The Giraffe Hunters

Front matter

VOL. I. LONDON! PRINTED BY WOODFALL AND KINDEB, MILFORD LANE, STRAND, W.C. BS CAPTAIN MAINE EEID. AUTHOR OP "THE MF1E RANOEIIS," "THE SCALP HDXTERS," ETC. ETC. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 13, tiREAT MAELBOROCGH STREET, 18flT. Tht right •)/ TruwliiUan u reierrtsi. CHAPTEE I. ARRIVAL AT THE PROMISED LAND. In that land of which we have so many records of early and high civilization, and also such strong evidences of present bar barism — the land of which we know so much and so little — the land where Nature exhibits some of her most wonderful crea tions and greatest contrasts, and where she is also prolific in the great forms of animal and vegetable life — there, my young reader, let us wander once more. VOL. i. b Let us return to Africa, and encounter new scenes in the company of old friends.

On the banks of the Limpopo brightly blazes a hunter's fire, around which the reader may behold three distinct circles of animated beings. The largest is composed of horses, the second of dogs, and the lesser, or inner one, of young men, whom many of my readers wdl recognize as old acquaintances. I have but to mention the names of Hans and Hendrick Von Bloom, Groot Willem, and Arend Van Wyk, to make known that " The Young Yagers " are again on a hunting expedition. In the one in which we now encounter them, aU the parties are not inspired by the same hopes and desires. The quiet and learned Hans Von Bloom, like many colonial youths, is affected with the desire of visiting the home of his fore fathers. He wishes to go to Europe, for the purpose of making some practical use of the knowledge acquired, and the floral coUection made, while a " Bush Boy " and a " Young Yager."

But, before doing so, he desires to en large his knowledge of natural history by making one more expedition to a part of South Africa he has not yet visited. He knows that extensive regions of his native land, containing large rivers and immense forests, and abounding in a vast varies}, of rare plants, lie between the rivers Limpopo and Zambesi ; and before visiting Europe he wishes to extend his botanical researches in that direction. His desire to make this new excursion b amid the African wilds is not stronger than that of Groot Willem, who, ever since his return from their last expedition, six months before, has been anxious to undertake another, in quest of game such as he has not yet encountered. Our readers will search in vain around the camp-fire for little Jan and Klaas. Their parents would not consent to their going so far from home, on an excursion promising so many hardships and so much danger.

Chapter II. On The Limpopo

During the first night spent upon the Limpopo, our adventurers had good reason for believing that they were in the neighbourhood of several kinds of game they were anxious to fall in with. Their repose was disturbed by a combi nation of sounds, in which they could distinguish the roar of the lion, the trumpet-like notes of the elephant, mingled with the voices of some creatures they could not remember having previously heard. Several hours of that day had been passed in searching for a place to cross the river, — one where the banks were low on each side, and the stream not too deep. This had not been found until the sun was low down upon the horizon. By the time they had got safety over, twilight was fast thickening into darkness, and all but Congo were unwilling to pro ceed farther that night.

The Kaffir suggested that they should go at least half a mile up or down the river, ahd Groot Willem seconded the proposal, although he had no other reason for doing1 so than a blind belief in the judgment of his attendant, whether it was based upon wisdom or instinct. In the end, Congo's suggestion had been adopted, and the sounds that disturbed the slumbers of the camp were heard at some distance, proceeding from the place where they had crossed the river. " Now can you understand why Congo advised us to come here ? " asked Groot WHlem, as they listened to the hideous noises that were depriving them of sleep. No," was the reply of his companions. " Well, it was because the place where we crossed was the watering-place for all the animals in the neighbourhood." " That is so, baas Willem," said Congo, confirming the statement of his master.

" But we have not come a thousand miles for the sake of keeping out of the way of those animals, have we?" asked the hunter Hendrick. "No," answered WiUem; "we came here to seek them, not to have them seek us. Our horses want rest, whether we do or not." Here ended further conversation for the night, for the hunters, becoming accus tomed to the chorus of the wild creatures, took no further notice of it, and one after another feU asleep. Morning dawned upon a scene of sur passing beauty. They were in a broad valley covered with magnificent trees, among which were many gigantic baobabs {Adansonia digitatd). Wild date trees were growing in little clumps, while the floral carpet, spread in brilliant pattern over the valley, was ob served by Hans with an air of peculiar satisfaction. He had reached a new field for the pursuit of his studies, and bright dreams were passing gently through his mind, — dreams that anticipated new discoveries in the botanical world, which might make his name known among the savants of Europe.

