"Until either this giraffe or I should have died," answered Willem. "I
should not have abandoned it before."

"But supposing you had died first, how would it have been then?" asked
Arend.

"No doubt," replied Willem, "something would very soon have taken me
away. But why don't you take my place here, one of you? I must stretch
my legs, or I shall never be able to stand upright again."

Hendrik placed his hands on the head of the giraffe, and Willem with
some difficulty arose, and, after walking around the prostrate animal,
declared that he had never been happy until that moment.

It was decided that they should not attempt to stir from the place until
morning; and the rest of the night, with the exception of an hour or two
devoted to sleep, was passed in asking questions and giving
explanations. Willem was a little woeful about the loss of his
riding-horse, and also on learning of the robbery of the cattle; but
these misfortunes could not entirely counteract the joy he felt at
having taken the young giraffe.

"This creature is quite tame now," said he; "and if I cannot find my
horse again, I shall ride it to Graaf Reinet. Before I do that,
however, I shall use it in catching another. I must and shall have two,
and we can easily find another chance. You and Hans ought to be ashamed
of yourselves. The three of you have not done so well as I. You have
allowed two or more young giraffes to escape, while I, single-handed,
captured all the young that were in the herd I followed."

Arend and Hendrik glanced significantly at one another while Congo
stared at both of them. A shake of the head given by Hendrik was
understood by the two who were in the secret, for Congo had been told of
the capture of the second giraffe, and of course not a word was said to
Willem of that affair. His companions preferred giving him a surprise.

CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN.

AN ENCOUNTER BETWEEN OLD ACQUAINTANCES.

When morning dawned, the first thought of the hunters was to contrive
some plan for getting the young giraffe to the camp.

Willem expressed surprise at his companions having come out without
their rheims. The reason given by Hendrik for their having done so was
that they did not think they would require them; besides, they had left
the camp in a hurry.

They did not anticipate much difficulty in taking back the giraffe. It
appeared so weak and submissive that their only fear was of its not
being able to make the jo