ined to turn back, and was
muttering some gibberish to himself, as was his habit when in any way
perplexed or annoyed. The excitement in his mind at last became too
strong to be restrained, and, drawing near Willem, he asked:--

"What was that, baas Willem, you said jus now 'bout the bruder of dat
Dutchman?"

"I hardly remember, Swart," answered Willem. "Some thing about his
going after giraffes and getting the reward instead of ourselves. Why
do you ask?"

"But did they gone nort same as we been a doin'?"

"Yes, so the boer told us."

"How long was dat ago?"

"Seven months, I think he said."

"Why for you no tell me afore?"

This question Willem did not think worth answering, and Swartboy for a
few minutes was left to his thoughts.

Presently he recommenced the conversation. "Baas Willem," said he. "I
think we bess stop, and talk a bit. Congo no fool, but Swartboy.
Swartboy a fool, and no mistake 'bout dat."

"Well, what has that to do with our stopping for a talk?" asked Willem.

"The boer's bruder, he come back from the nort without catch any
giraffe," replied the Bushman. "I tink he got some now."

A light suddenly dawned on the mind of Hans, who stood listening to this
dialect. The mysterious conduct of Congo appeared better than half
explained.

A halt was immediately ordered, and all gathered around Swartboy.

Nearly twenty minutes was taken up in obtaining from the Bushman the
information he had to give. From the answers made to about a hundred
questions, the hunters learned that, in the hut where he, Congo, and the
Makololo had been so freely entertained, they had seen a Hottentot who
had lately returned from a journey to the north.

This Swartboy had understood from a few words the man had muttered while
under the influence of the "smoke."

During the evening, the Hottentot had been called away from the hut, and
Swartboy had seen no more of him, nor thought anything of what he had
said.

Now, however, on hearing that the boer had a brother who had gone
northward on a giraffe hunt, Swartboy conceived the idea that the
drunken Hottentot had not been there alone. In all likelihood he had
accompanied the expedition. It had returned unsuccessful; and the
boer's brothers had stolen the two giraffes that were now missing.

The more this conjecture was discussed, the more probable it appeared.

No doubt Congo had some suspicion that there was something wrong, and he
was keeping it t