When day broke, and the travellers looked around them, not a head of the oxen or cattle was to be seen. Yes, there was one, and one only—the milch-cow. Totty, after milking her on the previous night, had left her tied to a bush where she still remained. All the rest were gone, and the sheep and goats as well.
Whither had they strayed?
The horses were mounted, and search was made. The sheep and goats were found among some bushes not far off; but it soon appeared that the other animals had gone clean away.
Their spoor was traced for a mile or two. It led back on the very track they had come; and no doubt any longer existed that they had returned to the kraal.
To overtake them before reaching that point, would be difficult, if at all possible. Their tracks showed that they had gone off early in the night, and had travelled at a rapid rate—so that by this time they had most likely arrived at their old home.
This was a sad discovery. To have followed them on the thirsting and hungry horses would have been a useless work; yet without the yoke-oxen how was the wagon1 to be taken forward to the spring?
It appeared to be a sad dilemma2 they were in; but after a short consultation3 the thoughtful Hans suggested a solution of it.
“Can we not attach the horses to the wagon?” inquired he. “The five could surely draw it on to the spring?”
“What! and leave the cattle behind?” said Hendrik. “If we do not go after them, they will be all lost, and then—”
“We could go for them afterwards,” replied Hans; “but is it not better first to push forward to the spring; and, after resting the horses a while, return then for the oxen? They will have reached the kraal by this time. There they will be sure of water anyhow, and that will keep them alive till we get there.”
The course suggested by Hans seemed feasible enough. At all events, it was the best plan they could pursue; so they at once set about putting it in execution. The horses were attached to the wagon in the best way they could think of. Fortunately some old horse-harness formed part of the contents of the vehicle, and these were brought out and fitted on, as well as could be done.
Two horses were made fast to the disselboom as “wheelers;” two others to the trektow cut to the proper length; and the fifth horse was placed in front as a leader.
When all was ready, Swartboy again mounted the voor-kist, gathered up his reins4, cracked his whip, and set his team in motion. To the delight of every one, the huge heavy-laden wagon moved off as freely as if a full team had been inspanned.
Von Bloom, Hendrik, and Hans, cheered as it passed them; and setting the milch-cow and the flock of sheep and goats in motion, moved briskly after. Little Jan and Trüey still rode in the wagon; but the others now travelled afoot, partly because they had the flock to drive, and partly that they might not increase the load upon the horses.
They all suffered greatly from thirst, but they would have suffered still more had it not been for that valuable creature that trotted5 along behind the wagon—the cow—“old Graaf,” as she was called. She had yielded several pints6 of milk, both the night before and that morning; and this well-timed supply had given considerable relief to the travellers.
The horses behaved beautifully. Notwithstanding that their harness was both incomplete and ill fitted, they pulled the wagon along after them as if not a strap8 or buckle9 had been wanting. They appeared to know that their kind master was in a dilemma, and were determined10 to draw him out of it. Perhaps, too, they smelt11 the spring-water before them. At all events, before they had been many hours in harness, they were drawing the wagon through a pretty little valley covered with green, meadow-looking sward; and in five minutes more were standing7 halted near a cool crystal spring.
In a short time all had drunk heartily12, and were refreshed. The horses were turned out upon the grass, and the other animals browsed13 over the meadow. A good fire was made near the spring, and a quarter of mutton cooked—upon which the travellers dined—and then all sat waiting for the horses to fill themselves.
The field-cornet, seated upon one of the wagon-chests, smoked his great pipe. He could have been contented14, but for one thing—the absence of his cattle.
He had arrived at a beautiful pasture-ground—a sort of oasis15 in the wild plains, where there were wood, water, and grass,—everything that the heart of a “vee-boor” could desire. It did not appear to be a large tract16, but enough to have sustained many hundred head of cattle—enough for a very fine “stock farm.” It would have answered his purpose admirably; and had he succeeded in bringing on his oxen and cattle, he would at that moment have felt happy enough. But without them what availed the fine pasturage? What could he do there without them to stock it? They were his wealth—at least, he had hoped in time that their increase would become wealth. They were all of excellent breeds; and, with the exception of his twelve yoke-oxen, and one or two long-horned Bechuana bulls, all the others were fine young cows calculated soon to produce a large herd17.
Of course his anxiety about these animals rendered it impossible for him to enjoy a moment’s peace of mind, until he should start back in search of them. He had only taken out his pipe to pass the time, while the horses were gathering18 a bite of grass. As soon as their strength should be recruited a little, it was his design to take three of the strongest of them, and with Hendrik and Swartboy, ride back to the old kraal.
