United States or Algeria ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The two men who were addressing the half-unconscious Congo were the same two Willem, Arend, and Hendrik had met the day before, the men who had directed them to search to the south. One was the brother of Mynheer Van Ormon, the other was his brother-in-law.
"Well! what news?" asked James, as he came within speaking distance. "It ish all right. Dey don't know nothing of what's up. Mine bruder have constant watch over their camp. They be in von quandary, and will soon go home." "Is Van Ormon sure that they hadn't any communication with this Kaffir?" asked James. "Yesh! they had. One of them came to the house, and saw this fella yesterday.
"Yes," said Hans; "and they had the assistance of Mynheer Van Ormon in doing it. How easy it is to understand his profuse hospitality now. We have indeed been duped." The belief that the giraffes had been stolen was now universal, and our adventurers were only too glad to think so. They much preferred that this should be the case than to think the animals had strayed.
On seeing within the kraal of their kinsman Mynheer Van Ormon, the very animals they had sacrificed so much time in vainly searching for, they could not resist the opportunity of appropriating them. Their idea was, to conceal the animals for a few weeks among the hills, until those to whom they properly belonged, giving them up as lost, should return to their homes.
The moment Willem set eyes upon the man's face, he saw that there was something amiss. He observed a strong expression of displeasure, accompanied with a glance of uneasiness. "I have come back to have a chat with my old servant," said Willem. "He has been with me for so many years that I don't like to part with him on slight grounds." "Ver goot," answered Van Ormon.
There would be a far better chance of recovering them. It is easy to believe what we most desire, and all agreed that the property had been surreptitiously taken from the shed. Without saying another word, Groot Willem turned his horse upon his tracks, and rode back towards the kraal of Mynheer Van Ormon. The boer met him outside the enclosures, apparently surprised to see him return.
But for the messenger who had gone back to the house of Mynheer Van Ormon, Willem and Hendrik might have long wandered amongst the hills without seeing anything to reward them for their journey. As it was, they saw that which caused Willem a thrill of joy, so intense he could scarce restrain himself from crying out.
"Kill him!" replied the other, who was the brother of Van Ormon. "He mus never got to de white mens. Dey would come and rob us all." "Very likely. Some people are bad enough to do anything; but I have half killed this fellow already, you may do your share, and finish him, if you like." "No Shames; as you pegins this little job, it is besh you finish it yourself."
Before proceeding twenty paces on his way, he was startled by the report of a gun. The sound was followed by a howl of pain, which he knew came from the hound Spoor'em. At the same instant, trotting out from some bushes on the brow of the hill, he saw two mounted men. One glance told him they were the men he had seen the evening before it the house of Van Ormon.
We must look for him, but it will not do for all of us to go together. Hendrik, will you come with me?" Hendrik readily responded to the invitation. The two mounted their horses and rode off towards the residence of Van Ormon. From the behaviour of Congo when Willem had last seen him, the latter was quite certain that his visits at the kraal were not desired.
Word Of The Day