bat was taking place between it and the Kaffir.

The jealousy and petty ill-will so often exhibited by the Bushman was
not so strong as he had himself believed. His intense anxiety to know
which was getting the best of the fight, added to the fear that Congo
was being torn to pieces, told him that his friendship for the Kaffir
far outweighed the animosity he fancied himself to have felt.

The fiendish yells of the dogs, the unpleasant situation in which he was
placed, and the uncertainty of the time he was to endure it, were
well-nigh driving him distracted; when just then the wild honden
appeared to be beating a retreat,--the only one remaining being that in
the pit with Congo. What was driving them away? Could assistance be at
hand?

Breathlessly the Bushman stood listening.

CHAPTER FIVE.

AREND LOST.

In the afternoon, when Groot Willem, Hans, and Hendrik returned to the
camp, they found it deserted.

Several jackals reluctantly skulked off as they drew near and on riding
up to the spot from which those creatures had retired, they saw the
clean-picked bones of an antelope. The camp must have been deserted for
several hours.

"What does this mean?" exclaimed Groot Willem. "What has become of
Arend?"

"I don't know," answered Hendrik. "It is strange Swart and Cong are not
here to tell us."

Something unusual had certainly happened; yet, as each glanced anxiously
around the place, there appeared nothing to explain the mystery.

"What shall we do?" asked Willem, in a tone that expressed much concern.

"Wait," answered Hans; "we can do nothing more."

Two or three objects were at this moment observed which fixed their
attention. They were out on the plain, nearly a mile off. They
appeared to be horses,--their own pack animals,--and Hendrik and Groot
Willem started off towards them to drive them back to the camp.

They were absent nearly an hour before they succeeded in turning the
horses and driving them towards the camp. As they passed near the drift
on their return, they rode towards the river to water the animals they
were riding.

On approaching the bank, several native dogs, that had been yelling in a
clump, were seen to scatter and retreat across the plain. The horsemen
thought little of this, but rode on into the river, and permitted their
horses to drink.

While quietly seated in their saddles, Hendrik fancied he heard some
strange sounds. "Listen!" said he. "I hear something