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: : ing one end o
cured round the forelegs of the big bull.
A
The beast paused and turned its head
toward us with such a pitiful look in its
eyes that I felt sorry I had shot
t went a ie yards farther, then
Lang fell
Srea up to it and fired a
its shoulder, which put
afin.
@ others reached the lagoon, and we
lutely without fea)
It seemed cruel, ‘put we commenced fir-
f
ing at the unwieldy monster:
For an hour we continued. pouring into
the midst of the huge beasts a volley of
» leaden hail. ,
They never turned on us, but cried like
suffering human - beings.
We succeeded in Killing five of the
thick-hided creature:
“H are we going to get them out?”
asked, Schultz, who had been watching
the sport.
“The Bechuanas will find a way,” an-
swered Anderson, and he was right.
The incessant firing had attracted their
attention, and they danced when they
heard the result. .
The teeth were to be ours. The carcass
belonged to the natives.
The long canine tusks of the hippopot-
amus are very valuable. They often meas-
ure twelye or fourteen inches in length
and weigh as many pounds. They are the
purest ivory, and therefore very valuable.
The Bechuanas had h them long
ropes made of twisted strands of rhinoc-
eros hides, and began at once the work
of removal.
Three men waded into the water, bear-
the rope, This they se-
hundred natives pulled, the rope
creaked and lightened, but the animal
did not seem to
The-chiet looked along the line of men
and watched the working of their
muscles. ‘ ~
If'a man was not pulling hard enough
a prod from the chief’s assagail stimu-
lated :
Still the beast was too heavy for them.
Calling one of the natives, the. chief
ordered him to belabor. the backs of the
pullers with the end of a leathern rope,
Nearly every blow fetched blood.
ie men strained their muscles, the
perspiration poured down their bodies,
the blood oozed from their fingers, their
They did not rebel, neither was a. mur-
mur hea:
The animal slowly neared the bank;
another pull and it was on land.
A loud shout rose from the natives,
We measured the beast and found it
was sixteen feet four inches in length,
and the circumference of its body was
about the same.
The Bechuanas, dia not wait to get the
others.. They at once started skinning
the one they had, and a wild scene of
soyage feasting was enacted before our
hat they could not eat ey cut into
long strips to dry as bilto:
Some of the savages partook of so much
raw flesh that they fell asleep through
depletion,
We had not seen one young hippo-
potamus, and the old ones were only use+
ful for the ivory. Yet the season was
considered the right one.
We talked to the chief of the Bechu-
anas, and soon learned that a neighboring
tribe of Ugandus had scoured the coun-
try in search of young animals, esteeming
them a great delicacy.
That evening we discussed the advisa-
bility of moving our kraal, but on An-
derson’s suggestion, we resolved on giv-
ing the place a month’s tr ial,
“The sport is exciting when a sea-cow
is surprise@with her calf,” said Ander-
-'T remember about two years ago I
was on the Limpopo River, and taking
life very easy.
“I had with me some very choice Turk-
ish cigars. They were soothing and lulled
the mind into a state of dreamy bliss.
had a nice little canoe, and was calmly
floating down the stream, enjoying the
aroma of my cigar. I was dreaming of—
well, never mind, the dream was a par-
ticularly pleasant one, but none of you
hunters care for a lazy man’s dreams.”
Why Andersen persisted in calling him-
self lazy I never understood, for he was
the most active and busy man I had ever
met.
We assured him that his dreams must
be well worth recalling, and would prove
interesting; but he only smiled and con-
tinued his story.
“I was rudely awakened from my dream
by seeing a huge sea-cow—hippopotamus,
you know—and a half-grown calf, su
denly rush out from the reeds on the
bank and make for my cano
she—the mother, I wneanaetzed my
boat in her huge jaws, almost tearing it
™
apart,
~ bank.
found them disporting themselves, abso-~
GOLDEN HOURS
I haa reached for my elephant
gun, and gave her a shot straight down
the throat. Didn't she leave the boat
quickly? She floundered about in the
water, and I could see that her fighting
days were over. Her calf was too old to
capture; it must have weighed more than
half a‘ton, so I began paddling to the
I knew that my boat’ would not
last for many minutes. To my surprise,
the oot sprung at the boat with open
oe had the paddle in my hands, my rifle
across my knees, and the great open
mouth of the baby hippopotamus ready to
swallow me.
“I rammed the paddle as far down its
throat as I could, but instead of fright-
ening it, the calf actually smiled'on me
for giving it such a dainty repast. But
while it was cracking up the paddle I had
an opportunity of sending a big bullet
into its heart, and so spared it the trou-
ble of again searching for food. I jumped
into the water and swam to land. «It was
a narrow escape, and q never want to ex-
perience another like
The story told by fnderson recalled to
memory an incident in which Schultz
pigyed | an important p:
“I was with Dr. ‘Emil “Holub,” he said,
“in his ‘cxplorations, and we spent some
time hippo-hunting.
