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diff --git a/21393.txt b/21393.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3ebe988 --- /dev/null +++ b/21393.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10257 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hendricks the Hunter, by W.H.G. Kingston + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hendricks the Hunter + The Border Farm, a Tale of Zululand + +Author: W.H.G. Kingston + +Release Date: May 8, 2007 [EBook #21393] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HENDRICKS THE HUNTER *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +Hendricks the Hunter; or, The Border Farm, a Tale of Zululand, by W.H.G. +Kingston. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +In this well-written book we find ourselves in Zululand, amid the +beautiful scenery of South Africa. Hendricks makes his living by +hunting, and trading the skins and other products. It is a dangerous +way of earning money, and we are with him on one of his trips. There +are dangers from animals, lack of water, snakes, and, of course, the +natives. Some of the latter are friendly, and these are sympathetically +depicted in the story. + +There were quite a few type-setting errors, mainly in wrong, missing, or +superfluous quote signs. We think we have got this right in this +version of the book. + +It makes a good audiobook, of about ten hours' duration. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +HENDRICKS THE HUNTER; OR, THE BORDER FARM, A TALE OF ZULULAND, BY W.H.G. +KINGSTON. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THE TRADER IN ZULULAND. + +Zululand is a wild region of mountain ranges, deep valleys and gorges, +roaring torrents, rapidly flowing rivers, plains covered with mimosa +bushes, meadows where cattle pasture and grow fat, and level plateaux +extending for many miles across it, several hundred feet above the level +of the ocean; while scattered here and there, in some parts pretty +thickly, are to be seen the kraals or villages and the mealy grounds of +the natives. Wild as is the country, and although roads, properly +speaking, there are none, it is sufficiently practicable for waggons in +various directions. + +Some few years back, one of these vehicles, drawn by a span of twelve +oxen, was seen slowly wending its way to the south-west, in the +direction of Natal. It was a loosely yet strongly built machine on four +wheels, fourteen feet long and four wide, formed of well-seasoned stink +wood, the joints and bolts working all ways, so that, as occasionally +happened, as it slowly rumbled and bumped onward, when the front wheel +sank into a deep hole, the others remained perfectly upright. It was +tilted over with thick canvas impervious to rain, the goods or +passengers inside being thus well sheltered from the hardest showers, +and even from the hot rays of the sun. + +The oxen pulled steadily together, as became animals long accustomed to +work in company. On a board in front stood a Hottentot driver, his +black visage surmounted by a broad-brimmed straw hat ornamented by a few +ostrich feathers twined round the crown, while his hand held a whip of +Brobdignagian proportions, the stock being fully fourteen feet, and the +lash upwards of twenty-four feet in length, with which he occasionally +urged on the leaders, or drew blood from the animals beneath his feet, +as well as from those intermediate in the span, whenever a rise in the +ground or its unusual roughness required an additional exertion of their +strength. + +Several black men, of tall sinewy forms and Kaffir features, each +carrying a gun at his back, and a long pole in his hand, accompanied the +waggon on foot. At some little distance ahead rode a florid, +good-looking man, above the middle height, and of strongly built figure, +dressed in a grey suit, with a broad-brimmed hat on his head. He also +carried a gun at his back and a brace of pistols in a broad belt which +he wore round his waist. Though his hair and beard were slightly +grizzled, yet, by the expression of his countenance and his easy +movements, he appeared to have lost none of the activity of youth, while +his firm-set mouth and bright blue eyes betokened courage and energy. +Some horses followed the waggon, secured by thongs of a length +sufficient to enable them to pick their way. A glance into the interior +of the waggon would have shown that it was fully loaded, the chief +contents being the skins of wild animals, the huge tusks of elephants, +and other spoils of the chase, with which the proprietor was returning +after a hunt of many months' duration, to dispose of them at Maritzburg +or D'Urban. + +The horseman was apparently one of those enterprising traders and +hunters who roam over the southern parts of the dark continent to barter +European goods for cattle, skins, ivory, and other produce of the +country. As he was the owner of the waggon and the master of the men +attending