Before any of his companions were moving, Groot Willem, accompanied by Congo, stole forth to take a, look at the surrounding country. They directed their course down the river. On reaching the place where they had crossed it, they chanced upon a tableau that even a hunter, who is supposed to take delight in the destruction of animals, could not look upon without unpleasant emotions. Within the space of a hundred yards were lying five dead antelopes, of a species Willem had never seen before. Feeding on the carcasses were several hyenas. On the approach of the hunters, they slowly moved away, each laughing like a madman who has just committed some horrible atrocity. By the " spoor " seen upon the river banks, it was evident that both elephants and lions had visited the place during the night.

While making these and other recon noissances, Groot WiUem was joined by Hans, who had already commenced his favourite study by making an acquaintance with the floral treasures in his immediate locality. On getting up with Groot WiUem, the VOL. I. c attention of Hans was at once directed to an examination of the mutilated antelopes, which he pronounced to be elands, but believed them to be of a new and undescribed variety of this animal. They were elands ; but each was marked with smaU white stripes across the body, in this respect resembling " koodoos." After a short examination of the spoor, Congo asserted that a troop of elands had first visited the watering-place, and that while they were there, four bull elephants, also in search of water, had charged with great speed upon the antelopes.

Three or four lions had also joined in the strife, in which the only victims had been the unfortunate elands. " I think we are in a place where we had better make a regular kraal, and stop for a few days," suggested Groot WUlem, on his return to the camp. " There is plenty of feed for the horses, and we have proof that the drift where we crossed is a great resort for all kinds of game." " I'm of the same opinion," assented Hendrick ; but I don't wish to encamp quite so close to the crossing. We had better move some distance off ; then we shall not prevent game from coming to the water, or be ourselves hindered from getting sleep. Don't you think we'd do weU to move a little farther up the river r " Yes, yes ! " was the unanimous answer. It was therefore decided that search should be made for another camping ground, where they could buUd themselves a proper enclosure, or " kraal." c After partaking of their first breakfast upon the Limpopo, Groot Willem, Hans, and Hendrick mounted their horses and rode off up stream, accompanied by the whole pack of dogs ; leaving Arend with Swartboy and Congo to take care of the camp.

For nearly three miles the young hun ters rode along the bank of the river without finding any spot where access to the water could be readily obtained. The banks were high and steep, and therefore but little visited by such animals as they wished to hunt. At this point, the features of the land scape began to change — presenting an appearance more to their satisfaction. Light timber, such as they would require for the construction of a stockade, was growing near the river ; which was no longer inaccessible, though its banks ap peared but little frequented by game. " I think this place wUl suit admirably," said Groot WiUem. " We are only half an hour's ride from the drift, and probably we may find good hunting ground farther up stream." " Venlikely," rejoined Hendrick ; " but, before taking too much trouble to build ourselves a big kraal, we had better be sure about what sort of game is to be got here."

" You are right about that," answered Willem ; "we must take care to find out whether there are hippopotami and giraffes. We cannot go home without a pair of the latter. Our friends would be sorely disappointed, and some f know would have a good laugh at us." " And you, for one, would deserve it," reiterated Hans. " Remember how you ridiculed the other -hunters who returned unsuccessful." Having selected a place for the kraal, should they decide on staying awhile in the neighbourhood, the young hunters proceeded farther up the river, for the purpose of learning something more of the hunting ground, before finally determining to construct the enclosure.

Chapter III

A TWIN TRAP. Not long after the departure of Groot WiUem and his companions, Arend, looking towards a thicket about half a mile from the river, perceived a smaU herd of antelopes quietly browsing upon the plain. Mounting his horse, he rode off with the intention of bagging one of them, to serve for the day's dinner. Having ridden to the leeward of the TOE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. herd, and getting near them, he saw that they were of the species known as " duy ker," or diver. Near them was a small " motte" of the Nierium Oleander — a shrub about twelve feet high — loaded with beautiful blossoms. Under the cover of these bushes, he rode up close enough to the antelopes to insure a good shot; and picking out one of the largest of the herd, he fired. All the antelopes but one rushed to the edge of the thicket, made a grand leap, and dived out of sight over the tops of the bushes — thus affording a beautiful illustration of that peculiarity to which they are indebted for their name of " divers."