» “We were right in the midst of a. herd
of the awful beasts one’ day,
with us two Zulus who declared that
there was nothing they enjoyed more
than hippo-hunting.
“They rowed us very close to the an
mals. The doctor fired at a big bull, ‘wile
“I devoted my nottentions to a co
missed my the bullet snerely
bounded off the t thick hide into the water.
The doctor wounded the bull, and had
the good fortune to make it furiously
mad. Our Zulus, who were so fond of
bunting, had deserted us, They leaped
into the water and sat on. the bank
atching us. We both fired at the bull,
Sulll without results, although three shots
ad gone into its carcass. It tossed about
in the water and rolled and thrashed
about with such frenzy that it upset the
boat. We didn’t wait long to see what
the bull was doing with the oyerturned
boa We made for the shore as rapidly
as possible, and waited.there for the
beast to die. It was three hours before
we could go for our guns.”
-_ “Where had you left them?” asked
J
‘ack.
“In the boat.”
“Arrah, now, an’ phwat_ are ye tellin’
us? Didn't ye say the boat was over-
turned?”
“I did, Patsy, and I did not say the guns
were in the boat. said we left them
there, but they went to the bottom cf the
river when the boat overturned. Our
Zulus were braye again, and dived after
the guns, succeeding in bringing two of
them to the surface, but our cartridges
were all spoiled.
CHAPTER XXII.
GIRAFFES,
T would only weary the reader to nar-
rate, diary fashion, all our doings in
the wonderful district between the
We-had bagged a number of animals,
and had arranged for their transportation
to the Cape.
‘ve. had secured spotted hyenas, a
small species of leopards, some lion cubs
and other animals.
» We had resolved on moving our camp a
good hundred miles to the north, leaving
Schultz with some of the Bechuanas who
were faithful to us, to guard our kraal,
with the ivory and animals, such as we
did not ship, until our return, when once
more we were destined by fate to change
our purpose and stay longer.
One day Jack suggested that I should
join him in an exploring expedition,
We took two natives with us, borrow-
ing horses for them to ride, and sup-
plying ourselves with plenty of ammuni-
tion and food.
on’t be surprised or alarmed if we
are gone two or three days,” was Jack’s
parting: words,
care of yourselves!” shouted
Mahmoud, while Anderson called out to
us
“Don t ‘go.
safe
‘Any other argument might have pre-
valled, but to urge us to stay because it
would be safer was the very way fo make
Jack all the more determined to
We had traveled a dozen miles without
meeting with any adventure...
The scenery as wild and grand in its
very barrenne:
We reached. 2 groove of trees, which at
once caused one of the natives to utter
the word:
“Mimosa!”
Stay here; it will be far
but had —
We wondered whether it was a mere
ejaculation, or the name oe tne trees.
“Mimosa baas!” he said a,
“Mimosa trees?” repeated. aa:
“Yah—mimosa.”
“What of that?”
“Mokhala mimosa,” shouted the other
native, who had ridden somewhat ahead
of u:
Jack puzzled his brains for a moment
before again speaking.
Suddenly it dawned | upon him that the
mokhala, a species of mimosa tree, was
the favorite food of the cameleopard, or
ay
“you think we shall see any
eirattes?™ he asked.
Yah, baas! Mokhala never grow but
cameleopard come to feed.”
That was just what we desired.
e had scen giraffes in captivity, but
never in a state of nature.
“Look—baas!
The native pointed to the clump of
trees, and there, within rifle-shot, we saw
a gira:
It was gathering the leaves from the
tall branches of the mimosa.
une had we seen an animal so beau-
iful and graceful.
uns color, glossy hair, long neck and
peculiar body | Fendered it one of the most
pleasing sight:
I do not” think there is anything in
‘ul,
of the forequarters, the
neck, which averages six feet in length,
and the wellshaped head, eighteen or
twenty feet from the ground, make the
giraffe a noticeable animal anywhere.
Wesapproached as near as we dared.
Not that we were afraid of being at-
tacked, but we did not wish to frighten
away.
Suddenly the animal became alarmed.
Out went its hind legs in a series of the
most ay orous kicks ever given by any
wre cameleopard has no other weapon
f warfare, and needs none, for a kick
from a giraffe will stun a lion and smash
na man’s skull.
What had offended it?
We heard a strange yelping and bark-
ing, and “om the brush there emerged
our dog, U:
He had followed, unknown to us, keep-
ing, at sufficient distance that he might
not be seen, and had ventured rather too
close to the giraffe's heels.
Uis, Uis!” Jack shouted, and the sound
of the human voice caused the giraffe to
look in our direction.
um would not fight, ‘but it knew how to
is give chase,” Jack cried, al-
ready urging his horse forward, without
waiting for my consent,
Two, three, four, five giraffes emerged
from the mimosa grove and shambled
along. +
It Seemed almost ridiculous for us to
“pursue them, for we soon found that they
could outdistance us,
ged our horses to their utmost
speed,
Vis “kept up with us for some distance,
then slackened his pace and fell far be-
tow far, baas?” asked one of our na-
4
o
“TH we run them down.
hi n pressed his knees tighter to
the “horse s sides and seemed to hold his
We could not persudde the natives to
use a saddle; they rode barebacked.
