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Updated: June 22, 2025
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."
We've a couple of peacocks here, and Totty will get one of them ready sooner than the aard-vark." "As for that," rejoined Hans, "I don't care which. I'm just in the condition to eat anything even a steak of tough old quagga, if I had it; but I think it would be no harm if Swartboy that is, if you're not too tired, old Swart would just peel the skin off this gentleman."
Indeed, one of the boys was obliged to be at their head nearly all the time. A "leader" is used to accompany most teams of oxen in South Africa. But those of the field-cornet had been accustomed to draw the wagon without one, ever since the Hottentot servants fan away; and Swartboy had driven many miles with no other help than his long whip.
The poles supporting the screen of earth were rotten with age, and the whole scaffolding threatened to come down as the wild dogs scampered over it. "If there should be a shower of dogs," thought Swartboy, "I hope that fool Congo will have his share of it." This hope was immediately realised, for the next instant he heard the howling of one of the animals evidently down in the adjoining pit.
Like most of his race, Swartboy was more cunning than brave though he was far from being a coward. Still he was by no means inclined at that moment to go up to the door of the kraal. The angry growls from within would have made a stouter heart than Swartboy's quail with fear. In this dilemma Hendrik came to his relief.
It was far from being the first flight of locusts Swartboy had seen, and many a bushel of them had he eaten. It was natural to suppose, therefore, that he knew a good deal about them. He knew not whence they came. That was a point about which Swartboy had never troubled himself. The learned Hans offered an explanation of their origin. "They come from the desert," said he.
He had read of a fatal insect that frequented some districts in the interior of South Africa, and the first sight of these flies aroused his suspicions that it might be they. He communicated his thoughts to the others, who at once shared his alarm. "Call Swartboy hither!" said Von Bloom. The Bushman was called, and soon made his appearance, coming up from the spring.
In a moment he emerged from the bush, and, seeing Swartboy upon the open ground, charged furiously after the flying Bushman. Hendrik who had stood his ground, and in the shelter of the bushes was not perceived delivered his shot as the animal passed him. His ball told upon the shoulder, but it only served to increase the elephant's fury.
While Swartboy, assisted by Hendrik, was catching up the twelve yoke-oxen, and attaching them to the disselboom and trektow of the wagon, the "baas" himself, aided by Hans, Totty, and also by Truey and little Jan, was loading up the furniture and implements. This was not a difficult task.
But it was not, for before advancing so far in his work, Swartboy had taken measures to prevent that. He had stayed the tree by fastening the rheim to its upper branches on the opposite side, and then carrying the rope to the limbs of another tree that stood out in that direction.
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