it, we will for the present designate him as the Trader. He +generally rode on in silence, amusing himself with his own thoughts, but +occasionally he turned to address a tall Kaffir by his side, whose +leopard-skin robe and head-dress, the long rifle at his back, and the +independent air with which he walked, betokened him to be a leading +hunter, and the familiar way in which he was addressed and replied, +showed that he was held in high esteem by his employer. + +"We must look out for a camping-place before long, Umgolo," said the +trader. "The beasts have had a rough journey, and will require plenty +of time for feeding. Do you go on ahead, and select a spot where grass +and water are to be found, and where we may watch them, and defend +ourselves, should any of the people hereabouts take a fancy to the +beasts or to the contents of our waggon." + +"The master shall be obeyed," answered the Kaffir. "It may be as well, +as he has said, to be on our guard, for the Zulus in these parts are +arrant thieves, and will not scruple to steal if they have the chance." + +The Kaffir, who had of course spoken in his native tongue, hurried ahead +of the team. In a short time the waggon overtook him at a spot which he +had chosen on the slope of a hill forming one side of a valley through +which ran a sparkling stream, the ground in the neighbourhood of its +banks being covered with rich grass. No more favourable spot could have +been selected for the camp, as the stream served as a boundary on one +side, and the hill on the other, so that a man stationed at either end +could effectually prevent the cattle from straying. + +Another valley opened into that along which the waggon was travelling, +and on a level space some considerable way from the bottom could be +distinguished in the distance a circular palisade forming a kraal, the +dome-roofed huts just appearing above the enclosure. It was so far off, +however, that the inhabitants were not likely to have discovered the +waggon as it passed along. + +At that period, it should be understood, the Zulus and their white +neighbours were on tolerably good terms, though some of the former might +occasionally have carried off a few horses or head of cattle belonging +to the settlers, when they could do so without the risk of being caught. +Sportsmen and traders therefore penetrated fearlessly into the country, +the traders carrying cotton goods, blankets, cutlery, and not +unfrequently firearms and powder and shot, which they exchanged for +skins and oxen. + +However, we will return to our friends. At a short distance from the +spot selected by Umgolo for the camp was a wood from which fuel for the +fires could be obtained, and which would have afforded materials for +throwing up a fortification, had such been considered necessary. But +the sturdy owner of the waggon, with his band of expert marksmen, +believed himself well able to cope with any natives who might venture to +interfere with him. + +Having outspanned, or in other words the oxen being unyoked, they +hurried of their own accord down to the stream to drink, attended by two +of the men, with their guns in hand, in case any lion or other savage +beast should be lurking in the neighbourhood. The water was too shallow +for crocodiles, which in many parts have to be guarded against. The +rest of the men were engaged in collecting fuel for the fire, and +cutting stakes and poles to form a temporary enclosure in which the oxen +might be penned during the dark hours of night. + +Meantime the trader, attended by Umgolo, set off in search of a +springboc or a pallah, called also the rooyaboc, or a wild boar or a +water-buck, whose flesh might serve the party for supper and breakfast. +There was no fear of starving in a country where numberless varieties of +animals abounded. They made their way towards a thicket which extended +from some distance up the hill, across the valley, almost down to the +river. Game of some sort was sure to be found within it, while at the +same time they themselves would be concealed by the thick bushes, and be +enabled to get sufficiently close to an animal to shoot it with +certainty. + +It was only, however, in some places that the thicket could be +penetrated; for below the large mimosa trees there grew thorny creepers +and bushes, among which it was impossible to force a passage without the +certainty of having to emerge with garments torn to shreds, and legs +bleeding from lacerations innumerable. Here in wild profusion grew the +creeper known as the "wait-a-bit," because its hooked thorns will catch +the clothes of any person brushing by it, and compel him to wait a bit +until he has released himself by drawing them out one by one. The +natives give it the still more honourable title of "catch tiger," as +they affirm that even that savage creature, who may unwarily leap into +it, will find itself trapped in a way from which there is no escape. +Then there was the cactus with spikes three