Riding up to the one that had remained behind, and which was that at which he had fired, the young hunter made sure that it was dead. He then trotted back to camp ; and despatched Congo and the Bushman to bring it in. They soon returned with the carcass, which they proceeded to skin and make ready for the spit. WhUe thus engaged, Swartboy appeared to notice something out upon the plain. " Look yonner, baas Arend," said he. " WeU, what is it, Swart ?" " You see da pack horse dar ? He gone too much off from camp." Arend turned and looked in the direction in which the Bushman was pointing. One of the horses, which had strayed from its companions, was now more than half a mde off, and was wandering onward. THE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. " AU right, Swart. You go on with your cooking. I'll ride after it myself, and drive it in."

Arend, again mounting his horse, trotted off in the direction of the animal that had strayed. For cooking the antelope, Congo and Swartboy saw the necessity of providing themselves with some water ; and each taking a vessel for that purpose, they set out for the drift — that being the nearest point where they could obtain it. They kept along the river bank ; and just before reaching a place where they could descend to the water, Congo, who was in advance, suddenly disap peared ! He had walked into a carefully-concealed pit, dug for the purpose of catching hippopotami or elephants. The hole was about nine feet deep ; and, after being astonished by dropping into it, the Kaffir was nearly bhnded by the sand, dust, and other materials that had formed the covering of the pit. Congo was too well acquainted with this South African device for killing large game to be anyways disconcerted by what had happened ; and after becoming convinced that he was uninjured by the faU, he turned his glance upward, expecting assist ance from his companion.

But Swartboy's aid could not just then be given. The Bushman, amused by the ludicrous incident that had befallen his rival, was TOE GIRAFFE HUNTERS. determined to enjoy the fun for a little longer. Uttering a wild shout of laughter, that was a tolerable imitation of an enraged hyena, Swartboy seemed transported into a heaven of unadulterated joy. Earth appeared hardly able to hold him, as he leaped and danced around the edge of the pit. Never had his microscopic mind been so intensely delighted; but the manifes tations of that delight were more speedily terminated than commenced ; for in the midst of his eccentric capers he, too, suddenly disappeared under ground, as if swaUowed up by an earthquake ! His misfortune was similar to that which had befallen his companion. Two pitfaUs had been constructed close together; and Swartboy now occupied the second!

It is a common practice among the natives of South Africa to trap the ele phant in these twin pitfaUs — as the animals, too hastily avoiding the one, run the risk of dropping into the other. Swartboy and the Kaffir had unexpect edly found a place where this plan had been adopted — and, much to their dis comfiture, -without the success anticipated by those who had taken the trouble to contrive it. The cavity into which Congo had faUen, contained about twro feet of mud on the bottom. The sides were perpendicular, and of a soapy kind of clay ; so that his attempts at climbing out proved altogether unsuccessful, thus greatly increas- THE GFRAFFE HUNTERS. ing the chagrin of his unphilosopbic mind. He had heard the Bushman's screams of delight; and the sounds had contri buted nothing to reconcile him to the mischance that had befallen him.

Sever 1 minutes passed, and he heard nothing of Swartboy. He was not surprised at the Bushman having been amused, as well as gratified, by his mischance. Still he expected that in time he would lend assistance, and pull him out of the pit. But as this assistance was not given and as Swartboy, not satisfied with laugh ing at his misfortune, appeared also to have gone off and left him to his fate, the Kaffir became frantic with ra_re Several more minutes passed, which to Congo seemed hours, and stiU nothing was seen or heard of his companion. Had Swartboy returned to the camp ? If so, why had not Arend, on ascer taining what was wrong, hastened to the relief of his faithful servant? As some addition to the discomforts of the place, the pit contained many reptiles and insects that had in some manner obtained admittance, and, like himself, coidd not escape.

There were toads, frogs, large ants caUed " soldiers," and other creatures, whose company he had no relish to keep. In vain he called "Swartboy" and " Baas Arend." No one came to his call. The strong vindictive spirit of his race was soon roused to the pitch of fury ; and liberty only became desired for one object; that was revenge — revenge on the man who, instead of releasing him from his imprisonment, only exulted in its con tinuance. The Bushman had not been injured in tailing into the pit, as may be supposed. After fully comprehending the manner in which his amusement had been so sud denly brought to a termination, his first thought was to extricate himself, without asking assistance from the man who had furnished him with the fun. His pride would be greatly mortified should the Kaffir get out of his pit, and find him in the other : that would be a humUiating revanche.

