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 ; Sli (at <5 1, Gl 15 Ui , <Sj Gj, 0> j* t j,
 
 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 THE 
 
 YOUNG YAGERS; 
 
 A NARRATIVE OF HUNTING ADVENTURES 
 IN SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
 
 CAPTAIN MAYNE REID, 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE BOY HUNTERS," "DESERT HOME," " BUSH-BO YS," ETC. 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS, BY HARVEY. 
 
 A NEW EDITION, 
 WITH A MEMOIR BY R. II. STODDARD. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 THOMAS R. KNOX & CO., 
 
 SUCCESSORS TO JAMES MILLER, 
 817 BROADWAY.
 
 Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1884, by 
 
 THOMAS II . K N O X & CO., 
 in the oflleo of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 NEW YORK, January 1st. 1S69. 
 II SSRK. FIKLDR, Osooon &L Co.: 
 
 I accept, the tenn offered, ami lie eliy f(.nc-< ilr tn ymi the ex. lusivc riphl of 
 f l) l; <-iii ion. in the United Slates, of all my juvenile Tales of Adventure, known 
 ac Hoys' Is'oveln. 
 
 MAYNE KEID.
 
 MEMOIR OF MAYNE REID. 
 
 No one who has written books for the young during the 
 present century ever had so large a circle of readers as 
 Captain Mayne Reid, or ever was so well fitted by circum- 
 stances to write the books by which he is chiefly known. 
 His life, which was an adventurous one, was ripened with 
 the experience of two Continents, and his temperament, 
 which was an ardent one, reflected the traits of two races. 
 Irish by birth, he was American in his sympathies with 
 the people of the New World, whose acquaintance he 
 made at an early period, among whom he lived for years, 
 and whose battles he helped to win. He was probably 
 more familiar with the Southern and Western portion of 
 the United States forty years ago than any native-born 
 American of that time. A curious interest attaches to the 
 life of Captain Reid, but it is not of the kind that casual 
 biographers dwell upon. If he had written it himself it 
 would have charmed thousands of readers, who can now 
 merely imagine what it might have been from the glimpses 
 of it which they obtain in his writings. It was not passed 
 in the fierce light of publicity, but in that simple, silent 
 obscurity which is the lot of most men, and is their hap- 
 piness, if they only knew it. 
 
 Briefly related, the life of Captain Reid was as follows : 
 He was born in 1818, in the north of Ireland, the son of 
 a Presbyterian clergyman, who was a type of the class 
 which Goldsmith has described so freshly in the " Deserted 
 Village," and was highly thought of for his labors among 
 the poor of his neighborhood. An earnest, reverent man, 
 to whom his calling was indeed a sacred one, he designed 
 his son Mayne for the ministry, in the hope, no doubt, 
 that he would be his successor. But nature had some- 
 'thing to say about that, as well as his good father. He 
 began to study for the ministry, but it was not long before 
 I
 
 he was drawn in another direction. Always a great reader, 
 his favorite books were descriptions of travel in foreign 
 lands, particularly those which dealt with the scenery, 
 the people, and the resources of America. The spell which 
 these exercised over his imagination, joined to a love of 
 adventure which was inherent in his temperament, and 
 inherited, perhaps with his race, determined his career. 
 At the age of twenty he closed his theological tomes, and 
 girding up his loins with a stout heart he sailed from the 
 chores of the Old World for the New. Following the 
 spirit in his feet he landed at New Orleans, which was 
 probably a more promising field for a young man of his 
 talents than any Northern city, and was speedily engaged 
 in business. The nature of this business is not stated, 
 further than it was that of a trader ; but whatever it was 
 it obliged this young Irishman to make long journeys into 
 the interior of the country, which was almost a terra in- 
 cognita. Sparsely settled, where settled at all, it was still 
 clothed in primeval verdure here in the endless reach of 
 savannas, there in the depth of pathless woods, and far 
 away to the North and the West in those monotonous 
 ocean-like levels of land for which the speech of England 
 has no name the Prairies. Its population was nomadic, 
 not to say barbaric, consisting of tribes of Indians whose 
 hunting grounds from time immemorial the region was ; 
 hunters and trappers, who had turned their backs upon 
 civilization for the free, wild life of nature ; men of 
 doubtful or dangerous antecedents, who had found it con- 
 venient to leave their country for their country's good ; 
 and scattered about hardy pioneer communities from East- 
 ern States, advancing waves of the great sea of emigration 
 which is still drawing the course of empire westward. 
 Travelling in a country like this, and among people like 
 these, Mayne Reid passed five years of his early manhood. 
 He was at home wherever he went, and never more so 
 than when among the Indians of the Red River territory, 
 with whom he spent several months, learning their lan- 
 guage, studying their customs, and enjoying the wild and 
 beautiful scenery of their camping grounds. Indian for 
 the time, he lived in their lodges, rode with them, hunted 
 with them, and night after night sat by their blazing 
 eamp-fires listening to the warlike stories of the braves 
 and the quaint legends of the medicine men. There waa 
 that in the blood of Mayne Reid which fitted him to lead 
 this life at this time, and whether he knew it or not i* 
 2
 
 (located h?s genlns as no other lifo could have done. It 
 familiarized him with a large extent of country in tha 
 South and West ; it introduced him to men and mannen 
 which existed nowhere else ; and it revealed to him the 
 secrets of Indian life and character. 
 
 There was another side, however, to Mayne Reid than 
 that we have touched upon, and this, at the end of five 
 years, drew him back to the average life of his kind. We 
 find him next in Philadelphia, where he began to con- 
 tribute stories and sketches of travel to the newspapers 
 and magazines. Philadelphia was then the most literate 
 city in the United States, the one in which a clever writer 
 was at once encouraged and rewarded. Frank and warm- 
 hearted, he made many friends there among journalists 
 and authors. One of these friends was Edgar Allan Poe, 
 whom he often visited at his home in Spring Garden, and 
 concerning whom years after, when he was dead, he wrote 
 with loving tenderness. 
 
 The next episode in the career of Mayne Reid was not 
 what one would expect from a man of letters, though it 
 Was just what might have been expected from a man of 
 his temperament and antecedents. It grew out of the 
 time, which was warlike, and it drove him into the army 
 with which the United States speedily crushed the forces 
 of the sister Republic Mexico. He obtained a commis- 
 sion, and served throughout the war with great bravery 
 and distinction. This stormy episode ended with a severe 
 wound, which he received in storming the heights of Cha- 
 pultepec a terrible battle which practically ended the 
 war. 
 
 A second episode of a similar character, but with a more 
 fortunate conclusion, occurred about four years later. It 
 grew out of another war, which, happily for us, was not on 
 our borders, but in the heart of Europe, where the Hun- 
 garian race had risen in insurrection against the hated power 
 of Austria. Their desperate valor in the face of tremen- 
 dous odds excited the sympathy of the American people, 
 and fired the heart of Captain Mayne Reid, who buckled 
 on his sword once more, and sailed from New York with 
 a body of volunteers to aid the Hungarians in their struggles 
 for independence. They were too late, for hardly had 
 they reached Paris before they learned that all was over : 
 Gorgey had surrendered at Arad, and Hungary was 
 erushed. They were at once dismissed, and Captain Reid 
 betook himself to London. 
 
 3
 
 The life of the Mayne iteld In whom we are most in- 
 terested Mayne Reid, the author began at this time, 
 when he was in his thirty-first year, and ended only on 
 the day of his death, October 21, 1883. It covered one- 
 third of a century, and was, when compared with that 
 which had preceded it, uneventful, if not devoid of in- 
 cident. There is not much that needs be told not much, 
 indeed, that can be told in the life of a man of letters 
 like Captain Mayne Reid. It is written in hia books. 
 Mayne Reid was one of the best known authors of hia 
 time differing in this from many authors who are popu- 
 lar without being known and in the walk of fiction which 
 he discovered for himself he is an acknowledged mas' 
 ter. His reputation did not depend upon the admiration 
 of the millions of young people who read his books, but 
 upon the judgment of mature critics, to whom his delinea- 
 tions of adventurous life were literature of no common 
 order. His reputation as a story-teller was widely recog- 
 nized on the Continent, where he was accepted as an 
 authority in regard to the customs of the pioneers and the 
 guerilla warfare of the Indian tribes, and was warmly 
 praised for his freshness, his novelty, and his hardy origi- 
 nality. The people of France and Germany delighted in 
 this soldier-writer. " There was not a word in his books 
 which a school-boy could not safely read aloud to hia 
 mother and sisters." So says a late English critic, to which 
 another adds, that if he has somewhat gone out of fashion 
 of late years, the more's the pity for the school-boy of the 
 period. What Defoe is in Robinson Crusoe realistic idyl 
 of island solitude that, in his romantic stories of wilder- 
 aea iife, Is his great scholar, Captain Mayne Reid. 
 
 11. 11. 
 4
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 U tiU 
 
 I. THE CAMP OF THE YOUNG YAGERS 1 
 
 II. 8WARTBOY THE BUSHMAN AND CONGO THE KAFFIR 9 
 
 III. HOW CONGO CROSSED A " DRIFT " 15 
 
 *V. A BRACE OF " BLACK-MANES " 22 
 
 V. LIONS STALKING THE GE1ISBOK 29 
 
 YI. AN ANGRY LIONESS 36 
 
 VII. HOW CONGO THE KAFFIR KILLED A LIONESS 41 
 
 VIII. A SHORT CHAT ABODT LIONS 50 
 
 IX. THE UNICORN 55 
 
 X. THE CAMEL-BIRDS 61 
 
 XI. THE SMALLEST OF FOXES 66 
 
 XII. THE WINGLESS BIRDS ?2 
 
 XIII. THE FENNEO AND THE OSTRICH EGGS 83 
 
 XIT. THE BLAUW-BOK8 91 
 
 XT. A BRUSH AFTER THE BLUE-BUCKS 98 
 
 XVI. GROOT WILLEM GETS A TUMBLE 103 
 
 XVII. A TOUGH STRUGGLE 08 
 
 XVIII. TUB ARROW-POISON 117 
 
 XIX. DECOYING THE OLD COCK. 124 
 
 XX. A BRUSH WITH THE BRINDLED GNOO 133 
 
 XXI. A BATTLE WITH A BORELE 14) 
 
 XXII THK INTERRUPTED BREAKFAST .. . 14k
 
 VI CONTENTS. 
 
 (TUP. FA HI 
 
 XXIII. THE OSTRICH "SURROUND" 153 
 
 XXIV. THE ODD COCK 158 
 
 XXV. BLESBOKS AND BONTEBOK8 162 
 
 XXVI. STALKING THE BLESHOKS 167 
 
 XXVII. DRIVING THE BLESBOKS 172 
 
 xxviii. HENDRIK'S HARD GALLOP 178 
 
 XXIX. HENDRIK CHASED BY THE KKI1 LOA 183 
 
 XXX HENDRIK IN A STATE OF SIEGE 190 
 
 XXXI. A SINGULAR ESCAPE 195 
 
 XXXII. A VAST HERD OF ANTELOPES 201 
 
 XXXIII. THE LONE MOUNTAIN 206 
 
 XXXIV. THE APPROACH TO THE LONE MOUNTAIN 212 
 
 XXXV. THE LITTLE HYRAX 218 
 
 XXXVI. THE KLIPSPRINGERS 224 
 
 XXXVII. HUNTING THE KLIPSPR1NGEB 232 
 
 KXXVIII. BOLD BIRDS 240 
 
 XXXIX. THE WATERBUCK 246 
 
 XL. THE RAVENOUS REPTILB 251 
 
 X LI. THE GUINEA-HENS 259 
 
 XLII. ROOYEBOK 265 
 
 XLIII. FOUR-FOOTED HUNTERS 270 
 
 XLIV. " WIDOW-BIRDS " 277 
 
 XLV. THE PIQUE-BCEUFS 285 
 
 XLTI. CHARGED BY MUCHOCHOS , . 292 
 
 XLVII. A RIDE UPON A RHINOCEROS 297 
 
 ILVIII JAN AND THE KOORHAANS 303 
 
 XLIX. GROOT WILLEM AND THE PYTHON 308 
 
 L. OROOT WILLEM'S GREAT STRUGGLE WITH THB 
 
 SNAKB 313 
 
 LI. THB HONEY-GUIDE AND HONEY-EATER 320 
 
 LII. CONCLUSION 337
 
 THE YOUNG YAGERS
 
 THE YOUNG YAGERS 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE CAMP OF THE YOUNG YAGERS. 
 
 N'EAR the confluence of the two great rivers of South- 
 ern Africa the Yellow and Orange behold the camp 
 %f the " young yagers ! " 
 
 It stands upon the southern bank of the latter stream, 
 in a grove of Babylonian willows, whose silvery foliage, 
 drooping gracefully to the water's edge, fringes both 
 shores of the noble river as far as the eye can reach. 
 
 A tree of rare beauty is this Salix Babylonica in 
 gracefulness of form scarce surpassed even by the palms, 
 the " princes of the forest. " In our land, as we look 
 upon it, a tinge of sadness steals over our reflections. 
 We have grown to regard it as the emblem of sorrow. 
 We have named it the " weeping willow," and draped 
 the tomb with its soft pale fronds, as with a winding- 
 sheet of silver. 
 
 Far different are the feelings inspired by the sight of 
 
 this beautiful tree amid the karoos of Southern Africa. 
 
 That is a land where springs and streams are " few and 
 
 far between ;" and the weeping willow sure sign of the 
 
 1
 
 2 TI1F. CAMP OF TriK 1 OCNG VAO1K3. 
 
 present of water is no longer the emblem of sorrow, 
 but the symbol of jov. 
 
 J >y reigns in the camp under its shade by the bank? 
 of the-noble Orange River, as is proved by the continu- 
 ous peals of laughter that ring clear and loud upon the 
 air, ai.d echo from the opposite shores of the stream. 
 
 Wl.o are they that laugh so loudly and cheerfully r 
 77te young yagers. 
 
 And who are the young yagers? 
 
 Let us approach their camp and see for ourselves. It 
 is night, but the blaze of the camp-fire will enable us to 
 distinguish all of them, as they are all seated around it. 
 By its light we can take their portraits. 
 
 There are six of them a full " set of six," and not 
 one appears to be yet twenty years of age. They are 
 all boys between the ages of ten and twenty though 
 two or three of them, and, maybe, more than that num- 
 ber, think themselves quite men. 
 
 Three of the party you will recognize at a glance as 
 old acquaintances. They are no other than Hans, Hen- 
 drik, and Jan, our ci-devant " Bush-boys." 
 
 It is several years since we saw them last, and they 
 have grown a good deal since then ; but none of them 
 has yet reached the full stature of manhood. Though 
 no longer " Bush-boys," they are yet only boys ; and 
 Jan, who used to be called " little Jan," still merits and 
 receives that distinctive appellation. It would stretcb 
 Jan to his utmost to square off against a four-foot meas- 
 uring-stick ; and he could only manage it by standing 
 upon the very tips of his toes. 
 
 Hans has grown taller, but, perhaps, thinner and paler. 
 For two years he has been at college, where he has been
 
 TBK \:.\\ll' OF THK YOL'NO VACJKR8. 
 
 fery busy with his books, and has greatly distinguish}* 
 himself by carrying otF tlie first prizes in everything 
 Upon Hendrik there is a decided change. lie lias ou - 
 grown his elder brother both in length and breadth, and 
 comes very near looking like a full-grown man. He is 
 yet but eighteen years old, straight as a rush, with a de- 
 cided military air and gait. The last is not to be won- 
 dered at, as Hendrik has now been a cornet in the Cape 
 Mounted Rifles for more than a year, and still holds that 
 commission, as may be learnt by looking at his forage- 
 cap, with its golden embroidery over the peak. So much 
 for our old acquaintances the " Hush-boys ! " 
 
 But who are the other three that share with them the 
 circle of the camp-fire? Who are their companions ? 
 for they are evidently on terms of companionship, and 
 friendship too. Who are they ? A word or two wil] 
 tell that. They are the Van Wyks. The three sons of 
 Diedrik Van Wyk. 
 
 And who, then, is Diedrik Van Wyk ? That musl 
 also be explained. Diedrik is a very rich boor a " vee- 
 boor" who every night shuts up within his spacious 
 kraals more than three thousand horses and horned cattle, 
 with live times that number of sheep and goats ! In fact, 
 Diedrik Van Wyk is accounted the richest vee-boor, or 
 grazier, in all the Graaf Reinet. 
 
 Now the broad plaalz, or farm, of Diedrik Van W) k 
 liss contiguous to that of our old acquaintance, Hendrik 
 Von Bloom; and it so chances that Hendrik and Die- 
 drik are fast friends and inseparable companions. They 
 see each other once a-day, at the least. Every evening 
 Hendrik rides over to the "kraal" of Diedrik, or 
 Diedrik to that of Hendrik. to enjoy a smoke together oul
 
 4 THE CAMP OF THE YOUNG YAGERS 
 
 of their -ponderous pipes of meerschaum, or a " zoopje " of 
 brandewyn distilled from their own peaches. They are^ 
 in fact, a pair of regular old comrades, for Van Wyk 
 in "early life has seen military service as well as Von 
 Bloom, and, like all old soldiers, they love to repeat 
 their camp stories, and " fight their battles o'er again." 
 
 Under such circumstances it is not to be wondered 
 at, that the children of both should be intimate acquaint- 
 ances. But, in addition to the friendship of their fathers, 
 there is a tie of relationship between the two families, 
 the two mothers were cousins, so that the children are 
 what is usually termed second cousins, a very interest- 
 ing sort of affinity. And it is not an unlikely thing that 
 the relationship between the families of Von Bloom and 
 his friend Van Wyk may one day become still closer and 
 more interesting; for the former has for his daughter, as 
 all the world knows, the beautiful flaxen-haired cherry- 
 cheeked Triiey, while the latter is the father of the pret- 
 ty brunette Wilhelmina also an only daughter. Now 
 there chance to be three boys in each family ; and 
 though both boys and girls are by far too young to think 
 of getting married yet, there are suspicions abroad I hat 
 the families of Von Bloom and Van Wyk will, at no 
 very distant day, be connected by a double marriage 
 which would not be displeasing to either of the eld com- 
 ia<l( s, Hendrik and Diedrik. 
 
 I hare said there are three boys in each family. You 
 already know the Von Blooms, Hans, Hendrik, and 
 Jan. Allow me to introduce you to the Van Wyks. 
 Their names are Willem, Arend, and Klaas. 
 
 Willem is the eldest, and, though not yet eighteen, is 
 juite a man in size. Willem is, in fact, a boy of very
 
 THE CAMP OF THE YOUNG YAGERS. 5 
 
 large dimensions, so large that lie has received tha 
 sobriquet of " Groot Willem " (Big William) therefrom. 
 AJ1 his companions call him " Groot Willem." But he 
 irf strong in proportion to his size, by far the strongest 
 of the young yagers. He is by no means tidy in hia 
 dress. His clothes, consisting of a big jacket of home' 
 spun cloth, a check shirt, and an enormously wide pair 
 of leathern trousers, hang loosely about him, and make 
 him look larger than he really is. Even his broad- 
 brimmed felt hat has a slouching set upon his head, and 
 his feldt-schoenen are a world too wide for his feet. 
 
 And just as easy as his dress is the disposition of the 
 wearer. Though strong as a lion, and conscious of hia 
 strength, Groot Willem would not harm a fly, and his 
 kindly and unselfish nature makes him a favorite with all. 
 
 Groot Willem is a mighty hunter, carries one of the 
 largest of guns, a regular Dutch "roer," and also an 
 enormous powder-horn, and pouch full of leaden bullets. 
 An ordinary boy would stagger under such a load, but 
 it is nothing to Groot Willem. 
 
 Now it may be remembered that Hendrik Von Bloom 
 is also a " mighty hunter ; " and I shall just whisper that 
 a slight feeling of rivalry 1 shall not call it jealousy, 
 for they are good friends exists between these two 
 Nirnrods. Heridrik's favorite gun is a rifle, while the 
 tioer of Groot Willem is a " smooth bore ;" and between 
 ihe merits of these two weapons camp-fire discussions 
 are frequent and sharp. They are never carried beyond 
 the limits of gentlemanly feeling, for loose and slovenly 
 is is Groot Willem in outward appearance, he is a gen- 
 tleman within. 
 
 Kqually a gentleman, but of far more taste and style,
 
 6 TI1K CAMP OF THrt YOUNG YAGRQ& 
 
 is *lic second brother of the Van Wyks, Arend. In 
 striking appearance and manly beauty he is qnito a 
 match for llendrik Von Bloom himself, though in com 
 (ilex ion and features there is no resemblance between 
 thera. llendrik is fair, while Arend is very dark skin- 
 m:d, with black eyes and hair. In fact, all the Vai 
 Wyks are of the complexion known as "brunette." for 
 they belong to that section of the inhabitants of lie Hand 
 sometimes distinguished as " Black Dutch." But upon 
 Arend's line features the hue sits well, and a handsomer 
 youth is not to be seen in all the Graaf Reinet. Home 
 whisper that this is the opinion of the beautiful Gertrude 
 Von Bloom ; but that can only be idle gossip, for the 
 fair Triiey is yet but thirteen, and therefore am have no 
 opinion on such a matter. Africa, however, is an early 
 country, and there might be something in it. 
 
 Arend's costume is a tasty one, and becomes him well. 
 It consists of a jacket of dressed antelope-skin, the 
 skin of the springbok ; but this, besides being tastefully 
 cut and sewed, is very prettily embroidered with slashes 
 of beautiful leopard-skin, while broad bands of the same 
 extend along the outside seams of the trousers, from waist 
 to ankle, giving to the whole dress a very rich and strik- 
 ing efTect. Arend's head-dress is similar to that worn 
 by llendrik Von Bloom, viz : a military forage-cap, 
 upon the front of which are embroidered in gold bullion 
 * bugle and some letters ; and the explanation of thai 
 is, that Arend, like his second cousin, is a cornet in the 
 Cape Rifles, and a dashing young soldier he is. 
 
 Xow the portrait of Klaas in peri and ink. Klaas ia 
 just Jan's age and Jan's exact height, but as to circum- 
 ference therein exists a great ditfenncj. Jnn, as you
 
 THE 04.MP OP THE YOUNG YAGRUS. J 
 
 a)i know, is a thin, wiry little fellow, while Klaas, 01 
 the contrary, is broad, stout, and burly. In fact, so 
 stout is he, that Jan repeated two and a half times would 
 scarce equal him in diameter ! 
 
 Both wear cloth roundabouts and trousers, and little 
 broad-brimmed hats ; both go to the same school ; and, 
 though there is a considerable difference between them 
 in other respects, both are great boys for bird-catching 
 and all that sort of thing. As they only carry small 
 shot guns, of course they do not aspire to killing ante- 
 lopes or other large animals ; but, small as their guns 
 are, I pity the partridge, guinea-hen, or even bustardy 
 that lets either of them crawl within reach of it. 
 
 Now it has been hinted that between the hunters 
 Groot Willem and Hendrik there is a slight feeling of 
 rivalry in regard to matters of venerie. A very similar 
 feeling, spiced perhaps with a little bit of jealousy, has 
 long existed between the bird-catchers, and sometimes 
 leads to a little coolness between them, but that is usu- 
 ally of very short duration. 
 
 Hans and Arend have no envious feelings either of 
 one another or of anybody else. Hans is too much of 
 a philosopher : besides, the accomplishment in which he 
 excels, the knowledge of natural history, is one in which 
 he is without a rival. None of the rest make any pre- 
 tensions to such knowledge ; and the opinion of Han* 
 on any matter of science is always regarded as a final 
 judgment. 
 
 As to Arend, he is not particularly proud of any 
 acquirement. Handsome, brave, and generous, te if 
 nevertheless a right modest youth, a boy to be beloved 
 
 And now you know who are the young yd^-ert.
 
 SWABTBOY THfc BUSHMAN AJ>TO 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 BWARTBOY THE BUSHMAN AND CONGO THE K AFP JR. 
 
 I HAVE said that the young yagers were encamped 
 on the southern bank of the Great Orange River. 
 What were they doing there : The spot they occupied 
 was many a long day's journey from their home in the 
 Graaf Reinet, and many a day's journey beyond the 
 frontier of the Cape Colony. There were no settle- 
 ments near. No white men ever wandered so far, except 
 an occasional " smouse," or trader a class of men who 
 extend their bartering expeditions almost to the central 
 parts of the African Continent. Sometimes, too, the 
 " trek-boor," or nomade grazier, may have driven his 
 flocks to this remote place, but for all that it could not 
 be considered a settled country. It was still a wilder- 
 ness. 
 
 And what were the young Von Blooms and Van 
 Wyks doing in the wilderness ? J&ging to be sure, ami 
 nothing else, they were simply out on a hunting expe- 
 dition. 
 
 It was an expedition that had been long talked of 
 and planned. Since their grand hunt of the elephant. 
 the " Bush-boys " had not followed any game. Hendrik 
 lad been with his regiment, and Hans and Jan busy
 
 CONGO THE KAFFIR. 
 
 with th^if respective studies. So with Are/vJ Van Wyk 
 ts with Hendrik, and Klaas as with Jan. Groot Willern 
 alone, from time to time, had been jiiging springboks 
 and such other game as is to be found among the settle- 
 ments. But the present was a grand expedition in- 
 tended to be carried far beyond the settled part of tho 
 colony in fact, as far as they thought fit to go. The 
 boys had received the full sanction of their parents, and 
 had been fitted out in proper style each having a good 
 hors^, and each three a large wagon to carry all their 
 camp utensils, and serve as a tent to sleep in. Each 
 wagon had its drivw, and full span of ten long-horned 
 oxen ; and these, with a small pack of rough-looking 
 buck-dogs, might be seen in the camp the oxen tied to 
 the disselbooms of the wagons, and the dogs grouped in 
 various attitudes around the fire. The horses were also 
 fastened some to the wheels, and others to trees that grew 
 near. 
 
 Two other objects in the camp are well worthy of a 
 word or two ; in fact, they are two individuals of very 
 great importance to the expedition as without them 
 the wagons would be a troublesome affair. They are 
 the drivers of these vehicles, and each is as proud of 
 his whip-craft as Jehu could possibly have been of his. 
 
 In one of these drivers you will recognize an old ac- 
 quaintance. The large head and high cheek-bones, w ith 
 thft flat spread nostrils between; the small oblique 
 Mongolian eyes ; the short curly wool-knots, planted 
 sparsely over the broad skull ; the yellow complexion ; 
 the thick " chunky " form, scarce four feet in height^ 
 and sparely clad in red flannel shirt and brown leathern 
 * crackers ; " with all these features and characters be- 
 1*
 
 10 SHTARTBOY THE BUSHMAN AND 
 
 fore your mind, you cannot fail to recognir.0 an olii 
 favorite the Bushman, Swartboy 
 
 Swartboy it was ; and, though several years have 
 rolled over the Bushman's bare head since we saw him 
 last, there is no visible change observable in Swartboy. 
 The thinly scattered " kinks " of brovvny black wool 
 still adorn Swartboy's crown and occiput, but they are 
 no thinner the same good-natured grin is obseived 
 upon his yellow face he is still the same faithful ser- 
 vant the same expert driver the same useful fellow 
 that he ever was. Swartboy, of course, drives the 
 wagon of the Von Blooms. 
 
 Now the driver of the Van Wyk vehicle is about aa 
 unlike Swartboy as a bear to a bluebottle. 
 
 In the first place, he is above a third taller than the 
 Bushman, standing over six feet, not in his stockings, 
 for he never wears stockings, but in sandals, which he 
 does wear. 
 
 His complexion is darker than that of the Hottentot, 
 although it is not black, but rather of a bronze color ; 
 and the hair of his head, although somewhat " woolly," 
 is longer than Swartboy's, and less inclined to take root 
 at both ends ! Where the line of Swartboy's nose is 
 concave, that of the other is convex, and the nose itself 
 almost aquiline. A dark piercing eye, a row of white 
 teeth regularly set, lips of moderate thickness, a welt 
 proportioned form, and erect attitude, give to this indi- 
 vidual, an aspect of grandeur and gravity, both of which 
 are in complete contrast with the comic picture pre- 
 sented by the short stout body and grinning counte- 
 nance of the Bushman. 
 
 The costume of the tall man has something graceful
 
 CONGO THE KAPKIK. 11 
 
 about it. It consists of a tunic-like skirt suspended 
 around the waist and hanging down to mid-thigh. There 
 is something peculiar in this skirt. It has the appear- 
 ance of a fringe or drapery of long white hairs, not 
 plaited or woven, but hanging free and full. It is, in 
 fact, thejrue costujne^of^savage ; and consists simply cf 
 a number of antelope's tails the white (ails of the gaoo 
 strung together around the waist, and allowed to fall to 
 their full length down the thighs. A sort of "tippet" 
 of the same surrounding the shoulders, with copper ringa 
 on the ankles and armlets encircling the wrist, a bunch 
 of ostrich-feathers waving from his crown, and a string^ 
 of beads around his neck, complete the costume of Congo) 
 the Kaffir for to that nation of romantic savages be- 
 longed the wagon-driver of the Van Wyks. 
 
 What ! a Kaffir the driver of a wagon ? you will ex- 
 claim. You can hardly realize the idea, that a Kaffir 
 a warrior, as you may deem him could be employed in 
 so menial an office as wagon-driving ! But it is even 
 so. Many Kaffirs are so engaged in the Cape Colony, 
 indeed, many thousands ; and in offices of a more de- 
 grading kind than driving a wagon team which, by *,he 
 way, is far from being considered an unworthy employ- 
 ment in South Africa, so far that the sons of the wealth! 
 est boors may often be seen mounted upon the voor-kist 
 and handling the long bamboo whip with all the ability 
 of a practised "jarvey." There is nothing odd about 
 Congo the Kaffir being wagon-driver to the Van Wyks. 
 He was a refugee, who had escaped from the despotic 
 rule of the blood-stained monster Chaaka. Having in 
 seme way offended the tyrant, he had been compelled to 
 flee for his life; and, after wandering southward, had
 
 12 SWARTBOY THK HUSIIMAN AND 
 
 found safely and protection among the colonists. Hira 
 he had learnt to make himself a useful member of civil- 
 ized society, though a lingering regard for ancient habit? 
 influenced him still to retain the costume of his native 
 country the country of the Zooloo Kaifir. 
 
 No one could have blamed him for this ; for, as ha 
 stood with his ample leopard-skin kaross suspended toga- 
 like from his shoulders, the silvery skirt draping grace- 
 fully to his knees, and his metal rings glittering under 
 the blaze of the camp-fire, a noble picture he presented, 
 a savage but interesting picture. No one could 
 blame Congo for wishing to display his fine form in so 
 becoming a costume. 
 
 And no one did. No one was jealous of the hand- 
 some savage. 
 
 Yes, one. There was one who did not regard him 
 with the most amiable feelings. There was a rival who 
 could not listen to Congo's praise with indifference. 
 One who liked not Congo. That rival was Swartboy. 
 Talk of the rivalry that existed between the hunters 
 Hendrik and Groot Willem, of that between Klaas and 
 Jan. Put both into one, and it would still fall far short 
 of the constant struggles for preeminence that were 
 exhibited between the rival " whips," Swartboy the 
 Bushman, and Congo the Kaffir. 
 
 Swartboy and Congo were the only servant} with 
 the expedition. Cooks or other attendants the young 
 yagers had none. Not but that the rich landdrost, 
 for it must be remembered that Von Bloom was now 
 shief magistrate of his district, and the wealthy boor 
 could have easily afforded a score of attendants upon 
 each trio of hunters. But there were no attendant?
 
 CONGO THE KAFFIR. 13 
 
 whft(t,.c,r beyond the two drivers. This wa? not on the 
 score of economy. No such thing. It was simply be- 
 cause the old soldiers, Hendrik Von Bloom and Diedrik 
 Van "Wyk, were not the men to pamper their boys with 
 too mucn luxury. 
 
 "If they must go a-hunting, let them rough it," said 
 they ; and so they started them off, giving them a brace 
 of wagons to carry their impedimenta and their spoils. 
 
 But the young yagers needed no attendance. Each 
 knew how to wait uj>on himself. Even the youngest 
 could skin an antelope and broil its ribs over the fire ; 
 and that was about all the cookery they would require 
 till their return. The healthy stomach of the hunter 
 supplies a sauce more appetising than either Harvey or 
 Soyer could concoct with all their culinary skill. 
 
 Before arriving at their present camp the young 
 yagers had been out several weeks ; but, although they 
 had hunted widely, they had not fallen in with any of 
 the great game, such as giraffes, buffaloes, or elephants ; 
 and scarce an adventure worth talking about. A day 
 or two before a grand discussion had taken place as to 
 whether they should cross the great river, and proceed 
 farther northward, in search of the camelopard and ele- 
 phant, or whether they should continue on the southern 
 side, ja'ging springboks, hartebeests, and several other 
 kinds of antelopes. This discussion ended in a resolve 
 to continue on to the north, and remain there till thuif 
 time was up, the time of course being regulsted by 
 the duration of college and school vacations, and lca?4 
 of absence from the " Corps." 
 
 Groot "NVillem had been the principal adviser of this 
 course, and Hans his backer. The former was desirotu
 
 !4 SWARTBOY THK BUSHMAN. 
 
 of jiiging the elephant, the buffalo, and giraffe, a spoil 
 at which he was still but a novice, as lie had never had a 
 fair opportunity of hunting these mighty giants of the 
 wood ; while Hans was equally desirous of an exploring 
 expedition that would bring him in contact with new 
 J'orms of vegetable lifY 
 
 Strange as it may appear, Arend threw in his vote 
 for returning home ; and, stranger still, that the hunter 
 Hendrik should join him in this advice ! 
 
 But almost every thing can be explained, if we examine 
 it with care and patience ; and the odd conduct of the 
 two " cornets" was capable of explanation. 
 
 Hans slyly hinted that it was possible that a certain 
 "brunette, Wilhelmina, might have something to do with 
 Hendrik's decision ; but Groot Willem, who was a rough 
 plain-spoken fellow, broadly alleged, that it was nothing 
 else than Triiey that was carrying Arend's thoughts 
 homeward; and the consequence of these hints and as- 
 sertions was, that neither Hendrik nor Arend offered 
 any further opposition to going northward among the 
 elephants, but, blushing red to the very eyes, both were 
 only too glad to give in their assent and terminate th 
 discussion. 
 
 Northward then became the word : northward for 
 the land of the tall giraffe and the migMy elephant! 
 
 The young yagers had arrived on the southern } ank 
 of the Orange River, opposite to a welUniown "diit't," 
 or cross! ng-place. There chanced to be a freshet in the 
 mr; and they had encamped, and were waiting until 
 Uio water should fall and the ford luce me i
 
 r<>NO CROSSED A DRIFT. 15 
 
 CHAPTER IIL 
 
 HOW CONGO CROSSED A "DRIFT." 
 
 NI.XT morning, by break of day, our yagers were 
 astir, and the first object upon which they rested their 
 eyes was the river. To their joy it had fallen several 
 feet, as they could tell by the water-mark upon the trees. 
 
 The streams of South Africa, like those of most trop- 
 ical and sub-tropical countries, and especially where the 
 district is mountainous, rise and fall with much greater 
 rapidity than those of temperate climes. Their sudden 
 rise is accounted for by the great quantity of water which 
 in tropical storms is precipitated within a short period 
 of time the rain falling, not in light sparse drops, but 
 thick and heavy, for several hours together, until the 
 whole surface of the country is saturated, and every 
 rivulet becomes a torrent. 
 
 Oi these storms we have an exemplification in our 
 summer thunder-showers with their big rain-drops, 
 whon in a few minutes the gutter becomes a rivulet and 
 th< rut of the cartwheel a running stream. Fortunately 
 the:-e ''sunshiny" showers are of short duration. They 
 u la-st only half-an-hour," instead of many hours. Fancy 
 one of iliem continuing for a whole day or a week! If 
 such were to be the case, we should witness Hoods tu 
 sudden and terrible as those of the tropics.
 
 H HOW CONGO CROSSED A DRIFT. 
 
 The quick fall in the streams of South Africa is casity 
 accounted for the principal reason being that the clouds 
 are their feedeis, and not, as with us, springs and lakes. 
 Tropic rivers rarely run from reservoirs ; the abrupt 
 cessation of the rain cuts off their supply, and the con- 
 sequence is the sudden falling of their waters. Evap- 
 oration by a hot sun, and large absorption by the dry 
 earth, combine to produce this effect. 
 
 Now the young yagers saw that the " Gareep " (sudi 
 is the native name of the Orange River) had fallen 
 many feet during the night ; but they knew not whether 
 it was yet fordable. Though the place was a " drift " 
 used by Hottentots, Bechuanas, traders, and occasion- 
 ally " trek-boors," yet none of the party knew any thing 
 of its depth, now that the freshet was on. There were 
 no marks to indicate the depth no means by which they 
 could ascertain it. They could not see the bottom, as 
 the water was of a yellow-brown color, in consequence 
 of the flood. It might be three feet it might be six 
 but as the current was very rapid, it would be a dangerous 
 experiment to wade in and measure its depth in that way. 
 
 What were they to do then? They were im- 
 patient to effect a crossing. How were they to do sc 
 in safety? 
 
 Hendrik proposed that one of them should try the ford 
 on horseback. If they could not wade it, they might 
 swim over. He offered to go himself. Groot Willcm, 
 not to be outdone by Hendrik in daring, made a similar 
 proposal. But Hans, who was the eldest of the party, 
 and whose prudent counsels were usually regarded by 
 all, gave his advice against this course. The experi- 
 ment would be too perilous, he said. Should the water
 
 HOW CONGO CROSSED A DRIFT. 17 
 
 prove <Oo deep, the horses would be compelled (o swiin, 
 and with so rapid a current they might be carried far 
 "oelow the " drift," perhaps down to where the banks 
 were high and steep. There they should not be abl 
 to climb out, and both horse ana rider might perish. 
 
 Besides, urged Hans, even should a rider succeed by 
 swimming to reach the opposite side in safety, the oxen 
 and wagons could not get over in that way, and where 
 would be the use of crossing without them'? None what- 
 ever. Better, therefore, to wait a little longer until they 
 should be certain that the river had subsided to its usual 
 level. That they could ascertain by the water ceasing 
 to fall any further, and another day would decide the 
 point. It would only be the loss of another day. 
 
 Hans's reasoning was good, and so was his counsel. 
 Hendrik and Groot Willem acknowledged this, and 
 agreed to act upon it ; but for all that, Groot Willem, who 
 was longing to get among the giraffes, buffaloes, and ele- 
 phants, felt a strong desire to attempt the crossing ; and 
 Hendrik, too, was similarly inclined, from the sheer lovi- 
 of adventure for Hendrik's fault was that of being 
 o ver-cou rageous. 
 
 Both would have risked the river even to swimming 
 it had it been practicable for the teams to have crossed, 
 but as that was not believed possible, they agreed, 
 though with rather a bad grace, to wait upon the water 
 another day. 
 
 But, after all, they were not to wait a day, scarcely 
 an hour. In an hour from that time they had crossed 
 the drift wagons, oxen, and all and were trekking 
 over the plain on the opposite side ! 
 
 What had led to their so suddenly changing theit
 
 18 now CONGO CROSSKI) A DRIFT. 
 
 resolution? How had they ascertained that the drift 
 was fordable ? For a knowledge of that fact they were 
 indebted to Congo the Kaffir. 
 
 While engaged in their discussion as to the depth of 
 .he river, the latter had been observed standing upon the 
 bank and tin-owing large pebbles into the stream. Think- 
 ing it was merely some freak or superstition on the part 
 of the savage, none of them had taken any notice of 
 him, Swartboy excepted. The Bushman was watching 
 the Kaffir, with glances that bespoke a keen interest in 
 his movements. 
 
 At length a loud scornful laugh from Swartboy, ac- 
 companying a series of rather rough phrases, directed 
 the attention of the young yagers upon the Kaffir. 
 
 " My footy, Congo ! ole fool you ! b'lieve you teU 
 depth so ? link so, ole skelium ? Ha ! ha ! ha ! you 
 bania groot ole humbug ! Ila! ha! ha!" 
 
 The Kaifir took no notice of this rather insulting 
 apostrophe, but continued to fling his pebbles as before, 
 but the young yagers, who were also watching him, 
 noticed that he was not throwing them carelessly, but in 
 a peculiar manner, and their attention now became fixed 
 upon him. 
 
 They saw that each time as the pebble parted from 
 his fingers, he bent suddenly forward, with his ear close 
 to the surface, and in this attitude appeared to listen to 
 the "plunge" of the stone! When the sound diod 
 away, he would rise erect again, fling another pebble 
 farther out than the last, and then crouch and listen as 
 before ? 
 
 " What's the Kaffir about ?" asked Ilendrik of Groot 
 Willcm and Arcnd, who, being his masters, were morn 
 likely to know-
 
 HOTV CONGO CROSSED A DRIFT. 15 
 
 * either could tell. Some Zooloo trick, no doubt , 
 l-*ogu knew many a one. But what he meant by his 
 present demonstration neither could tell. Swartboy'^ 
 conjecture appeared to be correct, the Kaffir was sound 
 ing the depth of the drift. 
 
 " Hilloa, ihore ! Congo!" cried Groot Willejr 
 " What are ye aftor, old boy ? " 
 
 " Congo find hov deep drift be, baas Willem, " wa 
 iLe reply. 
 
 " Oh ! you can't tell that way ; can you ? " 
 
 The Kaffir made answer in the affirmative. 
 
 " Bah ! " ejaculated Swartboy, jealous of the interest 
 his rival was beginning to excite ; " da's all nonsense ; 
 ole fool know noffin 't all 'bout it, dat he don't." 
 
 The Kaffir still took no notice of Swartboy's gibes 
 though they no doubt nettled him &. little but kept on 
 casting the pebbles each one, as sheady stated, being 
 flung so as to full several feet beyond vhe one that pre- 
 ceded it. He continued at this, until iho last pebble 
 was seen to plunge within a yard or two of the oppo- 
 site side of the current, here more than a hundred 
 yards wide. Then raising himself erect, and taming his 
 face to the young yagers, he said hi firm but isj&pectfuJ 
 tones, 
 
 " Mynheeren, you drift may cross now." 
 
 All regarded him with incredulous glances. 
 
 u How deep think you it is?" inquired Hans. 
 
 The Kaffir made answer by placing his hand, up : 
 his hips. It would reach so high. 
 
 " My footy ! " exclaimed Swartboy, in derision. " It'i 
 twice dar depth. Do you want drown us, ole fool ? " 
 
 " May drown you nobody else ! " quietly replied
 
 2'> HOW CONGO CROSSED A DRIFT. 
 
 the Kaffir, at the same time measuring Swartboy with 
 his i-ye, and curling his lip in derision of the Bushman 
 short stature. 
 
 The ycung yagers burst out into a loud laugh. Swart- 
 boy felt the sting, but for some moments was unable to 
 retort. 
 
 At length he found words, 
 
 " All talk, you ole black, all talk ! You make groot 
 show, you berry wise, you want wagon sweep off", 
 you want drown da poor oxen, you pretend so deep. 
 If tink so, go wade da drift, go wade yourself ! Ha ! " 
 
 Swartboy thought by this challenge he had put the 
 finisher on the Kaffir. He believed that the latter would 
 not dare to try the ford, in spite of his assertion about 
 its depth. But Swartboy was doomed to disappointment 
 and humiliation. 
 
 Scarcely had he uttered the sneering challenge when 
 the Kaffir, having bent a glance upon the rest, and 
 seeing that they regarded him with looks of expectation, 
 turned round and dashed down the bank to the edge of 
 the water. 
 
 All saw that he was bent upon crossing. Several of 
 them uttered cries of warning, and cautioned him to 
 desist. 
 
 But the Zooloo spirit was roused, and the savage did 
 not heed the warning cries. He did not hurry madly 
 into the current, however ; but set about the business 
 willi caution and design. They saw him stoop down by 
 the edge of the water, and the next moment rise ereci 
 again, holding in his hands a large stone that could nol 
 have weighed much less than a hundredweight This 
 tc the astonishment of all, he raised upon the crown uf
 
 HOW CONGO CKOSSED A DRIFT. 21 
 
 his head, and, holding it in that position, marched boldly 
 into the water ! 
 
 All saw the object of his carrying the stone, which 
 was, of course, to enable him by its additional weight to 
 stem the strong current ! In this he was quite success- 
 ful, for although the water at certain places rose quite 
 to his waist, in less than five minutes he stood high and 
 dry on the opposite bank. 
 
 A cheer greeted him, in which all but Swartboy 
 joined, and another received him on his return ; and 
 then the oxen were inspanned, and the horses saddled 
 and mounted, and wagons, oxen, dogs, horses, and 
 yagers, all crossed safely over, and continued their 
 route northward.
 
 A DKACE OF "BLACK-HAKES 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 A BUACE OP "BLACK MANES." 
 
 IF the v^ung yagers had met with but few adventures 
 south of .juC Gareep, they were not long north of it 
 before they fell in with one of sufficient interest to be 
 chronicled. It occurred at their very first camp after 
 crossing. 
 
 They had chosen for their camp the side of a " vley," 
 in the midst of a wide plain, where there chanced to be 
 both grass and water, though both of a rather indifferent 
 kind. The plain was tolerably open, though here and 
 there grew clumps of low bushes, and between these 
 stood at intervals the dome-shaped houses of white 
 ants those of the Termes mordax rising to the height 
 of several feet above the surface. 
 
 They had just outspanned and permitted their oxen 
 to wander upon the grass, when the voice of Swartboy 
 was heard exclaiming, 
 
 u I)e leuw ! de leuw ! " 
 
 All looked where Swartboy pointed. There, sure 
 enough, was a lion, a large " schwart-fore-life," or 
 Uack-maned one, right out upon the plain, and beyond 
 the place where the oxen were browsing. 
 
 There was a clump of "bosch" just behind the lion
 
 A. BRACE OF "BLACK-MANES." 23 
 
 Out of this he had come at sight of the oxen-, and, 
 having advanced a few yards, he had lain down among 
 the grass, and was now watching the animals as a cat 
 would a mouse, or a spider the unconscious fly. 
 
 They had scarcely set their eyes upon him when 
 another was seen issuing from the " bosch." and, with 
 stealthy trot, running up to the side of her companion. 
 Her companion, I say, because the second was a lioness, 
 as the absence of a mane and the tiger-like form testi- 
 fied. She was scarcely inferior in size to the lion, and 
 not a bit less fierce and dangerous in any encounter she 
 might chance to fall in with. 
 
 Having joined the lion, she squatted beside him ; and 
 both now sat upon their tails, like two gigantic cats, 
 with full front towards the camp, and evidently eyeing 
 the oxen with hungry looks. 
 
 Horses, hunters, drivers, and dogs, were all in sight; 
 but what cared the lions for that? The tempting prey 
 was before them, and they evidently meditated an 
 attack, if not just then, whenever the opportunity 
 offered. Most certainly they contemplated supping 
 either upon ox-beef or horse-flesh. 
 
 Now these were the first lions that had been encoun- 
 tered upon the expedition. " Spoor" had been seen 
 several times, and the terrible roar had been heard once 
 or twi)e around the night-camp; but the "king of 
 beasts" now appeared for the first time in propria per- 
 tona, with his queen along with him, and of course his 
 presence was productive of no small excitement in the 
 yager camp. It must not be denied that this excite- 
 ment partook largely of the nature of a " panic." 
 
 The first fear of the hunters was for their own .skins,
 
 24 A BRACE OF "BLACK-MANES.** 
 
 and iii this both Bushman and Kaffir equally shared 
 After 4 time, however, this feeling subsided. The lions 
 would not attack the camp. They do so only on very 
 rare occasions. It was the camp animals they were 
 after, and so long as these were present, they would not 
 epring upon their owners. So far there was no danger, 
 and our yagers recovered their self-possession. 
 
 But it would not do to let the carnivorous brutes 
 destroy their oxen, that would not do. Something 
 must be done to secure them. A kraal must be made 
 at once, and the animals driven into it. 
 
 The lions lay quietly on the plain, though still in a 
 menacing attitude. But they were a good way off full 
 five hundred yards and were not likely to attack the 
 oxen so close to the camp. The huge wagons strange 
 sight to them no doubt had the effect of restraining 
 them for the present. They either waited until the 
 oxen should browse nearer, or till night would enable 
 them to approach the latter unobserved. 
 
 As soon, then, as it was perceived that they were not 
 bent upon an immediate attack, Groot Willem and 
 Ilendrik mounted their horses, rode cautiously out 
 beyond the oxen, and quietly drove the latter to the 
 other side of the vley. There they were herded by 
 Klaas and Jan ; while all the rest, Swartboy and Congo 
 included, went to work with axe and bill-hook in the 
 nearest thicket of "wait-a-bit" thorns. In less than 
 fcalf-an-hour a sufficient number of bushes were cut to 
 form, with the help of the wagons, a strong kraal ; and 
 inside this, both horses and oxen were driven, the 
 former made fast to the wheel-spokes, while the latter 
 *rere clumped up loosely within the enclosure.
 
 A BRACE OF "BLACK-MANES." 2J 
 
 The hunters now felt secure. They had kindled a 
 large fire on each side of the kraal, though they knew 
 that this will not always keep lions on". But they 
 trusted to their guns ; and as they would sleep inside 
 the canvass tents of their wagons, closing both " voor" 
 and " aehter-claps," they had nothing to fear. It would 
 bo a hungry lion, indeed, that would have attempted to 
 break the strong kraal they had made ; and no lion, 
 however hungry, would ever think of charging into a 
 wagon. 
 
 Having made all secure, therefore, they sealed them- 
 selves around one of their fires, and set about cooking 
 their dinner, or rather dinner-supper, for it was to 
 include both meals. Their journey prevented them 
 from dining earlier. 
 
 They chanced to have little else than biltong, or 
 dried meat, to cook. The long wait by the drift had 
 consumed their stock of fine springbok venison, which 
 they had laid in some days before. It is true they had 
 venison in camp, but it was that of the " reitbok," 01 
 reed-buck so called from its habit of frequenting the 
 long reeds by the banks of rivers ; and it was while 
 they were journeying through a belt of these after 
 crossing the drift, that this one had been shot by Hen- 
 drik. A small antelope the reitbok is the Antilopt 
 tleotragus of naturalists. It stands less than three feet 
 in height, formed much like the springbok, but with a 
 rougher coat of hair, of an ashy gray color, and silver 
 white underneath. Its horns, however, are not lyrate, 
 as in the springbok, but rise first in the plane of ita 
 forehead, and then curve boldly forward to the tips. 
 They are about twelve inches in length, wrinkled al 
 2
 
 26 A BRACE OF " BLACK. MANES." 
 
 the base, prominently ringed in the middle, and smooti 
 near the points. The reitbok, as its name implies, 
 inhabits the reedy bottoms by the margins of streams 
 and rivers, and its food consists of plants growing in 
 humid ai.d marshy situations. Hence its flesh is infe- 
 rior tc that of most South African antelopes, and it was 
 not a favorite with the young yagers. Although it 
 had been brought along, they preferred even the dry 
 biltong, and it was left to the less delicate appetites of 
 Swartboy and Congo. 
 
 Now the hunters, Hendrik and Groot Willem, would 
 have gone out to look for a springbok, or some othet 
 game, but the presence of the lions prevented that ; 
 and so the boys were obliged to content themselvea 
 with a slice of the biltong ; and each, having cut him a 
 short stick for a spit, set about broiling his piece over 
 the coals. 
 
 During all this time the lion and lioness kept the 
 position they had taken on the plain, scarce once having 
 changed their attitude. They were waiting patiently 
 the approach of night. 
 
 Groot Willem and Hendrik had both advised making 
 an attack upon them ; but in this case they again gave 
 way to the more prudent counsel of Hans, strengthened, 
 perhaps, by his reminding them of the instructions they 
 had received from both their fathers at setting out. 
 These instructions were, never to attack a lion without 
 good reason for so doing, but always to give the "ole 
 leuw" a wide berth when it was possible to do so. I 
 is well known that the lion will rarely attack man when 
 not first assailed ; and therefore the advice given to the 
 young yagers was sound and prudent ; aud they fbl 
 lowed it.
 
 A BRACK OF " II LACK-MANES." 27 
 
 It wanted yet an hour or two of sunset. The lions still 
 Kit squatted on the grass, closely observed by the 
 hunters. 
 
 All at once the eyes of the latter became directed 
 upon a uew object. Slowly approaching over the dis- 
 tant plain, appeared two strange animals, similar in form, 
 and nearly so in size and color. Each was about the 
 size of an ass, and not unlike one in color, especially 
 that variety of the ass which ia of a buff or fulvous tint. 
 Their forms, however, were more graceful than that of 
 'he ass, though they were far from being light or 
 slender. On the contrary, they were of a full, round, 
 bold outline. They were singularly marked about the 
 head and face. The ground color of these parts was 
 white, but four dark bands were so disposed over them as 
 to give the animals the appearance of wearing a head- 
 stall of black leather. The first of these bands descend- 
 ed in a streak down the forehead ; another passed 
 through the eyes to the corners of the mouth ; a 
 third embraced the nose ; while a fourth ran from the 
 base of the ears passing under the throat a regular 
 throat-strap thus completing the resemblance to the 
 Btall-halter. 
 
 A reversed mane, a dark list down the back, and a 
 long black bushy tail reaching to the ground, were also 
 fharacters to be observed. But what rendered these 
 inimals easily to be distinguished from all others was 
 the splendid pair of horns which each carried. These 
 horns were straight, slender, pointing backwards almost 
 horizontally. They were regularly ringed till within a 
 few inches of their tips, which were as sharp as steel 
 pits. In both they were of a deep jet color, shining
 
 28 A BUACE OP "BLACK-MANES." 
 
 like ebony, and full three feet in length. But what -was 
 rather singular, the horns of the smaller animal for 
 there was some difference in their size were longer 
 than those of the larger one ! The former was the 
 female, the latter the male, therefore the horns of the 
 female were more developed than those of the male 
 an anomaly among animals of the antelope trihe, for an- 
 telopes they were. The young yagers had no difficulty 
 in distinguishing their kind. At the first glance they 
 nil recognized the beautiful " oryx," one of the loveliest 
 inimals of Africa, one of tlu fairest creatures ia the 
 world
 
 LIONS STALKING THE GEMSBOK. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 STALKING THE GEMSBOK. 
 
 OK seeii^* the " gemsbok " for by such name is the 
 oryx known to th^ Cape colonists the first thought of 
 the young yri^ers was how they should kill or capture 
 ane of them. Beautiful as these creatures looked upon 
 the plain, our hunters would have fancied them better 
 on the spit for they well knew that the venison of the 
 gemsbok is delicious eating not surpassed by that of 
 any other antelope, the eland perhaps excepted. 
 
 The first thought of the yagers, then, was a steak 
 of gemsbok venison for dinner. It might throw their 
 dinner a little later, but it would be so much of a 
 better one than dry biltong, that they were willing to 
 wait. 
 
 The slices of jerked meat, already half-broiled, were at 
 once put aside, and guns were grasped in the place of 
 roasting-sticks. 
 
 What was the best course to be pursued ? That was 
 the next question. 
 
 It would scarce be possible to stalk the gemsboks. 
 They are among the most wary of antelopes. They 
 rarely approach near any ccver that might shelter an 
 3nemy ; and when alarmed they strike off in a straight
 
 80 LIONS STALKING THE GEMS3OK. 
 
 line, and make for the open desert plains their natural 
 home. To stalk them is a most difficult thing, and rare- 
 ly attempted by the hunter. They can only be captured 
 by a swift horse, and after a severe chase. Even from 
 the swiftest horse they often make their escape ; for in 
 the first burst of a mile or two they can run like the 
 wind. A good horse, however, has more " bottom " than 
 they, and if well managed will in time overtake them. 
 
 The hunters having seized their guns, next thought 
 of their horses. Should they saddle and ride out after 
 the gemsboks? That would have been their course at 
 once, and without further consideration, had they not 
 observed that the antelopes were coming directly to- 
 wards them. If they continued in the same course much 
 longer, they, the yagers, need not stir from the spot. 
 The game would approach within shot and save them 
 the trouble of a chase. This would be very agreeable, 
 as the hunters were hungry, and their horses tired after 
 a hard day's journeying. 
 
 There was some probability that the gemsboks would 
 give them the chance they wished for. The camp was 
 well hidden among the bushes. The smoke of the fire 
 alone showed its situation, but the antelopes might not 
 perceive this, or if so, might not regard it as a thing to 
 be feared. Besides, as Groot Willem and Hendrik ob 
 served, the vley was close by, and both believed the an- 
 telopes were on their way to the water. The student 
 Hans, however, corrected them in this belief, by telling 
 them that the oryx is an animal f/iat never drinks, that 
 it is quite independent of spiings, streams, or vleys, 
 one of those creatures which Nature has formed to 
 dwell in the iesert, where no water exists ! It was not
 
 LIONS STALKING THE GEMSBOK. 31 
 
 likely then that the gemsboks were coming to the vley. 
 The hunters need make no calculation on that. 
 
 At all events, they were certainly approaching the 
 camp. They were heading straight for it, and were al- 
 ready less than a thousand yards from the spot. There 
 would scare be time to saddle before they should come 
 within shot, or else start off alarmed at the appearance 
 of the smoke. The hunters, therefore, gave up all 
 thoughts of a chase ; and, crouching forward to the 
 outer edge of the grove, they knelt down behind the 
 bushes to await the approach of the antelopes. 
 
 The latter still kept steadily on, apparently uncon- 
 scious of danger. Surely they had not yet perceived 
 the smoke, else they would have shown symptoms either 
 of curiosity or alarm ! The wind was blowing in the same 
 direction in which they marched, or their keen sense 
 of smell would have warned them of the dangerous 
 proximity of the hunter's camp. But it did not ; and 
 they continued with slow but unaltered pace to approach 
 the spot, where no less than six dark muzzles a full 
 battery of small arms were waiting to give them a 
 volley. 
 
 It was not the destiny of either of the gemsboks 
 to die by a leaden bullet. Death, sudden and violent 
 awaited them, though not from the hand of man. It 
 was to come from a different quarter. 
 
 As the yiigers lay watching the approach of the an- 
 telopes, lliiir eyes had Avandered for a moment from the 
 lions ; but a movement on the part of these again drew 
 attention to them. Up to a certain period they had re- 
 mained in an upright attitude, squatted upon their tails, 
 but all at once they were observed to crouch flat down,
 
 32 LIONS STALKING THE GKMSBOK. 
 
 as if to conceal themselves under the grass, while then 
 heads were turned in a new direction. They were 
 turned towards the gemsboks. They had caught sight 
 of the Litter as they approached over the plain; and it 
 was evident that they contemplated an attack upon 
 them. 
 
 Now if the antelopes continued on in the same course, 
 it would carry them quite clear of the lions, so that the 
 latter would have no advantage. A gemsbok can soon 
 scour off from a lion, as the latter is at best but a pooi 
 runner, and secures his prey by a sudden spring or two, 
 or else not at all. Unless, therefore, the lions could 
 obtain the advantage of getting within bounding distance 
 of the antelopes without being seen by them, their 
 chances of making a capture would be poor enough. 
 
 They knew this, and to effect that purpose that of 
 getting near now appeared to be their design. The 
 lion was observed to crawl off from the spot in a direc- 
 tion that would enable him to get upon the path of the 
 gemsboks, between them and the camp. By a series 
 of manoeuvres, now crawling flat along the grass, like 
 a cat after a partridge ; now pausing behind a bush or 
 an ant-heap to survey the game ; then trotting lightly 
 on to the next, he at length reached a large ant-hili 
 that stood right by the path in which the antelopes were 
 advancing. He seemed to be satisfied of this, for he 
 stopped here and placed himself close in to the base of 
 the hill, so that only a small portion of his head pro 
 jected on the side towards the game. His whole body 
 tiowever, and every movement he made, were visible t/ 
 the hunters from their ambush in the grove. 
 
