hours after death ; and so virulent is 
 the poison of the pickahola, that, ere the 
 body was deposited in the grave, it was 
 already in a state of decomposition !
 
 A GIRAFFE CHASE. 1S5 
 
 CHAPTEE XYIII. 
 
 A GIRAFFE CHASE. 
 
 On the evening of the twelfth day after 
 leaving the Limpopo, they reached a small 
 river, which Macora called the Luize. He 
 informed the hunters that one day's journey 
 down the stream would take him to the 
 ruins of the village where he had been 
 bom, and had lived until within the last 
 two or three years; and now his desire 
 to see his native place was about to be 
 gratified.
 
 186 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 On one tiling Macora could congratulate 
 himself. The chief Moselekatse, by driving 
 him from his country, had profited but 
 little. 
 
 Ml the Makalolo cattle, and other objects 
 of plunder, had been safely got away out 
 of the reach of the robber-chief. None of 
 Macora' s people had remained in the land ; 
 so that there was no one to pay tribute to 
 the conqueror; and the country had been 
 left to the undisturbed possession of the 
 wild beasts. 
 
 Macora's tribe were uot now living in 
 a conquered condition ; nor were they now 
 prevented from paying a visit to their 
 former home. 
 
 The plan proposed by the Makalolo 
 chief for catching the young giraffes was 
 to build a liopo or Map, in some con-
 
 A GIRAFFE CHASE. 187 
 
 venient place, where a herd of giraffes 
 might be driven into it, the old ones 
 killed, and the young ones secured 
 alive. 
 
 'No better plan could be devised than 
 this, and it was unanimously adopted. 
 
 A site for the /iqpo has to be chosen 
 with some judgment, so that labour 
 may be saved in its construction ; and, 
 satisfied that the chief would act for 
 the best, the hunters determined on 
 leaving to him all the arrangements re- 
 garding it. 
 
 A suitable place for the trap Macora 
 remembered having seen, a few miles 
 down the river ; and thither they re- 
 paired. On the way, they passed the 
 ruins of the deserted village, and many 
 of the natives recognized, amid the heaps
 
 188 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 of rubbish, tlie places that bad once been 
 their homes. 
 
 Five miles farther down, they reached 
 the place which was to be enclosed as a 
 hopo. 
 
 It was a narrow valley, or pass, lead- 
 ing from a large forest to the river- 
 bank, and the variety and quantity of 
 spoor over its surface proved that most 
 animals of the country daily passed 
 through it. 
 
 The forest consisted chiefly of mimosa 
 trees, whose leaves are the favourite food 
 of the giraffe. Plenty of other timber 
 was growing near, such as would be 
 needed in constructing the required en- 
 closure. 
 
 Macora promised that his people should 
 go to work on the following day, when
 
 A GIRAFFE CHASE. 189 
 
 pits should be dug, and trees felled for 
 the fence of the hopo. 
 
 Willem inquired if thej had not better 
 first make sure that giraffes were in the 
 neighbourhood, before expending their 
 labour in constructing the hopo. Tliis 
 Macora declared was not necessary. He 
 was quite certain that they would be found 
 by the time the trap was ready for re- 
 ceiving them. 
 
 He also advised the hunters to refrain 
 from molesting any giraffes they might see 
 before the enclosure should be completed, 
 which, according to his calculation, would 
 be in about two weeks. 
 
 The hunters now began to under- 
 stand the difficulties of the task they 
 had undertaken, and were thankful 
 for the good fortune that luid brought
 
 190 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 them the assistance of the Makalolo 
 chief. 
 
 But for him and his people, it would 
 have been idle for them to have attempted 
 taking the 'giraffes alive. 
 
 Well mounted, they might ride them 
 down, and shoot as many as they pleased : 
 but this would have been but poor sport ; 
 and even Groot Willem would, in due 
 time, have got tired of it, It was not for 
 this they had come so far. 
 
 "Next morning the work of making the 
 Jiopo was commenced ; and, to inspire the 
 young hunters with the hope that the 
 labour would not be in vain, Macora 
 showed them the spoor of a drove of 
 giraffes that had visited the river during 
 the night. 
 
 The chief would not allow his guests to
 
 A GIRAFFE CHASE. 191 
 
 take any part in the toil; and, unwilling 
 to be idle, Groot Willem, Hendrick, and 
 Arend determined on making an excursion 
 down tlie river. 
 
 Hans remained behind, content in the 
 pursuit of his botanical studies, joined 
 to the amusement of killing antelopes 
 and other game, for the use of Macora's 
 workmen. Swartboy remained with him. 
 
 Wishing to be as little encumbered 
 as possible on an excursion intended to 
 last only for a couple of days, Willem 
 and his companions took with them but 
 one horse besides those for the saddle. 
 This was in the care of Congo, who, 
 of course, followed his master, " baas 
 WiUem." 
 
 Nothing could be more beautiful than 
 the scenes passed through on the first
 
 192 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 day of their hunt. Grroves of palms 
 and other trees, standing over flower- 
 clad plains, on which gnoos, hartebeests, 
 and other antelopes were browsing in 
 peace. 
 
 A flock of gaily-plumaged birds seemed 
 at home in every tree ; and everything 
 presented to their view was such as 
 fancy might paint for a hunter's para- 
 dise. 
 
 On that day our adventurers had their 
 first view of the lordly giraffe. 
 
 Seven of those majestic creatures were 
 seen coming^ from some hills that stretched 
 across the plain. 
 
 " Don't move," exclaimed Hendrick ; 
 " and perhaps they will stray near enough 
 for us to get a shot before we are dis- 
 covered."
 
 A GIRAFFE CHASE. 193 
 
 On came the graceful animals across 
 the sunlit plain, like living towers, throw- 
 ing long shadows before them. 
 
 The trees in the perspective seemed 
 lower than their crested heads. 
 
 When within about two hundred yards 
 of the hunters, the latter were discovered 
 by them. 
 
 Turning suddenly in their tracks, the 
 giraffes commenced a rapid retreat. 
 
 " Our horses are fresh, let us run tliem 
 down," exclaimed Willem. '' In spite of 
 what Macora has said, I must kill a 
 giraffe." 
 
 The three leaped into the saddles ; and 
 started in pursuit of the flying drove, 
 leaving Congo in charge of the pack- 
 liorse. 
 
 For some time the horsemen could not 
 
 VOL. I. o
 
 194 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 perceive that they were gaining on the 
 camelopards trotting before them in long, 
 shambling strides. 
 
 They were not losing ground, how- 
 ever, and this inspired them to greater 
 speed. 
 
 When the chase had been continued for 
 about four miles, and the horses began to 
 show signs of exhaustion, the pace of the 
 giraffes was observed to have also become 
 slower. 
 
 They also were distressed by the rate at 
 which they had been moving. 
 
 " One of them is mine," shouted Willem,. 
 as he spurred forward in a final charge. 
 
 A huge stallion, exhibiting more signs 
 of distress than the others, had fallen into 
 the rear. 
 
 The hunters soon came up with him.
 
 A GIRAFFE CHASE. 195 
 
 and, separating him from the herd, they 
 fired a volley into his massive body. Their 
 shots should have brought him down, but 
 instead of this, they seemed only to rein- 
 vigorate his wearied limbs, and he strode 
 on faster than ever. 
 
 The hunters only paused long enough to 
 reload, and then resumed the chase, once 
 more overtaking the giraffe. 
 
 Another volley was fired, Groot Willem 
 taking aim just behind the animal's shoul- 
 der, the others firing skyward, towards 
 its head. 
 
 The giraffe stopped suddenly in its 
 tracks, and stood tottering like a forest 
 tree about to fall. Its head began waving 
 wildly, first to the right and then to the 
 left. 
 
 A shuffle or two of its feet for a time 
 
 o 2
 
 196 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 enabled it to maintain its equilibrium, and 
 then it sank desparingly to the eartb. 
 
 Proudly the hunters dismounted by the 
 side of the now prostrate, but once stately, 
 creature, once a moving monument, erected 
 in evidence of its Creator's wisdom, but 
 now with its form recumbent upon the 
 carpet of the plain, its legs kicking wildly 
 in the agonies of death.
 
 THE CAMELOPARD. 197 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE CAMELOPARD. 
 