9° The shambling giraffes, their heads
towering up like animated trees, in-
creased the distance between us,
Could we never overtake them?”
For five miles we pressed the giraffes
at a speed which would have been a
credit to any racer, but all to no avail.
It was now getting dark, and. we
thought of camping for the night.
“There must be a stream near,” said
Jack.
“Yah,
water.
The native pointed to'a grove of mi-
mosa trees about half a mile ahead of
us, and we pushed forward to it.
We were nearly within the shadow of
the trees, when we beard the brush
erackle and break. -
Emerging therefrom were the giraffes,
running as fast as their tired legs would
allow, uttering no sound, for the came-
baas.. .Mokhala grows near
.leopard is dumb, but clearly showing
error.
AnG well might they be frightened, for
pursuing then: was a monster lion and
Noness.
We hoped to escape notice.
We trembled with fear, for we were not
prepared for an encounter with such ter-
ible adversaries,
fraffes swept by us, and we were
practically between pursuer and pursued,
our horses were too exhausted for
flight. . \ -
. slumber b:
13
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE MIMOSA FOREST,
T” Nons looked at us, paused as it
undecided which to attack, and
then, as though they reasoned out
satisfactorily to themselves that
our horses were too tired and exhausted
o carry us away, they passed us, within
nite Tange, and pursued the giraffes.
one moment Jack was undecided.
He raised his rifle to his shoulder, took
aim, but second thoughts overcame his
resolution, and he lowered his gun with-
ou
“I do not like indiscriminate slaugh-
ter,” jhe sald, “and the giraffes may es-
pe.”
on t was a glorious sight.
The beautiful animals, with their heads
celerity which was really surprising.
he king of the jungle roared angrily,
until the very ground seemed to shake
and tremble.
His consort, not so quick as her lord,
answered the roar and ran as fast as her
Nature permitted,
giraffes doubled, and headed to
where we were watching the chas
Our danger was increasing, and
withdrew out of the line of race, but still
kept near enough to watch the trial | of
endurance.
It was easy to see that the lions would
never overtake the giraffes in a fair race,
but we had tired the beautiful creatures
£0 reroushly that the enemy had every
advanta;
The Hones, seeing the giraffes double,
waited a moment, gained breath, and
made a bee line across country to inter-
cept its prey.
ne of tho giraffes saw
He wasa magnificent ‘teilion, towering
above his fellow:
His head turned and watched the ap-
proaching lioness. -
- There seemed no trepidation, no nery-
gusness as it awaited the coming of its
“The lioness was many yards in advance
of her consort, and was near enough to
spring upon the cameleopar
But with the quickness of ‘a lightning
flash we saw the hind feet of the giraffe.
cleave the air, and the next instant its
foe was lying stunned and bleeding on the
earth.
The lion roared furiously, and gave but
a slight slance at its dying consert. -
“Vil stop him,” cried Jack; “I'll save
the giraffes.”
Again dis rifle was raised; the trigger
responded to his touch, and the lion was
struck.
b it staggered as the bullet entered its ©
ody. .
For a brief space it halted.
Then, espying us, ft left the pursuit of
its prey and charged upcn our Iittle
party.
Jack and I fired together, but the Hon
merely shook its shag; ane and con-
tinued its savage cha
One of the Bechvanas, “with a devotion
to our interests which was sublime,
threw himself in front ot us just as the .
jungle monarch prepared to spring.
He threw his assagai with such un-
erring aim that it buried itself in the
Non’s body to the depth of several inches,.”
Jack again fired, and this time “the
noble animal knew that its power was
gone,
It sunk on the ground; its life-blood
was slowly ebbing. away, and Jack, in
very mercy, shortened its sufferin;
The monarch was déad; its consort died
a few minutes later, but the innocent,
harmless giraffes had escaped, and we
were gla
The Bechuanas were satisfied with the
lions, a fles
pleasing to the natives, who believed in
slaughtering everything which came in
their way.
Besides, as we were soon to learn, the
spinal marrow of ‘he giraffe is considered
the greatest dainty on earth,
found a suitable camping-place for
the night, and our senses were lulled to
the humming of most beau-
tiful birds, and the gentle rustling of the
mimosa lea
We heard. ‘the barking of jackals, and
the discordant laughter of hyenas, as they _
sgorged themselves on the flesh of the lion
ani his consort; for, much as the Bechu- ~
anas would have liked to haye eaten all
the Ifon flesh, their capacity was limited,
and they had to submit.
Early the next morning we were again
on the move. .
In the distance we saw a ‘forest, which
the natives told us’ was a great place for
giraffes, and as our principal.object was
to secure some of those beautiful ani-
mals alive, we wanted to see for our-