 But where was the lioness ? She was nc lorger bj
 
 LYONS STALKING THE GEMSBOK. 33 
 
 the bosch where first seen. "Where had nhe gone ? Not 
 with the lion ? No. On the contrary, she had gone in 
 a direction nearly opposite to that taken by him. Their 
 ye.s had been busy with his movements, and they had 
 not noticed hers. Now, however, that the lion had cotne 
 to a halt, they looked abroad for his mate, and saw her 
 far out upon the plain. They saw that she was pro- 
 gressing in the same way the lion had done, now 
 crawling among the grass, now trotting swiftly from 
 Aush to bush, and pausing a moment behind each, but 
 evidently bending her course so as to arrive in the rear 
 of the antelopes ! 
 
 The "strategy" of the lions was now perceived. 
 They had evidently planned it before separating. The 
 lion was to place himself in ambush upon the path, 
 while the lioness swept round to the rear and forced the 
 antelopes forward; or should the latter become alarmed 
 and retreat, the lion could then show himself in pursuit, 
 and run the frightened game back into the clutches of 
 the lioness. 
 
 The thing was well calculated, and although it was 
 likely to rob the hunters of their game, they had grown 
 go interested in the movements of the carnivora and 
 their intended victims, that they thought only of watch- 
 ing the spectacle to its end. 
 
 The ambuscade was well planned, and in a few 
 minutes its success was no longer doubtful. The gems- 
 boks advanced steadily towards the ant-hill, occasionally 
 switching about their black bushy tails ; but that was to 
 rid their flanks of the flies, and not from any apprehen- 
 sion of danger. 
 
 The lioness had completed the great detour she tH 
 2*
 
 54 LIONS STALKING THE GEMSBOK. 
 
 made, und was now seen crouching after them, though 
 still far to the rear. 
 
 As the antelopes drew near the ant-hill, the lion waa 
 observed to draw back his head until it was nearly 
 concealed under his black shaggy mane. They could 
 not possibly have seen him where he lay, nor he them, 
 and he now appeared to trust to his ears to inform him 
 of their approach. 
 
 lie waited till both were opposite, and broadside 
 toward him, at the distance of less than twenty paces 
 from the hill. Then his tail was seen to vibrate with 
 one or two quick jerks, his head shot suddenly forth, 
 his body spread out apparently to twice its natural size, 
 and the next moment he rose like a bird into the air ! 
 
 With one bound he cleared the wide space that 
 separated him from the nearest of the gemsboks, 
 alighting on the hind-quarters of the terrified animal. 
 A single blow of his powerful paw brought the antelope 
 on its haunches; and another, delivered almost at the 
 same instant, stretched its body lifeless on the plain ! 
 
 Without looking after the other, or seeming to care 
 further about it, the lion sprang upon the body of hia 
 victim, and, clutching its throat between his jaws, com- 
 menced drinking its warm blood. 
 
 It was the bull gemsbok which the lion had pulled 
 down, as this was the one that happened to be nearest 
 the hill. 
 
 As the lion sprang upon her companion, the cow of 
 course started with affright, and all supposed they would 
 see her the next moment scouring off over the plains. 
 To their astonishment she did no such thing. Such if 
 not the nature of the noble oryx. On the contrary, as
 
 LIONS STALKING THE GEMSIiOK. &1 
 
 soon as she recovered from the first moments of alarm, 
 she whoeled round towards the enemy ; and, lowering 
 her head to the very ground, so that her long horns 
 projected horizontally in front, she rushed with all her 
 strength upon the lion ! The latter, in full enjoyment 
 of his red draught, saw nothing of this manoeuvre. The 
 first intimation he had of it was to feel a pair of spears 
 pierced right through his ribs, and it is not likely he 
 felt much more. 
 
 For some moments a confused struggling was ob- 
 served, in which both lion and oryx seemed to take 
 part ; but the attitudes of both appeared so odd, and 
 changed so rapidly, that the spectators could not tell in 
 what manner they were combating. The roar of the 
 lion however had ceased, and was now succeeded by 
 the more shrill tones of the lioness, who, bounding for' 
 ward upon the spot, mixed at once in the melee. 
 
 A single touch of her claws brought the cow oryx to 
 the earth, and ended the strife ; and the lioness now 
 stood over the victims screaming her note of triumph. 
 
 Was it a note of triumph ? There was something 
 odd in its tone something singular in the movements 
 of the creature that uttered it something strange about 
 the whole thing. Why was the lion silent ? His roar 
 Lad ceased, and he lay embracing the carcass of the 
 bull gemsbok, and apparently drinking its blood. Yet 
 he was perfectly without motion, not a muscle could be 
 een to move, not a quiver of his tawny hide betokened 
 &at he breathed or lived ! Was he dead ?
 
 f6 AN ANGRY LIONESS. 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 AN ANGRY LIONESS. 
 
 CERTAINLY there was something mysterious about 
 the matter. The lion still kept his position ; no motion 
 could be observed, no sound escaped him ; whereas the 
 lioness uttered incessantly her shrill growling, at the 
 same time pacing to and fro, round and round, the con- 
 fused heap of bodies ! She made no attempt to feed, 
 though her prey lay bleeding before her. Surely her 
 lord was not the cause of her abstinence ! Did he insist 
 upon having both the carcasses to himself? 
 
 Sometimes it is so. Sometimes an old male plays 
 the selfish tyrant, and keeps the younger and weaker 
 members of his family off, till he has gorged himself 
 permitting them to make a " second table " of his leav- 
 ings. 
 
 In the present instance this was not likely. There 
 were two whole carcasses, large fat carcasses, enough 
 for both. Besides, the lioness was evidently the lion's 
 own mate his wife. It was scarcely probable he 
 would treat her so. Among human beings instances of 
 such selfishness, such a gross want of gallantry, are, I 
 regret to say, by no means rare ; but the young yagers 
 eouM not believe the lion guilty of such .shabby conduct
 
 AN ANGRY LIONESS. 37 
 
 the lion, BufFon's type of nobility ! No such thing 
 But how was it? The lioness still growled and paced 
 about, ever and anon stooping near the head of her 
 partner, which was not visible from the camp, and 
 placing her snout in contact with his as if kissing him. 
 Still there was no sign of any response, no motion on 
 his part ; and, after watching for a good while without 
 perceiving any, the hunters at length became satisfied 
 that the lion was dead. 
 
 He was dead as Julius Csesar or a door-nail, and 
 eo, too, was the brace of gem.sboks. The lioness wag 
 the only living thing left from that sanguinary conflict ! 
 
 As soon as the hunters became satisfied of this, they 
 began to deliberate among themselves what was best to 
 be done. They wished to get possession of the venison, 
 but there was no hope of their being able to do so, as 
 long as the lioness remained upon the ground. 
 
 To have attempted to drive her off at that moment 
 would have been a most perilous undertaking. She 
 was evidently excited to madness, and would have 
 charged upon any creature that had shown itself in her 
 neighborhood. The frenzied manner in which she 
 paced about, and lashed her sides with her tail, her 
 fierce and determined look, and deep angry growl, all 
 told the furious rage she was in. There was menace 
 in her fvery movement. The hunters saw this, and 
 prudently withdrew themselves so as to be near tho 
 wagons in case she might come that way. 
 
 They thought that by waiting awhile she would go 
 off, and then they could drag the antelopes up to camp. 
 
 But after waiting a good while, they observed no 
 ehnnge in the conduct of the fierce brute. She still
 
 88 AN ANGRY LIONESS. 
 
 paced around as before, and abstained from touching 
 the carcasses. As one of the yagers observed, she 
 continued to " play the dog in the manger," would 
 neither eat herself, nor suffer anybody else to eat. 
 
 This remark, which was made by little Jan, elicited 
 a round of laughter that sounded in strange contrast 
 with the melancholy howl of the lioness, which still 
 continued to terrify the animals of the camp. Even 
 the dogs cowered among the wheels of the wagons, or 
 kept close to the heels of their masters. It is true tha: 
 many of these faithful brutes, had they been set on, 
 would have manfully battled with the lioness, big aa 
 she was. But the young yiigers well knew that dogs 
 before the paws of an angry lion are like mice under 
 the claws of a cat. They did not think of setting them 
 on, unless they had themselves made an attack ; and 
 that, the advice of Hans, coupled with the counsels 
 they had received before leaving home, prevented them 
 from doing. They had no intention of meddling with 
 the lioness ; and hoped she would soon retire, and leave 
 the game, or part of it, on the ground. 
 
 After waiting a long while, and seeing that the lioness 
 showed no symptoms of leaving the spot, they despaired 
 of dining on oryx venison, and once more set to broiling 
 their slices of biltong. 
 
 They had not yet commenced eating, when they 
 perceived a new arrival upon the scene of the late 
 struggle. Half-a-dozen hyenas appeared upon the 
 gr >und ; and although these had not yet touched th 
 carcasses, but were standing a little way off through 
 fear of the lioness their hungry looks told plainly 
 what their intention was in coming there.
 
 AN ANGRT LIONKSS. 39 
 
 Now the presence of these hideous brutes was a new 
 point for consideration. If the lioness should allow 
 them to begin their feast upon the antelopes, in a very 
 short while scarce a morsel of either would remain* 
 The yagers, although they had resigned all hope of 
 dining on the gemsbok venison, nevertheless looked 
 forward to making their supper of it; but if the hyena* 
 were permitted to step in, they would be disappointed. 
 
 How were the brutes to be kept off? 
 
 To drive them off would be just as perilous an under- 
 taking as to drive off the lioness herself. 
 
 Once more Groot Willem and Hendrik talked about 
 attacking the latter ; but, as before, were opposed by 
 Hans, who had to use all his influence with his com- 
 panions before he could induce them to abandon the 
 rash project. 
 
 At this moment an unexpected proposal put an end 
 to their discussion. 
 
 The proposal came from Congo the Kaffir. It was 
 neither less nor more than that he himself should go 
 forth and do battle with the lioness ! 
 
 "What! alone?" 
 
 " Alone." 
 
 " You are mad, Congo. You would be torn to 
 pieces !" 
 
 u No fear, Mynheeren. Congo the leuw kill without 
 getting scratch. You see, young masters.' 
 
 " What ! without arms ? without a gun ? " 
 
 " Ckmgo not know how use one," replied the Kaffir 
 *you see how I do 'im," he continued. "All Congo 
 ask you not come in way. Young masters, here stay 
 and Congo leave to himself. No danger Mynheeren,
 
 40 AN ANGRY LIONESS. 
 
 Congo fear if go yonder help him leuw very mad 
 Congo not care for that so much mad, so much bettei 
 leuw no run away." 
 
 " But what do you intend to do, Congo ? " 
 " Mynheeren soon all see see how Congo kill lion." 
 The hunters were disposed to look upon the Kaffir 
 as about to make a reckless exposure of his life. 
 Swartboy would have treated the proposal as a boast, 
 and laughed thereat, but Swartboy remembered the 
 humiliation he had had in the morning on account of 
 similar conduct; and though he feared to be farther 
 outstripped in hunter-craft by his rival, he had the 
 prudence upon this occasion to conceal his envy. He 
 bit his thick lips, and remained silent. Some of the 
 boys, and especially Hans, would have dissuaded Congo 
 from his purpose ; but Groot Willem was inclined to 
 Jet him have his way. Groot Willem knew the Kaffir 
 better than any of the others. He knew, moreover, 
 that savage as he was, he was not going to art any 
 foolish part for the mere sake of braggadocio He 
 could be trusted. So said Groot Willem. 
 
 This argument, combined with a desire to eat ^ems- 
 bok venison for supper, had its effect. Arend ani* Ham 
 gave in. 
 
 Congo bad full permission to battle with the 1^
 
 HOW CONGO THE KAFFIR KILLED A LIONESS. 41 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 HOW CONGO THE KAFFIR KILLED A LIONESS. 
 
 CONGO had now become an object of as great intereu 
 as in the morning. Greater in fact, for the new danger 
 lie was about to undergo a combat with an enraged 
 lioness was accounted still greater than that of fording 
 the Gareep, and the interest was in proportion. With 
 eager eyes the young yagers stood watching him as be 
 prepared himself for the encounter. 
 
 He was but a short while in getting ready. He was 
 seen to enter the Van Wyk wagon, and in less than 
 three minutes come out again fully armed and equipped. 
 The lioness would not have long to wait for her assail- 
 ant 
 
 The equipment of the Kaffir must needs be described. 
 
 It was simple enough, though odd to a stranger's eye. 
 It was neither more nor less than the equipment of a 
 Zooloo warrior. 
 
 In his right hand he held a bunch of assey<tis. ii. 
 11 six of them. 
 
 What is an " assegai ? " 
 
 It is a straight lance or spear, though not to be used 
 as one. It is smaller than either of these weapons, 
 horter and more slender in tLe shaft, but like them
 
 42 HOW CONGO THE KAFFUl 
 
 armed with an iron head of arrow shape. In battle ft 
 is not retained in the hand, but flung at the enemy ; 
 often from a considerable distance. It is, in short, a 
 "javelin," or "dart," such as was used in Europe 
 before fire-arms became known, and such as at present 
 forms the war weapon of all the savage tribes of South- 
 ern Africa, but especially those of the Kaffir nations. 
 And well know they how to project this dangerous 
 missile. At the distance of a hundred yards they will 
 send it with a force as great, and an aim as unerring. 
 as either bullet or arrow ! The assegai is flung by a 
 single arm. 
 
 Of these javelins Congo carried six, spanning their 
 slender shafts with his long muscular fingers. 
 
 The assegais were not the oddest part of his equip- 
 ment. That was a remarkable thing which he bore on 
 his left arm. It was of oval form, full six feet in length 
 by about three in width, concave on the side towards 
 his body, and equally convex on the opposite. More 
 than any thing else did it resemble a small boat or canoe 
 made of skins stretched over a framework of wood, 
 and of such materials was it constructed. It was, in 
 fact, a shield, a Zooloo shield though of somewhat 
 larger dimensions than those used in war. Notwith- 
 standing its great size it was far from clumsy, but light, 
 tight, and .firm, so much so that arrow, assegai, or 
 bullet, striking it upon the convex side, would have 
 glanced off as from a plate of steel. 
 
 A pair of strong bands fastened inside along the 
 bottom enabled the wearer to move it about at will ; 
 Jmd placed upright, with its lower end resting upon the 
 ground, it would have sheltered the body of the tallesl
 
 KILLED A LIONESS. 43 
 
 man. It sheltered that of Congo, and Congo was as 
 dwarf. 
 
 Without another word he walked out, the huge cara- 
 pace on his left arm, five of the assegais clutched in 
 his left hand, while one that he had chosen for the first 
 throw he held in his right. This one was grasped near 
 the middle, and carried upon the balance. 
 
 No change had taken place in the situation of affairs 
 out upon the plain. In fact, there had not been much 
 time for any. Scarce five minutes had elapsed from 
 the time the Kaffir stated his purpose, until he went 
 forth to execute it. The lioness was still roaming 
 about, uttering her frightful screams. The hyenas 
 were still there. The moment the Kaffir was seen 
 approaching, the cowardly hyenas fled with a howl, 
 and soon disappeared under the bosch. 
 
 Far different with the lioness. She seemed to pay 
 no regard to the approach of the hunter. She neither 
 turned her head, nor looked in the direction he was 
 coming. Her whole attention was absorbed by the 
 mass of bodies upon the plain. She yelled her savage 
 notes as she regarded them. She was no doubt lament- 
 ing the fate of her grim and swarthy partner, that lay 
 dead before her eyes. At all events, she did not seem 
 to notice the hunter, until he had got within twenty 
 paces of the spot ! 
 
 At that distance the Kaffir halted, rested his huge 
 shield upon the ground still holding it erect poised 
 the assegai a moment in his right hand, and then sent 
 it whizzing through the ah*. 
 
 It pierced the side of the tawny brute, and hung 
 quivering between her ribs. Only for a moment. Tlw
 
 44 DOW CONGO THE KAFFIR 
 
 fierce animal doubled round upon herself, caught th 
 shaft in her teeth, and broke it off as if it had been a 
 Btraw ! 
 
 The blade of the assegai still remained in the flesh, 
 but the lioness waited no longer. She had now per- 
 ceived her enemy ; and, uttering a vengeful scream, 
 ehe sprang towards him. With one tremendous bound 
 she cleared three-fourths of the space that lay between 
 them, and a second would have carried her upon the 
 shoulders of the Kaffir ; but the latter was prepared to 
 receive her, and, as she rose to her second leap, he dis- 
 appeared suddenly from the scene ! As if by magic he 
 had vanished ; and had not the boys been watching his 
 every movement, they would have been at a loss to 
 know what had become of him. But they knew that 
 under that oval convex form, whose edges rested upon 
 the earth, lay Congo the Kaffir. There lay he, like a 
 tortoise in its shell, clutching the straps with all his 
 might, and pressing his carapace firmly against the 
 ground! 
 
 The Lioness was more astonished than the spectators. 
 At the second leap she pitched right down upon the 
 shield, but the drum-like noise made by her weight, 
 and the hard firm substance encountered by her 
 claws, quite disconcerted her, and springing aside 
 she stood gazing at the odd object with looks of 
 arm! 
 
 She stood but for a moment, and then, uttering 
 savage growl of disappointment, turned tail upon it, 
 and trotted off! 
 
 This growl glided Congo. The shield was n> ded 
 from the ground only on one side, and but a very littU
 
 KILLED A LIONESS. 4i 
 
 uray at first -just enough to enable the hunter to see the 
 item of the retreating lioness. 
 
 Then the Kaffir rose quickly to his feet, and, holding 
 the shield erect, prepared for the casting of a second 
 assegai. 
 
 This was quickly thrown and pierced the animal in 
 the flank, where shaft and all remained sticking in the 
 fesh. The lioness turned with redoubled fury, once 
 more charged upon her assailant, and, as before, was 
 met by the hard convex surface of the shield. This 
 time she did not immediately retreat, but stood menac- 
 ing the strange object, striking it with her clawed hoofs, 
 and endeavoring to turn it over. 
 
 Now was the moment of peril for Congo. Had the 
 lioness succeeded in making a capsize, it would have 
 been all up with him, poor fellow ! But he knew the 
 danger, and with one hand clutching the leathern straps, 
 and the other bearing upon the edge of the frame, he 
 was able to hold firm and close, closer even " than a 
 barnacle to a ship's copper." 
 
 After venting her rage in several impotent attempts 
 to break or overturn the carapace, the lioness at length 
 went growling away towards her former position. 
 
 Her growls, as before, guided the actions of Congo. 
 He was soon upon his feet, another assegai whistled 
 through the air, and pierced through the neck of the 
 lioness. 
 
 But, as before, the wound was not fatal, and the ani- 
 mal, now enraged to a frenzy, charged once more upon 
 her assailant. So rapid was her advance that it was 
 with great difficulty Congo got under cover. A mo- 
 ment later, and his ruse would have failed, for th
 
 46 HOW CONGO THE KAFFIR 
 
 claws of the lion rattled upon the shield as if. ota 
 scended. 
 
 He succeeded, however, in planting himself firmly, 
 and was jnce more safe under the thick buffalo hide. 
 The lioness now howled with disappointed rage ; and 
 after spending some minutes in fruitless endeavors to 
 upset the shield, she once more desisted. This time, 
 however, instead of going away, the angry brute kept 
 pacing round and round, and at length lay d>wn within 
 three feet of the spot. Congo was besieged ! 
 
 The boys saw at a glance that Congo was a captive. 
 The look of the lioness told them this. Though she 
 was several hundred yards off, they could see that she 
 wore an air of determination, and was not likely to de- 
 part from the spot without having her revenge. There 
 eould be no question about it, the Kaffir was in " a 
 crape." 
 
 Should the lioness remain, how was he to get out of 
 it? He could not escape by any means. To raise the 
 shield would be to tempt the fierce brute upon him. 
 Nothing could be plainer than that. 
 
 The boys shouted aloud to warn him of his danger. 
 They feared that he might not be aware of the close 
 proximity of his enemy. 
 
 Notwithstanding the danger there was something 
 ludicrous in the situation in which the Kaffir was placed ; 
 and the young hunters, though anxious about the result 
 could scarce keep from laughter, as they looked fortt 
 upon the plain. 
 
 There lay the lioness within three feet of the shield, 
 regarding it with fixed and glaring eyes, and at inter 
 vals uttering her savage growls. There lay the ovaJ
 
 KILLED A LIONESS. 47 
 
 form, with Congo beneath, motionless and silenl. A 
 strange pair of adversaries, indeed ! 
 
 Long time the lioness kept her close vigil, scarce 
 moving her body from its crouching attitude. Her tail 
 only vibrated from side to side, and the muscles of hei 
 jaws quivered with subdue! rage. The boys shouted 
 repeatedly to warn Congo ; though no reply came from 
 the hollow interior of the carapace. They might 
 have spared their breath. The cunning Kaffir knew 
 as well as they the position of his enemy. Her 
 growls, as well as her loud breathing, kept him ad 
 monished of her whereabouts ; and he well understood 
 how to act under the circumstances. 
 
 For a full half-hour this singular scene continued ; 
 and as the lioness showed no signs of deserting her 
 post, the young yagers at length determined upon an 
 attack, or, at all events, a feint that would draw her off. 
 
 It was close upon sunset, and should night come down 
 what would become of Congo ? In the darkness he 
 might be destroyed. He might relax his watchfulness, 
 he might go to sleep, and then his relentless enemy 
 would have the advantage. 
 
 Something must be done to release him from his nar- 
 row prison, and at once. 
 
 They had saddled and mounted their horses, and were 
 about to ride forth, when the sharp-eyed Hans noticed 
 that the lioness was much farther off" from the shield 
 than when he last looked that way. And yet she had 
 not moved, at all events, no one had seen her stir 
 And she was still in the very same attitude ! How 
 then? 
 
 " Ha ! look yonder ! the shield is moving ! "
 
 48 HOW CONGO THE KAFFJ11 
 
 As Hans uttered these words the eyes of all turned 
 suddenly upon the carapace. 
 
 Sure enough, it was moving. Slowly and gradually 
 it seemed to glide along the ground, like a huge tortoise, 
 though its edges remained close to the surface. Al- 
 though impelled by no visible power, all understood 
 what this motion meant, Congo was the moving 
 power ! 
 
 The yagers held their bridles firm, and sat watching 
 with breathless interest. 
 
 In a few minutes more the shield had moved full ten 
 paces from the crouching lioness. The latter seemed not 
 to notice this change in the relative position of her- 
 self and her cunning adversary. If she did, she beheld 
 it rather with feelings of curiosity or wonder than 
 otherwise. At all events, she kept her post until the 
 curious object had gone a wide distance from her. 
 
 She might not have suffered it to go much farther ; but 
 it was now far enough for her adversary's purpose, for 
 the shield suddenly became erect, and the Kaffir once 
 more sent his assegai whirring from his hand. 
 
 It was the fatal shaft. The lioness chanced to be 
 crouching broadside towards the hunter. His aim was 
 true, and the barbed iron pierced through her heart. A 
 sharp growl, that was soon stifled, a short despairing 
 struggle, that soon ended, and the mighty brute lay mo- 
 tionless in the dust ! 
 
 A loud " hurrah ! " came from the direction of the 
 camp, and the young yagers now galloped forth upon 
 the plain, and congratulated Congo upon the successful 
 result of his perilous conflict. 
 
 The group of dead bodies was approached, and thew
 
 KILLED A LIONESS. 48 
 
 n tr %u."t>i>&e awaited the hunters. The lion was 
 dc.cu, as they nad long since conjectured, the sharp 
 horns ot the oryx had doae the work ; but what aston- 
 ished all of them was, that the horns that had impaled 
 th< body of the great lion still remained sticking in hia 
 side. The oryy had been unable to extricate them, and 
 would thus have perished along with her victim, even 
 had the lioness not arrived to give the fatal blow ! 
 
 This, both Congo and Swartboy assured the party, 
 was no uncommon occurrence, and the bodies of the lion 
 and gemsbok are often found upon the plains locked in 
 this fatal embrace ! 
 
 The cow gemsbok, yielding the more tender venison, 
 was soon skinned and cut up ; and as the delicious steaks 
 spurted over the red coals of their camp-fire, the young 
 yagers became very merry, and laughed at the singular 
 of the day.
 
 50 A SHORT CHAT ABOUT LTONS. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 A. SHORT CHAT ABOUT LIONS 
 
 BEFORE going to supper the hunters dragged the 
 carcasses of both lion and lioness close up to the camp- 
 fire. A good pull it was, but they managed it by at- 
 taching strong " rheims " of raw hide around the necks 
 of the creatures, and sliding them with the grain of the 
 hair. 
 
 Their object in bringing them to the fire was, that 
 they might have light to skin them, not that they 
 deem the lion-hides of any great value, except as tro 
 phies of their expedition and tLey were not going to 
 leave such trophies on the plain Had the lions been 
 permitted to remain all night Adhere they had been 
 killed, the hyenas would have eaten them up before 
 morning, skins and all. It is a fable which tells that 
 the hyena will not eat the dead lion. The filthy 
 brute will eat anything, even one of his own kind, 
 perhaps the most unpalatable morsel he could well 
 find. 
 
 Of course the oryx were also brought up to the camp 
 to be skinned and cut up. The bull, as large and heavy 
 as a dead ass, gave them a good pull for it But it 
 afforded Groot Willem an opportunity of exhibiting his
 
 A SHORT CHAT ABODT LIONS. 51 
 
 enormous strength ; and the big boy, seizing the tow 
 rcpe, dragged he oryx after him with as much ease as 
 if it had been a kitten at the end of a string of twine. 
 
 Both the gemsboks were regularly " butchered " and 
 cut into quarters, to be carried to the next camp, and 
 there dried. They would have dried the meat on the 
 gpt.it, but the water where they had halted was not good, 
 and they did not wish to remain there another day. 
 
 The horns of the oryx are also esteemed trophies of 
 the chase, and those of both that were killed being per- 
 fect specimens long, handsomely ringed, and black as 
 ebony were added to the collection which the young 
 yagers were forming, and stowed safely away in the 
 wagons. The heads, with the skins left on, were care- 
 fully cleaned and preserved, at no distant day to be- 
 come ornaments in the voor-ftuis, or entrance-hall, either 
 of the Von Bloom or Van Wyk mansions. 
 
 All these matters being arranged, the yagers sat 
 down to supper around the camp-fire. The roast ribs 
 and steaks of the gemsbok venison proved delicious, 
 and the whole party, as already stated, were contented 
 and merry. Of course lions were the subject of con- 
 versation, and all laughed again and again whenever 
 they thought of Congo and his encounter. 
 
 All of them, little Jari and Klaas excepted, had 
 ttories to tell of adventures with lions, for these animals 
 *rere still to be found in the Graaf Reinet, and both 
 Groot Willem and A rend had been present at more 
 flian one lion-hunt. Hans and Hendrick had met 
 ihem in many an encounter during the great elephant 
 expedition, and Swartboy was an old Hottentot lion 
 hunter.
 
 52 A SHORT CHAT ABOUT LIONS. 
 
 But Congo seemed to know more of the lion than 
 even Swartboy, though the latter would have gone wild 
 had such a thing been hinted at by any one of the 
 party ; and many a rival story of strange interest frli 
 from the lips of both Kaffir and Bushman at that same 
 camp-fire. Some of the party had heard of a mode of 
 lion-hunting practised by the Bechuana tribes, and, 
 indeed, in Congo's own country. There was nothing 
 very novel about the mode. A number of people, 
 naked savages they were, attacked the lion wherever 
 they met him, either in the bush or on the open plain, 
 and there fought him to the death. These people 
 carried for arms only the assegai, and, as a sort of de- 
 fensive weapon, a mop of black ostrich-feathers fastened 
 upon the end of a slender stick, and somewhat resem- 
 bling a large fly-brush. The object of this was to 
 disconcert the lion when rushing upon the hunter. By 
 sticking it in the ground at the right moment, the lion 
 mistakes the clump of ostrich-feathers for his real 
 assailant, and, charging upon it, permits the hunter to 
 escape. Such a ruse is far inferior to the trick of the 
 carapace, but that singular mode of defence against the 
 lion was only practised by such cunning hunters as 
 Congo. 
 
 Now, as already stated, the plan practised by the 
 Bechuana savages had nothing very novel or strange 
 in iL Any strangeness about it consisted in the fact of 
 the imprudence of such a mode of attack ; for it was 
 eaid that the hunters did not stand off at a distance and 
 cast their assegais, on the contrary, they retained these 
 weapons in their hands, and used them as spears, ap- 
 proaching the lion close enough to thrust them into hi
 
 A SHORT CIIAT ABOUT LION8. 53 
 
 body ! The consequence was, that in every encountei 
 with their terrible antagonist, several hunters wer 
 either killed or badly mangled. This was the thing 
 that appeared strange to our young yagers. They 
 could not understand why any hunters should attack 
 the fierce lion thus boldly and recklessly, when they 
 might avoid the encounter altogether! They could 
 not understand why even savages should be so regard- 
 less of life. Was it true that any people hunted the 
 lion in that way ? They asked Congo if it was true. 
 He replied that it was. 
 
 Now this required explanation, and Congo was 
 requested to give it, which he did as follows. 
 
 The hunters spoken of were not volunteers. They 
 did not attack the lion of their own will and pleasure, 
 but at the command of the tyrant that ruled them. It 
 was so in Congo's country, where the sanguinary mon- 
 ster, Chaaka, had sway. The whole people of Chaaka 
 were his slaves, and he thought nothing of putting a 
 thousand of them to death in a single morning to gratify 
 some petty spleen or dislike ! He had done so on rnor 
 than one occasion, often adding torture. The tales of 
 horrors practised by these African despots would be 
 incredible were it not for the full clear testimony es- 
 tablishing their truth ; and, although it forms no excuse 
 for slavery, the contemplation of such a state of things 
 in Africa lessens our disgust for the system of Ameri- 
 can bondage. Even the atrocious slave-trade, with all 
 the horrors of the u middle passage," appears mild in 
 comparison with the sufferings endured by the subject* 
 of such fearful tyrants as Chaaka Dingaan, or Me 
 elekatse !
 
 54 A. SHORT CHAT ABOUT LIONS. 
 
 Congo related to the young yagers that it was cut 
 tomary for Chaaka's people to act as the herdsmen of 
 his numerous flocks, and that when any of his carthi 
 were killed by a lion, a frequent occurrence, tho 
 unfortunate creatures who herded them were com- 
 manded to hunt the lion, and bring in his head, or 
 tuffer death in case of failure ; and this sentence waa 
 sure to be carried into effect. 
 
 This explained the apparently reckless conduct of the 
 hunters. 
 
 Congo further stated that he had been compelled to 
 take part in several of these lion-hunts, in each of 
 which the lives of men were sacrificed. He spoke of 
 one in particular where no less than- ten hunters had 
 been killed before the lion was captured; captured, 
 nc t killed, for on this occasion the despot had taken a 
 tthim into his head, and ordered the fierce animal to be 
 iken alive ! His command was, that if the lion were 
 jot brought before him alive, and without a wound or 
 scratch, every man engaged in the hunt should suffer 
 death ! As the unfortunate hunters well knew the 
 threat was no idle one, they caught the lion in their 
 naked arms, and succeeded in tying him, but not until 
 ten of their number had fallen victims to their involun- 
 tary zeal ! 
 
 To these and other talos of lions did the young 
 pagera listen as they sat around the blazing camp -fire
 
 Tfitt UNICOhN. 55 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE UNICORN. 
 
 THE oryx next became the subject of converBtttiotti 
 and Swartboy could tell more about it than any one. 
 Of the oryx Congo knew very little, as the region most 
 frequented by this beautiful antelope lies farther west 
 than the country of the Kaffir tribes. Its head- 
 quarters are in the land of the Namaquas, though it is 
 thinly scattered all around the borders of the Great 
 Kalihari Desert. 
 
 The oryx is a desert-dwelling antelope, can live with- 
 out water, and grows fat even on the plants that thinly 
 vegetate over the barren soil. It is a bold creature 
 often beats off the lion, or kills him by impalement on its 
 long bayonet-like horns. Of the truth of this fact our 
 yagers had that day had proof. The oryx when hunted 
 does not, b'ke many other antelopes, make for either 
 water or cover. It strikes in a straight line for ita 
 desert home, trusting to its heels for safety. And its 
 coniidence in them is seldom misplaced. A swift horse 
 alone can overtake and bring it to a stand ; unless it be 
 rery fat, and then it is more easily " blown." 
 
 An interesting point occurred in the conversation 
 i mt the oryx.
 
 58 THE UNICORJT. 
 
 Arend and some of the others had read in severa. 
 books of travellers that the oryx was supposed to be 
 the fabled " unicom," derived from Egyptian sculp 
 tures. They asked if this was the case. Their ques 
 tion was not put to Swartboy, you may be sure, but to 
 Hans the naturalist, of course. 
 
 Hans regarded the supposition as a very silly one. 
 A mere fancy of some early South African traveller, 
 that had been repeated, parrot-like, in the books of 
 other travellers and the writings of several closet- 
 naturalists. The supposition of the oryx being the 
 original of the unicorn rested only upon the fact that 
 its horns when seen en profile appear as but one ; and 
 the unicorn is so figured on the Egyptian sculptures. 
 Now this argument can be advanced in favor OT 
 several other antelopes, and therefore falls at once to 
 the ground as regards the oryx. 
 
 Hans mentioned several reasons why the gemsbok 
 could not be the '' fabled unicorn." Its form, and par- 
 ticularly the shape of its head, are quite unlike tho 
 sculptures of that famous creature. Its horns, both in 
 length and " set," even when seen en profile, differ 
 altogether from that of the unicorn, which points for- 
 ward, whereas the horns of the oryx extend backward 
 almost horizontally, and sometimes even touching the 
 Banks of the animal. 
 
 " No," continued Hans ; " if the Egyptian unicorn be 
 not a fable if it be the representation of any animal 
 in Africa, that animal is the gnoo ; and I regard it as 
 something singular that the resemblance between the 
 gnoo I mean the common species, not the ' brindled ' 
 and the fabled unicorn, has not long since been noticed 
 by naturalists and travellers.
 
 THE UNICOKN. 5? 
 
 "I should fancy that no one could look upon the 
 pictures of both without being struck by this resem- 
 blance. Their forms, both of head and body, the ele- 
 gant rounding of limb, the split hoof, the long tufted 
 tails, the proud arching necks, with full flowing mane, 
 nil these points go to show that the gnoo was copied for 
 the unicorn. The one horn is the only circumstance 
 that appears to invalidate my theory, but even in thia 
 respect the gnoo bears a much greater resemblance to 
 the unicorn than does the oryx. The horns of the gnoo 
 are set in such a manner that it often appears a unicorn. 
 Their tips do not rise above the level of the skull ; and 
 in consequence of this, and also from the manner in 
 which the animal frequently carries its head, only one 
 horn is visible, the other being inconspicuous against 
 the dark ground of the head and mane. Often only 
 half the horn appears at a distance, and is then seen 
 pointing forward and ' set,' very similarly to the brow 
 ornaments of the unicorn. 
 
 " The horn of the unicorn is usually represented 
 quite straight in modern paintings ; but this is not cor- 
 rect, according to the Egyptian sculpture, where a curve 
 is given, a positive imitation of the curve in the horns 
 of the oryx ! Even though it were straight, this would 
 Bcarce invalidate my theory, for the horns of the young 
 'jryx are straight also, and we might suppose a young 
 one to be represented. 
 
 <* I do not beg the question in this way, however," 
 continued Hans, " for I know that whatever animal the 
 Egyptians meant on their sculptures must have been 
 well kno^ n to them, and it is not likely that they would 
 have pictured a specimen of immature age. The singu- 
 3*
 
 58 THE UKICORIf. 
 
 lar character of the gnoo, its odd and eccentric habits, 
 as well as the eccentricity of its form and appearanc^ 
 must have drawn attention to it from the earliest times, 
 and such an animal would not fail to be pictured by the 
 Egyptians. As to the one horn, I regard the existetce 
 of that, either as the result of imperfect observation on 
 the part of the Egyptian sculptors, or, what is moie 
 likely, a want of knowledge of their art. Egyptian 
 sculpture is at best but a rude affair, and the peculiar 
 curve and set of the oryx horns are difficult to depict. 
 Even in this very hour of high art, our painters do not 
 give the most correct delineation of the head of a geins- 
 bok. So, you see, I make out a tolerably clear case, 
 that the gnoo of South Africa is the original of that 
 mysterious celebrity the unicorn" 
 
 The naturalist had fairly established his point, to the 
 satisfaction of all the young yagers, who then asked 
 him some questions about the unicorn mentioned in the 
 Bible. 
 
 "As to the unicorn of Scripture," replied Hans, " thai 
 is a very different affair. There can be no mistake 
 about the animal meant by Job when he wrote, ' Canst 
 thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow ? or 
 will he harrow the valleys after thee ? Wilt thou trust 
 him because his strength is great ? or wilt thou leave 
 thy labor to him ? ' This is, in reality, a unicorn the 
 one-horned rhinoceros" 
 
 Resuming the subject of the oryx, Hans informed hia 
 companions that this animal formed the type of a genus 
 of animals called Oryx, of which there were three 
 other species, the " addax," the " abu-harb," and tin 
 B algazel."
 
 THE UNICORN. 59 
 
 The " addax " ( Oryx addax) is a native of Central 
 Africa generally, and is nearly as large as the oryx 
 but its horns, instead of being straight, are twisted 
 ipirally. They are smaller in the female, which is 
 agreeable to the usual disposition of these appendages, 
 though contrary to that of the horns of the gcmsbok. 
 The color of the addax is greyish-white over the body 
 and reddish-brown upon the head and neck, wilh a 
 white patch across the face. It is not gregarious, but 
 lives in pairs on the sandy deserts, for traversing which 
 its broad hoofs are peculiarly adapted. It was known 
 to the ancients, and Pliny speaks of it under the name 
 Strepsiceros. 
 
 The " abu-harb " ( Oryx leucoryx) is also a large 
 powerful antelope, with long sharp horns slightly curved 
 backward. Its color is cream-white, with a brown 
 mark on the forehead, another on the cheeks, and a 
 rust-brown color over the neck and throat. In form 
 it bears a good deal of resemblance to the oryx, and 
 was really the animal known by this name to the 
 Greeks and Romans. But naturalists now apply the 
 name " oryx " to the gemsbok or Cape oryx, ( 0. Capen 
 tis.) 
 
 The "abu-harb" is a native of Kordofan and Sen- 
 naar, and it is one of those that are found upon the 
 sculptures of Nubia and Egypt. Unlike the addax, it 
 is gregarious in its habits, and lives in large herds. 
 
 The fourth species of oryx is the "algazel," (0. alga- 
 zella.) This is also a native of Central Africa, but les 
 is known of it than of any of the other three ; and there 
 are naturalists who regard it as merely a variety of thi 
 "abu-harb."
 
 60 THE UNICOKN 
 
 When Hans had finished his learned discourse, it was 
 full time for retiring to rest, so the whole party crept 
 into their wagons, and went to sleep.
 
 THK CAMEL-RIRWS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 CHE CAMEL-BIRDS. 
 
 On leaving \.t u drift " where they had crossed the 
 Oninge River, ou\ hunters " treked " in a northeasterly 
 direction. Had tKoy gone due north they would soon 
 have reached the rim of the Great Kalihari Desert 
 the Siiara of Southern Africa. Of course they could 
 not have penetrated this, and would necessarily have 
 been compelled to head in a new direction, either to 
 the east or west. But they had long since determined 
 on an easterly course, as the region lying to the east- 
 ward of the desert had the reputation of being a grand 
 country for the large animals the buffalo, the elephant, 
 and the camelopard ; and the rivers in that part were 
 filled with huge sea-cows (hippopotami) and gigantic 
 crocodiles. That was the very country the young 
 yagers wanted to be in. 
 
 They were not travelling without a guide. Congo 
 was their guide. He knew every inch of the route. 
 He had promised to bring them into a country abound- 
 ing in elephants and giraffes ; and no doubt was enter- 
 tained that the Kaffir would keep his promise. 
 
 Next day they were on the move at an early hour. 
 They made a long day's march, and, halting a little
 
 62 THE CAMEL-BIRDS. 
 
 before sunset, outspanned in a grove of mokhala-treea, 
 standing upon the very edge of a bleak desert, that 
 stretched before them as far as they could see, and 
 indeed much further. This desert had a very arid nnd 
 parched appearance, the only vegetation upon it btiug 
 solitary plants of the arborescent aloe, with its large 
 coral-red flower-spike, palm-like zamias, some species 
 of cactus-like euphorbias, and here and there small 
 clumps of Acacia horrida, or "wait-a-bit" thorns, as 
 these bushes are jocosely termed, from the disposition 
 of their curved spines to hook upon the clothes of any 
 one passing them. 
 
 Both plants and bushes grew far apart, and wide 
 tracts of the plain appeared without even any of these 
 to vary its brown monotony. It was a sort of outlying 
 spur of the Kalihari Desert, and they would have to 
 cross it before they should reach the country promised 
 by their guide. There would be fifty miles without 
 vley, spring, or stream fifty miles from water to 
 water. 
 
 They had outspanned by the last spring, which 
 gurgled out among the roots of the mokhala-trees upon 
 the very edge of the desert. There they intended re- 
 maining for a couple of days to dry the flesh of the 
 gemsboks, and also to recruit their animals and prepare 
 them for the long waterless journey of the desert, a 
 perilous passage. 
 
 It was near sunset when they had finished "outspan- 
 ning," having formed their camp in the centre of the 
 tookhala grove, and not far from the spring. 
 
 Hans, in a contemplative mood, had wandered to the 
 edge of the grove ; and, seating himself under one of
 
 THE CAMKL-BIRDS. 63 
 
 the trees, whose full umbrella-like top cast a fine 
 wan g<u-ing out upon the wide treeless waste. 
 
 He had not been long in this situation, when his at 
 lection was attracted to three upright forms that ap- 
 peared upon the plain at the distance of some hundred 
 yards from the grove. They were bipeds, for he saw 
 them from head to heel. Not human bipeds, however, 
 but birds. They were ostriches. 
 
 The n:crest child could have told that much anybody 
 for who does not recognize the great African ostrich 
 at the first glance ? The size and form of the Struthio 
 camdiis are too peculiar to admit of its being taken for 
 any other bird. The American "rhea," or the Austra- 
 lian " emeu," might pass for its half-grown young, but 
 full-si/ed African ostrich is not to be mistaken for any 
 of its pigmy relatives, either in Australia, New Zealand 
 the Indian archipelago, or America. It is the great 
 bird of birds the biggest that carries feathers. 
 
 Of course Hans knew the three to be ostriches the 
 moment his eye rested upon them a cock and two 
 hens. This was easily told, for there is as much differ- 
 ence between the male and female of these birds, as be- 
 tween the brilliant peacock and his dingy spouse. The 
 greater size of the former ; the deep black color of his 
 body contrasting strongly with the snow-white plumes 
 of his wings and tail, and in the desert these are snow- 
 white distinguish him at once from his female com- 
 panions. Their color is a nearly uniform grayish 
 brown, an i they want those splendid jet and snowy 
 plumes that adorn the back of their lord and master, and 
 which have been from all time so highly prized as oiua> 
 Went* by both savage and civilized people.
 
 64 THE CAMEL-BIRDS. 
 
 A cock and two hens they were, that presented them- 
 selves before the eyes of the young naturalist. 
 
 They were inarching slowly along. They were not 
 affrighted. They evidently had seen nothing of tlio 
 camp. How could they, as it was behind the trees in 
 the centre of the grove ? They occasionally bent their 
 Jong necks to one side or the other, and cropped a leaf, 
 or picked up a seed, but then continued their course. 
 From their following a straight line Hans concluded 
 they were not feeding in the regular way, but bent 
 towaids some point, perhaps to their night resting- 
 place. 
 
 When first observed, they were coming in a side 
 direction, that is, transversely to the direction in which 
 Hans himself was facing. In a short time they had 
 passed before him, and were now widening the distance, 
 and getting farther off into the desert. 
 
 Hans at first thought of calling to the others, who 
 were all busy about the wagons, and had not seen the 
 ostriches. He was thinking also of some plan by which 
 the birds might be captured or killed. 
 
 After a moment's consideration, he gave up the idea 
 of either one thing or the other. The sight of an ostrich 
 was nothing new to any of the party. Jan and Klaan 
 might have cared for it, but both were tired after their 
 long hot ride, and had already fallen asleep on the grass 
 Better not disturb them, thought Hans. 
 
 As to the killing or capturing the ostriches, after > 
 moment's reflection, Hans also gave up that design. Th> 
 birds were already passing to have stalked within sho, 
 upon the naked plain would have been impossible, fcx 
 Hans well knew the wary nature of the ostrich ; and tc
 
 THE CAMEL-BIRDS. f>. r i 
 
 have attempted a chase with their tired horses \vouio 
 have been equally idle. 
 
 Hans, therefore, held his peace, and sat still ; follow- 
 ing with his eyes the retreating forms of the three great 
 camel-birds. 
 
 Their long strides soon carried them far off, but be^ 
 fore they had receded half-a-mile, the eyes of the 
 naturalist were removed from them, and turned on 
 different object
 
 6F; IrtR SMALLEST OV FOXKR. 
 
 CHAPTER XT- 
 
 THE SMALLEST OF FOXES 
 
 THE object which now fixed the attention of the natu- 
 ralist was a quadruped, a very small one, not bigger 
 than a medium-sized cat, but altogether different in form 
 and proportions. Unlike the cats, it had a long sharp 
 snout, and a thick bushy tail. It stood higher upon its 
 legs, too, than do animals of the cat kind, but the most 
 remarkable feature about it was its ears. These were 
 remarkable for their length, which was out of all pro- 
 portion to the size of the creature. Its whole body was 
 barely one foot long, and yet the ears stood full six 
 inches above the crown of its head ! They stood quite 
 erect, broad, stiff, and pointed, and ending in an acute 
 angle at the tips. 
 
 Its color was a beautiful Isabella above, and cream- 
 *rhitt underneath. No ; the creature was not like a 
 cat, nor a dog neither, though it was more like the latter 
 than the former. But there is an animal related to 
 the canine family to which it bore a very strong 
 resemblance, and that is the fox, for it was a fox, the 
 very smallest in the world, the "caama" of Southern 
 Aft ica. And yet, correctly speaking, it was not a 'b* 
 neither, but &fennec.
 
 THE SMALLEST OF FOXES. 67 
 
 What is a " fennec ? " 
 
 That is an interesting question, and cne about which 
 naturalists have bothered their brains a good deal. It 
 is an animal of which there are several species existing 
 throughout Africa ; and of which the celebrated travel- 
 ler Bruce, who, everybody thought, lied so largely, 
 but about whom conceited ignorance has since change! 
 its opinion, first gave an account. 
 
 It differs from the foxes in several respects, but the 
 most remarkable difference is found in the form of tho 
 eye. In the true foxes the pupil is linear or elliptical, 
 while that of the fennec is round, thus showing the dif- 
 ference of habit for the foxes are in reality nocturnal 
 animals, while the fennecs are diurnal. Some species 
 of foxes, however, are twilight prowlers, and one or two 
 of the fennecs are also crepuscular. 
 
 It is, therefore, scarce possible to draw a line of de- 
 marcation between the two. The fennecs, however, 
 have been formed into a separate genus, termed Megcdo- 
 tis, from the extreme size of their ears. It is to be 
 hoped that the question is thus settled that has so much 
 bothered the closet-naturalists ; who, taking their ideas 
 from the anatomy of the fennec, have classed it accord- 
 ing to their several fancies ; one making it a dog, 
 another a cat, a third a fox, a fourth a civet, a fifth a 
 hyena, and a sixth placing it among the galagos ! 
 
 Let us call it a " fennec," or diurnal fox, and saj 
 farther that although there are several species of true 
 foxes in Africa, and several of jackal-foxes, there are 
 also several of fennecs. Three are well known. The 
 fennec of Bruce, (Megalotu zerda,) first described by 
 that traveller as seen by him in Abyssinia, but also i
 
 68 THE SMALLEST OF FOXES. 
 
 iligenous to South Africa; the " zabora," (Megalotii 
 fmru'li'cus,) a native of Nubia and Kordofan, and sup- 
 posed to be the animal represented on Egyptian temples, 
 which has been taken for the figure of the jackal ; and 
 the " caama fennec," (Megalotis caama.) 
 
 A fourth species, " Lalande's zerda," {Megalotis La- 
 liindii,) has been " hooked out " of this genus, and made 
 to form one of itself, (Agriodus,) not because its habits 
 in anywise differ from the Megalotides, but because it 
 chances to differ slightly from them in the form and ar- 
 rangement of its " ivories." 
 
 Now of all these fennecs the one which was passing 
 before the eyes of Hans was the " caama," the smallest 
 of the whole tribe either of fennecs or foxes. 
 
 Crouching just like a fox, now trotting nimbly a few 
 paces, now halting and squatting close to the ground, 
 as though fearful of being observed, the little creature 
 passed on. 
 
 What was it after? What prey was it in pursuit 
 of? 
 
 On watching it for a few moments, Hans saw to his 
 great surprise that it was after the ostriches ! 
 
 It was going the same way they had gone, its sharp 
 ?nout set towards, and its eyes evidently bent upon, them. 
 Whenever they stopped it did the same, squatting down 
 us it did so, as if to avoid their observation ; and when 
 they moved on, it also trotted forward, halting at intervals 
 behind stones and bushes and earnestly regarding the 
 birds in advance. Beyond a doubt it was trailing them 
 But what could this little creature want with the ostriches? 
 Certainly not to attack them, though it wa;? following 
 after them just as a fox would a covey of partridges.
 
 THR SMALLEST OP FOXES. G9 
 
 It could not l>3 that, however ; as a kick from the 
 mighty leg of one of these birds would have hotted 
 the fennec fifty yards over the plain, like a ball from a 
 cricket-bat. 
 
 No ; it could not be following them with hostile in- 
 tentions, puny pigmy that it appeared beside the big 
 carnal-birds ! 
 
 FDr what, then, was it trailing them ? Of course it 
 was not running on the scent, but the view. On their 
 track it certainly was, and as certainly was it "dogging" 
 them. For what purpose ? 
 
 This was just what the naturalist Hans wished to 
 know ; and he remained closely observing the move- 
 ments of this miniature " microscopic " fox. 
 
 Talking of a microscope reminds me that Hans at that 
 moment took out of his pocket a telescope, a small one, 
 which he habitually carried. This he did, because, in 
 a few minutes, the ostriches were very distant over the 
 plain, and their pursuer the fennec was no longer visible 
 to the naked eye. With the glass, however, Hans could 
 still make it out, and could see that it was manoeuvring 
 just as when it passed him. All at once the ostriches 
 came to a stop ; and, after an apparent consultation 
 among themselves, the cock squatted down, and his long 
 legs were no longer seen. He was flat down upon his 
 breast, and even through his small pocket-glass Hans 
 could tell that his body looked more spread and bulky 
 than before. Was he covering eggs? Was there a 
 neot ? The appearance of the ground about the sitting 
 bird favored that belief. There was a slight promi- 
 nence around the body of the bird having the semblance 
 of a bird's nest ; but Hans knew that the nest of the
 
 70 THE SMALLEST OF FOXES. 
 
 ostrich is cf very simple construction, a mere cavitj 
 scratched out in the sand, ard scarce to be recognized 
 from any great distance. Several white objects lying 
 around the spot led Hans to the conclusion that there 
 was a nest. These objects did not seem larger than 
 "jack-stones," but Hans, calculating well the distance 
 that separated them from his eye, believed them t l>e 
 ostrich-eggs, and therefore as large as paving-stones. 
 Hans knew that around the nest of the ostrich scattered 
 eggs are usually found said by some to be there laid 
 as a deposit for the food of the expected progeny during 
 their early days of chickhood ! 
 
 The two hens, after moving about awhile also squat- 
 ted down, but they appeared only to kneel with their 
 great legs doubled under them ; whereas the cock sat 
 low and flat upon his breast. This only more convinced 
 Hans that there was a nest, and that the cock ostrich 
 was taking his turn of duty, while the hens were simply 
 gone to roost in the usual manner. 
 
 That the cock covered the eggs was nothing surpris- 
 ing to the young naturalist, who knew that it is the habit 
 of the male of these birds to do so, and that he usually 
 takes his turn during the night, when it is colder, and 
 his greater size and strength are required to keep the 
 eggs warm, as well as to protect the nest from prowling 
 beasts of prey. One or other of the hens would very 
 likely relieve him about daybreak. Of course both the 
 hens were mothers in prospective of the future brood, as 
 the cock ostrich is a terrible " Mormon ; " and frequently 
 does the polygamous on a large scale, having sometimea 
 as many as a dozen wives. Our old fellow was rather 
 a moderate Mormon, as he appeared to be satisfied with
 
 THE SMALLEST OF FOXES. 71 
 
 two though bigamy, no doubt, is quite as sinful as 
 polygamy. 
 
 Hans concluded that there was a nest, and full of eggs 
 in process of being hatched. It was no evidence against 
 this, that the birds had been away from it together. The 
 day had been a very warm one, and during the middle 
 parl of the day particularly in hot weather the ostrich 
 wanders away from its eggs, leaving the sun to do its 
 work for it. The hotter the country, the less does the 
 ostrich require to "set;" and in parts of Africa within 
 the torrid zone where the heat reaches a very high 
 degree, the ostrich has very little to do with the hatch- 
 ing of its eggs, but buries them in the burning sand, and 
 makes the sun its " incubator ! " 
 
 But what had become of our fennec poor little 
 fellow ? 
 
 So asked Hans of himself, as he swept the plain with 
 his telescope. While watching the late movements of 
 the birds, he had altogether forgotten the beast. 
 
 After a time he was just able to make out its small 
 whitish body stretched upon the ground, under the lee 
 of a little bush, and apparently resolved upon passing 
 the night there. Had there been any hole near, it would 
 have preferred lodging in that for the fennec is an 
 animal that makes its home in a " burrow." 
 
 Nigbt had suddenly come on, and the darkness pro- 
 Tented Hans from observing farther the movements of 
 either beast or bird ; so putting up his glass, he rejcf ne>i 
 bis companions in the camp.
 
 72 THE WINGLESS BIRDS. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE WINGLESS BIRDS. 
 
 HANS, on returning to the camp, gave an account of 
 what he had seen. All were interested in the relation, 
 but particularly the boys Klaas and Jan, who were not 
 over satisfied that they had not themselves been witnes- 
 ses of the affair. Hans might very well have told them 
 of it. They wouldn't have minded being waked up to 
 see the ostriches, especially as they passed so near. It 
 wasn't every day one could get such a view of these fine 
 birds they were so shy no one could get near them, 
 and Hans might very well have come into camp and 
 told them, or called them, Klaas and Jan, to the spot. 
 Hans didn't care whether they ever saw any thing worth 
 seeing he didn't. 
 
 So grumbled Klaas and Jan, because Hans had not 
 waked them out of their sweet siesta, to see three os- 
 triches stalking over the plain, and not doing any thing 
 in particular. 
 
 But boys are boys, and so long as they are boys, they 
 will feel a wonderful interest in birds especially when 
 these birds stand nearly ten feet high, and weigh three 
 hundred pounds, as ostriches do. 
 
 Had it been a buffalo, or a giraffe, or even an ele
 
 THE WINGLESS BIRDS. 73 
 
 phant, neither Klaas nor Jan would have so much cared. 
 Beasts are all very well in their way, and may interest 
 full-grown hunters, like Hendrik and Groot Willem, but 
 for " boy hunters," with light fowling-pieces and No. 5 
 shot, birds are the game though their No. 5 shot would 
 hardly have tickled an ostrich. 
 
 No matter for that. They wanted to see the great 
 camel-bird Hans ought to have apprised them. It 
 was " right mean " of him not to do so, right mean 
 said Jan, and Klaas backed the opinion. 
 
 Ho\v long they might have grumbled, and given vent 
 to their reproaches, can only be guessed at ; but the 
 conversation turning upon ostriches assumed a very 
 pleasing character ; and Klaas and Jan, becoming deeply 
 interested in it, soon got over their little "miff" with 
 Hans especially as it was he who was now interesting 
 them. Upon the subject of ostriches Hans had read a 
 good deal, and was well acquainted with the character 
 and habits of these most interesting birds. 
 
 Swartboy stood next in his knowledge of the ostrich, 
 for Swartboy in early life had been a " dweller of thu 
 desert," the home of the Bushman as well as the 
 great camel-bird. Swartboy was only too happy at the 
 opportunity thus offered of showing off his knowledge, 
 for the late wonderful performances of his Kaffir rival 
 had quite thrown him into the shade. 
 
 So what with Hans's book -knowledge and Swartboy '9 
 practical experience, the young yagers became pretty 
 well acquainted with the whole " history " of the bird. 
 
 "The ostrich," said Hans, "is an African bird, 
 though also found in the adjacent countries of Asia. 
 Several species of birds somewhat like it, belonging i*
 
 <4 THE WINGLESS BIKDS. 
 
 Soulli America, Australia and the islands of the Indiat 
 Archipelago, have been called ' ostriches ' in the lan- 
 guage of travellers. I shall have a word about these 
 presently. 
 
 " All over the African continent, as well as Arabia, 
 Syria, and Persia, dwells the ostrich, wheisver theie 
 are desert plains for this bird is peculiarly a denizen 
 of the desert, and never makes its home in wood(xl, 
 marshy, or even fertile districts. 
 
 " It has been known from the earliest times, and 
 mast have been more numerous in the days of Helio- 
 gabalus than now, since that tyrant had the brains of 
 six hundred ostriches served up at a single feast ! " 
 
 " Oh, the glutton ! " exclaimed Jan. 
 
 " What a gourmand ! " echoed Klaas. 
 
 "I should think after the feast he had more brains in 
 his stomach than in his head," quietly remarked Arend. 
 
 " No doubt of it," added Hendrik. 
 
 Hans continued : 
 
 " The ancients knew the ostrich as the ' camel-bird," 
 (Slrut//io camelus.) This name was given to it on 
 account of its fancied resemblance to the camel ; and in 
 its hoof-like two-toed feet, its long naked thighs and 
 neck, and the pad or cushion on its chest, corresponding 
 to the callosity on the breast of the camel, it does bear 
 a resemblance to this animal. Like it, too, the ostrich 
 is formed for the desert. Aristotle and Pliny described 
 the ostrich as half bird, half quadruped." 
 
 As soon as Hans had given the more scientific part 
 of the natural history of the ostrich, Swartboy's knowl- 
 edge of the habits of the bird was produced, and frour 
 both were collected the details that follow.
 
 THE WINGLESS BIRDS. 75 
 
 Ostriches are gregarious flocks of fifty may be 
 apon the plains, peacefully associating with zebras, 
 quaggas, wildebeests, blue wildebeests, and several 
 other plain-frequenting antelopes. 
 
 The males are polygamous, and usually have from 
 two to six wives. These lay twelve to sixteen eggs 
 each, in a nest which is only a hole scooped out in the 
 sand about six feet in diameter. Not more than half 
 the eggs are deposited in the nest. The others lie 
 scattered around, and are never hatched. 
 
 Swartboy alleged that these were intended to feed 
 the young when they came out of the shell : but Hang 
 dissented from this opinion. The naturalist believed 
 that those scattered about were superfluous eggs, which 
 were not deposited in the nest because one bird could 
 not cover all that the whole family of hens would lay 
 and that once the " setting " was complete, the super- 
 fluous eggs were dropped about anywhere. 
 
 There is a good deal of probability in this conjecture 
 of the young naturalist. 
 
