276 GIRAFFE HUNTING. 



time as serious as if I had been a judge about to 

 pass the death sentence on a criminal. If the natives 

 have anything to communicate to you, believe me 

 this is the only way to treat them. 



After a considerable pause, I said in an authorita- 

 tive bass voice, " William, bring me my pipe and 

 tobacco, but first tell the Massara to fetch some 

 embers and make a fire, for the morning is cold, 

 and the importance of your business may detain 

 us." 



" Yes, baas/' my man replied as promptly as a non- 

 commissioned officer on parade, and both proceeded 

 upon their respective errands, while I marched to 

 and fro, as if in deep contemplation. 



I imagined that for some reasons of their own 

 these worthies wanted me to shift my camp, or do 

 something else equally unimportant. Soon the fire 

 was lighted, my table placed near it, and on it was 

 laid my pipe, while around us, but at respectful dis- 

 tance, sat arranged in a circle every man, woman, 

 and child that was not otherwise engaged. South 

 African blacks are as a rule fluent orators, and their 

 declamation is perfect. 



But, to cut a long story short, their views were 

 soon disclosed to me, which I will condense into a 

 few words. A stranger had visited them last night. 

 He reported that there were two parties of giraffes, 

 some vilde beests and zebras^ as well as several species 

 of the larger antelopes frequenting a piece of veldt 

 a few miles off, and that if I would take up a position 

 pointed out to me, all the game would be driven past 

 my hiding-place within easy range. 



Of course I did not jump into concurrence with 

 this plan at once, as such an .assent would have 

 lessened in their eyes the value of my approval, 

 so silently I sat for some time, puffing immense 

 clouds of smoke into the air, as importantly as 

 ever did grand seignior, although I felt all the time 



