CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.
JAN AND THE KOORHAANS.
The next camp of the young yagers was fixed in a beautiful valley verysimilar to that in which they had seen the troop of lions, but of largerextent, and having its whole surface enamelled with bright flowers.
There were mountains all around, that seemed to shut in this fairpicture and protect it from the hot dry winds of the desert. A riverwound through its midst like a silvery serpent; and here and there uponthe pools, where there was not much current, rested the wax-like leavesand flowers of the blue lily of South Africa, (_Nympha cerulea_), Uponthe plain grew trees and plants of various sorts peculiar to the botanyof the country. The eyes of the travellers rested upon many a fairform. Upon the banks of the stream they saw the drooping fronds of theChaldean willow; and by the foot of the mountain the splendid _Acaciaeburnea_, with its umbrella-shaped head, and clusters of golden flowersfilling the air with their fragrance. They saw the valuable wax-berry,(_Myrica cerifera_), yielding its clusters of white wax-coated fruit.They saw the perfumed "bead-bush," out of whose fragrant roots areshaped the beads held in such esteem among the savage belles of theland. They saw the "sugar-bush," (_Protea mellifera_), with its largecup-shaped pink and white flowers,--the most beautiful of the tribe of_Proteaceae_. There, too, were scarlet geraniums, with marigolds, andstarry Cape jessamines, forming a garden in the wilderness pleasant tothe eye and fragrant to the sense.
The songs of numerous birds fell upon the ear, and their brilliantplumage could be seen as they fluttered among the branches. The hum ofbees, too, was heard; and thousands of these busy insects could be seenfluttering from flower to flower.
It was still early when the party arrived in this delightful spot; butso pleased were all of them with the scene around that they determinedto halt before the usual hour and encamp there for the night.
So, choosing a pretty grove of willow-leafed "olean-wood" trees, thatstood near the bank of the river, they outspanned under their shade.
As they were wearied by their exertions in getting the oxen over somerocky ridges, all lay down to rest under the cool shadow of theolean-woods; and several of the boys went to sleep, lulled by the sweetvoices of the birds, the humming of wild bees, and the rushing sound ofthe water as it passed over some rapids below.
Klaas and Jan, however, had not gone to sleep with the rest, for neitherhad laid their shoulders to the wagon-wheels, and were, therefore, nomore tired than usual. Besides, there was something nigh at hand thatwould have kept both awake, even had they been a good deal fatigued, andthat was the appearance of a pair of very odd-looking birds out upon theplain, at no great distance from the wagons, and that every now and thenraised their black top-knots above the grass and uttered a cry somethinglike the croak of a raven.
These birds were not so very large--about the size of common fowls--butthey were game-birds, having flesh of excellent flavour, and thisrendered them interesting at the moment. They were, also, of veryelegant forms--something of the tall majestic shape of the bustards. Infact, they were of a species that forms a sort of link between thebustards and grouse families; and are known in South Africa as"koorhaans," and in India by the name of "floricans."
But it was nothing of all this that rendered them so interesting toKlaas and Jan. It was that the latter knew a very curious method ofcapturing these very birds, and he was in a perfect fever to put it inpractice right before the eyes of the rival bird-boy Klaas. In fact,ever since the day that Klaas had so distinguished himself by knockingover the klipspringer, Jan had been burning for an opportunity toperform some feat of equal pretensions, but none had turned up. Nowthat these birds--old acquaintances of Jan's they were--had made theirappearance, he saw a fair chance of gaining some renown. He would showKlaas how to catch koorhaans in a proper manner--that he would. So saidJan.
Jan was not long in having his triumph, which he obtained in thefollowing manner.
He first pulled some long hair from the tail of his pony, which hetwisted into a large stout snare. He next proceeded to Swartboy, andborrowed from the Bushman his whip, or rather the handle of the whip--for Swartboy took off the lash to accommodate him. It must be hereremembered that Jan and Swartboy were great allies, and had been so fora long time; and it was in reality Swartboy who had taught Jan thecurious mode he was about to practise upon the koorhaans. It must alsobe remembered that the handle of Swartboy's whip was an immense affair--a bamboo cane, full eighteen feet in length, and more like a fishing-rodthan a whip-handle.
Well, upon the end of this, where the lash had been tied, Jan adjustedhis snare; and then, mounting his pony, rode forth upon the plain.
Klaas stood watching him; and upon Klaas's countenance there was apuzzled expression that Jan did not fail to notice, and that delightedhim exceedingly.
Klaas knew nothing about the _modus operandi_--could not guess how theother was going to act--and his ignorance betrayed itself, though he didnot say a word.
Was Jan going to ride up and snare the birds? Surely they would not lethim come so near? They appeared shy enough, and would not let him,Klaas, come within shot, for he had tried it but the minute before. No:it could not be that way--the koorhaans wouldn't stand it, he knew.
Jan said nothing, but rode triumphantly forth, looking askance at Klaasas he passed out from camp.
When within about one hundred yards of the koorhaans--Klaas expectingevery moment to see them run off as koorhaans usually do--Jan turned thehead of his pony, and commenced riding round in a circle.
This he continued until he had got quite round the first circumference;and then, drawing his pony slightly inward, he began a second circle,which he completed as the first; and then still heading more inward, hemade a third, and a fourth, and a fifth--of all which circles thebustards formed the centre. Of course, it was not exactly a circle hetraced, but a spiral line constantly narrowing inward upon the game.
"Oho!" muttered Klaas, "I see what he's after now. Oho!"
Klaas said nothing more; but remained watching with great interest,while Jan continued round and round like a blind horse in a brick-mill.
But Jan was not blind. He was watching the movements of the koorhaanswith the sharp eye of a bird-catcher.
And these birds were equally watching him--turning their heads now tothis side and now to that; but, like stupids as they were, neglecting touse either their wings or legs to carry them out of the way of danger.
The result was that they permitted the pony, and Jan upon its back, toapproach so near, that the boy was at length able to reach one of themwith the top of Swartboy's long whip-stick, and pass the noose overhead, topknot, and all.
In another moment the bird was fluttering at the end of the bamboo; andJan, without dismounting, pulled the creature in that way up to thewagons, and held it there with an air of triumph that left Klaas withouta word to say for the "balance" of that evening.