 There is perhaps no animal living more 
 graceful in form, more beautiful in colour, 
 and more stately and majestic in appear- 
 ance, than the camelopard, now generally 
 known by the French appellation of 
 giraffe. Measuring eighteen feet from 
 the hoof of the fore-leg to the crest of 
 its crown, it stands, as an American 
 would express it, "the tallest animal in 
 creation."
 
 198 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 There is but a single species of the 
 giraffe ; and from the elegance and state- 
 liness of its shape, the pleasing variety 
 and arrangement of its colour, and the 
 mildness of its disposition, its modem 
 appearance in Europe excited considerable 
 interest. 
 
 Although this animal was well known 
 to the ancient Eomans, and, indeed, played 
 no inconsiderable part in the gorgeous 
 exhibitions of that luxurious people, yet, 
 with the ultimate overthrow of the Eoman 
 empire, the camelopard finally disappeared 
 from Europe, and for several centuries 
 remained a perfect stranger to the civilized 
 world. 
 
 It is not untn towards the close of the 
 fifteenth century that we again hear of 
 the giraffe's appearance, when it is related
 
 THE CAMELOPAKD. 199 
 
 that Lorenzo de Medici exhibited one at 
 Florence. 
 
 The first of these animals seen in 
 England was a gift from the Pasha of 
 Egypt to George lY. It arrived in 1828 ; 
 but died the following year. 
 
 On the 24th of May, 1836, four giraffes 
 were exhibited in the Zoological Gardens, 
 at Eegent's Park. They were brought 
 from the south-west of Kordooan, and 
 were transported to London at an expense 
 of £2,836 Ss. Id, 
 
 From a casual glance at the giraffe, its 
 fore-legs would appear nearly twice as 
 long as the hind ones : but such is not 
 the case. 
 
 This difference of appearance is caused 
 by the great depth of the shoulders as 
 compared with the hips.
 
 200 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 In proportion to the rest of its body, 
 the camelopard has rather a small head, 
 upheld by a neck nearly six feet in length, 
 gently tapering towards the crown. The 
 animal's height, reckoning from the top 
 of the head to the hoofs of the fore-feet, 
 is about equally divided between neck, 
 shoulders, and legs. Measured from the 
 summit of the hips to the hoofs of the 
 hind-feet, it rarely exceeds six and a half 
 or seven feet. 
 
 The head of the giraffe is furnished 
 with a pair of excrescences, usually called 
 horns, although very unlike the horns of 
 any other animal. 
 
 They are of a porous, bony texture, 
 covered with short, coarse bristles. 
 
 Naturalists have as yet failed to deter- 
 mine for what purpose these osseous
 
 THE CAMELOPARD. 201 
 
 protuberances are provided. They cannot 
 be either for offence or defence ; since 
 they are too easily displaced to afford any 
 resistance in case of a collision. 
 
 The eyes of the camelopard are worthy 
 of all praise. 
 
 They are of large size — even softer and 
 more gentle than those of the far-famed 
 gazelle — and so placed that it can see in 
 almost every direction without turning its 
 head. 
 
 All its senses are very acute ; and being 
 an animal of timid habit, it can only be 
 approached by a man when mounted upon 
 a fleet horse. 
 
 The camelopard feeds on the leaves and 
 blossoms of an umbrella-shaped tree — a 
 species of mimosa, called mokaala by the 
 native Africans, and kameel-doorn {cameU
 
 202 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 thorri) by the Dutch settlers of the 
 Cape. 
 
 As a grasper and feeler, the tongue 
 of the giraffe is used as the trunk 
 of the elephant, and its great height 
 enables it to gather the leaves of the 
 mokaala, — far beyond the reach of the 
 latter. 
 
 The camelopard's skin is exceedingly 
 thick — often as much as an inch and a 
 half — and so difficult of penetration, that 
 frequently twenty or thirty bullets are 
 required to bring the creature to the 
 ground. 
 
 These wounds it receives and suffers in 
 silence ; for the giraffe is dumb. 
 
 Unlike that of most other animals, its 
 hairy coat becomes darker with age. 
 
 The colour of the female is somewhat
 
 THE CAMELOPARD. 203 
 
 lighter than the male, and she is also of 
 much inferior stature. 
 
 The camelopard can only defend itself 
 by kicking; and it uses its heels in this 
 way more effectively than any other 
 creature — the horse not excepted. 
 
 The prominence of its eyes enables it 
 to see behind, when directing its heels 
 against an enemy, and so secures its 
 taking a certain aim; while the blow 
 it can give will crash in the skull of 
 a man, or leave him with a couple of 
 broken ribs. 
 
 If unmolested, it is among the most 
 innocent of animals. 
 
 A creature so strangely shaped, and 
 possessing so much speed and strength, 
 was certainly designed by the Creator for
 
 204 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 some other use than browsing upon the 
 leaves of mimosa trees : but that use man 
 has not yet discovered.
 
 A RACE FOR LIFE. 205 
 
 CHAPTEE XX. 
 
 A RACE FOR LIFE. 
 
 Leaving the body of tlie giraffe very 
 reluctantly (Grroot Willem having a strong 
 desire to take it along with him), the 
 liunters started off in search of the 
 river. 
 
 Much to their gratification, the Luize, or 
 another stream equally as large, was seen 
 not far from them, and they rode along its 
 bank for the purpose of finding a place 
 where they might water their horses, now
 
 206 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 tliirsty after the long run they had made 
 in chase of the giraffe. 
 
 Tor about half a mile they found the 
 stream inacessible, by reason of the steep- 
 ness of its banks ; but a small pool was 
 discovered a short distance from the river ; 
 and by this they halted, to give their weary 
 horses a httle rest. 
 
 These also needed food, and it was the 
 intention to give them an hour or two 
 upon the grass, that grew luxuriantly 
 around the pool. 
 
 So the saddles were taken off, and the 
 horses turned out to graze. 
 
 " I suppose Congo will have sense to 
 pack up, and follow us ? " said Hendrick. 
 
 " Yes," replied Groot Willem, " I think 
 we may expect to see him here within two 
 hours."
 
 A RACE FOR LIFE. 207 
 
 " But are yon sure that he can find 
 us r 
 
 " Certainly he can/' replied Willem ; 
 " he knows that we are bound down the 
 river, and the stream will guide him. If 
 not, he has Spoor'em along with him. We 
 should probably meet him on his way, if 
 we were to go up the river." 
 
 " But we don't want to go up at 
 present," answered Hendrick ; ''our way 
 is down." 
 
 " Then we had better stay here till he 
 comes." 
 
 While they were thus talking, there 
 was heard a dull, heavy sound, accom- 
 panied by a real or fancied vibration of 
 the earth. 
 
 The trees in a neighbouring grove 
 appeared to be shaking about, some being
 
 208 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 upset, as if a violent hurricane was sweep- 
 ing down among them. 
 
 The horses took the alarm; threw 
 up their heads, snorted, and galloped to 
 and fro, as if uncertain which way to 
 retreat. 
 
 Next moment, from among the moving 
 trees, emerged a herd of elephants ; each or 
 most of them uttering trumpet-like cries as 
 they entered upon the open plain. 
 
 The horses galloped off the ground ; and 
 the hunters, believing that their lives 
 depended on recovering them, started in 
 pursuit. 
 
 Almost on the instant this purpose had 
 to be relinquished. One of the elephants, 
 in advance of its fellows, was charging 
 upon them; and they would have enough 
 to do to secure their own retreat.
 
 A RACE FOR LIFE. 209 
 
 The others went after the horses, and 
 all seemed to have gone mad, with the 
 exception of three or four that remained by 
 the pool. 
 
 The situation of the hunters was now 
 one of imminent danger. 
 
 A well-directed volley might stop the 
 charge of the elephant rushing towards 
 them, and put the others to flight. This 
 seemed to be the idea of all three : for each 
 took aim at the same instant of time, and 
 fii'ed in the same direction. The volley 
 was delivered in vain. The elephant, with 
 a louder roar and longer strides, came 
 thundering on, only infuriated by tlieir 
 attempt to check its course. 
 
 There was no time to re-load, and all 
 three retreated, with a terrible apprehen- 
 sion of being overtaken, and that one or 
 
 VOL. I. p
 
 210 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 otlier of them would fall a victim to the 
 gigantic pursuer. 
 