As soon, therefore, as the horses were ready for the road again, they were caught and saddled up; and Von Bloom, Hendrik, and Swartboy, mounted and set out, while Hans remained in charge of the camp.
They rode at a brisk rate, determined to travel all night, and, if possible, reach the kraal before morning. At the last point on the route where there was grass, they off-saddled, and allowed their horses to rest and refresh themselves. They had brought with them some slices of the roast mutton, and this time they had not forgotten to fill their gourd-canteens with water—so that they should not again suffer from thirst. After an hour’s halt they continued their journey.
It was quite night when they arrived at the spot where the oxen had deserted19 them; but a clear moon was in the sky, and they were able to follow back the wheel-tracks of the wagon, that were quite conspicuous20 under the moonlight. Now and then to be satisfied, Von Bloom requested Swartboy to examine the spoor, and see whether the cattle had still kept the back-track. To answer this gave no great trouble to the Bushman. He would drop from his horse, and bending over the ground, would reply in an instant. In every case the answer was in the affirmative. The animals had certainly gone back to their old home.
Von Bloom believed they would be sure to find them there, but should they find them alive? That was the question that rendered him anxious.
The creatures could obtain water by the spring, but food—where? Not a bite would they find anywhere, and would not hunger have destroyed them all before this?
Day was breaking when they came in sight of the old homestead. It presented a very odd appearance. Not one of the three would have recognised it. After the invasion of the locusts21 it showed a very altered look, but now there was something else that added to the singularity of its appearance. A row of strange objects seemed to be placed upon the roof ridge22, and along the walls of the kraals. What were these strange objects, for they certainly did not belong to the buildings? This question was put by Von Bloom, partly to himself, but loud enough for the others to hear him.
“Da vogels!” (the vultures), replied Swartboy.
Sure enough, it was a string of vultures that appeared along the walls.
The sight of these filthy23 birds was more than ominous24. It filled Von Bloom with apprehension25. What could they be doing there? There must be carrion26 near?
The party rode forward. The day was now up, and the vultures had grown busy. They flapped their shadowy wings, rose from the walls, and alighted at different points around the house.
“Surely there must be carrion,” muttered Von Bloom.
There was carrion, and plenty of it. As the horsemen drew near the vultures rose into the air, and a score of half-devoured carcasses could be seen upon the ground. The long curving horns that appeared beside each carcass, rendered it easy to tell to what sort of animals they belonged. In the torn and mutilated fragments, Von Bloom recognised the remains27 of his lost herd!
Not one was left alive. There could be seen the remains of all of them, both cows and oxen, lying near the enclosures and on the adjacent plain—each where it had fallen.
But how had they fallen? That was the mystery.
Surely they could not have perished of hunger, and so suddenly? They could not have died of thirst, for there was the spring bubbling up just beside where they lay? The vultures had not killed them! What then?
Von Bloom did not ask many questions. He was not left long in doubt. As he and his companions rode over the ground, the mystery was explained. The tracks of lions, hyenas28, and jackals, made everything clear enough. A large troop of these animals had been upon the ground. The scarcity29 of game, caused by the migration30 of the locusts, had no doubt rendered them more than usually ravenous31, and in consequence the cattle became their prey32.
Where were they now? The morning light, and the sight of the house perhaps, had driven them off. But their spoor was quite fresh. They were near at hand, and would be certain to return again upon the following night.
Von Bloom felt a strong desire to be revenged upon the hideous33 brutes34; and, under other circumstances, would have remained to get a shot at them. But just then that would have been both imprudent and unprofitable work. It would be as much as their horses could accomplish, to get back to camp that night; so, without even entering the old house, they watered their animals, refilled their calabashes at the spring, and with heavy hearts once more rode away from the kraal.
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1
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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2
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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3
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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4
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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5
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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6
pints
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| n.品脱( pint的名词复数 )；一品脱啤酒 | |
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7
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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8
strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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9
buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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10
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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11
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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12
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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13
browsed
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| v.吃草( browse的过去式和过去分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
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14
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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15
oasis
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| n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方 | |
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16
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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17
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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18
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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19
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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21
locusts
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| n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 )；贪吃的人；破坏者；槐树 | |
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22
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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23
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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24
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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26
carrion
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| n.腐肉 | |
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27
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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28
hyenas
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| n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 ) | |
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29
scarcity
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| n.缺乏，不足，萧条 | |
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30
migration
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| n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙 | |
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31
ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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32
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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33
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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34
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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