When morning dawned, the first thought of the hunters was to contrive
some plan for getting the young giraffe to the camp.
Willem expressed surprise at his companions having come out without
their rheims. The reason given by Hendrik for their having done so was
that they did not think they would require them; besides, they had left
the camp in a hurry.
They did not anticipate much difficulty in taking back the giraffe. It
appeared so weak and submissive that their only fear was of its not
being able to make the journey.
For all that, without ropes or lines to lead it, there might be
difficulty enough. It might take a notion to resist, or get clear out
of their clutches.
"I must have a line of some kind," said Willem, "even if I have to cut a
thong from the hide of one of your horses. I have been standing, or
rather sitting, sentry over this creature too long, and have travelled
too far for the sake of finding it, to allow any chance of its escaping
now. It is but half what we want; and if any of you had been worthy the
name of hunter, you would have taken the other half."
A few hundred yards from the spot grew a copse of young trees,--slender
saplings they were, forming a miniature forest, such as one would like
to see when in search of a fishing-rod.
Going to this grove, Willem selected out of it two long poles, each
having a fork at the end.
One of these was placed on each side of the captive giraffe, in such a
manner that the forked ends embraced its neck, and when so tied, by
twisting the twigs together, formed a sort of neck halter.
By this means the creature could be led along, one going on each side of
it.
Arend grasped the end of one of the poles and Hendrik the other.
So long had the young camelopard been kept in a prostrate position, that
it was with some difficulty it managed to get to its feet; and, after
doing so, its efforts to escape were feeble, and easily defeated.
At each attempt to turn to one side, its head was instantly hauled to
the other, and it soon discovered that it was no less a captive on its
feet than when fast confined in the recumbent attitude.
Finding its struggles ineffectual, it soon discontinued them, and
resigned itself to the will of its captors.
Mounting their horses, Arend and Hendrik held the poles by which the
giraffe was to be guided, while Willem and Congo walked on behind. In
this manner the captive was conducted towards the camp.
More than once during their journey Willem reiterated the reproach
already made to his companions. If they had only shown as much energy
and determination as he had done, they might now have been ready to take
the road for Graaf Reinet, with a triumphant prospect before them.
"I would have followed this giraffe," said he, "until my horse dropped
dead, and then I would have followed it on foot until it became mine. I
had determined not to be defeated and survive the defeat. Ah! had any
of you three shown a particle of the same resolution, we might have
abandoned our cattle with pleasure, and started on a straight line for
home by daybreak to-morrow morning."
Arend and Hendrik allowed the elated hunter to continue his reproaches
uninterrupted. They were quite satisfied with their own conduct; and
each had the delicacy to refrain from telling Willem, that, without
their assistance, his capture of the young giraffe would only have
resulted in the misfortune of losing his horse, and suffering many other
inconveniences.
They knew that Willem, when free from the intoxication caused by the
partial fulfilment of a long-cherished design, would not claim any
greater share in the credit of the expedition than he was really
entitled to. Moreover, his joy at having captured the giraffe was
somewhat damped by the fear that his horse had gone off for good.
He was confident that, should he again get possession of him, another
giraffe could be taken. With the herd that had been hunted, he had seen
two other young ones. They might be found a second time; but there
would be a difficulty in running them down, unless he was once more on
the back of his tried steed.
By noon the camp was reached, when about the first thing that came under
the eyes of Groot Willem was a young giraffe standing tied to a tree!
Beside it was his own horse!
The horse had been brought back by the Makololo, who found him straying
over the plain as they were themselves returning to the camp. The
presence both of the horse and the Makololo was at once explained.
Their original intention to visit the country of the white men had been
abandoned by them on account of the loss of their cattle. Without
these, they had no means of making the long journey that still lay
before them. There seemed nothing for them but to go back to their home
to Macora. But they were unwilling to set off without taking leave of
their late travelling-companions; and, as they were at the same time
afraid of being blamed for the loss of the white hunters' cattle, as
well as their own, they passed the night in great distress, uncertain as
to what they should do. Just as morning dawned, they descried Willem's
horse grazing close to the spot where they were encamped. They had last
seen the great hunter on this horse's back, going in pursuit of the
giraffes; and they were anxious to learn why the animal was now
separated from its rider. They knew that it was greatly prized by its
owner, and they believed that, by taking it back to him, they would be
forgiven for their neglect.
In this, they were not mistaken. About the other animal--the young
giraffe that stood tied to a tree--Groot Willem neither asked nor
received any explanation. He held his tongue about that. He had been
over thirty hours without tasting food, and now without uttering another
word, he set to work upon a dinner that Swartboy had cooked for him,
and, after showing that his discomfiture had not robbed him of his
appetite, he stretched himself along the grass and fell into a sound
sleep.
The hunters had now but one more task to perform before taking the
direct route towards Graaf Reinet. They must make an effort to recover
the horses and cattle of which they had been despoiled. The sooner this
work should be commenced, the better the prospect of success; but Groot
Willem, on being awakened and consulted, declared that he would do
nothing but sleep for the next twelve hours; and, saying this, he once
more sank into a snoring slumber. As the others could take no important
step without him, they were compelled to leave the matter over, till
such time as the great hunter should awake, which was not before
breakfast-time of the following day.