He was curious, moreover, to find out whether his own quagga was quite equal to any of its old companions.

So on swept the chase--the eland leading, the quaggas after, and Hendrik bringing up the rear.
Hendrik had no need to ply the spur.

His gallant steed flew like the wind.

He seemed to feel that his character was staked upon the race.
He gained upon the drove at every spring.
The heavy-going eland was soon overtaken, and as it trotted to one side, was passed.

It halted, but the quaggas kept on.
Not only the drove kept on, but Hendrik's quagga following close at their heels; and in less than five minutes they had left the eland a full mile in their rear, and were still scouring onward over the wide plain.
What was Hendrik about?
Was he going to forsake the eland, and let it escape?
Had he grown so interested in the race?
Was he jealous about his quagga's speed, and determined it should beat all the others?
So it would have appeared to any one witnessing the race from a distance.