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Updated: May 7, 2025
The giraffes had become tame, and there was no reason why they should not be easily retaken. But just as the sun had mounted up to the meridian, this hope was dispelled by the appearance of Willem and his comrade coming back empty-handed. "You have been unsuccessful," said Hans, as they rode up. "Well, never mind; there is still a hope left us, and that is, to get safely home."
Hendrik gave them a brief history of their course during the last twenty-four hours; and, in doing so, mentioned the object of their expedition, the search after the giraffes. "If that's what you've been after," said the man who spoke proper English, "perhaps we can assist you a little. From what you tell me, I presume you must have been staying at the kraal of Mynheer Van Ormon.
I'm starving. Mynheer Van Ormon, we must again trespass on your hospitality." "So you shall, mine poys, mit pleasure all around; put who told you I vas Mynheer Van Ormon?" "The same two men who told us about the giraffes. They were looking for some stray horses." "Dat mush be mine neighbour Cloots, who live fifteen miles to the east of thish place. They say they see the cameels.
Under these circumstances, Miss Truey and Miss Wilhelmina were prevailed upon to appoint an early day for making the two cornets the happiest of men. The day after the double marriage, Willem and Hans started for Cape Town, taking with them the giraffes and the ivory they had brought from the north.
Groot Willem was anxious to secure the name, fame, and reward, now depending on the delivery of the two young giraffes to the Dutch Consul. Hendrik and Arend wished to return to their sweethearts; and Hans was longing to under take his intended voyage to Europe. Under these circumstances, a proposal from Willem, that they should make a move, was well received by all.
Of all the animals of the country, the elephants and giraffes alone were taller than those reeds which resemble bamboos, those herbs, the stalks of which measure an inch in diameter. The agents must know the country marvelously well, not to be lost in these jungles. Each day the caravan set out at daybreak, and only halted at midday for an hour.
I was also deprived of the assistance of the aggageers, whom I had left at the Royan. Rhinoceros and giraffes were very numerous throughout this country; but the ground was most unfavourable for riding.
The plaster casts comprised images of saints, elephants, giraffes, cherubs with little wings tinted in pink and yellow, a tall Madonna and Child, a bust of George Washington, a Napoleon, a grinning Voltaire, an angel with a pink trumpet and an evil-looking Tom Paine.
When the chase had been continued for about four miles, and the horses began to show signs of exhaustion, the pace of the giraffes was also observed to have become slower. They, also, were distressed by the rate at which they had been moving. "One of them is mine," shouted Willem, as he spurred forward in a final charge.
He furthermore declared he had, on one occasion, seen a California elephant, "at a great distance," but it was "very shy," and he would not permit himself to doubt that California giraffes existed somewhere in the neighborhood of the "tall trees." I was anxious to get a chance of exposing to Adams his weak point, and of showing him the absurdity of telling such ridiculous stories.
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