Part 70 (1/2)

It would have been better that Jan had never seen the little ”ourebi,”--better both for Jan and the antelope, for that night the innocent creature was the cause of a terrible panic in the caht,--Von Blooon, while the Bushrass The latter lay under the wagon; but Swartboy had kindled a large fire a little distance from it, and beside this had stretched himself, rolled up in his sheep-skin kaross

They had all gone to sleep without being disturbed by the hyenas This was easily accounted for The three horses that had been shot that day occupied the attention of these gentry, for their hideous voices could be heard off in the direction where the carcasses lay Having enough to give them a supper, they found no occasion to risk thehbourhood of the camp, where they had experienced such a hostile reception on the previous night So reasoned Von Bloom, as he turned over and fell asleep

He did not reason correctly, however It was true that the hyenas were just thena meal upon the horses; but it was a mistake to suppose that that would satisfy these ravenous brutes, who never see, had Von Blooh closer to the ca under the expiring blaze of Swartboy's camp-fire

Indeed, he had heard the beasts once that he awoke; but, knowing that the biltongue had been this night placed out of their reach, and thinking that there was nothing to which they could do any harave no heed to their noisy deain

He akened, however, by a shrill squeak, as of soonies of death; and then there was a second squeak, that see of the creature's utterance!

In these cries Von Bloonised the bleat of the ourebi, for they had heard it several ti it!” thought they But they had not time to say so, before another and far different cry reached their ears, and caused theon That cry was the voice of Jan, and sounded in the same direction whence came the scream of the stifled antelope!

”O heaven! what could it mean?”

The child's voice first reached them in a sudden screech--then there was a confused noise rese aloud for help, while at the same time his voice was interrupted, and each call appeared to co him off!

This idea occurred to Von Bloom, Hans, and Hendrik, at the same instant

Of course it filled them with consternation; and, as they were scarce yet awake, they knew not what to do

The cries of Jan, however, soon brought them to their senses; and to run towards the direction whence these cauns would waste tion without the, but she knew noto question her The voice of Swartboy, uttered in loud barks and clicks, su brand rushi+ng through the darkness, which no doubt was carried in the hands of that worthy

They started off in the direction of the blazing torch, and ran as fast as they could They still heard the Bushman's voice, and to their dismay beyond it the screams of little Jan

Of course they could not tell as causing all this They only pressed on with fearful apprehensions

When they had got within some fifty paces of the torch, they perceived it suddenly descend, then raised again, and brought down, in a rapid and violentand clicking louder than ever, as though he was engaged in chastising soer heard--he was screas they rushed on

When they arrived upon the spot, a singular picture presented itself to their eyes Jan lay upon the ground, close in by the roots of sorasp Fro, or _rhei the bushes to the distance of several feet; and, fast to its other end, was the ourebi fawn, dead, and terriblytree, which blazed all the brighter that he had just been using it over the back of a ravenous hyena The latter was not in sight It had long since skulked off, but no one thought of pursuit, as all were too anxious about Jan

No ti the child to his feet The eyes of all ran eagerly over him to see where he ounded; and an exclamation of joy soon broke forth when they saw that, except the scratches of the thorns, and the deep track of a cord upon his wrist, nothing in the shape of a wound could be discovered upon his diminutive body He had now come to himself, and assured them all that he was not hurt a bit Hurrah! Jan was safe!

It now fell to Jan's lot to explain all this on along with the rest, but not like the on his new pet, which, for want of rooon, had been left below tied to one of the wheels

Jan had taken it into his head that he would like to have another look at the ourebi before going to sleep So, without saying a word to any one, he crept out of the cap-tent, and descended to where the antelope was tied He unloosed it gently, and then led it forward to the light of the fire, where he sat down to ad upon it for soht that Swartboy could not do otherwise than share his feelings; and without more ado, he shook the Bush roused out of sleep to look at an animal, hundreds of which he had eaten in his time But Jan and Swartboy were sworn friends, and the Bush master in the fancy he had taken; and the two sat for a while conversing about the pet