As they stood gazing, with hearts full of fear, the two riders appeared coming out of the cloud, and then they were seen to gallop forward over the plain in the direction of the house. They came on at full speed, but long before they had got near, the voice of Swartboy could be heard crying out,—
“Baas Von Bloom! da springaans are comin'!—da springaan!—da springaan!”
CHAPTER III.
THE SPRING-HAAN.
“Ah the springaan!” cried Von Bloom, recognising the Dutch name for the far-famed migratory locust.
The mystery was explained. The singular cloud that was spreading itself over the plain was neither more nor less than a flight of locusts!
It was a sight that none of them, except Swartboy, had ever witnessed before. His master had often seen locusts in small quantities, and of several species,—for there are many kinds of these singular insects in South Africa. But that which now appeared was a true migratory locust (Gryllus devastatorius); and upon one of its great migrations—an event of rarer occurrence than travellers would have you believe.
Swartboy knew them well; and, although he announced their approach in a state of great excitement, it was not the excitement of terror.