s; but then there was the danger of its following the example
of its companion, and taking advantage of the liberty thus given to it.

As the ox, whose struggles were nearly breaking its neck, had been gored
by the borele and severely wounded, he saw it would be no use letting
him live any longer, and without more ado he received his quietus from
Hendrik's rifle. The giraffe was now released, and restored to its
proper fastenings. By this time the others had caught up with most of
the horses and cattle.

None of them, except the one selected for especial pursuit by the
borele, had gone far, but, turning when out of danger, were easily
caught. This was not the case with the camelopard that had got loose
and fled among the foremost. Its flight had been continued until it was
no longer seen!

It had entered the grove from which Willem and Hendrik had just come,
and there were ten chances to one against their ever seeing it again.

Had Willem been on horseback at the time it ran off from the camp, he
would have stood a chance of recapturing it, but, as it had now twenty
minutes of start, the chances were very slight indeed. Not a moment was
to be lost, however, before making the attempt, and, accompanied by
Hendrik, Congo, and the dog Spoor'em, Willem started off for the forest,
leaving the others to continue the task of collecting the animals still
scattered over the plain.

But one brief hour before, Willem Van Wyk was the happiest hunter in
existence, and now he was about the most miserable. One of the two
captives, for which he had suffered so many hardships, had escaped, and
in all probability would never be again seen by the eyes of a white man.
The realisation of his fondest hopes was delayed for a time,--perhaps
forever.

One camelopard was of but little value to him. He must have two; and
fortune might never assist them in obtaining another. He was not sure
of being able to keep the one that still remained. Death might take it
out of their hands. It had been injured in the struggle; and, before
leaving camp he had noticed that the efforts of the Makololo to get it
to its feet had not succeeded. His great undertaking--the chief purpose
of the expedition--was as far as ever from being accomplished.

Such were the thoughts that tortured him, as he urged Congo and the dog
to greater haste, in following the spoor through the forest.

CHAPTER SIXTY ONE.

THE LOST FOUND.

The forest which Willem