Popular Adventure Tales

by Mayne Reid

  CHAPTER XLV.

  THE WILD HOUNDS AND THE HARTEBEEST.

  Since the taming of the quaggas the hunting had been attended withtolerable success. Not a week passed without adding a pair oftusks--sometimes two or three pairs--to the collection, which now beganto assume the form of a little pyramid of ivory standing near the bottomof the nwana.

  Von Bloom, however, was not quite satisfied with his progress. Hethought they might do far better if they had only a few dogs.

  Though the quaggas were of great service to them, and with these theywere often able to overtake the elephant, yet they as often lost theirgreat game, and it is more easy to do so than most persons imagine.

  But with dogs to join in the hunt, the result would be quite different.It is true these animals cannot pull down an elephant, nor do him theslightest injury; but they can follow him whithersoever he may go, andby their barking bring him to a stand.

  Another valuable service which the dogs perform, is in drawing theattention of the elephant away from the hunters. The huge quadruped whenenraged is, as we have already seen, exceedingly dangerous. On suchoccasions he will charge upon the noisy dogs, mistaking them for hisreal assailants. This, of course, gives the hunter a good opportunity ofdelivering his fire, and avoiding the deadly encounter of the elephant.

  Now in several elephant-hunts which they had lately made, our huntershad run some very narrow risks. Their quaggas were neither so manageablenor so quick in their movements as horses would have been, and thisrendered the hazard still greater. Some of them might one day fall avictim. So feared Von Bloom; and he would gladly have given for a numberof dogs an elephant's tusk a-piece--even though they were the mostworthless of curs. Indeed, their quality is but of slight importance.Any dogs that can trace the elephant and pester him with their barkingwould do.

  Von Bloom even thought of taming some hyenas, and training them to thehunt. This idea was by no means quixotic. The hyena is often used forsuch a purpose, and performs even better than many kinds of dogs.

  One day Von Bloom was pondering over this subject. He was seated on alittle platform that had been constructed very high up--near the top ofthe nwana-tree--from which a view could be had of the whole countryaround. It was a favourite resort of the field-cornet--his smoking-room,in fact--where he went every evening to enjoy a quiet pull out of hisgreat meerschaum. His face was turned upon the plain that stretched fromthe border of the _bosch_ as far as the eye could reach.

  While quietly puffing away, his attention was attracted by some animalsstanding at a distance off upon the plain. The brilliant colour of theirbodies had caught his eye.

  They were of a lively sienna colour over the back and sides, and whiteunderneath, with a list of black upon the outside of the legs, and someblack stripes upon the face, as regularly defined as if laid on by thebrush of a painter. They had horns of very irregular shape, roughlyknotted--each curved into something of the shape of a reaping-hook, andrising directly from the top of one of the straightest and longest headsever carried by an animal. These animals were far from being gracefullyformed. They had drooping hind-quarters like the giraffe, though in amuch less degree, shoulders greatly elevated, and long narrow heads. Forthe rest their forms were bony and angular. Each stood five feet high,from the fore-hoof to the shoulder, and full nine feet in length.

  They were antelopes of course--that species known among Cape colonistsas the "hartebeest." There were in all about fifty of them in the herd.

  When first observed by Von Bloom, they were quietly browsing upon theplain. The next moment, however, they were seen to run to and fro, as ifsuddenly alarmed by the approach of an enemy.

  And an enemy there certainly was; for in a moment more the herd hadtaken to flight; and Von Bloom now saw that they were followed by a packof hounds! I say a "pack of hounds," for the creatures in the distanceexactly resembled hounds more than anything in the world. Nay, more thanresembled, for it actually was a pack of hounds--of wild hounds!

  Of course Von Bloom knew what they were. He knew they were the"wilde-honden," very absurdly named by sapient naturalists _Hyenavenatica_ or "hunting hyena," and by others, with equal absurdity the"hunting dog." I pronounce these names "absurd," first because theanimal in question bears no more resemblance to a hyena than it does toa hedgehog; and, secondly, because "hunting dog" is a very ridiculousappellation, since any dog may merit a similar title.

