Groot Willem was, for the time, cured of the desire to seek further
adventures in the chase. He had come to the place for the express
purpose of procuring two young giraffes, and taking them safely to the
Dutch consul. The experience of the last few days had shown him that
his object would not be better accomplished by thus exposing himself to
the chances of dying some horrible death. Guided by this dearly-bought
belief he was contented to amuse himself by joining the Makololo in the
construction of the trap. In this work he was assisted by the other
three, all of whom were now thinking more of home than of giraffes, or
anything else.
The trap was to consist of two high fences converging upon each other,
so as to form a figure somewhat in shape like the letter V. They were
to be about a mile and a half long; and at the point of convergence a
space was to be left open, wide enough to permit of the largest animal
to pass through. Beyond the angle, or where it should have been, had
the fences met, was dug a pit about forty feet long, fifteen wide, and
eight deep. Heavy trunks of trees were laid along its edges, slightly
projecting over them. The intention was, that any animal driven through
would be precipitated into the pit from which escape would be
impossible. Near it the fences were made of great strength and height,
to resist any attempt at leaping over them, or pressing them down.
The pit was covered with reeds and rushes; and no means were neglected
to make the hopo as effective as possible for the purpose required of
it.
Working with a will,--both white hunters and black Makololo,--the hopo
was soon pronounced complete, and ready to receive the game; and the
next day was appointed to carry out the objects of its construction. A
mimosa forest lay in front of it,--for on this account had the situation
been selected. This forest was to be "beaten" by the men of Macora, and
all its four-footed denizens driven into the trap.
Early in the morning the whole tribe, with the white hunters and their
dogs, mustered for the grand drive. They were divided into two parties.
Willem, Hendrik, and Macora led one to the left, while Hans, Arend, and
a principal warrior and hunter of the Makololo conducted the other to
the right, thus taking the mimosa forest on both flanks. The area to be
surrounded was about four miles in length and three in breadth.
On arriving at its northern edge, the great cover was entered by the
beaters along with most of the dogs. The white hunters, who were
mounted on their own horses, and some of the Makololo who rode upon
oxen, kept along the borders, to prevent the startled game from breaking
cover at the sides. For a time the beaters and their canine companions
appeared vying with each other, as to which could make the greatest
noise; and the effect of their united efforts was soon observed by those
riding outside the timber.
Before they had proceeded half a mile from the point of separation, they
had sufficient evidence that the repose of many species of wild beasts
had been disturbed. Mingled with the loud trumpeting of elephants were
the sounds of crashing branches, the roar of lions, the shrieks of
baboons, and the wild, horribly human, laughter of hyenas.
Those riding outside had been instructed by Macora to keep a little in
the rear of the line of beaters; and the wisdom of this counsel was soon
made clear to Groot Willem and Hendrik. A herd of elephants broke from
the bushes, but a few yards ahead of them, and were allowed to shamble
off over the plain unmolested. They were not wanted in the trap.
Some zebras also broke from the cover soon after and they also were
permitted to escape scot free.
When not far from the termination of the drive, at that side where
Willem and Hendrik were guarding, a grand drove of buffaloes rushed into
the open ground. Fortunately the party were at some distance from the
timber at the time, and also a little to the rear of the rushing herd,
else they would have had some difficulty to escape from being run over
and trampled to death. Several of the buffaloes left the forest nearly
opposite to them, and in joining the main drove they took a course that
caused the hunters some hard riding to get out of the way of their
horns.
Immediately after the fortunate escape of the buffaloes,--fortunate for
the hunters themselves,--the eyes of Groot Willem were blest with the
sight of the objects he most desired to see. A small herd of seven or
eight giraffes, in escaping from the skirmishers, noisily advancing
among the trees, shot forth into the open ground. They were near the
funnel-shaped extremity of the trap. If once outside the fence they
would get off; and the toil of two weeks would all have been undertaken
to no purpose. Striking the spurs into the sides of his horse, Groot
Willem, followed by Hendrik, galloped forward to cut off their retreat.
Never did Willem remember a moment of more intense excitement.
Two young giraffes were seen with the herd. Were they to escape the
enclosure of the _hopo_? A few seconds would decide. The herd and the
hunters were now moving in two lines at an angle to each other, their
courses rapidly converging. This was soon observed by the timid
giraffes; and, unconscious of the danger that threatened them, they
turned and were soon within the wide and far-extended jaws of the hopo.
Had they continued in their first course only a few paces farther, they
would have been safe from the fate that awaited them; but, as man
himself often does, in seeking safety they took the direction leading to
danger.
The beaters had now reached the termination of the mimosa forest; and
the parties from both sides were now coming together to the open ground.
Within the two walls of the hopo they could see before them a living,
moving mass, composed of many varieties of animals; among them they saw
with regret two elephants and a rhinoceros.
Towering far above the heads of all others were those of the giraffes,
which seemed striving to be the foremost in precipitating themselves
into the pit.
The mass of moving bodies became more dense, as the space in which they
moved grew contracted by the enclosing fences.
When about a quarter of a mile from the pit, the sagacious elephants
turned, and, seeing an army of men and dogs advancing towards them,
broke through the fence and were free. Several zebras--much to the
delight of the hunters--followed through the breach they had made. The
camelopards were too far ahead to avail themselves of this means of
escape. They were doomed to captivity.
The Makololo were all mad with the excitement of the chase. Uttering
discordant ear-piercing yells, they rushed onward, impatient to witness
the struggles of the multitudes of victims certain to be precipitated
into a hole, towards which they were rushing heedless of all else but
fear. Every demoniac passion existing in earthly life appeared to be
fully aroused within the souls of their pursuers. They seemed frantic
with rage at the escape of the elephants, though these would undoubtedly
have defeated the object for which the hopo had been erected. Their
only object seemed to be the destruction of animal life, the shedding of
blood, the sight of agony.