The Vanished Diamond by Jules Verne

Author:Jules Verne [Verne, Jules]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781411459694
Publisher: Barnes & Noble

CHAPTER XIII

ACROSS THE TRANSVAAL

ON arriving at Potchefstroom, the four travellers ascertained that a young Kaffir, whose description tallied with that of Mataki, had passed through there the evening before. This promised well for the success of the expedition. But it seemed as though the enterprise would take some time, as the fugitive had provided himself with a light carriage drawn by an ostrich, and thus rendered it no easy matter to catch him.

For there are few better goers than these birds, either on the score of endurance or speed. Ostriches of burden, however, are somewhat rare, owing to the difficulty in breaking them in. Hence neither Cyprien nor his companions could obtain any at Potchefstroom, and Mataki was off to the north with a good start and an animal that could put a dozen horses on their mettle.

The only thing left was to follow him as quickly as possible. He had a great advantage in his superior speed as against that obtainable from the mode of locomotion his pursuers intended to adopt. But the strength of the ostrich has its limits. Mataki would be obliged to halt for a time, and if the worst came to the worst, was sure to be caught at the end of his journey.

Cyprien soon had cause to congratulate himself on having brought Li and Bardik with him, when he set about procuring his outfit. It was no easy matter to select only such articles as were useful and necessary. There is no guide like experience. Cyprien was an excellent hand at the calculus, but of the A B C of Veld life, of life "on trek," he knew nothing. And his companions, instead of helping him with their advice, showed rather a tendency to lead him astray.

As far as the tilted waggon, the team of oxen, and the bulk of the commissariat were concerned, there was no difficulty. Mutual interest commanded that these should be judiciously chosen, and Hilton acquitted himself to perfection. But it was not so with matters that were left to individual choice, such, for example, as buying a horse.

Cyprien had noticed in the market a good-looking three-year-old, whose price was not excessive. He had tried his seat, found it suited him, and was about to hand over the money, when Bardik took him aside, and said,—

"Are you going to buy that horse?"

"Yes. It is the best I can find at the price."

"It is not worth having as a gift," answered the Kaffir. "It won't stand a week's travel."

"Why not? Are you trying the medicine-man business?"

"No, pa; but Bardik knows the desert, and says that that horse is not salted."

"Not salted? Do you want me then to buy a horse in a cask?"

"No, pa; but it means that he has not had the Veld disease. He must have it soon, and then if it does not kill him, it will make him useless."

"Oh!" said Cyprien, thinking there was something in the caution after all. "What is the disease?"

"A burning fever and a cough," said Bardik.

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