438 HUNTING ADVENTURES. 



ful head from the skies, his proud form was prostrate in *he dust. 

 Never shall I forget the intoxicating excitement of that moment ! A 4 

 last, then, the summit of my ambition was actually attained, and the 

 towering giraffe laid low ! Tossiug my turbanless cap into the air, 

 alone in the wild wood, I hurraed with bursting exultation, and un- 

 saddling my steed, sank, exhausted with delight, beside the noble 

 prize I had won. 



While I leisurely contemplated the massive form before me, seem- 

 ing as though it had been cast in a mould of brass, and wrapped in 

 a hide an inch and a half in thickness, it was no longer matter of 

 astonishment that a bullet discharged from a distance of eighty or 

 ninety yards should have been attended with little effect upon such 

 amazing strength. 



Two hours were passed in completing a drawing, and Piet still not 

 making his appearance, I cut off the ample tail, which exceeded five 

 feet in length, and was measureless the most estimable trophy I had 

 ever gained. But on proceeding to saddle my horse, which I had left 

 quietly grazing by the running brook, my chagrin may be conceived 

 when I discovered that he had taken advantage of my occupation to 

 free himself from his halter and abscond. Being ten miles from the 

 wagons, and in a perfectly strange country, I felt convinced that the 

 only chance of saving my pet from the clutches of the lion, was to 

 follow his trail; while doing which with infinite difficulty, the 

 ground scarcely deigning to receive a foot-print, I had the satisfac- 

 tion of meeting Piet and Mobanycom, who had fortunately seen and 

 re-captured the truant. Returning to the giraffe, we all feasted 

 merrily on the flesh, which although, highly scented with the rank 

 ruokaala blossom?, was far from despicable, and losing our way in 

 consequence of the twin-like resemblance of two scarped hills, we 

 did not finally regain the wagons until after the setting sun beania 

 had ceased to play upon the trembling leaves of the light acacias, 

 and the golden splendor which was sleeping upon the plain had 

 gradually passed away. 



Singular aad striking as is the form of the giraffe, it only fur- 

 nishes a proof of the wonderful manner in which an all -wise Create" 

 has adapted means to ends. A vegetable feeder, but an inhabitant 



