The last ray of daylight had fled from the valley of the Limpopo, when
Willem and Hendrik, provided with a torch and accompanied by the Kaffir
and the dog Spoor'em, again set forth to seek for their lost companion.
The animal answering to the name Spoor'em was a large Spanish
bloodhound, now led forth to perform the first duty required of him in
the expedition.
The dog, when quite young, had been brought from one of the Portuguese
settlements at the north,--purchased by Groot Willem and christened
Spoor'em by Congo.
In the long journey from Graaf Reinet, this brute had been the cause of
more trouble than all the other dogs of the pack. It had shown a strong
disinclination to endure hunger, thirst, or the fatigues of the journey;
and had often exhibited a desire to leave its new masters.
Spoor'em was now led out, in hopes that he would do some service to
compensate for the trouble he had caused.
Taking a course along the edge of the forest, that would bring them
across the track made by Arend in reaching the place where the horse had
strayed, the spoor of Arend's horse as well as the other's was
discovered.
The tracks of both were followed into the forest, along well-beaten
path, evidently made by buffaloes and other animals passing to and from
the river. This path was hedged in by a thick thorny scrub, which being
impenetrable rendered it unnecessary for some time to avail themselves
of the instincts of the hound. Congo led the way.
"Are you sure that the two horses have passed along here?" asked Willem,
addressing himself to the Kaffir.
"Yaas, Baas Willem," answered Congo. "Sure dey both go here."
Willem, turning to Hendrik, added, "I wish Arend had let the horse go to
the deuce. It was not worth following into a place like this."
After continuing through the thicket for nearly half a mile, they
reached a stretch of open ground, where there was no longer a beaten
trail, but tracks diverging in several directions. The hoof-marks of
Arend's horse were again found, and the bloodhound was unleashed and set
upon them.
Unlike most hounds, Spoor'em did not dash onward, leaving his followers
far behind. He appeared to think that it would be for the mutual
advantage of himself and his masters that they should remain near each
other. The latter, therefore, had no difficulty in keeping up with the
dog.
Believing that they should soon learn something of the fate of their
lost companion, they proceeded onward, with their voices encouraging the
hound to greater speed.
The sounds of a contest carried on by some of the wild denizens of the
neighbourhood were soon heard a few yards in advance of them. They were
sounds that the hunters had often listened to before, and therefore
could easily interpret. A lion and a pack of hyenas were quarrelling
over the dead body of some large animal. They were not fighting; for of
course the royal beast was in undisputed possession of the carcass, and
the hyenas were simply complaining in their own peculiar tones. The
angry roars of the lion, and the hideous laughter of the hyenas,
proceeded from a spot only a few yards in advance, and in the direction
Spoor'em was leading them.
The moon had risen, and by its light the searchers soon beheld the
creatures that were causing the tumult. About a dozen hyenas were
gibbering around a huge lion that lay crouched alongside a dark object
on the ground, upon which he appeared to be feeding. As the hunters
drew nearer, the hyenas retreated to some distance.
"It appears to be the carcass of a horse," whispered Hendrik.
"Yes, I am sure of it," answered Willem, "for I can see the saddle. My
God! It is Arend's horse! Where is he?"
Spoor'em had now advanced to within fifteen paces of where the lion lay,
and commenced baying a menace; as if commanding the lion to forsake his
unfinished repast. An angry growl was all the answer Spoor'em could
obtain; and the lion lay still.
"We must either kill or drive him away," said Willem. "Which shall we
try?"
"Kill him," answered Hendrik; "that will be our safest plan."
Stealing out of their saddles, Willem and Hendrik gave their horses in
charge to the Kaffir, and then proceeded to stalk. With their guns at
full cock they advanced side by side, Spoor'em sneaking along at their
heels.
They stole up within five paces of the lion, which still held its
ground. The only respect it showed to their presence was to leave off
feeding and crouch over the body of the horse, as though preparing to
spring upon them.
"Now," whispered Hendrik, "shall we fire?"
"Yes, yes!--now!"
Both pulled trigger at the same time, the two shots making but one
report.
Instinctively each threw himself from the direct line of the creature's
deadly leap. This was done at the moment of firing; and the lion,
uttering a terrific roar, launched itself towards them, and fell heavily
between the two, having leaped a distance of full twenty feet. That
effort was its last, for it was unable to rise again.
Without taking the trouble to ascertain whether the fierce brute had
been killed outright, they turned their attention to the carcass.
The horse was Arend's, but there was not the slightest trace of the
rider. Whatever had been his fate, there was no sign of his having been
killed along with his horse. There was still a hope that he had made
his escape, though the finding of the horse only added to their
apprehensions.
"Let us find out," counselled Hendrik, "whether the horse was killed
where it is now lying, or whether it has been dragged hither by the
lion."
After examining the ground, Congo declared that the horse had been
killed upon the spot, and by the lion.
This was strange enough.
On a further examination of the sign, it was found that one of the
horse's legs was entangled in the rein of the bridle. This explained
the circumstance to some extent, otherwise it would have been difficult
to understand how so swift an animal as a horse should have allowed
itself to be overtaken upon an open plain.
"So much the better," said Groot Willem. "Arend never reached this
place along with his horse."
"That's true," answered Hendrik, "and our next move will be to find out
where he parted from his saddle."
"Let us go back," said Willem, "and more carefully examine the tracks."
During this conversation, the hunters had reloaded their rifles, and now
remounted for the purpose of riding back.
"Baas Willem," suggested Congo, "let Spoor'em try 'bout here little
more."
This suggestion was adopted, and Congo, setting on the hound, proceeded
to describe a larger circle around the spot.
After reaching a part of the plain where they had not yet been, the
Kaffir called out to them to come to him.
They rode up, and were again shown the spoor of Arend's horse leading
away from where its carcass was now lying, and in the opposite direction
from the camp.
It was evident that the horse had been farther off than the spot where
its remains now rested. It had probably lost its rider beyond, and was
on its return to the camp when killed by the lion.
Once more Spoor'em started along the track, Congo keeping close to his
tail, the two horsemen riding anxiously after.
But we must return to the camp, and follow the trail of the lost hunter
by a means more sure than even the keen scent of Spoor'em.