the mimosa forest; and
the parties from both sides were now coming together to the open ground.
Within the two walls of the hopo they could see before them a living,
moving mass, composed of many varieties of animals; among them they saw
with regret two elephants and a rhinoceros.

Towering far above the heads of all others were those of the giraffes,
which seemed striving to be the foremost in precipitating themselves
into the pit.

The mass of moving bodies became more dense, as the space in which they
moved grew contracted by the enclosing fences.

When about a quarter of a mile from the pit, the sagacious elephants
turned, and, seeing an army of men and dogs advancing towards them,
broke through the fence and were free. Several zebras--much to the
delight of the hunters--followed through the breach they had made. The
camelopards were too far ahead to avail themselves of this means of
escape. They were doomed to captivity.

The Makololo were all mad with the excitement of the chase. Uttering
discordant ear-piercing yells, they rushed onward, impatient to witness
the struggles of the multitudes of victims certain to be precipitated
into a hole, towards which they were rushing heedless of all else but
fear. Every demoniac passion existing in earthly life appeared to be
fully aroused within the souls of their pursuers. They seemed frantic
with rage at the escape of the elephants, though these would undoubtedly
have defeated the object for which the hopo had been erected. Their
only object seemed to be the destruction of animal life, the shedding of
blood, the sight of agony.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

DISAPPOINTED.

Before reaching the pit, several antelopes and other animals had been
passed,--killed or injured in the crush and rush. Such of these as were
still living, received but a passing glance and a blow from those who
were hastening onward to a scene more wild--more frightful and horribly
human in origin and execution--than words will describe.

The novelty and excitement of the scene, and the infectious example of
the maddened Africans, inspired Groot Willem and his companions with a
savage, blood-seeking intoxication of mind that urged them forward with
nearly as much insane earnestness as the most frenzied of the Makololo.

The herds they had been driving before them were now concentrated into a
quivering, struggling, noisy mass. The pit was soon full of roaring,
bellowing, bleating, growlin