 It is certain that the scattered eggs are those last 
 laid, and that the birds continue to drop them after the 
 incubation has commenced, but whether they form tha 
 food of the young is a disputed point. One bird can 
 cover from thirty to forty, placed as they usually are 
 upon their ends, and Swartboy said that he had often 
 found this number in a nest, but more frequently thirty 
 was the " setting." 
 
 The male takes part in the incubation, sitting during 
 the night ; when his greater size and strength enable 
 him the better to protect the eggs from cold. The 
 * hens " relieve one another during the day, but whe&
 
 76 THE WINGLES3 BIRDS. 
 
 the sun is hot all leave the nest to itself, for hours at & 
 time. 
 
 Hnns stated, that in the more tropical regions the 
 eggs are forsaken for long spells, and the hot sand and 
 sun do the work of the parent birds ; and tha_ on this 
 account the period of incubation is not fixed, but langes 
 from thirty to forty days. 
 
 The young when hatched are well developed, and in 
 a day or two become as large as guinea-hens, leaving 
 tha nest and running about in charge of the parent 
 birds. 
 
 At this period the old ones are very careful of their 
 offspring. When an enemy approaches, the hen that 
 has charge of the flock will endeavor to attract the 
 intruder upon herself, making a feint of being wounded, 
 spreading and drooping her wings, and tumbling from 
 side to side along the ground, while the cock draws off 
 the chicks in an opposite direction ! Partridges, wild 
 ducks, and many other birds, do the same. 
 
 The eggs of the ostrich are of a dull white color. 
 They are not all of equal size, nor are the birds either. 
 A medium-sized ostrich-egg is six inches long, and 
 weighs about three pounds. It is excellent eating 
 when broiled among hot cinders, and is a meal for a 
 man, some say two, some three, while others allege 
 that it is not enough for one. But " a meal for a man'' 
 is a very uncertain standard, and depends a good deal 
 on the capacity of the man's stomach and the state of 
 his appetite. A better standard is found in the estimate 
 that one ostrich-egg is equal in quantity to twenty-four 
 of the common domestic fowl. 
 
 The shells of the ostrich-eggs are very strong, ani
 
 THE WINGLESS BIKDS. 77 
 
 used by the Bushmen and other natives of the desert 
 as water-vessels the only vessels that some of them 
 have. 
 
 A full-grown cock ostrich stands over nine ft(t in 
 height, and weights three hundred pounds. The legs 
 of such a bird are immensely thick and muscular, and 
 the thigh-joint equals in size the largest leg of mutton. 
 
 The ostrich is thought to be the swiftest mnner ii? 
 creation, but there are doubts about this. Certain it is 
 that it cannot be overtaken by a horse in a fair tail-on- 
 end chase ; but the bird makes " doubles " in running, 
 and by observing these, the mounted hunter sometimes 
 gets near it by making a cut upon it, and delivers his 
 fire as it passes. To run an ostrich down, however, is 
 considered an impossibility, even by the Arab on his 
 fleet steed. Its bottom is equal to its speed, as it can 
 keep up the pace for hours together. 
 
 The muscular strength of its great long legs is well 
 adapted for running fast and far ; and while on the run 
 its hoofs make a clatter like those of a trotting horse, 
 while large stones are flung violently to the rear ! 
 When at full speed it spreads its white wing-plumes, 
 raising them over its back, but this is only done to 
 balance it, as it could not fly a single yard. 
 
 Its principal weapon of defence is the leg with its 
 hoof-like foot. With this it can kick like a male, and 
 the blow will break a man's leg, or send the breath out 
 of his body, as would the kick of a horse ! 
 
 But the principal security of the ostrich lies ir its 
 splendid power of vision, combined with its peculiai 
 habitat. It is always on the naked plain, with nothing 
 to interrupt the view, and its keen eye enables it to
 
 78 THE WINGLESS BIRDS. 
 
 perceive an enemy long before the latter can get neat 
 enough to do it an injury. So sharp is its sight, it can 
 see even farther than it can be seen, large as it is ! 
 
 A most difficult matter it is to get within shooting 
 distance of these wary birds. Sometimes a shot is ob- 
 tained by lying in wait for them at vleys, or springs, 
 where they come to drink. Many people deny that 
 they ever drink, as they are met with at great distances 
 from water ; but it should be remembered that what 
 may appear a great distance to a tired traveller may be 
 nothing to a fleet ostrich, who can fling the miles behind 
 like a race-horse. 
 
 Others have observed the ostrich come to drink at a 
 particular place once every day ; and it is well known 
 that in captivity they swallow large quantities of water. 
 After drinking they do not run so well, and huntera 
 take advantage of this and run them down after leaving 
 the pool. 
 
 There are hunters residing upon the desert karoos, 
 who hunt the ostrich as a profession. The feathers are 
 of considerable value, as well as the skin, which ia 
 tough and strong, and tans into a fine species of leather, 
 out of which jackets and other garments are made. A 
 ekin without the feathers is worth about one pound 
 sterling ; and the long white plumes of the wings and 
 tail, of which there are five-and-forty (the finest are 
 from the wings,) are often sold for a shilling a-piece 
 on the spot. 
 
 Groot Willem observed that the ostrich may be easily 
 domesticated, and he had frequently seen tame one* 
 about the kraals of the frontier boors. They are a use- 
 less pet, however ; and, although quite harmless as far
 
 THE WINGLESS BIRDS. 7* 
 
 us man is concerned, they become troublesome in tie 
 Bum-yard, where they trample the poultry to death, and 
 sometimes gobble up chicks and young ducks, not from 
 way carnivorous propensity, but on account of their ex- 
 treme voracitj an old rag would be swallowed in th 
 same way. 
 
 The proper food of the ostrich is tops of shrubby 
 plants, with grain and seeds, though they " bolt " many 
 odd and indigestible substances. They are fond of 
 salt, like most wild animals, and are often seen in large 
 flocks around the salt-pans, or " salines." many of which 
 exist upon the desert plains of Africa. 
 
 The flesh of the young ostrich is very palatable, but 
 *hat of an old bird is rather tough and rank. Their 
 eggs, however, are esteemed a delicacy, though some 
 think them heavy. 
 
 The voice of the ostrich under ordinary circumstances 
 is a deep sonorous chuckle, though at times it gives out 
 a roar resembling that of the lion. When wounded or 
 brought to bay, it hisses like an enraged gander. 
 
 So much for the ostrich ; and now Hans proceeded, 
 as he had promised, to say a word or two about its 
 relatives. 
 
 The "rhea" is its South American representative, 
 but it has been lately disco\ered that there are two 
 distinct species in South America, the "nandu," (Rhea 
 Americana,) and the " petise," or Darwin's rhea, (Rhea 
 Daneinii.) They resemble each other in form, color, 
 and general habits, but differ in size and geographical 
 range. The nandu is the larger, and dwells upon the 
 wide plains of La Plata, whereas the petise is confined 
 to the southern part of Patagonia.
 
 8& THE WINGLESS BInDS. 
 
 The nandu resembles the African bird in form, and 
 its dingy brown color is not far from that of the lion 
 ostrich. Its size, however, is much less, being only fivo 
 feet in height. The plumes of its wings are less beauti- 
 ful and valuable than those of its African cousin, though 
 they are also a marketable article, being used for ))y 
 brushes and other household implements. 
 
 The habits of the rhea show a great similarity to 
 those of the Strut/tio, and it is quite a folly to make 
 separate genera of them. 
 
 The rhea is gregarious, polygamous, scoops a slovenly 
 nest in the ground, hatches from twenty to thirty eggs, 
 scatters many others around, runs swiftly when pursued, 
 hisses and kicks violently when assailed, and is shy and 
 wary. All these are habits of the ostrich. The rhea, 
 however, has some peculiarities. It feeds upon small 
 fish cast up on the mud banks of rivers, and on roots 
 and grass. It also takes freely to the water, and can 
 cross rapid streams by swimming. The gauchos hunt 
 it with both lazo and bolas. 
 
 Darwin's rhea is less in size, but very similar in 
 color, form, and habits. It also swims well, and fre- 
 quents plains near the coast. It is beyond doubt a very 
 tlosely allied species to Rhea Americana, but a bird of 
 a colder habitat. 
 
 The nandu is not found in North America, nor any 
 species of bird allied to the ostrich. In this respect 
 Nature has neglected the vast desert plains of prairie- 
 land. 
 
 Even in South America the range of the rhea ia 
 limited, and does not extend to the equator, though it 
 comes much farther within the tropics than is generally
 
 THE WINGLESS BIRDS. 81 
 
 imagined. It has lately been seen on the savannahs of 
 the Madeira Rivor, far to the noith of the La Plata 
 plains. 
 
 Another cousin of the ostrich is the " emeu," (Dro- 
 manis Nova Ifollandice.) I give the clumsy title of 
 the closet-naturalists, though there is no reason in the 
 world why this bird should be separated from the genus 
 of either ostrich or rhea, except to confuse the student 
 of natural history. 
 
 In form and habits it resembles both, and in color it 
 is quite like the rhea. It is, however, a much taller 
 bird standing seven feet and a full-grown male ap- 
 proaches the standard of a hen ostrich. 
 
 It has all the characteristics of the ostrich is gre- 
 garious, polygamous, nestles on the ground, shy, wary, 
 runs swiftly, swims well, kicks so as to kill a dog or 
 break the leg of a man, utters an odd drumming note, 
 and lays eggs nearly as large as those of the ostrich, but 
 of deep green color. The eggs of the rhea are of a 
 bluish cast. 
 
 It is supposed that, like the rhea, there are two spe- 
 cies of emeu another and smaller one having been 
 reported as existing in the northern parts of the great 
 island of Australia. 
 
 In the peninsula of Malacca and the islands of thfl 
 Asiatic Archipelago, the ostrich has a representative 
 that differs from it more than either rhea or emeu. 
 This is the cassowary, ( Cassnarius cassoar.) Its body 
 is covered with a thick coat of feathers of a deep black 
 color, and so disposed as to present a hairy appearance, 
 while its head and neck are naked, the skin of these 
 4*
 
 82 THE WINGLESS BIRDS. 
 
 parts being of the loveliest blue-purple and ecarle* 
 blended together. 
 
 The cassowary differs from the ostriches in manj 
 respects. It is not a bird of the desert, but dwells to 
 fertile districts and feeds upon soft succulent herbage. 
 It resembles the ostriches, however, in most of its 
 habits. Like them it defends itself by kicking, deposits 
 its eggs on the ground, and leaves them to be hatched 
 by the sun ; is bold when assailed, is fleet and strong, 
 and altogether may be regarded as one of the most 
 interesting of the tribe, or of birds in general. 
 
 Hans mentioned the " apteryx," or kiwi-kiwi, only to 
 say that there were two species of it very much alike, 
 both natives of New Zealand, both nocturnal and bur- 
 rowing in their habits ; and Hans added that he did not 
 regard them as belonging to the ostrich family at all, 
 any more than the " auks " or " penguins." Thus ended 
 the talk about the wingless birds.
 
 TTTSE FENNF.C AND THE OSTRICH KGG8. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE FENNEC AND THE OSTRICH EGGS. 
 
 liEFORE retiring to rest, the young yagers had re 
 solved upon a pleasant performance for the morrow 
 that was, a "surround" of the ostriches. They had 
 planned it that Hendrik and Groot Willem should go 
 first, and ride a large circuit around, so as to get far 
 beyond the nest Arend and Hans would start shortly 
 after taking different side?, while Klaas and Jan should 
 cover the direction towards the camp. In this way the 
 six, widely separated from each other, would enclose 
 the birds in a circle ; and when the latter became 
 alarmed and started to run, they were to be " headed " 
 by wlwever was nearest, and turned back to the oppo- 
 site side. This is the mode practised by the South 
 African hunters, and is the only way by which the 
 ostrich can be tired out and run down, for on such occa 
 sums, if the "surround" be well managed, the bird 
 becomes confused, runs from one side to the other, and 
 at length suffers itself to be captured or shot. It is a 
 dangeious matter, however, to approach too near the 
 game even when "blown" or wounded. A wounded 
 ostrich has been known to send the hunter sprawling 
 ami break a leg or an arm, or a pair of ribs, by one
 
 84 THE FENNEC AND THE OSTRICH 
 
 fling of its muscular limb ! Hans, in his usual prudent 
 way, had cautioned his companions to beware of this 
 danger. 
 
 They all went to rest with feelings of pleasant antic? 
 pation for the morrow. They had high hopes ikej 
 would either kill or capture the old cock, and pluck his 
 snow-white plumes to add to their " trophies." 
 
 The only drawback upon their plans appeared to be 
 their number. They had doubts whether six could 
 surround the ostriches, so as to head and turn them 
 especially as :>f the six two were little boys mounted on 
 email ponies, for the chargers ridden by Klaas and Jan 
 were of this character. 
 
 It was resolved, however, that Congo and Swartboy 
 should help to form the circle. They had no horses, 
 but both were active afoot, and either could run quite 
 as fast as the ponies. The one armed with his assegais, 
 and the other with his tiny bow and poisoned arrows, 
 they would be well worth a place in the ring ; and the 
 ostriches would thus have eight, instead of six, points in 
 the compass closed up against them. Add to this, that 
 there were the six buck-dogs to assist them, and it will 
 be acknowledged that their prospect of capturing the 
 ostriches was not so bad. 
 
 Sad to say, their hopes of a brilliant day's> sport 
 ended in complete disappointment. All their fine plans 
 were frustrated by a singular occurrence. 
 
 A hyena during the night had stolen into camp, and 
 had eaten up the girth and part of the flaps of Hendrik's 
 saddle , and before the damage could be repaired the 
 o<ti iches had gone off from the nest. 
 
 They were still around it when the hunters arose, but
 
 THE FENNEC AND THE OSTRICH EGGS. 85 
 
 the delay in mending the saddle was fatal to the plan of 
 a " surround." The morning was a hot sultry one, and 
 the birds leaving their business to the sun, went early 
 away. Just as the boys were mounting, they saw them 
 move off in long strides towards the opposite side of the 
 plain. 
 
 They were soon out of sight of the naked eye ; but 
 Hans followed them with his glass, until that also failed 
 to keep them in view. 
 
 It was a great disappointment to everybody, just tas 
 it would be to a field of fox-hunters, Tvho, after getting 
 into the saddle, had found themselves driven back to 
 their stables by frost and snow. Hendrik was particu- 
 larly out of temper, on account of the ill luck that had 
 befallen his saddle ; and if a hyena had shown itself at 
 that moment, it would have stood a fair chance of get- 
 ting a bullet into its body. All the others, though in a 
 less degree, shared Hendrik's uncomfortable reflections. 
 
 All six sat chafing in their saddles, not knowing what 
 to do. 
 
 " Let us ride out to the nest," proposed Arend. "At 
 all events, the eggs have not ' stole away.' We'll get 
 them, and, by the way, I shouldn't object to an omelette 
 for breakfast," (they had not yet breakfasted :) " I'm 
 tired enough of venison and dry biltong. What say 
 you?" 
 
 u By all means," rejoined Groot Willem ; " Itt uo 
 bring in the eggs, and breakfast on them that is, if 
 they're not too far gone. I should like an egg for 
 breakfast myself. Come on then ! " 
 
 "Stop!" cried Hans; "stop a moment, yagers' 
 Perhaps we'll not be disappointed we may have a 
 chase yet."
 
 56 THE FKNNEC AND THE OSTRICH EGGS. 
 
 Hans had the glass to his eye as he spoke. 
 
 " What ! " inquired several : " are they coming back ? * 
 
 Hans made no reply for a moment. He could not 
 be looking after the ostriches. His telescope was 
 pointed in the direction of the nest. The birls were 
 not there ! 
 
 "It id it ! it is ! the very creature itself! " exclaimed 
 Hans, in a half-soliloquy. 
 
 " What it ? what creature ? " demanded the boys. 
 
 "The fox ! " replied Hans. 
 
 What fox ! " 
 
 " Why, the fennec the same I saw last night yon- 
 der it is, though you can't see it with the naked eye. I 
 can barely make it out with the glass. It is up close by 
 the nest of the ostriches, and appears busy about some- 
 thing." 
 
 " The eggs, I warrant," suggested Groot Willem. 
 
 " A fox-chase ! a fox-chase ! " exclaimed Hendrik, 
 partially recovering temper. 
 
 " A fox-chase ! " echoed Klaas and Jan. 
 
 " A fox-chase be it then," assented Hans ; and all six 
 set their horses in motion, whistling to the buck-dogs to 
 follow. 
 
 They headed directly for the ostriches' nest. They 
 were not going to make a circuit for such an insignifi- 
 cant creature as the little fennec. They knew that it 
 could only escape them by getting to a hole, as they had 
 logs that could trail and run it down go where it would. 
 It was probable that its burrow was not very near. It 
 had evidently strayed away from home, and " dogged n 
 the ostriches to their nest, so as to get at their eggs. 
 Swartboy alleged that such was its habit that it waa
 
 TUB FEKNEC AND THE OSTRICH EGGS. 87 
 
 fonder of eggs than any other food and that the eggs 
 of the great bird were its particular favorites. That 
 it was constantly roving about in search of ostrich-nests ; 
 and as these are very difficult, even for a fox to find, the 
 fennec, when it suspects that the ostriches are laying, 
 will follow them for miles to discover the nest -just as 
 Hans had seen this one do. 
 
 Swartboy had given all this information on the pre- 
 ceding night, which, of course, explained the mystery 
 of such a small creature running upon the trail of the 
 great ostriches. It was not them, but their eggs, it 
 wanted. 
 
 Now there was still a mystery Swartboy had not ex- 
 plained ; and that was, how this animal, when it found 
 the eggs, was able to get at their contents ? The shell 
 of the ostrich-egg is thick and strong. It requires a 
 considerable blow with some hard weapon to break it, 
 and how a puny creature, like the little fennec, could 
 effect a breach was a mystery to all, but especially to 
 the naturalist Hans. The fennec was no stranger to 
 him. He had seen many of them in captivity. He 
 knew something of their anatomy. He knew that their 
 skulls were destitute of the ridge in which the temporal 
 muscles are inserted, and that consequently they were 
 weak-jawed animals much more so than the common 
 fox. It was not possible for them to have broken the 
 hell of an ostrich-egg with their jaws. He knew that 
 it was equally impossible for them to effect that purpose 
 with the claws of their feet the soles of which are 
 covered with soft wool, as in the Arctic fox a peculiar- 
 ity considering that the fennec is an inhabitant of 
 the hottest climes, and one quite unexplained by natu- 
 ralists !
 
 88 THE FENNEC AND THE OSTRICH EGGS. 
 
 From the strength and structure of the animal, Hans 
 believed it could no more have got at the contents of an 
 ostrich-egg than it could have eaten its way into the 
 heart of a bomb-shell. 
 
 Swartboy was here at fault. He only knew that it 
 did get at the contents, white and yolk ; but how he haJ 
 never observed. He could not tell. He could not solve 
 the mystery. 
 
 They had not long to wait in doubt about this matter 
 In less than ten minutes after, the fennec himself pre- 
 sented the solution before the astonished eyes of the 
 young yagers. 
 
 When they had ridden up within some three hundred 
 yards of the nest the little animal came under the view 
 of all, and they pulled up to watch his manoeuvres. He 
 was so busy about his own affairs, that he had not per- 
 ceived their approach. The ground was covered with 
 soft sand, so that the hoofs made no noise, and with all 
 his keen sense of hearing for he possesses that in pro- 
 portion to his large ears he had not caught a sound. 
 He was hard at work, and never looked towards them. 
 In fact, he was seen to raise his head at intervals, and 
 look towards the point whither the ostriches had gone, 
 and all his gazing was in that direction. The party had, 
 therefore, a good view of the animal without being ob- 
 served by him ; and they watched lu's manosuvres witb 
 interest. 
 
 Swartboy and the Kaflir held the dogs in their leashea, 
 and all remained silent as statues. 
 
 Now what was the little fennec doing ? 
 
 At first the spectators were puzzled to make out, but 
 presently all was explained.
 
 THE FENNEC AND THE OSTRICH EGGS. 89 
 
 When they first saw him he was at a distance of se r- 
 eral yards from the nest, and going farther Irora it, on 
 the opposite side to that where the hunters had halted 
 His tail was towards them, and the fore-part of his body 
 appeared to be raised as if his paws rested upon some- 
 thing. This something was seen to be an ostrich's egg. 
 He was pushing it before him along the ground, using 
 his feet alternately, and forcing the egg to turn. Thia 
 action was similar to that of some unfortunate fellow on 
 the tread-mill, except that it was voluntary on the part 
 of the fennec. 
 
 Now why was he rolling the egg? Did he mean 
 to transport it in that way to his burrow ? It would 
 have been an arduous task, as it was not likely his subter- 
 ranean dwelling was anywhere in that neighborhood. 
 
 But he had no such design. His intention was to eat 
 his breakfast on that very spot, or at all events very 
 near it ; and the spectators soon saw where his table was 
 to be spread, for some of them now remembered an odd 
 btory they had heard of the caama, and already sus- 
 pected his design. 
 
 About three or four yards from his snout lay a stone. 
 It was a boulder of small dimensions, some twelve 
 inches in height, but quite large enough for the fennec'* 
 purpose. It was evident that he had a purpose with 
 this stone, for he wa$ rolling the egg directly towards 
 it 
 
 Those who had guessed his design were not disap- 
 pointed. When his snout was within about three feet 
 of the stone, the fennec made a sudden ru^h forward, 
 carrying the egg along by a rapid motion of his feet, 
 until the hard shell came in contact with the harder ro<-L
 
 90 THE FENNEC AND THE OSTRICH EGGS. 
 
 A " crash " reached the ears of the hunters, and, look 
 ing attentively, they saw that the egg was broken inic 
 u smithereens ! " 
 
 The breakfast of the fennec was now before him, and 
 he at once set about eating it, but the hunters were 
 hungry too, their patience could hold out no longer, and 
 spurring their horses and letting slip the dogs, they 
 galloped forward. 
 
 It was a short run for a fox to give. The creature 
 had hardly made good a couple of hundred yards, before 
 the buck-dogs threw him ; and it was just as much as 
 Swartboy could do, aided by his jambok of hippopota- 
 mus-hide, to save his beautiful skin from their jaws. 
 
 The eggs were soon collected. Those in the nest 
 had " gone too far," as Groot Willem had feared : some 
 contained chicks, and others were addled. But of the 
 ones scattered about several turned out quite fresh, so 
 that the hunters had omelette for breakfast, as they had 
 wished. 
 
 Swartboy showed them how to cook the eggs to per- 
 fection. This mode was to set one end in the ashes, 
 break a hole in the other, and then with a little stick 
 keep stirring the contents until they were sufficiently 
 broiled. That is an omelette of ostrich-eggs.
 
 THE BLAUW-150KS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE BLAUW-BOKS. 
 
 AFTER all, the young yagers were not to be disap- 
 pointed in a chase. If the fox of South Africa gives 
 but poor sport, there are plenty of other animals, nei- 
 ther so weak-limbed nor short-winded ; and one of this 
 kind it was their fortune to fall in with on that same 
 day, and almost within the hour. 
 
 On the other side of the mokhala grove from that on 
 which the ostriches had been observed, lay a wide open 
 plain. It was not a desert, although it approached sc 
 near to one, separated from it only by a belt of timber. 
 It was a prairie or natural meadow, the grass perhaps 
 from contrast with the broad brown expanse on the 
 other side having an extremely fresh green look. 
 
 It was a large plain, though not limitless to the view. 
 In the distance could be seen a wood of the giraffe- 
 acacia, or " cameel-doorns," bounding the horizon ; and 
 several clumps of these trees, with their umbrella -like 
 heads and feathery fronds of pale green, stood isolated 
 upon the plain, giving the scene altogether an interest- 
 ing aspect. 
 
 A very park appeared this plain, with wide open pas- 
 tures between its groves and coppices, many of which
 
 U2 THE BLAUW-UOK8. 
 
 were of such regular forms that one would havt fai eied 
 they had been planted to adorn it. 
 
 So lordly a park, such rich pastures, could not be un 
 tenanted ; nor were they. There was no mansion, nc. 
 house, not a trace of a human being to be seen, but foi 
 all thai the plain had its denizens. Many forms cuuli] 
 be distinguished upon or around it, bo;h of winged and 
 wingless creatures. Birds and quadrupeds of rare and 
 beautiful kinds made this fair scene their home. 
 
 Over its greensward stalks the " secretory," the true 
 serpent-eater, hunting among the grass for his glittering 
 prey. Even without using his wings, he need not fear 
 any of the crouching carnivora, as his long legs suffice 
 to carry him far beyond reach of either hyena, jackal, 
 wild dog, guepard, or leopard. Swift is be, almost as 
 the great ostrich itself, so swift as to have earned from 
 the Arabs the singular sobriquet of the " Devil's 
 horse." 
 
 Not far off another tall bird stands erect upon the 
 plain, but of very different character and habits. This 
 is the " pauw " or " wild peacock," a peacock only 
 in the phraseology of the boors, for the bird is a bus- 
 tard, and the largest of his tribe the Otis kori. 
 
 Running from copse to copse, or feeding over the 
 plain, may be seen flocks of the pearly guinea-fowl, 
 (Numida meleagris,) whose constant chattering grates 
 harshly on the car resembling the metallic clanking of 
 machinery, or the sharpening of a hundred saws. 
 
 From tree to tree flutter gaudy parrots, green 
 pigeons, and soft cooing doves, and over flowery shrubs 
 flit numerous species of tiny " honey-suckers," the 
 African representatives of the humming-birds. Som
 
 1HE BLAUW-BOKS. 9S 
 
 trees carry the pensile nests of the weaver-bird, (Pto* 
 ecus,) hanging from their branches like large fruits, 
 while many of the cameel-doorns are loaded with the 
 vast thatch-like republican dwellings of the sociable 
 grosbeak, (Loxia soda.) 
 
 But birds are not the only tenants of this fair scene. 
 Quadrupeds, as bright and beautiful as they, haunt its 
 verdant glades, or repose under the grateful shadow of 
 its acacia-greves. 
 
 Tn a few hours' ride one might see graceful antelopes 
 of many species. The nimble springbok the gazelle 
 of South Africa might be observed trooping over the 
 sward, or bounding high in air either in sport or alarm 
 the orange " hartebeest," and the purple " sassybe," 
 might be seen the shaggy-maned eccentric gnoo, scour- 
 ing the plain in circles droves of quaggas, or of the 
 still more beautiful " zebra of the plains," (Equus Bur- 
 chellii.) Might be seen too, crouching around the 
 copses, the leopard, fair but fearful to look upon ; and 
 still more fearful to behold the tawny tyrant of the 
 scene the lion. 
 
 All these creatures, and many more of equal interest, 
 might come under the eye of the traveller or hunter 
 during a single day's ride through that wild domain. 
 
 Thus full of life, what a contrast did this beautiful 
 meadow present to the monotonous waste of wilderness, 
 that stretched away from the opposite side of the grove 
 to the far horizon ! 
 
 Baulked in their projected "surround" of the 
 ostriches disappointed by the " poor sport " which the 
 fox had afforded, the hunter boys were determined not 
 to be "choused" out of a chase. Some sort of one
 
 94 THE BLAUW-BOKS. 
 
 they would have, if it were only a brush after spring- 
 boks, for these, they knew, they could find at any time. 
 They were aware of the existence of the fine plain 'he 
 edge of which came up within a few hundred yards of 
 their camp. They had pastured their cattle theie on 
 the evening before ; and conjectured that it must be the 
 haunt of many kinds of game. For this reason they 
 now resolved upon making an excursion to that quarter, 
 to hunt whatever might turn up. 
 
 They came to this determination, only after their 
 return from the ostriches' nest ; but as they had made 
 up their minds to it before eating breakfast, they di<* 
 not off-saddle, but kept their horses ready for being 
 mounted. 
 
 As soon as the meal was over, they took once more 
 to their saddles and rode off, the buck-dogs following at 
 the heels of their horses. Congo and Swartboy stayed 
 by the camp. 
 
 They had not far to go, before coming in view of 
 their game ; and rare game that was. 
 
 They were scarce yet a hundred paces from the 
 camp, and just about to ride out from the timber, when 
 Hendrik, in the advance, suddenly reined up his horse, 
 making a sign for the others to do the same. All pulled 
 up in a breath, and sat in their saddles, gazing out 
 through the leaves. Though still within the shadow of 
 the grove, all had a good view of the open plain ? and 
 before them was a sight that would have warmed the 
 hearts of older hunters than they. 
 
 Out upon the plain, and directly in front of them, was 
 a herd of noble antelopes. They were neither gnoos, 
 uor springboks, nor hartebeests, nor any of the coinmop
 
 THE BLAUW-BOKS. 95 
 
 kinds that the party had already met with, and had 
 hunted to their satisfaction. Indeed, they were of a 
 species that none of the six had ever seen before, and 
 they only knew them to be antelopes from the make of 
 their bodies, the shape of their horns, and other points 
 characteristic of these animals. 
 
 They were antelopes of large size, standing nearly 
 four feet high, having sabre-shaped horns curving gen- 
 tly backward and ringed to within six inches of theii 
 (ips. Their general color was ashy gray, tinged with 
 raven-blue the blue tint being caused by the deep 
 black color of the skin shining through the hair. 
 
 Although none of the party had ever seen such ante- 
 lope? before, Hans, and also the hunters Hendrik and 
 Groot Willem, guessed what kind they were. They were 
 of a kind that once ranged the Graaf Reinet, and even 
 as far south as the Cape itself, though there they were 
 never common. That was long before any of the young 
 yagers had ever lired a gun or mounted a horse, but as 
 these remembered having heard their fathers talking of 
 this animal of its blue color, of its long curving horns, 
 of its fine outline of form, as well as bold fierce character 
 they recognized those before them by the descriptions 
 they had heard. They could be no other than blue- 
 bucks, or blauw-boks in the language of the boors. 
 
 Hans, after eyeing them a moment, gave this as hij 
 opinion. The species was the blauw-bok, the Aigocerw 
 leucophea of modern systematise. 
 
 Now of the group of antelopes to which the general 
 name Aigocerus has been given there are five species- 
 all large noble animals, and all inhabitants of South 
 Africa, and particularly the countries adjacent to the 
 Orange River.
 
 96 TIIE BLAUW-BOKS. 
 
 First, theie is the " water-buck," (Aig,jcenis eUipgi- 
 prymnus,} whioh stands nearly four feet in height, is of 
 bluish gray color, frequents the banks of rivers, takes 
 the water freely whence its trivial name swims well, 
 is bold, fierce, strong, and dangerous, when bayed or 
 wounded. 
 
 Secondly, there is the " takhaitze," (Aigocerus barba- 
 tus,) nearly as large as the water-buck, but distinguished 
 by a long beard and mane. The character of the water- 
 buck for fierceness and daring also belongs to the tak- 
 haitze, and both are swift runners. The latter, how- 
 ever, is less attached to the water, and frequents a hilly 
 region, browsing goat-like upon the leaves of the acacia. 
 
 The third of this genus is the " roan antelope," (Ai- 
 gocerus equinus,) a strong fierce animal, with horns 
 curving backwards as in the blue-buck, but thicker, and 
 more rapid in the curve. It is an antelope not of the 
 plains, but a dweller in the hilly region. 
 
 The " sable antelope " (Aigocerus niger) is by far the 
 most beautiful animal of the group. It is not many 
 years since this antelope was made known to science, 
 having been discovered in South Africa by a keen Brit- 
 ish sportsman. It is one of the largest of the race, stand- 
 ing four feet six inches in height, and carrying a pair of 
 scimetar-shaped horns over three feet in length. Its 
 color is a deep glossy black or sable whence its specific 
 appellation though it is white underneath with white 
 markings about the head and neck. None of the ante- 
 lopes of this group are of common occurrence even ip 
 their native haunts. None of the species can be called 
 gregarious that is, they do not appear in large herds, 
 like the springboks, gnooi, harte-beeste, or bonteboks
 
 THE BLAUW-BOKS. 97 
 
 though small troops of less than a dozen families, in fact 
 may be seen together. Oftener they are met with in 
 pairs, or single individuals, and they are all scarce in the 
 regions they inhabit when compared with the vast herds 
 of the more social kinds. 
 
 The blue-buck is now one of the very rarest of the 
 group, so much so that some naturalists believe it to be 
 extinct. That is not likely. Africa is a large country- 
 
 Now all this information was furnished by philosopher 
 Hans. He did not offer it just then that is when they 
 came in sight of the herd of blue-bucks ; though he 
 would, likely enough, had the others been inclined to 
 listen to him. 
 
 But they were not. The hunters Hendrik and Groot 
 Willem were gazing with eyes wide open, admiring the 
 beautiful proportions )f the blauw-boks, which promised 
 them a glorious run.
 
 98 A BRUSl' AFTER THE BLUE-BUCKS. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 A BRUSH AFTER THE BLUIXBUCKS 
 
 As already stated, there were seven antelopes in :li 
 herd. One, an old buck, larger than any of the rest, 
 and having horns over three feet long, was in the ad- 
 vance acting as leader. When first observed, they were 
 approaching the grove of moklialas perhaps to reach 
 the water by the spring. So thought the yiigers, and 
 held a hurried consultation about it, as they watched the 
 advance of the animals. Hurried it was, and abruptly 
 terminated, for before they could come to any definite 
 plan of action, one of the buck-dogs, a young and half- 
 trained animal, sprang forward out of cover, and opened 
 his bay right in the faces of the antelopes. 
 
 The whole seven wheeled round in their tracks, and 
 obedient to a snorting signal of the leader, started back 
 in the direction they had come, going at top speed. 
 
 Of course all idea of stratagem was ioiJe^ by the un- 
 expected behavior of the dog. A straight tail-on-c-nd 
 cliase was the only course left the hunters to follow ; 
 and, plying the spur, all the six shot out of the timber, 
 and rode " view halloo " over the open plain. 
 
 A splendid chase it was for several minute? the 
 lever, blue-bucks in advance, the dogs in the middle,
 
 A URUSII AFVER THE BLUE-BUCKS. 99 
 
 and the " field " following in the rear. A splendid 
 chase, indeed ! 
 
 But only for a few minutes did dogs, hunters, and 
 game, maintain these relative positions. The horsemen 
 spread first. The ponies of Klass and Jan fell to the 
 rear, and were soon distanced. Then lagged the phil- 
 osopher Hans, whose cob, though steady under fire, and 
 a good roadster, was no hunter ; and, next, the hand- 
 some Arend, who might have taken a better place, for 
 his steed was a good one. But Arend cared but little 
 for hunting, and less for hard riding under a hot sun ; 
 and having permitted himself to get so far behind that 
 the view of the chase was no longer interesting, he 
 reined up under the shade of a cameel-doorn, and com- 
 menced fanning himself with the gauntlet of his military 
 glove ! 
 
 There were two, however, who still rode to the dogs 
 with the keen ardor of sportsmen Hendrik and Groot 
 Willem ; and from a feeling of rivalry, as already hinted 
 at, each was determined to be in at the death. 
 
 Both were well mounted, though very dissimilarly. 
 The horse that Hendrik rode was a beautiful coal-black, 
 of medium size, with a dash of the Arab in him just 
 enough to make of him what is termed a " hunter," a 
 breed the finest in the world, and for all purposes, ex- 
 cept race-course gambling, finer even than the Arabian 
 itself. 
 
 Groot Willem's horse differed widely from this kind 
 and the same description that has been given of GrooV 
 Willem, or one very similar, would answer for hi* 
 eteed. 
 
 In size, he bore the same proportion lo Hendrik'd
 
 100 A BRDSH AFTKR THE BLUE-BUCKS. 
 
 hunter that his rider bore to Hendrik that ic, he vis * 
 full half bigger ; but his own members were out of all 
 proportion with each other. 
 
 His body was flat and gaunt, and his limbs long and 
 bony. His neck also was of an immense length, with- 
 out the slightest semblance of a curve ; and his head 
 was angular and " bumpy," like that of a giraffe. He 
 had other points of similarity to this singular quadruped, 
 in his rough awkward gait, and long-stumped thin- 
 haired tail ; and the young yagers, in view of these 
 resemblances, had jocosely christened him " Groot- 
 Kanieel," (Great Camel.) He was about as ugly ? 
 horse as could have been found in all the land of the 
 boors ; and yet his owner, Groot Willem, would not 
 have exchanged him for the handsomest horse in 
 Africa. 
 
 Notwithstanding his ugliness, he was a good horse. 
 In jockey phrase, " a bad 'un to look at, a good 'un to 
 go." Groot Willem was no man for appearances. He 
 liked performance better than promise ; and the " Great 
 Camel " was the type of that idea he promised noth- 
 ing, but performed amazingly. Many a quagga, and 
 wildebeest and sassybe, had he ridden down ; many a 
 stanch buck-dog had he tired out and passed in the 
 chase with the heavy weight of Groot Willem on hid 
 back. No wonder the latter felt a high regard for his 
 nell-trained hunting horse. 
 
 Hendrik had an equal affection for his beautiful black \ 
 and as no opportunity had yet offered of a fair trial be- 
 tween the two steeds, a good deal of talk had passed 
 about their respective merits as regarded speed and 
 * bottom." On the question of beauty nothing could be
 
 A BUUSH AFTER THE BLUE-BUCKS. 101 
 
 aid. Hendrik. had the advantage there ; and even 
 Groot Willem acknowledged it, at the same time that 
 he sneered at that being considered a " merit " in a 
 horse. 
 
 The chase of the blauw-boks seemed to offer the 
 chance of a fair trial. The animals had taken across 
 the open plain, which would lead the hunters several 
 miles at least, as the game was not one to be run down in 
 a hurry. In i\ ride like that before them, it would be 
 een which backed the best steed. 
 
 Both riders were determined to make the most ot 
 thir horses. Both were wary hunters, and, instead of 
 dashing forward at break-neck speed, it could be seen 
 that each was " going cunning," and saving their steeds 
 for the final burst. Hendrik felt that in speed for a 
 mile or two he could have headed the " Camel " easily 
 enough. But the bucks had got a good start, and it 
 was not likely he could overtake them within that dis- 
 tance. He held up, therefore, riding gently, lest in the 
 end the great horse of his rival might come out too 
 strong for him. 
 
 For some distance the two galloped " cheek by jowl," 
 the dogs far in the advance, and the bucks still running 
 together before them. The latter did not seek to 
 escape into the bushes, though they passed near several 
 large copses. They kept in the open plain, in a course 
 nearly direct. Stag-like they were running for some 
 water as antelopes of the aigocerine group habitually 
 do. 
 
 But the dogs did not husband their speed, some of 
 them were young and foolish, although very swift ; and 
 before the bucks had passed ever a mile of ground,
 
 102 A BRUSH AFTER THE BLUE-BUCKS. 
 
 two or three of their canine pursuers pushed them 84 
 closely that the, herd broke, and the antelopes, in theii 
 terror, forsook each olher, and ran wildly in various 
 directions. 
 
 The character of the hunt was now quite altered. 
 The pack split up just as the game had done, each dog 
 following the antelope that seemed nearest him, and 
 in a few moments the chase was scattered all over the 
 plain. 
 
 The two hunters had now a choice, whether each 
 should pursue a separate game, or both take after the 
 same. But neither thought for a moment of separating 
 from the other, except by heading him. The spirit of 
 rivalry, though silent, was strongly felt by both. Even 
 the very horses seemed to be actuated by a similar feel- 
 ing, eyeing each other askance, as they gahv.ped side 
 by side ! 
 
 The antelope that both were determined to follow 
 was easily selected from the rest. The old buck that 
 hitherto led the herd had now gone off by himself, fol- 
 lowed by a pair of the stanchest dogs. His horns 
 were the meteors that gleamed hi the eyes of our 
 hunters, and beckoned them on. 
 
 Without exchanging a word with each other, loth rwii 
 after the VicL
 
 WEM.EM GETS A TUMBLE. 108 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 GROOT WILLEM GETS A TUMBLE. 
 
 TUB chase wai now one of exceeding interest, and 
 had become a simple trial of speed between horses, 
 dogs, and antelope. The buck had kept on m a direct 
 line, when the others broke away from him. He had 
 been foremost at the time, and had no need to turn out 
 of his course. Besides he knew where he was running 
 to. Terror had driven the others out of their senses, 
 and they had fled without design, while the old buck, not 
 losing his " presence of mind," kept on for the water. 
 
 A dark belt sen ahead was a forest fringing some 
 Btream or river. That was the point he was making 
 for, but a wide plain must be crossed before he could 
 wet his hoof in any water. Over this plain now swept 
 the chase. 
 
 Oddly enough, the two dogs that had chosen the 
 buck for their game were rival dogs that is, each 
 banter was owner of one of them, and regarded him as 
 a favorite ; and all three kinds, dogs, horses, and 
 riders, seemed to be on their mettle, and were doing 
 their very best. 
 
 Do not fancy rt ere was any ill-feeling between Groot 
 Willem and He-^'V Nothing of the sort. Kacfc
 
 104 GROOT WILLEM OET8 A TUMBLE. 
 
 loved his horse and his dog, and wished them to extei 
 each had his hunter reputation at stake in the result 
 and each had resolved upon carrying the head and 
 horns of that blue-buck in triumph to the camp ! 
 
 Notwithstanding all this, there was no " bad blood ' 
 between the boys. Nothing of the sort. 
 
 Beautifully the buck ran. Lightly he leaped ovei 
 the turf, his limbs at each spring stretching to an al- 
 most horizontal line, with head high in air and horns 
 curving backward to his flanks. Well and beautifully 
 he ran ! 
 
 Sometimes he gained on his pursuers, as the nature 
 of the ground favored his hoofs ; but again the strong 
 buck-dogs howled upon his heels, and the hunters 
 galloped but a hundred yards behind him. The blue 
 of his back soon changed to a deeper tint, as the sweat 
 poured through his sable skin, and the froth in large 
 flakes clouted his neck and shoulders. His red tongue 
 hung dripping from his jaws, and the hunters might 
 have heard his hard breathing but for the panting of 
 their own steeds. 
 
 Five miles did they go in that wild gallop five 
 miles without drawing rein or changing pace ! 
 
 The woods were near perhaps the water ! The 
 buck would gain them if not hard pressed there might 
 be a deep reach of some large river the blauw-bok 
 cac swim like a duck he would plunge in they could 
 not follow they would lose him ! 
 
 With such fears the hunters spurred their hoises for 
 A final burst. Their speed had proved nearly equal 
 Now was the time to try their " bottom." 
 
 Both shot forward at the fresh touch of the steel ; btrt
 
 GROOT WILLEM GETS A TUMBLE. 16 
 
 at the second 3r third spring the ground under the 
 " Great Camel " gave way, and the huge horse with 
 hi? heavy rider rolled headlong tc the earth ! 
 
 He had broken through the burrow of the aard- 
 wolf! 
 
 Hendrik, who had shot a little ahead, heard the con- 
 fiised noise behind, and, looking over his shoulder, saw 
 Groot Willem and the " Camel " struggling together 
 over the turf. A more attractive object, however, was 
 in front of him the panting buck and without making 
 halt, or staying to inquire whether his fellow-hunter 
 was hurt a pardonable neglect among sportsmen he 
 pressed his wearied horse still forward and onward. 
 
 In five minutes after, the buck stood to bay by the 
 edge of the timber, and the dogs rushed up and sprang 
 at him. It was a fatal spring for one of them the 
 favorite of Groot Willem. The luck was against him, 
 as it had gone against his master. A single " gowl " 
 came from his throat, as he was flung back off the 
 sharp horns of the antelope. It was the last note he 
 ever uttered, for in a moment more he had kicked his, 
 last kick, and lay lifeless upon the plain ! 
 
 And very likely Hendrik's favorite would have 
 shared the same fate ; but his master at this moment 
 riding near, caused the blue-buck a fresh alarm, and he 
 broke bay, and dashed into the bushes followed by the 
 dog. 
 
 Hendrik now lost sight of the chase, though he could 
 hear the breaking branches, as the strong antelope 
 made his way through the thicket, and the bayang of 
 the dog still told him the direction in which the 
 aras going. 
 
 5*
 
 106 GROOT WILLEM GETS A TUMBLE. 
 
 Putting his horse to a more moderate pace, he fol 
 lowed through the bosch, as well as he could. He ex 
 pected every moment to hear the hound bark, the 
 signal that the buck had again stood to bay, but he waa 
 doomed to disappointment. No such sound reached hia 
 ears. 
 
 He began to think that the buck was lost, and that, 
 after all the chances in his favor, he would return to 
 camp with no better story to tell than his rival. He 
 was becoming exceedingly chagrined with the turn things 
 had taken, when, to his further chagrin, he heard a loud 
 plunge, as of some heavy object falling into deep water. 
 He knew it was the buck. Another plunge ! that was 
 the dog. 
 
 There was a river ahead the antelope had taken to 
 it, and would now escape to a certainty. The water 
 seemed near there was an open tract that led in that 
 direction. Perhaps he might be in time. Perhaps he 
 might get to the bank before the buck could reach the 
 opposite shore. A bullet from his rifle might yet 
 secure the game. 
 
 Without hesitating a moment he again spurred his 
 horse, and galloped down the hill in the direction of the 
 water. 
 
 There was a river, and in a few seconds' time Hend- 
 rik was on its bank. He had arrived at a place where 
 the water was deep and the current still, but the rip 
 pling wave on the surface guided him. Two objects 
 were seen above the surface moving rapidly across 
 They were the horns of the buck and the head of the 
 buck-dog ! 
 
 Hendrik had no time to alight. Before he could
 
 GROOT WILLKM <iETS A TUMBLE. 107 
 
 steady his horse, the blauw-bok had got out of the 
 water, and was climbing up the opposite bank. There 
 was just time for a hurried shot. The broad back of the 
 antelope offered a fair mark, and the next moment a 
 tuft of the hair near the spine, was seen to fly up like 
 a spark, while a red stream spouted from the spot. The 
 crack of a rifle explained this phenomenon ; and before 
 its echoes had died away, the antelope came tumbling 
 down the slope, and lay motionless by the edge of the 
 water. 
 The horns were Hendrik's !
 
 A TOUGH STUUGGLE. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIL 
 
 A TOUGH STRUGGLE. 
 
 THE horns were Hendrik's ! 
 
 So thought Hendrik, when, at the crack of his rifle 
 he saw the buck roll backward down the bank into the 
 very jaws of the buck-dog. 
 
 He was mistaken, however as he had reason to 
 think the moment after when the antelope, instead of 
 lying still where it had fallen, rose to its feet again, beat 
 off the dog with its horns, and springing over him, once 
 more plunged into the river ! The dog bounded after, 
 and, swimming faster than the antelope, overtook it near 
 the middle of the stream, seizing it by the quarters aa 
 he got within reach. The strong buck soon shook him 
 off, and turning short upon his persecutor, struck at him 
 in the water. Two or three times the hound was under 
 its horns, but the water yielding saved Hendrik'a 
 favorite from destruction, although more than once he 
 was forced under the surface. 
 
 This struggle was kept up for some moments. The 
 river ran red, blood pouring from the wound of the 
 bullet, as well as from the flanks of the antelope, lacer- 
 ated by the tusks of his canine assailant. The blood of 
 the houni also helped to color the current for the
 
 A TOUGH STRUGGLE. 19 
 
 i'p iioras of the buck had been used to some purpose, 
 arm nove) al gashes appeared in the hide of the dog, from 
 which thtj crimson flood streamed copiously. 
 
 After delivering his fire, Hendrik had alighted, not 
 with the ini nation of reloading, but merely to secure his 
 prize, which. &a lie supposed, had been finished by the 
 shot. He was rtbout tying his bridle to a branch ; but, 
 before he had cucec-eded in making a knot, the renewed 
 struggle on the. opposite bank, followed by the plunge, 
 caused him suddenly f> drop the reins and again lay 
 hold of his rifle. 
 
 He loaded with aU baste, and ran forward to the 
 bank. 
 
 There was a fringing of w?llow -bushes along the edge 
 of the river. In the smiole Hendrik had been able to 
 look over them, and at that elevation commanded a 
 view of the water. Afiwi he could not see it, except 
 obscurely through the tops of the willows. He could 
 only see that the water WAS waving with eddies and 
 covered with frothy bubbles. He could hear that a 
 struggle was going on between buck and buck-dog, but 
 the combatants had got close in to the willows, and the 
 leaves prevented Hendrik from seeing either of them. 
 
 At one place there was a break in the willows, where 
 the bank sloped downward to the water's edge. It wsis 
 a mere pathway, made by wild animals in going to 
 drink. On both sides of it the bushes grew thick, form- 
 ing a narrow lane or alley. 
 
 Hendrik's eye fell upon this path, and the next mo- 
 ment he was hastening down it. 
 
 The antelope from the river had also noted the path. 
 It was the place easiest of access from the water, as
 
 110 A TOUGH STRUGGLE. 
 
 there the bank was more shelving than at any othel 
 point ; and just at the time the hunter rushed into it 
 from the woods, the buck was entering its opposite end 
 from the water ! 
 
 Both were going at full speed, and in five seconds' 
 time they met face to face in the narrow pathway ! 
 
 There was no chance for either to make way for the 
 other. The close thicket on each side prevented that. 
 There was no chance for either to retreat ; the impetu- 
 osity with which they were running rendered it impos- 
 sible for either to give back or even halt. They must 
 meet with a fearful collision ! 
 
 Such a meeting would be entirely to the advantage 
 of the buck, and, perhaps, to the total destruction of the 
 hunter. 
 
 Hendrik saw this, and would have aimed at the buck 
 and fired had time been allowed him. But so sudden 
 and unexpected was the encounter that he had not even 
 time to get his rifle to the level, before the animal was 
 too near to admit of such delay. 
 
 He fired wildly without taking aim. The bullet 
 scored the back of the antelope, only to add to its fury ; 
 and with head lowered and scimetars set, it rushed on- 
 ward upon the hunter. 
 
 It was a moment of peril for Hendrik. Another mo- 
 ment, and he would have been impaled upon the sharp 
 horns ; but at that instant, as if guided by an impulse oi 
 instinct, he dropped his rifle, and ran forward towards 
 the buck, as if to fling himself upon its horns ! 
 
 That was far from being his intention, however 
 When within about three feet of these horns, he gave s 
 sudden bound and rose like a springbok into the air I
 
 A TOrGH STRUGGLE. Ill 
 
 Thai spring saved him. Before he came dowu again 
 the horns had passed under him, and he fell htavily 
 across the back of the buck. 
 
 The hind-quarters of the antelope sank inder his 
 weight, and Hendrik slipped off; but before he could 
 recover his feet, the furious animal had turned, and was 
 again springing upon him where he lay. 
 
 It would have been all up with Hendrik, had he 
 been left to himself at that moment. But succor was 
 nigh. 
 
 The buck-dog had reached the spot ; and just as the 
 antelope was making his rush, the dog sprang forward, 
 and, seizing it by the throat, hung fast. 
 
 Hendrik received the blow, but the weight of the dog 
 hanging to the throat of the antelope prevented the lat- 
 ter from giving it with effect, and the hunter was but 
 slightly injured. 
 
 In an instant the buck kicked the dog off with its 
 hoofs, and flung him to the ground. In another instant 
 it would have finished him with its horns ; but Hendrik, 
 from the sharp blow he had received, was now as angry 
 as the antelope itself, and was not going to see his 
 favorite hound killed before his eyes without making 
 an effort to save him. Warmed to the conflict, he 
 thought no longer of retreating ; arid, drawing his hunt- 
 ing knife, he sprang forward upon the antelope, that, en- 
 gaged with the dog, chanced to stand broadside towards 
 him. With his left hand the hunter grasped one of the 
 horns near its tip ; and, using this as a fulcrum, ho 
 turned round upon it, and thrust the long blade between 
 the ribs of the buck ! 
 
 It was a home-thrust for the animal fell dead at
 
 2 A TOUGH STRUGGLE. 
 
 Hendrik's feel before he could let go his hold upon th 
 horn. The blade had passed through its heart. 
 
 As soon as Hendrik had cooled a little from the con- 
 flict, he thought of Groot Willem, who had not yet coine 
 up. He began to fear that the latter might have re- 
 ceived some serious injury, and he determined to ride 
 back to the spot, letting the buck lie where it had fallen. 
 He could return for it afterwards. Fortunately his own 
 well-trained horse had not run off though left with 
 trailing bridle and Hendrik was soon mounted and rid- 
 ing back on the spoor of the chase. 
 
 There was one thing that mystified Hendrik not a 
 little. While battling with the buck he had heard the 
 loud report of Groot Willem's roer. What could he 
 have fired at ? Had any of the other antelopes come 
 in his way ? or was it a signal of distress ? Hendrik 
 was mystified and felt some apprehension. 
 
 He had not far to go to satisfy himself. On reaching 
 the edge of the timber, he saw Groot Willem mounted 
 and about starting forward to rejoin him. This was a 
 joyful sight to Hendrik, as the fact that Groot Willem 
 was once more in the saddle and the " Camel " upon his 
 legs again, was good primd facie evidence that neither 
 had sustained any very serious damage. 
 
 Nor had they, as Hendrik ascertained by riding tip 
 to the spot. Groot Willem was not so badly hurt as 
 Hendrik himself, for the latter had one of his arms well 
 scored by the horns of the buck. Groot Willem's 
 temper, however, was severely ruffled ; and though 
 Hendrik was very much inclined to laugh at the acci- 
 dent, he forbore doing so, out of regard for his friend'* 
 feelings.
 
 A TOUGH STRUGGLE. 113 
 
 Hendrik now inquired about the report he had 
 heard. 
 
 Was it the roer ? Groot Willem answered his ques 
 tion in the affirmative, by a simple nod, at the same 
 time pointing to an odd-looking animal that lay dead 
 upon the ground, with all the appearance of having been 
 freshly killed. 
 
 Hendrik rode forward, and, bending down in his 
 saddle, for some moments regarded the animal. 
 
 A rare and singular creature it was. It was about 
 the size of a large terrier, but shaped very differently. 
 It had the drooping hind-quarters that distinguish the 
 hyenas, and altogether the look of these animals ; but 
 its muzzle was much more slender and pointed, its back 
 more rounded, and its limbs not so stout as those of the 
 hyena's. It was a more agreeable creature to look 
 upon, and although its hair was long, it had a soft 
 woolly appearance. The general color of the hair was 
 gray with a reddish tinge, and with black bands running 
 transversely to the body of the animal. This as much 
 as anything else caused it to resemble the hyena that 
 is, the species known as the " striped hyena," (H. 
 ttriata.) 
 
 It was not a hyena, however, but one of those odd 
 animals that seem to belong to no class of creatures, but 
 form a connecting link between several. South Africa 
 ia especially prolific in such eccentric forms, both among 
 its birds and quadrupeds. As an illustration of this, we 
 might mention the wild-hound, the hyrax, the zerda, 
 the fennec, the gnoo, and the aard-vark ; and among 
 birds, the serpent-eater, the bateleur eagle, and several 
 other kinds. Most of these odd animals are only repre-
 
 114 A TO1GH STRUGGLE. 
 
 lented by a single species, and that only to be found jn 
 South Africa. 
 
 Now the creature that lay sti etched out before the 
 eyes of Hendrik was just one of these zoological puzzles, 
 that has occupied the attention of the systematists for a 
 long while. Some have classed it among dogs, others 
 with hyenas, some make a civet of it, and others a fox. 
 With all these animals it has affinities, both in habits 
 and anatomical structure, but it is not near enough to 
 any to be regarded either as dog, fox, civet, or hyena ; 
 and hence a genus has been created for itself the 
 genus Proteles. It was a proteles that lay upon the 
 ground Proteles Delalandii, so called from its first 
 describer, the traveller De Lalande. 
 
 Hendrik and Groot Willem knew the animal by the 
 name of ' aard-wolf," or earth-wolf, so called because it 
 lives under ground in a burrow of its own making. 
 They knew it well enough, for it is common through all 
 South Africa even in the settled districts, though on 
 account of its nocturnal and burrowing habits it is not 
 often seen. It makes itself known to the boor by ita 
 evil propensities ; and although he may rarely get his 
 eyes upon it, as it is never abroad by day, he is often 
 called upon to witness the dire effects of its midnight 
 marauding. 
 
 The sheep cf South Africa are of a singular breed 
 singular on account of their large fleshy tails, consisting 
 of a mass of almost pure fat which often weighs several 
 pounds, and is used by the colonial housewives in many 
 operations of cookery. Now these tails, hanging to the 
 ground are the favorite bonne-bouche of the aard-wolf, 
 whose jaws, not strong like those of the hyena, compel
 
 A TOUGH STRUGGLE. 115 
 
 him to feed upon soft substances. It is, therefore, no 
 
 uncommon thing for the veeboor to get up in the morn- 
 ing, and find several of his best sheep divested of their 
 valuable tails, and all through the voracity of the aard- 
 vark. 
 
 It was not likely that either Groot Willem or Hendrik 
 was ignorant of the aard-vark. Neither were they. 
 Hendrik did not ride up to examine the animal out of 
 curiosity. He had seen such before, and killed them 
 too. His object in bending over it was to sec where 
 Groot Willem's bullet had hit. 
 
 " Where had the creature come from ? " he in- 
 quired. 
 
 Groot Willem replied that it had issued from its bur- 
 row the hole that had caused the u Camel " to stumble. 
 That it had come out, just as he, Groot Willem, recov- 
 ered his feet ; and that, provoked at it for having been 
 the cause of his misfortune, he had sent a bullet through 
 it, otherwise he would not have reckoned it worth his 
 powder and lead. 
 
 This explained the report of the roer. 
 
 Hendrik and Groot Willem were now about to return 
 tor the buck, with the intention of carrying as much of 
 the meat to camp as they could manage upon their 
 horses ; when Hans and Arend came up, and the four 
 rode off together. 
 
 They quartered the antelope, and each having packed 
 a quarter upon his croup, they set out for the camp. 
 
 All of them were in good spirits, except perhaps 
 Groot Willem, who had two reasons for feeling out of 
 sorts, the loss of his dog, and the loss of a little of hia 
 hunter-fame. And he was not permitted to forget hia
 
 116 A TOUGH STRUGGLE. 
 
 accident so easily, for although Hendrik had forborne 
 to give him further chagrin, yet Hans and Arwid did 
 not deal so delicately with him, but both laughed heart 
 f at his unfortunate tumble
 
 THE ARROW-POISON. Ill 
 
 CHAPTER XVni. 
 
 THE ARROW-POISON. 
 
 KLAA.S and Jan had long since ridden their ponies 
 back to camp, and having off-saddled, remained by the 
 wagons. 
 
 For all that they were not idle that is, they were 
 not without something to interest and amuse them. 
 Swartboy was the genius worshipped by Klaas and Jan, 
 for there was no bird in all Africa that Swartboy could 
 not either snare or trap ; and in his hours of leisure, 
 when the oxen were krauled and off his hands, he was 
 in the habit of showing the two young "mynheers" 
 how to construct many a sort of decoy and trap for the 
 fowls of the air. 
 
 Upon this day in particular, however, they were more 
 than usually interested in the Bushman's proceedings, 
 as his attention was turned to capturing, not a fowl of 
 the air, but of the earth, an ostrich. 
 
 Swartboy had resolved to pluck the plumes cut of 
 the old cock that had been seen, and whose dwdl'ng 
 had been so rudely approached and plundered in the 
 morning. 
 
 But how was Swartboy to capture the cock ? 
 
 It wits not his intention to take him alive. That if
 
 1 \ 5 THE ARROW-POISOW 
 
 a difficult matter, and can only be managed by meu 
 mounted upon fleet horses, and then after a very long 
 and troublesome chase. 
 
 Swartboy had no wish to take the ostrich alive. The 
 bird would be of no use to him in that way, as the skin 
 and plume-feathers were the spoils upon which the 
 Bushman's thoughts were bent, or rather the rix-dollara 
 which these would yield on Swartboy's return to Graaf 
 Reinet. Therefore he did not intend to catch the old 
 cock, but kill him, if he could. 
 
