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Updated: June 23, 2025
Swartboy was hardly clear of the bushes before the elephant emerged also; and as the former struck out for the mokhala trees, he was scarce six steps ahead of his pursuer. Swartboy's object was to get to the grove, in the midst of which were several trees of large size. One of these he proposed climbing as that seemed his only chance for safety.
As none of the hunters were inclined to put Swartboy's abilities for ostrich-hunting to a further test they acknowledged their defeat and resumed the interrupted journey.
By early dawn they were at it again, busy as bees; and the pit progressed so rapidly that before they stopped to take breakfast Von Bloom could scarce see out of it standing on his toes, and the crown of Swartboy's woolly head was nearly two feet below the surface. A little more digging would do.
But for all that, the presence of the brutes was very offensive, as not a bit of meat not a hide, nor rheim, nor any article of leather could be left below without their getting their teeth upon it, and chewing it up. Quarters of venison they had frequently stolen, and they had eaten up the leathern part of Swartboy's saddle, and rendered it quite useless for a while.
"Unless we can get some drink for our horses," said Willem, turning to his companions, "we must keep on. If we stop much longer here the animals will die." "Wait, baas Willem," said Swartboy; "the heart of the Bechuana grow bigger soon. He like de Bushman." Swartboy's prophecy proved correct.
This plan is often adopted under similar circumstances; but the field-cornet had not thought of it: and as but few locusts fell in the kraals where the animals had been confined, they had therefore been without food since the previous day. The oxen in particular showed symptoms of weakness, and drew the wagon sluggishly; so that Swartboy's voice and long whip were kept in constant action.
Well might he, for in Swartboy's early days he had often been compelled to subsist for weeks, and even months, on roots alone!
But for this and Swartboy's knowledge, double the time might have been wasted in the operation. The ivory having been extracted and put away in a safe place, the "cutting up" then commenced in earnest. Von Bloom and Swartboy were the "baas-butchers," while Hans and Hendrik played the part of "swabs."
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