fetching back the two young giraffes
far outweighed the five hundred pound prize to be obtained, though the
latter was a consideration not to be despised, and no doubt formed with
him, as with the others, an additional incentive.

CHAPTER TWO.

ON THE LIMPOPO.

During the first night spent upon the Limpopo our adventurers had good
reason for believing that they were in the neighbourhood of several
kinds of game they were anxious to fall in with.

Their repose was disturbed by a combination of sounds, in which they
could distinguish the roar of the lion, the trumpet-like notes of the
elephant, mingled with the voices of some creature they could not
remember having previously heard.

Several hours of that day had been passed in searching for a place to
cross the river,--one where the banks were low on each side, and the
stream not too deep. This had not been found until the sun was low down
upon the horizon.

By the time they had got safely over, twilight was fast thickening into
darkness, and all but Congo were unwilling to proceed farther that
night. The Kaffir suggested that they should go at least half a mile up
or down the river and Groot Willem seconded the proposal, although he
had no other reason for doing so than a blind belief in the opinions of
his attendant, whether they were based upon wisdom or instinct. In the
end Congo's suggestion had been adopted, and the sounds that disturbed
the slumbers of the camp were heard at some distance, proceeding from
the place where they had crossed the river.

"Now, can you understand why Congo advised us to come here?" asked Groot
Willem, as they listened to the hideous noises that were depriving them
of sleep.

"No," was the reply of his companions.

"Well, it was because the place where we crossed is the watering-place
for all the animals in the neighbourhood."

"That is so, Baas Willem," said Congo, confirming the statement of his
master.

"But we have not come a thousand miles for the sake of keeping out of
the way of those animals, have we?" asked the hunter Hendrik.

"No," answered Willem, "we came here to seek them, not to have them seek
us. Our horses want rest, whether we do or not."

Here ended further conversation for the night, for the hunters becoming
accustomed to the chorus of the wild creatures, took no further notice
of it, and one after another fell asleep.

Morning dawned upon a scene of surpassing beauty. They were in a broad