 But how was the Bushman to accomplish this ? 
 Would he borrow the rifle from Hendrik, or the great 
 elephant-gun the " roer " from Groot Willem, and 
 shoot the ostrich ? Not likely. Swartboy was no shot, 
 that is, with fire-arms. He knew nothing about them , 
 and with either rifle or roer he could scarcely have hit 
 an elephant, much less an ostrich ! 
 
 But if Swartboy knew not how to manage a gun, lie 
 had a weapon of his own that he did know how to man- 
 age, his bow. With that tiny bow, scarce a yard in 
 length, and those small slender arrows, the Bushman 
 could send a missile as deadly as the leaden bullet of 
 either rifle or roer. 
 
 Looking at the light reed, with its little barbed head 
 and feathered shaft, you would scarcely believe it pos- 
 sible that such a weapon could bring down the big 
 strong ostrich ; and yet with a similar shaft had Swart- 
 boy often levelled the great camelopard in the dust. 
 A deadly and dangerous weapon was the Bushman's 
 arrow. 
 
 But what rendered it so? Not its size, and surely 
 not the force with which it could be projected from thai
 
 THE ARROW-POISON. 119 
 
 tiny bow ? Neither. There was something besides the 
 strength of the bow and the weight of the arrow to 
 make it a " deadly and dangerous weapon." The^e was 
 poison. 
 
 Swartboy's arrows were true Bushman weapons, 
 they \\ are poisoned. No wonder they were deadly. 
 
 The use of the bow among savage nations all over 
 the earth, and the great similarity of its form and con- 
 struction everywhere, may be regarded as one of the 
 most curious facts in the history of our race. Tribes 
 and nations that appear to have been isolated beyond 
 all possible communication with the rest of the world, 
 are found in possession of this universal weapon, con- 
 structed on the same principle, and only differing slightly 
 in details these details usually having reference to sur- 
 rounding circumstances. When all else between two 
 tribes or nations of savages may differ, both will be 
 found carrying a common instrument of destruction, 
 the bow and arrows. 
 
 Can it be mere coincidence, like necessities in differ- 
 ent parts of the world producing like results, or is this 
 possession of a similar weapon among distant and re- 
 , mote peoples a proof of unity or communication between 
 them in early times ? 
 
 These inquiries would lead to a long train of reflec- 
 tions, which, however interesting, would here be out 
 of place. 
 
 But an equally or still more curious fact is that of 
 poisoned arrows. We find here and there, in almost 
 every quarter of the globe, tribes of savages who poisot 
 their arrows ; and the mode of preparing and using 
 this poison is almost exactly the same among <1! of
 
 \ tO THE ARROW-POISON. 
 
 them. Where there is a difference, it arises from the 
 different circumstances by which the tribe may be sur- 
 rounded. 
 
 Now the knowledge of arrow-poison, as well as the 
 mode of preparing it and the habit of using it, belong 
 to tribes of savages so completely isolated, that it is not 
 probable hardly possible, in fact that either they or 
 their ancestors could ever have communicated it to one 
 another. We cannot believe that there ever existed in- 
 tercourse between the Bushman of Africa and the 
 Chuncho of the Amazon, much less between the former 
 and the forest tribes of North America ; yet all these 
 use the arrow-poison and prepare it in a similar man- 
 ner ! All make it by a mixture of vegetable poison 
 with the subtle fluid extracted from the fang-glands of 
 venomous serpents. In North America, the rattlesnake 
 and moccason, with several species of roots, furnish the 
 material ; in South America, the " wourali,"or " curare,'' 
 as it is indifferently called, is a mixture of a vegetable 
 juice with the poison extracted from the glands of the 
 coral-snake, (Echidna ocellata,) the "boiquira" or 
 " diamond rattlesnake," (Crotalus horridus,) the lance- 
 headed "viper," (Trigonocephalus lanceolate,,) the 
 formidable " bushmaster," (Lachesis rhombeata,) and 
 (several other species. In South Africa, a similar result 
 is obtained by mixing the fluid from the poison glands 
 of the puff-adder, or that of various species of naja, 
 the " cobras " of that country, with the juice from the 
 root of an Amaryllis, called gift-bol (poison-bulb) in 
 the phraseology of the colonial Dutch. It is out of 
 fjch elements that the Bushman mixes his dangeroui 
 compound.
 
 THE ARROW-POISON. J21 
 
 Now our Bushman, Swartboy, understood the proc- 
 ess as well as any of his race ; and it was in watch- 
 ing him mixing the ingredients and poisoning his 
 arrows that Klaas and Jan spent the early portion of 
 that day. 
 
 AT the ingredients he carried with him ; for when- 
 ever a " geel coppel," (Naja haje,) or a " spuugh- 
 glan &; " (Naja nigra,) or the " puff-adder," ( Vipera 
 arretans,) or the horned viper, ( Cerastes caudalisj) 
 whenever any of these was killed on the route- and 
 mnny were Swartboy took care to open the poison- 
 gland, situated behind their fangs, and take therefrom 
 the drop of venom, which he carefully preserved in a 
 small phial. He also carried another ingredient, a spe- 
 cies of bitumen obtained from certain caverns, where it 
 exudes from the rocks. The object of this is not, as 
 supposed by some travellers, to render the charm " more 
 potent," but simply to make it glutinous, so that it would 
 stick securely to the barb of the arrow, and not brush 
 off too easily. A similar result is obtained by the South 
 American Indians from a vegetable gum. 
 
 The gift-bol, or poison-bulb, was easily obtained, as 
 the species of Amaryllis that yields it grew plentifully 
 near. But Swartboy had not trusted to this chance, as 
 during past days he had plucked several of the roots, and 
 put them away in one of the side-chests of the wagon, 
 where many other little knick-knacks of his lay snugly 
 wowed. 
 
 Klaa^j and Jan, therefore, had the rare chance of 
 witnessing the manufacture of the celebrated arrow- 
 poison. 
 
 They saw Swartboy bruise tae gift-bol, and simmei 
 6
 
 122 THE ARROW-POISON. 
 
 it over the fire in a small tin pan which he had ; thej 
 saw him drop in the precious snake-venom ; they sam 
 him stir it round, until it became of a very dark color, 
 and then, to their great astonishment, they saw him try 
 its strength by tasting ! 
 
 This seemed odd to both, and so may it to you, boy 
 reader, that a drop of poison, the smallest portion of 
 which would have killed Swartboy as dead as a her* 
 ring, could be thus swallowed by him with im- 
 punity ! 
 
 But you are to remember that poisons, both veget- 
 able and mineral, are very different in their nature. A 
 small quantity of arsenic taken into the stomach will 
 produce death, and yet you might swallow the head of 
 
 rattlesnake, fangs, poison-gland, and all, without the 
 slightest danger. 
 
 On the contrary, if a single grain of the latter were 
 to enter your blood, even if it were only scratched in 
 with a pin, its effects would be fatal, while other poisons 
 may be introduced into the blood without any fatal 
 result. 
 
 Swartboy knew there was no arsenic or any species 
 of "stomach-poison," if I am allowed to use such a 
 phrase, in his mixture. It was only " blood-poison," 
 which he might taste with impunity. 
 
 The bitumen was the last thing put into the pan , 
 and when Swartboy had stirred it a while longer 
 aid sufficiently thickened it, so that it would adhere 
 *o the barbs, he took down a quiver of arrows al- 
 ready made, and dipped each of them into the poison 
 As soon as the barbs had cooled, and the poison 
 I>ecame well dried, the arrows were ready for use,
 
 TBE ARROW-POISON. 
 
 and Swartboy intended that some of tliera should be 
 used on that very day. Before the sun should set, ho 
 designed sending one or more of them through the skin 
 of an ostrich.
 
 DECOYING THE OLD COCX- 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 DECOYING THE OLD COCK. 
 
 IT was not the process of mixing the arrcw-poison, 
 to much as the use to be made of it, that interested 
 Klaas and Jan. They knew that the Bushman intended 
 to try its effect on an ostrich that afternoon. More than 
 that, Swart boy had promised they should actually see how 
 he managed matters, and witness the death of the 
 ostrich. With such a prospect before them, the boys 
 were in high spirits all the fore part of the day. 
 
 It was to be late in the afternoon, near sunset, in fact, 
 before the sport should come off. Of course not till the 
 return of the ostriches to their nest for it was there 
 the drama was to be enacted. The nest and its envi- 
 rons were to be the scene of the tragedy the time a 
 little before sunset. Such was Swartboy's " pro- 
 gramme." 
 
 Of course Swartboy had leave from the older boys to 
 go upon almost whatever expedition he pleased, but cer- 
 tainly upon this one, since Klaas and Jan were so inter- 
 ested about it. Indeed, some of the others would have 
 liked to take part in the affair, but for certain reasons 
 that could not be. 
 
 Some of the hunters had doubts as to the result
 
 DECODING THE OLD COCK. 125 
 
 They knew the poisoned arrow would HI/ any ostrich. 
 They did not doubt that. But. how was Swartboy to 
 get near enough to discharge one of his tiny shafts into 
 the bird's body? That was the question that puzzled 
 thoin. He proposed doing so in broad daylight. Indeed 
 there was no other time ibr him. All knew that before 
 night the ostriches would return to their nest as soon 
 as the sun was low, and it became cooler, but they 
 knew also that the birds having found out what had 
 happened in their absence would start off in alarm, and 
 abandon the nest altogether. 
 
 Swartboy, therefore, would have no darkness to shelter 
 him from their gaze. How was he to approach them 
 within the range required for his small bow that is, 
 within less than fifty yards ? 
 
 Did he intend to place himself in ambush and wait 
 for their return ? If he did, it must be near the nest, 
 else he would have but a poor chance. There was no 
 knowing in what direction the birds might come back, 
 or which way they would scamper off again. 
 
 Now for Swartboy to conceal himself near the nest, 
 all believed to be an impossibility. There was not a bit 
 of cover within five hundred yards of the spot neither 
 lush nor stone big enough to conceal the body of a man 
 from creatures less wary than ostriches, but from these 
 a cat could not have hidden her carcass within a circle 
 of a thousand yards diameter. As to Swartboy's sink- 
 ing a " shooting-hole " and lying await in that, the boys 
 never thought of such a thing. A shooting-hole sur- 
 rounded by bushes might do for a lion, or a rhinoceros, 
 or an elephant, but no ostrich could be bamboozled by 
 fny such ruse; for these birds that on account of their
 
 126 DECOYING THE OLD COOK. 
 
 appearance have been called stupid by some supeificiaJ 
 observers are in reality the very reverse. The slight- 
 est alteration in the form of the ground, either around 
 their nests or near it, would be noted by them, and would 
 prevent them from approaching it, except after such a 
 reconnoissance as would defeat all Swartboy's plans 
 But he had no thought of a shooting-hole nothing of 
 the sort. 
 
 What plan, then, had he in his mind ? The boys 
 could not guess ; and Swartboy, like all cunning hunters, 
 did not care to tell his plans to everybody. He preferred 
 letting them discover them by his acts ; and as all oi 
 them were hunters themselves and boys of good breed 
 ing, they did not persecute him with idle questions, bu< 
 watched his preparations in silence. 
 
 Now one of his preparations, made before starting, 
 was to take the little fennec that had been killed in the 
 morning, and " truss " it with a number of skewers, in 
 such a way that it stood upright upon its legs, and at a 
 short distance looked as if it was " alive and well ! " 
 
 This was Swartboy's last act, before setting out for 
 the ostriches' nest. 
 
 When it was finished, Swartboy observed that the sun 
 was low enough, and taking the fennec under his arm, 
 and his bow in his hand, he struck off over the plain. 
 
 The boys were to be spectators of the affair, but that 
 was rather in a figurative sense. There were two pocket 
 telescopes, and when Swartboy promised that Klaus and 
 Jan should be witnesses of the thing, he had these tele- 
 scopes in his mind. For certain reasons he coul I not 
 take any of the boys along with him, and from the wary 
 zharacter of the game they could not go near enough to
 
 DECOYING THE OLD COCK. 127 
 
 observe it with the naked eye. To have done so would 
 have driven the ostriches out of Swartboy's reach, foi 
 it Las been already stated that these far-seeing birds can 
 sight an enemy farther off than they can themselves be 
 seen. 
 
 The telescopes, therefore, must be brought into play, 
 and as Klaas and Jan begged to have the use of them, 
 it was arranged that the two boys should climb into a 
 tree, and describe what they saw to the rest, who stood 
 below. That would be witnessing a spectacle by a sort 
 of second sight, as Arend jocosely remarked. 
 
 Klaas and Jan were therefore hoisted up into a camel- 
 thorn acacia; and, seating themselves on its branches, 
 prepared their telescopes for use. 
 
 The elevation enabled them not only to see the nest, 
 for that was visible from the ground, but the surface of 
 the plain to a considerable distance beyond. They 
 would thus be enabled to note every movement either 
 Swartboy or the ostriches should make. 
 
 Now it has been stated that within a circle of five 
 hum] ~?d yards radius from the nest, there was no cover 
 that would have concealed a cat. With the exception 
 of a stone here and there none of them larger than a 
 quartern loaf the sandy surface was perfectly smooth 
 and level as a table. 
 
 The boys had noticed this in the morning, Hendrik 
 and Groot Willera had taken good notice of it, for they, 
 as well as Swartboy, had thought of "waylaying" the 
 ostriches on their return, but had given up the idea, 
 from the fact of there being no cover to conceal them 
 from the eyes of the wary birds. 
 
 But ju.u outside the circumference mentioned, there
 
 15'8 DECOYING THE OLD COCK. 
 
 was a chance of cover a bush that by tight squeezing 
 might have sheltered the body of a man. Beth Hend- 
 rik and Groot Willem had seen this bush, but on account 
 of its great distance from the nest they had never thought 
 of its being used as a cover. Five hundred yards off, 
 it might as well have been five miles. Even had if 
 been on the side by which the ostriches had gone off, 
 and by which they, the hunters, conjectured they would 
 return, the bush might have served. A shot might havi 1 
 been obtained as the birds came back to the nest. But 
 it was not on that side, on the very opposite and in 
 the direction of the camp. Neither Ilendrik nor Groot 
 Willem had entertained the idea of lying behind it. 
 
 Swartboy had ; and to this bush now repaired Swart- 
 boy as straight as he could go. For what purpose ? To 
 conceal himself behind it, and wait for the ostriches. 
 That was his design. 
 
 But what would his arrows avail poisoned as they 
 were at the distance of five hundred yards ? Ah ! 
 Swartboy knew what he was about. Let us record his 
 movements in the words of Klaas and Jan, who watched 
 them narrowly. 
 
 " Swartboy has reached the bush," reported Jan ; 
 *' he lays down his bow and arrows beside it. Now he 
 has gone away from it. He is proceeding in a straight 
 line towards the nest. He has the fox with him. See ! 
 he stops again, a little beyond the bush he has halted 
 between it and the nest, but nearer the bush." 
 
 " Very near the bush," said Klaas ; " not twenty yards 
 from it, I'm sure." 
 
 " Well, what does he do there ? " demanded Ilendrik 
 * He appears to be stooping ? "
 
 DECOYING THE OLD COOK. 129 
 
 u He is stooping," replied Jan. " Let me see ! lie'? 
 got the fox in his hands, he is placing it on the ground 
 He has left it ! I declare, it is standing by itself, as if 
 it were alive ! " 
 
 " It's very clear what he intends by that," said Hans ; 
 '1 can understand now how he means to get the bird* 
 vithin range." 
 
 " And I ! " rejoined Hendrik. 
 
 * And I ! " echoed Groot Willem. 
 
 " Now," continued Jan, " he's going on to the nest- 
 be has reached it, and is walking round and round, and 
 stooping and kicking with his feet. I can't tell what he's 
 about can you, Klaas ? " 
 
 " I think," replied Klaas, " he's trying to cover up the 
 broken shells we left there.'* 
 
 " Oh ! that's exactly it ! " said Jan. " See ! he's stoop- 
 ing over the nest, he has lifted an egg in his hand ! " 
 
 It is to be remembered that only the fresh eggs were 
 brought away in the morning. Those in the nest that 
 had undergone hatching were of course let alone all 
 except one or two, that had been broken to " try" them. 
 
 " He's coming back this way," said Jan. " He has 
 the egg in his hand ! Now he has put it down right 
 under the snout of the fox ! " 
 
 u Ha ! " ejaculated Hans, Groot Willem, and Hendrik. 
 u how cunning of old Swart ! " 
 
 " Now," continued Jan, " he's back to the bush : and 
 now he's squatted down behind it." 
 
 After a little while both Klaas and Jan announced 
 that Swartboy was making no further movements, but 
 continued to lie quietly. 
 
 Now the secret of Swartboy's strategy lay it hii 
 6*
 
 130 DECOYING THE OLD COCK. 
 
 knowledge of a fact in natural history, a knowledge 
 of the antipathy that exists between the ostrich and the 
 egg-eating fox. Swartboy's experience had taught him 
 the habits of the fennec, and also the hostile feeling of 
 the ostrich towards this enemy. So strong is this feel- 
 ing on the part of the bird, that whenever it sets its ey 
 upon one of these creatures it will run directly towards 
 it, for the purpose of destroying it. On such occasions 
 the speed of the quadruped will not save it. Unless ita 
 burrow be nigh, or some thick bush or cleft among the 
 rocks offer it a shelter, a single kick from the legs of 
 the mighty bird at once puts an end to its prowling ex- 
 istence. 
 
 Swartboy knew all this, and for that reason had he 
 set his decoy. Conspicuously placed, the birds would 
 be sure to see it ; and with their nest half plundered, 
 and one of the eggs still under its very nose, they would 
 not be slow in coming up to take revenge upon the poor 
 fennec, the supposed robber, and to them well-known 
 burglar. 
 
 " The ostriches are coming ! " cried the sharp-sighted 
 Jan, after a long pause. 
 
 " Where ? " asked Klaas. " I don't see them yet ; 
 where, Jan ? " 
 
 " Yonder," replied Jan. " Beyond the nest, far off." 
 
 " Oh, now I see ! " said Klaas ; " just the way they 
 went off in the morning ; three of them, a cock and 
 two hens, they are the same, I suppose." 
 
 u Now they are getting up near the nest," repoi ted 
 Jan ; " now they are up to it. See them ! What ar 
 they doing ? they are running about in a terrible way. 
 See ! their heads move up and down, they are striking 
 with their legs. What are they about ? "
 
 DECOTrNG THE OLD COCK. 131 
 
 "I think, ' rejoined Klaas, " I declare I think they 
 *re breaking the eggs" 
 
 " 2sot a doubt of it," remarked Hans. " That is al- 
 ways their way when they return and find the nest dis- 
 turbed nther by a human being or an animal. No 
 doubt that is what they are at." 
 
 Hendrik and Groot Willem confirmed this statement 
 by their assent. 
 
 " Oh ! " exclaimed Jan, " they have left the nest, 
 they are coming this way, they are coming towards 
 Swartboy, how fast they run ! Hey they are upon 
 the fennec ! Ho ! they have kicked it over ! See, they 
 are pecking it with their bills and knocking it about 
 like a foot-ball. Hurrah ! such a jolly game as is going 
 on yonder ! " 
 
 " What is old Swart doing, anyhow ? They're near 
 enough for a shot." 
 
 * He's doing something," answered Klaas. ** I'm 
 sure I saw him move. Did he not draw his bow 
 yonder ? " 
 
 " He did," replied Jan ; " he has let off an arrow. I 
 saw his arms move suddenly. See, the ostriches are ofl 
 again. Ho ! they are quite gone ! " 
 
 It was not so, however ; for, although the three ran 
 off on hearing the twang of the Bushman's bow, they 
 did not run far. After going some quarter of a mile 01 
 BO, the cock began to droop his wings and run round in 
 circles, the hens all the while following. His move- 
 ments now became of a very eccentric kind, and it was 
 plain that Swartboy's arrow had pierced him, and the 
 poison was doing its work. The bird reeled like a 
 drunken man, once or twice fell to its knees, rose again,
 
 132 DECOYING THE OLD COCK. 
 
 ran on a piece farther, flapping its wings, and vibrating 
 its long neck from side to side ; and then, staggering 
 forward, fell upon the plain ! 
 
 For several minutes it continued to flutter, kicking 
 out with its strong limbs, and raising the dust as if it 
 had been a buffalo. At length its struggles ceased, and 
 it lay motionless upon the sand. 
 
 The two hens still continued near, and from their ac- 
 tions were evidently both surprised and alarmed. They 
 did not, however, attempt to run off, until Swartboy, 
 knowing they were far beyond the reach of his bow, 
 rose up from his ambush, and walked towards them. 
 Then both took to their heels, and scouring off over the 
 plain, were soon out of sight. 
 
 Klaas and Jan now reported that Swartboy was stoop- 
 ing over the dead cock, and, as they believed, skinning 
 him. 
 
 That was exactly what Swartboy was doing, for, 
 about an hour after, he came into camp carrying the 
 skin upon his shoulders, and with an air of triumph, tiutt 
 plainly said, 
 
 a Congo, could you do that ? "
 
 A BKCSH WITH THE BRINDLED QNOO 13HJ 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 A BRUSH WITH THE BRINDLED GNOO. 
 
 THE young yagers resolved to stay a couple of day. 
 longer by the fountain in the mokhala grove. Thei 
 object was to wait until the flesh of the blue-buck 
 which is excellent eating should be reduced to biltong 
 They did not know what chance of game there might 
 be upon their route for the next five or six days. The 
 way was new to all of them even to the guide Congo, 
 who had only a general knowledge of that part of tho 
 country. They were heading for the Molopo River, 
 and Congo knew how to find that well enough ; but their 
 route through the interlying country he knew nothing 
 about. There might be plenty of game there might 
 be a great scarcity of it he could not tell. 
 
 Of course neither could Swartboy. The hunters 
 tfere new out of the Bushman country and into a terri- 
 tory inhabited by poor tribes of the great Bechuana 
 family. Swartboy's native district lay to the south- 
 west, in the direction of Namaqualand. He had never 
 been so far east in his life, and of course was quite a 
 stranger to the route they were pursuing. 
 
 Under these circumstances Hans, who from his age 
 Mil superior wisdom was looked upon as a sort of
 
 184 A BRUSH WITH THE BRINDLED GNOO. 
 
 leader, recommended that they should not go forward 
 until they bad properly jerked the flesh of the blue- 
 Duck. 
 
 That, with what remained of the gemsbok, would 
 secure them against falling short of provision, should 
 game prove scarce. They would only have to tarry a 
 couple of days longer. That would be sufficient under 
 such a strong sun to dry the biltong properly, whereas 
 if packed without being well cured, the hot weather 
 would spoil it directly, and they might be left in the 
 lurch without a morsel of meat. 
 
 Their stay at their present camp was, therefore, pro- 
 longed for two days, during which time the flesh of the 
 blue-buck, with the remaining parts of that of the oryx 
 hanging in red festoons from the branches of the aca- 
 cias, became dark, stiff, and hard to the touch, and was 
 then in a condition to keep for several weeks if re- 
 quired. 
 
 But the young yagers did not remain constantly by 
 the camp during all the intervening time. The biltong 
 required no watching. It had been hung upon branches, 
 sufficiently high to place it beyond the reach of prowling 
 jackals and hyenas at night, and during the day there 
 was always some one by the camp to keep off the 
 vultures. 
 
 On the first of these two days the young yagers 
 mounted, all six, and rode off to the grassy plains, where 
 they had hunted the blue-buck, in hopes of falling in 
 either with this or some other species of antelope. 
 
 They were not disappointed. On arriving at the 
 plain, they perceived that it was occupied not by one, 
 but by several kinds of creatures. Three species of
 
 A BUCSH WITH THE BRINDLED GNOO. 135 
 
 Animals were seen upon it. Far out was a herd of 
 .small creatures, whose lyre-shaped horns, and yellow 
 lun bodies, told that they were springboks, a fact 
 made plain by their strange behavior, by individuals 
 of the herd now and then bounding up into the air, ami 
 throwing open the marsupial folding of skin over their 
 croups, and displaying the long snow-white hail that 
 lines that singular pouch. 
 
 Not far from these, and occasionally mixing among 
 them, was a drove of larger animals, whose singular 
 color and markings could not be mistaken. They were 
 dauws, or, in the clumsy language of the closet natural- 
 ists, ' Burchell's zebras," (Equus Burchellii.) It has 
 been already stated that this species differs from the 
 true zebra in several respects. Its ground color is light 
 sienna, while that of the zebra is nearly white. Tho 
 stripes upon the former are dark brown, while those of 
 the latter are pure black ; but the most characteristic 
 difference in the markings is, that in the true zebra the 
 stripes continue in rings down the legs to the very hoofs, 
 while in the dauw the legs are white. The ears and 
 tail of the zebra are more asinine than those of the 
 dauw, while the tail of the latter is much the longer, aa 
 indeed is the body of the animal. 
 
 Both are beautiful creatures perhaps the most 
 beautiful quadrupeds in the world a fine horse always 
 excepted. But in point of beauty the true zebra cer- 
 tainly excels the " Burchell." They are very different 
 in their habits the zebra being a mountain-dwelling 
 animal, while the dauw is strictly a denizen of the open 
 plains, in places similar to those frequented by thft 
 juagga. Although it never herds with the latter, in
 
 136 A BRUSH WITH THE BRINDLED GNOO. 
 
 habits it resembles their species more than it does th* 
 zebra. Observation of this fact by the boor hunters ha a 
 'ed to the name among these people of " bonte quagga," 
 (painted quagga.) 
 
 The third kind of animals upon the plain was a very 
 remarkable species ; so odd in form and movements 
 were they, that no one who had once seen either them, 
 or a picture of them, could afterwards fail to recognize 
 them. The young yiigers had never set eyes upon 
 them before, but they had all seen a kindred species, 
 which, except in color and a few minor details, is very 
 lik<<5 them. They had all seen the " wildebeest " or 
 " gnoo," and this enabled them at once to recognize the 
 " blaurv 'vildebeest," or " brindled gnoo," for such they 
 were. 
 
 They differ from the common wildebeest in being 
 larger, ^cmewhat heavier in form, scarcely so well 
 shaped about the head and neck the latter not curving 
 as in the coramon species more shaggy in the mane, 
 the nose-tuft, and the long hair on the throat and breast. 
 In color they are quite different, being of a dirty bluish 
 tint, variegated with irregular stripes, or "brindles." 
 Hence their tm mf names of "blauw" wildebeest ar;3 
 " brindled " gnoo. 
 
 The two kinds, * gnoo " and "brindled gnoo," are 
 never found on the same plains ; but give place to each 
 other. The range of the latter species extends farthest 
 to the north. They are scarcely ever found alone, but 
 generally accompanied by droves of the dauw ; (Bur- 
 chell's zebra or bonte quagga ;) and, what is a singular 
 fact, the common species is rartlj' seen, except in com- 
 pany with the common quagga* A^hough neither of
 
 A BUUSn WITIT TOE BRINDLED GNOO. 137 
 
 these keep company with their o\vn congeners they yei 
 live socially with one another, both also herding at 
 Units with springboks, hartebecsts, and ostriches. A 
 singular and interesting sight it is to see the gnoos, an- 
 telopes, and wild asses, curveting and galloping over the 
 plain, now wheeling in circles, now halting in line, anon 
 charging from point to point, like troops of cavalry in a 
 review, while the ostriches stalk about or stand motion- 
 less, their tall forms rising high above the rest, aa if 
 they were the officers and generals-in-chief of the spec- 
 tacle! Such a picture is often presented upon the 
 karoo plains of Southern Africa. 
 
 As soon as the young yagers came in sight of the 
 plain, they pulled up their horses, and sat for some 
 moments regarding the lively scene that was exhibited 
 upon its surface. The springboks were browsing, 
 though some individuals were constantly in the air 
 bounding up as if for their own amusement. The 
 dauws were trooping about, sometimes halting, and 
 sometimes galloping from point to point, as if in play or 
 alarmed by some intruder. The brindled gnoos, that is 
 the cows, were browsing in a herd of thirty or forty in 
 number, while the bulls stood around in small groups 
 of three or four individuals, not moving, but apparently 
 keeping a solemn watch over the others, every now and 
 then snorting loudly, and uttering a sharp and peculiar 
 cry, as if intended for some voice of warning or instruc- 
 tion. For hours the old bulls will hold this position, 
 keeping apart from the rest, each little knot of them 
 apparently conversing among themselves, while acting 
 as sentries to the general herd of dauws, antelopes, auc" 
 their own wives
 
 138 A BRUSH WITH THE BRINDLED GXOO. 
 
 After a few minutes' deliberation, the hunters agreed 
 to make their attack upon the herd of gnoos. They 
 formed no plan. Stalking would be of little use, as 
 they believed they would be able to ride down the 
 wildebeest, and get a running shot ; and it was to these 
 they designed to give all their attention. The dauws 
 beautiful creatures as they were were of no use as 
 yame, and it was game the party wanted. The spring- 
 boks did not interest them ; but the flesh of the wilde- 
 beest would have been a treat to all. It is excellent 
 eating, resembling beef rather than venison for the 
 gnoo is in reality more of an ox than an antelope. 
 
 "Roast beef for dinner!" was the word given by 
 Hendrik, and all the rest echoing this, they charged 
 down upon the wildebeest herd. 
 
 They made no attempt at concealing their approach, 
 but dashed directly forward upon the game, the buck- 
 dogs now only five in number in the advance, with 
 llendrik's favorite heading. 
 
 In an instant the herds upon the plain were in mo- 
 tion each species going its own way. The dauws 
 galloped off in a clump, holding a straight course over 
 the plain ; the springboks scattering in every direction. 
 as is their wont; while the gnoos, first uniting into an 
 irregular drove, ran forward some distance in a straight 
 line, and then some broke to right and left, wheeled 
 round, and came scouring back to the rear of the 
 hunters ! 
 
 In a few minutes the whole appearance of the plain 
 was changed. The zebras had gone out of sight, so, 
 too, the springboks. The gnoos alone remained undd 
 he view of the hunters. These were not to be seeu in
 
 A. LRUSH WITH THE BRIN'DLED GNOO. 139 
 
 *nj particular direction. They were everywhere 
 around some running off before the dogs some wheel 
 oig around to the rear some galloping past within two 
 or three hundred yards, and then charging forward so 
 uear to the horses, that some of the riders thought they 
 meant to attack them. With their fierce little eyes, 
 their sharp curving horns, and black shaggy frontlets, 
 they appeared most formidable enemies, and indeed 
 they are so when disposed to make an attack. 
 
 When wounded they are dangerous even to a mounted 
 hunter, but one a-foot would stand little chance of escape 
 from theii frenzied and impetuous charge. One of the 
 oddest circumstances observed by the young yagers 
 was, that the bulls, instead of galloping right away, lin- 
 gered in the rear of the retreating herd, now wheeling 
 round to gaze upon the hunters, snorting as they stood 
 now making a dash forward out of their way, and 
 sometimes two of them facing each other, and engaging 
 in combat ! And these combats did not appear to be 
 u shams." On the contrary, the old bulls seemed to 
 butt each othei in good earnest, rushing at one another 
 from a distance, dropping upon their knees, and bring- 
 ing their heads together, till their horns, and the thick 
 bony helmet-like plates that covered their fronts, cracked 
 loudly against each other. 
 
 These battles appeared to be real ; but, notwithstand- 
 ing the earnestness of the combatants, they always gave 
 p, and parted from the ground before the hunters could 
 jet within range. 
 
 Notwithstanding their carelessness about running 
 away altogether, it was not so easy a matter to get a 
 fair shot at one ; and our yagers might have returned
 
 HO A BRUSH WITH THE BRINDLED GNOO. 
 
 to carnp empty-handed had it not been for their bm-k 
 dogs. These, however, chanced to stick together, and 
 having selected an old bull, soon separated him from 
 the rest, and drove him at full speed across the plain. 
 Hendrik and Groot Willem spurred after, and all the 
 ethers followed, though falling to the rear as the chase 
 continued. 
 
 Before the bull had gone two miles, the dogs began 
 to pester him, and finding his heels failing he turned 
 suddenly upon his canine pursuers, rushing at one and 
 then another, as they came up, and knocking them over 
 with his horns. 
 
 It is possible he would have bayed all five success- 
 fully ; but the approach of th'e hunters caused him 
 fresh alarm, and he broke bay, and once more stretched 
 himself at full speed across the plain. Another mile 
 would have brought him into some low timber, and he 
 appeared to make for that. He kept ahead of the dogs 
 for awhile longer, but when within about a hundred 
 yards of the thicket, his wind again failed him ; and as 
 the buck-dogs were taking an occasional pull at his 
 flanks, he became desperate and once more stood to 
 bay. 
 
 The dogs soon ran in, but for awhile he was able to 
 beat off all five, striking then right and left. At length 
 some of them seized him by the throat, while the others 
 clung to his tail and hind-quarters, and the struggle 
 would no doubt have ended soon by their dragging the 
 bull to the earth ; but Hendrik and Groot Willem rode 
 up and ended it sooner by sending a pair of b'ulloU 
 dirngh his ribs.
 
 A BATTLE WITH A BORELfc. 14l 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 A BATTLE WITH A BORIJ.6. 
 
 HANS and Arend on this occasion had followed lue 
 chase, and were almost "in at the death;" and Klaus 
 and Jan, who from the openness of the ground had had 
 a view of the whole run, shortly after came up, spur- 
 ring their panting ponies to the very top of their 
 speed. 
 
 All six now dismounted to rest both themselves and 
 horse? after their sharp gallop, and also to skin the bull. 
 Though Arend was habitually chef-de-cuisine, Hendrik 
 and Groot Willem were the butchers ; Hans, " the 
 botanist of the expedition," might also be termed its 
 " green-grocer," as his knowledge of botany enabled 
 him to keep the camp-table supplied with many species 
 of esculent roots and vegetables to be found growing 
 wild upon the plains of Southern Africa. 
 
 While Hendrik and Groot Willem were flaying oti 
 tl.e skin, Hans and Arend were busy with the head and 
 horns, preparing them for preservation. It was nearly 
 as much on account of these as for his meat that they 
 had hunted the gnoo. They would also be trophies in 
 the halls of the Graaf Reinet ; for although the horns 
 of the common gnoo are easily had, those of the brindled
 
 1 ii, A BATTLE WITH A 
 
 species are more precious, for the rca-on that the iatof 
 animal inhabits a more remote part of the country. 
 
 Klaas and Jan acted as assistants to the other four- 
 now handing a knife, now holding a limh or flap of 
 skin, and making themselves "generally useful." All 
 six, therefore, were engaged. 
 
 While thus employed, all of them bending and stoop- 
 ing, one waj or another, over the dead bull, and none 
 of them keeping a look-out, a queer sound fell upon 
 their ears that caused them to start all together into an 
 erect attitude. The sound they had heard was a loud 
 snort, followed by a blowing noise, somewhat similar to 
 that made by terrified swine, but much fuller and 
 louder. There was, also, the noise of snapping twigs 
 and breaking branches. 
 
 These sounds caused all six to start, and some of 
 them to tremble with fear; and the sight that came 
 under their eyes as they looked up confirmed them 
 in that emotion. In truth, it was a sight that would 
 have inspired with alarm older hearts than theirs. 
 
 Breaking through the bushes, and causing the 
 branches to bend and crackle, came a large animal. 
 The tall upright horn upon its snout, its huge heavy 
 body, and strong massive limbs, left them no room to 
 doubt what sort of animal it was. It was a rhinoceros ! 
 
 There are four species of these in South Africa 
 but the dark color of its skin and the double horr 
 proclaimed the one now seen to be the black rhinoceros. 
 or " borele " the fiercp 'A and most dangerous of thf 
 four. 
 
 When the boys first heard it, it was crashing through 
 the bushes close to the edge of the thicket, but they had
 
 A BATTLE WITH A HOKELE. 143 
 
 atnrce turned their eyes in that direction before it shot 
 out of the timber, head towards them, and came on at 
 full gallop. Its head was raised high in air, its ears 
 were in motion, and its small but saucy-looking tail waa 
 flirted about in a confident manner. Its black eye? 
 glaamed with a malicious expression, and its air was 
 oue of anger and menace. The terror inspired by its 
 look was not lessened by the loui snorting and blowing 
 that issued from its fiery nostrils. 
 
 The boys saw at once, and to \heir alarm, that i 
 was charging upon them! There could be no doubt 
 about the matter. Its whole appearance denoted that 
 it was bent upon attacking them, for it was heading 
 directly for the spot where they stood. They knew, 
 moreover, that there was nothing odd in that, they 
 knew that the black rhinoceros will charge upon any 
 creature, whether man, quadruped, bird, or bush, with- 
 out the slightest provocation ! 
 
 It is needless to say that the boys were in a dilemma, 
 and were aware of it as well. There were they, all 
 six a-foot upon the plain, with a fierce borele" rushing 
 up to them, and at less than a hundred yards dis- 
 tance ! 
 
 Fortunately for them the steeds were all well trained, 
 and fortunately the riders had had the precaution to 
 fasten them in such a manner that it required but little 
 time to get them free. But for these two circumstance* 
 some one of the six must certainly have been lifted 
 upon the death-dealing horn of the borele". 
 
 As i*. was the horses had been tied all around a tree 
 th&t stood near. Each had his bridle looped to a small 
 branch, so small that it could be wrenched orT in a
 
 144 A. BATTLE WITH A BORELfi. 
 
 second of time, but large enough to keep a horse steadj 
 for awhile, unless something should alarm and startla 
 him. This was a precaution the hunters had been 
 taught by their fathers, and the knowledge now stood 
 them in stead. 
 
 Of course the moment the borele "hove" insight, 
 there was an end to the skinning of the gnoo. There 
 was a chorus of cri^s expressing terror, a flinging away 
 of knives, a sudden rush to the horses, a seizing of 
 bridles, a snapping off of branches, and a simultaneous 
 leaping into six saddles. All these acts did not take 
 ten seconds of time to accomplish, and the last of them 
 was not accomplished one second too soon ; for the 
 riders had just time to turn the heads of their horses to 
 the plain as the borele came up. In fact, so close to 
 them had he got his hideous snout that several of the 
 horses shied and plunged as they took to flight, nearly 
 dismounting one or two of the riders. To have been 
 unhorsed at that moment would have been a perilous 
 business. * 
 
 All kept their seats, however, and in a moment more 
 were flying over the plain in a close clump, the horde* 
 snorting at their heels. 
 
 Now that they were in their saddles, and galloped 
 freely off, some of the yagers were disposed to laugh. 
 Hendrik and Groot Willem were among the number. 
 They knew that the speed of a rhinoceros is no match 
 for that of a horse, and they would soon get out of his 
 way. They were disposed to regard the chase as a bit 
 of fun rather than otherwise. All at once, however, a 
 thought came into their minds that turned their merry 
 mood intc a feeling of new and painful apprehension.
 
 A BATTLE WITH A. BORKI.fe. 145 
 
 The young yagers were riding in pairs. Hendrik 
 ur.d Groot Willeni, mounted on their swift horses, had 
 forged some distance ahead of the others. On turning 
 their faces backward they perceived that the two boys, 
 Klaus and Jan, had fallen considerably to the rear, and 
 ihat the borete was pushing them closely. He was not 
 twenty yards behind either, for they rode side by side, 
 as if in a racig gallop. Hans and Arend were further 
 in advance, j*\d these also looking back at the same 
 instant perceived the perilous situation of their younger 
 brothers. 
 
 To all four the idea seemed to occur at the same mo- 
 ment, that tb -ugh a horse can outrun the rhinoceros, a 
 pony cannot, ind the thought drew from them a simul- 
 taneous exfvo.ssion of alarm. Beyond a doubt Klaaa 
 and Jan we/-e in danger. Should the borele* overtake 
 them, their ponies would not save them. The huge 
 brute wo'jJd gore these animals to death, or impale 
 them at *h<. first stroke of his stout sharp horn. Beyond 
 a doubt **xe boys were in danger ! 
 
 So thought their four brothers as they glanced back ; 
 and, as *hey continued to gaze, they became the more 
 convin^d o f this fearful truth. They saw that the 
 distan'-* between them and the rhinoceros, instead of 
 wider *g, was gradually growing less the borele was 
 gaini"*; upon them ! 
 
 It was a moment of painful apprehension with all 
 four but at this moment Hendrik performed one of 
 thf eatest manoeuvres that had occurred during the 
 w^o^e expedition. With a wrench upon his bridle he 
 t'Tned suddenly out of his course, and then wheeling 
 ">>ind rodj backward, calling on Groot Willem to 
 7
 
 146 A BATTLE WITH A BOREl.E. 
 
 act similarly, but with his head turned to the opposite 
 side. 
 
 Groot Willem, as if by instinct, obeyed, and, diverg- 
 ing suddenly from each other, the two wheeled right 
 and left at t le same instant. Their horses' heads wert 
 now turisd x the rear, and after going a pace or (w* 
 they halted and got their guns in readiness. 
 
 First Hans and Arend swept past between the two 
 halted hunters, then passed Klaas and Jan upon the 
 frightened ponies, and then came " boreleY' 
 
 Before the last had got fairly on a line, Hendrik and 
 Groot Willem covered his huge body, fired, and then 
 galloping round to his rear commenced reloading. 
 
 Both balls took effect, and, though neither brought 
 the brute to the ground, they made a decided alteration 
 in his pace, and in a moment it was perceived that he 
 was running slower, while the blood flowed freely from 
 his wounds. He still, however, kept on after the 
 ponies ; and it is hard to say how far he might have 
 followed them, had it not been that Hans and Arend, 
 exactly imitating the manoauvre of Hendrik and Groot 
 Willem, new also wheeled right and left, came back a 
 pace or two, halted, and delivered their pieces in the 
 face of the rhinoceros. 
 
 Again the bullets took effect, and again did not prove 
 fatal. But the danger, as far as Klaas and Jan were 
 concerned, was over; for the borele*, instead of pur- 
 suing the ponies further, turned short on his nearer 
 antagonists, and rushed first upon one, then the other, 
 with ah 1 the strength and fury that was left in his 
 body. 
 
 Several charges were made by him without effect, aa
 
 A BATTLE WITH A BOKKLfc. 1 ' 1 
 
 the riders, now faced toward? him, were able to spring 
 to one side and gallop out of his way. 
 
 For nearly a quarter of an hour the battle was kept 
 up, the four loading and firing as fast as they could 
 under the circumstances. 
 
 At length the day was decided by a bullet from the 
 big elephant gun of Groot Willem, which, penetrating 
 the skull of the huge borele, sent him rolling over in 
 the dust. 
 
 Aloud "hurrah!" proclaimed the victory, and the 
 six yagers now rode up and alighted by the huge body 
 of the borele, that, prostrate and lifeless, no longei 
 caused them alarm. 
 
 An axe was obtained from the wagon, and his long 
 anterior horn a splendid trophy was hacked off from 
 his snout, and carried away ; while another journey was 
 made for the meat and horns of tne blau>v- wildebeest, 
 which were packed behind the Immers upon the croups 
 of their Lorses, and brought safeiy into camp.
 
 118 THE INTERRUPTED BREAKFAST. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIL 
 
 THE INTERRUPTED BREAKFAST. 
 
 NEXT morning the young yagers slept late because 
 they had nothing particular to do. They did not pur 
 pose continuing their journey before the following morn- 
 ing; and on that day they intended to lie up, so tha*. 
 their horses might rest and be fresh for the road. 
 
 They rose, therefore, a little later than usual, and 
 breakfasted on the tongue of the brindled gnoo, with 
 hot coffee and hard bread ; a stock of which they had 
 brought along in their wagons, and which still held out 
 
 It would not have been as great a deprivation to the 
 young yagers to have gone without bread, as it would tc 
 you, boy reader. There live many people in South Africa 
 to whom bread is a luxury almost unknown. Many 
 tribes of the native people never eat such a thing, and 
 thcic are thousands of the frontier Dutch colonists, that 
 do without it altogether. The people of South Africa, 
 both native and colonial, are not an agricultural but a 
 pastoral people, and therefore pay but little attention to 
 the cultivation of the soil. Their herds of horned 
 catlle, their horses, their flocks of big-tailed sheep and 
 goats, engross all their time, and agricultural farming 
 is not f o their taste. Although the wealthier among
 
 THE INTERRUPTED BREAKFAST. 149 
 
 the boors plant a few acres of Kaffir corn a variety of 
 the " Indian corn," or maize and sow some bushels of 
 * buckwheat," yet this is principally for their own use. 
 This class also cultivate many kinds of vegetables in 
 their gardens, and have large orchards containing 
 apples, peaches, pomegranates, pears, and quinces, with 
 vineyards for the grape, and enclosures for melons, 
 cucumbers, and pumpkins. But among the poorer 
 classes, and particularly on the remote frontier, such 
 things are hardly thought of ; and their cattle kraals 
 are the only enclosures around the dwelling of the 
 " vee-boor," or stock -farmer. Among these people, 
 bread is a rarity, and their staple food is " biltong," and 
 fresh beef, or mutton cooked in a variety of ways, and 
 so as to be quite palatable for the cuisine of the boor 
 is by no means to be despised. 
 
 In many parts the staple food of the frontier boor is 
 venison that is, in districts where the ordinary game 
 has not yet been exterminated. Within the frontier 
 districts, springboks are plenty, as also the common 
 wildebeests ; and piles of the horns of these may be 
 seen lying around the kraals of every vee-boor. The 
 flesh of the wildebeests, as already stated, is more like 
 beef than venison, and when fat, or cooked in the 
 delicious fat of the great sheep's tails, is excellent 
 eating. 
 
 The quagga, which is also common in these parts, is 
 killed for its flesh ; but this is rank and oily, and only 
 eaten by the Hottentot servants. 
 
 Our young yagers were the children of wealthy 
 parents, and had therefore learnt to eat bread, though 
 on a pinch they co'ild havi 1 got along without it. But
 
 150 THE INTERRUPTED BRKAKFAST 
 
 they had brought several sacks of biscuit with them 
 and with these and coffee, and the tongue of the blauw 
 wildebeest, they were making a hearty breakfast. 
 
 They were all right merry, chatting over their ad 
 venture with the borele, and laughing at the danger 
 now that it was past. 
 
 They were taking their time with their breakfast, 
 eating it leisurely and in no hurry, as they meant to 
 spend the day in a sort of dolce far niente manner 
 loitering about the camp, or perhaps putting in a stitch 
 wherever there should be a weak place in either saddle 
 or bridle, so as to make themselves thoroughly ready 
 for the route. Every precaution would be required to 
 ensure their safety against the wide stretch of desert 
 they would have to cross. 
 
 While in this mood, and about half through with 
 their meal, an announcement was made that was likely 
 to upset all their plan? for the day. The announcement 
 came from Congo, who had been loitering out on the 
 desert side of the mokhala grove, and who came run- 
 ning into camp, in breathless haste, to report that a 
 large flock of ostriches were out upon the plain ! 
 
 The yagers, but particularly Klaas and Jan, bristled 
 up at the news, uttering various exclamations of joy. 
 A sudden change took place in their manner. Their 
 jaws wagged more rapidly ; the gnoo-tongue disap- 
 peared in larger slices ; the coffee was quaffed in big 
 hurried gulps ; and the second half of their meal did 
 not occupy the tenth part of the time that had been 
 taken up with the first. 
 
 In less than two minutes from the time Congo made 
 bis report the breakfast was finished ; and in five
 
 THE INTERRUPTED BREAKFAST 151 
 
 ruin utes more the horses were all saddled, I ridled, and 
 mounted. Resting the animals was no longer thought 
 of. Everything had gone out of the heads of their 
 liders except an ostrich "surround." 
 
 Where was Swartboy to lake part in the affair, and 
 to give his advice ? All acknowledged that the Bush- 
 man knew more about hunting the ostrich than any oi' 
 them Congo not excepted. Indeed, this was true in 
 regard to most kinds of desert animals, as also of the 
 smaller mammalia and birds. Congo had lived all hig 
 life among a people who keep cattle for the Kaffir 
 nations are not mere hunters, but a pastoral people 
 and although he knew how to destroy the lion, the 
 leopard, the hyena, and other carnivorous creatures, 
 he was less accustomed to the killing or capturing of 
 game, since the vast herds of cattle bred and reared in 
 his country render such knowledge but of secondary 
 importance. Not so with Swartboy. The Bushmen 
 have no cattle, except those which at times they steal 
 from their neighbors, the Griquas, Bastaards, and 
 trek-boors ; and these are never kept, but killed and 
 devoured as soon as they are driven to the Bushmen 
 haunts. The want of domestic animals, therefore, 
 witn the necessity of having something to eat, compels 
 the Bushman to use all his ingenuity in the captur- 
 ing or killing of wild game, which among Bushmen 
 includes every living creature from the locust and 
 lizard to the camelopard and elephant ! 
 
 The natural consequence of such a life must be the 
 arriving at a perfect knowledge of the haunts, habits, 
 and mode of hunting the wild creatures that people 
 their country; and in this very knowledge Swartboj
 
 152 THE INTERRUPTED BREAKFAST. 
 
 was believed to excel even among his countrymen, foi 
 it was known that in his own land he had been con- 
 sidered a " mighty hunter." 
 
 Where was Swartboy at that moment ? He had not 
 been seen for an hour or more. Conge said that he 
 had driven off the oxen to pasture upon the grass plain 
 to the rear of the camp, and no doubt he was there 
 herding them. 
 
 It was proposed mat some one should go for him, but 
 this was objected to on account of the loss of time. 
 Congo said that the oxen were a good way off. It 
 would take half-an-hour to bring Swartboy into camp, 
 and before the end of that period the ostriches might 
 be ten miles off. 
 
 No ; they could not wait for Swartboy. They must 
 proceed without him ; and, mounting their horsey tb 
 yage^" rode off towards the desert plain.
 
 THE OSTRICH "SURROUND." 153 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 THE OSTRICH " SURROUND." 
 
 ON reaching the edge of the grove they halted U 
 reconnoitre, still keeping under cover of the timber 
 Congo had reported truly. There was a flock of os- 
 triches, sure enough. There were seven of these great 
 birds in one " clump," and an eighth at no great distance 
 from the rest. Of the seven, five appeared to be hens 
 and two of them cocks. The one apart was also a cock. 
 I say appeared to be. You will imagine there could De 
 no doubt, since the male and female of these birds are 
 so very unlike in the color of their plumage. That is 
 true when they have attained to a certain age ; but the 
 young males, even when full-grown, do not gt the 
 beautiful white feathers all at once, and foi a long time 
 can hardly at a distance be distinguished from the 
 females. 
 
 That, however, was not the reason why the young 
 yagers were in doubt about their sex. It was because the 
 birds were in a position nearly due east from the point 
 of observation, and the sun being yet only a few degrees 
 above the horizon, his rays fell in such a manner as to 
 prevent them from having a clear view. To use a com- 
 mon phrase, the sun was " in their eyes.' 
 7*
 
 154 THE OSTRICH "SURROUND." 
 
 For all that, they could count the ostriches, and be 
 lieved that of the eight three were cocks and the res! 
 hens. 
 
 The seven in the " clump " were stationary ; that is, 
 they were not moving away from the spot. Some weie 
 stalking leisurely about, occasionally taking a " peck ;* 
 and it must have been sand or pebbles they were eat- 
 ing, as there was not the semblance of vegetation near 
 the spot. Some sat squatted upon their " hams," their 
 long legs doubled underneath ; and one or two were 
 lying along the ground, and fluttering in the sand, just 
 as common hens and turkeys do in warm weather. The 
 dust raised by these formed a little cloud that floated 
 around them, and added to the difficulty of distinguish- 
 ing either their sex or their movements. The seven 
 were at no great distance from the edge of the mokhala 
 grove, and the one that was separate was still nearer. 
 He was going towards them, stooping his head at inter- 
 vals, and feeding as he went. From this circumstaj-uw, 
 the boys conjectured that he had been much nearer 
 which conjecture was strengthened by Congo, who said, 
 that when he had first observed them, this old cock was 
 not two hundred yards from the edge of the timber, and 
 was then going out, just as now. 
 
 Perhaps he had been within shot of the cover. What 
 a pity, thought Klaas and Jan, they had not been earlier 
 on the look-out ' 
 
 The hunters did not waste many moments in watch- 
 ing the manreuvres of the birds. Their attention wag 
 entirely given to their purpose of surrounding them, and 
 discussing a plan to etfect that object, 
 
 Now these ostriches were not near the nest which
 
 THE OSTUICH "SURROUND." 15.1 
 
 had been plundered, and was now deserted ; nor was it 
 likely that they were of the family to whom that nest 
 belonged not even relatives in fact else they would 
 have heard of the calamity, and Aould have been com- 
 porting themselves in a very different manner from the 
 easy style in which they were taking it. None of tbe 
 five hens could be they that, but two days before, had 
 witnessed the fall of their plumed lord by the Bush- 
 man's arrow, for it was not likely that these would re- 
 turn to that part of the country. The flock now seen 
 had no connection whatever with the nest. The place 
 they were in was at a good distance from the scene of 
 the late tragedy. 
 
 The young yagers were glad of this ; not that they 
 cared about the matter of relationship, but because the 
 place where the birds were now seen offered superior 
 advantages for a "surround." It was a sort of large 
 bay, where a spur of the desert plain ran into the tim- 
 ber, and was more than half encircled by low woods and 
 thickets of acacia. Only one side that toward the 
 wide desert was open. On all other sides there was 
 cover for the hunters. 
 
 On this account the latter had very little difficulty in 
 deciding how to act, and in a few minutes their plan was 
 arranged. 
 
 Hendrik and Groot Willem, being the best mounted, 
 were to ride to the two most distant points, one of them 
 inking the right side of the great bay, the other the left. 
 They were to keep under cover of the thicket all tho 
 way round; and when either arrived at the point where 
 the timber stretched farthest out upon the plain, he was 
 to stop awhile, until the other showed himself on the
 
 150 THE OSTRICH "SURROUND." 
 
 apposite side. Both were then to gallop to vaids each 
 other, but not to meet. They were to halt at such a 
 distance from one another as would best enable them to 
 cut off the retreat of the ostriches from the outer plain. 
 
 Hans and Arend were respectively to follow in the 
 tracks of Hendrik and Groot Willein ; but they were to 
 halt within the edge of the timber when half round, and 
 wait until they should see the others out upon the plain. 
 Then they were to show themselves, and turn the os- 
 triches, should they run their way. 
 
 Klaas and little Jan were also to separate and ride 
 some distance from the spot ; but the disposal of these 
 boys in their places was taken in hand by the ethers ; 
 and so the whole party started at the same time, three 
 filing off to the right, and three to the left. Congo's in- 
 structions were, not to show himself until he should per- 
 ceive Hendrik and Groot Willem galloping towards each 
 other. He was then to act just as the others, except 
 that " shanks' -mare " was to be his horse. 
 
 Should the ostriches allow time for Hendrik and Groot 
 Willem to get to their stations, the surround would be 
 complete ; and it was highly probable that they would 
 have good sport, and either capture or kill some of the 
 giant birds. When thus assailed upon all sides, the 
 ostrich gets confused, and acts in the most stupid man 
 ner, being easily turned, and driven about from " post 
 to pillar." 
 
 It was a question of time, therefore, and it would take 
 a good while for the surround to be made, as the plain 
 on which the birds were was full three miles wide. Both 
 Hendrik and Groot Willein would have twice thai 
 length to ride ; and their path lying through bushes, 
 they would be unable to move faster than a walk.
 
 THE OSTRICH " SURROUND." 157 
 
 For some time the only one that watched the move- 
 ments of the ostriches was the Kaffir. The others were 
 making their way through the thicket, and only had a 
 peep now and then, as they passed some place where an 
 opening in the leaves allowed them. They were too 
 smxious, however, to get to their dilFerent stands to stop 
 at any place between. All felt that time was precious ; 
 for should the game take alarm, and start off to the open 
 plain, the trouble they were taking would be all in vain. 
 None of them, therefore, thought of looking at the birds 
 Kmly to satisfy themselves that they were still there 
 until they had reached their respective places.
 
 158 THE ODD COCK. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE ODD COOK. 
 
 DUIUNG all this time Congo watched the movements 
 of the flock as well as the sun in his eyes would allow 
 him. 
 
 He noticed that the cock that had been feeding apart 
 from the rest had now got close up to them, within a 
 few yards ; but that the others had arisen at his ap- 
 proach, and, stretching out their long necks, appeared to 
 regard him as a stranger. After a moment all seven 
 turned, as if alarmed at something, and ran away the 
 odd cock running after, though falling a little in the rear. 
 
 The flock only went for twenty yards or so, and then 
 halted, as if they had got over their slight alarm. 
 
 The old cock again stalked slowly up, now and then 
 dropping his head to the ground, and pecking up a grain 
 or two of something on his way. 
 
 When he got close to the flock a second time, they 
 seemed to take fresh alarm, ran twenty yards farther, 
 and again stopped. 
 
 It appeared as if the old cock was a stranger to the 
 rest, and that they considered his presence an intrusion ! 
 
 Again he approached them, and again they made a 
 short run ; this time not in a direct line, but in a circle
 
 THE ODD COCK. 15$ 
 
 around him, so that they came back nearly to their 
 original ground. This time, however, only the five hens 
 ran off. Both the cocks remained near the spot ; but 
 the movements of these now puzzled Congo not a little. 
 
 One of them had squatted down, just as they had 
 been first observed, whilo the other ran about in very 
 mall circles, occasionally fluttering his white plumea, 
 and acting altogether like a drunken man ! 
 
 After a few minutes the manoeuvres of all appeared 
 to change. The one that had seated himself appeared to 
 lie down and remain quiet, while he that had the " stag- 
 gers" squatted down not far off; and presently a hen 
 came running up and sat down beside him ; so that now 
 there remained upon their feet only one cock and four 
 of the hens. 
 
 The whole scene puzzled Congo, who was not from 
 an ostrich country, and was but indifferently acquainted 
 with the habits of these birds. No doubt, thought he, 
 the creatures were about some game of their own, such 
 as he had often seen with the " kooran " and partridges. 
 
 There were others than Congo puzzled at what was 
 passing among the ostriches. 
 
 Klaas and Jan, who had reached their stations sooner 
 than the rest, and who had been observing the odd 
 actions of the birds, were both puzzled as to what they 
 were about ; and a little later Hans and Arend had a 
 surprise, and were equally at a loss what to think cf tho 
 game of "fits and starts " that was going on upon tho 
 plain. 
 
 But Hans and Arend had not much time to observe 
 They had both gone far round, and they expected soon 
 to see Hendrik and Groot Willem gallop out from the 
 umber, so they kept their eyes in that direction.
 
 160 THE ODD COCK. 
 
 They were not disappointed. A few minutes afte? 
 both were seen to shoot forth at full speed, and ride in 
 diverging lines, so as to approach each other, and at the 
 same .ime get nearer to the ostriches. 
 
 As soon as the others saw them, the whole five, 
 Congo included, showed themselves on the open ground, 
 all making towards a common centre the spot when; 
 the ostriches were. 
 
 The hunters were now more surprised than ever. 
 As they rode forward, they perceived that several of the 
 great birds were seated, or lying upon the ground. 
 They were backing, no doubt ; but, for birds so wary, 
 why did they not spring up and take to flight ? They 
 must already have perceived the approach of the horses 
 or heard the sound of their trampling hoofs? Only two 
 of the hens appeared at all alarmed ; and these ran in 
 l .he direction of the outer plain, but turned when they 
 saw Hendrik and Groot Willem. Only one other waa 
 upon its feet ; and that was the old cock that had kept 
 apart ? He was still standing erect, but did not attempt 
 to fly ! It was very odd. 
 
 This old cock chanced to be nearest to Hendrik and 
 Groot Willem ; and going, as they were, at race-horse 
 ppeed, they were scarce a minute in riding down upon 
 him. 
 