 They ran towards the stream. To have 
 gone in any other direction would have 
 been to impale themselves upon the tusks 
 of the other elephants, now also coming 
 towards them, aroused to rage by the cry 
 of their wounded companion. 
 
 They succeeded in reaching the bank, 
 and thought of throwing themselves into 
 the water, when a shout from Arend 
 counselled them to a different course. 
 
 ''Follow me!" cried he; and the next 
 instant he was seen upon the trunk of a 
 cotton-tree that had fallen across the 
 stream. 
 
 So close was the enraged elephant at this 
 time, that Groot Willem, who was hinder- 
 most, felt the tip of its trunk touching the
 
 A RACE FOR LIFE. 211 
 
 calf of one of his legs, as he scrambled on 
 to the tree. 
 
 The top of the tree was several feet 
 lower than the bank of the river, where its 
 roots still adhered ; and, in descending the 
 trunk, they had, as Hendrick said, "to 
 climb downwards." 
 
 The branches had lodged on some rocks 
 in the middle of the stream, which had 
 prevented the tree from being carried away 
 by the current, that ran rapidly past the 
 spot. 
 
 For a while, they considered themselves 
 safe ; and, although their situation would 
 have been far from agreeable under ordi- 
 nary circumstances, they experienced the 
 indescribable emotions of happiness that 
 are felt only after a narrow escape from 
 some great peril. 
 
 P 2
 
 212 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 The elephant was tearing at the up- 
 turned roots of the tree, and making other 
 impotent attempts to get at them. 
 
 They were besieged ; but in no danger, 
 for a time, of a closer acquaintance with 
 their besieger. 
 
 On examining their place of refuge, they 
 saw that the rock on which the tops of the 
 tree rested, was not more than thirty feet 
 in circumference at the water's edge, and 
 not half that at the top, which was about 
 ten feet in diameter. 
 
 There was but little more than room for 
 them to stand upon it ; but as the branches 
 were large and long, they had plenty of 
 room to move about, proceeding much in 
 the same manne]' as monkeys would have 
 done in a similar situation. 
 
 From the behaviour of the enemy, he
 
 A RACE FOR LIFE. 213 
 
 seemed to have come to a perfect under- 
 standing of the position in which they 
 were placed ; and for a minute or two he 
 appeared to he meditating whether he 
 should ahandon the siege or continue it. 
 
 Meanwhile the hunters, after resting 
 for a few moments from their late severe 
 exertion, commenced reloading their rifles, 
 and preparing for further hostilities. 
 
 As though aware of their intentions, the 
 elephant quietly walked away. 
 
 " He is off, now," said Grroot Willem, 
 "hut we had better not be in anv hurry 
 to follow him. I can endure a little more 
 rest." 
 
 '' I hope we shall not have to make a 
 longer stay than will be agreeable,'' re- 
 marked Hendrick ; " but we must not leave 
 here until the whole herd has taken its
 
 214 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 departure. Unlike any we have seen 
 before, these elephants do not seem to be 
 the least afraid of ns." 
 
 The position in which our hunters were 
 placed was several feet below the level of 
 the river-bank, so that they were unable 
 to see anything of the plain above. 
 
 Arend proposed returning up the trunk 
 of the tree, and giving the enemy a parting 
 shot, should the animal be still within 
 range. 
 
 To this Groot Willem and Hendrick 
 objected. 
 
 They were willing the elephants should 
 depart, if so inclined, without further 
 molestation from them. 
 
 A few minutes passed, and Arend again 
 proposed going up to see if their enemy 
 was near. This was also opposed by the
 
 A RACE FOR LIFE. 215 
 
 others. " No, not yet," said Willem ; "let 
 ns not show ourselves on any account. He 
 may be still watching for us, and seeing 
 you, may think we are impatient to get 
 away. That would encourage him to 
 remain. We must be as cautious as if we 
 were dealing with a human enemy." 
 
 Half an hour passed, and then Groot 
 Willem ascended the tree, until his head 
 was on a level with the bank. 
 
 One glance was sufficient; and with a 
 grave countenance he looked back to his 
 companions. 
 
 "It is as I thought," said he ; " the 
 brute is still there. He is watching for us. 
 He wants revenge, and I believe that he 
 will have it. We shall be hungry before 
 we get away from here." 
 
 " Where is he ? " asked Hendrick.
 
 216 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 '' At tlie pool close by, giving himself a 
 shower-bath ; but I can see that he keeps 
 constantly turning his eye in this direc- 
 tion." 
 
 "Is he alone?" inquired Arend. 
 
 " Yes ; the others appear to have gone 
 off. There is only himself by the pool. 
 We have wounded him ; but for all that 
 he is able to move rapidly about ; and 
 we shall have to kill him outright before 
 we can pass him upon the plain.*' 
 
 To this there was no answer, and Groot 
 Willem again returning to the rock, all 
 three laid hold of their guns, and prepared 
 to attack the enemy.
 
 A CREATURE HARD TO KILL. 217 
 
 CHAPTEE XXI. 
 
 A CREATURE HARD TO KILL. 
 
 Groot Willem again ascended the tree — 
 this time armed with his roer, and followed 
 hy his companions. 
 
 The elephant was still at the pool, and 
 to make him leave it and draw nearer, 
 Willem showed himself on the bank. 
 
 This plan did not succeed. 
 
 The elephant saw him ; but with reason 
 or instinct that seemed almost human, it 
 was evidently waiting until they should
 
 218 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 leave their retreat, before again renewing 
 hostilities. 
 
 " It's of no use my firing from here," 
 said Willem ; "I must endeavour to get 
 nearer. Don't be in my way, for in 
 all probability there may be another 
 chase." 
 
 The distance from the tree to the pool 
 was close upon a hundred yards, and, 
 after walking from the bank about one- 
 third of that distance, Willem came to a 
 halt. 
 
 The elephant coolly and philosophically 
 awaited his approach, apparently satisfied 
 to let him come as near as he pleased. 
 
 The position in which the animal stood 
 was unfavourable for Willem to make his 
 favourite shot ; but as it would not move, 
 he was obliged to fire at its head. The
 
 A CUEATURB HARD TO KILL. 219 
 
 report of his gun was answered by a loud 
 roar, and an impetuous charge. 
 
 Willem instantly made for the tree, and 
 secured his retreat, with the elephant but 
 a few paces in his rear. 
 
 At the same time, and without evincing 
 the slightest acknowledgment, the huge 
 beast received two further shots from 
 Hendrick and Arend. 
 
 While the guns were being reloaded, 
 the monster again retired to the pool. 
 There it was saluted by seven more 
 balls, without even once attempting to 
 approach its tormentors in their place of 
 retreat. 
 
 It now wanted but two hours to sunset, 
 and dark, heavy clouds were descried roll- 
 ing up from the south-west. 
 
 Thirteen shots had been expended on
 
 220 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 the elephant, and to all appearance it was 
 still uninjured. 
 
 There was a prospect of compulsory con- 
 finement before them. They might have 
 to remain in their aqua- arbor al retirement 
 the whole night, under the pelting of a 
 pitiless storm. 
 
 Three more shots were fired, without any 
 apparent result. 
 
 The rain soon came down — not in drops, 
 but dishfuls. 
 
 Often as they had been exposed to heavy 
 showers, none of them could remember 
 witnessing anything like that. 
 
 All their care was devoted to keeping 
 the ammunition and the locks of their 
 guns dry ; and any attempt at breaking 
 the blockade to which they were subjected 
 was for a time relinquished.
 
 A CREATURE HARD TO KILL. 221 
 
 By the last light of day, Groot Willem 
 made another reconnoissance, and found 
 the elephant still patiently waiting and 
 watching. 
 
 A night so dark that they could not 
 distinguish each other by sight now 
 mantled the river, and the heavens above 
 continued pouring forth their unabated 
 wrath. They might now have stolen 
 away unknown to the besieger; but they 
 had no longer the desire to do so. Confi- 
 dent that the animal could not keep its 
 feet till morning, after the rough hand- 
 ling it had received, they resolved upon 
 staying tiU it fell, and securing its fine 
 tusks. 
 
 Two or three hours passed, and still the 
 rain kept falling, although not quite so 
 heavily as at first.
 
