n, the scent would be less easily taken up, and their
tracking might be brought to an end.

The elements soon after opened upon them, but still they kept on in the
midst of the pelting rain, consoling themselves for what was
disagreeable, by the reflection that they were performing their duty to
their lost friend.

It was not until the thunder-shower had passed over, that Spoor'em began
to show some doubt as to the course he was pursuing. The heavy rain had
not only destroyed the scent but the traces of the footmarks, and the
dog was no longer able to make them out. For the last half hour, they
had been moving through an atmosphere dark as Erebus itself. They had
been unable to see each other, except when the universe seemed illumed
by the flashes of lightning.

The night had now become clear. The moon had made her appearance in the
western sky; and the search might have been continued with less
difficulty than before, but for the obliteration of the spoor. The dog
seemed bewildered, and ran about in short broken circles, as though
quite frantic at the thought of having lost the use of the most
important of his senses.

"We shall have to return at last," said Hendrik, despairingly. "We can
do nothing more to-night."

They were about to act according to this advice, when the loud roar of a
lion was heard some half mile off, and in the direction from which they
had just ridden. In going back that way they might encounter the fierce
creature.

"I have kept the lock of my rifle as dry as possible," said Arend, "but
it may not be safe to trust it. I think I shall reload."

Drawing the rifle out of the piece of leopard skin with which the lock
had been covered, Arend pointed the muzzle upwards and pulled trigger.
The gun went off.

As the report fainted away in the distance, the far-off sound of a human
voice could be heard as if shouted back in answer to the shot. What
they heard was the word "Hilloo."

They hastened in the direction from whence the sound seemed to proceed.
Even the dog appeared suddenly relieved from its perplexity, and led the
way. In less than ten minutes they were standing around Willem,
delighted at finding him in safety, and in the possession of a live
giraffe.

"How long have you been here?" asked Hendrik, after the first moments of
their joyful greeting had passed.

"Ever since noon," was Willem's reply.

"And how much longer would you have stayed, had we not found you?"