ented water. The horses ridden
by the trackers did the same, and hastened forward to the clump of
trees.

There was a pool in the centre of the grove, and on its edge an animal,
the sight of which drew an exclamation of joy from the lips of Groot
Willem. It was the escaped camelopard. A second joyful shout was
caused by their perceiving that it was again a captive.

The loose rheim, which it had carried away round its neck, had become
entangled among the bushes, and it was now secured so that they had no
difficulty in laying hold of it. Had they not come upon the spot, it
would have perished either by the suicidal act of half-strangulation,
from thirst, or by the teeth of some fierce predatory animal.

The rheim was now unwound from the saplings to which it had attached
itself, and the giraffe released from its irksome attitude. No harm had
yet befallen it.

"Now, Hendrik," exclaimed Willem, as he gazed upon the captive with an
expression of pride and pleasure, "is it not better that we have saved
this poor creature than to have left it to die a horrible death?"

"Yes, certainly," answered his companion. "Much good may sometimes
result from what may appear a foolish course of conduct."

Satisfied with the result of his perseverance, Willem was quite
indifferent as to whether his conduct had been foolish or otherwise.

Congo did not seem the least surprised at the good fortune of his
master; probably for the reason that he had the utmost confidence in his
wisdom, and never for a moment had doubted that the giraffe would be
discovered.

Willem never was without the means of lighting a fire,--he was too fond
of a pipe for that,--and near a large blazing heap of wood they remained
until the first appearance of day.

The journey back to the camp was a tedious one, but was made with much
less heaviness of spirit than they had suffered when leaving it to go in
search of the lost giraffe, which fortune had so favoured them in
finding.

CHAPTER SIXTY TWO.

WITH THE HOTTENTOTS.

On reaching the camp, Willem and Hendrik found their companions
anxiously awaiting their return.

The horses and cattle had all been recovered, and the borele that had
caused their dispersion had been shot by Hans and Arend.

Its attack had caused a delay of two days, and the loss of an ox.

Again the journey towards Graaf Reinet was resumed, and day by day was
prosecuted with all the speed that could be made in safety to thei