 222 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 "I dont like this sort of tiling," said 
 Hendrick ; " Swart and Cong in the pits 
 could not have been much unhappier 
 than we are. I should like to know if 
 the enemy is still on guard. What do you 
 say to our going off? " 
 
 " We must think of it/' counselled 
 Arend. " Even if the elephant be gone, 
 we cannot find our horses in such a 
 dark night. If it be still waiting for 
 us, we could not see it five paces off. 
 We had better stay where we are till 
 morning." 
 
 "Your advice is good, Arend," said 
 Willem. " I don't believe we have a gun 
 among us that could be discharged ; if 
 attacked as we are now, we should be 
 defenceless." 
 
 Arend's suggestion was adopted ; and
 
 A CREATURE HARD TO KILL. 223 
 
 they resolved to remain upon the rock till 
 morning. 
 
 During the night the rain continued to 
 pour, half drowning them in their exposed 
 situation. The hours passed slowly and 
 wearily. They began to have serious 
 doubts of ever seeing day again ; but it 
 came at length. 
 
 Just as the first faint gleams of 
 the Aurora appeared in the east, they 
 were startled by a sudden crashing 
 among the branches of the tree ; and 
 the next moment they saw the bridge 
 by which they had reached the rock 
 in the act of being carried away by the 
 current. 
 
 " Look out ! " shouted Arend. " The 
 tree is off. Keep clear of the branches, or 
 we shall be swept along with it."
 
 224 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 All rushed together to the summit of the 
 rock — ^reaching it just in time to avoid the 
 danger thus indicated; and in another 
 moment their communication with the 
 mainland was entirely cut off. 
 
 The dawn of day found them on an 
 islet of stone, of such limited extent that 
 there was barely standing-room for the 
 three. 
 
 The river, swollen by the flood, came 
 close up to their feet, and was threatening 
 to rise still higher. There was the pros- 
 pect — not a very pleasant one — that they 
 themselves might be carried away after 
 their treacherous bridge. 
 
 The elephant was no longer a cause of 
 the slightest anxiety. The means by 
 which they might have placed themselves 
 within the reach of that danger had been
 
 A CREATURE HARD TO KILL. 225 
 
 removed ; and, like Prometheus, they were 
 bound to a rock. 
 
 The banks on both sides were too high 
 for them to effect a landing, even should 
 they be able to stem the velocity of the 
 current. 
 
 All three could swim ; and it might be 
 possible for them to reach the shore by 
 swimming down stream to some place 
 where the banks were on a level with the 
 water. 
 
 But to this method of getting out of 
 their difficulty there were several objec- 
 tions. 
 
 Their guns would have to be left behind, 
 and could not be recovered. A distant 
 view of them lying upon the rock might 
 be all they would ever have. To abandon 
 their arms was a thing not to be thought 
 
 VOL. I. Q
 
 226 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 of. Their hunting would be over for that 
 expedition. 
 
 Besides, they were in a paii of the river 
 where the current was svv^ift, strong, and 
 turbulent. It would carry them down 
 with irresistible force. The rapids were 
 full of rough, jagged rocks, against which 
 their bodies might be crushed or lacerated ; 
 and the chances were that some of them 
 might never succeed in reaching the shore 
 in safety. 
 
 "And there is another reason why I 
 don't, like taking this water- trip," said 
 Hendrick. ''I noticed yesterday, just as 
 we came forward here, a couple of enor- 
 mous alligators. In all likelihood there 
 are scores of them.'' 
 
 " Then I say, stop where we are for 
 the present," said Arend; "alligators arc
 
 A CBEATURE HARD TO KILL. 227 
 
 always hungry, and I don't relish to be 
 eaten by them." 
 
 " I am not so hungry as to leave my 
 roer behind me, therefore I second your 
 proposal," said Groot Willem. 
 
 It was carried nemine dissentiente. 
 
 They did stay where they were, but not 
 very patiently. 
 
 The sun ascended high into the heavens ; 
 its beams seemed concentrated upon their 
 forms, — on the spot where they were 
 standing. 
 
 They never remembered having expe- 
 rienced a day so hot, or one on which all 
 felt so hungry. 
 
 Hendrick and Arend became almost fran- 
 tic with the heat and the hunger, though 
 Groot Willem still preserved a remnant of 
 calmness. 
 
 Q 2
 
 22S THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 ** I wonder if that elephant is watching- 
 for ns yet," said the latter. *' If so, he is 
 what Swartboy calls Congo, — ' an ole fool.' 
 I'm sorry we can't oblige him by paying- 
 him a visit, and rewarding him for his 
 prolonged vigil." 
 
 "WiUem's attempt at being witty was 
 intended to cheer his disconsolate com- 
 panions ; but it was a sad failure. Neither 
 could reply to it — even by a smile.
 
 A SEPARATION. 229 
 
 CHAPTEE XXII. 
 
 A SEPARATION 
 
 All day long did they stay on the islet of 
 stone. They were no longer apprehensive 
 of being swept away by the flood. Thej 
 saw that it had reached its highest; 
 but its subsidence had not yet com- 
 menced. 
 
 The sun was already in the zenith, 
 hotter than ever, Hterally roasting them 
 upon the rock. The situation was in- 
 tolerable.
 
 230 THE GIRAFrE HUNTERS. 
 
 "Shall we have to stay here another 
 night?" impatiently asked Hendrick. 
 
 "It looks deucedly -like it/' answered 
 WiUem. 
 
 "And to-morrow — what shall we do 
 then?" inquired Arend. "There may be 
 no better chance of getting off then than 
 there is now." 
 
 "That is true," said Willem. "We 
 must think of some way of getting out of 
 this disagreeable prison. Can either of 
 you think of a plan?" 
 
 " I have a proposal to make," said Hen- 
 drick. " Let one of us take to the water, 
 and look down stream for a landing-place. 
 If he succeed in reaching the bank in 
 safety, he could come up again, and by 
 swinging out one of those long climbing 
 plants we see hanging to the trees, there
 
 A SEPARATION. 231 
 
 would be some cliaiice of tlie other two 
 catching it. By that means we may get 
 off." 
 
 " Thaf s not a bad idea/' rejoined Arend, 
 " but which of US is to run the risk of the 
 swim ? For my part, I'm quite willing to 
 incur it." 
 
 "There, is certainly great danger/' said 
 Hendrick, "but there is also danger of 
 starvation if we stay here." 
 
 " Quite true/' rejoined Ai-end. " But for 
 my part, I would rather feed a crocodile 
 than die of hunger myself. So I'm TvT.lling 
 to risk the svam. If you don't see me on 
 the bank ^vithin three or four hom's, you 
 may conclude that either the crocodiles 
 have eaten me or that I've been shattered 
 among the rocks." 
 
 The others would not listen to Arend's
 
 232 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 self-sacrificing proposal; and for a time it 
 was debated among them as to who should 
 run the risk, each protesting — what under 
 other circumstances he would scarce have 
 done — that he was a better swimmer than 
 either of the other two. 
 
 As each insisted on taking the peril 
 upon himself — and none of them would 
 yield the point — a proposal was made to 
 cast lots. 
 
 This was done ; and Hendrick, the pro- 
 poser of the plan, was the one chosen by 
 fate to carry it into execution. 
 
 " I am glad of it," said he, after the 
 afiair had been decided. " It is but just 
 that I should be permitted to carry out my 
 own proposal. So here goes ! " 
 
 Hastily throwing off his clothing, he 
 shook hands with Arend and Willem,
 
 A SEPARATION. 233 
 
 dropped into tlie flood, and was away with 
 
 the rapidity of an arrow. 
 
 Anxiously the others gazed after him; 
 but in less than three minutes he was no 
 longer under their eyes, the rough rapid 
 current having carried him clear out of 
 sight. 
 
 Two hours passed, which were spent by 
 Arend and Groot "Willem in a state of 
 anxious suspense. Two hours more, and 
 it became terrible. 
 
 " Night is fast approaching," remarked 
 Arend. " If Hendrick does not return 
 before night, I shall swim after him. 
 
 " Yes, we may as well, while we have 
 the strength to do it," answered Willem. 
 "If you go, so will I. We shall start 
 together. How long do you think we 
 should wait ? "
 
 234 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 " Not much longer. Certainly mthin a 
 mile lie ouglit to have found a place where 
 he could land. That distance he must 
 soon have made, at the rate he was travel- 
 ling when he left us. He should return 
 soon now, or never." 
 