  Now I would ask, why could these naturalists not let the nomenclature ofthe boers alone? If a better name than "wilde-honden" (wild hounds) canbe given to these animals, I should like to hear it. Why, it is the veryperfection of a name, and exactly expresses the character of the animalto which they apply it--that character, which coming under theireveryday observation, suggested the name.

  It is quite a libel to call this beautiful creature a hyena. He hasneither the ugly form, the harsh pelage, the dull colour, nor the filthyhabits of one. Call him a "wolf," or "wild dog," if you please, but heis at the same time the handsomest wolf or wild dog in creation. But weshall name him, as the boers have done, a "wild hound." That is his truetitle, let naturalists class him as they may.

  His size, shape, his smooth clean coat, as well as his colour,approximate him more to the hound than to any other animal. In thelast--which is a ground of "tan" blotched and mottled with large spotsof black and grey--he bears a striking resemblance to the common hound;and the superior size of his ears would seem to assimilate him stillmore to this animal. The ears, however, as in all the wild species of_Canis_, are of course not hanging, but erect.

  His habits, however, crown the resemblance. In his natural state thewild hound never prowls alone; but boldly runs down his game, followingit in large organised packs, just as hounds do; and in his hunting heexhibits as much skill as if he had Tom Moody riding at his heels, toguide with whip and horn.

  It was the field-cornet's good fortune to witness an exhibition of thisskill.

  The hounds had come unexpectedly upon the hartebeest herd; and almost atthe first dash, one of the antelopes became separated from the rest, andran in an opposite direction. This was just what the cunning dogswanted; and the whole pack, instead of following the herd, turned afterthe single one, and ran "tail on end."

  Now this hartebeest, although an ill-shaped antelope, is one of the veryswiftest of the tribe; and the wild hound does not capture it without asevere chase. In fact, he could not capture it at all, if speed were theonly point between the two animals. But it is not. The hartebeest has aweakness in its character, opposite to which the wild hound possesses acunning.

  The former when chased, although it runs in a straight line, does notkeep long in a direct course. Now and then it diverges to one side orthe other, led perhaps by the form of the ground, or some othercircumstance. In this habit lies its weakness. The wild hound is wellaware of it, and takes advantage of it by a manoeuvre, which certainlysavours strongly of reflection on his part.

  Our field-cornet had a proof of this as he watched the chase. Hiselevated position gave him a view of the whole ground, and he could noteevery movement both of pursuer and pursued.

  On breaking off, the hartebeest ran in a right line, and the houndsfollowed straight after. They had not gone far, however, when Von Bloomperceived that one hound was forging ahead of the rest, and running muchfaster than any of them. He might have been a swifter dog than theothers, but the hunter did not think it was that. He appeared rather tobe running harder that they, as if sent forward to push the hartebeest,while the rest saved their wind.

  This proved to be really the case; for the dog, by a desperate effort,having gained upon the antelope, caused the latter to turn slightly fromit original course; and the pack, perceiving this, changed theirdirection at the same time, and held along a diagonal line, as if tohead the game. By this means they avoided the detour which both theantelope and their companion had made.

  The hartebeest was now running upon a new line; and as before, one ofthe hounds was soon seen to head the pack, an
d press forward at the topof his speed. The one that first led, as soon as the antelope turnedfrom its original course, fell back, rejoined the pack, and was nowlagging among the hindmost! His "turn" of duty was over.

  Again the hartebeest verged from its course. Again the pack ranobliquely, and made a second "cut" upon him--again a fresh dog took thelead, and on swept the chase as before--the wild hounds uttering theiryelping notes as they ran.

  Several times was this manoeuvre executed by the cunning dogs--until thedesired result was accomplished, and the antelope was completely"blown."

