Next morning, the hunters were early in the saddle, and off for the
karroo. For some distance, they rode along the bank of the stream which
was fringed by a growth of willow-trees. This course was taken to get
to windward of the ostriches, in the hope of having a shot at them as
they ran up the wind. Had their object been to stalk any other species
of animal, they would have advanced upon it from the leeward.
Before they had gone a great way over the karroo, five huge bipeds were
seen about a mile away. They were ostriches. They were apparently
coming towards them with great speed, and the four hunters extended
their line to cut off an advance which the stupid bird mistakes for a
retreat. They were moving in long rapid strides; and, as they drew
nearer, the hunters saw that, to obtain a good shot, they must gallop
farther to the north. The birds were going in a curved line that would
carry them away from the place where the hunters expected to have met
them. To get within sure range, these saw that they would have a sharp
ride for it, and their horses were instantly put to their full speed.
Though the ostriches appeared to be running in a straight line from the
place where they had started, such was not the case. They were curving
around just sufficiently to avoid the hunters, and yet get to the
windward of them. Their pace being much faster than that of the horses,
they succeeded in crossing the course pursued by the latter, about three
hundred yards in advance of them.
Willem and Hendrik hardly taking time to pull up, dismounted and fired.
But not with the desired result. The ostriches were at too great a
distance, and ran on untouched. Knowing that a stern chase after them
would prove a failure, the hunters came to a stop.
Several other ostriches were afterwards seen; but, as on the open
karroo, it was found impossible to approach them; and our adventurers
were compelled to return to their camp without taking back a single
feather. Their want of success was a source of great gratification to
Swartboy. He could kill ostriches afoot, while four white men, although
well-armed and mounted on fast horses, had failed to do so. The Bushman
could not avoid making an exhibition of his conceit, and he proceeded to
inform his masters that if they were very anxious to obtain
ostrich-feathers, he could easily put them in the way. As none of the
hunters were inclined to put Swartboy's abilities for ostrich-hunting to
a further test they acknowledged their defeat and resumed the
interrupted journey.
After leaving the karroo, the hunters entered into a very beautiful and
fertile country possessed by small tribes of peaceful Bechuanas, who had
long been allowed to remain undisturbed by their warlike neighbours, for
the reason that they lived at a great distance from any hostile tribe.
It was a country Willem was reluctant to pass rapidly through; for,
after leaving it behind, he knew there would be very little hope of
again seeing giraffes.
Along the way, little groves of the _cameel-doorn_ were occasionally
seen; but, for all this, no camelopards.
At a village, passed by them on the route, they were informed that
giraffes sometimes visited the neighbourhood, and that there was no time
of the year, but that, with a little trouble, some of these animals
might be found within a day's distance.
This information, Hendrik, Arend, and Hans heard rather with regret:
they knew that it was likely to cause another impediment to their
homeward journey.
In this they were not deceived. Willem stoutly declared that he would
proceed no further for the present; at the same time, telling the others
that, if they were impatient to reach Graaf Reinet, they might go on
without him.
This, all three would willingly have done, had they dared. But they
knew that, on reaching home, they would be unable to give any
satisfactory explanation for deserting their companion. People would
inquire why they had not remained to assist the great hunter in his
praiseworthy enterprise. What answer could they give?
There was both honour and profit to be derived by delivering two young
giraffes to the Dutch consul, and they would not have been unwilling to
share in both, if the thing could have been conveniently accomplished.
For all that, they would have preferred returning home without further
delay, but for the determination of Willem to remain.
The four Makololo were also a little chafed at the delay. They were
anxious to see something of the wonders of civilisation, but their
impatience was not openly expressed. Before setting out, they had been
instructed by Macora in all things to be guided by Willem; and they had
no intention of disobeying.
Congo was the only one who was wholly indifferent to the future. His
home was with Groot Willem, and he seemed to have no more concern or
remembrance for Graaf Reinet than his dog Spoor'em.
Choosing a convenient place for their encampment within a few miles of
the Bechuana village, the youths resolved to stop for a while, and make
a final effort at capturing the camelopards. Should they succeed in
finding these animals, yet fail in taking any of them alive, Groot
Willem promised that he would make no further opposition to returning
home.
As all knew that the promise would be faithfully kept, they consented to
stay for a few days without showing any signs of reluctance.
Crossing the country with a general course to the south-west, ran a
stream, along which was a belt of timber, or rather a series of
disconnected copses. The trees were mostly mimosas. In every copse
could be seen some trees with torn branches, and twigs cut off, an
evidence that they had been browsed upon by the camelopards; while the
spoor of these animals appeared in many places along the edge of the
stream.
As the damage done to the mimosas, and the tracks in the mud, showed
signs of having been recently made, our hunters came to the conclusion
that giraffes could not be far off.
"Something whispers me," said Willem, "that we shall succeed at last. I
left home with the intention of never returning without two young
giraffes; and I have not yet relinquished the hope of seeing Graaf
Reinet again. We will make no more pits; but let me once more set my
eyes on a giraffe and, mark me, it is mine, if I have to run it down and
capture it with my own hands."
"That is not possible," remarked Hendrik. "True, you might catch a wild
elephant; but what would you do with it? or, rather, what would it do
with you?"
"That question I shall take into serious consideration after I've caught
my giraffe," answered Willem. "I can only say now, that, if I meet with
one, I'm not going to part with it alive,--not if I have to exchange my
horse for it."
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Three days were passed in riding about the country; and, during that
time, the hunters saw not a single giraffe. In this respect, they were
more unfortunate than Swartboy and the Makololo, who remained at the
camp. On the evening of the third day which the hunters had spent in
beating some groves up the river, Swartboy reported, on their return,
that two giraffes had passed within sight of the camp. He described
them as an aged couple that had, no doubt, been often hunted. To these
ancient inhabitants of the mimosa forest, the Bushman ascribed the spoor
and other signs of giraffes that had been seen. He had compared the
tracks of the animals that trotted past the camp, with those on the
banks of the stream, and he pronounced both to have been made by the
same feet.
Swartboy further informed his young masters that he could have captured
the two animals he had seen, but did not, because they were old, and not
worth the trouble.
If Hendrik, Arend, and Hans were inclined to place but little reliance
on this boast of the Bushman, they gave to the rest of his story more
than a fair share of credence. To them it was positive evidence that
any longer stay in the neighbourhood would be simply a waste of time.
Willem saw that they were once more inclined on defeating his plans, but
it only strengthened him in the resolution to continue a little longer
in the place.
Each of the four had a cherished project he was anxious to see
fulfilled. Willem's wish was to obtain two young giraffes; and his
three companions found that there was no chance of his relinquishing his
design,--at least, not for many days.
Two more were passed upon the spot, and then our young adventurers, who,
although young in years, were old in friendship, came very near parting
company. At this crisis, a spectacle was presented to their eyes that
had the happy effect of once more uniting them for a common purpose.