Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-02-17
African Adventures

ooOh III ehub NiNihi1J' ~ was OoiOiJ
daylight when we started, after hasty
breakfast, fully intending to lunch at
leisure on a giraffe steak, by no means
despicable delicacy, by way of max
ing amends for the unceremonious
nature of our matutinal repast. |
rode horse that | had christened
Bryan, for the sake of an old friend
horse 80 diabolically ugly, that ones
first impressions were always decided
ly in favor of having him sent out of
the world at once, although a brief
acquaintance proved him possessed Of
certain qualities, such as good nature,
speed and intelligence, which more
than atoned for his lack Of beauty,
He vas great, raw.boned creature,
remarkable for his length Of body,
with neck like sheep, coat thai
was sort of grayish blue, each sepa-
rate hair of which always stood ON
end, as if he had been terribly fright
ened in early youth, and had never
recovered from the effects. In fact,
he looked good deal like a giraffe,
and my companions declared that, il
l rode Bryan, | should possess great
advantage, for the troop would let my
charger approach them very closely,
before they discovered he did not be-
long to their species.
Out we all set in remarkably good
spirits, and for four miles we followed
the tracks of the giraffes over stony
path, covered with little mounds,
among which our beasts stumbled in
a dreadful way. ! was the first to
discover the flock at some distance in
advance | gave a low whistle to warn
my friends, but the quick ears of the
animals caught the sound, and of
they sped, With heetness that was
enough to make one dizzy. Away we
dashed, in mad gallop over the
stones and bushes, and | was about
twenty yards from the hindmost of the
troop, when Bryan stopped short, his
legs trembling and his hair more erect
than ever, in sudden and ill.timed
fear Of the creatures. 1 dug my spurs
into his sides in cruel but effective
way, and turned him against the wind
so that he might not catch the pecu
liar odor emanating from the girahes
which always frightens horse unac
customed to it. We partially sur
rounded the flock, Bryan taking cour
age at the sight of the other horses
which, accustomed to the sport, were
perfectly submissive.
| fixed my eyes upon superb male
that was dashing OH with his tail curl
ell like gigantic corkscrew, making
one leap to every three OF my steed
Bryan was excited by this time, anc
on we dashed, regardless of the thorn,
that tore his sides and rent my cloth
ing to threads. fired once, but with
out any apparent effect unless to in
crease the speed of my victim.
paused. only to reload, and away ",
flew for miles, in straight line, ovel
the rocks and thickets, losing sight o.
my companions, each of whom hac
selected a giraffe for his special chase
Just ae ] was taking aim again, Bryan
knocked himself against thicket
and nearly upset himself and me-s
delay which gave the giraffe an ad
vance of hundred yards. I was nov
near him again away went the ami
NAL like ship under full sail. wa,
so close dozen times, that ] nigh
have killed him, if only could hav,
checked Bryan little. But he hat
the bit in his iron mouth, and showed
no symptom either'of fatigue or terror
At last, we were running side by
side. | aimed and fred the recoi
sent my gun over my head, aud near
| ly broke one Of my fingers, but the
giraffe fell 10 the ground with the
most horrible outcries. In my haste
| had put in double charge Of pow
der, but the giraffe was down, and
Bryan, after one prodigious bound
stopped short. l dismounted, loaded
my gun rather more carefully, des-
patched the poor beast, and waited
for the rest OF the party to come up.
Several of the others had been sues
cessful, and we had a jolly luncheon
under the trees, Bryan coming in for
a great share of fun and admiration.
On our way back to the camp, VIC
encountered several iugitives from the
scattered band, and Immediately gave
chase. We wounded "a female, who
fled with all the energy of despair, and
in the blindness of her pain and fear
drove her long neck into the fork of a
great tree, where she was held help.
less prisoner, and became an easy
victim. IL was late in the afternoon
when we reached the camp-a new
resting.place that we had only estab
lished the day before, aud sat down IL
smoke our mines and talk over the