 They had got within less than five hundred yards 
 And, with guns ready, were resolved to give him a tail-on 
 end chase, and try a flying shot, when, to their tremen- 
 dous surprise, a loud and terrified yell came from the 
 bird, and the next moment his skin flew from his shoul- 
 ders, discovering, not a naked ostrich, but a naked 
 Bushman, with his legs chalked white to the very hips) 
 That Btuhman was SwartboyJ
 
 THK ODD COCK. ll 
 
 It was, indeed, old Swart dressed up in the skin of 
 the old cock he had .'atelj shot with his poisoned arrow 
 and it was that same arrow, or half-a-dozen like it, that 
 had been causing the mysterious movements among the 
 ostriches. Five of them already lay around dead or 
 dying; while the two hens, that had not yet received 
 their billet, during the surprise consequent on Swartboj 
 revealing himself, had managed to escape. 
 
 Fortunately for Swartboy he "sung out" at the mo- 
 ment he did. Another half minute, and he would 
 have fared no better than his own victims the ostriches. 
 He acknowledged that he had been badly " scared." In 
 looking after the ostriches, he had never thought of 
 looking for any thing else ; and from the manner in 
 which his eyes were placed under the feathers, he could 
 not see very well around. His ears, too, " muffled " up 
 as they were within the skin of the old cock, were of 
 little service to him ; so that it was by mere accident 
 he saw the horsemen galloping down upon him. Even 
 then it cost an effort to " cast " his skin, and appear in 
 propria persona ! 
 
 Now, when the young yagers thought of the curious 
 incident that had just taken place, and then looked at 
 the naked body of Swartboy, chalked white from hip 
 *o heel, the whole six sat in their saddles and laughed 
 till their very sides ached. 
 
 Swartboy, proud of his achievement, looked round 
 him like a conqueror, and then fixing his eyes upon hii 
 rival, put the simple but equivocal interrogatory, 
 
 " Eh ! Congo ! ole Kaffir boy ! dat ycu ? " 
 
 Tfie carapace was eclipsed !
 
 BLESBOKS AND BONTKBOK8* 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 BLESBOKS AND BONTEBOK9. 
 
 NEXT morning our party irispanned and treked ovei 
 the desert plain in a northeasterly direction. They 
 were two days in crossing it, and their oxen suffered 
 much from thirst, as during the two days they did not 
 taste water. For themselves they had water enough. 
 Part of the contents of each wagon was a good water- 
 cask, that held eighteen gallons ; and these, of course, they 
 had filled before leaving the spring. One of these casks 
 they divided among their horses, allowing them a little 
 over two gallons apiece , but that was nothing for two 
 days' march over such a country. Even the yagers 
 themselves required as much. This statement would 
 flot surprise you, if you had ever travelled in a tropical 
 clime and over an arid waterless plain under a hot glar- 
 ing sun. There thirst is provoked in a short while, anrf 
 water will quench it only for a few minutes at a time. 
 The appetite constantly returns, and calls for copious 
 draughts ; so that a traveller will often consume not 
 glasses, but gallons, of water, in a single day ! 
 
 Having crossed the desert plain, the hunters now 
 ei:t(red upon a country thai differed entirely from thai 
 they had left behind.
 
 BLE3BOKS AND BOXTEBOKS. 1 fi 
 
 1'bey had arrived in a country of vast extent, upoi 
 * dich stood hills of strange and varied forms. Some 
 Wrrfe of a rounded, hemispherical shape ; others were 
 coi.<is ; others had flat-table tops ; and still others pierced 
 Jit sky with sharp needle-like pinnacles. These hills 
 * r ej of various sizes some approaching the dimension 
 of fouuntains ; but most of them rose directly from the 
 plaint, without any piedmont or " foothills " intervening 
 betwboi the level surface and their sloping or precipitous 
 sides, r'he country bore a very strong resemblance to 
 the plattrtux that lie among the Cordilleras of the Andes ; 
 and the geological formation of this part of Africa is 
 very simiW to the table-lands of Mexico. 
 
 Many of t'o mountains of conical and pyramid form 
 stood isolated upon the plain, some of them bare of 
 vegetation from base to summit. Others, again, carried 
 a dark mantle of forest, that covered only their lower 
 half, above which rose bare peaks of white quartz that 
 under the sun glittered like snow. 
 
 The plains between were some of them of vast ex- 
 tent so wide that at times the mountains that bordered 
 them could be but dimly seen. But there were plains 
 of every size and form. Their surface was covered 
 with a species of grass quite different from that of the 
 region our hunters had hitherto been passing over. It 
 formed a short sward like a meadow lately mown, or 
 a well-browsed pasture-ground, for such in reality h 
 was well browsed and closely cropped, and trodden to 
 a hard turf, by the countless herds of wild ruminant 
 animals, of which it was the favorite range. Unlike 
 the long flowing sweet grass upon the plains south of the 
 Orange River, these were covered with a short crisp
 
 164 BLKSBOKS AND BON1EBOKS. 
 
 curly herbage of saltish taste ; and in many spots aa 
 effervescence of that mineral covered the ground, whiten- 
 ing the blades of grass like a hoar-frost. Salt deposits,, 
 or salt-pans as they are termed, were also common 
 some of them extending for miles over the plain. 
 
 The yagers had reached a peculiar country, indeed. 
 They had arrived in the " zuur-veldt," the country of 
 the sour grass the favorite home of the blesbok and 
 bontebok. 
 
 What are these ? 
 
 They are two antelopes, whose gracefulness of form, 
 swiftness of foot, but, above all, the lively and striking 
 color of their bodies, have rendered remarkable. 
 
 They belong to the genus Gazelki, but in many of 
 their habits they differ considerably from the gazelles, 
 though differing so slightly from each other that by 
 both travellers and naturalists they have been regarded 
 identical. 
 
 This is not so. They are distinct species, though 
 inhabiting the same country, and following the same 
 mode of life. The blesbok ( Gazella albifrons) is neither 
 so large nor so brilliantly marked as the bontebok, 
 (Gazella pygarga.) His horns are of a light color, 
 nearly white, while those of the bontebok are black. In 
 the color of the legs there is also a marked difference. 
 The legs of the bontebok are white from the knee dowu. 
 while those of his congener are only white on the in- 
 sides the outsides being brown. 
 
 The bontebok is not only one of the loveliest ante- 
 lopes in Africa, but one of the swiftest. Indeed, there 
 are those who hold that he is the stoiftest. In size he 
 equals the European stag, and his form is light and
 
 BL.ESBOKS AND BONTKBOKS. t>3 
 
 graceful. His horns are fifteen inches in length, blaik, 
 robust at the base, semi-annulated and diverging. They 
 rise erect from the top of his head, bending slightly 
 backward, and then forward at the tips. 
 
 But it is the beautiful coloring of his skin which is 
 ths principal characteristic of this antelope. In this 
 lenpect both he and the blesbok bear some resemblance 
 to the antelopes of the acronotine group the haitebeest 
 arid sassabye. 
 
 The colors of the bontebok are purple violet and 
 brown of every shade not mingling together, but mark- 
 ing the body as if laid on by the brush of a sign-painter. 
 Hence the name " bontebok," or ' painted buck," as 
 given by the Dutch colonists to this species. First, the 
 neck and head are of a deep brown, with a tinge of the 
 color of arterial blood. Between the horns a white 
 stripe commences, and after reaching the line of the 
 eyes widens out so as to cover the face to the very 
 muzzle. This mark, or " blaze," is common to both the 
 species, and to one of them has given the trivial name 
 "blesbok," (blaze-buck.) 
 
 The back is of a blue lilac color, as if glazed ; and 
 this extends along the sides, so as to remind one of a 
 saddle. Bordering this, and running along the flanks, 
 is a broad band of deep purple brown. The belly and 
 insides of the thighs are of pure white color ; the legs 
 are white from the knees down, and there is a large 
 white patch on the croup. The tail reaches to the 
 hocks, and is tufted with black hair. Such is the color 
 of the bontebok, and that of the blesbok differs from it 
 only in the points already mentioned, ivnd in its colors 
 beii>g somewhat less marked and brilliant. Both are
 
 166 BLESBOKS AND BONTEEOKS. 
 
 beautiful creatures, and their skins are much prized bj 
 the native savages for making the " kaross," a garment 
 .hat serves them both as a cloak by day and a bed and 
 blankets at night. 
 
 The habits of both species are quite similar. They 
 dwell upon the plains of the " zuur-veldt," congregating 
 in vast herds of many thousands that cover the ground 
 with their purple masses. 
 
 In this respect they resemble the springboks and 
 other gazelles ; but they have habits peculiar to them- 
 selves. The springboks, when alarmed, take to flight 
 and scatter off in any direction, whereas the bonteboks 
 and blesboks invariably run against the wind, bearing 
 their noses close along the ground, like hounds upon a 
 trail ! 
 
 They are fleeter than springboks, and also more shy 
 and wary, as though they knew that their spoils are 
 more valuable to the hunter, and therefore required 
 greater skill and speed to preserve them. 
 
 Both species were once common in what are now the 
 settled districts of South Africa, their range extending 
 to the Cape itself. That is now restricted to the " zuur- 
 /eldt " districts, north of the Great Orange River. 
 
 A few bonteboks are still found within the colonial 
 borders in the district of Swellendam; but their exist- 
 ence there is accounted for by an act of the Government, 
 ivhich places a fine of six hundred rix-dollars upon any 
 one who may destroy them without license. 
 
 Our young yagers had now arrived in t'.e land of th 
 and bontebok.
 
 STALKING THE BLESBOKS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 STALKING THE BLESBOKS. 
 
 WHF.N they had got fairly within the boundaries of 
 the blesbok country, the young yagers resolved to make 
 halt for a day or two, arid hunt these beautiful ante- 
 lopes. Not that they desired their flesh, but they wished 
 to strip one or two of them of their bright, parti-colored 
 robes, to be hung up along with their horns in the halls 
 of Graaf Reinet. 
 
 After treking some miles across the plains, they out- 
 spanned by a vley, and formed their camp. 
 
 The following morning they mounted their horses 
 and proceeded over the plain in search of the purple 
 antelopes. 
 
 They were not long in finding them. That is by no 
 means a difficult thing with an animal that herds to- 
 gether in thousands, provided you chance to be in the 
 district it inhabits ; and the yagers were not slow in 
 coming within view of a herd of blesboks. 
 
 But how to hunt them was a knowledge which none 
 of the party possessed whether to let slip the buck- 
 dogs and gallop right into the thick of the herd, or to 
 get within shot by stalking which of these was the 
 proper manner neither the young yagers nor theii
 
 Io8 STALKING THE BLESBORS. 
 
 drivers knew. In Swartboy's country neither blesbok* 
 nor bonteboks are known. They do not range to tha 
 western half of South Africa, and the young yagers only 
 knew them by tradition. Their fathers had hunted 
 them years before ; but both species had been long since 
 exterminated south of the Orange River. 
 
 As for Congo, although their range extended into a 
 part of the Kaffir country, he had never chanced to 
 hunt in that particular district. 
 
 Of course neither Bushman nor Kaffir were on the 
 ground with the hunters. They had been left in charge 
 of the camp ; but the advice of both had been asked at 
 setting out, and it was ascertained that they had none 
 to give. 
 
 The hunters were at a loss how to proceed, and held 
 a discussion upon it. 
 
 Groot Willein thought they should be hunted like 
 springboks, that is, the hunters should take stand and 
 conceal themselves, while one or two rode round and 
 drove the game upon these a mode practised witli the 
 fallow-deer in the forests of North America, and there 
 termed "driving." 
 
 Hendrik believed that they could be " ridden into," 
 aad run down by the dogs. 
 
 Hans recommended " stalking," with which plan 
 Arend agreed. Of course no opinion was either asked 
 trora or given by the lads Klaas and Jan. Had they 
 been birds, they would have insisted upon their " say " 
 as well as their tkier brothers. 
 
 But blesboKS are not birds, although in less than an 
 hour after they proved themselves to be almost as swift. 
 
 Now, as stalking was the mode least likely to give
 
 STALKING THE BLESBOKS, 169 
 
 Ae herd the alarm and send them off, it could be tried 
 drst. Should no one succeed in getting within shot, 
 then Groot Willem's plan might be adopted ; and should 
 it also fail to be successful, it would still not be too late 
 to follow Hendrik's advice, and ride right at them. 
 
 First, then, for a " stalk." 
 
 They were not going to stalk them upon horseback. 
 Thtt would never do, though there are some animals 
 that will suffer a mounted man to approach nearer than 
 one a-foot. But blesboks are not of that kind. 
 
 All dismounted, therefore, and proceeded on foot in 
 the direction of the herd. Not all, exactly. Klaas and 
 Jan remained on the spot in charge of the dogs and 
 horses. Klaas and Jan were to have uo share in the 
 stalk. 
 
 The herd was in the middle of a vast open plain 
 so wide that the mountains on its opposite side were 
 scarcely visible. Upon all that plain not a bush 01 
 rock appeared. The grass, as already stated, was .<hort 
 cropped, and smooth as a meadow not a break in the 
 surface to offer a chance of concealment to the hunier ! 
 How, then, could they talk of "stalking" on such ground? 
 They knew that no wild animal, however stupid or 
 negligent, would permit them to walk up within point- 
 blank range and fire at them. How, then, were they 
 going to approach the blesboks, that they had heard 
 were any thing but stupid on the contrary, were ex- 
 ceedingly shy and watchful of danger ? How ? That 
 is a peculiar point, and requires explanation. 
 
 Although there were neither rocks, nor trees, nor 
 bushes of any kind, nor long grass, nor inequalities in 
 the ground, there was still a species of " cover." Not 
 8
 
 170 STALKING THE BLESBOKS. 
 
 the best, it is true, but such as would serve a skilful 
 hunter who knew how to take advantage of it. Enough 
 to give hopes to the yiigers, else they would not have 
 dreamt of such a thing as an attempt to stalk the bles 
 boks. 
 
 Scattered over the plain, and standing at irregular 
 distances of from one to three hundred yards of each 
 other, were numerous singular structures. They were 
 of the form of obtuse cones, or hemispherical, and all 
 of a light gray color the color of sun-dried mud. On 
 the sides of most of them at their bases could be seen 
 a hole of irregular outline?, and evidently not made by 
 the neat workmen who had built the mounds. Quite 
 the contrary. These entrances to the hollow domes 
 within were not for them. Theirs were under-ground. 
 These had been made by their enemies the burgl&ra 
 who had plundered their houses. I am sure I need 
 hardly tell you that the structures thus described were 
 ant-hills, and that tne big holes in this side were the 
 work of the long-tongued " aard-vark," or the scaly 
 " pangolin." 
 
 The hills in question were dome-shaped, and of mod- 
 erat? size varying from one to three feet in height 
 This is by no means as large as many ant-hills found in 
 Southern Africa. Some are four times that height, or 
 still higher ; but I have told you elsewhere of thee 
 high hills, and that there are different species of ants 
 who construct such curious nests each species choosing 
 its own style of architecture, some the cone, or pyra- 
 midal form, some a complete cluster of cones, some 
 build them of cylindrical shape, and others nearly half 
 spherical, like inverted tea-basins.
 
 STALKING THE BLESBOKS. I/] 
 
 Of these last were the ant-hills now under the eye! 
 of the young yagers. They were the nests of the Ter- 
 mes mordax a species that inhabits all the plains of the 
 '* zuur-veldt " country. 
 
 The hunters proceeded to stalk forward, their eyes 
 bent upon the antelopes, and their hopes fixed upon the 
 ant-hills. 
 
 Of course they did not commence crouching, until 
 they had tried how near the blesboks would allow them to 
 come without cover. This they soon discovered to be 
 about four hundred yards ; and although the animals 
 did not seem to mind their presence at that distance, but 
 continued browsing, yet the moment any one of the four 
 endeavored to get nearer, the herd, as if mechanically, 
 moved off, and still kept a width of four hundred yards 
 between themselves and the stalkers. 
 
 The hunters now began to stalk in earnest, crouching 
 from hill to hill. It was to no purpose. None of the 
 four could get within shot. They separated and took 
 different sides. The same result followed a failure. 
 Although the herd kept on, and always in the same 
 general direction, they seemed instinctively to avoid 
 whatever ant-heap a hunter had chosen, giving it a 
 " wide berth " which carried them beyond the reach 
 even of Groot Willem's roer ! After two hours spent 
 in this fruitless kind of hunting, the plan was aban- 
 doned. 
 
 The " stalk " would not do ; and Hans and Arend 
 were now sneered and laughed at by Hendrik and Grool 
 Willem. 
 
 " What uld they know about hunting ? Ha ! ha 
 ha!"
 
 172 DRIVING THE BLESBOKt, 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 DRIVING THE BLESBOKS. 
 
 ALL now returned to their horses. Groot Willem'a 
 plan was next to be tried. 
 
 They mounted. Klaas and Jan were permitted to 
 take part in this affair. They would do well enough to 
 ;< drive " the antelopes, while the other four would take 
 stand, and receive them as they came up. 
 
 All six rode off towards the herd, which, during the 
 stalk, had moved several miles across the plain. 
 
 When as near as they might safely go, without caus- 
 ing the animals to take the alarm, Klaas and Jan were 
 sent to one side, while the stand-men took the other, 
 going to their places by a wide circuit. Of course their 
 horses enabled them to get to their positions in a very 
 tittle time. It was not necessary that these should be 
 tear the herd. As soon as they should conceal them- 
 selves behind the hills, Klaas and Jan were to drive the 
 game up ; and they were instructed to do so gently, and 
 without causing the bucks to break into flight. The 
 lads were hunters enough to manage that point. 
 
 The four having got round to that side of the herd 
 opposite to where the drivers had been sent, tied theii 
 bridles together, and, leaving their horses, walked to
 
 DRIVING THE BLESBOKS. 175 
 
 wards the herd. They deployed from each other as 
 they went, so as to cover a good stretch of tne { lain^ 
 and then each choosing an ant-hill, knelt down behind it. 
 
 There could be no mistake now. The antelopes, 
 driven by Klaas and Jan, would come their way ; 
 springboks certainly would; and then, "crack! crack!" 
 would go the rifles, and " bang ! " Groot Willem's roer. 
 
 This gentleman was in particularly high glee. He 
 had recommended this mode in opposition to Hans 
 and Arend ; but he did not mind that, for he had rather 
 a contemptuous opinion of the hunter-craft of these two 
 " yagers ; " but what he thought of was, that Hendrik 
 had opposed it, and should it prove successful after that 
 opposition, it would be a feather in Groot Willem's hat. 
 
 That it would succeed he had little doubt. They 
 were all nicely placed. The two boys had got round 
 to the opposite side of the herd, and once these showed 
 themselves a little nearer, the antelopes would face 
 round they were browsing towards the side to which 
 the boys had been sent and feed in the direction of 
 the concealed hunters. Springboks would do so, said 
 Groot Willem to himself. 
 
 But springboks are not blesboks. They differ not 
 only in size and color, but in many of their habits ; and 
 just by a difference in one of these last was Groot 
 Willem destined to disappointment. A curious habit 
 they have and one which is shared by a few other 
 animals, both of the antelope and deer species knocked 
 all Groot Willem's fine calculations into "pie." 
 
 Instead of turning when Klaas and Jan approached 
 them from the opposite side, as all expected they would 
 io, the stubborn creatures would not be turned, tut kepi
 
 174 DRIVING THE BLESBOKS. 
 
 on most determinedly in their original course. It it 
 true that they swerved a little to get past the boys ; but 
 as soon as they were fairly beyond them, they healed 
 once more in the same direction as before. 
 
 Klaas and Jan were at some distance from ea ,h 
 other, so a' to make a wider front to the drive ; but for 
 all that, the blesboks swept past both at such a distance 
 as to give no chance for a bullet, even though sent from 
 the long roer. Neither of the boys fired, as they had 
 been told not to do ; and as both behaved discreetly and 
 quietly, the antelopes, after galloping some distance to 
 their rear, slackened their pace, and again commenced 
 browsing. 
 
 Groot Willem felt considerably chagrined at the 
 result, and got well laughed at by both Hans and Arend ; 
 but what annoyed him still more was a word or two 
 uttered by the rival hunter. 
 
 " I knew," said Hendrik emphatically " I knew it 
 wouldn't do. Do you take blesboks for sheep, to be 
 driven about, by a pair of boys mounted on ponies ? 
 Bah ! " 
 
 This was a terrible cut for Groot Willem ; but he 
 replied to it by alleging that his plan had not had a fair 
 trial. It was now plain to all that the blesboks fed tip 
 wind ; and, therefore, the stand-men should have headed 
 them instead of the drivers. 
 
 " Let us try it that way. I'll warrant you we'll suc- 
 ceed. If we don't, then we can do as Master Hendrik 
 recommends ; and we'll see how Ms plan, which is nc 
 plan at all, may answer." 
 
 There was a slight touch of sarcasm in Grcot Wil 
 lem's tone when he referred to Hendrik, and the empha
 
 DRIVING THE BLKSBOK9. 175 
 
 sis on the " Master/' partook strongly of the chara^tei 
 of a sneer counter to his which Ilendrik had given. 
 
 There could be no objection to try the thing over 
 again, according to the mode suggested by Groot Wil- 
 lem; and they all assented to his proposal. It mat 
 plain that the blesboks ran in the " wind's eye," else 
 they never would have " run the gauntlet " against 
 Klaas and Jan, as they had done. Such being the case, 
 the hunters, by laying in wait to windward, would have 
 a decided advantage, and, properly placed, could not i'ail 
 to reach some of the advancing herd. 
 
 Should the scheme turn out differently, then they 
 could follow Hendrik's advice, and ride tail-on-end upon 
 the blesboks. 
 
 With these ideas, the four galloped away to one side, 
 and, making a wide detour, headed the game. Klaas 
 and Jan were left in the rear to follow it up, and force 
 it gently forward. 
 
 In good time the stand-men were again placed, and 
 watched the advancing antelopes with interest. The 
 " blaze " upon their faces appeared larger and larger, 
 and their broad, white muzzles gleamed in the eyes of 
 the hunters, almost within range of their guns. But at 
 this moment, the animals raised their graceful necks, 
 uttered a strange, snorting cry, and then, instead of 
 turning to fly back, bounded right forward ! 
 
 Surely they were coming within range, thought every 
 one, as he knelt with ready firelock behind his shelter- 
 ing mound. " Good ! " muttered Groot Willem to him- 
 self. " I'll turn the laugh upon the whole of them 
 that I shall." 
 
 But Groot Willem was destined once more to a
 
 176 CHIVING THE BLESBOKS 
 
 humiliating disappointment. As the blesboks came 
 under the lee of each hill that covered a hunter, they 
 suddenly swerved, and swept round him at such a 
 distance as to render shooting at them a perfectly ridic- 
 ulous thing. Groot Willem had levelled his roer for a 
 chance shot, when he thought of the unpleasant con&e* 
 quences of a " miss ; " and reluctantly bringing down hia 
 piece he permitted the blesboks to sweep past. 
 
 In a few seconds the herd was far beyond the place 
 where they had passed the hunters ; but as no assault 
 had been made upon them, and no gun fired, they 
 quieted down after a while, and once more commenced 
 browsing. 
 
 Hendrik was now the proud man of the hour. He 
 would show them how the slow creatures could be gal- 
 loped into. He would run half-a-dozen of them down 
 before they could clear out of the plain. 
 
 " Come on ! " 
 
 All once again mounted their horses, and rode briskly 
 towards the herd. When near, they moved more slowly 
 and quietly, so as not to startle them. 
 
 As soon as they had got within the usual distance of 
 four hundred yards, the bucks moved forward ; and 
 then came the " view hilloa ! " The dogs were let slip, 
 the horses sprang forward, and the chase swept wildly 
 over the plain. 
 
 They had not galloped a mile, before Hendrik dis- 
 covered his mistake. Both dogs and horses were 
 distanced by the swift antelopes, and both lagged far 
 behind. 
 
 One by one the hunters fell into the rear, and drew 
 jp their foaming steeds ; and in less than twenty minute*
 
 OKJVING THE BLESBOK8. 177 
 
 time, Hendrik alone, and one or two of the best dogs, 
 held on. 
 
 Plans and Arend, believing that it was a hopeless 
 chase for their horses, gave it up ; and Groot Willem 
 did not wish to succeed/ Of course, Klaas and Jan 
 were with the hindmost ; and they all sat in their sad- 
 dles, watching first the purple backs of the bucks, and 
 then the head aim shoulders of Hendrik disappearing 
 among the distant ant-hills !
 
 HEND1UKS HAUD G 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIH. 
 HENDRIK'S HARD GALLOP. 
 
 ON swept the blesboks over the level sward and on gal 
 loped Hendrik after them his horse and dogs running 
 at their utmost speed. For all that, not a yard could 
 either hunter or hounds gain upon the swift antelopes. 
 There was no chance for either to " run cunning." 
 There was no taking " a cut " upon the game. The 
 blesboks made not the slightest double swerved not a 
 point from their course, but ran in a straight line, dead 
 in the wind's eye. No advantage, therefore, was given 
 by the pursued, or could be taken by the pursuers. It 
 was a simple question of speed between horse, dogs, and 
 game. 
 
 The dogs gave up first. They broke down one after 
 another, until only Hendrik's favorite hound kept near 
 Another mile's running, and he too was used up, and 
 fell to the rear ; and now Hendrik galloped alone. 
 
 For nearly ten miles he galloped, until the sweat 
 streamed from his horse's flanks, and the froth from his 
 lips, and still the blesboks scoured on before him at too 
 great a distance to be reached by his rifle. On a fresh 
 horse he could easily have overtaken them now for they 
 fan but slowly. Perhaps he could have closed upon
 
 HEN1>RIK'S HARD GALLOP. 17 
 
 them as it was, but, with all his desire to do so, he was 
 compelled to ride with caution. The burrows of the 
 unt-cater lay in hi? path, and once or twice, as he was 
 closing upon the game with good prospect of getting 
 near, his horse had stumbled, and lost ground again. 
 This gave the antelopes a decided advantage, as with 
 light hoof they skimmed over these impediments with- 
 out fear. 
 
 And still Hendrik was reluctant to pull up. He thought 
 cf the empty boasting he had made. He thought of the 
 scornful laugh that would greet him on his return. He 
 thought of Groot Willem ! 
 
 If he could only take back one hide one pair of 
 horns all would be well. The laugh would be his. 
 With such thoughts he had been urged forward, in this 
 long and desperate ride. 
 
 He began to despair of success. The blesboks seemed 
 to run lightly as ever, while his horse sprang heavily 
 under him. The noble brute must soon give up. 
 
 Hendrik at length felt for him, and would have drawn 
 bridle; but while half-resolved to do so, he noticed a 
 range of mountains directly in front of him. They ap- 
 peared to extend across the plain transversely to his 
 course, or rather two chains met in a sort of angle, quite 
 closing up the plain in that direction. Towards this 
 ingle the blesboks were directing their course ! 
 
 Did they propose taking to the mountain? was the 
 question put by Hendrik to himself. If so, he might 
 find an advantage there. They might come to a stop, 
 and under cover of the rocks and bushes that grew upon 
 the mountain-side, he might be able yet to stalk them. 
 
 As Hendrik reflected thus, his eyes wandered along
 
 180 HF.VDRIK'S HARD GALLOP. 
 
 the base of both ranges from the angle where they mel 
 to a good distance on each side. To his surprise he per- 
 ceived that the bases of both ended in a precipitous 
 cliff, with no apparent pass leading up ! He was now 
 close enough to see the cliff. Not a break appeared 
 long its whole line ! 
 
 Hendrik was gratified with this discovery. He was 
 driving the game into an angle, a very trap. They 
 would be compelled to turn upon him, and out of such 
 a thick mass, he could not fail to knock over one. One 
 was all he wanted. 
 
 His hopes returned, inspiring him with new vigor ; 
 and, uttering a word of encouragement to his horse, he 
 pushed forward. 
 
 Hi> ride did not last much longer. Another mile, 
 and it was over. 
 
 He had gut within five hundred yards of the moun- 
 tain foot, and less than half that distance from the 
 bucks that still continued to run straight toward the 
 angle of the cliffs. He was now quite sure of a shot. 
 In less than a minute, the herd would be compelled 
 either to stop, or turn back, and meet him hi the 
 teeth. 
 
 It was time to get his rifle in readiness ; and as he 
 intenled to fire into the thick mass, he took several 
 small bullets from his pouch, and hastily dropped them 
 into the barrel. He then looked to his percussion-cap, 
 to make sure that all was right. It was so. The cop- 
 per was properly adjusted on the nipple. 
 
 He cocked his gun, and once more looked forward to 
 the game. Not am. antelope wot in sight ! 
 
 Where were they ? Had they sprung up the moon-
 
 HENDBIK'S HARD GALLOP. 181 
 
 tain ? Impossible ! The precipice could not be scaled ? 
 Impossible ! Even had they done so, they would still 
 have been seen upon the mountain face. They were 
 not in sight, not one of them ! The hunter reined up, 
 his gun dropped back to the withers of his horse, hia 
 jaws fell, and for some moments he sat with parted lips, 
 and eyes glaring in wonderment. 
 
 Had he been of a superstitious nature, he might have 
 been troubled with some painful feelings at that mo- 
 ment. But he was not superstitious. Although for a 
 moment or two he could not feel otherwise than aston- 
 ished at it, he knew there was some natural cause for 
 the " sudden and mysterious disappearance " of the 
 bucks. 
 
 He did not pause long in doubt, but proceeded at 
 once to the proper quarter for an explanation. The 
 tracks of the herd guided him to that, and after riding 
 three hundred yards further, the mystery was explained 
 to his full and complete satisfaction. 
 
 The angle, after all, was not an angle, for the apex 
 was wanting. There was a " thoroughfare " without 
 the slightest obstruction. Although at a short distance 
 the converging cliffs appeared to impinge upon each 
 inher, there was an opening between them a narrow 
 pass that like an isthmus connected the plain over 
 which tne chase had gone, with another and very simi- 
 lar one that stretched away on the other side of the 
 mountains. The blesboks must have known it well 
 enough, else they would not have run so direct for the 
 false angle in the cliffs. Hendrik trutted up the pass to 
 convince himself that it was no cul-de-sac. After going 
 a few hundred yards, the isthmus widened again, and
 
 18'. HENDIUK'S HAKD GALLOP. 
 
 he saw to his chagrin the violet backs of the bucks fai 
 off upon the plain that stretched beyond. 
 
 Overcome with disappointment and chagrin, he flung 
 nimself from his saddle, and staggering a few paces, sat 
 down upon a boulder of rock. He did not even stop 
 to fasten his horse, but, dropping the bridle over hig 
 neck, left the froth-covered and panting steed to him* 
 self.
 
 RKND&IK CHASKD BY THE KEITLOA. 18,1 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 EENDRIK CHASED BY THE KEITLOA. 
 
 HENPRIK'S feelings at that moment were not to b 
 envied. His reflections were sharply bitter. He felt 
 mortified and humiliated. He wished he had never set 
 eyes upon a blesbok. A sorry figure would he cut on 
 his return to camp. He had laughed heartily at Hans 
 and Arend. They would reciprocate that laugh, and 
 add interest. He had ridiculed the idea of Groot Wil- 
 lem. Groot would not fail to pay back his scorn. 
 
 Besides, he had done his horse no good ; perhaps had 
 injured the animal. There stood he, with steaming 
 nostrils and heaving flanks, quite used up. They were 
 nearly twelve miles from camp. He would scarce be 
 able to carry his rider back, and Hendrik even began 
 to entertain doubts about his way. 
 
 The thought that he might have lost himself was just 
 entering his mind, when his reflections were inter- 
 rupted by a sound that caused him to start up from 
 that rock, as nimbly as he had ever risen from a seat in 
 his life. 
 
 The same sound seemed to produce a very similar 
 effect upon his horse ; for the latter, on hearing it, sud 
 ienly jerked up his drooping head, pricked his earn,
 
 184 HENDKIK CHASED BY THE KEITLOA. 
 
 snortod loudly, and, after dancing about a moment >i 
 two, shot off down the pass at full gallop ! 
 
 Hendrik's eyes did not follow him, nor his thoughts 
 neither. Both were too busy with an animal that came 
 tram the opposite side, and which had uttered the sound 
 that caused such a sudden alarm. The deep bass snort, 
 and the bellows-like blowing that followed, were no 
 strangers to the ear of the young hunter. He knew 
 that, on looking round, he would behold the black rhi- 
 noceros ; and he did so. That fierce creature was 
 coming down the pass ! 
 
 At first sight Hendrik was not so terribly alarmed. 
 He had hunted the rhinoceros more than once, and did 
 not deem it such dangerous sport. He had always beer, 
 able to avoid the charges of the clumsy quadruped, anJ 
 to escape out of its way when he desired. 
 
 But Hendrik for the moment had forgotten that on 
 such occasions he was seated, not on a boulder of rock, 
 but in the saddle, and it was to his horse that he owed 
 his immunity from danger. 
 
 Now that his horse had run off, and he found himself 
 a-foot upon the plain, with nothing between him and the 
 rhinoceros but twenty yards of smooth level turf, he be- 
 came truly alarmed. And no wonder at it his life was 
 in danger. 
 
 His first thought was to run up the rocks, thinking by 
 so doing to get out of the animal's reach. But, on look- 
 ing towards these, he perceived that they formed a 
 precipice on both sides of the pass, with a wall-like face, 
 that could only have been scaled by a cat! Hendrik 
 eould not climb up on either side ! 
 
 In the pass itself there was no shelter for him. It*
 
 HENDRIK CHASED BY THE KEITLOA. 183 
 
 Dottom was a smooth sward, sloping but slightly. It 
 was but the continuation of the outer plains, that wen 1 
 nearly on the same level. Here and there stood a tree, 
 but they were small ones mere " brush," and a rhinoce- 
 ros "xmld have levelled any of them to the ground with 
 his powerful horn. They offered no hope, either for 
 concealment or retreat. 
 
 There appeared no chance of escape in any way. 
 To attempt it by running off' would be perfectly useless ; 
 for Hendrik knew that a rhinoceros could overtake the 
 swiftest runner, as every South-African hunter could 
 testify. Hendrik did not think of it. To add to his ill- 
 fortune, he hud left his gun strapped to the saddle, and 
 that was now gone off with the horse ; so that his chance 
 of saving himself by the destruction of the rhinoceros was 
 gone also. The only weapon left him was his hunting- 
 knife ; but what was a knife against the hide of a 
 rhinoceros ? It might as well have been a needle. 
 
 There was but one hope of safety ; and that was, that 
 the animal might not see him. The rhinoceros possesses 
 the sense of fight only in a moderate degree. His e/es 
 are small ; and though sharp enough when an object is 
 directly in front of him, they are so placed in his head, 
 that, on account of his stiff neck and huge form, he 
 can see nothing either behind or even at either side of 
 him. 
 
 Hendrik had hopes the fierce brute would pass with- 
 out observing him. From his movements it was evident 
 he had not noticed him as yet, else he would already 
 have charged upon him. The black rhinoceros does nol 
 wait to be provoked. His own fierce nature furnishes 
 him with sufficient stimulus, and his fury is habitually
 
 186 HENDRIK CHASED BY T1JE KEITLOA. 
 
 directed against creatures the most innocent and unof- 
 fending. 
 
 To get as far out of his way as possible, Hendrik 
 glided silently up to the cliff, and stood close against the 
 rock. 
 
 But if the rhinoceros is not a sharp-sighted animal 
 he is one of the sharpest-scented that lives. With the 
 wind in his favor, he can smell even a "rat" at an 
 almost incredible distance. He is also gifted with a 
 most acute sense of hearing ; and the slightest sound, 
 such as the rustling of a leaf or the falling of a foot- 
 step, will enable him to guide himself directly to his 
 enemy or his victim. Were the rhinoceros endowed 
 with the power of vision to the same degree as he is 
 wiih that of smell and hearing, he would be the most 
 dangerous animal in the world. As it is, he is any thing 
 but a safe neighbor, and many of the poor natives of 
 the country he inhabits fall victims to his ungovernable 
 temper and brutal strength. Fortunately his eyes are 
 no bigger than they are. 
 
 They were big enough, however, to see Hendrik aa 
 he stood, his dark form outlined against the c^iff, and 
 sharp enough to distinguish him from the rock. The 
 breeze, indeed, blowing in his spread nostrils, had 
 warned him of the hunter's presence, and that had 
 li reeled his eyes. 
 
 As these rested upon the form of the boy, he stopped 
 ihort in his track, uttered a snorting noise, vibrated his 
 ears, and flirted his saucy little tail over his huge hips. 
 Then placing himself in a menacing attitude, and giving 
 utterance to an angry blowing, he dashed forward upon 
 Hendrik as if the latter had been his enemy for life 1
 
 flENDRIK. CHASED BY THE KEITLOA. 187 
 
 Hendrik's presence of mind was called for at this 
 moment; and it came to his aid. Had he kept hia 
 ground five seconds longer, he would have been crushed 
 against the rock, or impaled upon the strong horn of 
 the rhinoceros. But the moment the latter charged, the 
 boj sprang out from the cliff. 
 
 He did not attempt to run that would not have 
 saved him ; and fortunately he knew it. He merely 
 stepped out to the more open ground in the middle of 
 the pass, and there stood fronting his assailant. The 
 latter ha\ing seen the movement, swerved in his course, 
 so as again to head direct for his intended victim ; and 
 without stopping, rushed forward as before. 
 
 Hendrik stood still, until the sharp black horn almost 
 touched him. Then bounding to one side, he glided 
 past the rhinoceros, and ran in an opposite direction. 
 
 He looked back as he ran ; and seeing that the fierce 
 brute had turned suddenly on the failure of his charge, 
 and was close at his heels, he again made stand, con- 
 fronting the animal as before. Again he waited until 
 the rhinoceros was close up, and repeated the manoeuvre 
 of springing to one side and running behind. This 
 Hendrik had heard was the only way to escape the 
 rhinoceros in open ground. Had he sprung aside a 
 moment too soon, that is, before the sudden bound en- 
 abled him to clear the field of the animal's vision, he 
 would certainly have been followed and overtaken ; for, 
 unwieldy as the rhinoceros appears, it is nevertheless 
 far more active than it looks, and the horse can barely 
 get out of the way of its sudden and impetuous rush. 
 
 Hendrik had got two hundred yards down the pass 
 before it turned again, but the distance was not enough
 
 188 HENDHIK CHASED BV T11E KlilTLOA. 
 
 He was compelled to make stand for the third time, aod 
 Rvvait the terrible onset of his huge enemy. 
 
 As before, he succeeded in getting to his rear, but 
 the rhinoceros seemed to grow wiser, and now wheeled 
 his body at shorter intervals, so that Hendrik's chances 
 of escape were growing less and less after each succes- 
 sive charge. In fact, he was kepi dodging and leaping 
 continuously from side to side. To have lost his footing, 
 or relaxed his vigilance for a moment, would have been, 
 certain and immediate destruction. 
 
 Hendrik began to despair. He was already panting 
 for breath, with the perspiration flowing from every 
 pore. His body ached with fatigue. His limbs began 
 to fail him. He could not hold out much longer. There 
 was no reason to believe the powerful brute would 
 desist. It was child's play to him ; and he had worked 
 himself into a fearful rage at not being able to strike 
 his victim after so many charges. 
 
 Hendrik began to think he was lost for ever. The 
 thoughts of home, of father, of sister, and brothers, of 
 Wilhelmine rushed across his mind ; he would never 
 see them more ; he would be killed in that pass, and by 
 (he fierce dark monster that was pursuing him. They 
 
 would never know what had become Ha ! An 
 
 ejaculation escaped from Hendrik's lips as these sad 
 thoughts coursed through his brain. It was an exclama- 
 tion of joy. 
 
 The struggle between him and the fierce animal had 
 continued for more than a quarter of an hour, and had 
 changed from place to place until they were now about 
 the middle of the pass. Hendrik's sudden exclamation 
 had been caused, by his observing upon the cliffs a sort
 
 HENDRIK CHASED BY THE KEITLOA. 189 
 
 jf ledge or platlbrin about six feet from the ground. It 
 was scarce that width, but it ran along the front of th 
 cliff for a distance of several yards ; and, as Hendrik 
 thought, at one end there was a sort of cave or cleft in 
 the rocks. He scarce glanced at this, however; the 
 platform itself was what interested him, and without 
 another thought or look he grasped the edge of the rock 
 and dragged himself up. 
 
 The next moment he stood upon the shelf, and looked 
 safely down upon the ferocious brute that was storting 
 in vain fury below !
 
 190 HENORIK IN A STATE OF S1EGK 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 HENDRIK IN A STATE OF SiEGE. 
 
 HENDHIK breathed freely, though he puffed and 
 panted a long time after getting upon his perch. Ilia 
 mind was at ease, however, for he saw at once that the 
 rhinoceros could not reach him. The mo.-t it could do 
 was to get its ugly snout over the edge of the rock, and 
 that only by raising itself upon its hind-legs. This it 
 actually did, blowing with rage, and projecting its broad 
 muzzle as close as it could to the feet of the hunter, as 
 if to seize him with its elongated and prehensile lips. 
 
 It did so only once. Hendrik was as angry as the 
 rhinoceros, and with juster cause ; and now, feeling 
 confident of the security of his position, he bent forward, 
 and with all his might repeatedly kicked the thick lips 
 of the brute with the heels of his heavy boots. 
 
 The rhinoceros danced about, uttering cries of rage 
 and pain ; but, despite the brutal impetuosity of its 
 nature, it no longer attempted to scale the cliff, but con- 
 tented itself with rushing to and fro at its base, evi- 
 dently determined to lay siege to the hunter. 
 
 Hendrik had now time to contemplate this singular 
 animal. To his surprise he perceived that it was a new 
 species that is, one he: had never seen before, although 
 he had heard of it.
 
 HEXDRIK IN A STATE OF SIEGE. 191 
 
 Hendrik knew for Hans had told him long ago 
 ihat there were at least four species of the rhinoceros 
 inhabiting the countries of South Africa between the 
 Tropic and the Cape, and that probably a fifth existed 
 to the north of this line. Of the four, two were white 
 rhinoceroses, and two black. The white ones were 
 called respectively "kobaoba" and " muchocho," the 
 black ones* " borele " and " keitloa." The white specie* 
 were both larger than the black ones, but of milder dis- 
 position. Their food was principally grass, while the 
 borele and keitloa browse upon the tender >hoots and 
 leaves of bushes. The white ones are " unicorns," that 
 is, their anterior horn is largely developed in the 
 muchocho being sonietimes three feet in length, and in 
 the kobaoba still longer while the posterior horn is 
 simply a knob or bony protuberance. There are many 
 other points of distinction between the white and black 
 species, both in form, color, and habits. 
 
 Now, as the one that had attacked Hendrik was a 
 Hack rhinoceros, and was not the borele for this was 
 the kind they had encountered while hunting the gnoo 
 it must be the keitloa. That it was not the borele, 
 Hendrik saw by its horns. In the latter the front horn 
 only is developed to any considerable length never so 
 long as in the white ones whereas, like with them, the 
 posterior horn is little more than a pointed knob, though 
 longer or shorter in different individuals. Now, the 
 rhinoceros before Hendrik's eyes had two thick strong 
 horns upon its snout, each one being full fifteen inches 
 in length, and of course nearly equal. The neck, too, 
 was longer, and the lip more pointed and prehensile 
 than in the borele", for Hendrik knew the latter well, as
 
 192 HENDRIK IN A STATE OF SIEGE. 
 
 it is one of the most common animals upon th 
 frontier. 
 
 Hendrik's assailant was the keitloa. Although less 
 is known of this species than either the muchocho 01 
 borele because its district lies farther to the north 
 yet Hendrik had heard something of its character from 
 Hans, as well as from old hunters. He had heard that 
 it is even more fierce and dangerous than the borele, 
 and is more dreaded by the native?. In districts where 
 it is common, the people fear it more than any other 
 animal not even excepting the lion or the grim buffalo! 
 
 Hendrik had heard this about the keitloa, and no 
 longer wondered at its having attacked him in the sav- 
 age and unprovoked manner it had done. He only 
 thanked his stars that there existed that little ledge of 
 rock upon which he now stood, and from which he could 
 look down and contemplate those terrible horns with a 
 feeling of complacency which, five minutes before, he 
 had not enjoyed. He almost laughed at the odd situa- 
 tion he found himself in. 
 
 " What a place for Hans ! " he said in soliloquy. 
 " Capital place for him to study the natural history of 
 this clumsy brute ! " 
 
 At this moment, as if echoing his thoughts, the keitloa 
 began to exhibit before him one of its peculiar habits. 
 
 There stood a good-sized bush right in front, having 
 a number of separate stems growing from one root, the 
 whole forming a little clump of itself. Against this 
 bush the rhinoceros commenced battling, now charging 
 it from one side, now from another, dashing at it head- 
 ibremost, breaking the branches with his horns, and 
 trampling them under his thick clumsy limbs all tho
 
 HENDUIK IN A STA.TE OF SIKGE. 193 
 
 while, by his menacing look and movements, appearing 
 as if he was fighting with some enemy iu earnest I 
 Whether in earnest or not, he continued to go on in this 
 way for more than half-an-hour, until every stem atid 
 branch were barked, broken, and crushed to mummy 
 among his feet, and not till then did he desist from his 
 furious attacks. 
 
 The whole thing had such a ludicrous air about it 
 that it recalled to Hendrik's mind the story of Don 
 Quixote and the windmill, and set him laughing out- 
 right. His merriment, however, was not of long dura- 
 tion, for he now began to perceive that the fury of the 
 keidoa was as long-lived as it was terrible. The 
 glances that the animal from time to time cast upon the 
 huntei told the latter that he had to deal with an iin-* 
 placable .nemy. 
 
 As soon as the creature had finished its battle with 
 the bush, it walked back towards the cliff, and stood 
 with its head erect and its small lurid eyes gleaming 
 upon the hunter. It appeared to know he was its 
 prisoner, and had resolved upon keeping him there. Its 
 whole manner satisfied Hendrik that such was its inten 
 tion, and he began once more to feel uneasy about the 
 result. 
 
 When another hour had passed, and still the keitloa 
 kjpt watching him from below, he became more than 
 niieasy he became alarmed. 
 
 He had been suffering from thirst ever since they 
 commenced hunting the blesbok he was now almost 
 choking. He would have given any thing for one cup 
 of water. 
 
 The hot sun for it was yet only noon scorched 
 9
 
 194 HENDRIK IN A STATE OF SIEGE. 
 
 him as he stood against that bare burning rock. H 
 Buffered torture from heat as well as thirst. 
 
 He suffered, too, from suspense. How long might 
 his implacable sentinel keep watch upon him? Untii 
 the keitloa should leave the spot, there was not t l; e 
 slightest hope of his escaping. To have returned to the 
 plain would be certain death. It would have been death 
 but for the timely proximity of that friendly rock. No 
 hope to escape from its broiling surface so long as the 
 tierce brute remained below. 
 
 Would Hans and the others believe him lost, and 
 follow upon his spoor ? They might, but not till the 
 next day. They would not think of him being lost 
 before night came, as it was no unusual thing for one 
 ot them to be off alone from morning till night. How 
 would he endure the terrible thirst that was raging 
 within him ? How would he suffer it until they should 
 arrive ? 
 
 Besides, it might rain during the night. His spoor 
 would then be completely obliterated. They would not 
 be able to follow it, and then, what might be his fate ? 
 
 These and many other reflections passed through his 
 mind as he stood upon the ledge, regarding his fierce 
 jailer with looks of anger and impatience. 
 
 But the keitloa cared not for that. He still remained 
 upon the ground, now pacing to and fro by the bottom 
 of the cliff, and now standing still, with head erect, his 
 email dark orbs scintillating with a look of untiring 
 vengeance.
 
 A SINGULAR ESCAPE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 A SINGULAR ESCAPK. 
 
 As the moments passed, ITendrik's thirst grew fiercer, 
 and his impatience stronger. He had already exam- 
 ined the cliff above him in hopes that he might have 
 found a way by which it could be scaled. To no pur- 
 pose did he look up. There were other ledges, it ia 
 true, but they were beyond his reach. The shelf he 
 stood upon ran along the face of the cliff for many 
 yards, but narrowed at both ends until it could be fol- 
 lowed no farther. He had not moved from the spot 
 where he ascended, as that was the broadest part, and 
 where he was most out of reach of the elastic snout and 
 long horns of the keitloa. 
 
 He now remembered that, while battling about below, 
 he had noticed a dark spot above the ledge, which he 
 had conjectured to be the entrance of a cave, or a hole 
 ill the cliff. He had thought of it once again, but ai 
 creeping within a cave would not render him mere 
 secure than he was out on the rock, he had not gone 
 towards it. 
 
 Now it occurred to him that he might examine the 
 cave, and enter it if large enough to admit him. It 
 would, at least, be pleasanter there, as he would he
 
 196 A SINGULAR ESCAPE. 
 
 sheltered from the hot rays of the sun an important 
 consideration at that moment. 
 
 But there was another consideration that influenced 
 him still more ; and that was, the thought that were he 
 once out of sight the rhinoceros might forget him. He 
 knew that the old adage, " out of sight, out of mind," 
 bad a good deal of meaning when applied to the borele", 
 the lion, a'nd many other dangerous animals ; and per 
 haps the proverb would also hold good of the keitloa 
 though what he had heard of this creature gave him 
 very little ground to hope. At all events, he could test 
 the thing. It would not cost much time to make the 
 trial ; and even should it prove of no service in that 
 way, the change from his present stand upon the hot 
 ledge for a seat within a cool cavern could not other 
 wise than better his condition. To the cave then ! 
 
 Fixing his eye upon the keitloa, he commenced mov- 
 ing along the terrace, towards the point where he re- 
 membered having noticed the dark fissure in the cliff. 
 
 The keitloa followed, keeping with him step for step ; 
 and apparently roused to fresh vigilance, as if it feared 
 that its victim was about to attempt an escape. All the 
 way it followed him ; and as the ledge grew narrower, 
 it became necessary for Hendrik to proceed with great 
 caution. Not that he was in danger of falling from it. 
 but rather of being dragged for the rhinoceros, by 
 standing on his hind-legs, was now able to stretch his 
 broad muzzle above the edge of the rock, and to pro- 
 trude his elastic snout across the ledge within a few 
 inches of the wall beyond. It therefore required "gin- 
 gerly" stepping on the part of Hendrik. Notwith- 
 Btundii g all the menacing effbns of his adversary,
 
 A SINGULAR ESCAPE. 197 
 
 Hendrik succeeded in reaching the entrance of th 
 ;avo. 
 
 It was a cavern deep and dark, with a mouth suffi- 
 ciently large to admit the body of a man in a benl 
 position. 
 
 Hendrik was about stooping to enter it, when a loud 
 "purr" sounded in his ears that caused him to start 
 erect again, as if some one had run a needle into his 
 back ! The " purr " was quickly followed by a " roar," 
 so deep and terrible, that in his first moments of alarm, 
 the hunter felt half inclined to leap to the ground, and 
 risk the horns of the rhinoceros, which, at that instant, 
 were gleaming above the ledge, within twenty inches of 
 his feet ! 
 
 There was no mystery in what caused the alarm. 
 There was no mistaking that roar for any other earthly 
 sound. The cave was tenanted by a lion ! 
 
 The tenant did not remain much longer within his 
 house. The roaring continued ; and every moment 
 sounded nearer and clearer. The huge claws caused a 
 rattling among the dry pebbles that strewed the bottom 
 of the cave. The lion was coming forth ! 
 
 With the nimbleness of a klipspringer, Hendrik 
 bounded to one side, and ran back along the ledge, look- 
 ing fearfully behind him. 
 
 This time he was not followed by the ktitloa. The 
 rhinoceros, whether terrified by the roar of the lion, or 
 whether his attention was solely taken up by it, re- 
 mained standing where he had taken up his position, 
 with his head projected over the rock, and his snoul 
 pointed towards the entrance of the cavern. 
 
 Next moment the shaggy front of the lion filled th
 
 98 A SINGULAR ESCAPE. 
 
 mouth of the cave, and the king of beasts and the "king 
 of brutes " came face to face ! 
 
 For some moments they remained gazing at each 
 other ; but the eyes of the lion seemed to intimidate the 
 k'iitloa, and the latter drew his head back, and dropped 
 on all fours to the ground. Perhaps he would have 
 gone off from the spot without an encounter ; but the 
 ire of the dread monarch had been aroused by this in- 
 trusion upon his rest. For a moment he stood lashing 
 his tawny sides with his tail ; and then, crouching until 
 his breast touched the rock, he launched himself out 
 from the ledge, and came down with all the weight of 
 his body upon the broad back of the keitloa ! 
 
 But, king as he was, he had mistaken the character 
 of that " subject," if he thought he was going either to 
 mangle him badly, or put him to flight. Sharp as were 
 his claws, and strong his arms to strike, they barely 
 scratched the thick hard hide of the pachyderm ; and 
 although he tried to " fix " himself on the shoulders of 
 the latter, he could not manage to stick. Had it been 
 a buffalo, or an antelope, or even the tall giraffe, he 
 would have ridden it to death ; but to ride a rhinoceros 
 was a different affair ; and he found it so. Although 
 he used both teeth and claws to keep him in the posi- 
 tion he had taken, neither would serve him, and he waa 
 dismounted almost in an instant. The moment the 
 keitloa felt the fierce rider on its hack, it made a doss- 
 pera e rush outward from the rocks, and shaking its 
 huge body like an earthquake, it cast the lion to the 
 plain. 
 
 The lion crouched as if again to spring; but the 
 latter, suddenly turning upon his antagonist, stood fac< 
 to face with him before he could effect his purpose.
 
 A SINGULAR ESCAPE. 199 
 
 The rhinoceros did not pause a moment, but rushed 
 on .his antagonist with his horns set like couched lances. 
 The weight of his body, with the impetuosity of the 
 charge, would have driven those hard sharp weapons 
 through the toughest skin that lion ever wore, and 
 through his ribs as well. The lion seemed to be troubled 
 with some such idea ; for, instead of awaiting the onset 
 of his enemy, he turned tail the cowardly brute ! 
 and made off' up the pass, the keitloa chasing him as if 
 he had been a cat ! 
 
 Hendrik, all the while, had watched the combat from 
 the ledge ; but he never knew how it ended, or whether 
 *he rhinoceros overtook the lion or not. The moment 
 he saw the two great brutes in full run up the pass, he 
 leaped from the ledge and ran down it, with all the 
 speed he could take out of his legs. 
 
 On reaching the angle, he hesitated a moment which 
 way to take whether to follow back the spoor of the 
 hunt, or the later tracks of his horse but at length he 
 decided on following back his own spoor over the open 
 plain. He ran along it as fast as he was able, looking 
 over his shoulders at very short intervals, and still fear- 
 ful that the great black body would show itself in his 
 rear. He was agreeably disappointed, however. No 
 keitloa followed in pursuit ; and soon another agreeable 
 fact came under his notice he perceived that his horse 
 had also gone back the same way. On rounding a 
 clump of bushes some distance farther on, he saw the 
 horse browsing a little way off upon the plain. 
 
 The latter permitted himself to be caught ; and Hen- 
 drik, once more mounting to the saddle, pursued his way 
 towards the camp. The spoor of the hunt guided him
 
 200 A SINGULAR ESCAPE. 
 
 in a direct line ; for the blesboks, it will be remembered, 
 ran all the while to windward, thus following a strajghl 
 course. Hendrik had no difficulty in following the 
 track ; and, after two hours' riding, got back to camp, 
 having picked up most of the dogs on his way back. 
 
 Hans and Arend did laugh at him. Groot Willem 
 did not. The latter remembered how his rival had 
 acted after his own tumble over the burrow of the 
 aardwolf; and now reciprocated Hendrik's handsome 
 behavior on that occasion. Groot Willem and Hen- 
 drik were likely to become great friends.
 
 A TA.9T HERD OF ANTELOPES. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX II. 
 
 A VAST HERD OF ANTELOPES. 
 
 NEXT Jay the young yagers were witnesses tc a.uoel 
 extraordinary spectacle ; and that was, a vast herd of 
 blesboks, so vast, that the plains appeared literally 
 covered with their purple masses ! 
 
 This herd was not browsing, nor at rest, but scour- 
 ing up against the wind as those hunted the day be- 
 fore had done and evidently running as if some dreaded 
 enemy in their rear had given them an alarm. 
 
 The mass of bodies was nearly half a mile in width ; 
 but it would have been difficult to estimate its length, sa 
 it continued to pass before the eyes of the yagers for 
 more than an hour! On the animals poured, sometimes 
 running in line, and sometimes the hindmost leaping 
 over those that preceded them, moving like an impetu- 
 ous torrent. All of them ran with necks extended for- 
 ward, their noses close to the ground, like hounds run- 
 ning upon the scent ! 
 
 Here and there they were closely packed in dense 
 masses, while in the intervals between, the bucks were 
 thinly interspersed ; and now and then were wide breaks, 
 like an army marching in column. 
 
 Too cause of these openings was simply that tho in* 
 9*
 
 202 A VAST HERD OF ANTELOPES. 
 
 inense diove consisted of a great many sepajate ht.rda, 
 all running by one impulse ; for it is a curious habit of 
 the blesboks and bonteboks, that when one herd be- 
 comes alarmed, all the other herds that chance to be in 
 ihe same plains with this one, both to windward and 
 leeward of it, start off in succession ; and as all, from 
 their habit of running up the wind, must follow the 
 same direction, a constant drove, or rather a continuous 
 succession of droves is formed, and passes in open col- 
 umn before the spectator who may be on either flank. 
 The wonderful spectacle of so many living creatures, 
 running together in such countless numbers, brought tc 
 mind the accounts, which the young yagers had read, 
 of the migrations of the buffalo on the prairies of 
 America, and also those of the passenger-pigeon. O( 
 course, the resemblance to the " trek-boken " of theii 
 own springboks, which all of them had witnessed, was 
 also remembered. 
 
 On this day our hunters were more successful than 
 upon the preceding. They had learnt by their experi- 
 ence of yesterday how to "jag" the blesbok. 
 
 Instead of attempting either to " stalk " or " head " 
 them, they found that the best plan was to ride along 
 the flanks of the running herd, and now and again 
 dash near enough to fire into tht thick of them. The 
 blesboks, while moving to windward, will permit the 
 hunter to get within three or four hundred yards of 
 their flank ; and the mounted hunter, keeping his horsa 
 fresh, can now and then gallop within shooting distance 
 before the moving ma^ss can turn out of its course. Fir- 
 ing among a flock in this aimless way, the bullet is not 
 always sure of a victim, but now and then a buck falls 
 to the shot.
 
 A VAST HERD OF ANTELOPES. 203 
 
 Practising this plan, the young yagers played upon 
 the flanks of the great herd during the whole time of 
 its flight to windward; but notwithstanding the continu- 
 ous cracking of rifles, with now and then the louder 
 defoliation of Groot Willem's great elephant gun, the 
 slaughter was not very great. Six only " bit the dust." 
 Iu ( as in the six there chanced to be an equal number 
 of bucks and does, the hunters were quite content. 
 They were not "jaging" for the meat, but merely 
 to get specimens of the horns and prettily-painted skins ; 
 and three of each were as many as they wanted. 
 
 The hunt was soon over ; and as their horses were 
 pretty well " blown," the yagers returned at an early 
 hour to camp, taking with them only the heads, horns, 
 and skins of their game, with just enough of the veni- 
 son to give them fresh steaks for a day or two. 
 
 One peculiarity they remarked in skinning the bles- 
 boks that the skins of these beautiful creatures ex- 
 haled a pleasant perfume arising, no doubt, from the 
 fragrant plants and herbage upon which the animals 
 feed. 
 