  Then, as if they felt that it was in their power, and that furtherstrategy was not needed, the whole pack rushed forward simultaneously,and closed rapidly upon the game.

  The hartebeest made one last despairing effort to escape, but, findingthat speed would no longer avail, the creature wheeled suddenly round,and placed itself in an attitude of defiance--the foam falling from itslips, while its red eyes sparkled like coals of fire.

  In another moment the dogs were around it.

  "What a splendid pack!" exclaimed Von Bloom. "Oh! that I had such anone!

  "Ha!" he continued, as a new thought struck him, "and why not, just suchan one?--why not?"

  Now the train of reflections that passed through the mind of thefield-cornet was as follows:--

  That the wild hounds might be tamed, and trained to hunting,--easiest ofall, to the chase of the elephant. He knew that this could be done, forboer-hunters had often done it. True, the dogs must be taken young, butwhere were young ones to be obtained? It is not so easy to capture thepups of the wild hound. Until they are able to run well, their mothersdo not permit them to stray far from the caves in which they arelittered; and these are usually crevices among rocks quite inaccessibleto man. How could he obtain a set of them? He had already formed such anintention. Where could be their breeding place?

  His reflections were interrupted at this point, by very singularbehaviour on the part of the wild hounds, and which gave him a new ideaof their intelligence that quite electrified him.

  When the hartebeest stood to bay, and the hounds came up, Von Bloom verynaturally expected to see the latter run in upon their game, and at oncepull it to the ground. This he knew was their usual habit. What was hisastonishment at seeing the whole pack standing off to one side, as ifthey intended to leave the antelope alone! Some of them even lay down torest themselves, while the others stood with open jaws and lollingtongues, but without showing any signs that they intended further tomolest the panting quarry!

  The field-cornet could observe the situation well, for the antelope wason his side--that is, towards the cliffs--while the dogs were fartherout upon the plain. Another circumstance that astonished him was, thatthe dogs, after running up and around the hartebeest, had actually drawnoff to their present position!

  What could it mean? Were they afraid of its ugly horns? Were theyresting themselves before they should make their bloody onslaught!

  The hunter kept his gaze intently fixed upon the interesting group.

  After a while the antelope, having recovered its wind a little, andseeing the pack so distant, made a fresh start.

  This time it ran in a side direction, apparently with the intention ofgaining a hill that lay in that way, and up the sides of which it nodoubt calculated upon gaining some advantage. But the creature hadhardly stretched itself, when the hounds struck out after it; and infive hundred yards running, once more brought it to a stand. Again thepack took station at a distance, and the hartebeest stood upon the plainalone!

  Once more it essayed to escape, and started off with all the speed thatwas left in its legs--the hounds as before trooping after.

  This time the antelope headed in a new direction, making for a point inthe cliffs; and as the chase now passed very near to the nwana-tree,everybody had a fine view of it.

  The hartebeest seemed to be going faster than ever, or, at all events,the dogs did not now appear to gain upon it; and the field-cornet, aswell as all the young people, were in hopes the poor creature wouldescape from its tireless pursuers.

  They watched the chase, until they could just see the bright body of thehartebeest afar off, appearing like a yellow spot upon the face of therocks, but the dogs were no longer visible. Then the yellow spotsuddenly disappeared like the going out of a candle, and they could seeit no more.

  No doubt the antelope was pulled down!

  A strange suspicion entered the mind of Von Bloom, and, calling uponthem to saddle the quaggas, he, with Hans and Hendrik, rode off towardsthe place where the hartebeests had been last seen.

  They approached the ground with caution; and under the shelter of somebushes were enabled to get within two hundred yards of the spot withoutbeing observed. A singular spectacle rewarded their pains.