inches in length, and the +"Come and I'll kiss you," a bush armed with almost equally formidable +thorns, and huge nettles, and numerous other vegetable productions, +offering impracticable impediments to the progress, not only of human +beings, but of every species of animal, with the exception of elephants +and rhinoceroses, which might attempt to force a way through them. + +The hunters had not gone far, when, as they were skirting the thicket, +they came on a small herd of water-buck. The trader, raising his rifle, +fired, and one of the graceful animals lay struggling on the grass. The +rest bounded off like lightning, to escape the shot which the native +discharged. Both hurrying forward, soon put the deer out of its misery. +To follow the rest would have been useless, as they were away far out +of range of their firearms. They therefore at once applied themselves +to the task of cutting up the dead animal, so that they might carry back +the best portions of the meat to the camp. + +While they were thus employed, a crashing sound was heard coming from +the thicket at no great distance, when springing to their feet they saw +before them a black rhinoceros, the most formidable inhabitant of those +wild regions. It is more dangerous to encounter than even the lion or +the elephant, because the only one which will deliberately chase a human +being whenever it catches sight of him, and will never give up the +pursuit, unless its intended victim can obtain concealment, or it is +itself compelled to bite the dust. Its sight is, however, far from +keen; so that if there are bushes or rocks near at hand, it can be +easily avoided. + +Such was, fortunately for the hunters, the case in the present instance. +As on it came thundering over the ground, uttering a roar of +displeasure, the Kaffir, shouting to his master, sprang behind a bush, +near which the deer had fallen. The trader, however, stood firm, his +weapon in his hand, ready to fire, although knowing full well that, +should he miss, the next instant the savage brute would be upon him, and +either gore or trample him to death. + +Flight was out of the question with such a pursuer at his heels, while +even should he now attempt to take refuge behind a bush, the rhinoceros, +close as it was, would probably see him. Notwithstanding this, he +remained motionless; not a limb shook, not a nerve quivered. As the +ferocious monster, with its formidable horn lowered, came rushing on, +the trader, raising his rifle, fired, and then, before the smoke had +cleared off, with an agility which could scarcely have been expected in +a man of his proportions, sprang on one side. Almost at the same moment +a crack was heard from Umgolo's rifle, and the rhinoceros sank to the +ground, uttering a loud scream indicative of pain and also of anger at +finding itself foiled in its onslaught. + +In vain the brute attempted to rise. Umgolo sprang forward and plunged +his assegai into its breast. The hunters' sharp knives soon cut through +the tough skin, and several slices of the flesh were added to the store +of meat with which they set off on their return to the camp. It was the +leader's intention to send some of his people to bring in the horn and a +further portion of the flesh, should it not in the meantime have been +devoured by jackals, hyenas, and other scavengers of the wilds. Their +arrival was greeted with a shout of satisfaction by the people. While +some eagerly set to work to cook the meat brought to them, others went +out to bring in a further supply. On their return, each man loaded with +as much as he could carry, they reported that they had been only just in +time to drive off a pack of wolves which would soon have left them the +bare bones alone for their share. + +Although they had performed a long and rough day's journey, they sat up +round the fire late into the night, cooking and eating the rhinoceros +and water-buck flesh, and relating to each other their oft-told +adventures. As soon as darkness came on, the cattle were driven in and +secured close to the waggon, and sentries, with muskets in their hands, +were placed to watch them, as well as to serve as guards to the rest of +the camp. + +The trader's accustomed sleeping-place was inside his waggon, where, by +the light of a lantern hung from the roof, he could sit and read or +write when so disposed. After allowing his followers sufficient time to +amuse themselves, he shouted to them to cease their noise and go to +sleep. To hear with his well-disciplined hunters and drivers was to +obey, and at once rolling themselves up in their blankets or karosses +they lay down round the fire, which had previously been made up, so as +to last some hours without additional fuel. He then, before turning in +himself, took a turn round the camp, stopping occasionally to listen for +any sounds which might indicate that a lion was prowling in the +neighbourhood. He was just about to return to the waggon, when he +observed