y to do? Where
should they seek? They knew not; still, they should go somewhere.

As night approached, leaving Hans to take care of the young giraffe,
Arend and Hendrik started off in the direction in which Willem had last
been seen.

The twilight was fast disappearing before they had proceeded a mile from
the camp, but under its dim light they perceived Congo and Swartboy
coming towards them. They were only accompanied by the dogs.

The two hunters hastened forward, and soon came up with them. Hendrik
commenced hastily questioning the Bushman, while Arend did the same to
the Kaffir, in the endeavour to get some information of what had so much
mystified them.

The questions "Where is Willem?" "Where are the cattle?" "Why did you
leave the camp?" "Where are the Makololo?" were asked in rapid
succession, and to all they received but one answer,--the word "Yaas."

"Will you not tell me, you yellow demon?" shouted Hendrik, impatient at
not getting the answer he wished.

"Yaas, baas Hendrik," answered Swartboy; "what you want to know first?"

"Where is Willem?"

This was a question that, in the Bushman's way of thinking, required
some consideration before he could venture on a reply; but while he was
hesitating, Congo answered, "We don't know."

"Ha, ha! Congo is a fool," exclaimed Swartboy. "We saw baas Willem
going away this morning with the ress of you, after the tootlas."

It was not until the youths were driven nearly wild with impatience that
they succeeded in learning what they wished. Willem had not returned,
and the two Africans knew less about the cause of his absence than they
did themselves. During the day, the cattle, in feeding, had strayed to
some distance over the plain. The four Makololo had gone after them,
and had not returned. Swartboy and Congo admitted that they had slept
awhile in the afternoon, and only on awaking had discovered that the
cattle and Makololo were missing. They had then started out in search
of both. They had found the ambassadors of Macora in great trouble. A
party of Bechuanas had chanced upon them, and taken from them the whole
of the cattle!

The Makololo were in great distress about the affair, and, fearing they
would be blamed for the loss of the cattle, were afraid to return to the
camp of the hunters. They were then halted about two miles down the
river, and were talking of going back to their home, quite certain that
the white hunters would have no