The young yagers resolved to stay a couple of days longer by the
fountain in the mokhala grove. Their object was to wait until the flesh
of the blue-buck--which is excellent eating--should be reduced to
biltong. They did not know what chance of game there might be upon
their route for the next five or six days. The way was new to all of
them--even to the guide Congo, who had only a general knowledge of that
part of the country. They were heading for the Molopo River, and Congo
knew how to find that well enough; but their route through the
interlying country he knew nothing about. There might be plenty of
game--there might be a great scarcity of it--he could not tell.
Of course neither could Swartboy. The hunters were now out of the
Bushman country and into a territory inhabited by poor tribes of the
great Bechuana family. Swartboy's native district lay to the southwest,
in the direction of Namaqualand. He had never been so far east in his
life, and of course was quite a stranger to the route they were
pursuing.
Under these circumstances Hans, who from his age and superior wisdom was
looked upon as a sort of leader, recommended that they should not go
forward until they had properly jerked the flesh of the blue-buck.
That, with what remained of the gemsbok, would secure them against
falling short of provision, should game prove scarce. They would only
have to tarry a couple of days longer. That would be sufficient under
such a strong sun to dry the biltong properly, whereas if packed without
being well cured, the hot weather would spoil it directly, and they
might be left in the lurch without a morsel of meat.
Their stay at their present camp was, therefore, prolonged for two days,
during which time the flesh of the blue-buck, with the remaining parts
of that of the oryx, hanging in red festoons from the branches of the
acacias, became dark, stiff, and hard to the touch, and was then in a
condition to keep for several weeks if required.
But the young yagers did not remain constantly by the camp during all
the intervening time. The biltong required no watching. It had been
hung upon branches, sufficiently high to place it beyond the reach of
prowling jackals and hyenas at night, and during the day there was
always some one by the camp to keep off the vultures.
On the first of these two days the young yagers mounted, all six, and
rode off to the grassy plains, where they had hunted the blue-buck, in
hopes of falling in either with this or some other species of antelope.
They were not disappointed. On arriving at the plain, they perceived
that it was occupied--not by one, but by several kinds of creatures.
Three species of animals were seen upon it. Far out was a herd of small
creatures, whose lyre-shaped horns, and yellow dun bodies, told that
they were springboks,--a fact made plain by their strange behaviour,--by
individuals of the herd now and then bounding up into the air, and
throwing open the marsupial folding of skin over their croups, and
displaying the long snow-white hair that lines that singular pouch.
Not far from these, and occasionally mixing among them, was a drove of
larger animals, whose singular colour and markings could not be
mistaken. They were _dauws_, or, in the clumsy language of the closet
naturalists, "Burchell's zebras," (_Equus Burchellii_). It has been
already stated that this species differs from the true zebra in several
respects. Its ground colour is light sienna, while that of the zebra is
nearly white. The stripes upon the former are dark brown, while those
of the latter are pure black; but the most characteristic difference in
the markings is, that in the true zebra the stripes continue in rings
down the legs to the very hoofs, while in the dauw the legs are white.
The ears and tail of the zebra are more asinine than those of the dauw,
while the tail of the latter is much the longer, as indeed is the body
of the animal.
Both are beautiful creatures--perhaps the most beautiful quadrupeds in
the world--a fine horse always excepted. But in point of beauty the
true zebra certainly excels the "Burchell." They are very different in
their habits--the zebra being a mountain-dwelling animal, while the dauw
is strictly a denizen of the open plains, in places similar to those
frequented by the quagga. Although it never herds with the latter, in
habits it resembles their species more than it does the zebra.
Observation of this fact by the boor hunters has led to the name among
these people of "bonte quagga," (painted quagga.)
The third kind of animals upon the plain was a very remarkable species;
so odd in form and movements were they, that no one who had once seen
either them, or a picture of them, could afterwards fail to recognise
them. The young yagers had never set eyes upon them before, but they
had all seen a kindred species, which, except in colour and a few minor
details, is very like them. They had all seen the "wildebeest"
or "gnoo," and this enabled them at once to recognise the
"blauw-wildebeest," or "brindled gnoo," for such they were.
They differ from the common wildebeest in being larger, somewhat heavier
in form, scarcely so well shaped about the head and neck--the latter not
curving as in the common species--more shaggy in the mane, the
nose-tuft, and the long hair on the throat and breast. In colour they
are quite different, being of a dirty bluish tint, variegated with
irregular stripes, or "brindles." Hence their trivial names of "blauw"
wildebeest and "brindled" gnoo.
The two kinds, "gnoo" and "brindled gnoo," are never found on the same
plains; but give place to each other. The range of the latter species
extends farthest to the north. They are scarcely ever found alone, but
generally accompanied by droves of the dauw; (Burchell's zebra or bonte
quagga); and, what is a singular fact, the common species is rarely
seen, except in company with the common quagga. Although neither of
these keep company with their own congeners they yet live socially with
one another, both also herding at times with springboks, hartebeests,
and ostriches. A singular and interesting sight it is to see the gnoos,
antelopes, and wild asses, curveting and galloping over the plain, now
wheeling in circles, now halting in line, anon charging from point to
point, like troops of cavalry in a review, while the ostriches stalk
about or stand motionless, their tall forms rising high above the rest,
as if they were the officers and generals-in-chief of the spectacle!