 Another hour was passed in anxious 
 suspense, and still no signs of their absent 
 companion. , 
 
 " Eemain you, WiUem," proposed Arend, 
 " and let me go alone." 
 
 " No ! " rephed the great hunter, " we go 
 together. I once thought that I should 
 never abandon my gun as long as I 
 lived: but it must be. We must not 
 stay here any longer. I grow weaker 
 every hour." 
 
 The two were taking off their boots, and 
 preparing to enter the water, when their
 
 A SEPARATION. 235 
 
 ears were saluted bj the sound of a familiar 
 voice. 
 
 Congo was seen upon horseback on the 
 bank of the river, just opposite the rock. 
 
 " Nebber fear, baas Willem," shouted 
 he, " I come back by-and-bv." 
 
 As he said this he galloped away. The 
 loud roar of an elephant proclaimed the 
 cause of his sudden departure. 
 
 " Oh, Heavens ! " exclaimed Arend. 
 " How much longer must we stay here ? " 
 
 " Until to-morrow, I expect," answered 
 "Willem. "Congo cannot return to the 
 camp and be back before morning." 
 
 * But do you think he will go off with- 
 out trying to assist us ? " 
 
 " Yes ; what can he do alone ? — Xotliing. 
 He knows that, and has gone for help. By 
 himself he could not kill the elephant;
 
 236 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 and even if it were not there, lie could do 
 nothing to get ns off the rock. The dis- 
 tance to the hank must be twenty yards. 
 Of course there is a way by which we may 
 be got ashore, but it will require a rope. 
 The climbing plants would do, but Congo 
 has not noticed them. I believe that he 
 understood at a glance the difficulties to 
 be overcome, and has gone to the camp for 
 assistance." 
 
 "I hope so," replied Arend; and if 
 such be the case, we need not fear for our- 
 selves. We have now only to endure the 
 annoyance of waiting. My sole anxiety is 
 for Hendrick." 
 
 Willem made no reply; but by his 
 silence Arend could perceive that he had 
 but little hope of ever seeing Hendrick 
 again.
 
 A SEPARATION. 237 
 
 Slowly the sun went down, and the 
 night once more descended over the rolling 
 river. 
 
 Their anxiety would not allow them to 
 sleep, even had they not been hindered by 
 hunger. 
 
 Of water they had a plentiful supply — 
 too much of it — although this was not 
 obtained without some difficulty, as they 
 had to dip it up in one of their powder- 
 flasks, emptied for the purpose. 
 
 Another morning dawned ; and the sun 
 made his appearance, again red and fiery, 
 his beams becoming fiercer as he ascended 
 the cloudless sky. 
 
 They had but a few hours more to wait, 
 until they might expect the return of the 
 E^ffir : but would he surely come ? 
 
 They knew that travelling in Africa was
 
 238 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 a very uncertain business. Their present 
 position was proof that some accident 
 miglit occur to hinder him from reaching 
 the camp. 
 
 By this time they were ahnost certain 
 that some serious misfortune — perhaps 
 death itself — ^had befallen Hendrick. 
 
 As if to confirm them in this belief, just 
 then three large crocodiles were seen swim- 
 ming around the rock, and lingering there, 
 as though they expected ere long to get 
 their sharp teeth into the flesh of those 
 who stood upon it. 
 
 The great himter became angered by the 
 sight. It suggested the probable fate of 
 their companion, as it might in time be 
 their own. 
 
 He seized hold of his roer, and drawing 
 the damp charge, reloaded the gun.
 
 A SEPARATION. 239 
 
 Aiming at tlie eye of one of tlie hideous 
 monsters, lie pulled the trigger. The loud 
 report was followed by a heavy plunging 
 in the water, and the behaviour of the 
 crocodile gave evidence of the correctness 
 of the hunter's aim. 
 
 After springing bodily above the surface, 
 it fell back again, and commenced spinning 
 around with a velocity that threw showers 
 of spray over those who stood watching its 
 death struggles. 
 
 Its two companions retreated down the 
 river; and as the brothers saw them depart, 
 the thoughts of both were dwelling upon 
 the same subject. 
 
 Both were tliinking of Hendrick. 
 
 We also must go down stream, and see 
 what has become of him.
 
 240 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXIII. 
 
 FROM BAD TO WORSE. 
 
 On finding himself in the water, as he 
 parted from his companions, Hendrick had 
 not much exertion to make. A gentle 
 motion of the limbs sustained him on the 
 surface; and he was borne onward with a 
 velocity that promised a speedy termina- 
 tion of his voyage. 
 
 Some place must soon be reached 
 where the banks would be low enough 
 to ascend, and the current not too
 
 FROM BAD TO WORSE. 241 
 
 quick to hinder him from crossing to the 
 shore. 
 
 He was "spirited" past several rocks, 
 one of which he only avoided with great 
 difficulty, so swiftly did the current carry 
 him along. 
 
 When about a mile from his companions, 
 as he supposed himself, he saw that the 
 banks on both sides were shelving ; and he 
 tried to reach the shore. 
 
 The current was still rapid as ever ; and 
 for each foot made in the direction of the 
 land, he was borne several yards down the 
 channel of the stream. 
 
 The velocity with which he was moving 
 awoke in his mind a vague sense of a 
 danger not thought of before starting, 
 and altogether different from those that 
 had been taken in calculation. 
 
 VOL. I. R
 
 242 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 His voyage so 'far had been successful. 
 He had escaped unharmed by rocks or 
 crocodiles ; but he had evidence that a 
 danger as much, if not more, to be 
 dreaded, now threatened him. 
 
 The water seemed gliding down an in- 
 clined plane, so rapidly was it sweeping 
 him on; and beyond this, directly before 
 him, he could hear the roarin of a 
 cataract 1 
 
 What at first had been only a conjecture, 
 soon became a certainty. He was going 
 at arrow-like speed towards the brow of 
 a waterfall. 
 
 Throwing all his energies into the 
 effort, he struggled to reach the shore 
 at a point where the bank was acces- 
 sible. 
 
 He had nearly succeeded.
 
 FROM BAD TO WORSE. 243 
 
 Ten feet nearer, and lie would have been 
 able to grasp tlie oYerbanging busbes. 
 But that distance, little as it was, could 
 not be accomplisbed ; and on be glided 
 towards the engulfing fall. 
 
 On the brink of tbe water precipice be 
 saw tbe sbarp point of a rock jutting about 
 tbree feet above tbe water. 
 
 More by good luck than any guidance on 
 bis part, be came witbin reacb of it as be 
 was burried onward. Eeacbing out, be 
 caught hold; and hugging it with both 
 arms, he was able to retain his hold. 
 His body was swung around to the 
 leeward of the rock, until his legs hung 
 dangling over the fall. 
 
 Although the force of the current was 
 
 partly broken by the interposition of the 
 
 'rock, it required him to exerl^ all his 
 
 E 2
 
 244 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 strength to save liimself from being 
 washed over. 
 
 After a time he succeeded in gaining a 
 footing. 
 
 There was a little ledge on the rock, 
 but jnst large enough for one foot, while 
 the other 'sought support on the pointed 
 apex. 
 
 To have attempted to swim ashore could 
 only end in his destruction. Although 
 almost within leaping distance of the 
 bank, he had no place to spring from, and 
 to have fallen short would have been fatal. 
 He could do notliing but remain as he 
 was. 
 
 Hours passed, and the torture of stand- 
 ing in one position — irksome at that — 
 became unbearable. 
 
 He c(!fcld only obtain relief by getting
 
 FROM BAD TO WORSE. 245 
 
 into the water again, and hugging the 
 rock with both arms, as he had done 
 before. 
 
 But this method of resting himself — 
 if such it could be called — could not 
 be endured longer than two or three 
 minutes, and he was compelled soon to 
 return to the upright attitude. 
 
 "There is not the slightest danger of 
 crocodiles here," thought he, while in the 
 water, hanging on the rock. "Should 
 one pass this way, it w^ould not have time 
 for touching me, even though it were 
 starving." 
 
 All night long did he continue in that 
 dread position. 
 
 Morning dawned, and once more he 
 had to endure the agony of gazing on 
 the bank, within a few feet Qf where
 
 246 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 he stood, though, as unapproachable as 
 if miles of moving water separated him 
 from it. 
 