  Within a dozen yards of the cliff lay the body of the hartebeest, whereit had been "pulled down" by the dogs. It was already half eaten, not bythe hounds that had hunted it, but by their puppies of all ages, that tothe number of more than threescore were now standing around the carcass,tugging away at its flesh and snarling at one another! Some of the growndogs that had taken part in the chase could be seen lying upon theground, still panting after their hard run; but most of them haddisappeared, no doubt into the numerous small caves and crevices thatopened along the bottom of the cliffs.

  There was no room left to doubt the singular fact--that the wild houndshad regularly driven the hartebeest up to their breeding-place to feedtheir young, and that they had abstained from killing it out upon theplain to save themselves the labour of dragging it from a distance!

  Indeed these animals--unlike the _Felidae_--have not the power oftransporting a large mass to any considerable distance; hence thewonderful instinct which led them to guide the antelope to the very spotwhere its flesh was wanted!

  That they were in the constant practice of this singular habit wasattested, by the numerous bones and horns of large antelopes ofdifferent kinds, that lay strewed around the place.

  Von Bloom had his eye upon the young puppies, and all three made a rushtowards them. But it was to no purpose. Cunning as their fathers andmothers, the little fellows forsook their meal at first sight of theintruders, and darted off into their caves!

  But they were not cunning enough to escape the snares, which were laidfor them every day for a week after; and, before the end of that time,more than a dozen of them were safely domiciled in a little kennel builtespecially for their use, under the shadow of the great nwana-tree.

  In less that six months from that time, several of them were in thefield, and trained to the chase of the elephant, which duty theyperformed with all the courage and skill that could have been shown byhounds of the purest breed!

  CHAPTER XLVI.

  CONCLUSION.

  For several years Von Bloom led the life of an elephant-hunter. Forseveral years the great nwana-tree was his home, and his only companionshis children and domestics. But, perhaps, these were not the least happyyears of his existence, since, during all the time both he and hisfamily had enjoyed the most estimable of earthly blessings,--health.

  He had not allowed his children to grow up without instruction. He hadnot permitted them to lapse into the character of mere "Bush-boys." Hehad taught them many things from the book of nature,--many arts that canbe acquired as well on the karoo as in the college. He had taught themto love God, and to love one another. He had planted in their minds theseeds of the virtuous principles,--honour and morality,--without whichall education is worthless. He had imbued them with habits of industryand self-reliance, and had initiated them into many of theaccomplishments of civilised life--so that upon their return to societythey might be quite equal to its claims. Upon the whole, those years ofthe exile's life, spent in his wilderness home, formed no blank in hisexistence. He might look back upon them with feelings of satisfactionand pleasure.

  Man, however, is formed for society. The human heart, properlyorganised, seeks communion with the human heart; and the
mind,especially when refined and polished by education, loves the intercourseof social life, and, when deprived of it, will always yearn to obtainit.

  So was it with the field-cornet. He desired to return once more withinthe pale of civilised society. He desired once more to revisit thescenes where he had so long dwelt in peaceful happiness; he desired oncemore to establish himself among his friends and acquaintances of formerdays, in the picturesque district in the Graaf Reinet. Indeed, to haveremained any longer in his wilderness home could have served no purpose.It is true he had grown very much attached to his wild hunter-life, butit was no longer likely to be profitable. The elephants had completelyforsaken the neighbourhood of the camp, and not one was to be foundwithin twenty miles of the spot. They had become well-acquainted withthe report of the long roer, and knew the dangerous character of thatweapon; they had learnt that of all their enemies man was the one to beespecially dreaded and shunned; and they had grown so shy of hispresence, that the hunters frequently passed whole weeks without settingtheir eyes upon a single elephant.

  But this was no longer an object of solicitude with Von Bloom. Otherconsiderations now occupied his mind, and he did not care much if heshould never spoor another of these huge quadrupeds. To return to theGraaf Reinet, and settle there, was now the ultimatum of his wishes.

  The time had at length arrived when he would be able to carry out thatdesign; and nothing seemed any longer to stand in the way of its fulland complete accomplishment.

