er."

The voice was Willem's, and "Tootla" was the name of one of the young
giraffes!

Congo made a desperate effort to free his hands from their fastenings,
as well as to remove the stick that was distending his jaws. The
struggle was in vain.

There appeared no way by which he could sound an alarm and let his
friends know that he was near. He could think of none.

They were leaving him. They would return to Graaf Reinet, and he should
be left to die at the foot of the tree, or be torn from it by wild
beasts. He was almost frantic with despair, when an idea suddenly
occurred to him.

He could not speak himself, but why could not the dog do so for him.

His feet were still free, and, raising one of them, he gave Spoor'em a
kick,--a cruel kick.

The poor animal crouched at his feet and uttered a low whine. It could
not have been heard thirty paces away.

Again the foot was lifted, and dashed against the ribs of the
unfortunate dog, that neither made an effort to avoid the blow nor any
complaint at receiving it.

The only answer vouchsafed was but a low, querulous whine, that seemed
to say, "Why is this, master? In what have I offended you?"

Just as the foot was lifted for the third time, the air reverberated to
a long, loud roar. It was the voice of a hungry lion, that appeared to
be only a few paces from the spot.

Spoor'em instantly sprang to his feet, and answered the King of beasts
by a loud defiant bark.

The faithful animal that would not resist its master's ill-treatment,
was but too ready to defend that master from the attack of a third
party.

In the bark of Spoor'em there was an idiosyncrasy. It was heard and
instantly recognised.

The moment after Congo had the pleasure of hearing the tramp of horses,
as they came trotting down the hill; and the voice of Willem calling out
to him!

When released from the tree, and the gag taken from his mouth, the first
words he uttered were those of apology to Spoor'em, for the kicks he had
just administered!

From the demonstrations made by the dumb creature, there was every
reason to believe that he accepted the apology in the spirit in which it
was given!

Willem compelled Congo, who had now been thirty-six hours without food,
to mount upon his own horse; but this the Kaffir would consent to do
only on the condition that he would be allowed to take Spoor'em up along
with him.

They at once started away from the spot, and by an early hour