 Portiine seemed determined to torture 
 him to the last extreme. 
 
 There was no hope of him gaining the 
 bank above ; and it now occurred to him 
 to look below. 
 
 Craning out as far as he could, he made 
 an inspection of the fall. It was about 
 thirty feet in the clear descent. Below, the 
 water ran frothing away, and soon became 
 smooth and tranquil, as if reposing after 
 the ^^olent leap. 
 
 Should he allow himself to be carried 
 over the cataract ? That was the question 
 he now commenced considering. 
 
 If he could only have assured himself 
 that there was deep water underneath^ he
 
 FROM BAD TO WORSE. 247 
 
 Tvould at once have decided to commit 
 himself to tlie descent. But there was the 
 probability that he might be precipitated 
 upon jagged rocks, and of course killed by 
 the faU. 
 
 Moreover, he saw that the banks below 
 were steep on both sides ; and he might 
 have to swim for a long distance, before 
 being able to land. After a descent of 
 thirty feet, he might be incapable of con- 
 tinuing above the surface of the water ; at 
 all events, he would be in no condition for 
 a long swim. 
 
 After long and earnestly debating the 
 question in his own mind, he gave up 
 the thought of making the too perilous 
 attempt. 
 
 Notwithstanding the agony arising from 
 his own position, he was not free from
 
 248 THE GIRAPFE HUNTERS. 
 
 concern for his comrades left upon tlie 
 rock. 
 
 Willem and Arend would in all likeli- 
 liood come after him, if they had not 
 already done so. One or the other, or 
 both, might have lefb the rock, and been 
 carried over the cataract in the night, 
 unseen by him during the darkness. 
 
 As the time passed on, his sufferings 
 approached the point of despair. 
 
 They at length became so great, that 
 once or twice was he tempted to put a 
 termination to them, by giving his body 
 to the cataract, and his soul to Him who 
 had bestowed it. 
 
 But the demon of temptation was driven 
 out of his mind by a mental vision of 
 angelic loveliness. 
 
 The remembrance of Wilhemina Van
 
 PROM BAD TO WORSE. 249 
 
 Wyk came before him like some fair angel 
 commanding him to hope and wait. He 
 obeyed the command.
 
 250 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXIV. 
 
 REUNION. 
 
 Time was passing ; tliey upon tlie islet rock 
 were getting very impatient for tlie return 
 of Congo. 
 
 They were certain lie would bring assist- 
 ance, with as little delay as possible ; but 
 most of liis journey would have to be 
 made in the night — dangerous time for 
 travelling. 
 
 He had now been gone long enough to 
 reach the camp and return.
 
 REUNION. 251 
 
 " Sister Ann " on the watch - tower of 
 Bluebeard's castle could not have gazed 
 more earnestly than did they for his re- 
 appearance upon the bank above them. 
 
 Their anxious vigil was at length re- 
 warded. 
 
 Near the hour of noon, their ears were 
 greeted by shouts, and shortly after they 
 saw Hans, Congo, and Macora, standing 
 on the bank above them. 
 
 The chief was accompanied by about a 
 score of his followers, carrying long ropes, 
 by the direction of Congo. 
 
 " Where is Hendrick ? " v/as the first 
 question of Hans, asked in a trembling 
 voice. 
 
 " We cannot tell," was the reply. " He 
 swam down the river, in the hope of being 
 able to make the bank below. We have
 
 252 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 great fear that some misfortune has befallen 
 him." 
 
 "While the three Yagers continued the 
 solemn conversation, Macora took a num- 
 ber of his people a short distance up the 
 river. 
 
 'Neoi the bank was found the prostrate 
 trunk of a tree, about fifty feet in length. 
 It had long been down, and was quite dead 
 and dry. 
 
 After making the lines fast to one end 
 of it, it was pushed into the stream, and 
 directed in such a manner as to driffc 
 down to the rock on which the two youths 
 were standing. The other end of the 
 rope was firmly grasped by several of 
 Macora's men. 
 
 Swiftly the log, carried by the current 
 came in contact with the rock ; when the
 
 REUNION. 253 
 
 men, keeping the rope on a tant stretch, 
 prevented it from going farther. 
 
 With the nimbleness of a couple of cats, 
 Willem and Arend sprang on it ; and 
 sitting themselves astride, were hauled to 
 the bank, where both were at length safely 
 landed. 
 
 The first thing they saw was the 
 body of the elephant at which they 
 had fired so many shots. Tlie animal 
 had at length succumhed, sinking into 
 its eternal sleep in spite of its implacable 
 anger. 
 
 As the hunters were no longer in any 
 anxiety for themselves, their apprehensions 
 became all the more keen for the fate of 
 their missing friend. 
 
 Although suffering greatly from fatigue, 
 as well as the want of food, Willem and
 
 254 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 Arend would not stay even to eat, till a 
 searcL. had been made for liim. 
 
 There is no sentiment of the human 
 mind, unless it is self-esteem, that is capa- 
 ble of resting: on so unstable a foundation 
 as hope. Hendrick had now been absent 
 more than twenty-four hours. The chances 
 were a hundred to one against their ever 
 seeing him again, either dead or alive ; and 
 yet they had hope. 
 
 Provided with food to eat along the way, 
 they started down the river — many of the 
 Makalolo very unwillingly. 
 
 They had just performed a journey of 
 near thirty miles, in only a few hours' time, 
 and of course they were weary. 
 
 But this was not the only reason why 
 their exertions were prolonged with some 
 reluctance.
 
 BEUNION. 255 
 
 They hacl been told of tlie manner in 
 wHch Hendrick liad left his companion; 
 and guided by reason — instead of a strong 
 feeling of friendship — unlike Hans, Willem, 
 and Arend, they had no hope of seeing 
 him again. 
 
 From their acquaintance with the coun- 
 try, they knew of the cataract, and were 
 confident* that Hendrick must have been 
 carried over the falls, thence a shattered in- 
 animate mass, rolling onward to the ocean. 
 
 When little more than a mile down 
 stream, Groot "Willem discharged his gun. 
 
 The report echoed afar along the banks. 
 Every one paused, and stood listening to 
 hear if there should be any response. 
 
 It came. 
 
 Faintly and from afar they could dis- 
 tinguish the sound of a human voice.
 
 256 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 Uttering a shout of joy, tlie three 
 hunters rushed forward; and soon after, 
 when Hans shouted " Hendrick," they 
 heard from the river the words " Here, 
 this way ! " 
 
 A minute more, and they were standing 
 within a few feet of the object of their 
 search, and had a full comprehension of 
 what had hindered him from returning to 
 the succour of his companions. 
 
 As the Makalolo had come out well 
 provided T\dth comestibles, the hungry 
 hunters were fed to their full satisfac- 
 tion ; and then all went back to the 
 place where the elephant had breathed its 
 last. 
 
 Then forming their camps, they kindled 
 fires, and made ready to pass the night ; — 
 the followers of Macora feasting upon one
 
 REUNION. 257 
 
 of their favourite dishes — baked elephant's 
 foot. 
 
 Congo had still his tale to tell. 
 
 When deserted by the others in their 
 pursuit of the giraffes, he had waited two 
 or three hours, expecting them to return. 
 
 He then started off along their spoor, 
 but being hampered by caring for the pack- 
 horse, he progressed but slowly. 
 
 Night overtook him by the body of the 
 dead giraffe. 
 
 Unable through the darkness to follow 
 the trail any farther, he remained by the 
 carcass till morning. 
 
 By that time the heavy rain had oblite- 
 rated the spoor so completely, that even 
 Spoor'em, the hound, could only follow it 
 with great difficulty. 
 
 After a time, Congo saw that the horse- 
 
 VOL. I. s
 
 258 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 tracks separated, going in different direc- 
 tions. 
 
 He followed one set of them for some 
 time, till the horse himself was found, but 
 without saddle, bridle, or rider. 
 
 This was Willem's horse, that had taken 
 flight on the approach of the elephants. 
 
 Congo had gone the wrong way for 
 finding his master, and he now returned 
 upon the horse's tracks. 
 
