rate to the place where he
was now about to conduct his new acquaintances.

"But that is not what I wish to know," said Groot Willem, who never
troubled himself with the political affairs of his own country, and
therefore cared little about those of an African petty chief.

On being brought back to the question, Macora stated that he was only
giving them positive proof of his familiarity with the camelopards,
since nowhere were these more abundant than in the country from which he
had been expatriated by the tyranny of the Zooloo chief. It was his
native land, where he had hunted the giraffe from childhood.

Swartboy here interrupted the conversation by announcing that he had
enough meat cooked for them to begin their meal with; and about ten
pounds' weight of buffalo veal cutlets were placed before the hunters
and their guest.

Macora, who, to all appearance, had been waiting very patiently while
the cutlets were being broiled, commenced the repast with some show of
self-restraint. This, however, wholly forsook him before it was
finished. He ate voraciously, consuming more than the four young
hunters together. This, however, he did not do without making an
apology for his apparent greed; stating that he had been nearly two days
without having tasted food.

The supper having at length come to an end, all stretched themselves
around the fire and went to sleep.

The night passed without their being disturbed; and soon after sunrise
they arose,--not all at the same time,--for one of the party had risen
and taken his departure an hour earlier than the rest. It was Macora,
whom they had entertained the evening before.

"Here, you Swart and Cong!" exclaimed Arend, when he discovered that the
chief was no longer in the camp, "see if any of the horses are missing.
It is just possible we have been tricked by a false tale and robbed into
the bargain."

"By whom?" asked Groot Willem.

"By your friend, the chief. He has stolen himself away, if nothing
else."

"I'll bet my life," exclaimed Willem, in a more positive tone than the
others had ever yet heard him use, "that that man is an honest fellow,
and that all he has told us is true, though I can't account for his
absence. He is a chief, and has the air of one."

"Yes, he is a chief, no doubt," said Hendrik, sneeringly. "Every
African in this part of the world is a chief, if he only has a family.
Whether his story be true or not, it looks ugly, his leaving us