Such a picture is often presented upon the karoo plains of Southern
Africa.
As soon as the young yagers came in sight of the plain, they pulled up
their horses, and sat for some moments regarding the lively scene that
was exhibited upon its surface. The springboks were browsing, though
some individuals were constantly in the air bounding up as if for their
own amusement. The dauws were trooping about, sometimes halting, and
sometimes galloping from point to point, as if in play or alarmed by
some intruder. The brindled gnoos, that is the cows, were browsing in a
herd of thirty or forty in number, while the bulls stood around in small
groups of three or four individuals, not moving, but apparently keeping
a solemn watch over the others, every now and then snorting loudly, and
uttering a sharp and peculiar cry, as if intended for some voice of
warning or instruction. For hours the old bulls will hold this
position, keeping apart from the rest, each little knot of them
apparently conversing among themselves, while acting as sentries to the
general herd of dauws, antelopes, and their own wives.
After a few minutes' deliberation, the hunters agreed to make their
attack upon the herd of gnoos. They formed no plan. Stalking would be
of little use, as they believed they would be able to ride down the
wildebeest, and get a running shot; and it was to these they designed to
give all their attention. The dauws--beautiful creatures as they were--
were of no use as _game_, and it was game the party wanted. The
springboks did not interest them; but the flesh of the wildebeest would
have been a treat to all. It is excellent eating, resembling beef
rather than venison--for the gnoo is in reality more of an ox than an
antelope.
"Roast beef for dinner!" was the word given by Hendrik, and all the rest
echoing this, they charged down upon the wildebeest herd.
They made no attempt at concealing their approach, but dashed directly
forward upon the game, the buck-dogs--now only five in number--in the
advance, with Hendrik's favourite heading.
In an instant the herds upon the plain were in motion--each species
going its own way. The dauws galloped off in a clump, holding a
straight course over the plain; the springboks scattering in every
direction, as is their wont; while the gnoos, first uniting into an
irregular drove, ran forward some distance in a straight line, and then
some broke to right and left, wheeled round, and came scouring back to
the rear of the hunters!
In a few minutes the whole appearance of the plain was changed. The
zebras had gone out of sight, so, too, the springboks. The gnoos alone
remained under the view of the hunters. These were not to be seen in
any particular direction. They were everywhere around--some running off
before the dogs--some wheeling around to the rear--some galloping past
within two or three hundred yards, and then charging forward so near to
the horses, that some of the riders thought they meant to attack them.
With their fierce little eyes, their sharp curving horns, and black
shaggy frontlets, they appeared most formidable enemies, and indeed they
_are_ so when disposed to make an attack.
When wounded they are dangerous even to a mounted hunter, but one afoot
would stand little chance of escape from their frenzied and impetuous
charge. One of the oddest circumstances observed by the young yagers
was, that the bulls, instead of galloping right away, lingered in the
rear of the retreating herd,--now wheeling round to gaze upon the
hunters, snorting as they stood--now making a dash forward out of their
way, and sometimes two of them facing each other, and engaging in
combat! And these combats did not appear to be "shams." On the
contrary, the old bulls seemed to butt each other in good earnest,
rushing at one another from a distance, dropping upon their knees, and
bringing their heads together, till their horns, and the thick bony
helmet-like plates that covered their fronts, cracked loudly against
each other.
These battles appeared to be real; but, notwithstanding the earnestness
of the combatants, they always gave up, and parted from the ground
before the hunters could get within range.
Notwithstanding their carelessness about running away altogether, it was
not so easy a matter to get a fair shot at one; and our yagers might
have returned to camp empty-handed had it not been for their buck-dogs.
These, however, chanced to stick together, and having selected an old
bull, soon separated him from the rest, and drove him at full speed
across the plain. Hendrik and Groot Willem spurred after, and all the
others followed, though falling to the rear as the chase continued.
Before the bull had gone two miles, the dogs began to pester him, and
finding his heels failing he turned suddenly upon his canine pursuers,
rushing at one and then another, as they came up, and knocking them over
with his horns.
It is possible he would have bayed all _five_ successfully; but the
approach of the hunters caused him fresh alarm, and he broke bay, and
once more stretched himself at full speed across the plain. Another
mile would have brought him into some low timber, and he appeared to
make for that. He kept ahead of the dogs for awhile longer, but when
within about a hundred yards of the thicket, his wind again failed him;
and as the buck-dogs were taking an occasional pull at his flanks, he
became desperate and once more stood to bay.
The dogs soon ran in, but for awhile he was able to beat off all five,
striking then right and left. At length some of them seized him by the
throat, while the others clung to his tail and hind-quarters, and the
struggle would no doubt have ended soon by their dragging the bull to
the earth; but Hendrik and Groot Willem rode up and ended it sooner by
sending a pair of bullets through his ribs.