  The proscription against him had been long since taken off. A generalamnesty had been passed by the government, and he had been pardonedamong the rest.

  It is true his property was not restored to him; but that matteredlittle now. He had created a new property, as was testified by the vastpyramid of ivory that stood under the shadow of the great nwana-tree!

  Nothing remained but to transport this shining pile to a market, and asplendid fortune would be the result.

  And Von Bloom's ingenuity found the means for bringing it to market.

  About this time there was dug another huge pit-trap near the pass in thecliffs, in which many quaggas were trapped; and then, there werestirring scenes, while these wild creatures were being broken toharness, and trained to "trek" in a wagon.

  They were trained, however, after a good deal of trouble--the oldwheels, still in prime condition, serving as the "break;" and then thebody of the wagon was let down from the tree, and once more renewed itsacquaintance with its old companions the wheels; and the cap-tentspread its protecting shadow over all; and the white and yellowcrescents were stowed; and the quaggas were "inspanned;" and Swartboy,mounting the "voor-kist," once more cracked his long bamboo whip; andthe wheels, well oiled with elephants' grease, again whirled gailyalong!

  How surprised were the good people of Graaf Beinet, when one morning acap-tent wagon, drawn by twelve quaggas, and followed by four ridersmounted upon animals of the same kind, pulled up in the public square oftheir little town! How astonished they were on seeing that this wagonwas "chuck" full of elephants' teeth, all except a little corneroccupied by a beautiful girl with cherry cheeks and fair flaxen hair;and how joyed were they, in fine, on learning that the owner of both theivory and the beautiful girl was no other than their old friend, andmuch-esteemed fellow-citizen, the field-cornet, Von Bloom!

  A warm welcome met the elephant-hunter in the square of Graaf Reinet,and, what was also of some importance, a ready market for his ivory.

  It chanced just at that time that ivory was selling at a very high rate.Some article--I do not remember what--the principal part of whichrequired to be constructed of pure ivory, had come into fashion andgeneral use in European countries, and the consequence was an increaseddemand for this valuable commodity. It was a fortunate circumstance forthe returned hunter, who was at once enabled to dispose of his stock,not only for ready money, but at such a fine price as to yield himnearly twice the amount he had calculated on receiving!

  He had not brought it all with him, as there was more than would haveloaded any one wagon. A second load had remained, hidden near thenwana-tree, and this required a journey to be made for it.

  It was made in due time, and the remainder arrived safely at GraafReinet, and was there delivered to the ivory-dealers, who had alreadypurchased it.

  The result was a splendid fortune in ready money. The field-cornet wasonce more a rich man!

  For the present we can follow his history no farther than to say, thatthe proceeds of his great hunt enabled him to buy back his old estate,and to stock it in splendid style, with the best breeds of horses,horned cattle, and sheep; that he rose rapidly in wealth and worldlyesteem; that the government gave him its confidence; and, having firstrestored him to his old office of field-cornet, soon afterwards promotedhim to that of "landdrost," or chief magistrate of the district.

  Hans returned to his college studies; while the dashing Hendrik wasenabled to enter the profession for which he was most fit, and the veryone that fitted him, by obtaining a cornetcy in the "Cape MountedRifles."

  Little Jan was packed off to school to study grammar and geography;while the beautiful Trueey remained at home to grace the mansion of herhonoured father, and look after his household affairs.

  Totty still ruled the kitchen; and, of course, Swartboy was theimportant man about the house, and for many a long year after crackedhis great whip, and flourished his jambok among the long-horned oxen ofthe wealthy landdrost.

  But enough for the present,--enough of adventure for one year. Let ushope, boy readers, that before you and I have circled once more aroundthe sun, we shall make a fresh trip to the land of the boers, and againencounter the worthy Von Bloom, his Bushman, and--

  "BUSH-BOYS."

  THE END.