e be disappointed in this one. We
cannot always expect to win. Fortune is fickle; and my chief desire now
is that we may reach home in safety."

"I am not prepared to go home yet," rejoined Willem, in a way that told
his companions he was in earnest. "We have only been in the
neighbourhood of the Limpopo for a few short weeks; and we have been
successful in getting a good many hippopotamus teeth. We have made but
one attempt to capture giraffes; and I have not come more than a
thousand miles, to relinquish an undertaking because I have met with one
failure. What are we here for? The journey from Graaf Reinet to this
place should not be made for nothing. We must have something to show
for the loss of our time, besides the loss of our horses; and when we
have made four or five more unsuccessful attempts at procuring what we
came for, then I'll listen patiently to your talk about returning,--not
before."

Hendrik and Arend were thinking of the many narrow escapes from death
they had met within the last few weeks, but perhaps more of their
sweethearts. Hans could not withdraw his thoughts from the anticipated
voyage to Europe but these motives for action would have been powerless
as arguments with Groot Willem, even had they made use of them. He had
come to the north for two young giraffes. Both time and money had been
lost in the expedition, and his companions could give no substantial
reason why they should not make some further attempt to accomplish the
object for which it had been undertaken.

Willem was generally inclined to yield to the wishes of his companions.
On trivial affairs, he never made them unhappy by any spirit of
opposition, nor did he suffer himself to be made so. But they could not
control him now. It was not in the nature of either Hans, Hendrik, or
Arend to return home and leave him alone; and since he continued, as
Hendrik said, "obstinate as a _vlacke varke_" they were reluctantly
compelled to remain.

They were told that within one day's journey to the west, there was a
large forest of _cameel-doorn_, where giraffes were often seen, and they
determined to pay this forest a visit.

Macora had become a great favourite at court; and, having the business
on hand of establishing his tribe in a new home, he could not accompany
them. He assured them, however that there was no fear of their not
finding giraffes in the aforesaid forest, as well as a convenient place
for constructing a trap