After all, the young yagers were not to be disappointed in a chase. If
the fox of South Africa gives but poor sport, there are plenty of other
animals, neither 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 so 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 interesting aspect. A very park appeared
this plain, with wide open pastures between its groves and coppices,
many of which were of such regular forms that one would have fancied
they had been planted to adorn it.
So lordly a park, such rich pastures, could not be untenanted; nor were
they. There was no mansion, no house, not a trace of a human being to
be seen, but for all that the plain had its denizens. Many forms could
be distinguished upon or around it, both of winged and wingless
creatures. Birds and quadrupeds of rare and beautiful kinds made this
fair scene their home.
Over its greensward stalks the "secretary," 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 he, 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
bustard, 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 ear, 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.
Some trees carry the pensile nests of the weaver-bird, (_Ploceus_),
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 socia_).
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-groves.
In 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, scouring the plain in circles--
droves of quaggas, or of the still more beautiful "zebra of the plains,"
(_Equus Burchellii_), 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 they
would have, if it were only a brush after springboks, for these, they
knew, they could find at any time. They were aware of the existence of
the fine plain--the edge of which came up within a few hundred yards of
their camp. They had pastured their cattle there 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 did 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, nor springboks, nor hartebeests,
nor any of the common 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 gently backward and ringed to within
six inches of their tips. Their general colour was ashy grey, tinged
with raven-blue--the blue tint being caused by the deep black colour of
the skin shining through the hair.
Although none of the party had ever seen such antelopes 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 fired a gun or
mounted a horse, but as these remembered having heard their fathers
talking of this animal--of its blue colour, of its long curving horns,
of its fine outline of form, as well as bold fierce character--they
recognised 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 his opinion. The species
was the blauw-bok, the _Aigocerus leucophea_ of modern systematists.
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 Great Orange River.
First, there is the "waterbuck," (_Aigocerus ellipsiprymnus_), which
stands nearly four feet in height, is of bluish grey colour, 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 barbatus_), nearly as
large as the waterbuck, but distinguished by a long beard and mane. The
character of the waterbuck for fierceness and daring also belongs to the
takhaitze, and both are swift runners. The latter, however, 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," (_Aigocerus 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
British sportsman. It is one of the largest of the race, standing four
feet six inches in height, and carrying a pair of scimitar-shaped horns
over three feet in length. Its colour 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 antelopes of this
group are of common occurrence even in their native haunts. None of the
species can be called gregarious--that is, they do not appear in large
herds, like the springboks, gnoos, hartebeests, or bonteboks--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 of the
blauw-boks, which promised them a glorious run.