emerging from behind a clump of trees in the valley below him +numerous dark figures moving slowly over the ground. He watched them +attentively, and was convinced that they were a party of Zulus bent on a +warlike expedition. Others followed, until a large number had assembled +in the open. Whether or not their object was to attack his camp he +could not tell; but he resolved, should they do so, to defend his +property to the last. He at once called up Umgolo, and in a low voice +ordered him to arouse his companions, but on no account to allow them to +show themselves or to make the slightest noise. These orders were +obeyed, and the trader retired to the shade of his waggon, where he +could watch what was going forward without himself being seen. The +fire, from which a few flames occasionally flickered up, must, he knew, +have shown the Zulus the position of the camp. + +Though he took these precautions for prudence' sake, he did not consider +it likely that the Zulus, who had hitherto been friendly, would venture +to attack him. His followers, however, appeared not to be so well +satisfied on that point as he was; for each man, as he lay on the +ground, examined his arms to be sure that they were ready for instant +action. + +The dark figures moved slowly on, then halted. + +"They are considering whether they shall venture to come against us," +whispered Umgolo. "If they do, we will give them a warmer welcome than +they expect." + +Such might have been the interpretation of his remarks. + +"I still doubt whether they will attack us," answered his master. "They +know too well the power of the white man's powder and lead." + +At that time comparatively few firearms had been introduced among the +Zulus, and they had but an imperfect knowledge of their use. + +Again the black figures began to move, but instead of drawing nearer the +camp, apparently supposing that they had not been observed, they +directed their course towards the kraal which had been observed by the +travellers on the hillside just before they unspanned. + +"They are about to work no good to yonder kraal, or they would not be +moving thus silently at this time of night," observed Umgolo. "Before +morning dawns, not a man, woman, or child will be left alive, and not a +hoof remain inside." + +"I would then that we could give the inhabitants notice of their +impending doom, or save the unhappy wretches by some means or other," +said the trader, more to himself than his follower, well aware that +Umgolo would scarcely enter into his feelings on the subject. + +"It cannot be done," remarked Umgolo. "Any one approaching the kraal +would be discovered by the warriors, and put to death to a certainty." + +"Why do you think that the kraal is to be attacked?" asked his master. + +"This I know, that yonder kraal is the abode of the brave young chief +Mangaleesu, who possesses numerous head of cattle, and has under him a +band of devoted followers. Perhaps Panda, the king of the Zulus, or +some other great chief, covets Mangaleesu's cattle, or fears his power, +and this expedition has been sent out to destroy him and all his people. +It may be that one of Panda's wives has been ill, and the doctor, not +knowing what else to say, having declared that she was bewitched, was +ordered to go and smell out the culprit; the cunning rogue knowing full +well how best to please the king; or, as I remarked, some other enemy of +Mangaleesu has fixed on him." + +"How do you know, Umgolo, that such is the case?" inquired his master. + +"I guess it," answered Umgolo. "Perhaps I am wrong. The young chief +may be an enemy of Cetchwayo, and he it is who has sent the army to +destroy him. He knows the bravery and cleverness of Mangaleesu, who, +had he gained an inkling of what is intended, would have made his escape +into Natal. There may be some other cause for the intended attack, but +I am not far wrong, master, you may depend upon that." + +"I fear, indeed, that you are right in your conjectures," said the +trader. "I am satisfied that the Zulus do not intend to attack us. +Tell the people that they may again go to sleep, and that they will be +summoned if they are required." + +While Umgolo went to execute this order, the trader stood leaning on his +gun at a spot a short distance from the camp, to which he had made his +way the better to watch the proceedings of the Zulu force. He was +considering how he could manage to reach the kraal before the Zulu +warriors had surrounded it, and were ready to commence their work of +slaughter. He might, by following a different direction, and moving +more rapidly over the ground, get to the rear of the kraal, and warn the +doomed inhabitants to flee while there was yet time. Too probably, +however, they would be seen escaping, and would be pursued and +slaughtered before they had time to get to any distance. Still his +generous feelings prompted him to make the attempt. There would be a +considerable amount of risk to himself, though