94 



IN THE TREE TOP. 



Carl Godkin and Pongo. Diedrick staid behind to look after the camp, agreeing 

 that, if anything should rise to demand their presence, he would signal them by 

 firing both barrels of one of the shot-guns. It was not believed, however, that any 

 such emergency was likely to occur, since no Bushmen or wild men had been seen 

 since the previous night. 



The hunters were mounted on their own animals, Pongo carrying his three 

 boomerangs, while the Texan, as a matter of course, took his lasso, which had done 

 such good service more than once before. 



Mr. Godkin consented, after they had ridden some distance across the level 

 plain, that they should separate and enter the extensive jungle in front at different 

 points, insisting, however, that they should not allow their interest in the chase to 

 lead any one beyond reach of the support of his friends, whose help was likely to 

 be needed in securing some of the specimens for which they were searching. 



The jungle was found to be so open that their horses made their way through it 

 without difficulty, and the plainly marked spoor of the giraffes was seen so often 

 that each member of the party was confident it would be his good fortune to dis- 

 cover one or more of the coveted animals before the rest came up with them. 



It was Bob Marshall's luck to secure the first meeting with several of the most 

 extraordinary members of the animal kingdom. 



He had picked his way but a short distance among the tall, column-like trees, 

 when he observed that the ground was slightly rising and the trunks were becoming 

 more scattered. If this continued, he must soon enter an opening, or natural 

 clearing. 



Sure enough, that was what followed. Within fifteen minutes after parting with 

 his comrades, he found himself on the edge of a comparatively open space, several 

 acres long, and about half as wide. The surface was covered with a stunted, yellow 

 grass, that seemed to have been withered by the flaming African sun. Near the 

 middle stood a tall cameeldorn tree, the species being abundant in the wood 

 through which the youth had reached the spot. 



Beyond this tree were others of smaller growth. Dismounting, Bob examined 

 the ground with the closeness of an Indian scout, and became convinced that the 

 impressions which he saw had been made by the feet of giraffes. He was filled with a 

 strong hope by the fact that some of the tracks were quite small, suggesting that 

 young ones were among the old. 



If this should prove the case, it was encouraging, for it promised a chance of 

 obtaining some of them to add to the menagerie they were gathering in the Dark 

 Continent, to be sent to the other side of the world. 



But it was annoying, after such a long ride and search, and after reaching this 

 clearing, where the animals had passed so recently, that he was unable to catch 

 sight of a single one. 



"They can't be far off," was the conclusion of the lad, who, leaving his pony on 

 the edge of the jungle, walked to the green cameeldorn tree, with the intention of 

 making use of it to help him extend his survey over the surrounding vicinity* 