 The afternoon was spent in dressing the skins by 
 removing the fatty flesh that adheres to them and they 
 were then spread out to dry. Under such a hot sun, a 
 few hours was sufficient to render them dry enough to 
 be ,-arried on tc the next camp, where they would be 
 spread out for a longer period, and thoroughly prepared 
 for packing in the wagons. 
 
 llendrik and Groot Willem performed this service ; 
 but the preparing of the heads a more scientific opera- 
 tion was the work of Hans assisted by Arend. Hans 
 had his box of chemicals, consisting of arsenical &oap
 
 204 A VAST HERD OF ANTELOPES. 
 
 and several other noted "preservers," which he had 
 brought along for this special purpose ; and by night, 
 two pairs of heads, with the skin and horns attached, 
 were thoroughly cleaned and mounted, and ready for 
 ."jailing up to the wall. 
 
 There was a buck and doe in each pair; one, of 
 course, for the Von Blooms, and another for the mausiof 
 of the Van Wyks. 
 
 The only difference between the horns of the blaze- 
 buck and the blaze-doe is, that those of the latter are 
 shorter, and more slender ; while the skin of the doe is 
 less vivid in its coloring, and smaller, as is also the 
 body of the animal. The same remark applies to the 
 kindred species the bonteboks of which brilliantly 
 colored creatures full sets of horns and skins were 
 obtained the day after. 
 
 On this occasion, the " stand and drive " recommended 
 by Groot Willem had been tried again, and with 
 great success ; each of the four Hans, Hendrik, 
 Arend, and Groot himself having shot his buck as 
 the flock dashed up to their stands. Indeed, Hans, 
 upon this occasion, had carried off the palm. His 
 double-barrel, loaded with ball, had enabled him to 
 knock over a couple of the " painted goats " as bonte- 
 boks are sometimes styled right and left. 
 
 The explanation of their success in this hunt, and 
 their failure when trying the same plan with the 
 blesboks, is not found in any essential difference be- 
 Iween the two species. Their habits are almost the 
 same. 
 
 No. Their success lay simply in the fact, that on the 
 day when they jaged the bontebok, there was no wind
 
 A VAST nKltl> OF ANTELOPES. 20? 
 
 not ?. breath of air Stirling. On this account the 
 game were not only unable to run against the wind, 
 but, keen as is their scent, they were not able to tell 
 behind which ant-hill lay their concealed enemies. 
 
 The consequence was, that Klaas and Jan were able 
 to drive them right up to the ambushed hunters, who 
 slew them without diihculty. 
 
 The " stalk " would not have succeeded on such a 
 day, for these antelopes trust far more to their nose 
 than their eyes ; moreover, a correct rifle-shot is very 
 difficult to be obtained in the plains of the "zuur-veldt," 
 as the mirage is almost always upon them, and inter- 
 feres with the aim. So strong is this mirage, that 
 objects at a distance become quite distorted to the eye, 
 and out of all proportion. A secretary bird stalking 
 along looks as big as a man, and an ostrich attains the 
 altitude of a church-steeple. Even the color of objects 
 becomes changed ; and travellers have mistaken a pair 
 of tawny lions for the white tilts of their own wagons 
 and have gone towards them, thinking they were riding 
 into their camp ! An awkward mistake, I should 
 fancy. 
 
 After having secured their specimens of the pied an- 
 telopes, the ycung yagers again broke up camp, and 
 away across the plains of the " zuur-veldt."
 
 20 THE I.ONE MOITNTAIK. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 THE LONE MOUNTAIN. 
 
 IT has been observed, that upon the plains of the 
 ruur-veldt country, mountains of singular forms meet 
 the eye of the traveller cones, domes, square box-like 
 masses with table-tops ; sharp ridges, like the roofs of 
 gigantic houses ; and some that pierce the heavens with 
 pointed peaks like the steeples of churches ! Some, 
 again, present a horizontal outline, like the parapet of 
 a fortification, while square tower-like masses, rising 
 above the general level, carry out the idea of some 
 Avork of military architecture on a grand scale. 
 
 Our young yagers were very much interested in these 
 mountain forms, so varied and fantastic. Scmetimes 
 their route led them along the base of a precipice rising 
 H thousand feet sheer above the plain, and trending for 
 miles without a break, so that for miles no access could 
 be had to the mountain that rose still higher above. 
 Sometimes they were compelled to trek along narrow 
 ridges that sloped off on both sides, leaving scarce enough 
 of level to run the Avhtels upon. Then, again, they 
 would be compelled to pass around some spur, that, 
 shooting for miles out into the plain, barred their direct 
 path.
 
 THE T.ONE MOUNTAIN. 207 
 
 As they trekeil across one of the widest plains they 
 had yet seen, a singularly formed mountain drew their 
 attention. It could scarce be called a mountain, a~ it3 
 altitude above the plain could not have been more than 
 seven or eight hundred feet ; but its brown rocky sur- 
 face gave it that character, and to have styled such a 
 mass a hill would have been equally misnaming it. 
 There were no " foothills," or inequalities near its base. 
 The greensward of the level plain stretched away on 
 every side its verdant color strongly contrasting with 
 the dark brown granite of the mountain. 
 
 The sides of this singular mountain sloped from base 
 k> summit as regularly as those of an Egyptian pyramid ; 
 and at a distance it looked pyramidal, but on coming 
 nearer its rounded form could be perceived. It was, in 
 reality, an obtuse cone, perfect in all except the apex, 
 and it was there that the peculiarity of this mountain lay. 
 Instead of ending at the apex, a steeple-like rock rose 
 out of the summit some thirty feet higher, ending in a 
 point that appeared from below as " sharp as a needle." 
 It was this that had drawn the attention of the young 
 yagers more particularly, as other mountains of conical 
 form were common enough along their route ; but this 
 one, looking, as one of them observed, like an inverted 
 f jnnel, differed from any they had yet seen. It was 
 very conspicuous, thus standing isolated in the midst of 
 the open plain, and contrasting so much in its color with 
 :he green table upon which it appeared to rest. 
 
 " Let us go and explore it," proposed Arend ; " it 
 isn't much out of our way. We can easily overtake 
 these slow-going oxen again. What say ye all ? " 
 
 " Let us go, by all means," said Hans, who fancieJ
 
 ^08 THE LONE MOUNTAIN. 
 
 that upon so odd-looking a mountain he might fall in 
 with some new plant. 
 
 'Agreed ! " cried all the others .in a breath, for when 
 Hansproposed a thing it was usually assented to by hie 
 yoanger comrades. 
 
 Without further ado the whole six turned then 
 horses' heads for the mountain, leaving the wagons to 
 trek on across the plain, towards the point where they 
 intended to encamp. 
 
 When the riders first faced to the mountain, it ap- 
 peared to be about a mile off, and all, except Hans, be- 
 lieved that it was not more. Hans maintained that it 
 was jive, and was unanimously contradicted. A discus- 
 sion took place, Hans standing alone five to one again* 
 him. The idea of its being more than a mile was 
 scouted. Hans was ridiculed laughed at called blind. 
 There was a little epitome of the world on that plain 
 a paraphrase upon a small scale of Galileo and his 
 contemporaries. 
 
 And here let me counsel yon, boy reader, ever to be 
 
 cautious how you pronounce against ideas that may be 
 
 put forth, because they chance to differ from those you 
 
 already hold. Half of what you have already learnt is 
 
 erroneous, and much of it has been taught you with an 
 
 evil intent. I do not refer to what has been taught you 
 
 by your school instructor, who impr.rts knowledge to 
 
 you with the best of motives. But the tyrants of the 
 
 earth both priests and princes for long centuries have 
 
 had the moulding of men's minds, and they have spared 
 
 no labor to shape them to their own purposes. They 
 
 have so well succeeded, that one half the very proverb* 
 
 by which conduct is guided, prove upon examination to 
 
 be false and wicked.
 
 1HE LONE MOUNTAIN. 20^ 
 
 There is a peculiarity about the attainment of kn >wl- 
 edge which assists wicked men in misleading their vic- 
 tim*, and I would wish that all of you should know Ihn 
 peculiarity. I do not claim to be its discoverer, foi 
 others may have discovered it as well ; but up to lliis 
 hour I have met with no promulgation of it. 
 
 It is this, that every truth is overshadowed by a 
 tophism, more like the truth than truth itself. This law 
 holds good throughout the whole extent of the moral, 
 intellectual, and material world. 
 
 I cannot pause here to illustrate the above statement 
 not even to explain it. But I hope the day is not dis- 
 tant, when you and I may converse upon such matters 
 face to face. 
 
 I hope you believe that I have helped you to some 
 knowledge ; but I now affirm, and in full seriousness, 
 that, if you examine the statement I have thus emphat- 
 ically made, and study it to a full understanding, you 
 will have gained more knowledge in that one sentence 
 than all I have hitherto written. You will find in it the 
 key to most of the errors and misfortunes that afflict 
 mankind. 
 
 In that sentence you will also find a key to the dif- 
 ference of opinion that existed between Hans and his 
 five companions. None of the five were thinkers they 
 relied entirely on the evidence of their senses. A 
 process of ratiocination never troubled the brain of any 
 of the five. Had they never before seen a straight rod 
 plunged into crystal water, they would most certainly 
 have believed that the rod was bent into an angle ay. 
 and have ridiculed any one who should have contra- 
 dicted the evidence of their senses, just in the way thej
 
 210 THE LONE MOUNTAIN. 
 
 now ridiculed Hans for asserting that an object was five 
 miles off, when they plainly saw it was only a fifth part 
 of that distance. It certainly appeared only a mile off 
 that is, to one who had been in the habit of measuring 
 distances by the eye in the ordinary atmosphere of a 
 icwlund country. But Hans knew they were now in a 
 region elevated many thousand feet above the level of 
 the sea. Partly from books, and partly from his own 
 observation, he had studied the nature of the atmosphere 
 at that altitude ; and he was acquainted with the optical 
 illusions of which it is frequently the cause. He admit- 
 ted that the mountain looked near, even as near as a 
 mile ; but he held on to his original opinion. 
 
 Patient as was the young philosopher, the ridicule of 
 his companions nettled him a little ; and suddenly pull- 
 ing up on the plain, he challenged them to a measure- 
 ment. They all agreed to the proposal. They had no 
 measuring chain not even a yardstick. 
 
 But they knew that Hans could tell distances with- 
 out one; and having consented that his measurement 
 should be taken, they all rode back to the point where 
 the discussion had commenced. 
 
 How was Hans going to manage it? By trigonomet- 
 rical triangles, you will say. Not a bit of it. He could 
 have told the distance in that way if he had wished ; but 
 he had a simpler plan. Hans did not carry a viamcter t 
 but a viameter carried him ! 
 
 Yes. in the stout steady-going cob which he rode, he 
 had as perfect a viameter as ever was set to a wheel j 
 and Hans having once put his hor'e to the proper pace, 
 could tell the distance passed over almost as correctly as 
 if it had been traced by a chain ! There was a certain
 
 THE LONE MOUNTAIN. U 
 
 rate of speed into which Haas's horse, when left to hiiiv 
 self, was sure to fall, and this spec d was so many otepa 
 to the minute the steps being of equal length. By 
 either counting the steps, or noting the time, the exact 
 distance could be obtained. 
 
 Hans had been in the habit of putting his horse to the 
 proper pace for this very purpose, and could do so at a 
 minute's warning. So, taking out his watch to regulate 
 the speed by the moment hand, he started forward in a 
 direct line for the mountain. 
 
 All rode after, without noise so as not to disturb 
 Hans in his counting. But for that, they would have 
 continued to gibe him a little. Only for a short while, 
 however ; for, as they rode on, and the mountain did 
 not appear to come any nearer, their faces began to look 
 very blank indeed. 
 
 When they had ridden for a full half-hour, and the 
 mountain still looked a mile off', Hans had five very 
 crest-fallen boys moving along in his rear. 
 
 When they had ridden nearly another half-hour, and 
 their horses' snouts almost touched the rocks of the 
 mountain, none of the five was surprised to hear Hana 
 cry out in a loud firm voice : 
 
 "Just five miles and a quarter ! " 
 
 Not a word was spoken. Not one of the five ventured 
 even a whisper of contradiction Hans did not laugh in 
 h5* turn, but facing round simply said, 
 
 * Every truth is overshadowed by a sophism more tih 
 tfo truth than truth itself! "
 
 till THK APPROACH TO THE LON E MOUNTAIN 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI V r . 
 
 THE APPROACH TO THE LONE MOUNTAIN. 
 
 ALTHOUGH from a distance the mountain had appear* ,1 
 of smooth outlines, now, that they gazed upward fn*. 
 its base, it presented quite a different aspect. Loo,e 
 boulders of rock, strewed thickly upon the slope, ov- 
 ered its sides up to the very summit, giving it the ap- 
 pearance of a gigantic " cairn," such as may be r jeen 
 upon the tops of some of our own mountains. These, 
 however, are the work of men, while that upon which 
 our yagers gazed looked as though giants had erected it. 
 
 Among the loose stones there was yet a trace of 
 vegetable life. Plants of the cactus kind, and rare 
 euphorbias, grew in the spaces between the rocks ; and 
 here and there stood a small tree, with spreading top 
 an I my rtle-lii" ') foliage, casting its shadow over the side 
 of the mountain. The arborescent aloe was also seen, 
 its coral-red spike appearing above the sharp edge of 
 some huge boulder, and strongly contrasting with fhs 
 dull gray of the rock. 
 
 After contemplating the singular emirienc, for somo 
 minutes, it was proposed that they should ail ascend to 
 its summit. It appeared but a very short way. Tlio 
 path was not very steep. A ten minutes' climb would
 
 THE APPROACH TO THE LONE MOUNTAIN. 213 
 
 euffiee. What a splendid view they should have from 
 its top ! It commanded a prospect of the country they 
 were about to traverse for the next three days' journey 
 at least. They might lay out their course from it, and 
 by noting landmarks, avoid the detours of mountain- 
 spurs and other obstacles. Should they ascend it ? 
 
 Yes. All of them desired to do so some to enjoy 
 Uie view ; some for the fun of climbing ; and Klaas and 
 Jan because they had seen a large bird wheeling around 
 the summit, which might be the king of birds an eagle ; 
 and they wished to make a nearer acquaintance with his 
 majesty. 
 
 Hans also had an interest in going up. He wanted 
 to examine the vegetation of the mountain that ap- 
 peared to differ essentially from that of the surrounding 
 plain and particularly the myrtle-leaved tree already 
 mentioned. 
 
 So the voice for making the ascent was unanimous 
 ncmine dissentiente. 
 
 Without further ado, they all dismounted for it 
 would have been impossible to have ridden up such a 
 rock-strewed path and secured their horses by tying 
 their bridles together. This was their usual way when 
 there was no tree to which they could make them fast. 
 The mode answered well enough. The animals were 
 well acquainted, and on friendly terms, so that they did 
 aot bite or kick one another ; and with their noses all 
 turned inward, no one of them could stray off without 
 the consent of the other five, and this unanimity could 
 never be obtained. Even had five of them agreed to 
 wander a bit, there was one that would have opposed 
 such a- conspiracy, and pulled against it with all hi*
 
 214 THE APPROACH TO THE TONE MOUNTAIN. 
 
 might one that would have remained loyal to hK 
 master ; and that was Hand's steady, sober- sided wb, 
 that had been trained to wait wherever his rider left 
 him. Upon many a botanical excursion had he carried 
 hij master, and often had stood with no other fastening 
 than the bridle thrown over his withers, while the bota- 
 nist climbed the rocky steep, or dived into the thick 
 hush, to pluck some rare plant or flower. 
 
 Leaving their horses, the party commenced the as- 
 cent. Now their path lay between large masses of 
 granite, and now passed over the tops of the rocks. It 
 required them to use all their strength and agility ; and 
 although from below they fancied they would reach the 
 summit in about five minutes time, they were sadly dis- 
 appointed. 
 
 There are few things more deceptive than the ascent 
 of a mountain. It is usually more difficult than it ap- 
 pears, and a large allowance should be made in the cal- 
 culation, both for time and labor. The philosopher 
 Hans knew this very well, and told the others that it 
 would take them a full half-hour to get to the top. Some 
 of them were inclined to ridicule his assertion ; but they 
 remembered their late humiliating defeat, and remained 
 silent although they thought five minutes would bring 
 hem to the very summit. 
 
 At the end of five minutes they began to change their 
 opinion ; and when three times five had passed over, 
 they found they were still but half-way up the slope ! 
 
 Here they halted, and five minutes were spent in 
 u puffing and blowing." 
 
 Hans had now an opportunity of examining the tree 
 that so interested him, for they had stopped under th 
 shade of one.
 
 FHB APPROACH TO THE LONE MOUNTAIN. 21 5 
 
 It was not a large tree, nor could it be called a very 
 Handsome one ; but for all that it proved to be of a most 
 interesting character. It was much branched with small 
 (eaves, of a pale green color, and in their general effect 
 having a resemblance to the myrtles. Its flowers, too, 
 were small and inconspicuous. It chanced to be in 
 flower at the time, and this enabled the botanist to de- 
 termine its character. It belonged to the order Santa- 
 lacece, or " sandal- woods ; "and was a species of Santalum, 
 closely allied to the Santcdum album of India, which 
 yields the sandal-wood of commerce. 
 
 They all knew what sandal-wood was, as they had 
 seen various " knick-knacks " manufactured out of this 
 famous wood ; but they knew not whence it came, or 
 what sort of tree produced it. Hans, however, taking 
 advantage of the halt, gave them this information : 
 
 " The sandal-wood," he said, " is produced from a tree 
 of the same genus as the one now above us. It grows 
 in the mountainous parts of the Malabar country, and 
 also in the islands of the Indian Archipelago. It is a 
 small tree, rarely growing to a foot in diameter. Its 
 wood, as you know, is highly prized on account of its 
 agreeable fragrant smell ; and because this fragrance 
 not only keeps it from decaying, but also preserves any 
 material, such as clothes, silk, and other articles that 
 may be in contact with it, from insects or rust. In con- 
 sequence of this quality of the sandal-wood, it is in great 
 demand for making boxes, cabinets, and such articles ol 
 furniture , and, on account of its agreeable odor, it ia 
 also manufactured into fans and necklaces wl.ich com- 
 mand high prices. 
 
 " The Brahmins u.-e it in their sacrifices to the god 
 Vishnu, to scent the oil employed iu '.he ceremony."
 
 216 THE APPROACH TO THE LONE MOUNTAIN. 
 
 " Are there not two kinds of sandal-wood ? " inquired 
 Klaas. " Sister Wilhelmina has a box of it and a neck- 
 lace, too. They were brought from India by Uncle, 
 but they are very different. The box is white, and the 
 beads 3 of the necklace are of a beautiful yellow color 
 maybft they are dyed." 
 
 u No," answered Hans, " they are not dyed. There 
 are two kinds, white sandal-wood and the yellow sort, 
 and it has been said that they were the produce of dif- 
 ferent trees. This is not the case, however. Although 
 there is more than one species of Santalnm that produces 
 the sandal-wood of commerce, the white and yellow 
 kinds are taken from the same tree. The reason of the 
 difference is, that towards the heart of the tree where 
 the wood is older, and especially down near the root, the 
 color is of a deep yellow ; whereas the young wood that 
 lies outwardly is nearly white. The yellow part is 
 harder, more fragrant, and, of course, more valuable. 
 
 " When these trees are felled for their wood, the bark 
 is at once stripped off and the trunk buried for nearly 
 two months which strengthens its odor, and renders it 
 more agreeable." 
 
 While Hans was giving these interesting details, the 
 others took out their knives ; and each cutting a branch 
 from the sandal-tree, applied it to his nose, and then 
 tasted it. 
 
 But, though they could perceive its fragrant smell, 
 they found it perfectly insipid to the taste. Hans said 
 it was so with the Santalnm album or true sandal-wood 
 of India that, notwithstanding its sweet perfume, it is 
 i[uite tasteless. 
 
 He further informed them that the name " sandal-
 
 THE APPROACH TO THE LONE MOUNTAIN. 217 
 
 tfood" is not derived from the use to which the wood is 
 jometimes put that of making sandals. On the con- 
 trary, these derive their name from the wood itself. The 
 true derivation of the word is from the Persian "san- 
 dul," which signifies useful, in relation to the valuable 
 qualities of the timber. The sandal-wood of the Sand- 
 wich Islands, added Hans, is procured from two species 
 different from Santalum album. 
 
 The yagers, having now rested a suiRcient time, again 
 faced up the mountain, and in fifteen minutes after atood 
 opon its top.
 
 SI 8 THE LITTLE 11 If RAX. 
 
 CHAPTEll XXXV 
 
 THE LITTLE HYRAX 
 
 IT i* not quite correct to say that they blood upon ihe 
 lummit They had reached the top of the hill, but still 
 above them rose the steeple-like rock which they had 
 observed from the plain, and whose odd appearance had 
 allured them to the spot. 
 
 A singular rock it was, rising full thirty feet above 
 the summit of the mountain. Its sides were nearly ver- 
 tical, but scored and seamed as if the rain had worn its 
 surface into furrows. Jt gradually narrowed upward, 
 until it ended in a point not four inches in diameter; 
 but along its sides from top to bottom similar points 
 stood up ; so that the whole structure if we may call 
 it so bore a strong resemblance to a Gothic turret, 
 rising in the midst of many others that stood out from 
 its base and along its sides. 
 
 It appeared inaccessible to any other creature than a 
 cat, a monkey, or a winged bird ; and of course not one 
 of the party thought of such a thing as climbing it 
 That would have been a perilous undertaking. 
 
 After they had satisfied themselves in gazing at this 
 singular geological phenomenon, they commenced mov- 
 ing around its base to the opposite side. It was not so
 
 THE LITTLE HYRAX. 21S 
 
 easy to get round it, as huge sharp boulders covered the 
 whole scarp of the hill around its base, and they had 
 either to mount over these, or push themselves through 
 the narrow interstices between. 
 
 Before they had got quite round, however, an object 
 came under their eyes that caused them to halt, and re- 
 ciuin tor some time in an attitude of observation. 
 
 About half-way down the hill rested a rock of vast 
 dimensions, whose sharp angular top rose higher than 
 those around, and commanded the view of a broad space 
 of the mountain-side. Upon the top of this rock was 
 perched a very large bird full as large as a turkey- 
 cock. Its plumage was of a deep black color, except 
 over the back, where there was a patch as white as 
 Bnow covering the shoulders. The feathers upon the 
 legs reached to the very toes, and were of brown color. 
 The toes appearing beneath were of a bright yellow. 
 
 The general outline of its form the abrupt curving 
 of the beak the full-rounded tail the strong broad 
 wings, and the feathered legs, looking as though the 
 bird wore trowsers were all characteristic points that 
 told its species. 
 
 " An eagle ! " exclaimed the hunters as soon as they 
 saw it. 
 
 It was an eagle, and one of the largest of its kind. It 
 was the great vulture-eagle of Verreaux, (Aquila Ver- 
 reauxii.) This bird no doubt it was that Klaas and 
 Jan had caught a glimpse of as they approached the 
 mountain. 
 
 It was scarce two hundred yards from the boys, and 
 although they had been making a considerable noise 
 while passing over the rocks, it had not heard them, and
 
 220 THE LITTLK HYRAX. 
 
 still sat without noticing their proximity. That would 
 have been strange for a bird so shy as an eagle ; but it 
 was accounted for by the fact that it? attention at the 
 mcmer.t Denied to be taken up with something < !se 
 This was evident from the attitude in which it sat, or 
 rather stood, with claws firmly clenched upon the edge 
 of the rock, and neck stretched forward and downward. 
 It was evidently eyeing some object below, in which it 
 took a deep interest. 
 
 Its back was turned upon the hunters, and offered a 
 t'air mark ; but it was far beyond point-blank range of 
 any of their guns, except perhaps the roer. Groot 
 Willem, however, might have reached it, but at such a 
 distance and with so small a mark a bullet from the 
 smooth bore would have been little better than a chance 
 shot. 
 
 Groot Willem was about to try it, however ; but 
 Hans begged of him to hold his fire a little longer, so 
 that they might watch the movements of the eagle 
 which, from its odd attitude, was evidently meditating to 
 surprise some victim below. 
 
 It was not long before the victim was also in sight 
 appearing suddenly upon a little terrace, some twenty 
 or thirty yards farther down the mountain. It was a 
 small quadruped, of a grayish brown color, darker above, 
 and of lighter tint beneath. It had the look of a rabbif, 
 though, considerably larger than one, thicker in the body, 
 and without the long ears. It stood, moreover, not so 
 high on its legs, and these appeared much bent as it 
 walked. Like the rabbit, its hair was of a thick woolly 
 n-Uure, though long scattered silky hairs rose above the 
 < neral surface of its furry coat It was entirely with
 
 THE LITTLE IIIKAX. 221 
 
 out a tail ; and the four claws of its fore feet were not 
 claws, but nails resembling little hoofs ? On the hind- 
 feet it had but three toes ; the inside one of each ending 
 in a regular claw. 
 
 Of course, these peculiarities were not noticed by the 
 spectators at the moment, as the little quadruped waa 
 beyond the reach of such minute observation. They 
 were communicated afterwards by Hans, who knew the 
 animal well. 
 
 Altogether it was by no means an interesting animal 
 to look at externally ; yet in its internal structure it was 
 one of the most interesting upon the globe. 
 
 In that small round woolly creature, timid as a mouse 
 now making abrupt runs across the little platform 
 now stopping short in its career, to nibble a leaf of some 
 plant, or to look suspiciously around in that insignifi- 
 cant quadruped the young yagers beheld a near relative 
 of the big brutal rhinoceros ! Yes ; though without any 
 horn upon its snout, and without the naked skin the 
 teeth, the skull, the ribs, the hoof-like toes, the whole 
 internal structure of the animal in question, prove it to 
 be a rhinoceros ! a regular pachyderm ! So says 
 Frederick Cuvier. 
 
 " What a wonderful triumph," saiu Hans, " the closet 
 naturalists have had in this discovery ! ' What a tri- 
 umph of anatomy,' says M. Cuvier, ' that proves thia 
 supposed rodent to be a rhinoceros ! ' In my opinion it 
 is rather a proof of the weakness of M. Cuvier's ana- 
 tomic theories ; for here is a creature, witli all the teeth 
 ol a rhinoceros, and all the manners of a rabbit ! 
 
 '* Instead of the bold brutal nature of the rhinoceros 
 
 rushing out without provocation, attacking und but-
 
 222 THE LITTLE HYRAX. 
 
 ting at whatever comes in its way here we have a sh) 
 timid creature, that takes to flight on the slightest sus- 
 picion of danger, and seems to be frightened at ita 
 very shadow. Why, it affords the most absolute prool 
 of the uncertainty of the teeth and bones as a guide to 
 the mode of life of any animal. In all animated nature 
 a better illustration could not be found of the fallacy of 
 M. Cuvier's arguments than this same hyrax for so 
 the quadruped is called and, despite the opinion of the 
 celebrated French savant, I still believe the little crea- 
 ture to be more of a rabbit than a rhinoceros." So 
 spoke Hans Von Bloom. It was bold language for so 
 young a naturalist ! 
 
 It is true there was much reason in his holding to 
 the opinion that the hyrax is no pachyderm. Its habits 
 are so unlike those of the thick-skinned brutes its mode 
 of life so different from that of a rhinoceros. 
 
 Its habits are very simple, and can be told in a few 
 words. It is gregarious ; dwells upon the mountains, 
 and in the most rocky places ; makes its den in the crev- 
 ices and caves that are found there, steals forth to eat 
 or bask in the sun ; runs timidly and with a shy suspi- 
 cious look ; feeds on grass and leaves of plants, and is 
 fond of those of aromatic properties ; can escape from 
 most carnivorous quadrupeds, but is successfully preyed 
 upon by birds, and especially by the vulture-eagle the 
 species already describe !. Such is the history of the 
 " daman," or " hyrax. ' u dassie," " rock-badger,* or 
 * rock-rabbit " by all of which names the creature laa 
 figured in books. 
 
 It is one of those anomalies that cannot be classed 
 with other quadrupeds, and lias been constituted a getiui
 
 THE LITTLE HtKAX. Sf2 
 
 tf iteelf. Two species are known, differing very slightly 
 from each other. They are Hyrax Syriacus and Co- 
 pensis, or the Syrian and Cape hyrax. 
 
 One ot the most interesting facts in relation to thi. 
 quadruped is, that the Syrian species is most probably 
 Ihe " coney " of the Scriptures. In fact, the description 
 can apply to no other existing animal. 
 
 I have said that all this knowledge was obtained after- 
 wards from the philosopher, Hans. 
 
 Just then there was no time for such observations ; 
 for the hyrax, with two or three of its companions, had 
 scarce appeared from the platform, when the eagle shot 
 down from the rock, and swooped right into the midst 
 of them. 
 
 The boys heard the shrill cry of the little quadru- 
 peds, as the shadowy wings covered them; and ex- 
 pected to see the eagle rise with one of them in its 
 talons. 
 
 They were disappointed, however, as well as the bird 
 itself. The " rock-rabbits " had been too quick for their 
 well-known and dreaded enemy ; and before the eagle 
 was able to put a claw into their wool, they had all scat- 
 tered, and rushed within the safe shelter of their dark 
 caves. 
 
 Of course, they were not coming out any more thai 
 afternoon. The eagle seemed to have this very idea 
 for, rising into the air with a scream of disappointment, 
 it flew olf towards the other side of the mountain.
 
 THE KLirSPRINGERB. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI 
 
 THE KLIPSPRINGERS. 
 
 [N hopes of getting a shot at it on the wing, the boys 
 crouched behind the boulders as it flew round, holding 
 their guns in readiness. It passed them at too great a 
 distance, and none of them fired. 
 
 They expected to see it fly off, and wing its way to- 
 wards the neighboring mountains as it could only be 
 a stray visitor to the hill, some hungry old eagle oul 
 upon a hunt. 
 
 It was about to do this ; for it had already risen to a 
 considerable elevation, and was heading away, when all 
 at once it stopped suddenly in its flight, and balanced 
 itself for some moments in the air, with neck bent down- 
 ward, a*- if it had taken a fresh interest in some object 
 that had j ist eome under its eye below. 
 
 Had the rock-rabbits ventured forth again? No. It 
 could not be they ; for the eagle was hovering over a 
 IhTc.rent quarter quite the opposite side of the moun- 
 tain. If rock-rabbits were in sight, they must be a dif- 
 ferent party. That was not improbable. There might 
 be others upon the mountain. And yet the eagle would 
 not hover above them in that \vay. The habit of this 
 species is not to " swoop " from on high, but to watch
 
 THE KL1PSPUINGERS. 225 
 
 from a pertu upon some neighboring rock, and du*b 
 upon the hyrax, when it comes out to feed or bask 
 precisely as the boys had seen it do. 
 
 So quick is the rock-rabbit in escaping to its retreat 
 that even an eagle, darting from a high elevation, would 
 fail to clutch it. Had there been rock-rabbits below, 
 they would have perceived the great black bird above, 
 and would have secured themselves at once. It could 
 not be they that were now occupying the attention of 
 the vulture-eagle. 
 
 It was not they. Hans, who with his double-barrel 
 had hoped to obtain a shot at the eagle, and had crept 
 ahead of his companions to the other side of the tower- 
 rock, saw that it was not rock-rabbits that had caused 
 the eagle to pause in its flight, but some creatures of a 
 very different character. 
 
 About half-way down the slope grew a sandal-wood 
 tree, one of the largest upon the mountain, with a full 
 bushy top. Directly under this tree was a mass of 
 tabular rock, with a smooth top, quite horizontal, and 
 several yards in length and breadth. Over this, and 
 nearly covering its whole extent, the sandal-wood threw 
 its protecting shadow ; so that while the hot sun baked 
 down upon the surrounding slope, the surface of the 
 rock was kept shaded and cool. It was just such a spot 
 as one would have chosen tr have rested upon, com 
 manding a far view of plains and picturesque mountains; 
 and sweetly shaded from the burning noonday beams 
 just such a spot as the contemplative mind would have 
 desired, and in which, freed from care, it could have de- 
 livered itself up to pleasant meditations. 
 
 <)n3 cannot help fancying that many of God's w ild 
 10*
 
 226 THE KLIPSPUINGEHS. 
 
 creatures, in selecting their haunts and homes, have aa 
 eye to the picturesque. I can tell at a glance the cliff 
 in which an eagle will make its eyrie, the glade that will 
 be haunted by the stag or the fallow-deer, the tree under 
 which he will repose, and oft times it has appeared o ma 
 that these favorite haunts are chosen by animals lew 
 for the security they afford, than for the pictureequ* 
 beauty that surrounds them. 
 
 One could hardly have fancied that lone wild moun- 
 tain that smooth table-rock that fragrant sandal- 
 wood tree without some living thing placed there by 
 Nature to enjoy the scene, and give life to the picture 
 which would otherwise have been incomplete. 
 
 It was not incomplete. It was crowned and perfect. 
 The shade of the sandal-wood fell not in vain. Upon 
 the surface of the table-rock was a groyp of living 
 creatures born to enjoy that wild and lovely scene 
 created, as it were, to give a finish to the picture. 
 
 There were three individuals in this group three 
 quadrupeds of a kind that had not been seen by the 
 young yagers since the setting out of their expedition. 
 Though these animals wore a similar coat of hair, and 
 were of the same yellowish olive color, all three were 
 of different sizes. The largest was scarce so tall as a 
 pointer-dug, while the smallest was still less than a tiny 
 young kid. The second was not half-way between the 
 two, but nearly equal in size to the largest. The princi- 
 pal difference between the latter two lay in the fact thai 
 the large one had a pair of horns upon its head, which 
 the other wanted. There were no horns neither upon 
 their tiny little companion. For all this difference, the 
 three were evidently of the same genus and species, nay
 
 THE KUPSl'RINOKRS. 22" 
 
 yvarer relations still of the same family. They were 
 n family of klipspringers. 
 
 Hans knew at once it was the k.ipsprin^er, ( Orcotrof 
 jus saltutrix,) and so did all the others for this interest- 
 ing antelope is still found within the settled districts of 
 the Cape Colony wherever high inaccessible cliffs and 
 rock -covered mountains afford it a secure retreat from 
 dog, hunter, and hyena. 
 
 Among the many interesting forms of the antelopa 
 tribe, that present themselves in South Africa, the klip- 
 springer is not the least interesting. Though a very 
 small creature, and of no great value to the hunter, it 
 differs so much in its haunts and habits from others of 
 the antelope race, as to make it an object of curiosity, 
 even where it is common and often seen. Unlike the 
 oryx, the gnoo, the hartebeest, the blesbok, the eland, 
 and a host of others, the klipspringer never appears 
 upon the plain. It is purely a mountain-dwelling ani- 
 mal, and the crag and cliff' are its favorite haunts. 
 There it is safe from the carnivorous beasts the lion, 
 the hyena, the wild hounds, and the jackal none of 
 which can reach its secure retreat upon the ledges of 
 the beetling precipice. Even the leopard cannot fol- 
 low it there notwithstanding his recurved claws that 
 enable him to climb like a cat. On the steep cliffs, and 
 along the dizzy heights, the klipspringer has no equal in 
 South Africa ; he can scale them as no other quadruped ; 
 he fears no four-footed beast of prey. Three birds 
 alone are his dangerous enemies and these are the 
 eagle of Verreaux, the Kaffir eagle, and the lammer- 
 geyer. 
 
 Tfce klipspringer stands about twenty inches in height
 
 228 THE KLIPSPRINGERS. 
 
 is strongly and compactly built, with stouter limbs than 
 the small antelopes of the plain. His horns are but 
 four inches in length, rise vertically up from his head> 
 and incline slightly forward. They are wrinkled at the 
 base, and ringed in the middle. The hair that covers 
 his body is long, wiry, and thickly placed upon the skin 
 and standing out upon end, gives the animal somewhat 
 of a porcupine appearance. The color is a nearly uni- 
 form yellowish olive, caused by the individual haira 
 being ash-colored at the base, brown in the middle, and 
 yellow at the tips. One of the most characteristic pointa 
 about the klipspringer is the formation of its hoofs. 
 These, instead of being long and pointed as is the case 
 with most antelopes are cylindrical in form, and rest 
 vertically upon their bases. They are jagged at the 
 edges so as to give the animal the power of adhering 
 to the smoothest rock, without danger of slipping. 
 Like every piece of Nature's handiwork, they are 
 perfectly adapted to the use for which they are in 
 tended. 
 
 The klipspringer is not gregarious ; but is seen ir 
 pairs, or families, as they now appeared under the eye* 
 of the young yagers. 
 
 When Hans first noticed them, they were in different 
 attitudes. The buck was standing upon the rock look- 
 ing oui, over the plain below, but had not as yet per- 
 ceived the eagle as the thick leafy top of the sandal- 
 wood interposed between him and it. 
 
 The doe was lying down ; while, kneeling beside her 
 and drawing nourishment from her teats, was the little 
 k idling. 
 
 Presently, the black shadow of the soaring bird passed
 
 THE KLTPSPRINGKRS. 228 
 
 ovei the greensward of the plain. It moved under the 
 eyes of the buck, who, perceiving it, started suddenly, 
 uttered a kind of hissing snort, and struck the rock with 
 his hoof. This movement on his part brought the doe 
 at once to her feet, as well as the little fawn ; and all 
 three stood in an attitude of observation, turning their 
 eyes now upon the shadow below, and now glancing 
 suspiciously above. After a moment they all com- 
 menced leaping about, though they still kept upon the 
 rock. They saw the eagle, for it had now moved out 
 some distance over the plain, so that the foliage of 
 the tree was no longer interposed between it and 
 them. 
 
 It was just at this moment that the eagle had paused 
 in its flight, and hung poised in the air. It had for the 
 first time placed its eyes upon the klipspringers. 
 
 In a moment the rapacious creature perceived the 
 little fawn, cowering close behind the body of its mother; 
 and without more ado, the bird directed its flight down- 
 ward ; and, when nearer, swooped straight at the group 
 upon the rock. 
 
 Sudden as was the dash of the bird, it was a fruit- 
 less effort, and it rose again without having made a 
 victim. 
 
 But when the spectators looked for the antelopes, not 
 one of the three remained upon the table, where they 
 aad stood the moment before ! As quick as the flight 
 of the bird, all three had sprung off from the rock, and 
 thus escaped from its dreaded claws. 
 
 One would have supposed that the klipspringers 
 would have hid themselves in crevices, as the conies 
 bad done. Not so. All three were seen- each standing
 
 230 THE KLIPSPRTNGEUS. 
 
 conspicuously upon the top of a rock, and seeming U 
 await the further action of the bird. With heads erect, 
 and eyes turned upward, they stood, evidently expecting 
 a renewal of the attack. The eagle, after hovering 
 around and calculating its distance, swooped again. 
 
 In this fresh attempt of the tyrant the little fawn 
 al)ne was aimed at. Had it been the others, they 
 would have sprung out of reach as before ; and so, too, 
 did the fawn repeatedly, bounding from rock to rock, 
 with the elasticity of an india-rubber ball. But the 
 wily bird continued the attack, turning each time in 
 shorter circles, until the tiny limbs of the youthful ante- 
 lope trembled with weariness. During all this time the 
 old ones leaped about, bounding high in the air, and 
 descending upon the sharpest edges of the rocks, as if 
 they had alighted from a flight with wings. The object 
 of their movements evidently was to draw the attack 
 of the eagle upon themselves, and thus save their off- 
 spring. 
 
 It was to no purpose, however. The cunning rav- 
 isher preferred making a victim of the kid, and paid no 
 attention to the manoeuvres of the old ones. No doubt, 
 there were eaglets on the neighboring mountain, and 
 the tenderest venison was wanted for their dinner. 
 
 At all events, the eagle continued to assail the poor 
 little fawn, until the latter had no longer strength lef* 
 to leap from the rock upon which it had taken its last 
 stand. 
 
 Another dash made the eagle a last and final swoop. 
 Its talons closed like a cramp upon the vertebrae of the 
 tiny quadruped, which the next moment was oon.e aloft 
 into the air 2
 
 THE KLIPSPRINGERS. 2<V. 
 
 A shrill sad bleating was heard from below drowned 
 for an instant by the discharge of several guns, whose 
 reports echoed like thunder from the rocks ; and then 
 (he winged robber, with his victim still clutched in hi 
 tiilons, was seen falling with fluttering wings to the 
 with!
 
 HUNTING THE KLIPSFKtKOEl 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 HUNTING THE KLIPSPBINGEB. 
 
 THE eagle dropped not far from the summit; and 
 the boys, running down to the spot, found it lying quite 
 dead, with the little klipspringer also dead of course 
 still fast in its claws. The talons sunk deeply into the 
 flesh, embraced the spine, and even in death the fierce 
 bird had not relaxed its hold ! 
 
 Some would have considered the death of the eagle 
 a just punishment ; but, then, what was its crime ? It 
 is true, it had killed, and would have carried away, the 
 little fawn of an innocent antelope one of the most 
 harmless of creatures. But what else could it have 
 done ? Nature had taught it to sustain itself in this 
 way. Perhaps it had a nest on the brow of some beet- 
 ling precipice for this vulture-eagle of South Africa ia 
 a dweller upon rocks, and not a iree-eagle perhaps in 
 this nest it had a pair of downy little eaglets, each with 
 an appetite like that of an ostrich perhaps they were 
 expecting that very kid, or some similar dish, for din- 
 ner ; and would have been very hungry without it 
 might have died of hunger ? What, then, could the 
 parent-bird do but provide them, though at the expense 
 of other parents just as much attached to their offspring
 
 HUNTING THE KLIPSPRINGEB. 233 
 
 is an eagle could be ? How can it be regarded as a 
 crime ? The eagle did not wantonly destroy the ante- 
 lope, but to satisfy the cravings of hunger. It only 
 obeyed one of the laws of Nature. 
 
 Cruel laws they do seem ; yet, if they be crimes, 
 Nature herself is answerable. Alas ! we cannot com- 
 prehend, and, I fear, in this life never will comprehend, 
 why we, the creatures of the earth, are born to prey 
 upon one another. A puzzle to the humane heart is 
 that " chain of destruction." 
 
 Wanton killing of animals is a crime ; and our 
 hunters, at first sight, might be thought chargeable with 
 this in having wantonly shot down the eagle. Such 
 was not the case, however. They did not do so out of 
 any feeling of wantonness. They had a proper object 
 in shooting the bird. It WHS the representative of a 
 rare and little-known species, and the possession of ity 
 skin for scientific purposes had something to do with 
 the fatal aim that brought it down for it was from the 
 double-barrel of the naturalist the shot was sent that 
 destroyed it. 
 
 By the act the klipspringers had been avenged, 
 though there was little idea of giving them vengeance 
 in the minds of the young hunters. Quite the contrary; 
 for in five minutes after, the whole six buck-dogs and 
 all were in full chase after these creatures, as ready 
 to rob them of their lives as they had been to take away 
 that of their winged snemy. 
 
 Nor was it out of wantonness either, or the mere love 
 of hunting, though that might have been the principal 
 motive with one or two of the party. But there was a 
 curiosity about these little antelopes, and a desire tc
 
 234 HUNTING THE KLIPSPKINGER. 
 
 examine them more closely, that urged the young 
 yagers to attempt their destruction. They desired to 
 possess their trophies. 
 
 You may wonder why they should care about the 
 horns of a klipspringer, since it is not one of the rare 
 antelopes within the boundaries of the settlements I 
 True, the animal itself is not rare ; but it is a rare oc- 
 currence, when one falls before the bullet of the hunter 
 as the klipspringer is as shy and wary as the chamois 
 itself and, dwelling in the most inaccessible places, it 
 is difficult game to capture. Hence, the killing of a 
 klipspringer is regarded in the light of a feat, and its 
 little horns are by no means an ordinary trophy. 
 
 The young yagers, therefore, wanted the pair belong- 
 ing to the buck that was now leaping over the rocks 
 below. 
 
 Some minutes were spent in deliberating as to what 
 would be the best mode of getting possession of them. 
 
 At the report of the guns both the klipspringers had 
 gone farther down the mountains, and were now standing 
 upon a large boulder near its base. 
 
 Hendrik proposed that the party should dash right 
 down after them dogs and all and force them out 
 into the plain, whore, it was well known, they could 
 make but a poor run, and would be easily overtaken by 
 the buck-dogs. 
 
 This plan seemed feasible. The antelopes were very 
 D2ar thi! base of the mountain. The hunters coming or 
 them from above could easily drive them into the plain ; 
 ttid then there would be a run between them and the 
 logs, of which a fine view would be obtained. 
 
 Off started the whole party, directing their course
 
 HUNTING THE KLIPSPRINGER. 23J 
 
 Wraight down the mountain to the point where the klip- 
 epringers were seen. The dogs were set free, and 
 sprang forward in advance. 
 
 The hunters moved on as fast as the nature of the 
 ground would permit them ; and in ten minutes would 
 have been near enough to the klipspringers to h&v^ 
 6red, had the latter favored them by remaining in their 
 place. But they did not do so. Of course, they had a 
 full view of their enemies as they advanced ; and before 
 the hunters had got half-way down, the nimblt, game set 
 off round the bottom of the hill, flitting from rock to 
 rock like a brace of birds. 
 
 What seemed odd in their mode of progressing was, 
 that instead of running along the open spaces between 
 the fragments of rock, they chose the rocks themselves 
 for their path, and of these also the most prominent 
 ones ; so that their flight was a succession of bounds, 
 some of them of enormous length ! Many of the bould- 
 ers, on which they rested a moment, and from which 
 they sprang again, were so narrow at the top, that the 
 little creatures hardly obtained room for their feet ; and, 
 with their four hoofs touching each other, they would 
 spring off as though moved, not by muscular power, but 
 under the influence of some elastic force ! 
 
 At first the hunters believed their task to be an easy 
 one. The mountain surface was of so limited an extent, 
 they would soon surround the game, or force it out upon 
 the plain. The first attempt to do so, however, had 
 ended in a failure. The klipspringers had escaped 
 without difficulty to the other side, and were now farther 
 off than ever i 
 
 The hunters called up the dogs, recrossed the summit,
 
 236 HUNTING THE KLIPSPKINGEK. 
 
 and once more set their eyes ipon the game, perched w 
 before upon prominent points. 
 
 A second time the party advanced, spreading as they 
 went down, and holding their guns in readiness ; but 
 long before they were within range, the klipspringers 
 took to flight again ; and, just as they had done Vefore. 
 passed around the base to the other side of the moun- 
 tain. Of course, the dogs, scrambling clumsily among 
 the rocks, were no match for such game as they ; and 
 even had the klipspringers been near enough for tho 
 guns, the most accomplished riflemen could not have 
 " sighted " them, so quick were their motions. The only 
 chance of the yagers lay in their shot-guns, and to 
 have hit them, even with these, would have been a 
 feat equal to the bringing down a snipe or woodcock. 
 
 Once more the boys attempted to drive them into the 
 open plain ; but with the same result as before. Al- 
 though the hunters had spread themselves across the 
 mountain, the nimble game dashed past them, and es- 
 caped to the other side. 
 
 Groot Willem now proposed a new plan. That was 
 for all to descend the mountain to its base, and there 
 make a complete surround of it. Then each to march 
 straight up, and, by hemming the game on all sides, force 
 thsm to the summit. 
 
 " In this way," added Groot Willem, " we'll at least 
 have a crack at them ; for if they try to get back through 
 our line, they must pass near some of us." 
 
 Groot Willem's suggestion was adopted. The yagen 
 now descended to the base of the mountain ; and, 
 separating, spread around it at equal distances from one 
 another. The buck-dogs were also distributed ; on
 
 HINTING THE KL1FSPRINGEB. 2o7 
 
 going with each hunter, except Klaas, who had no dog 
 to accompany him. Since the affair with the blauwbok^ 
 there had been only five in the pack. 
 
 Thus placed, the boys recommenced the ascent. The/ 
 proceeded with proper caution, keeping each other b 
 view, and shouting from time to time words of instruc- 
 tion as to the position of the game. These were seen 
 bounding before them, from rock to rock now crossing 
 the mountain to the opposite side, with the intention of 
 escaping in that way now zigzagging along the sides, 
 or bounding upward toward the summit. 
 
 When the hunters had advanced about half-way up, 
 the klipspringers became frightened in earnest. They 
 saw that they were encompassed on every side ; and 
 sprang to and fro like a pair of grasshoppers. 
 
 At length they seemed determined to run the 
 gauntlet through the circle of hunters, and made a 
 bold dash in the direction of Hans. The naturalist, 
 although not professing to be much of a hunter, was a 
 capital shot ; and, raising his double-barrel, he fired. 
 
 The doe fell to the crack ; and the buck, suddenly 
 turning as on a pivot, once more bounded up the slope. 
 The dogs had already gained a distance ahead of their 
 masters, and now advanced upon the buck from all 
 sides. There seemed no chance left him of avoiding 
 their onset. 
 
 He had mounted a boulder near the base of the towr.r 
 rock ; and the five were rushing upon him with open 
 jaws, and shining teeth, when, all at once, as if impelled 
 by a spring, he shot upward to a narrow ledge of the 
 vertical rock, far beyond their reach. The ledge was 
 carcely wide enough to have given footing to a weasel.
 
 288 HUNTING THE KLIPSPKINGEK. 
 
 and yet the klipspringer seemed to feel quite secuns 
 upon it. But he did not rest there. The shouts of the 
 hunters, as they hurried up the mountain, impelled him 
 tart her ; and springing to a still higher ledge, and to 
 another still higher, he stood at length upon the pinnacle 
 of the rock ! 
 
 A shout of surprise broke from the hunters as they 
 witnessed this wonderful feat. And a singular spectacle 
 h was. As already stated, the tower rock ended in a 
 point scarce four inches in diameter ; and upon this 
 stood the klipspringer, his hoofs pressed closely together, 
 his neck drawn in, his body gathered into a ball, with 
 the stiff wiry hair radiating on all sides outward, likj 
 the spines of a hedgehog a curious object to look 
 upon ! 
 
 Although the hunters were now within shot, so odd 
 did the creature appear thus placed that not one of them 
 thought of drawing trigger upon it. They knew that 
 they had the buck in their power the dogs were all 
 around him and at such a height, full thirty feet from 
 the ground, it could not escape. All therefore held 
 their fire, and ran forward to the bottom of the tower. 
 
 They had made a sad mistake about the powers of 
 that klipspringer. As they were congratulating them- 
 selves on having trapped the buck in so odd a manner, 
 he was seen to shoot out into the air, and, with a whiz- 
 zing noise like that made by some great bird, he parsed 
 close to their ears, and lit upon the boulder from which 
 he had bounded up ! Scarce an instant did he res! 
 there, but sprang to another, and another, and in a few 
 econds was far down the side of the mountain ! 
 
 So sudden had been this movement on the part of th
 
 HUNTlNrt TMfc KLIPSPRINGER. $33 
 
 game, and so unexpected, that both dogs and hunters 
 were taker, by surprise, and not a shot was fired until 
 the klipspringer was beyond reach ! Just at that mo- 
 ment, as they stood watching his retreat, a puff of smoka 
 was noticed far down the mountain a gun ciacked at 
 the eaiue instant and the buck was seen to tumble 
 tiwyJlong from a rock ! 
 
 With fresh surprise the hunters turned to one an- 
 other. " Who ? " exclaimed all simultaneously. Ha ! 
 there were only five of them. One was missing ! 
 
 " It's Klaas ! " 
 
 It was Klaas beyond a doubt Klaas who had killed 
 the klipspringer. 
 
 Kiaas had given an illustration that the " race is not 
 always to the swift." He was rather a heavy boy, was 
 Klaas ; and feeling fatigued at so much climbing, had 
 seated himself on a stone, and was taking a bit of a rest, 
 when he observed the klipspringer standing upon a rock 
 right before his face. Having his light fowling-piece 
 loaded with buckshot, he had taken aim, and dropped 
 the buck from his perch. 
 
 Jan was not a little jealous, and insinuated that it 
 was a bit of " luck " not very well deserved ; but 
 whether it wad luck or not, Klaas had certainly killed 
 the klipspringer, and was not a little elated at his per- 
 formance. 
 
 Having collected the game, the young yagers pro- 
 ceeded to where they had left their horses ; and, mount- 
 ing, galloped off after the wagons that were moving 
 slowly ac'ross the distant plain.
 
 BOLD BIRDS 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 BOLD BIRDS. 
 
 ON the third day after entering the plains of the 
 * zuur-veldt," the yagers treked to the banks of a large 
 river, and followed its course up-stream. The scenery 
 was altogether new and of a different character to that 
 of the plains. The river was fringed with reeds and 
 willows, and beyond these stretched a wide bottom land 
 of meadow-like character, studded with groves and 
 copses of green trees, whose foliage was grateful to the 
 eye after the journey over the dry plains. Here the 
 deceitful mirage no longer tantalized them with prospects 
 of verdant groves and smooth limpid lakes. Both 
 existed in reality ; and a succession of lovely landscapes 
 met the eyes of the travellers as they advanced. 
 
 The grass upon the banks of this river was excellent, 
 and in order that their cattle should have the opportu- 
 nity of a good feed, the party formed camp at an early 
 hour. They outspanned in a little meadow, directly by 
 be edge of the water, and made a fire out of the stems 
 S>f the willows that grew near. 
 
 Jan and Klaas noticed a large flock of birds hovering 
 above the water, and swooping about, something in th 
 same manner as swallows on a summer evening ove* 
 the surface of an English lake.
 
 BOLD BIRDS. 24l 
 
 The? were hii Js of a moderate size scarcely so big 
 as a common pigeon nor was there any thing in their 
 color to make them attractive. They were rather a 
 dull-colored set of birds for Africa, being reddish-brown, 
 with a mixture of white and gray; but had they been 
 near enough for the boys to have observed their feet 
 and legs, these with the " cire " around their eyes, would 
 have appeared of a beautiful orange-yellow color. 
 
 There was one peculiarity about these birds, which 
 could be observed at a great distance, and that was 
 their " forked " tails. In this respect they might also 
 be said to resemble swallows, but the forking was far 
 less acute than in the tails of the latter. There was 
 enough of it to give the birds a character ; and that, 
 with their general form and the color of their plumage, 
 made it easy enough to tell to what genus the birda 
 belonged. They were birds of the genus Fato, (hawks,) 
 belonging to that section of it distinguished as Milvus, 
 (the kites.) 
 
 Of the kites there are several species, but the partic- 
 ular one to which these before the eyes of Klaas and 
 Jan belonged, was the "parasite kite," (Milvus ater,) 
 an inhabitant of all parts of the continent of Africa, and 
 a bird somewhat smaller than the royal kite of Europe. 
 
 Both these bird-boys knew that the birds were hawks 
 of some kind, but they could not tell what sort. "When 
 Hans told them that they were " kites," they both be- 
 came doubly interested ; and, guns in hand, stood near 
 the water's edge watching the manoeuvres of the long- 
 winged fork-tailed creatures. 
 
 To a superficial observer it might have appeared that 
 these kites were merely playing themselves; now poised 
 11
 
 242 BOLD BIRDS. 
 
 and hovering in the air, now floating softly aloi.g, and 
 at intervals shooting down until they " dipped " them- 
 selves in the water of the stream. Any one, however, 
 who had closely watched them for a time would soon 
 have perceived that they were not going through thest 
 mano3uvres for simple amusement. Each time that 
 one of them made a plunge into the water, it might be 
 observed that in rising again, it carried a shining object 
 in its talons, which object was neither more nor less 
 than a tiny little fish. Fishing, then, was what the 
 u parasites " were after ; and not for amusement, as 
 anglers do, but following it as a regular calling in fact, 
 following it for food. 
 
 Not that fish forms the only food of this species of 
 kite. No ; it will eat almost any thing, little quadru- 
 peds, birds, reptiles, and even carrion, upon a pinch. 
 It is, however, very fond of fish ; and, when it chances 
 to reside in a country of waters, where fish are plenteous 
 and easily procured, it follows the calling of a fisher 
 pretty regularly. 
 
 Klaas and Jan stood for some time expecting to get 
 a shot ; but as none of the birds came near enough, 
 they at length gave up all hope, and laid aside their 
 guns. 
 
 Shortly after, dinner was ready, and all the boys sat 
 down upon the wagon-chests, and commenced eating 
 Their dinner that day consisted of a very nice dish 
 that is, the flesh of the great South African bustard 
 (Otis tarda) or wild peacock, (wilde pauw.) as they 
 themselves termed the bird. Groot Willem had that 
 morning shot this fine game, at very long range, with 
 his "roer;" and but for the far "carry" of his gun
 
 BOLD BIRDS. 243 
 
 Ihey would not have procured the bird -for the wild 
 peacock is one of the shyest kinds of game birds, and 
 scarcely ever rests within shooting distance of any cover 
 by which it may be approached. Large as it is, it ia 
 esteemed the most delicate eating of South African 
 birds, and almost equal to the wild turkey of America. 
 
 Now the young yagers had roasted this precious 
 tnoiceau, had carved it, and each was sitting with a 
 piece in hand one with a wing, another having the 
 " drumstick," a third the " merrythought," a fourth the 
 " pope's nose," and so on. Of course they were in a 
 high state of enjoyment over such " titbits." 
 
 While engaged in this pleasant way, they were as- 
 tonished to see the whole flock of kites come suddenly 
 swooping over the camp. Klaas and Jan were the 
 more astonished, since they had been for some half-hour 
 vainly endeavoring to get within shot of these very 
 birds. Now there would have been no difficulty about 
 that, for the parasites not only came within shooting 
 distance, but, actually and litera-lly, flew in the very 
 faces of the boys ! Yes ; they would swoop right up 
 until within a few feet of the diners, then poise them- 
 selves upon their wings, spread out their tails, turn over 
 on their backs, and execute sundry other eccentric 
 manoeuvres that put the six yagers into fits of laughter 
 Of course Swartboy joined in the chorus, and even the 
 grave Kaffir grinned at the ludicrous spectacle. 
 
 But it did not end here. After a while the birds 
 grew bolder and bolder; at each swoop they came 
 nearer ; until at length several of them actually snatched 
 pieces of the bustard's flesh out of the very hands of 
 those that were eating it ! Verily did they illustrate 
 the old adage of "many a slip between cup and lip."
 
 244 BOLD BIRDS. 
 
 Even the dogs were made victims of these bold little 
 robbers, who swooped forward to their very muzzles, 
 and snatched at the bones they were crunching. 
 
 TLis curious scene continued for some time. It would 
 have ended sooner, had the business been in the hands 
 of Klaas and Jan. Both these boys, at the first ap- 
 proach of the birds, had started up to get their gung, 
 but they were withheld from using them by the others, 
 and especially by Hans who was desirous of observing 
 these curious little hawks with the eye of a naturalist. 
 
 After a while the bird-boys were allowed to " blaze 
 away ; " and, what is still more singular, their repeated 
 shots did not completely frighten off the parasites, though 
 several were killed ! Even some that must have been 
 wounded since the feathers had been knocked out of 
 them returned again and again to hover above the 
 camp, with eyes fixed eagerly upon the scraps of meat 
 that had been left lying upon the chests ! 
 
 A little incident was yet to occur of a still more ludi- 
 crous character. 
 
 Hans had that day shot a pigeon of very beautiful 
 plumage, which is peculiar to the interior of South 
 Africa, and whose wings and body are of a deep green 
 color. This species is somewhat rare, and Hans waa 
 desirous of preserving the skin and having it mounted. 
 After dinner, therefore, he had skinned it ; and having 
 thrown its flesh to the dogs, he was still at work upon 
 the skin, taking out the brains. 
 
 Klaus and Jan, satiated with sport, had desisted, and 
 laid aside their guns the consequence of which was 
 that the parasites had returned in great numbers, ami 
 fco\v exhibited as much effrontery as ever.
 
