And a surfeit of sweets it proved. Better for them had they never found
that bees' nest, or had left its contents to the bird and the badger.
In less than an hour from the time they had eaten the honey, the whole
camp was in a state of the greatest alarm. Every one of the party was
suffering from a parched throat, a burning breast, and a loathing at the
stomach. The bees had been busy among the blossoms of the belladonna
and the flowers of the euphorbia, and _their honey was poison_!
It would be difficult to depict the consternation that was felt in the
camp. They had all eaten of the poisoned honey--yagers, drivers, and
all. They had all eaten plentifully of it--for there chanced to be
plenty--and the absence of a vegetable diet for some days past had
sharpened their appetite for the honey. Not one of them that was not
ill--too ill either to give help or consolation to the others.
Every one believed he was _poisoned_, and acted accordingly. Hans of
all preserved most presence of mind. He used all his skill in
administering such antidotes as he could think of. Purgatives and
emetics--such as they had in their chests--were freely administered; and
no doubt to these might be attributed the saving of their lives.
Their lives _were_ saved--the crisis passed without proving fatal to any
of them--but for days their illness continued; for days the young yagers
might be seen wandering about the camp, or sitting listlessly around the
camp-fire reduced to the thinness of skeletons, and looking like the
ghosts of their former selves!
So great a shock had their health received, that they thought no more of
continuing their expedition; they only waited for strength enough to
enable them to set out on their return homeward. Arend's desire would
now be fulfilled--he would soon look upon the lovely Truey, and listen
to the cheerful music of her voice. Hendrik--ardent hunter though he
was--was equally desirous to get back, and lay his spoils at the feet of
the blushing Wilhelmina. Klaas and Jan longed for puddings and
sugar-plums; and Hans, who had now made a very extensive collection of
the flora of the country, was also willing to return.
Only one--the great tireless loose-boned giant, Groot Willem--would
still have persevered, and climbed over the mountains that separated
them from the land of elephants, buffaloes, and camelopards. Groot
Willem would still have gone on, had it been possible for the others to
have accompanied him. But it was not possible, and the big hunter-boy
was obliged to turn back with his companions. It was with a heavy heart
that he did so--for he had for many years entertained an ardent longing
to try his roer upon the huge thick-skinned quadrupeds that now roamed
far beyond the frontier of the settlements. Perhaps he faced homeward
with the less regret, that he had hopes of making, at no distant day,
_another expedition to the haunts of the mighty elephant upon the banks
of the lovely Limpopo_.
This hope consoled Groot Willem, as he mounted his huge horse, and rode
after the wagons that were already inspanned and treking down the
valley.
Day by day, as the young yagers travelled homewards, they grew stronger
and stronger; and when they had reached the Graaf Reinet, the effects of
the poisoned honey had entirely disappeared--so that all six arrived
home "safe and sound."
I need not tell you that a warm welcome awaited them in the paternal
mansions of Van Wyk and Von Bloom. I need not tell how lovely looked
Truey, and how sweetly blushed Wilhelmina; nor need I describe the
splendid "vrolykeid" that was given--at which all the rich boors of the
country were present to celebrate the return of:
"The Young Yagers."
The End.