1 84 



THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



However, we have to settle accounts with the 

 vlakke-vark, and that promptly, if for no other reason 

 than to provide a solatium to the wounded pride of all 

 our party. We therefore return to the idle beaters to 

 obtain their co-operation, as well as the service of a 

 couple of curs that were with them. 



These people are natural orators. " The aged 

 one," with fluency, fire, and grand declamatory action, 

 described what had taken place. He showed most 

 graphically to the audience how he had jumped into 

 the air, how I had got tied up, how " Chummy " hung 

 from a branch, how one of his sons had got on to a 

 bush and the other one bolted, and as he came to 

 each different scene of the narrative, he pointed out 

 the persons that had played the principal part in 

 their respective roles, and then appealed to his audi- 

 ence for aid. This oratorical effort had the desired 

 result, for the response was an offer of service from 

 at least a dozen stalwart volunteers. 