 BCLD BIRDS. ZIO 
 
 Ml at once, one of them seeing Hans engaged with 
 the pigeon, and thinking no doubt that the body of the 
 birrl was still in its skin, made a sudden dash, drove its 
 claw through the feathery mass, and carried off the skin 
 in triumph ! Hans, whose eyes had been closely bent 
 upon his work, saw nothing of the approach of the little 
 winged robber; and for some moments believed that 
 one of the boys, out of a " lark," had snatched the 
 pigeon from his fingers. It was not until he locked 
 around, and then up into the air, that he w.-r- aware of 
 the real culprit ; and although all rushed to their guns, 
 the pigeon-skin could not be recovered as the kite, on 
 seizing it, rose high into the air, and then carried it off 
 10 the other side of the river ! 
 
 As not a bit of flesh remained in the skin, and aa 
 Hans had succeeded in extracting even the brains, no 
 doubt the parasite soon discovered that las pigeon was 
 no hetter than a " decoy ! "
 
 216 THE WATERBUCK. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 THE WATERBUCK. 
 
 THE bank upon which the yagers had encamped wa* 
 about five or six feet above the surface of the water, aa 
 it now stood. The bank on the opposite side also rose 
 above the water level ; but on both sides there was a 
 break or declivity that sloped down into the channel. 
 These breaks corresponded with each other. They 
 were not natural gorges, but had evidently been made 
 by heavy animals, such as rhinoceroses and others, that 
 were in the habit of coming either to drink or ford the 
 river at this point. The tracks of many kinds of ani- 
 mals could be distinguished leading down to the water 
 or up into the meadow so that the place was evidently 
 a "drift," or crossing-place for the wild beast? of the 
 country around. 
 
 Perhaps at night many would cross here, and Hendrik 
 and Groot Willem had resolved to watch that night and 
 have a little moonlight sport. A moon and a very 
 6ne moon was expected ; for the queen of the heavens 
 was nearly in the full at the time, and the sky all thai 
 day had been without a cloud. 
 
 But they were destined to enjoy a little sport befora 
 the moon aro?' even befc~e the sun had gone down.
 
 THE WATEEBUCK. 247 
 
 While engaged around the wagons, their attention 
 was attracted by a movement among the reeds on the 
 opposite side of the river. There was also an open 
 space on that side corresponding to the meadow in 
 which they were encamped. Around the opening grew 
 H thick brake of tall reeds, interspersed with willowa 
 and other low trees. It was among these reeds that the 
 movement was observed. 
 
 Presently a large animal came out of the covert, and 
 Btepped boldly forward into the open ground, where the 
 short sward enabled them to see it from horn to hoof 
 for it was a creature with hoofs and horns without 
 doubt an antelope. 
 
 It was a species, however, which none of the party 
 had ever seen before an antelope of majestic form and 
 elegant proportions. 
 
 It stood nearly five feet in height by full nine in 
 length, and its geneial color was a greyish sepia brown. 
 Its face, however, was of a deeper brown around the 
 bases of the horns and over the frontlet tinged with 
 rufous. The lips and muzzle were white ; a white 
 patch marked the throat; a white streak was before 
 each of the eyes; and a curious oval band of white 
 encircled the tail. The hair over all the body waa 
 harsh, more resembling split whalebone than hair ; but 
 that which covered the neck was longer than the rest, 
 and stood out all around like a mane on end. The 
 horns were nearly three feet in length, "and curved first 
 upwards and then slightly inwards. They were closely 
 ringed to within six inches of their tips, and of a whilish 
 green color. The tail of the animal was about eighteen 
 inches in length with a tuft at its tip.
 
 248 THE WATERBUCK. 
 
 Th(3 shape and set of the horns, the rigid hair that 
 grew all around the throat and neck, and the elegant 
 upright bearing of this antelope, enabled the naturalist 
 Hans to tell his companions to what species it belonged. 
 It was the famed " waterbuck," (Aigocerus eUipsiprym- 
 nus.) 
 
 I have said " famed " antelope, because the waterbuck 
 is in reality one of the finest and most famous animals 
 of the whole tribe. 
 
 Its name would seem to imply that it was a dweller 
 in the water. Such, however, is not the case. It is 
 called waterbuck because it is never found far from the 
 banks of a river or other water, in which it delights to 
 plunge, and bathe itself during the hot sunshiny houra 
 of the day. Of course it is an excellent swimmer, and, 
 indeed, such confidence has it in its powers of swim 
 ming, that when hunted or pursued by whatever enemy, 
 it makes directly for the river and plunges in, no matter 
 what depth may be the water. It is the habit of many 
 species of deer to make for water when hunted, but with 
 them the object is to throw the hounds oiF the scent, 
 and having once crossed a river, they continue on 
 through the woods. Now the waterbuck does not leave 
 the river for any great distance. It either swims down- 
 stream, or, having gone out on the opposite bank, re- 
 turns to it, after making a short detour through the 
 woods. It seems to regard the water as its haven of 
 Bafety, and when overtaken usually stands at bay in the 
 very middle of the stream- 
 
 Tt loves to dwell along rivers where there are marshy 
 banks covered with tall sedge and reeds ; and at certain 
 reasons of the year, when these are partially inundated
 
 THE WATF.UBCCK. 2 IS 
 
 Ae waterbuck is rarely seen as it then makes its 
 haunt in the very heart of morasses which are impene- 
 trable to the hunter. Its long spreading hoofs enable 
 it to pass with safety over marshy grounds, where othei 
 species of antelopes would be "mired" and destroyed. 
 
 The waterbuck has been classed by naturalists with 
 tti tf:lopes of the aiyocerine, or goat-horned group; but 
 it differs greatly, both in horns and habits, from any of 
 these, and deserves to be ranked as an antelope mi 
 ye/ten's. If it were established as a separate genus, it 
 would not stand alone, since another " waterbuck " 
 evidently a second species has been discovered by late 
 explorers a little farther to the north, upon the shores 
 of the Lake Ngami. The latter is termed by the natives 
 the " leche," and in the shape of its horns, and most of 
 its habits, it bears a decided generic resemblance to the 
 Aigocerus ettipsiprymnus. 
 
 Still a third species of waterbuck has turned up 
 during the recent explorations to the afore-mentioned 
 lake ; but this, though in habit very similar to the others, 
 differs widely in regard to its physical characteristics. 
 Its horns are of the spiral form, greatly resembling 
 those of the koodoo, (Strepsiceros koodoo,) and natural- 
 ists are disposed to class it in the genus Tragelaphus. 
 Its name among the natives is "nakong." 
 
 The reason why none of our young hunters were 
 personally acquainted with the waterbuck was, that 
 none of them had ever seen it before ; and the reason 
 why none of them had seen it was, because it is not 
 found in any part of the country through which they 
 had hitherto travelled. It is altogether a tropical of 
 sub-tropical species, loves a warm climate, and doe*= no! 
 11*
 
 250 THE WATERBUCK. 
 
 range so far south as the Cape settlements. It is po 
 sible that there may be other species by the rivers thai 
 run through the unknown interior of Africa ; for be- 
 tween that southern territory, which has been yet ex 
 plored, and the Great Saara, there lie many stranga 
 countries, and many strange creatures, of which the 
 geographer and the naturalist yet know nothing. 
 
 So, my boy reader, if you should be desirous at any 
 period of your life to achieve the reputation of a Bruce, 
 a Park, a Denham, a Clapperton, or a Lander, you 
 need not fear the want of an opportunity. There is still 
 enough of " unexplored Africa " to employ adventurous 
 spirits for perhaps a century to come. At all events 
 the ardent naturalist will find plenty of ECM ground up 
 to the new year's day of 2000 ! That I can safrlj 
 guarantee.
 
 THE RAVENOUS REPTILE. 251 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 THE RAVENOUS REPTILE. 
 
 ALL eyes were fixed upon the beautiful aniical as it 
 approached the river. With light majestic step it ad' 
 vanced to the bank, and without pausing walked down 
 the slope. It had no fear of the water, and stepped 
 into it without hesitation. 
 
 The boys were in hopes that it intended to cross the 
 river. On the opposite bank it was too distant for the 
 " carry " of their guns even the elephant roer could 
 not have sent a bullet to that side with any chance of 
 hitting. Should the antelope cross, however, the case 
 would be different. It might then come within range 
 of their pieces ; and, to make sure, Hendrik and Groot 
 Willem had stolen under the cover of the reeds, and 
 advanced nearer the crossing-place. 
 
 They were doomed to disappointment, however. 
 The waterbuck had no intention of crossing. It had 
 come to drink ; and having waded in knee-deep, it 
 stopped, and dipped its muzzle into the water for that 
 purpose. 
 
 With disappointed looks the boys remained gazing 
 apon it as it drank. 
 
 Now it chanced that close to the spot where the buck
 
 252 THE RAVENOTS UEP11LK, 
 
 bad entered the water there was a black log. It laj 
 along the water in a direction parallel to the bank, and 
 seemed to be floating though only a small portion of 
 it appeared above the surface. Saturated with (lie 
 wafer, as it must have been, its weight perhaps had 
 thus partially immersed it. The boys had given no 
 heed to this log. It was the half-decayed trunk of 
 some tree perhaps the black-barked acacia that had 
 been carried down-stream during flood-time, and hud 
 made a lodgment in the little bay, where the path entered 
 the water. Of course to such an ordinary circumstance 
 the boys gave no heed. Neither did the waterbuck. 
 Ah! false security! Better for the antelope had it 
 heeded that log ! Better for it had it " looked before 
 leaping," and carefully scrutinized that black-barked 
 thing for black though it was, it was not the log of any 
 acacia. Thai log was alive ! 
 
 To the astonishment of all the boys, and no doubt to 
 the far greater astonishment of the waterbuck, the dark 
 object suddenly became endowed with motive power, 
 and was seen to dart forward with the velocity of an 
 arrow towards the spot where the animal was drinking. 
 It was no longer a log, but a hideous reptile a croco- 
 dile of gigantic dimensions ! 
 
 The boys expected to see the waterbuck rear back 
 and attempt to escape. No doubt so it would have done, 
 Lad the crocodile missed its aim, but the latter had not 
 missed. On the cortrary, it had seized the muzzle of 
 the antelope in its long gaunt jaws, and was proceedirg 
 to drag its victim under the water. 
 
 There was a struggle not of long duration, but it was 
 terrible while it lasted. The buck pranced, and plunged
 
 THE KAVENODS REPTILE. 25S 
 
 no spread liis legs, and endeavored to shake off lia 
 reptile assailant. Several times he was brought to hia 
 knees ; but being a powerful animal he recovered his 
 legs again, and once nearly succeeded in drawing the 
 crocodile out upon the bank. All the while, too, he kept 
 striking forward with his sharp tore-hoofs ; but desperate 
 as were the hits he made, they produced no impressicn 
 upon the hars-h scaly coat of his amphibious antagonist. 
 Had the latter held him by any other part, he might 
 have had some chance of escape ; but seized as he had 
 been by the very tip of his snout, his head was all the 
 time kept close down to the water, and the awkward 
 position rendered it impossible for him to make use of 
 his horns his principal weapons of defence. 
 
 The crocodile was by no means one of the largest of 
 nis kind else the struggle would have ended sooner. 
 A very large one that is, one of sixteen to twenty feet 
 in length can drag a buffalo bull under water, and a 
 buffalo bull possesses four times the strength of a water- 
 buck. The one now seen was not over ten feet long; 
 and the strong waterbuck might have been a full match 
 for it, had it not been for the unfair hold which it had 
 taken. In that, however, lay the advantage of the rep- 
 tile, and it seemed to be aware of it, for from the first 
 moment it never relaxed the " clutch " it had taken, but 
 held on with its terrible teeth and strong jaws, closed 
 like a ^,iamp on the snout of its victim ! 
 
 Now the crocodile was raised some feet out of the 
 rivrr, and the boys could see its ugly breast, and spread 
 hand-like claws ; now using its powerful tnil as a ful- 
 crum it would strike against the water, and then the 
 head of the buck would be plunged below t\\c surface.
 
 2M THK RAVENOUS REPTILE. 
 
 and held down for minutes at a time. Of course d * 
 ing all this while the water was kept in commotion ; and, 
 what with the struggles of the quadruped and the lash- 
 tig of the reptile's tail, a constant spray of froth and 
 bubbles marked the scene of the strife. 
 
 The conflict at length came to an end. The water* 
 tyrant triumphed. The buck was dragged into the 
 river beyond his depth ; and although few quadrupeds 
 could swim as well as he, once off his legs he was no 
 longer a match for the amphibious saurian. His head 
 and horns both disappeared beneath the surface now 
 and then the tail of the crocodile flapped upward, as it 
 exerted itself to keep its victim under and then both 
 reptile and quadruped sank to the bottom of the river, 
 and were seen no more ! 
 
 For some time the hunters remained watching the 
 surface of the water. They saw the frothy bubbles 
 floating over the spot some of them reddish with the 
 blood of the waterbuck but the current soon carried 
 them away, and the river glided past smooth and silent 
 as if no such commotion had occurred in its waters. 
 
 The hunters all returned to the wagons, and a con- 
 versation now occurred about crocodiles, in which Congo 
 took part. 
 
 The Kaffir had hunted upon the great river Limpopo, 
 which lay to the northeast of their present camp. He 
 alleged that there crocodiles were very numerous, and 
 some were seen of enormous dimensions, attaining to 
 thirty feet in length, witli bodies as thick as a rhinoceros ; 
 that such .-ernes, as that they had just witnessed, were 
 of no uncommon occurrence there. He said that the 
 larger crocodiles frequently attacked buffaloes, precisely
 
 THE RAVENOUS REPTILE. 255 
 
 as this one had done the waterbuck^that they lie in 
 wait by the watering-places of these animals, and seiz- 
 ing them by the muzzle when they are drinking, drag 
 them under water, and thus suffocate them. 
 
 But Congo related a still more curious habit of th 
 crocodiles. He asserted that they never devour their 
 prey until it becomes quite decomposed that is, until 
 it attains the condition of carrion. He stated that when 
 a crocodile has killed a buffalo or any large animal, it 
 always drags the carcass back to the shore, and, leaving 
 it exposed to the action of the sun's rays, watches near 
 it until the flesh has become tainted to its taste! The 
 young yagers had heard of this before ; but were not 
 inclined to believe it, though Congo now assured them 
 of its truth alleging that this habit of the crocodile 
 was well known among the native hunters of the 
 Limpopo. 
 
 Notwithstanding the sneers of many naturalists, the 
 simple savage was right, as the young yagers themselves 
 were soon enabled to prove. 
 
 I have said that when the crocodile and his victim 
 disappeared below the surface, they were seen no more. 
 That, however, was not strictly true. Both of them 
 were seen again, and in a very short while after more 
 than seen, indeed ; for the crocodile was killed by a 
 bullet from Groot Willem's roer ; and upon venison 
 steaks cut from the buttocks of the waterbuck, both 
 Congo and Swartboy as well as the buck-dogs made 
 them a hearty supper. 
 
 It was thus the thing came about. Hans had entered 
 into a dissertation about crocodiles in general. He was 
 informing his companions of the number of new spe-
 
 256 THE RA.VENOUS REPTILE. 
 
 cies of these creatures that had been lately discovered 
 and pointing out the great progress of natural science 
 during the present half century ; how the crocodiles 
 were divided by modern naturalists into many genera, 
 and that, including the caimans and alligators of America, 
 and the gavials of Asia, the whole crocodile family 
 could not number less than two dozen living species, 
 although but a few years ago it was supposed there were 
 but three kinds in existence ; how America possessed 
 true crocodiles as well as alligators ; how the number of 
 species in America was greater than that of Africa and 
 Asia taken together ; how there were none of these 
 great reptiles found either in Europe or Australasia ; 
 and, among other things, Hans was pointing out the dif- 
 ficulty which existed in determining both the genera and 
 species of all the Crocodilidce. 
 
 While the yagers were listening to these details, the 
 Kailir. who had been squatted with his eyes bent upon 
 the river, suddenly started from his crouching attitude, 
 and pointed down to the bank, toward a small brake of 
 reeds that grew out of the water. 
 
 All eyes were turned in that direction, and it was 
 perceived that some of the reeds were shaking about, as 
 if a large creature was moving among them. The reeds 
 were nodding about and bending downward in bunches, 
 and breaking as if under some heavy pressure, and 
 crackling as they broke. What could be causing such 
 a commotion amongst them ? It did not appear like 
 the natural motion of any wild animal, for these glide 
 about, even in their undisturbed haunts, in a stealthy 
 and easy manner. There was something unusual going 
 on among the reed.\. What could it be?
 
 THE RAVENOUS REPTILK. -;/ 
 
 The young yjigers were determined (o find out ; an-1 
 for this purpose they drew near the margin of the reed-. 
 They did not approach them openly, but crawled for- 
 ward under cover of the grass and bushes, observing 
 perfect silence, so as not to fright away whatever 
 creature was causing the movement. 
 
 Fortunately the reed-culms did not grow so thickly 
 s to ooscure the view ; and when near, it was possible 
 tc see a large object moving in their midst. And a 
 large object was seen a large dark creature which waa 
 at once recognized as a crocodile. 
 
 It might have been another crocodile, and not that 
 which had just drowned the waterbuck ; but the hunters 
 were not left to conjecture on this point, for, while 
 watching its movements, they now perceived the car- 
 cass of the watei'buck itself, which the huge reptile waa 
 dragging up among the reeds, evidently with tne inre^- 
 tion of raising it out of the water ! For this purpose \( 
 was using its powerful jaws, as well as its snout, and 
 strong forearms now pulling the body along a bit, then 
 pushing and rolling it over towards the bank. 
 
 The boy> watched these strange manoeuvres for sonn? 
 moments in silence ; but Groot Willem had brought hi/ 
 gun with him, and choosing a moment when the huge 
 saurian was resting a little, he aimed for the socket of 
 ts eye-ball, and sent the big bullet of his roer crashing 
 through its skull. 
 
 The reptile plunged back into the river, and went (o 
 the bottom leaving the wave tinged with blood. Pres* 
 ently it rose to the surface, struggling violently, and 
 evidently in great agony. Now it raised the fore-part 
 of iU; hideous body quite out of the wat-r; then its
 
 258 THE RAVENS US REPTILK. 
 
 head went under, and its long tail was flouted into the 
 air; then up came its head again, and so on, till at 
 length its struggles ceased, and it sank to the bottom 
 like a stone. No doubt it sank to rise no more. 
 
 Congo and Swartboy rushed in among the reeds, and 
 drawing out the waterbuck somewhat lacerated by the 
 teeth of its destroyer dragged it in triumph to thi 
 damp.
 
 THK GUINEA-HENS. 
 
 CHAPTER XU. 
 
 THE GCINEA-HENS. 
 
 ALTHOUGH Swartboy and Congo supped upon the 
 flesh of the waterbuck which is far from being a deli- 
 cate venison the boys had something better for supper. 
 That was roast fowl, and a very dainty kind of it, quite 
 equal to grouse or partridge. They all supped upon 
 "guinea-hen." 
 
 The guinea-fowl (Numida meleagris) is a bird that 
 has been long known, and is often mentioned in the 
 works of ancient writers under the names Meleagris and 
 Gallina Numidica. It is unnecessary to give a descrip- 
 tion of its appearance, as every one is acquainted with 
 the beautiful pearly plumage of the bird, from which it 
 has obtained the name of pearl-hen among the Ger- 
 mans Perl-Huhn, and among the Spaniards " Pintado," 
 or spotted hen. The English name " Guinea-hen " is 
 in allusion to the country from which it has been chiefly 
 obtained in modern times. The guinea-fowl is truly ft 
 native of Africa though it is now domesticated in al- 
 most every country in the world, and has become a coin- 
 inon inhabitant of the farm-yard. In the United States 
 of America, particularly in the Southern States, where 
 the climate exactly suits it, the guinea-hen, or " guine*
 
 26*' THE OUINEA-HEN9. 
 
 chickrn," as the bird is there called, is a great favorite^ 
 both as a bird for the table and a layer of eggs ; and 
 certainly the flesh of the young pullet is much nure 
 delLate and savory than that of the common fowl. 
 
 In many of the West India islands, the guinea-hen, 
 although introduced from Africa, has become wild, and 
 in the forests of Jamaica it is hunted and shot like other 
 game. In these islands the species propagates very 
 rapidly; and where the birds become numerous they do 
 great mischief to the crops of the planters. On this ac- 
 count they are often hunted, not to be served up at the 
 table, but for the purpose of exterminating them a. 
 troublesome pests. 
 
 Throughout all Africa, its native country, the guinea- 
 fowl exists ; but it is to be remarked that there is morfc 
 than one species. The common guinea-fowl (Numida 
 melengris) is the best known, and in its wild state differs 
 very little from the domesticated variety. The latter, 
 however, frequently varies in color, and some are seen 
 with very little of the blue tint upon their feathers and 
 almost without spots. This, however, is the usual law 
 of wild birds when produced under domestication, as 
 ducks, turkeys, geese, and all the other pets of the farm, 
 fully demonstrate. Even when left to herself, nature 
 often " sports " in this way, and we know of no bird or 
 animal of which " albinos " may not be at some time 
 observed. 
 
 In addition to the common guinea-fowl, a second 
 species is well known to exist in the Southern parts of 
 the African continent. This is the '' crested guinea- 
 fowl," (Numidd cristata.) It is not quite so large as 
 the common kind, and has other differences. It is of
 
 THE GUINEA-HENS. 261 
 
 darker blue color, but spotted like its congener, each 
 feather having from four to six spots upon it. The 
 quills are yellowish brown, but the edges of the secon 
 Jaries are of a pure white, which contrasts prettily with 
 the dark coloring of the general plumage. 
 
 But the most conspicuous difference between the two 
 *pecies is in the formation of the crown and cheeks. As 
 is well known, over the bill of the common guinea-fowl 
 rises a singular warty membrane like a casque, while 
 two carunculated wattles hang from the lower mandible. 
 Both these appendages are wanting in the Numida 
 rristata ; but in place of the hard casque, the head of 
 this species is ornamented with a crest of loose hair-like 
 feathers of a bluish black, which adds very much to the 
 elegant appearance of the bird. 
 
 The guinea-hens are gregarious and sometimes im- 
 mense flocks of them are seen together. They spend 
 most of their time upon the ground, but they also take 
 to trees when startled, and roost upon the branches. 
 Their food consists of seeds, berries, and soft slugs. 
 
 While the boys were discussing what they should 
 have for supper, a flock of these beautiful crested crea 
 tures came chattering across the open meadow in which 
 was the camp. Of course the shot-guns were immedi 
 Htely put in requisition, and several of the party got 
 ready to go after them. 
 
 Now it is not so very easy to get a shot at the wild 
 guinea-her.s. They are no great flyers, and do not take 
 to the wing when pursued, unless w'aen close pressed by 
 a dog or some other swift animal. But a man on foot 
 is no match for them, as they run very swiftly where thfl 
 ground is even They are shy, moreover ; and it is not
 
 262 TIIK GUINEA-HKNS. 
 
 withoMt difficulty that a :'hot can be had. There is on 
 way, however, of approaching them successfully. A 
 dog should be set after them, precisely in the same man- 
 ner as though they were rabbits, hares, or any othei 
 small quadrupeds. The dog of course being swift 
 enough to overtake them, soon comes up, and the 
 guinea- fowls are then forced to take wing. But, as 
 they are greatly disinclined to a long flight, they soon 
 settle down again, or, what is more likely, perch upon 
 the branches of the nearest tree. The dog then run& 
 up to the tree ; and, if well trained, will commence 
 barking, and continue so till the sportsman approaches 
 within shot. The birds upon the tree have no fear of 
 the dog below knowing very well that he cannot climb 
 up to them but, while their attention is occupied with 
 him, they pay no heed to their more dangerous enemy 
 the gunner, who can then easily approach within range, 
 and take aim at his leisure. 
 
 Now this mode of hunting the guinea-fowl was well 
 known -to the young yagers : and as one of their dogs 
 had been trained to it, they took him along, and com- 
 menced the pursuit with every confidence that they 
 would eat roast fowl for supper. 
 
 They were not disappointed. The birds were soon 
 after sprung, and then treed ; and the barking of the 
 dog conducted the gunners to the spot where the game 
 had taken roost, among the branches of some " cameel- 
 doo/ n " trees near the bank of the river. Several 
 shots were obtained ; and three brace and a half were 
 brought into camp enough to serve not only for sup- 
 pe: but also for breakfast on the following morning. 
 
 It seemed to be quite a place for birds ; for wbil<
 
 THE GUINEA-HENS. 263 
 
 thtre, ma:.y other species were observed by tht young 
 hunteis. A great many curious plants grew in the 
 neighborhood, the seeds of which served many kinds 
 lor food ; besides, from the proximity of the river many 
 llius and other insects were produced, the prey of 
 numerous shrikes and other birds of the family jf 
 Muscicapidce. 
 
 Hans pointed out a very singular bird that was flying 
 about the meadow, and was every now and then utter- 
 ing a note that sounded like the word " edolio." From 
 this note the bird derives its name, just as in England 
 the "cuckoo" is nain-d from its peculiar call, and in 
 France " coucou." 
 
 Now the edolio of South Africa is also a cuckoo ; 
 and although differing from our cuckoo in some re- 
 spect*, it has a great resemblance to it in others. It 
 has the same parasite peculiarity of depositing ite eggs 
 in the nests of other birds, and leaving them to be 
 hatched there ; and its other habits are very similar to 
 those of the common cuckoo. 
 
 But there are some very curious points in the history 
 of the " edolio," which it does not share with its Euro- 
 pean congener. Among the boors of South Africa it 
 is known as the " New year's day bird," (Niuwe jaai a 
 vogel,) and these simple people ascribe to it some won- 
 derful characteristics. They say that it appears only 
 at the begmniug of the year whence the name " new- 
 year's day bird " and that whenever it is hungry h 
 commences to cry out, and then all the little birds in 
 the immediate neighborhood fly towards it, carrying 
 food, which they give it to eat ! 
 
 Now all the young yagers, as well as Congo the
 
 264 THK GUINEA-HENS. 
 
 Kaffir and Swartboy the Bushman, were well acquaint 
 ed with this story ; and all, with the exception of Hans, 
 believed it to be true. Hans, however, knew the ex 
 planation of the marvellous matter, and proceeded to 
 give it to his companions. 
 
 He stated that the bird known among the farmers aa 
 the Niuwe jaars vogel, was no other than the young of 
 the "edolio" (Cuculus serratus) though the farmers 
 would not believe this, because, although full fledged, il 
 differs a good deal from the parent birds both in size 
 and color, and is therefore taken for a distinct kind. 
 That the mystery of its appearing always on the first 
 day of the year, was scarce a fable after all, as it was 
 about that time that young edolios obtained their full 
 feathers, and commenced flying about. That the fur- 
 ther statement, of its crying out when hungry, was 
 perfectly true ; but that all the small birds in the 
 neighborhood were summoned by its cry, was not 
 correct, although some would be, viz : the step-mother 
 and father that had brought it into life ; and that these 
 having been often seen in the act of feeding the young 
 edolio had given origin to the fable. This was cer- 
 tainly a very good explanation. 
 
 Hans further stated that a similar belief existed 
 among the natives of India, in relation to the large- 
 billed cuckoo, (Eudynamis orientalis,) and that the 
 belief had a similar origin. 
 
 " The edolio," continued Hans, " like the cuckoo, 
 deposits its eggs in the nest of many species of small 
 birds ; and that it places them there with its beak, and 
 not in the ordinary way, has been satisfactorily deter- 
 mined by naturalists."
 
 ROGILBOK.. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIL 
 
 ROOYEBOK. 
 
 As our travellers advanced up-streara, the wide level 
 plains became narrowed into mere stripes of meadow 
 that lay along both sides of the river. On both sides, 
 and not a great distance off, wood-covered mountain? 
 trended parallel to the course of the stream. Some- 
 times their spurs approached very near to the banks 
 so as to divide the bottom land into a series of valleys, 
 that rose like terraces one above the other. Each of 
 these was a separate plain, stretcliing from the river's 
 bank to the rocky foot of the mountain. 
 
 Nearly every one of them was tenanted with game 
 of one sort or another such as had already been met 
 with on the route but beyond killing enough to keep 
 their larder supplied with fresh meat, our party did not 
 make any stay to hunt here. The guide had informed 
 Vhem, that beyond the mountain where the river took 
 its rise lay the country of the elephant, the buffalo, and 
 the giraffe ; and in hopes of reaching this long-expected 
 land, the sight of a herd of springboks, or gnoos, or 
 blauwboks, or even elands, had little more interest foi 
 the young yagers than if it had been a drove of tame 
 oxen. 
 
 12
 
 Z6t> ROOTEBOK. 
 
 Ascending into one of the upper valleys, howevei 
 they came suddenly in view of a herd of antelope* 
 whose forms and colors distinguished them from any 
 our hunters had yet met with. This at once decided 
 them to halt the wagons, and prepare for a chase. 
 
 That the animals seen were antelopes, there could be 
 no mistake. They had all the grace and lightness of 
 form peculiar to these creatures ; beside?, their horns 
 were conspicuously characteristic. Their appearance 
 b< spoke them to be true antelopes. 
 
 They were large ones too that is, of medium size- 
 about as large as red deer ; but of course small when 
 compared with such species as the blauwbok or tha 
 huge eland. Each would have measured nearly three 
 feet and a half in height and even a little more, over 
 the croup for although there are some antelopes, such 
 as those of the acronotine group the " hartebeest," 
 " sassabye," and " bekr-el-wash " that stand lower at 
 the croup than the shoulders, the reverse is the case 
 with other species ; and those now before the eyes of 
 our hunters possessed the latter characteristic. They 
 stood high at the croup. 
 
 None of the yagers had ever seen one of the kind 
 before ; arid yet, the moment they came under view 
 both Hendrik and Groot Willem cried out, 
 
 " Rooyebok ! " 
 
 M How know you that they are rooyebok ': " de- 
 manded Hans. 
 
 " From their color, o f course," replied the others. 
 
 The color of these atrtel Dpes was a deep fulvous red 
 orer the head, neck, and upper parts of the body 
 paler along the sides : and under the belly pure white
 
 ROOYEBOK. 267 
 
 Tl.tre were ^ome black marks such as a stripe of 
 black down e?h buttock, and also along the upper part 
 rf the tail but the general color of the animals was 
 bright red ; hence their being taken for " rooyebok," r r 
 " red-bucks," by Hendrik and Groot Willem. 
 
 "The color is not a good criterion," remark sd 
 Hans. " They might as well have been ' grysbok,' ar 
 ' eteinbok,' or ' rooye rheebok,' for the matter of color. 
 t judge by the horns, however, that you are right in 
 your guess. They are rooyebok, or, as the Bechuanas 
 call them, 'pallah,' and, as naturalists style them, 
 Antilope melampm." 
 
 All looked at the horns as Hans spoke, and saw that 
 these were full twenty inches in length, and somewhat 
 like those of the springbok, but more irregularly lyrate. 
 The two nearly met at their tips, whereas at their 
 middle they were full twelve inches apart. This was a 
 characteristic by which they could easily be remem- 
 bered, and it had enabled Hans at once to pronounce 
 apon the species. 
 
 Strange to say, there was but one pair of full-grown 
 horns in the whole herd, for there was but one old buck, 
 and the does of the pallah are hornless. A " herd " is 
 hardly a proper term ; for this species of antelope can- 
 not be called gregarious. What our hunters saw before 
 them was a family of rooyeboks, consisting of the oM 
 male, his wives, and several young bucks and does in 
 all, only eleven in number. 
 
 Our hunters knew, from what they had heard, that 
 the rooyebok is both a shy and swift antelope- 
 difficult either to be approached or run down, It would 
 be necessary, therefore, to adc pt some plan of proceed
 
 268 ROOTEBOK. 
 
 
 
 ing, else they would not succeed in getting one of them 
 and they had fixed their minds most covetously on the 
 large knotted horns of the buck. They halted the 
 wagons to await the result of the chase ; though the 
 oxen were not to be oufcspanned, unless it should prove 
 successful. If so. they would camp upon the ground 
 for the night so as to enable them to dress the meat, 
 and preserve the " trophies." With such resolves, they 
 made ready to hunt the pallah. 
 
 Upon first coming in sight of the rooyebok, the hun- 
 ters were upon the crest of a high ridge one of the 
 mountain spurs, that divided the valley they had just 
 traversed from that in which the red antelopes were 
 feeding. From the eminence they occupied, they com- 
 manded a view of this valley to its farthest border, and 
 could see its whole surface, except a small strip on the 
 nearer side, which was hidden from them by the brow 
 of the ridge on which they stood. 
 
 Around the sides of the valley there were trees and 
 bushes ; though these did not form a continued grove, 
 but only grew in detached clumps and patches. All the 
 central ground, where the pallahs were feeding, was open, 
 and quite destitute of either bush or cover of any kind. 
 Between the bordering groves there was long grass; 
 and, by the aid of this, a skilled hunter might have 
 crept from one grove to another, without attracting the 
 attention of the antelopes. 
 
 It was decided, therefore, that Hendrik and Groot 
 Willem should steal round to the other end of the val- 
 ley, keeping under cover of the thickets and grass. 
 Then the pallahs would be between two fires, as thej 
 must either go up or down the valley in trying to escape
 
 KOOTEBOK. ?6* 
 
 On the right lay the steep mountain; on the left, the 
 deep rapid river. They would not likely attempt to 
 move off on either hand. So this design to intercept 
 them was good enough. 
 
 The horses were now tied to trees and left on the 
 back of the ridge, while the hunters moved forward 
 upon the brow that overhung the valley. 
 
 They had not advanced far before that part of the 
 valley hitherto unseen came under their eyes, and there, 
 to their astonishment, another herd of animals appeared ; 
 not of antelopes although, from their color, they might 
 have been mistaken for such. No the short round 
 heads, elongated bodies, thick massive limbs, and long 
 tufted tails, told at a glance, that it was no herd of 
 peaceful ruminants the hunters were gazing upon, but 
 an assemblage of dreaded carnivora a troop of lions J
 
 FfVTR-FOOTED IINTEBS. 
 
 CHAPTER XLTII. 
 
 FOUR-FOOTED HUNTERS. 
 
 THERE were twelve lions in the troop old uiale^ 
 females, and whelps of different ages ! A terrific spec- 
 tacle to look upon, in any other way than through the 
 bars of a cage, or out of a third story window. Bui 
 our young yagers beheld them on an open plain, and at 
 the dangerous proximity of three hundred yards ! 
 
 It is needless to say that a sudden stop was put to 
 their advance, and that every one of the six was more 
 or less alarmed. Although they knew that, as a general 
 rule, the lion will not attack man without provocation, 
 it might be different where such a number were together. 
 Twelve lions would have made short work of them, one 
 and all. No wonder the young hunters trembled at sight 
 of such a troop, and so near ; for the brow of the ridge, 
 running abruptly down to the plain, was all that lay 
 between them and the dreaded assemblage. A few 
 bounds would have brought the lions to the spot on 
 which they stood ! 
 
 After the first moments of surprise and alarm had 
 passed, the yagers bethought themselves how to act. 
 Of course, the pallahs were driven completely out of 
 their mind, and all ideas of a hunt given up. To have
 
 FOUR-FOOTED HUNTERS. 271 
 
 descended into that valley, would liave been to have 
 encountered twice their own number of lions : older 
 bu nters than they would have shied off from such an 
 encounter. They did not think for a moment of going 
 farther, nor, indeed, of any thing but retreating; and it 
 cannot be said that they thought of that, for it was the 
 tLstinct of the moment. 
 
 " Back to our hordes ! " whispered they to one another, 
 the moment they set their eyes on the lions ; and, with- 
 out staying to contemplate the fearful group, all six stole 
 back ; and, in less than two minutes' time, were seated 
 in their saddles. 
 
 Their presence had not been discovered by the lions. 
 Two circumstances had favored the boys, and prevented 
 this. The ridge over which they were passing was 
 covered with underwood, and the " bosch," reaching as 
 high as their heads, had sheltered them from view. The 
 other circumstance in their favor was that the wind was 
 blowing down the valley, and tfierefore, from the lions 
 and towards themselves. Had it been otherwise, they 
 would have been scented, and of course, discovered. 
 Still another circumstance the hunters had been 
 advancing in silence, on account of the design they had 
 formed of stalking the pallahs. The lions, therefore, 
 till remained ignorant of their proximity. Onca on 
 horseback our party felt secure, and soon got over their 
 tittle "flurry.'' Each knew that the noble creature that 
 carried him, could give any lion the heels. Even the 
 ponies of Klaas and Jan could run away from the fastest 
 lion in Africa. Once mounted, all felt that the danger 
 was over. 
 
 The hunters, Hendrik and Groot Willetn, were nol
 
 272 FOUR-FOOTED HUNTERS. 
 
 satisfied to retreat in this way. They were resolved OK 
 at least, having another "peep" at the dangerous game 5 
 and, therefore, prepared to return to their former point 
 of observation, of course this time on horseback. Hang 
 also felt a similar inclination from the desire to studj 
 a chapter of natural history and Arend would go out 
 of curiosity. It was not deemed safe to take Klans 01 
 Jan along; so these two youngsters were ur cere- 
 moniously sent back to the wagons, that had been halted 
 in the lower valley near the bottom of the hill. 
 
 The other four rode slowly and silently forward, until 
 they came once more in view of the valley, the herd of 
 pallahs, and the troop of lions. 
 
 The antelopes were still feeding quietly near the cen- 
 tre of the open ground. The lions were as yet on the 
 ground, where they had been first observed. That the 
 pallahs knew nothing of the proximity of their danger- 
 ous neighbors was very evident, else they would not 
 have been moving so sedately along the sward. They 
 had no suspicion that an enemy was near. The liona 
 were in the lower end of the valley, and therefore to 
 leeward of them for the wind was blowing fair down- 
 stream, and came right in the faces of the hunters. A 
 thicket, moreover, screened the lions from the eyes of 
 the herd. 
 
 It was equally evident that the beasts of prey were 
 well aware of the presence of the rooyeboks. Their 
 actions proved this. At short intervals one trotted to 
 ihe edge of the *' bosch," in crouching attitude, looked 
 out to the open plain, and after a moment or two re- 
 turned to his companions, just as if he ha! been sent to 
 * report." The old males and the Monesses stood in a
 
 FOUK-FOOTED HUNTERS. 273 
 
 thick clump, and seemed to be holding a consultation! 
 The hoys had not a douht but that they were doing this 
 very tiling, and that the subject of their deliberation 
 was the rooyebok herd. 
 
 At length the "council" appeared to break up. The 
 troop separated, each taking a different direction. Some 
 went along the bottom of the valley, while several were 
 Been to proceed towards the mountain foot. 
 
 When these last had reached the groves before men- 
 tioned, they turned upwards ; and one after another 
 were seen crouching from clump to clump, crawling 
 along upon their bellies, as they passed through the long 
 grass, and evidently trying to shelter themselves from 
 the view of the pallahs. 
 
 Their object now became clear. They were proceed- 
 ing to the upper end of the valley, with the design of 
 driving the game upon those that had remained below 
 in fact, carrying out the identical plan which the hun- 
 ters themselves had projected but the moment before ! 
 The boys marvelled at this singular coincidence ; and 
 as they sat in their saddles they could not help admiring 
 the skill with which their rivals were carrying out their 
 own plan. 
 
 Those three there were that had gone skulking up 
 the edge of the valley, were soon out of sight hidden 
 under the " bosch " that grew at the opposite end, and 
 trhich they had been seen to enter. Meanwhile, the 
 other nine had spread themselves along the bottom of 
 the valley, each taking station under cover of the 
 b ishes and long grass. The trap was now fairly set. 
 
 For a few minutes no movement was observed on 
 Ihe part either of lions or pallahs. The former lay 
 12*
 
 274 FOTJR-FOOTKD HUNTERS. 
 
 crouched and stealthily watching the herd the latte? 
 browsed peacefully along the sward, perfectly uncon- 
 scious of the plot that was "thickening" around them. 
 
 Something at this moment seemed to render them 
 suspicious. They appeared to suspect that there was 
 danger threatening. The buck raised his head ; looked 
 around him ; uttered a hiss, somewhat like the whistling 
 of deer ; and struck the ground a smart rap or twc 
 with his hoof. The others left off browsing, and several 
 of them were seen to bound up into the air after the 
 very singular manner of springboks. 
 
 No doubt they had scented the lions, now at the 
 upper end of the valley as the breeze from that 
 quarter blew diroctly towards the herd. 
 
 It was surely that ; for after repeating his signal, the 
 old buck himself sprang many feet into the air, and 
 then stretched himself in full flight. The others of 
 course followed, leaping up at intervals as they ran. 
 
 As the lions had well calculated, the antelopes carne 
 directly down the valley, breast forward, upon their 
 line. Neither the wind nor any thing warned them of 
 the dangerous ambuscade ; and in a few short moments 
 they were close to the patches of brushwood. Then 
 the nine huge cats were seen to spring out as if moved 
 by one impulse, and launch themselves into the air. 
 Each had chosen a rooyebok, and nearly every one 
 succeeded in bringing his vic*im to the earth. A single 
 blow from the paw of their strong assailants waa 
 enough to stretch the poor antelopes un the plain, and 
 put an end at once to their running and their lives. 
 So sudden was the attack, and so short-lived the strug- 
 gle, that in two seconds from the time the lions made
 
 FOUR-FOOTED HUNTERS. 273 
 
 their spring, each might be seen crouching over a dead 
 pallah, with his paws and teeth buried in its flesh ! 
 
 Three alone escaped, and ran back up the valley. 
 But a new ambush awaited them there ; and as they 
 followed the path, that led through the thicket at the 
 upper end, each became the prey of a lurking lion. 
 
 Not one of the beautiful antelopes, that but the nio> 
 msnt before were bounding over the plain in all the 
 pride and confidence of their speed, was able to break 
 through the line of deadly enemies so cunningly drawn 
 around them ! 
 
 The hunters remained for some minutes gazing upon 
 the singular spectacle. Hendrik and Groot Willem 
 would have stolen forward, and sent a brace of bullets 
 into a brace of lions ; but Hans would not hear of 
 such a thing. He alleged that there was no time 
 when these animals are more dangerous to attack, than 
 just after they have killed their game and are drink- 
 ing its blood. At such a moment they are extremely 
 ferocious, and will follow with implacable vengeance 
 any one who may disturb them. It would be more 
 prudent, therefore, not to provoke such a powerful 
 band, but to retire altogether from the spot 
 
 To these counsels of Hans backed by Arend -the 
 two hunters at length reluctantly yielded; and all four 
 rode back to the wagons. 
 
 Ariiving there, a consulation was held how they 
 were to proceed. It would be a dangerous business to 
 trek up the narrow valley guarded by such a troop. 
 A ford ivas therefore sought for, and found at some 
 iistaaca below ; and, having crossed their wagons, th
 
 276 FOU3-POOTED HUNTERS. 
 
 travellers encamped on the opposite side as it was ioi 
 late to move farther that night. 
 
 They had done well to go across the river, for during 
 the whole night the fierce brutes were heard roaring 
 terrifically upon the side where they had been observed. 
 In fact, the place appeared to be a regular den of 
 
 
 
 KM*.
 
 WIDOW-BIRDS 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 " WIDOW-BIRDS." 
 
 TUET vrere only too glad to get off out ol that 
 neighborhood, and at an early hour they inspanned 
 nd treked up the banks of the stream. 
 
 Just as on the other side, the road led through a suc- 
 cession of valleys, with groves of trees scattered over 
 their surface ; and as they proceeded, the mountain 
 spurs more frequently approached the banks, and at 
 one or two places they found great difficulty in getting 
 the wagons across the ridges. One of these was so 
 Bteep, that for awhile the travellers feared they would 
 not be able to follow the stream any farther. The 
 oxen refused to trek up the declivity, and neither whip 
 nor jambok would force them forward. 
 
 But Congo knew of a plan by which they were at 
 length induced to proceed ; and both wagons arrived in 
 safety at the top of the pass not, however, until Swart- 
 boy had clicked and shouted, and Congo had screamed, 
 till their throats were sore, and both had worn th 
 voorslays of springbok skin from their long whips. 
 
 Congo's mode of making the oxen move forward was 
 a very simple one ; and consisted in his going ahead of 
 them and smearing the rocks along the path with th
 
 278 WIDOW-BIRDS. 
 
 "mest " of the oxen themselves thus leading the ani 
 mals to believe that other oxen had gone before them 
 and that therefore the passage must be practicable, since 
 some of their own kind had already made it! This 
 mode is often adopted by the trek-boors of Scutherc 
 Africa, when they wish to drive up very precipitous 
 places, where the oxen are afraid to go of themselves. 
 
 The valley, which was reached after climbing through 
 this difficult pass, was one of very small extent not 
 exceeding a couple of acres ; and as the river had now 
 become diminished to a mountain-stream, it was forda- 
 ble at any point throughout the whole length of the 
 liltle meadow in which the travellers encamped. At 
 the head of this valley a ridge trended across the 
 course of the stream through which the current had 
 cleft a wide way ; and the only road leading out above 
 was along the channel of the river itself. Fortunately, 
 this channel was nearly dry, else they could have gone 
 no farther in that direction. As it was, the pebbly bed 
 of the stream could be traversed by wagons, and they 
 would easily get through to wider plains that stretched 
 beyond. They had halted for the night in this little 
 valley, because there was excellent grass for their 
 cattle ; and as wood grew along the sides of the rock) 
 hills, and clear cool water ran down the stream, they 
 [Assessed all the three necessary requisites for a travel- 
 ler'6 camp. 
 
 It was a curious little place where they had out- 
 fepanned. As already stated, the level ground was not 
 over a couple of acres in extent, though it was nearly 
 of circular form. Through the very centre of it passed 
 Ihe stream, its bed being only a few feet below tin
 
 W1I>OW-BIK1>8. 27 
 
 general surface) and all around were the mountains, 
 their precipitous sides rising like rocky walls to a height 
 of several hundred feet, and completely enclosing the 
 mountain within their embrace. 
 
 There were no trees upon the surface of the meadow 
 Itself, but against the rocks grew many kinds ; some of 
 them hanging with their tops downward, and some 
 stretching horizontally outwards. A few small shrubs 
 alone, with some reeds, grew upon the edge of the 
 stream ; but these were low, and would not have con- 
 cealed a man standing erect. 
 
 In the centre of this natural amphitheatre the camp 
 was formed that is, the wagons were placed there. The 
 horses and oxen were not fastened in any way, as it 
 was supposed they would not care to stray out of the 
 valley. 
 
 There were three good reasons why they should not 
 wander. First, because they were wearied with a long 
 day's work, and one that had been particularly severe. 
 Secondly, the paths leading out were difficult to find. 
 And thirdly, because both the grass and water there 
 were of as good a quality as either horse or ox could 
 have expected to meet with elsewhere. There was no 
 reason, therefore, why any of them should go beyond 
 the confines of the valley where the camp was situated. 
 
 As usual, no sooner were Klaas and Jan fairly out 
 of their saddles than they went bird's-nesting. Several 
 kmds of birds had been seen by them as they entered 
 this secluded valley ; and it was likely that some of 
 their nests would be found at no great distance off. 
 
 And some were found. Upon the shrubs and reeds 
 quite a colony of birds had made their habitations
 
 280 WIDOW-BIRDS. 
 
 They were small sparrow-looking birds, la^mg no*:l ol 
 A kidney-shape, hollow in the inside, which was reached 
 by little circular entrances, something like the nests of 
 the common wren. The outside part was constructed 
 of grass ; while inside, the nests were lined with a soft 
 substance resembling wool. This was the cottony dow n 
 obtained from some plant that, no doubt, grew in that 
 neighborhood, but which the boys could not see any- 
 ^rhere around. 
 
 Now these little birds were already well known to the 
 young yagers. They had met with them before ; and 
 all of them knew they were birds of the genus Ploceinte, 
 or weaver-birds. They knew, moreover, that there are 
 not only many species of weaver-birds, but that there 
 are also many genera, or rather subgenera, of them, dif- 
 fering from each other in size, color, and habits, but all 
 possessing the curious instinct of building nests of n 
 very ingenious kind in other words " weaving" them; 
 from which circumstance they derive their trivial name. 
 The nests of all the species differ from each other. 
 Some are constructed of a globe-shape ; others like 
 a chemist's retort ; others of kidney-form ; and still 
 another kind of nest is that of the " social weaver-birds." 
 These last unite in large numbers, and fill one great 
 nest, or " hive," which often fills the whole top of a great 
 acacia, looking like a haystack bull* among the branched 
 of the tree. 
 
 The little weavers observed by Klaas and Jan were 
 of the genus Amadina the Amadina squamifrons ; 
 and both the boys were glad at encountering some of 
 their nests at that moment. Not that they were at all 
 curious to see the eggs, for they had examined them
 
 WIDOW-BIRDS. 28 i 
 
 often before. No : that was not the reason. There was 
 another and a different one. It was this: the inside 
 lining of the nest of the anmdina makes excellent wad- 
 ding for shot-guns quite equal to tow, and even better 
 than the softest paper ; and as both Klaas and Jan were 
 O'Jt ~f wadding, they expected to replenish their stock 
 by robbing the poor amadinas of their pretty nests. 
 
 They would not have done so wantonly, fcr Hans 
 would not have permitted them ; but, as hunters, they 
 etood in real need of the article, and therefore they took 
 it without remorse. 
 
 Simple as the thing was, they were compelled to un- 
 ravel the nests before they could get at the soft material 
 with which they were lined : and this unravelling was 
 not done without some difficulty, for the outside work 
 was woven together like the rods in a fine piece of bas- 
 ket-work. The entrance which the bird had left for its 
 own passage in and out was so small, that the boys 
 could not thrust their hands into it; and, what was 
 singular, this entrance, whenever the bird was absent 
 from the nest, was so closed up that it was difficult to 
 find it ! 
 
 Plaving obtained as much wadding as they required 
 out of a pair of nests, the boys did not disturb any of 
 the others ; but permitting them to hang where they had 
 found them, returned to the wagons. 
 
 They had not been long there before their attention 
 was attracted to another bird, and one of a rarer and 
 more curious kind than the amadina. It did not differ 
 much from the latter in point of size, but in the nature 
 and color of its plumage which was most curious Ju- 
 iced The bird which now occupied the attention, no!
 
 282 WIDOW-BIRDS. 
 
 only of Klaas and Jan, but of all the others, was about 
 the size of a canary-bird ; but its long tail-feathers, 
 several times the length of its body, gave it the appear- 
 ance of being much larger than it really was. 
 
 Its color was of a, very dark glossy brown, or nearly 
 black, upon the head and over the upper parts of the 
 body. Around the neck was a collar of orange rufous, 
 which grew paler upon the breast, ending in a buf! 
 tinge over the abdomen, lower parts of the body, and 
 thighs. 
 
 Hut it was in the tail-feathers that the peculiarity of 
 this bird appeared. Of these, two were immensely long, 
 set vertically, or " edgeways," and curving far outward 
 and downward. Two others, much shorter, also stood 
 out edgeways above the first. These were broadly 
 webbed at their bases, being at their widest full three 
 inches across ; while their tips, for the length of three 
 inches more, were entirely without any feathery web, 
 and looked like a pair of stiff hairy spines projecting 
 outward. Besides these two pairs of vertical feathers, 
 there were four others on each side of the tail, nicely 
 graduated one above the other, each being about a quar- 
 ter of an inch shorter than the one immediately below 
 it. All these tail-feathers were black. 
 
 Hnt one of these birds was seen by the boys at their 
 camp; but they noticed that it was accompanied bj 
 another bird of a rusty brown and whitish color, ani,' 
 with a tail of the ordinary kind. This companion waj 
 neither more nor less than the female ; while the guudj 
 creature with the orange color and long tail plumes wa* 
 we male. 
 
 Haas's knowledge was now brought into requisition,
 
 WIDOW-BIRDS. 283 
 
 for the others had never seen this urious bird, and 
 knew not to what species it belonged. Hans told them 
 it also was one of the weaver-birds ; known among 
 uaLuralists by the name Vidua; among the French as 
 u La veuve ; " and among the English as " Widow-bird.* 1 
 All of the party regarded this as a very singular name 
 for the bird ; and at once called upon the naturalist for 
 an explanation of it. Fortunately, Hans was able to 
 give them this ; and that was more than the learned 
 Brisson he who baptized it Vidua and La veuve haa 
 been able to do. 
 
 " Brisson," said Hans, " has named the little creature 
 4 widow-bird,' because he had heard that it was so called 
 among the Portuguese ; and the French naturalist assigns 
 as a reason that it was so called on account of its color 
 and long tail ! Such writers as Monsieur Brisson and 
 Monsieur Buffon are never at a loss for reasons. Now 
 it so happens that neither its color nor tail had any thing 
 to do with the origin of its name ' widow-bird,' which 
 of itself is quite a misnomer. The Portuguese, who first 
 drew attention to this bird, called it ' Whidah ' bird, from 
 the fact that it was received by them from the kingdom 
 of Whidah in Western Africa. That is the way in which 
 the bird has received its appellation." 
 
 The Whidah-bird, on account of its lively habits, but 
 more from the singularity of its tail-plumes, is a great 
 favorite as a pet; and is often seen in cages, whsre it 
 hops from perch to perch without fear of constraint, and 
 alternately depresses and elevates its long tail with groat 
 vivacity. It is usually fed upon grain arid several kinds 
 of herbs, and is exceedingly fond of bathing itself in 
 water. It moults twice a year; and during one period
 
 ^84 WIDOW-BIRDS. 
 
 the male loses the long plumes which distinguish bin 
 from his mate, and altogether becomes so changed in 
 color, that the sexes are not then very easily told apart, 
 ft is only during tlie breeding season that the cock Win- 
 da h bird attains his fine tail, and the orange and black 
 colors of his plumage. 
 
 There are two species of Whidah-birds known to 
 naturalists. The " Paradise widow-bird " ( Vidua para~ 
 disea) is the one described above ; and another which 
 is called the " Red-billed widow-bird," ( Vidua erythro- 
 rhynca.) The latter is a smaller species, and di tiers 
 from the other in the arrangement of the tail feathers. 
 Its bill is of a deep red color whence the trivial name ; 
 and its plumage is of a bluish-black upon the upper 
 parts of the body, with a white collar around the neck, 
 ^vhite wing coverts, and whitish underneath. 
 
 Its habits, however, are precisely similar to those of 
 the species Paradisea ; and both are found inhabiting 
 the same countries, viz : Western Africa. The range 
 of neither reaches as far southward as the Cape Colony, 
 but one of the species extends to the countries north- 
 ward of the great Orange River, and is occasionally, 
 though rarely, seen. 
 
 On account of its rarity in these parts, the young 
 yagers, arid particularly the naturalist Unit*, were de- 
 sirous of obtaining its skin ; and for this purpose the 
 Act-guns were levelled, and both the " widows " we re 
 JulJ lessly brought down from their perch.
 
 THE PIQCE-B-ZU/S. 88,1 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 THE PIQUF.-BCEUFS. 
 
 OP course Jans, aided by the others, immediately sci 
 about skinnii ^ the widow-birds, with an eye to their 
 being preserved. Arend was his principal assistant, for 
 Arend was clever with his hands ; and was, moreover, 
 as good a taxidermist as Hans himself. It never 
 troubled Arend to know the genus or species of a bird ; 
 but give him the bird itself, and he could strip off its 
 skin and mount it without leaving a trace of a ruffled 
 feather. 
 
 While thus engaged, a noise fell upon the ears of the 
 young yagers that caused all of them to start Hana 
 and Arend dropping the skins of the widow-birds, upon 
 which they had been operating. 
 
 The noise which produced this startling effect, was 
 neither more nor less than the cry of a bird, and but a 
 amall bird at that. The note very much resembled the 
 jr^ll-known call of the mistle-thrush or screech-cock, 
 (Turdus viscivorus.) It was no louder, and the birl 
 that uttered it was no bigger than this thrush ; but for 
 all that, the note produced a somewhat terrifying effect 
 ujnm the yager camp. All of the party, both yagers 
 and attendants, knew the cry well. Even the buck-doga 
 Bjinmg to their feet, and howled as it readied their ears; 
 HIKI the whole cam;: was suddenly in a commotion.
 
 286 THE riQUE-BCEUFS. 
 
 Now, my young reader, you will wonder why the cry 
 of a bird, not bigger than a blackbird, could create 
 terror in the minds of such courageous boys as our 
 yiigers ; and you will naturally desire to know what sort 
 oi' Hrd this was. 
 
 I have said the boys all knew it, the attendants and 
 Jj3 dogs Nay, more, the horses and oxen recognized 
 that cry ; and its effect on them was not less wonderful ; 
 for the moment it was heard, the horses tossed up their 
 heads, snorted as if in terror, and commenced stamped- 
 ing over tli3 ground. The oxen exhibited similar symp- 
 toms of affright. Yes, horses, oxen, dogs, Kaffir, BusV 
 man, and yagers, were all affected by the screech of 
 that bird, as it pealed along the rocks, and echoed 
 through the glen. All recognized in it the warning cry 
 of the Pique-Bwuf! 
 
 An account of this singular bird will explain the 
 cause of the consternation which its note had thus sud- 
 denly produced. 
 
 The " Pique-Boeuf " is about the size of a starling, 
 of a grayish color over the body, with short wings, and 
 tail somewhat of a darker hue. Its feet are formed for 
 grasping, and its claws are hooked and compressed. 
 The most remarkable part of the bird is its bill. This 
 is of a quadrangular shape, the lower mandible much 
 stronger than the upper one, and both swelling towards 
 the tip, so as to resemble a forceps or pincers. The 
 purpose of this formation will be seen, when we come to 
 speak of the habits of the bird. 
 
 These are, indeed, peculiar ; and, by the laws of or* 
 nithology, stamp the Pique -tkeufs as a distinct genus of 
 birds.
 
 THE PIQUE- BOEUFS. 
 
 A celebrated French ornithologist, and a true 
 naturalist as well Le Vaillant thus describes the 
 habits of these bird 5 : 
 
 " The bill of the Pique-Bceuf is fashioned as % pair 
 of solid pincers, to facilitate the raising out of the hides 
 of quadrupeds the larva of the gadflies, which ara 
 there deposited and nourished. The species, therefore* 
 anxiously seek out the herds of oxen, of buiFaloes, of 
 antelopes of all the quadrupeds, in short, upon which 
 these gadflies deposit their eggs. It is while steadied, 
 by a strong gripe of the claws in the tough and hairy 
 hide of these animals, that, with strong blows of the bill 
 and pc werful squeezes of the skin, at the place where the 
 bird perceives an elevation, which indicates the presence 
 of a maggot, he extracts it with effect. The animals, 
 accustomed to the treatment, bear with the birds com- 
 placently, and apparently perceive the service which 
 they render them, in freeing them from these true para- 
 sites, which live at the expense of their proper sub* 
 stance." 
 
 Now, there are many species of birds, as well as the 
 Pique-Boeufs. that lead a very similar life, living prin- 
 cipally upon the parasite insects that infest the bodies 
 of the larger quadrupeds, both wild and tame. In 
 Ajneri;a, the "cow-bunting" (Icterus pecoris} is so 
 termed from its habit of feeding upon the parasite 
 insects of cattle ; and among other animals it is a constant 
 attendant upon the immense herds of buffaloes that 
 roam over the great American prairies. Other speciea 
 of icterus also frequent the v;ist cattle-herds of the 
 South American plains. 
 
