e resolution, we might have
abandoned our cattle with pleasure, and started on a straight line for
home by daybreak to-morrow morning."

Arend and Hendrik allowed the elated hunter to continue his reproaches
uninterrupted. They were quite satisfied with their own conduct; and
each had the delicacy to refrain from telling Willem, that, without
their assistance, his capture of the young giraffe would only have
resulted in the misfortune of losing his horse, and suffering many other
inconveniences.

They knew that Willem, when free from the intoxication caused by the
partial fulfilment of a long-cherished design, would not claim any
greater share in the credit of the expedition than he was really
entitled to. Moreover, his joy at having captured the giraffe was
somewhat damped by the fear that his horse had gone off for good.

He was confident that, should he again get possession of him, another
giraffe could be taken. With the herd that had been hunted, he had seen
two other young ones. They might be found a second time; but there
would be a difficulty in running them down, unless he was once more on
the back of his tried steed.

By noon the camp was reached, when about the first thing that came under
the eyes of Groot Willem was a young giraffe standing tied to a tree!
Beside it was his own horse!

The horse had been brought back by the Makololo, who found him straying
over the plain as they were themselves returning to the camp. The
presence both of the horse and the Makololo was at once explained.
Their original intention to visit the country of the white men had been
abandoned by them on account of the loss of their cattle. Without
these, they had no means of making the long journey that still lay
before them. There seemed nothing for them but to go back to their home
to Macora. But they were unwilling to set off without taking leave of
their late travelling-companions; and, as they were at the same time
afraid of being blamed for the loss of the white hunters' cattle, as
well as their own, they passed the night in great distress, uncertain as
to what they should do. Just as morning dawned, they descried Willem's
horse grazing close to the spot where they were encamped. They had last
seen the great hunter on this horse's back, going in pursuit of the
giraffes; and they were anxious to learn why the animal was now
separated from its rider. They knew that it was greatly prized by its
owner, and they bel