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As soon as Swartboy recovered the control over his tongue, he ejaculated in a hurried whisper: "Pas op! My footy! he wicked! I know de ole bull duyvel." By this volley of queer phrases, Swartboy meant to caution his master against rashly approaching the elephant, as he knew him to be one of the wicked sort in short, a "rogue."
While casting about to find it in a place where the bush was thin and straggling, Swartboy suddenly ran off to one side, calling to the others to follow him. Von Bloom and Hendrik went after to see what the Bushman was about. They thought he had seen an elephant, and both, considerably excited, had already pulled the covers off their guns. There was no elephant, however.
Swartboy further affirmed, that such elephant-roads usually led to water; and by the very easiest and shortest routes as if they had been planned and laid open by the skill of an engineer showing the rare instinct or sagacity of these animals. The hunters, therefore, expected soon to arrive at some watering-place; but it was equally probable the spoor might be leading them from the water.
Swartboy was delighted. When Macora was told that they had that morning killed eight hippopotami, he became roused to a state of tremendous excitement. Two of his attendants were despatched immediately to his village, to convey the pleasing intelligence to his people, that an unlimited amount of their favourite food was waiting for them.
Swartboy had ridden to one side, while Von Bloom and Hendrik took the other; and the game was now between the two parties both of which had pulled up at some distance off. The lion, after the failure of his charge, halted, and looked first at one, then at the other as if uncertain which to pursue. His appearance at this moment was terrible beyond expression. His whole fierce nature was roused.
"That is certainly promising a good deal," said the sarcastic Hendrik, "and I hope that Willem will not be too greedy in his request, but will leave something for the rest of mankind." Hans and Swartboy at this moment came up with the pack-horses; and, selecting a spot near the place where the cow had been killed, the party encamped for the night.
So they moved around the camp and did very little. Swartboy took his elephant's feet from the oven, and cleaned them; and also let down the biltongue and arranged it so as to be better exposed to the sun. Von Bloom himself shot the three remaining horses, having driven them to a good distance from the camp.
As some addition to the discomforts of the place, the pit contained many reptiles and insects that had in some manner obtained admittance, and, like himself, could not escape. There were toads, frogs, large ants called "soldiers," and other creatures whose company he had no relish to keep. In vain he called, "Swartboy!" and "Baas Arend!" No one came to his call.
One is, that I am dying of hunger, and should like a roast rib of that antelope I shot in the morning." "And so should I," said Hendrik, "but the jackals have saved us the trouble of eating that." Arend was now informed of the events that had occurred to his absence, and was highly amused at Hendrik's account of the misfortune that had befallen Swartboy and Congo.
Without stopping, he rushed on after Swartboy, believing, no doubt, that the poor Bushman was the cause of the hurts he was receiving, and the nature of which he but ill understood. It was but a few moments, from the firing of the first shot, until things took this turn.
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