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Updated: May 3, 2025
They had obtained all they required; and even Groot Willem, before so enthusiastically fond of hunting, would not have turned aside to kill the finest koodoo that ever trod the plains of Africa, unless its flesh had been absolutely wanted for food. After a journey of two more weeks, Swartboy found himself in a land inhabited by many of his countrymen, the Bushmen.
Notwithstanding the large number of human beings collected upon the spot, the hyenas came close up, and, with deafening roars, threatened to make an attack. The guns of Groot Willem and Hendrik were, for a time, kept constantly cracking, and the ugly brutes at length grew more wary, betaking themselves to a safer distance.
Towards these the tracks appeared to lead in a line almost direct. The giraffe, guided by its instinct, had scented water. The horses ridden by the trackers did the same, and hastened forward to the clump of trees. There was a pool in the centre of the grove, and on its edge an animal, the sight of which drew an exclamation of joy from the lips of Groot Willem. It was the escaped camelopard.
They had been given to him by an esteemed friend, a Portuguese slave-merchant; and he declared that, in his opinion, they were the best horses in the world. No others could replace them. "Very well," said Groot Willem, when this communication had been made; "ask him what he expects us to pay." "All this ceremony is not for nothing," remarked Hendrik, while Congo was again talking to the chief.
After taking a survey of his fastenings, to see that there was no danger of their coming undone, his cruel captors made him a mocking salute; and, bidding him "good bye," strode off towards their camp. Anxiously did Groot Willem wait for the next morning and the promised visit from Congo.
"Here, you Swart and Cong!" exclaimed Arend, when he discovered that the chief was no longer in the camp, "see if any of the horses are missing. It is just possible we have been tricked by a false tale and robbed into the bargain." "By whom?" asked Groot Willem. "By your friend, the chief. He has stolen himself away, if nothing else."
The hippopotamus killed by Groot Willem and Hans was a fine specimen, a bull full-grown and with teeth and tusks large and perfect. Measuring it with the barrel of his roer, Willem pronounced it to be sixteen feet in length; and he estimated its circumference around the body at but one foot less. Leaving it where it had fallen, they rode to another part of the lagoon.
However, it had been finally fixed that a boat should put in to the Abbey steps to receive the fleeces of the sheep-shearing of the home grange, and that, rolled in one of these fleeces, the wounded knight should be brought on board the Vrow Gudule, where Groot and the women would await him, their freight being already embarked, and all ready to weigh anchor.
The usual garments worn by the prisoner were thrown on a chair by the bedside and his slippers placed before it. Madame de Groot then returned to her bed, drew the curtains close, and rang the bell.
What if some accident should have occurred to Arend, and prevented his return to the camp? What if Groot Willem and the others should have strayed, and not find their way back to the place for two or three days? He had heard of such events happening to other stupid white men, and why not to them?
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