“Have you said any thing to the Griquas?”

“Yes, and they laughed, and said that they should not care if we went right up to the principal town, where Moselekatsee resides.”

“Well, they are bold enough, and so far are good traveling companions; but we certainly did not come here to fight,” observed the Major.  “But does the Matabili with us know that they are Griquas?”

“He did not; he supposed that they were Cape people whom we had brought with us; but he has found it out by the Hottentots, I suppose.  Swanevelt says, that the very first body of Matabili that we fell in with, he sent a runner off immediately, I presume to give the information.  I think, therefore, that the sooner we can get away the better.”

“Well, I agree with you, Swinton,” replied Alexander.

“We will try for the giraffe to-morrow, and when the Major has had the satisfaction of killing one, we will retrace our steps, for should we be attacked, it will be impossible to defend ourselves long against numbers.  So now to bed.”

They rose early the next morning, and, leaving the wagon where it was, again proceeded on horseback in search of giraffes.  They rode at a slow pace for four or five miles, before they could discover any.  At last a herd of them were seen standing together browsing on the leaves of the mimosa.  They made a long circuit to turn them, and drive them toward the camp, and in this they succeeded.  The animals set off at their usual rapid pace, but did not keep it up long, as there were several not full grown among them, which could not get over the ground so fast as the large male of the preceding day.  After a chase of three miles, they found that the animals’ speed was rapidly decreasing, and they were coming up with them.  When within a hundred yards, Alexander fired and wounded a female which was in the rear.  The Major pushed on with the dogs after a large male, and it stopped at bay under a mimosa, kicking most furiously at the dogs.  The Major leveled his rifle, and brought the animal down with his first shot.  It rose again, however, and for a hundred yards went away at a fast pace; but it again fell, to rise no more.  The female which Alexander had wounded received another shot, and was then also prostrated.”

“I have killed a giraffe,” said the Major, standing by the side of the one he had killed.  “It has been a long way to travel, and there have been some dangers to encounter for the sake of performing this feat; but we have all our follies, and are eager in pursuit of just as great trifles through life; so that in this I am not perhaps more foolish than the rest of mankind.  I have obtained my wishes—­I have killed a giraffe; and now I don’t care how soon we go back again.”

“Nor do I,” replied Alexander; “for I can say with you, when we arrive in England, I too have killed a giraffe; so you will not be able to boast over me.  By Swinton’s account if we stay here much longer, we shall have to kill Matabili, which I am not anxious to do; therefore, I now say with you, I don’t care how soon we go back to the Cape.”