Page 75 - Adventures in Africa

on the other, when, before I had finished loading,
over it fell, and lay dead between us.

“ A pretty good afternoon’s sport/' observed my
uncle. “ We'll take the liberty of cutting a few steaks
from the giraffe which this brute here has hunted
for us, and the sooner we get back to camp the

better."
The chief difficulty in obtaining the steaks was in
cutting through the tough skin of the giraffe, which

was almost as thick as that of a rhinoceros* Ey
employing our axes we soon, however, accomplished
our task, and in a few minutes reached the camp,

where Jan, who had heard our shots, had made up a
large fire in expectation of any game we should
bring.

While the elephant foot was cooking we regaled
ourselves on some fine slices of giraffe meat, which
assisted to stop the cravings of hunger. All night

long we were surrounded by the abominable cries of
hyaenas and jackals which were collected round the
carcases of the slain animals*

It is said that they dare not touch even a dead lion,
but at all events when we went out to look the next
morning the bones only of the two animals remained.

We now once more reloaded our ox and set out
northward. We remarked that the poor creature, in
spite of its long rest, looked thinner, and in worse

condition than before.
“ Iiim tse-tse do it. You see, ox die ! " exclaimed
Jan,
Still the faithful brute stepped on with its heavy

load, and we hoped that Jan was mistaken,