In silence, therefore, he listened to Congo's cries for assistance ; while at the same time doing aU in his power to get himself out. He tried to pull up a sharp-pointed stake that stood in the bottom of the pit. This piece of timber had been placed there for the purpose of impaling and kUling the hippopotamus or elephant that should drop down upon it ; and had the Bushman succeeded in taking it from the place where it had been planted, he might have used it in working his way to the surface of the earth. This object, however, he was unable to accomplish ; and his mind became diverted to another idea. Swartboy had a system of logic, not wholly peculiar to himself, by which he was enabled to discover that there must be VOL. I. D some first cause for his being in a place from which he could not escape.

That cause was no other than Congo Had the Kaffir not faUen into a pit, Swartboy was quite certain that he would have escaped the similar calamity. He would have liberated Congo from his confinement, and perhaps sympathized with his misfortune, after the first moments of his mirth had been exhausted; but now, on being entrapped himself, he was only conscious that some one was to blame for the disagreeable incident, and was unable to admit that this some one was himself. The mishap had befallen him in company with the Kaffir. It was that individual's misfortunes that had conduced to his own -. and this was another reason why he now submitted to his captivity in profound sUence. Unlike Congo, he did not experience the soul - harrowing thought of being neglected ; and could therefore endure his confinement with some degree of patience, not possible to his companion.

Moreover, he had the hope of speedy dehverance, which to Congo was denied. He knew that Arend would soon return to the camp with the stray horse, and miss them. The water-vessel would also be missed ; and a search would be made for it in the right direction. No doubt Arend, seeing that the bucket was taken away from the camp, and finding that they did not return, would come towards the drift — the only place d where water could be dipped up. In doing so, he must pass within sight of the pits. With this calculation, therefore, Swart boy could reconcile himself to patience and silence, whereas the Kaffir had no such consolatory data to build upon.

Chapter IV. In The Pits

As time passed on, however, and Swart boy saw that the sun was descending, and that the shades of night would soon be gathering over the river, his hopes began to sink within him. He could not understand why the young hunter had not long ago come to release them. Groot Willem, Hendrick, and Hans should have returned by that time ; and the four should have made an effectual search for their missing servants. He had remained silent for a long time under very peculiar circumstances. But. sUence now became unbearable, and he was seized with a sudden desire to express his dissatisfaction at the manner fate had been dealing out events, a desire to be no longer resisted. The sUence was at last broken by his caUing out, — " Congo ! you ole fool, where are you ? What for don't you go home ? " On the Kaffir's ear the voice fell duU and distant, and yet he immediately un derstood whence it came.

Like himself, the Bushman was in a living grave ! That explained his neglect to render the long-desired assistance. " Lor, Swart ! why, I waitin' for you," answered Congo, for the first time since his imprisonment attempting a smUe. " I don't want to go to the camp and leave you behind me." " You think a big sight too much of yourself !" rejoined the Bushman. "Who wants to be near such a black ole fool as you. You may go back to the camp, and when you get there, jus' teU baas Hendrick that Swartboy wants to see him. I've got something particular to teU him." " Very weU," answered the Kaffir, be coming more reconcUed to his position. " What for you want see baas Hendrick? I'll teU him what you want, without making him come here ; — what shall I say? In answer to this question, Swartboy made a long speech, in which the Kaffir was requested to report himself a fool for. having faUen into a pit — that he had shown himself more stupid than the sea cows that had apparently shunned the trap for years.

On being requested to explain how one was more stupid than the other, both having met with the same mischance, Swartboy went on to prove that his misfortune was wholly owing to the fault of Congo, by the Kaffir having committed the first folly of allowing himself to be entrapped. Nothing, to the Bushman's mind, could be more clear than that Congo's stupidity in falling] into the first pit, had led to his downfaU into the second. This was now a source of much conso lation to him, and the verbal expression of his wrongs enabled him for a while to feel rather happy at the fine opportunity afforded for revUing his rival. The amusement, however, could not prevent his thoughts from returning to the positive fact that he was imprisoned — that in place of passing the day in cooking and eating duyker, he had been fasting and fretting in a dark, dirty pit, in the companionship of loathsome reptUes.

His mind now expanded under the exercise of a startled imagination. He became apprehensive. What if some accident should have occurred to Arend, and prevented his return to the camp ? What if Groot WiUem 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 ? What if they had met a tribe of the savage inhabitants of the country, and been .killed, or taken prisoners ? These conjectures, and a thousand others, flitted through the brain of the Bushman, aU guiding to the conclusion, that should either of them prove correct, he would first have to eat the reptiles in the pit, and then starve. It was no consolation to him to think that his rival in the other pit would have to submit to a simUar fate.

