It is not quite correct to say that they stood upon the summit. They
had reached the top of the hill, but still above them rose the
steeple-like rock which they had observed from the plain, and whose odd
appearance had allured them to the spot.
A singular rock it was, rising full thirty feet above the summit of the
mountain. Its sides were nearly vertical, but scored and seamed as if
the rain had worn its surface into furrows. It gradually narrowed
upward, until it ended in a point not four inches in diameter; but along
its sides from top to bottom similar points stood up; so that the whole
structure--if we may call it so--bore a strong resemblance to a Gothic
turret, rising in the midst of many others that stood out from its base
and along its sides.
It appeared inaccessible to any other creature than a cat, a monkey, or
a winged bird; and of course not one of the party thought of such a
thing as climbing it. That would have been a perilous undertaking.
After they had satisfied themselves in gazing at this singular
geological phenomenon, they commenced moving around its base to the
opposite side. It was not so easy to get round it, as huge sharp
boulders covered the whole scarp of the hill around its base, and they
had either to mount over these, or push themselves through the narrow
interstices between.
Before they had got quite round, however, an object came under their
eyes that caused them to halt, and remain for some time in an attitude
of observation.
About half-way down the hill rested a rock of vast dimensions, whose
sharp angular top rose higher than those around, and commanded the view
of a broad space of the mountain-side. Upon the top of this rock was
perched a very large bird--full as large as a turkey-cock. Its plumage
was of a deep black colour, except over the back, where there was a
patch as white as snow covering the shoulders. The feathers upon the
legs reached to the very toes, and were of brown colour. The toes
appearing beneath were of a bright yellow.
The general outline of its form--the abrupt curving of the beak--the
full-rounded tail--the strong broad wings, and the feathered legs
looking as though the bird wore _trowsers_--were all characteristic
points that told its species.
"An eagle!" exclaimed the hunters as soon as they saw it.
It was an eagle, and one of the largest of its kind. It was the great
vulture-eagle of Verreaux, (_Aquila Verreauxii_). This bird no doubt it
was that Klaas and Jan had caught a glimpse of as they approached the
mountain.
It was scarce two hundred yards from the boys, and although they had
been making a considerable noise while passing over the rocks, it had
not heard them, and still sat without noticing their proximity. That
would have been strange for a bird so shy as an eagle; but it was
accounted for by the fact that its attention at the moment seemed to be
taken up with something else. This was evident from the attitude in
which it sat, or rather stood, with claws firmly clenched upon the edge
of the rock, and neck stretched forward and downward. It was evidently
eyeing some object below, in which it took a deep interest.
Its back was turned upon the hunters, and offered a fair mark; but it
was far beyond point-blank range of any of their guns, except perhaps
the roer. Groot Willem, however, might have reached it, but at such a
distance and with so small a mark a bullet from the smooth bore would
have been little better than a chance shot.
Groot Willem was about to try it, however; but Hans begged of him to
hold his fire a little longer, so that they might watch the movements of
the eagle--which, from its odd attitude, was evidently meditating to
surprise some victim below.
It was not long before the victim was also in sight--appearing suddenly
upon a little terrace, some twenty or thirty yards farther down the
mountain. It was a small quadruped, of a greyish brown colour, darker
above, and of lighter tint beneath. It had the look of a rabbit, though
considerably larger than one, thicker in the body, and without the long
ears. It stood, moreover, not so high on its legs, and these appeared
much bent as it walked. Like the rabbit, its hair was of a thick woolly
nature, though long scattered silky hairs rose above the general surface
of its furry coat it was entirely without a tail; and the four claws of
its fore feet were _not_ claws, but nails resembling little hoofs? On
the hind-feet it had but three toes; the inside one of each ending in a
regular claw.
Of course, these peculiarities were not noticed by the spectators at the
moment, as the little quadruped was beyond the reach of such minute
observation. They were communicated afterwards by Hans, who knew the
animal well.
Altogether it was by no means an interesting animal to look at
externally; yet in its internal structure it was one of the most
interesting upon the globe.
In that small round woolly creature, timid as a mouse--now making abrupt
runs across the little platform--now stopping short in its career, to
nibble a leaf of some plant, or to look suspiciously around--in that
insignificant quadruped the young yagers beheld a near relative of the
big brutal rhinoceros! Yes; though without any horn upon its snout, and
without the naked skin--the teeth, the skull, the ribs, the hoof-like
toes, the whole internal structure of the animal in question, prove it
to be a rhinoceros!--a regular pachyderm! So says Frederick Cuvier.
"What a wonderful triumph," said Hans, "the closet naturalists have had
in this discovery! `What a triumph of anatomy,' says M. Cuvier, `that
proves this supposed rodent to be a rhinoceros!' In my opinion it is
rather a proof of the weakness of M. Cuvier's anatomic theories; for
here is a creature, with all the _teeth_ of a rhinoceros, and all the
_manners_ of a rabbit!
"Instead of the bold brutal nature of the rhinoceros--rushing out
without provocation, attacking and butting at whatever comes in its
way--here we have a shy timid creature, that takes to flight on the
slightest suspicion of danger, and seems to be frightened at its very
shadow. Why, it affords the most absolute proof of the uncertainty of
the _teeth_ and _bones_ as a guide to the mode of life of any animal.
In all animated nature a better illustration could not be found of the
fallacy of M. Cuvier's arguments than this same _hyrax_--for so the
quadruped is called--and, despite the opinion of the celebrated French
savant, I still believe the little creature to be more of a rabbit than
a rhinoceros." So spoke Hans Von Bloom. It was bold language for so
young a naturalist!
It is true there was much reason in his holding to the opinion that the
hyrax is no pachyderm. Its habits are so unlike those of the
thick-skinned brutes--its mode of life so different from that of a
rhinoceros.
Its habits are very simple, and can be told in a few words. It is
gregarious; dwells upon the mountains, and in the most rocky places;
makes its den in the crevices and caves that are found there, steals
forth to eat or bask in the sun; runs timidly and with a shy suspicious
look; feeds on grass and leaves of plants, and is fond of those of
aromatic properties; can escape from most carnivorous quadrupeds, but is
successfully preyed upon by birds, and especially by the vulture-eagle--
the species already described. Such is the history of the "_daman_" or
"_hyrax_," "dassie," "rock-badger," or "rock-rabbit"--by all of which
names the creature has figured in books.
It is one of those anomalies that cannot be classed with other
quadrupeds, and has been constituted a genus of itself. Two species are
known, differing very slightly from each other. They are _Hyrax
Syriacus_ and _Capensis_, or the Syrian and Cape hyrax.
One of the most interesting facts in relation to this quadruped is, that
the Syrian species is most probably the "coney" of the Scriptures. In
fact, the description can apply to no other existing animal.
I have said that all this knowledge was obtained afterwards from the
philosopher, Hans.
Just then there was no time for such observations; for the hyrax, with
two or three of its companions, had scarce appeared from the platform,
when the eagle shot down from the rock, and swooped right into the midst
of them.
The boys heard the shrill cry of the little quadrupeds, as the shadowy
wings covered them; and expected to see the eagle rise with one of them
in its talons.
They were disappointed, however, as well as the bird itself. The
"rock-rabbits" had been too quick for their well-known and dreaded
enemy; and before the eagle was able to put a claw into their wool, they
had all scattered, and rushed within the safe shelter of their dark
caves.
Of course, they were not coming out any more that afternoon. The eagle
seemed to have this very idea; for, rising into the air with a scream of
disappointment, it flew off towards the other side of the mountain.