f cutting it up and carrying it off to their kraal. The feet were
reserved for the especial use of the chief; and, while waiting for some
of his dependents to procure them, he granted our hunters an audience.
They were desirous to learn whether the kraal was ever visited by
traders,--a class of people they were anxious to meet, though Groot
Willem was more anxious to know whether giraffes ever visited the
neighbourhood. Congo was called, and for some time he and the chief
were heard talking in loud tones, and both at the same time; neither
exhibiting the least inclination to listen to one another! Their voices
grew louder and louder; and our adventurers saw that they were engaged
in a hot dispute, that threatened to end in something more unpleasant
than a war of words.

"What does he say, Congo," asked Willem.

"I don't know, baas Willem," answered the Kaffir with a shake of the
head, that betrayed some shame at his own ignorance.

"How is that?" demanded his master. "Can't you understand the language
he speaks?"

"No, baas Willem, he talks no Zooloo, no Kaffir of any kind."

"Then why were you pretending to interpret his language a few minutes
ago?" asked Hendrik.

"I was trying to learn it," answered Congo, in a tone conveying the
belief that he had given a satisfactory answer.

"We have no time to stop here for you to learn a language," said
Hendrik. "And if you can't converse with the man why did you not say
so? How came you to tell us what he was saying a few minutes ago?"

The attention of all was now called to Swartboy, who seemed overpowered
with joy.

It was some time before he was able to make himself understood; but at
last he was heard to mutter:--

"I tole you that Congo was a ole fool. Now you all see for yourselfs.
Look at 'im! Don't he look four, five, six times fool. I tole ye so."

"Can _you_ understand what the chief says?" asked Groot Willem.

"Yaas, baas Willem; any Swartman know dat."

"Then talk to him yourself. You know what we wish to learn from him."

The Bushman's features now assumed a quizzically comical expression; and
from this the hunters saw that he had become serious.

Going up to the chief he commenced a conversation, from which Willem
learned, after it was translated to him, that no giraffes had been seen
in the neighbourhood for many moons. Very few traders visited the
tribe; and those who had done so had not left a good name behind them.

The chief live