 This of course brought him to the place 
 where the elephants at first charged; and 
 on reaching the bank of the river and 
 looking over, he saw the situation in which 
 the hunters were placed. But the wounded 
 elephant was there, and this charging 
 upon him, hindered him from continuing 
 the observation. He had seen enough, 
 however, to know that he must go to the
 
 REUNION. 259 
 
 camp for assistance, and this was just wliat 
 he did. 
 
 They passed the night by the pool plea- 
 santly enough. The joy at once more 
 being together would have deprived them 
 of sleep, had it not been for their extreme 
 weariness. But Hans and the chief seeing 
 the other three so exhausted, did not 
 insist on hearing the details of the dan- 
 gerous adventure, and at an early hour 
 the camp was buried in the silence of 
 slumber. 
 
 Two horses had been lost. This, under 
 the circumstances, was a serious misfortune ; 
 but their own lives ^lad been miraculously 
 preserved, and none of them was now 
 disposed to find fault with fortune for 
 anything that had occurred. 
 
 Next morning they started back to the 
 
 s 2
 
 260 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 place where the giraffe-trap was being 
 constructed. On reaching it they found 
 Swartboy impatiently waiting for their 
 return. His expressions of joy at seeing 
 them once more safe and sound, were 
 accompanied with the declaration that they 
 had been more fortunate than he had ex- 
 pected, considering that they had gone 
 forth with only Congo for their guide.
 
 MISTAKES OF A NIGHT. 261 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 MISTAKES OF A NIGHT. 
 
 As nearly two weeks would be required 
 for constructing the lto])o, Groot Willem 
 determined on making another hunting 
 expedition. 
 
 There was plenty of game in the imme- 
 diate neighbourhood, but the chief strongly 
 protested against the firing of guns, lest 
 the sounds should betray their presence in 
 the place. 
 
 Several giraffes had been seen in the
 
 262 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 mimosa groves, and tlie banks of the river 
 were marked with their spoor. 
 
 Macora objected to their being alarmed, 
 as it would drive them away before the 
 pen coidd be got ready for them. 
 
 Groot Willem was a hmiter, and out on 
 a hunting expedition. This being the case, 
 he could not remain for two weeks idle ; 
 and taking Hendrick and Congo along 
 with him, he left the camp to visit a river 
 which, according to the chief's account, 
 lay about thirty miles to the north- 
 west. 
 
 They expected to reach it in one day, 
 and could have done so but for a large 
 drove of elands which was encountered 
 upon the way, and the pursuit of which 
 delayed them. 
 
 They encamped that night, as they sup-
 
 MISTAKES OP A NIGHT. 263 
 
 posed, about five miles from the river ; and 
 the next morning continued on to reach 
 it. 
 
 A ride of between ten and fifteen miles 
 was made : but no river was arrived at. 
 
 Early in the afternoon, they came upon 
 a tiny rivulet running out of a pool or 
 " vley." Supposing it to be a tributary 
 of the river they were in search of, they 
 concluded that by following it down, they 
 should reach the main stream. 
 
 This, however, they were in no haste 
 to do, since the country around the pool 
 appeared to be the best sort of hunting 
 ground. 
 
 The fresh tracks of many varieties of 
 animals could be seen in the mud ; and 
 Willem proposed that they should stay 
 over night and lie in wait by the vley.
 
 264 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 To this Hendrick agreed ; and the horses 
 were tethered out to graze. 
 
 A suitable place for a pit was chosen, 
 twenty paces from the pool; and in less 
 than an hour two excavations were made, 
 in which the hunters might conveniently 
 conceal themselves. 
 
 Early in the evening, leaving Congo at 
 some distance, under the protection of a 
 large fire, they repaired to the pits, and 
 there commenced their silent vigil. 
 
 The first animals that made their 
 appearance were antelopes of a small 
 species, and as the hunters were not in 
 want of food, no attempt was made to 
 hinder the Httle creatures from having 
 their drink and retiring. 
 
 Suddenly there was a commotion in the 
 herd, which ended in a rush from the pool.
 
 MISTAKES OF A NIGHT. 265 
 
 A leopard had pounced on one of tliem ; 
 and as the others left the ground, the 
 " tiger " was seen shouldering its victim, 
 with the intention to carry it off. 
 
 As it turned side towards them, Willem 
 fired ; and the large heavy bullet from the 
 roer went crashing through the creature's 
 ribs. 
 
 With a loud roar it sprang upwards — 
 then, standing on its hind feet, it walked 
 forward a few paces and fell. 
 
 The shot had been discharged at random, 
 through the dim light ; but a better could 
 not have been made with the most 
 dehberate aim, and in the light of day. 
 
 After this the pool was visited by 
 hyenas, jackals, and various other creatures 
 not worth the powder that would be 
 required in killing them.
 
 266 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 Some time elapsed, during which the 
 hunters had nothing else to interest them 
 than listening to the snarls, laughter, and 
 growling of the carrion-eaters assembled 
 around the pool. 
 
 " I can't say there's much sport in this," 
 muttered Hendrick, discontentedly ; " IVe 
 hard work in keeping awake." 
 
 Another hour passed without their 
 seeing any game worthy of their sport ; 
 when Willem, too, became weary of 
 inaction. 
 
 They were thinking of vacating the 
 pits and rejoining Congo by the camp fire, 
 when something heavier than hyenas was 
 heard approaching the spot. 
 
 With only their eyes above the surface 
 of the ground, they gazed eagerly in the 
 direction from which proceeded the sound.
 
 MISTAKES OP A NIGHT. 267 
 
 Two large animals appeared through the 
 darkness, evidently approaching the vley. 
 
 " Quaggas ! '' whispered Willem, as he 
 strained his eyes to assure himself of their 
 species. 
 
 " Yes/' answered Hendrick. " Let us 
 knock them over. They're not much 
 good ; but it will serve to wake us up." 
 
 Doubtful whether a shot at anything 
 better might be had that night, Grroot 
 Willem was nothing loth, and was the 
 first to fire. 
 
 The animal at which he had aimed fell 
 forward, and they heard a heavy plunge, 
 as it rolled over into the pool. 
 
 Its companion was about turning to 
 make off, when Hendrick fired. 
 
 There was no apparent interruption to 
 its flight, and Hendrick was under the
 
 268 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 impression that his shot had missed. He 
 was soon undeceived, however, by hearing 
 the animal fall to the earth with a didl, 
 heavy sound; at the same time uttering 
 a groan, which did not seem unfamiliar, 
 and yet was not the cry of a quagga. 
 
 Without saying a word, both leaped out 
 of the pits, and hastened towards the 
 fallen animals, with a strong presentiment 
 that there was something amiss. 
 
 The animal brought down by Hendrick 
 was first reached. 
 
 It was not a quagga, but a horse ! 
 
 " A horse ! " exclaimed Willem, as he 
 stooped over the carcass to examine it. 
 "It is not mine, thank Grod ; nor yours, 
 neither." 
 
 " That is rather a selfish remark of 
 yours, WiUem," said Hendrick : " the
 
 MISTAKES OF A mdUT. 269 
 
 horse belongs to some one. I can see a 
 saddle-mark on its back." 
 
 " May be/' muttered Willem, who 
 thought nearly as much of his steed as 
 his great roer. " For all that, I'm glad 
 it is not mine." 
 
 They then proceeded to the vley, where 
 the other horse was still struggling in the 
 shallow water. 
 
 As it was evidently unable to get to its 
 feet, and wounded to the death, another 
 shot was fired to release it from its misery. 
 
 "Wondering to whom the two horses 
 could belong, they returned to the camp 
 fire, both under the impression that they 
 had destroyed enough of animal life for 
 that night. 
 
 Early the next morning they left the 
 pool ; and continuing down stream, within
 
 270 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 two hours reached the river they had been 
 in search of. 
 
 Here they determined to stop Tintil next 
 day, and their horses were again tethered 
 out ; and as they were somewhat wearied, 
 they lay down to take repose under the 
 shade of a mokaala tree. 
 
 From this they were startled by the loud 
 barking of Spoor' em, and the calls of 
 Congo. 
 
 Springing to their feet, they found them- 
 selves surrounded by a party of about forty 
 Africans, some arpied with spears, while 
 others carried bows and arrows. 
 
 From the hostile attitude of the new 
 comers, the hunters saw that they meant 
 mischief; and seizing their guns, they 
 determined to defend themselves to the 
 last.
 