 The red-billed weaver-bird (Textor erythrornynchus] 
 \s equally th? companion of the African buffalo ; a3
 
 ^J88 THE PIQUE-BCEUFS. 
 
 any one who has visited an extensive sheep-pasture can- 
 not fail to have observed the common starling pei ched 
 upon the -\\oolly backs of the sheep. The white-ncckod 
 crow (Cbrvv* albicollis) is noted for similar practices, 
 as well as several other species of Coruidce and Slur- 
 nidce. All of these kinds, however the white-neckeJ 
 crow excepted content themselves with only taking 
 away the parasites, which are attached to the skins of 
 the animals, or such as live among the hair and wool- 
 none of the aforesaid birds having in their bills the 
 necessary strength for extracting the maggots which are 
 lodged beneath. Now, with the Pique-Bceufs, there is 
 no difficulty about this. Their peculiar beaks enable 
 *hem to penetrate the toughest hides of the large quad- 
 rupeds ; and although they also feed upon the ticks and 
 other parasites that rest upon the surface, they prefer 
 the larvae that lie beneath. Hence, these birds are en- 
 titled to be regarded as distinct from any of the others ; 
 and naturalists have formed them into a separate genua 
 the genus Buphaga, or " beef-eaters." 
 
 It is scarcely necessary to point out the absurdity of 
 this name, which seems to have been given from a mis- 
 apprehension of the habits of the birds. The Pique- 
 Bccuf is no beef-eater, but a " beef-picker," if you will, 
 as the French phrase very properly expresses it. But 
 M. Brisson, who gave the name, seems very much to 
 have resembled his more celebrated countryman thi 
 great closet naturalist, Buffon in ascribing such habit* 
 to birds and animals as suited his fancy. 
 
 Buphaga is the name given, and so let it stand. 
 
 Only two species have been yet observed. One is tltf 
 Buphaga erythrorhyncha, or red-billed beef-eater sc 
 called from the color of its beak which is a beautiful
 
 THE PIQUE B<EUFS. 28* 
 
 t .&i T.i nh'le, the more common species already 
 described hits a yellow beak. The latter is the Buphaga 
 Afncanct. Both species are birds of Africa the " coral 
 bill" (Bee corail) being also a native of the island of 
 Madagascar. The "coral bill" is smaller than the 
 lluphaga Africans, and somewhat different from it in 
 tolcr. Tie tint of its plumage is more sombre. The 
 upper parts, head and throat, are of an ash-brown, 
 glazed, as it were, with bluish ; and beneath, the bird is 
 of a yellowish rust color. Its bill, also, is smaller and 
 less powerful than that of its congener. 
 
 The Pique-Bceufs are generally seen in company 
 but they never fly in large flocks. Six or eight of them 
 may usually be observed together. They are very wild 
 shy birds, and it is difficult to approach within shooting 
 distance of them. 
 
 The only chance of getting near enough is to approacii 
 behind the body of an ox, or some other animal using 
 the latter as a stalking-horse, and driving it gently 
 towards those beasts on whose back the birds may be 
 perched. The gunner, by then showing himself sud 
 denly, may obtain a shot at them on the wing. 
 
 Such are the habits of the Pique-Bceufs. But all 
 this does not explain why it was that the screech of one 
 of these birds had thrown the camp of the young yagers 
 into such a state of excitement or alarm. The reason 
 remain:; to be told. It was this : 
 
 Of all the quadrupeds to which the Pique-Bcnufs 
 attach themselves, there are none upon which they are 
 such constant attendants as the rhinoceros. This animal 
 is the victim of many parasitical insects of ticks and 
 \arva>. His huge body and corrugated skin, of su :b 
 13
 
 290 TI1E PIQUE-BCEUF3, 
 
 fast extent, offer an ample field for such creatures, at A 
 consequently atford a supply of food to the Pique- 
 Boeuf, which is unfailing. 
 
 The rhinoceroses, therefore, of all the four species thai 
 inhabit South Africa, are always attended by the beef- 
 eaters, which, on this account, are known among hun- 
 ters as "rhinoceros-birds." Go where the rhinoceros 
 will, the Pique-Bceufs follow him, perching upon hia 
 back, his head, or any other part of his body, and re- 
 maining there quite unconcernedly, as if they regarded 
 that situation as their natural roosting-plnce and home. 
 The rhinoceros himself never dreams of molesting them. 
 On the contrary, he finds their presence extremely use- 
 ful to him. Not only do they give him ease, by destroy- 
 ing the insects that would otherwise annoy him, but in 
 another sense they do him an essential service. They 
 warn him of the approach of the hunter, or any other 
 danger. The moment such appears, the rhinoceros, who 
 himself may have been asleep, is instantly aroused by 
 the harsh screeching of the birds, and put upon his 
 guard. Should their voices fail to awake him, these 
 cunning sentinels will flutter around his head, and peck 
 into his ears until they succeed in giving the alarm. 
 With elephants and hippopotami they act in a similiu 1 
 manner ; so that one of the difficulties to be encountered 
 by the hunter in pursuit of these animals, i* the vigil- 
 ance of the little winged serdnel that tlu3 keeps 
 watch over their sleep ! 
 
 It was this curious habit, then well known to every 
 creature in the camp that caused all hands to start up 
 on hearing the screech of the Pique-Boeuf. Tie prs- 
 ence of ihe bird announced the proximity of the 'Tup 
 cniu-: " rhinoster."
 
 CHAh3ED BT MTJCHOCHO8. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 CHARGED BY " MUCHOCHOS." 
 
 Ar,L eyes were instantly turned in the direction 
 whence came the " skreek " of the bird, and there, 
 sure enough, were a brace of rhinoceroses of the big- 
 gest kind. They were just entering the little glen, 
 through the gap before mentioned ; and were coming 
 down the channel of the river, plunging through the 
 water as they walked knee-deep. 
 
 The superior size of their bodies, as well as their 
 color, told they were white rhinoceroses ; and the long 
 horn upon the snout, pointing slightly backward instead 
 of forward, showed they were of that species known 
 among the natives as " muchocho," and among natural- 
 ists as Rhinoceros simus. 
 
 The other species of white rhinoceros is the " kobao- 
 ba," lately named Rhinoceros Oswellii ; although in 
 tny opinion it should have been Rhinoceros Gumminyii 
 since the great lion-hunter was not only the lirst to 
 give any definite characteristics of this rare species, but 
 more than any other man has he contributed to a 
 knowledge or the South- African fauna. 
 
 The principal distinction between the kobaoba and 
 <jQuchocho is observed in the set and size of the horns
 
 292 CHARGED BY MtJCHOCHOS. 
 
 In neither species is the posterior horn any thing mor< 
 than a conical knob of six or seven inches in length , 
 hut in each the anterior horn is very long far exceed- 
 ing that of the black rhinoceroses. In the kobaoba, thia 
 horn sometimes reaches to the enormous length of four 
 feet, and even exceeds that measurement ; while in the 
 muchocho, three feet is the limit. In the fcrmer the 
 horn projects forward, standing at an angle of forty-five 
 degrees with the line of the snout ; whereas that of the 
 muchocho is erect, with a slight curve or sweep back- 
 wards. 
 
 Both species far exceed in size the two kinds of 
 black rhinoceros, and are fully equal to their great 
 Asiatic congener he with the curious shield-like skin, 
 so well known in picture-books, museums, and zoologi- 
 cal gardens. In other words, the white rhinoceroses of 
 South Africa are in point of magnitude, after the 
 elephant, the largest quadrupeds in the world. In point 
 of habits they differ altogether from the black species. 
 They are grass-feeders, as the shape of their muzzle 
 testifies ; while the black kinds browse upon various 
 kinds of shrubs and acacia thorns, and are furnished 
 with a prehensile lip for the purpose of more easily 
 grasping the twigs and branches. 
 
 As has been elsewhere observed, in disposition the 
 two kinds are also very different. The black rhimtce- 
 roses both " borele " and " keitloa " are of an ex- 
 tremely vicious and malignant nature, and more 
 dangerous even than the lion. They are swift of foot ; 
 tu id, but for their defective powers of vision, it would 
 be a perilous thing to approach them. The white 
 ipecies, on the contrary, are slow, and less disposed w
 
 CHARGED BY MUCHOCHOS. 29S 
 
 make an attack upon man. When these are wounded, 
 or are accompanied by their young, the case is different 
 They then exhibit all the ferocity of their race ; and 
 many a native hunter has fallen a victim to the rage of 
 both the kobaoba and muchocho. 
 
 The flesh of the two last-named species is excellent 
 eating being almost as good as fresh pork. It is not 
 so with the flesh of the black rhinoceros, which is 
 strong, rancid, and bitter. 
 
 Now, knowing the general disposition of the " mu 
 chochos," and knowing also the delicate flesh which 
 these animals afford to the hunter, our young yagers at 
 seeing them lost all sense of alarm. They at once 
 rushed to their guns, and commenced preparing to re- 
 ceive the advancing quadrupeds. Had it been boreles 
 or keitloas, they would have acted differently ; and 
 would, perhaps, have thought only of flying to their 
 houses, or of ensconcing themselves in the wagons. Of 
 white rhinoceroses, however, they had no fear ; and 
 having armed themselves, they advanced boldly and 
 openly to the conflict. 
 
 By this time the muchochos had got fairly through 
 the pass ; and, climbing out of the river-channel, stood 
 up on the grassy sward of the meadow. Their naked 
 bodies, thus fully exposed to view, appeared of enormom 
 size. One, however, was much bigger than the other- 
 in fact, quite as Iarg3 as a female elephant for it was 
 full sixteen feet in length from the tip of its long bluni 
 snout to the ^ whisk " upon the top of its short tail. 
 
 But what caused astonishment to the advancing hun- 
 ters was the fact, that instead of the two of thes 
 animals which Uiey had already seen, three now ap
 
 4 CHARGED BY MUCHOCHO8. 
 
 pearetl upon the bank. The third, however, was no/ 
 larger than an ordinary hog ; and, excepting that it* 
 snout wanted the characteristic horn, it might have 
 passed for a miniature of the other two. Small as it wa,?, 
 there was no mistaking it for any other animal than ft 
 rhinoceros ; and its size as well as actions showed that 
 it was the young, or " calf," of the two old ones, that 
 were respectively its male and female parent. 
 
 The hunters were delighted with this new discovery. 
 The flesh of the young white rhinoceros is much more 
 delicate and tender than that of the full-grown ones ; 
 and all of them, but particularly Swartboy and Congo, 
 now indulged in the anticipation of a rare treat. 
 
 No one thought of the increased danger of their thus 
 attacking the rhinoceros in company with its young. 
 That was forgotten in the hurry and excitement of the 
 moment. The prudent Hans alone had some misgivings ; 
 but carried away by the enthusiasm of his companions, 
 he failed to make them known. In ten seconds after- 
 wards a volley of reports rang through the little glen ; and 
 by that same volley a shower of bullets varying in 
 size from the large ounce-ball of the elephant-gun to the 
 small pea of the rifle was poured upon the muchochos. 
 
 The only visible effect produced upon the auimals 
 was to cause them suddenly to change their gait, from 
 fLe slow waddle at which they had been advancing, to a 
 brisk rapid gallop, which was directed precisely toward 
 ihe spot where the hunters were standing ! At the same 
 time the huge animals were heard to snort and blow like 
 porpoises ; and the sparkling of their small eyes, the 
 quick lashing of their saucy tails, and the long horns sel 
 horizontally, showed that they were charging forward in 
 the full bent of their fury. The " calf " followed in the
 
 CHAGED BY HUCHOCHOS. 295 
 
 rear, imitating the noise and actions of its ponderous 
 parents. 
 
 This to the hunters was a movement wholly unex- 
 pected. Had it been borele or keitloa there would have 
 been nothing strange in it. On the contrary, it was jus! 
 as -either of the black rhinoceroses would have acted, 
 But from muchocho usually so harmless as to be called 
 cowardly and stupid an attack of this nature was quite 
 unlooked for. The report of a gun, or even the bark 
 ing of a dog, will usually put the muchocho to flight. 
 
 But our yagers had not reasoned correctly when they 
 expected these either to fall to their shots, or take to 
 instant flight. They had forgotten the presence of the 
 calf. That it was which caused the white rhinoceroses 
 to act upon this occasion contrary to their usual habit 
 that, and perhaps the wounds they had received for 
 several of the bullets, although not fatal, had made pain 
 ful wounds. So much the worse. 
 
 Of course, none of the young yagers stood their 
 ground to receive this heavy charge. Their guns were 
 now empty, and it would have been of no use. On the 
 contrary, each and every one of them turned instanter ; 
 and no mischievous urchin ever ran faster from a parish 
 beadle than did all six of them towards the camp. The 
 tails of their coats made a considerable angle with the 
 tine of their backs, as they " sloped " across the level 
 erard of that little meadow. 
 
 The short thick Bushman and the tall lank Kaffir 
 both of whom had gone forth to the attack were not a 
 bit behind in the retreat ; and the whole eight were 
 mingled together in such a helter-skelter pell-mell race, 
 as had never before been witnessed in that silent and 
 solitary glen.
 
 A KIDE UPON A RHINOCEROS. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 A RIDE UPON A RHINOCEROS. 
 
 F JRTUNATELY for all they were not distant from llieif 
 wagons when thus charged upon. They had advanced 
 only a few paces before delivering their fire, and these 
 few paces were all they had to run back, before they 
 sprang up into the capacious vehicles. Had it been 
 otherwise had the chase only lasted twenty yards far- 
 ther most undoubtedly one or more of the party would 
 have been hoisted upon the horns of the pursuing 
 animals, or trampled under their broad brutal hoofs. 
 
 As it was, the hindmost of them had a narrow escape 
 of it ; for they had hardly taken shelter under the. cap- 
 tents of the wagons, when the horns of the mucbochos 
 were heard rattling against the planks. 
 
 Although they had fled to the wagons for want of a 
 better place, they were far from feeling secure. They 
 knew that these immense brutes, should they take it into 
 their heads, could soon demolish the vehicles, strong 
 as these were. What was their consternation, then, at 
 seeing the old bull suddenly lower his head, and charge 
 forward upon one of the wagons, in which several of 
 them had taken refuge ! 
 
 The next moment was heard the terrible concussios
 
 A RIDE UPON' A RHINOCEROS 31 
 
 the horn of the muchocho struck the " bulk plank," 
 passing clear through it the timber split from end to 
 end the " achter kist " was shivered to pieces, and the 
 huge vehicle was lifted clear from the ground, and 
 hoisted several feet out of its place ! A simultaneous 
 cry of alarm broke forth from, the occupants of the 
 wagon which was continued as they saw the huge 
 padruped preparing to repeat the charge. 
 
 Al this crisis the faithful buckdogs performed an 
 iiaeutial service, and saved, not only the wagons, but 
 perl iaps also the lives of their masters. As the great 
 bull was heading once more towards the wagon, several 
 of the dogs attacked him from behind ; two of them 
 launched themselves upon his flanks, and one other 
 springing upward, caught hold of his tail and hung on ! 
 
 Now the tail of the rhinoceros is one of his tenderest 
 bits ; and this new and unexpected mode of assault quite 
 disconcerted the old bull. Instead, therefore, of follow- 
 ing up his charge upon the wagon, he turned round a< 
 fast as his unwieldy body would permit, blowing with 
 agony and rage. But the stanch hound still hung on, 
 while the others kept biting at the bull's hind legs ; and 
 vainly attempting to get at the dogs, the huge beast 
 danced round and round like a kitten after its own tail 
 if a comparison may be allowed between two animals 
 f such unequal magnitudes. 
 
 This scene continued for some minutes, until at length 
 the d3gs were thrown off. One of them was crushed 
 bet sath the heavy feet of the rhinoceros, while another 
 was badly ripped by the horn of the female. But the 
 gallant brutes had performed their part well ; and by 
 Tieans of their balking and biting, they hud drawn the 
 13*
 
 98 A RIDE UPON A RHINOCEROS. 
 
 oaucbochos altogether away from the wagons, and into a 
 different part of the meadow. 
 
 ft was not likely they would return to the attack upon 
 the wagons, unless they chanced to be driven that way 
 by the dogs for the rhinoceros, partly from his low 
 power of sight, and partly from his forgetful nature, 
 rarely returns to assault any object once he has quit tod 
 it. 
 
 But a new fear now sprang up in the minds of the 
 young yagers no longer for themselves, but for their 
 horses ! 
 
 These animals, as already stated, along with the oxen, 
 had been left grazing upon the meadow, without any 
 fastening. When the muchochos first appeared, both 
 oxen and horses had taken to flight. The oxen had 
 gone toward the lower end of the meadow ; and, guided 
 by a cunning old leader, had set off upon their back 
 trail over the ridge by which they had entered. The 
 horses, on the contrary, had remained prancing around 
 the wagons, until the muchochos came upon the spot ; 
 and, then dashing off together, had leaped the stream, 
 and taken their stand trembling and cowering close by 
 the cliffs on the opposite side. Here they had remained 
 during the early part of the fight between the dogs and 
 muchochos. 
 
 But in the course of thia conflict both the dogs and 
 their huge adversaries had worked up to the spot where 
 the horses were, and once more set the latter in motion. 
 
 Seeing these, the rhinoceroses immediately started 
 after them perhaps deeming them antagonists more 
 worthy of their horns ; and now for some minutes a 
 terrible melee of charging muchochos and galloping
 
 A RIDE UPON A RHINOCEROS. 
 
 uteeds filled the measure of the glen the former blow 
 ing and snorting with rage, while the latter snorted with 
 affright. 
 
 Fortunately, the small circumference within which 
 this scene was enacted, enabled the hunters to use their 
 pieces with effect ; and whenever either of the rhinoc- 
 eroses came to a stand, if but for a moment, the crack 
 of a gun could be heard, and the thud of a bullet hitting 
 against their thick hides. It is a mistake to suppose 
 that a leaden bullet will not penetrate the skin of a 
 rhinoceros. On the contrary, the hide, though thick, is 
 comparatively soft, and yields easily to either a spear or 
 a ball so that every shot took effect. The hunters, 
 par excellence, Hendrik and Groot Willem, fired most 
 of the shots, aiming behind the fore-shoulder for the 
 heart and lungs for in these parts the shot proves 
 fatal. A bullet into the brain would have a like effect ; 
 but as the brain of the rhinoceros is exceedingly small 
 in proportion to the size of the animal, it requires a sure 
 aim to strike it ; and the more certain way is to aim for 
 the lungs. 
 
 So aimed Hendrik and Groot Willem ; and what with 
 the large leaden balls of the roer, and the small but bet- 
 ter directed pellets of the rifle, both the muchochos were 
 t length made to bite the dust. The calf was sliot 
 afterwards ; for after the fall of its parents, the creature 
 lid not attempt to run away, but stood by the body of ita 
 mother, jerking its little tail about, and wondering what 
 the trouble; was all about. 
 
 A very ludicrous scene was now witnessed, that caused 
 the young yagers to break into an uncontrollable fit of 
 laughter. Their laughter, however, did not come untij
 
 30C A RIDE UPON A RHINOCEROS. 
 
 after the incident was over which gave rise to it fo 
 there was danger in the scene, and it was somewhat 
 painful to witness it. 
 
 It was as follows. The rhinoceros, like the American 
 bison, when shot down by the hunter, rarely falls in the 
 common way of other animals upon its side but 
 usually sinks down upon his breast, and there remains 
 even after death has taken place. 
 
 The two shot by Hendrik and Groot Willem had 
 offered no exception to the rule. Both lay upon their 
 bellies at a little distance from the wagons, their broad 
 massive backs turned upward. 
 
 Now a practice equally common among Bushmen, 
 whenever a rhinoceros has been killed, is to leap upon 
 the animal's back, thrust their spears into its flesh to try 
 the depth, and discover whether the game be fat, and 
 consequently valuable ! 
 
 In the carrying out of this custom, no sooner had the 
 great bull rhinoceros sunk down under the shots, than 
 our Bushman, Swartboy, seeing that all danger was over, 
 leaped forth from the wagon, and running up to where 
 the dead animal lay, sprang upon its back ! Shouting 
 out a wild cry of triumph, he plunged his assegai into 
 the flesh of the muchocho to the depth of a foot or more. 
 
 Almost at the same instant, the animal, which was not 
 yet dead, rose to its feet again, and charged once more 
 Riross the sward, with the Bushman upon its back ! 
 
 The shout of triumph, which Swartboy had uttered, 
 was suddenly interrupted, and cries of a far different 
 import now rang through the glen; while the rhinoceros, 
 no doubt impelled to fresh energy of life by the terrible 
 pain he suffered from the Bushman's spear, charged 
 round and round, as though he had quite recovered !
 
 A. RIDE UPON A RHINOCEROS. 301 
 
 Swartboy, on the other hand, dared not leap to the 
 ground, lest he might be impaled upon the dread horns, 
 but held fast to the spear, which, still buried in the 
 animal's thick flesh, served him as a, point d'appui! 
 
 How Swartboy would have been delivered, had the 
 strength of the muchocho held out, it is hard to say; 
 but this gave way at length, and the huge quadruped 
 once more sank to the earth, pitching the Bushman 
 several yards over his head ! 
 
 Swartboy did not lie long where he had been flung ; 
 but, sprawling up again, ran back at top speed to the 
 wagons, where he was welcomed by yells of laughter I 
 The oxen were soon overtaken and brought back, the 
 calf of the muchocho regularly butchered, and that 
 niglu the young yagers enjoyed a supper of " rlnnooeros 
 reai."
 
 02 JAN AND THE KOOEHAAWiS. 
 
 CHAPTER XLV11I. 
 
 JAN AND TIIK KOOUHAANS. 
 
 THE next camp of the young yagers was fixed in a 
 beautiful valley very similar to that in which they had 
 seen the troop of lions, hut of larger extent, and having 
 its whole surface enamelled with bright flowers. 
 
 There were mountains all around, that seemed to shut 
 in this fair picture and protect it from the hot dry winds 
 of the desert. A river wound through its midst like a 
 silvery serpent; and here and there upon the pools, 
 where there was not much current, rested the wax-like 
 leaves and flowers of the blue lily of South Africa, 
 (Nympha cerulea.) Upon the plain grew trees and 
 plants of various sorts peculiar to the botany of the 
 country. The eyes of the travellers rested upon many 
 a fair form. Upon the banks of the stream they saw 
 the drooping fronds of the Chaldean willow ; and by the 
 foot of the mountain the splendid Acacia eburnea, with 
 its umbrella-shaped head, and clusters of golden flowers 
 filling the air with their fragrance. They saw the 
 valuable wax-berry, (Myrica cerifera,) yielding it? clus- 
 ters of white wax-coated fruit. They saw the perfumed 
 " bead-bush," out of whose fragrant roots are shaped the 
 beads held in such esteem among the savage bel j -i of
 
 JAN AND TITK KOORHAAXS. 30.T 
 
 the land They SPW the " sugar-bush," (Protea mellif- 
 tra,) with its large cup-.-haped pink and white flowers, 
 the most beautiful of the tribe of Proteacece. There, 
 too, were scarlet geraniums, with marigolds, and starry 
 Cape jessamines, forming a garden in the wilder nes 
 pleasant to the eye and fragrant to the sense. 
 
 The songs of numerous birds fell upon the ear, and 
 their brilliant plumage could be seen as they fluttered 
 among the branches. The hum of bees, too, was heard ; 
 and thousands of these busy insects could be seen flut- 
 tering from flower to flower. 
 
 It was still early when the party arrived in this 
 delightful spot ; but so pleased were all of them with 
 the scene around that they determined to halt before the 
 usual hour and encamp there for the night. 
 
 So, choosing a pretty grove of willow-leafed " clean- 
 wood " trees, that stood near the bank of the river, they 
 outepanned under their shade. 
 
 As they were wearied by their exertions in getting 
 the oxen over some rocky ridges, all lay down to rest 
 under the cool shadow of the olean woods ; and several 
 of the boys went to sleep, lulled by the sweet voices of 
 the birds, the humming of wild bees, and the rushing 
 sound of the water as it passed over some rapids below. 
 
 Klaas and Jan, however, had not gone to sleep with 
 the rest, for neither had laid their shoulders to the wagon- 
 wheels, and were, therefore, no more tired than usual. 
 Besides, there was something nigh at hand that would 
 have kept both awake, even had they been a good deal 
 fatigued, and that was the appearance of a pair of very 
 odd-looking birds out upon the plain, at no great dis- 
 tance from the wagons, and that every now and then
 
 304 JAN AND THE KOORHAANS. 
 
 raised their black top-knots above the grass and uttered 
 a cry something like the croak of a raven. 
 
 These birds were not so very large about the sizo 
 of common fowls but they were game-birds, having 
 flesh of excellent flavor, and this rendered them interest- 
 ing at the moment. They were, also, of very elegant 
 forms something of the tall majestic shape of the bus* 
 tards. In fact, they were of a species that forms a sort 
 of link between the bustards and grouse families ; and 
 are known in South Africa as " koorhaaris," and in India 
 by the name of " floricans." 
 
 But it was nothing of all this that rendered them so 
 interesting to Klaas and Jan. It was that the latter 
 knew a very curious method of capturing these very 
 birds, and he was in a perfect fever to put it in practice 
 right before the eyes of the rival bird-boy Klaas. In 
 fact, ever since the day that Klaas had so distinguished 
 himself by knocking over the klipspringer, Jan had been 
 burning for an opportunity to perform some feat of equal 
 pretensions, but none had turned up. Now that these 
 birds old acquaintances of Jan's they were had made 
 their appearance, he saw a fair chance of gaining some 
 renown. He would show Klaas how to catch koorhaans 
 in a proper manner that he would. So said Jan. 
 
 Jan was not long in having his triumph, which he ob- 
 tained in the following manner. 
 
 He first pulled some long hair from the tail of hid 
 pony, which he twisted into a large stout snare. Ho 
 next proceeded to Swartboy, and borrowed from the 
 Bushman his whip, or rather the handle of the whip- 
 for Swartboy took off the lash to accommodate him. It 
 oui^t be here remembered that J;m and Swartboy were
 
 JAN AND THE KOORHAAN3. 305 
 
 great allies, and had been so for a long time ; and it was 
 in reality Swartboy who had taught Jan the curious 
 mode he was about to practise upon the koorhaans. Fl 
 mu.-t also be remembered that the handle of Swartboy'a 
 whip was an immense affair a bamboo cane, full eighteen 
 feet in length, and more like a fishing-rod than a wbip- 
 handle. 
 
 Well, upon the end of this, where the lash had been 
 tied, Jan adjusted his snare; and then, mounting hia 
 pony, rode forth upon the plain. 
 
 Klaas stood watching him ; and upon Klaas's counte- 
 nance there was a puzzled expression that Jan did not 
 fail to notice, and that delighted him exceedingly. 
 
 Klaas knew nothing about the modus operandi 
 could not guess how the other was going to act and his 
 ignorance betrayed itself, though he did not say a word. 
 
 Was Jan going to ride up and snare the birds? 
 Surely they would not let him come so near? They 
 appeared shy enough, and would not let him, Klaiis, 
 come within shot, for he had tried it but the minute before. 
 No : it could not be that way the koorhaans wouldn't 
 stand it, he knew. 
 
 Jan said nothing, but rode triumphantly forth, looking 
 askance at Klaas as he passed out from camp. 
 
 When within about one hundred yards of the kocr- 
 haaus Klaas expecting every moment to see them run 
 off as koorhaans usually do Jan turned the head of hig 
 pony, and commenced riding round in a circle. 
 
 This he continued until he had got quite round the 
 6rst circumference; and then, drawing his pony slightly 
 inward, he began a second circle, which lie completed 
 as the first; and then still heading more inward, hfc
 
 JOG JAN AND TIIK KOOHHAANS. 
 
 made a third, and a fourth, and a fifth of all which 
 circles the bustards formed the centre. Of course, it was 
 not exactly u circle he traced, but a spiral line constantly 
 narrowing inward upon the game. 
 
 " Oho ! " muttered Klaas, u I see what he's after now. 
 Oho ! " 
 
 Klaas said nothing more ; but remained watching vith 
 great interest, while Jan continued round and round like 
 n blind horse in a brick-mill. 
 
 But Jan was not blind. He was watching the move- 
 ments of the koorhaans with the sharp eye of a bird- 
 catcher. 
 
 And these birds were equally watching him turning 
 their heads now to this side and now to that; but, like 
 stupids as they were, neglecting to use either their wings 
 or legs to carry them out of the way of danger. 
 
 The result was that they permitted the pony, and Jan 
 upon its back, to approach so near, that the boy WHS at 
 length able to reach one of them with the top of Swart- 
 boy's long whip-stick, and pass the noose over head, top- 
 knot, and all. 
 
 In another moment the bird was fluttering at the end 
 of the bamboo ; and Jan, without dismounting, pulled 
 the creature in that way up to the wagons, and held it 
 there with an air of triumph that left Klaau v>'hout a 
 word to say for the "balance'' of that eveai ,.,
 
 QfcOOT WILLEM AND TIJK 1'VTIluN, 307 
 
 CHAP1EK XL IX. 
 
 3ROOT "WILI.EM AND TIIK I'TTHON. 
 
 GRJOT WILLKM awoke from his nap befon: tLe 
 others. It still wanted nearly two hours of sunset, ana 
 ihe hunter, observing a reddish object at a distance tluO 
 looked like some animal, shouldered his roer and pro- 
 ceeded towards it. He took with him one, of the buck- 
 dogs, a well-trained and favorite hound, that usually 
 accompanied him even on a stalking expedition. 
 
 The red object which he had seen was near the edge. 
 of the valley, and at the bottom of a rocky precipice 
 that bounded it upon that side. There were some trees 
 growing along by the foot of the cliff, and the hunter 
 calculated on being able to get a shot at the animal, 
 whatever it was, from behind the cover of these trees 
 He continued on up the valley, and at length got near 
 enough to teli what he was stalking at. 
 
 It was a small antelope, just about the size of th? 
 klipspringer, and with little erect horns four inchei Jt 
 length. In color, however, it was unlike the latter 
 The upper parts of its body were a deep red, and under 
 neath white, while its snout and face were blacK The 
 little creature was higher at the croup than at the 
 withers, and entirely without a tail, or with a tail only
 
 508 GROOT WILLEM AND THE PVTHON. 
 
 one inch long, that had more the appearance of i 
 Bturap. 
 
 Groot Willem, when he came nigh, recognized tbt? 
 antelope to be the steenbok, for he had met with it before 
 as it is common throughout the colony, inhabiting high 
 iying grounds where there are bushes. It is one of 
 those classed under the genus Tragulus^ of which three 
 other species all small antelopes are met with in 
 South Africa. The other three are the "grysbok," 
 (Tragulus melanotis,) the " vlackte steenbok," (T. rufes- 
 cens,) and the " bleekbok ; " ( T. pediotragus ;) though 
 some naturalists assert that the last are only varieties of 
 the steenbok, ( T. rupestris.) Groot Willem did not 
 spend a thought upon these matters, he only thought of 
 " stalking " the steenbok, and having its ribs for a roast 
 at supper. He was able to approach it without any 
 difficulty, as it was close to the bushes, and appeared not 
 to be very shy. 
 
 There was but the creature itself a little buck ; and 
 rarely is more than one, or at most two of these antelopes 
 seen together for the steenbok, and ail the others of 
 the genus Trayulus, are monogamous and solitary. 
 
 Groot Willem was at length within range, and was 
 about to level his roer on the game, when the move- 
 ments of the little animal caused him to hold his hand. 
 Its actions were very odd, indeed. It was not browsing 
 it was not standing still it \vss not running awaj 
 from the ground, and yet it was in constant motion ! 
 
 As already stated, it was close in to the edge of the 
 timber, where a number of small olean trees stood 
 thinly over the ground. In front of these the little 
 buck was dancing about in a very original mannee
 
 'MCOOT WILLEM AND THE PYTHON. 309 
 
 Now it ran to the right, anon to the left, now zigzag, 
 now it started suddenly backwards, then ran for* 
 wards again, all the while its eyes turning in a partic- 
 ular direction and shining brilliantly, as if the animal 
 itself was in a state of unusual excitement. 
 
 Groot Willem looked to discover the cause of this 
 odd manoeuvring on the part of the steenbok ; some- 
 thing among the olean-wood trees seemed to attract the 
 notice of the animal. On this something the eyes of 
 the hunter rested with wonderment ; and for some 
 moments he was unable to make out what it was. lie 
 could perceive a large glittering mass near the bottom 
 of one of the trees ; but this mass at first sight appeared 
 without any particular form, and lay perfectly motion- 
 less. 
 
 As Groot Willem continued to gaze upon it, however, 
 it gradually assumed a form, or rather his eyes gradually 
 traced one, for the mass had not yet moved. 
 
 A hideous form it was though of smooth and regular 
 proportions it was the form of a reptile a serpent ! 
 
 A serpent of enormous size, for the mass of its body, 
 gathered up in a sort of irregular coil, covered the 
 ground over a space of several square feet, while the 
 boily itself seemed thicker than the thighs of a full- 
 grown man ! The head of the reptile rested upon the 
 top of the coiled body, and oa running his eye along the 
 mottled and glistening outlines, Groot Willera perceived 
 .hat its tail was doubled around the stem of the ol ; 
 wood, and held it with firm grasp for the serpent 
 belonged to a family whose tails are furnished with 
 homy claw-like hooks, giving them a power of prehen- 
 sion in this member equal to that of a hand. This is
 
 310 6ROOT WII.LLM AXO THE PYTHON. 
 
 the family of the Boittce, or u boas, r to which the one h 
 question was genetically related. It was i\ python ths 
 Python Nutdlcnsis. 
 
 Gwot Willem only knew it a^ tin; " rock -snake," and 
 tliBt i\i its ordinary desig:iation given it on account of 
 the fa t oi' its being a dweller among rocks and stony 
 places. It might very properly be called ''rock-boa," 
 which would distinguish it from its cousins of America, 
 the Anaconda, or " water-boa," and the true boa, which 
 i? a denizen of the forest, and which would therefore 
 merit the title of " tree-boa." 
 
 Notwithstanding the difference of the dwelling-place 
 of the boas and pythons, their habits are very similar, 
 They lie in wait for their prey, capture it with their 
 etrong retractile teeth, and crushing it to death by con- 
 striction, swallow it whole though often the animal 
 swallowed is much larger than the diameter of their own 
 bodies. Their elastic muscles, however, enable them to 
 effect their purpose, aided by the slippery saliva which 
 is copiously supplied from their glands. 
 
 When Groot Willem first saw the huge python, its 
 head was lying over the coils of its body, and motion- 
 less. Presently, the head was raised up with the neck, 
 and several feet of the body ; and the parts, thus erected, 
 moved gently from side to side with a sort of vibratory 
 motion. The jaws were widely extended, so that the 
 sharp retractile teeth were plainly visible, and the forked 
 tongue at intervals was shot forward, and gleamed in 
 the sun. The eyes of the septile sparkk-d like fire. 
 
 It was a fearful object to look upon ! And yet the 
 Bteenbok did not appear to dread it. On the contrary, 
 it kept drawing nearer and n<jarer, excited either by 
 curiosity or fascination 1
 
 ROOT WILLEM AND THE PYTHON. 
 
 There are those who ridicule the idea of fascination 
 on the part of serpents. But whether we are to believe 
 in such a power or not, we cannot deny the fact. Cer- 
 tain it is, that whether it be curiosity, fear, or fascination, 
 both birds and animals are moved to approach not only 
 serpents, but crocodiles, until within reach of the jaws 
 that are opened to devour them. Certain is this, and 
 vouched for by the testimony of many a correct and 
 reliable observer. 
 
 Grool Willem witnessed the strange phenomenon. 
 When the buck had "got within some six or eight feet 
 of the python, the head of the latter suddenly shot out ; 
 and before the antelope, which now appeared making an 
 effort to escape, could spring out of the way, it waa 
 seized by the teeth of the reptile, and dragged towards 
 the tree ! 
 
 A number of quick contortions followed, and when 
 Groot Willem looked again, the red body of the little 
 antelope was almost hidden und^r the thick folds of the 
 spotted python, that writhing ar~ .\s K irv "rushing it 
 to death!
 
 312 GKl.AT STRUGGLE WITH THE 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 eaooT WILL EM'S GREAT STRUGGLE WITH tarn 
 
 8NAKE. 
 
 Now it chanced that the sight of that great serpent 
 ras very gratifying to the eyes of Groot Willem far 
 more so than any antelope. The reason was, that a 
 friend of his, a young doctor of Graaf Reinet, who waa 
 fond of the study of herpetology, had requested him to 
 bring home the skins of such rare snakes as he might 
 fall in with but especially that of the great "rock- 
 snake," which is not found in the colony, not even so far 
 south as the Orange River. 
 
 Here was a chance for the skin, which, up to this 
 time, Groot Willem had searched for in vain. 
 
 He had another reason for being gratified ; and that 
 was the splendid trophy it would be, provided he suc- 
 ceeded in obtaining it To kill a snake twenty feet long, 
 and half as thick as a man for the python appeared to 
 be both would be no small triumph ! Where would 
 Hendrik be then ? 
 
 All at once the steenbok was forgotten, and the snake 
 became the object of the hunter's skill. 
 
 Groot Willem had no skill about him. He knew of 
 Do mode to attack this new sort of enemy, except deal*
 
 OKOOT WILLEM'S <*REAT STRUGGLE 313 
 
 ing with it as he would with a quadruped that is, send- 
 ing a bullet into it ; and this he did the moment after 
 
 His roer was levelled ; and, glancing through hia 
 ivory sights, he fired the large ball through the thickest 
 part of the reptile's body. 
 
 The latter felt the shot ; and, suddenly unfolding it 
 self, dropped the steenbok now nothing more than a 
 mangled carcase, with scarce a whole bone in it. The 
 rapidity with which the snake glided off showed that 
 l.he wound had done it but little harm. 
 
 The hunter thought of reloading again, when he per- 
 ceived the serpent fast making to the rocks that in large 
 masses lay piled up near the bottom of the cliff. Among 
 these was its retreat ; and if it once reached them, Groot 
 Willem saw that he should never set eyes on it again. 
 
 Without staying to reload his gun, then, he ran in 
 among the trees, and followed the direction taken by the 
 serpent. 
 
 Although these snakes glide along with considerable 
 rapidity, they can by no means go so fast as a man ; and 
 in less than a dozen seconds Groot Willem had over- 
 taken the python, and for that matter might have trod- 
 den upon its tail. 
 
 There he was close beside the fearful-looking monster 
 tut without the knowledge how to attack it. 
 
 He began by striking at its body with the butt of hia 
 gun ; but although his blows were delivered fairly 
 enough, the metal-shod heel of his roer only glanced 
 from the slippery skin of the snake, without harming it 
 in the least, or even retarding its progress towards the 
 cliff. It made no attempt to retaliate, but only sr emed 
 bent on escaping to its lair. 
 14
 
 314 WITH THE SNAKE. 
 
 It was almost successful; for although Groat Wiliena 
 pounded away with all his might, it reached the rocks 
 in spite of him, and had buried half of ils long body 
 within a crevice no doubt the entrance to its den- 
 before the hunter thought of changing his tacticn. 
 
 It was now a critical moment with Groot Wilktn. 
 Another instant, and the remaining half of the snaka 
 would slip out of sight, and then good-bye to it. What 
 would he say to his medical friend ? What to Hendrik 
 and the yagers ? 
 
 These thoughts inspired him with renewed energy; 
 a new determination to succeed came over him. The 
 snake was not a poisonous one ; and, therefore, the en- 
 counter could not be very dangerous. It might bite him, 
 but he had battled with many a biting creature before 
 now, and conquered them, too. He would try his 
 strength upon the snake. 
 
 He was not two seconds of time on coming to this 
 determination ; and, as soon as he had done so, he tossed 
 his roer aside, and stooping down, seized the tail of the 
 snake in both hands, and commenced hauling upon it! 
 
 At the first " pluck " he drew the reptile several feet 
 outward ; but, to his surprise, it then held fast ; and, 
 notwithstanding his great strength, he was unable te 
 draw it a foot farther. The creature had, no doubt, got 
 the forepart of its body around an angle in the rocks; 
 and, aided by its scaly skin, was enabled tc hold last. 
 
 Groot Wiliem pulled with all his might. A sailor iu 
 a storm could not have hauled harder upon the main 
 brace ; but all to no purpose, as not another foot of that 
 part of the python that was still visible could b 
 engthened. About the half of it was ptill outside, buf
 
 GROOT WILLICM'S GKEAT STRUGGLE 315 
 
 the other ten feet were buried within the dark recesse* 
 f the rocks. 
 
 For several minutes Gix>ot Willem continued to exert 
 his strength, dragging the long cylinder until he could 
 hear its vertebrae crack, but without gaining an inch I 
 On the contrary, he had already lost several inches. 
 Every time that he relaxed his hold, the python waa 
 enabled to move forward a bit, and this ground it never 
 gave up again. If Groot Willem allowed it an inch, it 
 was sure to struggle for an ell ! It had all the advan- 
 tage on its side, as it pulled with the grain, while its 
 antagonist was exerting his strength against it. 
 
 Groot Willem felt confident he could hold the python 
 in this position, as long as he could stand upon his 
 feet ; but what good would there be in so doing ? He 
 could not kill it in that way. If he were to " let go " for 
 but an instant, he very well knew that the next instant 
 would show him the last inch of the tail disappearing 
 into the crevice \ No, he could not let go, and he waa 
 resolved not to let go, until he should at least try the 
 patience of his opponent. Maybe it would tire of being 
 thus held upon the " stretch," and would let him pull it 
 out again. 
 
 If there had only been some one with him to admin- 
 ister a few smart blows upon the creature's body it 
 would have been all well ; but the camp was at a very 
 long distance otl and behind the trees. His companions 
 B<uld neither see nor hear him. 
 
 Alter standing on the strain a considerable time, a 
 bright idea entered the brain of the hunter. There 
 grew a small tree beside him in fact, he was close by 
 its trunk. The thought occurred that, if by any mean?
 
 16 WITH THE SNAKE. 
 
 he could fa&ten the tail to the tree, he could then go U 
 work with a sapling, and beat the s&ake to death at hia 
 pleasure. 
 
 He was a ready fellow, Groot Willem, and a few mo- 
 ments sufficed him to mature his plans. He chanced to 
 have a strong " cord " in the ample pocket of his jacket, 
 which would serve to effect the very purpose, if he 
 could only manage somehow to make it fast to the tail. 
 Tius he proceeded to do at once. 
 
 Straddling the snake, so as to hold it partly between 
 his knees, he was enabled to loop the cord tightly around 
 it, and the thing was done. In a minute more, the other 
 end of the cord was tightly knotted around the trunk of 
 the tree ! 
 
 Groot Willem now broke off a sapling, determined 
 either to beat the hinder half of the python to a jelly, 
 or make it surrender and show its head ! 
 
 He had not delivered the third blow, when it adopted 
 the latter alternative; and the whole of its body now 
 glided rapidly back out of the crevice so rapidly tliat 
 Groot Willem was not able to avoid the onset of the 
 enraged reptile, and the next moment he was gathered 
 within its coils ! 
 
 So quick was the act, that he scarce knew how it had 
 been accomplished. He saw the head, with its open 
 jaws extended, dart towards him ; he sprang vo one 
 ide, but felt the cold scaly body against his limbs as if 
 pulling him towards the tree ; and the moment aftei, he 
 was swept close up to the trunk and pressed tightly 
 %gainst it! 
 
 He had just time to perceive that the folds of the 
 erpent were around his limbs, and also around the trunk
 
 GROOT WILLEJI S ORE iT STRUGGLE 
 
 of the tree, just time to feel that they were gradually 
 tightening upon him when the head, with its extended 
 jaws and terrible teeth, eame right opposite his face, and 
 the eyes of the monster gleamed right into his ! 
 
 A horrid spectacle it was a horrid situation he was 
 in ; but Groot Willem was not the boy to lose either 
 courage or presence of mind ; and, finding his arms still 
 free, he clutched forward and seized the reptile by the 
 threat. To hold its head was just as much as he was 
 able with both hands and with all his strength ; but he 
 held with the grasp of despair. Fortunate it was for 
 him that the tail of the python was secured by the 
 rheim, and it was thus held fast at both ends ! Had it 
 been otherwise had either head or tail been free, so that 
 it could have used its power of constriction in a few 
 seconds more, Groot Willem would have been crushed 
 as he had seen the little antelope. But now that both 
 tail and head were fixed the one by the cord and the 
 other in the strong grasp of the hunter the serpent 
 was unable to exert its terrible power ; and its folds 
 remained loose around the limbs of its intended victim! 
 
 It writhed its neck, and wriggled its body, and changed 
 the spiral rings from one part to another, but all in 
 vain. It could do him no harm ! 
 
 How long this terrible struggle might have lasted 
 would have depended upon how long the strength of th 
 two could have held out. Gi oot Willem could not free 
 himself from the folds of his antagonist, as both his legs 
 were bound to the tree ; and had he dropped the head 
 f the python for a moment, he knew it would crush 
 him to death. The snake, on the other hand, could no*, 
 free itself, as it was held fast at both extremities.
 
 8 WITH THE SNAKE 
 
 What was to be the result ? "Which would be the 
 queror ? 
 
 The serpent must have conquered in the end ; though 
 it might not have been able to free itself, as its tail was 
 fastened to the tree. But Groot Willem was not able 
 to strangle it, with all the compression he was exercising 
 upon its throat, and his strength would have yielded in 
 tima. Most certainly would he have fallen a victim, but 
 for a plan that he at length adopted to set himself free. 
 
 During all the continuance of the fight between him 
 and the serpent, he had not attempted to use his knife, 
 He had not thought of such a weapon against such an 
 enemy. Not dreaming that he would be brought into 
 close quarters, he had almost forgotten that he carried a 
 knife. By good fortune he had one, and it was in his 
 belt. Even though one or two folds of the snake were 
 around his breast, he could see the handle of the knife 
 above them ; and making a sudden grasp, he laid hold 
 of it, and drew it forth. 
 
 The blade chanced to be almost as keen as a razor; 
 and although the serpent now succeeded in twisting its 
 head partially free, before it could tighten its folds, the 
 sharp edge of the knife had half severed its body in 
 twain ! 
 
 A second gash was made in another part, and then a 
 third and still deeper one ; and the resolute hunter had 
 the gratification to see the spiral rounds that threatened 
 his destruction fall off and drop heavily to his feet ! 
 
 In a short while the python lay dead upon the ground; 
 at.d Groot Willem. although he felt that he had secured 
 a great triumph, left the spot with some regret that he 
 bad spoiled the si in!
 
 THK HONET-GDIDE ANI> HONET-EATEB. 319 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 T1IE HONEY-GUIDE AND HONET-EATEB. 
 
 GROOT WILLEM'S adventure was acknowledged bj 
 all to be the most wonderful that had occurred to any of 
 them even surpassing that of Hendrik with the rhinoc- 
 eros and for a good while it continued to be the sub* 
 ject of camp conversation. 
 
 During the expedition, every one of the party had 
 either performed some grand feat or fallen in with a re- 
 markable adventure, except Arend. It was not that 
 Arend had less courage or less capacity than the rest ; 
 but, partly, because he felt no inclination to put himself 
 in the way of hunting adventures, and partly that the 
 chances had not favored him. One adventure he had 
 fallen in with literal \y fallen in with. He had tumbled, 
 horse and all, into a pit-trap set by some savages fof 
 capturing the rhinoceros ! Fortunately, the sharp spike 
 usually placed at the bottom of these holes, had beet 
 removed else either Arend or the horse would have 
 fared worse than they did. Many a laugh had the six 
 young yagers at Arend's solitary adventure. I say six, 
 for Arend always good-naturedly joined in it himsel 
 Arend was not the man for adventures in the great wii 
 ierness. Had it been in the great city instead, no doubt
 
 THE HONEY-GUIDE AND HONEY-EATER. 
 
 his fine face and handsome figure would have helped 
 him to many a one in the flirtation line had he been 
 inclined that way. But neither did Arend care about 
 that. He had but one ruling thought so Groot Wil- 
 lem alleged and that was to get home to the Graaf 
 Reinet ; and Groot usually added the reason, by giving 
 a wink, and a word or two abcut " cherry cheeks and 
 blue eyes." 
 
 Arend, however, was not destined to see home with- 
 out one other adventure, in which all the rest had share, 
 and which proved not only the last they met with during 
 that expedition, but was near being the last of their 
 lives ! 
 
 They had changed their camp from the flowery plain 
 to another equally flowery, though the plants that blos- 
 somed around were of a very different character. There 
 were geraniums and marigolds in this plain, as there 
 had been in the other ; but here euphorbias of different 
 species predominated, with cacti and other succulent 
 plants. 
 
 Above their heads towered the tree Euphorbia, (E. 
 grandidens,) while at their feet the melon-shaped variety 
 peeped forth from the ground. There too, were several 
 poisonous species ; among others the Euphorbia anti- 
 quorum growing side by side with the deadly belladonna 
 lily, {Amaryllis belladonna.) The young yagers seemed 
 to have arrived upon a spot of earth that was almost 
 wholly occupied with poison-yielding plants ! 
 
 And yet it was a lovely scene. The flowers looked 
 as fresh and as fair as elsewhere, and their fragrance 
 scented the air around. Birds disported themselves 
 among the branches of the trees ; and bees hummed
 
 THE HONEY-GCfDE AND HONKY-EATEB. 321 
 
 and whirred over the blossoms, impartvng cheerfulnesi 
 to the wild scene, and calling up ideas of home that 
 were, at the moment, agreeable to the tired travellers. 
 
 They had just formed camp, and were sitting quietly 
 down, when their attention was drawn to a bird that had 
 perched itself upon a low bush at no great distance from 
 the wagons. It was not the beauty of this bird that 
 Attracted them, for its plumage was not beautiful, being 
 of an ashy-brown color upon the back, and gray below. It 
 was not its size, which was that of an ordinary finch; 
 nor its song, which was no better than a monotonous 
 chatter of the syllables " Kwi-kwi-kwi-kit." It was none 
 of these things that caused the young yagers to give 
 their attention to the bird, but its peculiar character 
 already well known to all of them. The little bird 
 which sat upon the bush, starting from branch to branch, 
 jerking about its tail, and uttering the ' kwi-kwi-kit," 
 was no other than the celebrated " honey-guide." 
 
 They all knew it ; for they had met with it several 
 times during the expedition, and Hans had told them its 
 history. They all knew of its curious habits ; how it 
 will guide a man to the nest of the wild bee, by flutter- 
 ing before him from bush to bush and rock to rock until 
 it reaches the spot ; how it v/ill wait until the hive haa 
 been robbed of its honey-treasure ; and then alight by 
 the despoiled nest to feed upon the larvae of the bees, or 
 Ihe fragments of honeycomb that may have been left! 
 They all knew this of the honey-guide, because they had 
 followed one before now, and proved the truth of this 
 wonderful instinct, which has been doubted by many 
 travellers as well as naturalists. 
 
 Those points o f its natural history they did not kno 1 *
 
 322 T1IE HONEY-GUIDE AKD HONEY- EATER. 
 
 of Hans had told them of long before. He had told them 
 how the bird had been classed among the cuckoos, undef 
 the title Cwculus indicator because it shares with the 
 true cu :koos the singular habit of depositing its eggs in the 
 nest of another bird ; how other naturalists have formed 
 a genus for itself the genus indicator, of which several 
 species are known ; h~w the bird feeds mostly upon 
 honey and the larvae of bees ; and how nature has given 
 it a protection against the stings of the old ones in the 
 thickness of its skin : but Swartboy declared, in relation 
 to this matter, that the thick skin did not always save it ; 
 as he had often found the honey-guide lying dead by the 
 nests of the bees, and evidently killed by their stings ! 
 
 All these points in the natural history of the honey- 
 bird were known to the young yagers ; therefore the 
 little chatterer, that had lit upon the adjacent bush, 
 was no stranger to tiinui 
 
 And they were all right glad to see it, for a certain 
 reason because they wanted some honey, and partic- 
 ularly at that very time, as their sugar had run out, 
 and they had nothing to sweeten their coffee with a 
 privation to several of the party. 
 
 All leaped to their feet, therefore, with the deter- 
 mination to follow the "honey-guide," go where it 
 would. 
 
 They laid hold of their arms ; and, wha . was still 
 stranger, saddled and mounted their horses, intending to 
 follow the guide on horseback ! 
 
 You will wonder at this. But when you hear that 
 khe honey-guide often takes the hunter six or seven 
 miles through the woods and that not unfrequently it 
 guides him to the lair of a lion, or the haunt of a black
 
 THE HONEY -GUIDE AND HONEI -EATER. 323 
 
 rhinoceros, instead of to the nest of a bee you will 
 understand why the young yjigors took fhese precautions. 
 
 Just as they were about starting out, a very odd look- 
 Ing animal " hove in sight." It had something of the 
 ippearance of a badger being low set on its legs, 
 plantigrade in its hind-feet, and with a snout and tail 
 \ ery like those of that animal. Its color, too, and pelage, 
 was not unlike that of the common badger a sombre 
 gray above and black below, divided by a light 
 stripe running down each side from the ears to the 
 root of the tail. In size it was superior to the badger, 
 and nearly equalling in this respect the American glut- 
 ton, or " wolverene," which it also resembled. It had 
 the general appearance of all the animals of the badger 
 family which, though few in genera and species, is 
 represented by one or two in nearly every part of the 
 globe. The animal which our yagers saw, or its species, 
 to speak more properly, was the representative of that 
 family in South Africa. It was the " ratel," or " honey- 
 eater," (Mellivora capensis.) 
 
 Now this quadruped was almost as well known to our 
 party as the bird. They knew that its habits were 
 equally singular ; that, like the " indicator," it possessed 
 a " *weet tooth ; " and spent most, if not all of its time, 
 in searching for the nests of bees and robbing them of 
 their honey provided the said nests were in the ground, 
 where it could tear them up with its strong terrier-claws. 
 On the other hand, when the nest chanced to be in a 
 tree, they knew the ratel could not reach it this animal 
 not being a tree-climber. On such occasions he usually 
 leaves the mark of his claws upon the lower bark, and 
 this often guides the Hottentot hunter to a nest stored
 
 324 THE HONEY-GUIDE AND HONEY-EATER. 
 
 with honey All these things the yagers had learal 
 from Swartboy and Congo ; and from Han a a fe\? 
 other facts such as that the ratel is found throughout 
 all Africa that it is formed by naturalists into a genus 
 of itself, like so many other anomalous creatures of that 
 continent that its skin is so thick the bees cannot pierce 
 it with their stings, so that it devours their honeycombs 
 without fear of the buzzing insects that on account of 
 its disagreeable odor it is sometimes known as the 
 " stinking badger." 
 
 Other facts with which all were acquainted were, 
 that the ratel is accustomed to follow the " honey-guide ; " 
 and that the bird frequently conducts the quadruped to the 
 hive very much in the same way as it acts when fol- 
 lowed by a man. It is said, however, on such occasions 
 to fly lower, and to take shorter flights, lest the badger 
 might lose sight of it ! So says Monsieur Verreaux ! 
 
 Now it was plain to the party that the ratel was at 
 that moment in pursuit of his profession, and in full 
 pursuit of the indicator. The interference, however, of 
 the mounted yagers caused him to turn round, aod make 
 off in another direction ; and the impatient " guide," 
 having now gone a-head, was followed by a much larger 
 tail." 
 
 On went the little creature from tree to tree, uttering 
 its " kwi-kwi -kit," and evidently pleased at its new " fol- 
 lowing." On rode the young yagers directly in the 
 wake of their guide. 
 
 Fortunately they had not far to go. The more fre- 
 quently repeated twittering of the bird, and the increased 
 excitement which the little creature exhibited, told the 
 hunters they were near the nest of the bees ; and in a
 
 THE HONEY-GUIDE AND HONEY-EATER. 3 
 
 few minutes after the bird perched upon a parlicuLi* 
 tree, and would fly no larther. In this tree was thb 
 hive ! 
 
 They could have told that from the fact that near its 
 roots the bark was scratched and torn off by the claws 
 of some animal the claws of a ratel, of course and 
 the amount of scratching showed, that more than one of 
 these honey-eating quadrupeds had been guided to this 
 place of sweets to meet with bitter disappointment ! 
 
 A pair of axes, with Swartboy and Congo to handle 
 them, were now brought from the camp ; the tree soon 
 fell under their strokes : the bees were smoked out , 
 and the honeycombs a fragment or two being left as a 
 reward for the services of the " guide " were carried 
 off to camp. 
 
 The store proved one of the largest; and the six 
 yagers, as well as their dark-skinned attendants, that 
 everarig enjoyed a " surfeit of sweets.*
 
 CONCLU8IOH. 
 
 CHAPTER LTI. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 AND a surfeit of sweets it proved. Better for IheB 
 had they never found that bees' nest, or had left its con- 
 tents to the bird and the badger. 
 
 In less than an hour from the time they had eaten the 
 honey, the whole camp was in a state of the greatest 
 alarm. Every one of the party was suffering from a 
 parched throat, a burning breast, and a loathing at the 
 stomach. The bees had been busy among the blossoms 
 of the belladonna and the flowers of the euphorbia, and 
 their honey was poison ! 
 
 It would be difficult to depict the consternation that 
 was felt in the camp. They had all .eaten of the 
 poisoned honey yagers, drivers, and all. They had all 
 eaten plentifully of it for there chanced to be plenty 
 and the absence of a vegetable diet for some da} s past 
 had sharpened their appetite for the honey. Not one 
 of them that was not ill too ill either to give help or 
 consolation to the others. 
 
 Every one believed he was poisoned, and acted 
 accordingly. Hans of all preserved most presence of 
 mind. He used all his skill in administering such 
 antidotes as he could think of. Purgatives and emetics
 
 CONCLUSION. 327 
 
 "-such as they had in their chests were freely admin- 
 istered ; and no doubt to these might be attributed the 
 saving of their lives. 
 
 Their lives were saved the crisis passed without 
 proving fatal to any of them but for days their illness 
 continued ; for days the young yagers might be seen 
 wandering about the camp, or sitting listlessly around 
 the camp-fire reduced to the thinness of skeletons, and 
 looking like the ghosts of their former selves! 
 
 So great a shock had their health received, that they 
 thought no more of continuing their expedition ; they 
 only waited for strength enough to enable them to set 
 out on their return homeward. . Arend's desire would 
 now be fulfilled he would soon look upon the lovely 
 Triiey, and listen to the cheerful music of her voice. 
 Hendrik ardent hunter though he was was equally 
 iesirous to get back, and lay his spoils at the feet of the 
 blushing Wilhelmine. Klaas and Jan longed for pud- 
 dings and sugar-plums ; and Hans, who had now made 
 a very extensive collection of the flora of the country, 
 was also willing to return 
 
 Only one the great tireless loose-boned giant, Groot 
 Willem would still have persevered, and climbed over 
 the mountains that separated them from the land of 
 elephants, buffaloes, and camelopards. Groot Willem 
 would still have gone on. nad it been possible for the 
 others to have accompanied mm. But it was not pos- 
 sible, and the big hunter-boy was obliged to turn back 
 with his companions. It was with a heavy heart that 
 he did so for he had for many yea^s entertained an 
 ardent longing to try his roer upon the huge thick 
 skinned quadrupeds that now roamed far beyond the
 
 328 CONCLUSION. 
 
 frontier of the settlements. Perhaps he faced 
 ward with the less regret, that he had hopes of making, 
 at no distant day, another expedition to the haunts of tfa 
 mighty elephant upon the banks of the lovely Limpjpc. 
 
 This hope consoled Groot Willem, as he mounted his 
 huge horse, and rode after the wagons that were already 
 inspanned and treking down the valley. 
 
 Day by day, as the young yagers travelled homewards, 
 they grew stronger and stronger ; and when they had 
 reached the Graaf Reinet, the effects of the poisoned 
 honey had entirely disappeared so that all six arrived 
 home " safe and sound." 
 
 I need not tell you that a warm welcome awaited 
 them in the paternal mansions of Van Wyk and Von 
 Bloom. I need not tell how lovely looked Truey, and 
 how sweetly blushed Wilhelmine ; nor need I describe 
 the splendid " vrolykeid " that was given at which all 
 the rich boors of the country were present to celebrate 
 the return of 
 
 THE YOUNG YAGERS."
 
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