The luncheon began with cups of cold consommé, and I at once understood that they had a cook in their establishment far superior to ours. Then we had cutlets of African pheasant, fricassee of gemsbok, quail on toast—and real toast it was, too—and a salad made of the same plant as that which Jack used for his. A well-made omelet was one of the items of the feast, and we found afterward that they had sent twenty miles to a native village to obtain the eggs. They served claret and champagne. We had the laugh on them about the champagne, as we had given ice in ours; but it was not so much of a laugh after all, as they had cooled their champagne very fairly by wrapping the bottle in a towel and hanging it in a shady place where the air had free circulation. This is a trick well known in Africa and other warm countries for cooling water or other liquids. In most tropical lands they have porous jars which allow just enough of the water to pass through to keep the surface moist, and the evaporation of this water cools the contents of the jar.
We had green pease, and two or three other vegetables grown in far-off Europe or America, and brought thence in cans. The crowning glory of the feast was a plum-pudding—one of the most delicious that I ever ate. We accused one of the ladies of its construction, but, after indulging in a little badinage concerning it, they admitted that it was one of the products of the canning industry, and they were in no way responsible for it, except for having brought it along.
Well, by the time the luncheon was over we had very materially increased our acquaintance with the fair amazons. We mentioned in the most casual way the game we had seen while coming from our camp to theirs, and suggested with equal carelessness that we thought we would go in pursuit of some of it on the next day. At the mention of the giraffes, and the account of our experiences with them, Miss Boland said she had not yet hunted one of those animals, and hoped she would have an opportunity before long.
Mrs. Roberts made a similar remark, and before we had talked much longer it was agreed that we would make up a hunting-party for the next day. Before we separated it was arranged that we would meet on the following morning, at a point about midway between the two camps, to go in pursuit of the giraffes, in case they should be found near the locality where we saw them.
"I don't know," said Miss Boland, "that I can succeed in bringing down a giraffe, but I will try."
Mrs. Roberts expressed the same doubt and also the same determination, and then we dropped the subject.
Another surprise awaited us at the end of the luncheon, when the coffee was served, and a box of cigars was produced! There is not one African hunter of the male species in a hundred that carries a supply of cigars when going up-country on a hunting-expedition; and that two ladies should be thus equipped was certainly unexpected. The thought arose in our minds as to whether our fair hostesses were themselves devoted to the weed; they allayed our suspicions by telling us that they were not smokers, either of cigars or cigarettes, but had brought along a box of cigars under the impression that they would be useful when entertaining visitors. "I am told," said Mrs. Roberts, "that 'the cigars which a woman buys' are proverbial for their badness. I wish you would tell us frankly whether these are good or not. I bought them of a shopkeeper at Walvisch Bay, and he assured me they were the best in the market."
We all declared that the cigars were excellent, whereupon Miss Boland remarked:
"I suppose you mean they're excellent for South Africa?"
"Well," said Jack, "to be frank with you, they are not the very best cigars in the world, but they are really of very good quality. The shopkeeper undoubtedly told you the truth when he said they were the best in the market—that is, the market of Walvisch Bay. None of the ports of South Africa could produce anything better, with the possible exception of Cape Town, which is accustomed to more luxury than any other place. Set your minds at rest, ladies; any visitor to your camp who smokes a cigar will consider these of a superior quality. He is pretty sure to have been without one for a long time, and therefore will not draw comparisons between these and the choicest Havana weed that ever was made."