The Giraffe Hunters Part 43

"I thought you would think better of us and return," said Hans, pleased once more to see the face of the faithful Kaffir.

"Yaas, I come," answered Congo, "but not to stay. I go back again."

"Why! What's brought you, then?"

"To see baas Willem; but he no here. Tell him when he come back to wait for Congo. Tell him wait two days, four days,--tell him always wait till Congo come."

"But Willem will go to the house before he comes here, and you can see him yourself."

"No; may be I off with the boer oxen. I work there now. Tell baas Willem to wait for Congo."

"Certainly I shall do so," answered Hans; "but you are keeping something hid from me. Why do you wish to see your master, if you are so offended as to have forsaken him. What is your reason for staying behind?"

"Don't know," vaguely responded the Kaffir. "Dis fool Congo don't know nuffin'."

"Der's one thing I mus say for Congo," said Swartboy, "he mos allers tell the troof. He jus done so now."

The Kaffir smiled as though satisfied with Swartboy's remark.

After again requesting that Willem should be told to wait his return, he hastened away, followed by the dog Spoor'em.

There was a mystery in the conduct of the man that Hans could not comprehend in any other way than by taking the explanation he had himself given. Congo seemed certainly either to be a fool or acting in a very foolish way.

As the morning advanced, Hans began to believe that the trackers had proved successful in their search. The spoor of the giraffes must have been found and followed, or they would have been back before then.

From his knowledge of Willem, Hans was certain that once on the spoor he would never leave it as long as he had strength to continue. The giraffes had become tame, and there was no reason why they should not be easily retaken. But just as the sun had mounted up to the meridian, this hope was dispelled by the appearance of Willem and his comrade coming back empty-handed.

"You have been unsuccessful," said Hans, as they rode up. "Well, never mind; there is still a hope left us, and that is, to get safely home."

"We have another hope besides that," replied Willem. "We have heard of the giraffes. They were seen yesterday morning about seven miles to the southward of this spot. They are between us and our home, and we are not hunters if we don't recover them yet. We must be off after them immediately."

Swartboy and the Makololo were directed to drive in the cattle, and all commenced making preparations for a departure.

"We shall miss Congo and Spoor'em," said Willem, while the cattle were being loaded. "We shall want them badly now."

"Ah!" exclaimed Hans, "I had nearly forgotten to tell you that Congo was here this morning, and wished me to say you were to wait until he came to you. He was very anxious to see you, and said you were to wait for him four days, or longer, if he did not see you in that time."

"Fortunately there will be no need for that delay," rejoined Willem. "I have just seen the ungrateful rascal,--not half an hour ago."

"Indeed. And what did he want?"

"Only to dun me for the wages due him for the last year of his services.

I have never been more deceived about a man in my life. I could not have believed it possible that Congo would thus turn traitor and desert me."

The conversation was discontinued, as all became busy in making ready for a start.

CHAPTER SIXTY EIGHT.

LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS.

In half an hour afterwards the hunters had broken up their camp.

"I feel sorry about having to leave Congo behind," said Willem, as the cattle were being driven across the stream. "Not that I care a straw for him, the ungrateful wretch, but that we may be unable to find the spoor of the giraffes, not having him with us. He and Spoor'em would be worth everything now."

"I think," rejoined his brother, "there's not much chance of our recovering them. We are now in a settled country where they will find but little rest. They will either be driven out of it or killed by whoever comes across them."

"I have thought of all that," replied Willem; "still, I shall hope for a day or two longer. I can better survive the loss, if n.o.body else succeeds in obtaining the reward offered for them; but should that brother of whom the boer spoke, as being gone on a similar expedition to ours,--should he perform the feat we have failed to accomplish, then I shouldn't care to live much longer."

Before they had gone very far, all noticed that there was something wrong with Swartboy, who seemed also inclined to turn back, and was muttering some gibberish to himself, as was his habit when in any way perplexed or annoyed. The excitement in his mind at last became too strong to be restrained, and, drawing near Willem, he asked:--

"What was that, baas Willem, you said jus now 'bout the bruder of dat Dutchman?"

"I hardly remember, Swart," answered Willem. "Some thing about his going after giraffes and getting the reward instead of ourselves. Why do you ask?"

"But did they gone nort same as we been a doin'?"

"Yes, so the boer told us."

"How long was dat ago?"

"Seven months, I think he said."

"Why for you no tell me afore?"

This question Willem did not think worth answering, and Swartboy for a few minutes was left to his thoughts.

Presently he recommenced the conversation. "Baas Willem," said he. "I think we bess stop, and talk a bit. Congo no fool, but Swartboy.

Swartboy a fool, and no mistake 'bout dat."

"Well, what has that to do with our stopping for a talk?" asked Willem.

"The boer's bruder, he come back from the nort without catch any giraffe," replied the Bushman. "I tink he got some now."

A light suddenly dawned on the mind of Hans, who stood listening to this dialect. The mysterious conduct of Congo appeared better than half explained.

A halt was immediately ordered, and all gathered around Swartboy.

Nearly twenty minutes was taken up in obtaining from the Bushman the information he had to give. From the answers made to about a hundred questions, the hunters learned that, in the hut where he, Congo, and the Makololo had been so freely entertained, they had seen a Hottentot who had lately returned from a journey to the north.

This Swartboy had understood from a few words the man had muttered while under the influence of the "smoke."

During the evening, the Hottentot had been called away from the hut, and Swartboy had seen no more of him, nor thought anything of what he had said.

Now, however, on hearing that the boer had a brother who had gone northward on a giraffe hunt, Swartboy conceived the idea that the drunken Hottentot had not been there alone. In all likelihood he had accompanied the expedition. It had returned unsuccessful; and the boer's brothers had stolen the two giraffes that were now missing.

The more this conjecture was discussed, the more probable it appeared.