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Updated: May 8, 2025
"We have had about enough of this sort of travelling," remarked Hendrik, "and it's quite time that we began to think of ourselves, and not quite so much of our property." "What do you wish?" asked Willem. "Abandon the pack-oxen?" "We shall probably have to do so in the end. It appears as if the time had come. We had better save our horses and ourselves and let the others go."
"Why should I kill my horse for the sake of gazing a little longer on a creature I cannot take?" Though conscious of the folly he was committing, Willem could not bring himself to abandon the chase. By his side trotted the young giraffe, beautiful in colour, graceful in form, and to his mind priceless in value. But how was it to become his?
"That question I shall take into serious consideration after I've caught my giraffe," answered Willem. "I can only say now, that, if I meet with one, I'm not going to part with it alive, not if I have to exchange my horse for it." Three days were passed in riding about the country; and, during that time, the hunters saw not a single giraffe.
Satisfied with the result of his perseverance, Willem was quite indifferent as to whether his conduct had been foolish or otherwise. Congo did not seem the least surprised at the good fortune of his master; probably for the reason that he had the utmost confidence in his wisdom, and never for a moment had doubted that the giraffe would be discovered.
The amount of damage was at length declared by the plaintiff, who was at the same time acting as judge. "Tell them," said he to the interpreter, "that all I require, by way of compensation, will be their own horses along with their guns and ammunition." "What!" exclaimed Groot Willem, jumping to his feet in rage, "Give them my horse and roer? No, not for all the horses in Africa."
Following a course that would place him in advance of the herd, Willem, who did not wish to frighten the buffaloes by charging rapidly upon them, was soon overtaken by the others. The buffaloes more than two hundred in number were all moving in one direction, but very slowly, as they were engaged in grazing.
Both Willem and Hendrik had heard, seen, and read enough of the African tribes who use poisoned spears and darts, to feel something of Congo's alarm. They were not cowards, but they saw before them several men carrying weapons more deadly at short distance than their own fire-arms.
His brother John, who was injured to the extent of a scratch on the back and a severe bruise on the ribs by the rough treatment he had received, arose and slowly followed his example, and Groot Willem, growling in a tone that would have done credit to the lion himself, and losing for the moment the usual wisdom of his countrymen in such encounters, strode savagely into the jungle, followed by Sandy Black and Jerry, the latter of whom appeared to labour under a sort of frenzied courage which urged him on to deeds of desperate valour.
They were desirous to learn whether the kraal was ever visited by traders, a class of people they were anxious to meet, though Groot Willem was more anxious to know whether giraffes ever visited the neighbourhood. Congo was called, and for some time he and the chief were heard talking in loud tones, and both at the same time; neither exhibiting the least inclination to listen to one another!
"Ask them where we are being taken, Congo," said Hendrik. The Kaffir spoke to one of the natives who was near him, but only received a grunt in reply. "He don't know where we go," said Congo, interpreting the gruff answer to his question, "but I know." "Where?" "We go to die." "Congo!" exclaimed Willem, "ask after Sindo. He may do something to save us, or he may not.
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