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Updated: June 22, 2025
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.
Look into the horse-kraal, and you will there see Swartboy engaged, along with his young master Hendrik, in saddling a pair of horses. You may notice that Swartboy appears to be about thirty years old, and he is full that; but if you were to apply a measuring rule to him, you would find him not much over four feet in height!
As for Swartboy, a pair of old leathern "crackers" and a striped shirt were all the clothing he carried, beside his sheep-skin kaross. Such were the costumes of our travellers. For full twenty miles the plain was wasted bare. Not a bite could the beasts obtain, and water there was none. The sun during the day shone brightly, too brightly, for his beams were as hot as within the tropics.
It was therefore decided that search should be made for a better camping-ground, where they could build themselves a proper enclosure, or "kraal." After partaking of their first breakfast upon the Limpopo, Groot Willem, Hans, and Hendrik mounted their horses and rode off up the river, accompanied by the full pack of dogs, leaving Arend, with Swartboy and Congo, to take care of the camp.
In this respect, they were more unfortunate than Swartboy and the Makololo, who remained at the camp. On the evening of the third day which the hunters had spent in beating some groves up the river, Swartboy reported, on their return, that two giraffes had passed within sight of the camp. He described them as an aged couple that had, no doubt, been often hunted.
There was no objection to Swartboy using his bow, as that silent weapon would cause no alarm. Swartboy had been taken along to carry the axe and other implements, as well as to assist in the hunt. Of course he had brought his bow and quiver with him; and he was constantly on the watch for something at which to let fly on of his little poisoned arrows.
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."
Swartboy alleged that the one killed by the rhinoceros was of this class, else he would not have attacked the latter as he had done. There was a good deal of probability in this belief of the Bushman. Under these impressions, then, it is less to be wondered, that our hunters felt some apprehensions of danger from the game they were pursuing. The spoor grew fresher and fresher.
But he had scarce time to give utterance to his fears; for the next moment the tree gave way with a crash, and fell to the ground, bringing the Bushman down among its branches. It happened that the tree, dragged down by the elephant's trunk, fell towards the animal. Swartboy even touched the elephant's body in his descent, and slipped down over his hind-quarters.
Unfortunately Swartboy's legs had not yet cleared the circle the kaross lapped around them and the Bushman was thrown sprawling upon the plain. In a moment the active Swartboy recovered his feet, and was about to make off in a new direction. But the elephant, having discovered the deception of the kaross, had dropped it, and turned suddenly after him.
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