His unpleasant reveries were interrupted by a short angry bark, and, looking up to the opening through which he had de scended, he beheld the countenance of a savage creature — the "wUde honden" of the Dutch boers. Uttering another and a different cry, the animal started back ; and from the sounds now heard overhead, the Bushman was certain it was accompanied by many others of its kind. An instinctive fear of man led them to retreat to a short distance ; but they found out that " the wicked flee when no man pursueth," and they returned. They were hungry, and had the sense to know that the enemy they had discovered was, for some reason, unable to molest them. Approaching nearer, and more near, they again gathered around the pits, and saw that food was ready for them at the bottom of both. They could contemplate their victims unharmed, and this made them courageous enough to think of an attack.

The human voice and the gaze of human eyes had lost their power, and the pack of wUd hounds, counting several score, began to show signs of taking some steps towards satisfying their hunger. They commenced scratching and tearing away the covering of the pits, sending down showers of dust, sand, and grass, that nearly suffocated the two men im prisoned beneath. 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 wiU have his share of it." This hope was immediately realized, for the .next instant he heard the howling of one of the animals that had evidently faUen into the adjoining pit. It had gone down, but, fortunately for Congo, not without injuring itseU in a way that he himself had but narrowly escaped.

The dog had got transfixed on the sharp-pointed stake planted in the centre of the pit ; and was now hanging on it in horrible agony, unable to get clear ! Without lying down in the mud, the Kaffir was unable to keep his face more than twelve inches from the open jaws of the dog, that in its struggles spun round as on a pivot; and Congo had to press against the side of the pit to keep out of the reach of the fierce creature yelping close to his ears. Swartboy could distinguish the utter ances of this dog from those of its com panions above, and the interpretation he gave to them was, that a fierce combat was taking place between it and the Kaffir. The jealousy and ill-will so often exhi bited by the Bushman, was not so strong as he had himself believed. His intense anxiety to know which was getting the best of the fight, added to the fear that Congo was being torn to pieces, told him that his friendship for the Kaffir far outweighed the animosity he fancied himself to have felt.

The fiendish yeUs of the dogs, the un pleasant situation in which he was placed, and the uncertainty of the time he was to endure it, were weU nigh driving him dis tracted, when just then the wilde honden appeared to be beating a retreat — the only one remaining being that in the pit with Congo. What was driving them away ? Could assistance be at hand ? Breathlessly the Bushman stood listening. i

Chapter V. Arend Lost

In the afternoon, when Groot Willem, Hans, and Hendrick returned to the camp, they found it deserted. Several jackals reluctantly skulked off as they drew near, and on riding up to the spot from which those creatures had retired, they saw the clean-picked bones of an antelope. The camp must have been deserted for several hours. " What does this mean ? " exclaimed Groot Willem. "What has become of Arend?" " I don't know," answered Hendrick ; "it is strange that Swart and Cong are not here to teU us." Something unusual had certainly hap pened ; yet as each glanced anxiously round the place, there appeared nothing to explain the mystery. " What shaU we do ? " asked WUlem, in a tone that displayed much concern. " Wait," answered Hans ; " we can do nothing more." Two or three objects were at this moment [[observed, which fixed their at tention.

They were out on the plain, nearly a mile off. They appeared to be horses — their own pack-animals ; and VOL. I. E Hendrick and Groot WiUem started off towards them, to drive them back to the camp. They were absent nearly an hour before they succeeded in turning the horses and driving them towards the camp. As they passed near the drift on their return, they rode towards the river to water the animals they were riding. On approaching the bank, several native dogs that had been yeUing in a clump, were seen to scatter and retreat across the plain. The horsemen thought little of this, but rode on into the river, and permitted their horses to chink. WhUe quietly seated in their saddles, Hendrick fancied he heard some strange sounds. " Listen ! " said he ; "I hear something queer. What is it ? " " One of the honden," answered Willem.

"Where?" This question neither for a moment could answer, until Groot Willem observed one of the pits, from the edge of which the dogs appeared to have retreated. " Yonder's a pit-trap ! " he exclaimed, "and I believe there's a dog got into it. Well, I shaU give it a shot, and put the creature out of its misery." " Do so," replied Hendrick ; " I hate the creature as much as any other noxious vermin, but it would be cruel to let one starve to death in that way —kill it." Willem rode up to the pits and dis mounted. Neither of them had as yet e spoken loud enough to be heard in the pits, and the two men down below were at this time silent, the dog alone con tinuing its cries of agony. The only thing Willem saw on gazing down the hole, was the wild hound still hanging on the stake ; and taking aim at one of its eyes, he fired.