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Updated: May 7, 2025
Both Willem and Hans possessed a fair share of old-fashioned Dutch philosophy, that told them no circumstances should hinder them from being merciful to the animals that had served them so long and so well. Early next morning, as the hunters passed through Graaf Reinet, on the way to their own homes, all the inhabitants of the village turned out to bid them welcome.
As the damage done to the mimosas, and the tracks in the mud, showed signs of having been recently made, our hunters came to the conclusion that giraffes could not be far off. "Something whispers me," said Willem, "that we shall succeed at last. I left home with the intention of never returning without two young giraffes; and I have not yet relinquished the hope of seeing Graaf Reinet again.
Holhousen asked permission of the governor to make an expedition with some of the farmers into the country, requiring a thousand rix-dollars to bear his expenses. The governor referred him to Mr. Wocke, the Landros of Graaf Rienet, a new colony in his way. But from the place where Mr. Holhousen lives to the Landros, Mr.
"They are just as likely to have gone in one direction as another," answered Hendrik, "and suppose we look for them in the direction of Graaf Reinet." This remark but increased Willem's despair, for it showed an unwillingness on the part of his comrade to make any farther delay on account of their misfortune.
The delays caused by his explorations had been a source of constant annoyance to the others; but as Willem had a will of his own, one, nevertheless, united with a disposition so cheerful as to be proof against any attempts at a controversy, his companions were compelled to be content with the knowledge that they were slowly progressing towards Graaf Reinet.
They had moulded a new set of balls of harder material, solder it should have been, but they had none. They chanced, however, to be in possession of what served the purpose equally well the old "plate" that had often graced the field-cornet's table in his better byegone days of the Graaf Reinet.
He desired once more to revisit the scenes where he had so long dwelt in peaceful happiness; he desired once more to establish himself among his friends and acquaintances of former days, in the picturesque district in the Graaf Reinet. Indeed, to have remained any longer in his wilderness home could have served no purpose.
A second load had remained, hidden near the nwana-tree, and this required a journey to be made for it. It was made in due time, and the remainder arrived safely at Graaf Reinet, and was there delivered to the ivory-dealers, who had already purchased it. The result was a splendid fortune in ready money. The field-cornet was once more a rich man!
This soon became too emphatic for him to resist, and the great hunter had to yield. A sort of compromise was, however, agreed upon, which was that they should go home, not on a direct course for Graaf Reinet, but through the country of the Bechuanas, crossing some districts inhabited by the Bushmen. Thence they could turn eastward and homeward.
Besides, although the cow and the quaggas were shut in strong kraals, they dreaded each night that the lions would make a seizure of one or other of these animals; and the loss of any one of them, but especially their valuable friend "old Graaf," would have been a very serious misfortune. It was resolved, therefore, to try the gun-trap upon the lions, as it had succeeded so well with the hyenas.
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