s used, as the trunk
of the elephants; and its great height enables it to gather the leaves
of the mokhala far beyond the reach of the latter.

The camelopard's skin is exceedingly thick,--often as much as an inch
and a half--and so difficult of penetration, that frequently, twenty or
thirty bullets are required to bring the creature to the ground. These
wounds it receives and suffers in silence; for the giraffe is dumb.

Unlike that of most other animals, its hairy coat becomes darker with
age.

The colour of the female is somewhat lighter than the male, and she is
also of much inferior stature.

The camelopard can only defend itself by kicking; and it uses its heels
in this way more effectively than any other creature,--the horse not
excepted. The prominence of its eyes enables it to see behind, when
directing its heels against an enemy, and so secures its taking a
certain aim; while the blow it can give will crush in the skull of a
man, or leave him with a couple of broken ribs. If unmolested, it is
among the most innocent of animals.

A creature so strangely shaped, and possessing so much speed and
strength, was certainly designed by the Creator for some other use than
browsing upon the leaves of mimosa-trees; but that use, man has not yet
discovered.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

A RACE FOR LIFE.

Leaving the body of the giraffe very reluctantly, (Groot Willem having a
strong desire to take it along with him,) the hunters started off in
search of the river. Much to their gratification, the Luize, or another
stream equally as large, was seen not far from them, and they rode along
its bank for the purpose of finding a place where they might water their
horses, now thirsty after the long run they had made in chase of the
giraffe.

For about half a mile they found the stream inaccessible, by reason of
the steepness of its banks; but a small pool was discovered a short
distance from the river, and by this they halted to give their weary
horses a little rest. These also needed food; and it was the intention
to give them an hour or two upon the grass that grew luxuriantly around
the pool. The saddles were taken off, and the horses turned out to
graze upon it.

"I suppose that Cong will have sense to pack up and follow us," said
Hendrik.

"Yes," answered Groot Willem, "I think we may expect to see him here
within two hours."

"But are you sure that he can find us?"

"Certainly he can," replied Willem. "He