 CAPTURED. 271 
 
 CHAPTEE XXYI. 
 
 CAPTURED. 
 
 EusHiNG in front of Gfroot Willem, Congo 
 entreated him not to make resistance ; and 
 so strong seemed liis desire they should 
 surrender without making an effort to 
 maintain their freedom, that he caught 
 hold of the gun which Hendrick had 
 already brought to his shoulder. 
 
 "Poison ! Arrows and spears all poison," 
 shouted the KaflSir, who appeared well nigh 
 scared out of his senses.
 
 272 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 Both Willem and Hendrick had heard, 
 seen, and read enough of the African trihes 
 who use poisoned spears and darts, to feel 
 something of Congo's alarm. 
 
 They were not jcowards, hut they saw 
 hefore them several men carrying weapons 
 more deadly at a short distance than their 
 own 'fire-arms. 
 
 Only one drop of hlood had to be drawn 
 by the point of one of their javehns to 
 cause certain death, accompanied by hor- 
 rible agonies ! 
 
 They could not expect to conquer thirty 
 or forty men without receiving a scratch or 
 two in the encounter, and knowing this 
 they took Congo's advice and surrendered. 
 
 TVTien the Kafiir saw that the capture of 
 himself and his masters had been effected 
 without a battle, he recovered his self-pos-
 
 CAPTURED. 273 
 
 session, and demanded of tlie natives tlie 
 cause of their strange conduct. 
 
 An individual then stepped forward, who 
 appeared to have some influence over the 
 others, and by his eloquence Congo became 
 a Httle wiser, and a great deal more 
 alarmed. 
 
 The African spoke in a language which 
 only the Kaffir understood : he stated that 
 he had lost two horses, — both of which 
 had been killed at a vley, where they had 
 gone to drink. 
 
 Although grieved at the loss of his 
 horses — both of which he had received as 
 presents, he was quite happy in having dis- 
 covered the party whom he believed to have 
 wilfully destroyed his property. 
 
 The hunters directed Congo to inform 
 him that the horses had been shot by mis- 
 
 VOL. I. T
 
 274 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 take — that they very mncli regretted the 
 circumstance, and were quite ready and 
 willing to make ample compensation for the 
 damage he had sustained. 
 
 This the black chief declared was all he 
 required, and the hunters were invited to 
 accompany him to his village, when they 
 would talk over the terms of compensation. 
 
 All started up the river ; but the beha- 
 viour and methodical division of their 
 escort, convinced the hunters that they 
 were considered as captives. 
 
 " This is very unfortunate ! '' said Hen- 
 diick ; "we shall have to part with some- 
 thing we can ill spare ; they will not be 
 satisfied with trifles, and, perhaps, will 
 want our horses in exchange for those 
 killed" 
 
 " They shall not have them, then ! '' re-
 
 CAPTURED. 275 
 
 joined Willem, witli an air of determina- 
 tion, forgetting at the moment that lie was 
 a prisoner, and the horses abeady in pos- 
 session of their captors - 
 
 About a mile from the place where the 
 Africans had come upon them, they reached 
 a small collection of huts, from which 
 issued a large number of women and chil- 
 dren. It v/as evidently the kraal of their 
 captors. 
 
 The leader of the party lost no time in 
 proceeding to business. He was anxious to 
 have his claim settled, so also were Groot 
 Willem and Hendrick. Congo was again 
 called to act as interpreter. 
 
 The black chief desired him to inform 
 his master that the horses he had lost were 
 of immense value ; they had been given to 
 him by an esteemed friend, a Portuguese
 
 276 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 slave mercliant, and lie declared that in 
 his opinion they were the best horses 
 in the world — no others could replace 
 them. 
 
 " Very well," said Groot Willem, when 
 this communication had been made ; " ask 
 him what he expects us to pay." 
 
 " All this ceremony is not for nothing," 
 remarked Hendrick, while Congo was again 
 talking to the chief. " We shall have some 
 trouble in getting off from this fellow, 
 unless we surrender everything we've 
 got." 
 
 " He mustn't expect too much," replied 
 Groot Willem, " or he will get nothing at 
 all. We have performed a very silly action, 
 and expect to pay for it." 
 
 '^ Those are brave words," answered 
 Hendrick. " But I don't think we have
 
 CAPTURED. 277 
 
 power to act up to them. It will be they 
 who w411 dictate terms ; and what can we 
 do?" 
 
 The chief, before making known his 
 conditions, desired it to be understood, that 
 a mistake ha\dng been committed, on 
 that account, he w^ould not be hard upon 
 them. 
 
 He w^ould not punish them for what they 
 had done, more than to require compensa- 
 tion for his loss, which he at the same time 
 gave them to understand was w^holly irre- 
 parable. 
 
 From the appearance of the horses they 
 had killed, the hunters beheved the animals 
 had been left behind by some slave-trader, 
 too merciful to take them any farther. 
 
 They had evidently been used up by a. 
 long journey ; and the chief had probably
 
 278 THE GIRArFE HUNTERS. 
 
 been thanked by their former owner for 
 allowing them to die a natural death in 
 his dominions. 
 
 The amount of damage was at length 
 declared by the plaintiff, who was at the 
 same time acting as judge. 
 
 " TeU them," said he to the interpreter, 
 " that all I require by way of compensation 
 will be their owti horses, along with their 
 guns and ammunition." 
 
 "What!" exclaimed Groot WiUem, 
 jumping to his feet in a rage, " give them 
 my horse and roer? No, not for all the 
 horses in Africa ! " 
 
 Hendrick was no less surprised than 
 enraged at the attempt to extort from 
 them ; and seeing the folly of continuing 
 the parley any longer, the youths, with- 
 out saying a word, walked off towards
 
 CAPTURED. 279 
 
 their horses, intending to mount and ride 
 off. 
 
 This intention was opposed by the chief 
 and others of the tribe, when an affray 
 ensued, in which Groot Willem measured 
 his streno;th ao:ainst half a score of the 
 natives. 
 
 In their attempt to take his gun from 
 him, several were hurled to the earth, and 
 amongst them the chief himself. 
 
 He did not desire to discharge the piece. 
 A shot could only have killed one, while his 
 enemies were legion. 
 
 Whether they would have conquered 
 Mm without taking his life, or not, was 
 doubtful, had not one of the Africans, more 
 cunning than his fellows, adopted an 
 ingenious expedient to terminate the 
 struggle.
 
 280 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 Seizing a large cone-shaped basket used 
 for catching fish, he ran behind the great 
 hunter and clapped it, extinguisher-like, 
 over his head. 
 
 The basket was immediately laid hold of 
 by two or three others, by whom the giant 
 was dragged to the earth, and held there 
 until they had bound him with thongs of 
 zebra-hide. 
 
 Before this feat had been accompKshed, 
 Hendrick had received a blow from one of 
 the natives that prevented him from mak- 
 ing any resistance, and he, too, was trussed 
 up for safe keeping. 
 
 Congo had not interfered in this outrage 
 on his masters ; but, on the contrary, he 
 seemed rather pleased at the turn events 
 had taken. 
 
 This, however, did not prevent the
 
 CAPTURED. 281 
 
 Africans from tying liim like the 
 others. 
 
 The rage of Hendrick, on awakening from 
 a brief period of stupor, and finding him- 
 self fast bound, would be difficult to 
 describe. 
 
 There can be no greater agony to a brave 
 and sensitive man, than to find himself 
 helpless for revenge after having under- 
 gone a deep humiliation. 
 
 Groot Willem, no less brave, but of a 
 different temperament, was more resigned 
 to the indignity the}" were enduring. 
 
 His anger had been aroused by the 
 attempt to take from him a thing he 
 greatly prized — his gun. 
 
 He had been defeated in trjnng to re- 
 tain it ; but now that it w^as gone, and 
 along with it his liberty, he determined
 
 282 THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. 
 
 to exert some degree of philosophy, and 
 patiently await for what would happen 
 next. 
 
 Congo, who had appeared indifferent to 
 seeing his masters bound — in fact rather 
 pleased at it — now looked sad enough while 
 submitting to similar treatment. 
 
 His fellow- captives could have no sym- 
 pathy, since his behaviour had not failed 
 to beget suspicion of his ingratitude. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME, 
 
 Woodfall and Kinder, Printers, ililford Lane, Strand, W.C.
 
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