lesson from our mercy."

CHAPTER FIFTY NINE.

A LION HUNT.

Once more our adventurers turned their faces homeward.

Contrary to their expectations, the young camelopards caused them but
little trouble. A single rheim attached to the neck of each was
sufficient to lead them along.

The manner in which both had been captured, had taught them in their
first lesson, that man's will was superior to their own; and they were
thenceforth either too cunning or too silly to resist it.

Before driving them far along the road, there would have been little
danger of their straying, even if left free to do so. Like tame
elephants, they knew neither their own strength nor swiftness, and soon
became as easily managed as any of the horses or horned cattle.

For several days no incident worthy of notice occurred, nor did our
adventurers much desire that any should. They had obtained all they
required; and even Groot Willem, before so enthusiastically fond of
hunting, would not have turned aside to kill the finest koodoo that ever
trod the plains of Africa, unless its flesh had been absolutely wanted
for food.

After a journey of two more weeks, Swartboy found himself in a land
inhabited by many of his countrymen,--the Bushmen. It was a land he had
long been looking forward to visit, and with pleasant anticipations,--
not from any sunny memory of youthful joy, but merely from that
prejudice in favour of native land, natural to all mankind. He had ever
represented to his young masters that the Bushmen were a race of noble
warriors and hunters,--that they were kind, hospitable, intelligent, and
in every respect superior to the countrymen of his rival Congo.

They were now in a country inhabited by several wandering tribes of
these people, and where opportunities might not be wanting to test the
truth of Swartboy's assertions.

One soon presented itself. Early one afternoon they arrived at a
settlement of Bushmen,--a kraal of their kind, containing about fifty
families. On learning that they would have a long distance to travel,
before finding a place to encamp, our adventurers resolved to stay by
the Bushmen's village for the night.

The first exhibition given of the hospitality Swartboy had boasted of
was by the whole tribe begging for tobacco, spirits, clothing, and
everything else the travellers chanced to possess; while the only
consideration they could give in return was the permission to draw water
from a poo