hispers me," said Willem, "that we shall succeed at last. I
left home with the intention of never returning without two young
giraffes; and I have not yet relinquished the hope of seeing Graaf
Reinet again. We will make no more pits; but let me once more set my
eyes on a giraffe and, mark me, it is mine, if I have to run it down and
capture it with my own hands."

"That is not possible," remarked Hendrik. "True, you might catch a wild
elephant; but what would you do with it? or, rather, what would it do
with you?"

"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. In this respect, they were
more unfortunate than Swartboy and the Makololo, who remained at the
camp. On the evening of the third day which the hunters had spent in
beating some groves up the river, Swartboy reported, on their return,
that two giraffes had passed within sight of the camp. He described
them as an aged couple that had, no doubt, been often hunted. To these
ancient inhabitants of the mimosa forest, the Bushman ascribed the spoor
and other signs of giraffes that had been seen. He had compared the
tracks of the animals that trotted past the camp, with those on the
banks of the stream, and he pronounced both to have been made by the
same feet.

Swartboy further informed his young masters that he could have captured
the two animals he had seen, but did not, because they were old, and not
worth the trouble.

If Hendrik, Arend, and Hans were inclined to place but little reliance
on this boast of the Bushman, they gave to the rest of his story more
than a fair share of credence. To them it was positive evidence that
any longer stay in the neighbourhood would be simply a waste of time.

Willem saw that they were once more inclined on defeating his plans, but
it only strengthened him in the resolution to continue a little longer
in the place.

Each of the four had a cherished project he was anxious to see
fulfilled. Willem's wish was to obtain two young giraffes; and his
three companions found that there was no chance of his relinquishing his
design,--at least, not for ma