the Zulus at that time +held white men in respect, and himself especially as he had so +frequently traversed their country, and was known to many of them. +Notwithstanding this, if found interfering with their proceedings, they +might, in a sudden fit of anger, put him to death. Leaving the camp, +therefore, he proceeded with rapid steps along the side of the hill, in +the direction the Zulus had taken. Though the kraal was concealed from +view by the shades of night, and no lights issued from it, he well knew +its position. He soon gained a spot whence in daylight he could clearly +have perceived it, when to his grief he saw what might have been +mistaken for a dark shadow creeping over the ground and already +ascending the hill on which the kraal stood. He was now convinced of +the impossibility of getting to it in time to warn the inhabitants of +their impending fate. Perfect stillness reigned around, broken +occasionally by the distant mutterings of a lion, or the melancholy cry +of some beast or bird of prey. Unable to tear himself away from the +spot, he waited, moved by a painful curiosity to learn what would +happen, as he knew that the dusky warriors must have reached the kraal, +though he was unable to see their movements. Still no cry reached his +ear. Had the inhabitants got warning of the intended attack, and beaten +a timely retreat? He hoped that such might have been the case. + +A crescent moon and the bright stars shed a faint light over the scene. +He could look far up and down the valley, but the part where the kraal +stood was shrouded in gloom. Presently the silence was broken by a +chorus of shouts and yells, borne by the night wind from the direction +of the kraal, followed by shrieks and cries which continued without +intermission for some minutes, and then he saw lights glimmering here +and there, increasing in intensity, until a circle of flame burst forth, +rising rapidly as the fire caught hold of the combustible material of +which the kraal was composed. By this time all sounds had ceased, and +he knew that the last of the unhappy inhabitants had been killed. + +Wishing to avoid the risk of meeting any of the savage warriors, should +they cross the hill, he hastened back to the camp. He found Umgolo, who +had discovered his absence, looking out, wondering what had become of +him. + +The Kaffir had heard the yells and shrieks of the savages as they +attacked the kraal, and fearing that his master might have been tempted +to interfere, was proportionally glad to see him return safe. + +They were still standing just outside the camp, when the sound of +approaching footsteps reached their ears. + +"Here come some of the savage Zulus. We must drive them back, if they +intend to molest us," said the trader. + +"No fear of that," replied the Kaffir. "There are but two pair of feet. +See! there they come up the hill." + +The next instant the figure of a young warrior, with assegais in hand, +supporting with his left arm a slight girl, came in sight. The flames +from the fire lighted up their figures. Blood streamed from the side +and right arm of the man. Both were panting for breath. + +"Mangaleesu claims your protection, white chief, for her he loves, and +for himself, that he may avenge the death of those he has lost. You +will not refuse it?" + +"I will gladly conceal you, and afford you all the help I can," answered +the trader. "Come on: there is not a moment to be lost. Your wife can +get into the waggon, and you can lie in the hammock beneath it, where, +even if your enemies come, they will not think of looking for you." + +This was said as the young chief and the girl were being conducted to +the waggon. All was done so rapidly and silently, that none of the +sleeping servants were awakened, and only those who had charge of the +cattle could have observed what had happened, while the curtain which +closed the front of the waggon was allowed to remain open, so as not to +excite the suspicion of the Zulus, should they come to the camp. + +The trader and Umgolo slowly paced up and down with their rifles in +their hands, waiting the arrival of their pursuers. At length they +began to hope that Mangaleesu had evaded them, and that they had gone +off in a different direction. So satisfied were they that this was the +case, that the trader returned to the waggon to see what assistance he +could render to the wounded chief. Mangaleesu, however, made light of +his hurts, although they were such as any white man would have +considered very serious. + +He told his white friend that his wife was uninjured, notwithstanding +the many assegais thrust at her. + +"Have any more of your people escaped from your enemies?" asked the +trader. + +"No; few even fought for their lives," answered the Zulu chief. "When I +was first awakened out of sleep by the shouting around my kraal, I knew +well what was about to happen; but I resolved for Kalinda's sake, as +well as my own, to struggle for life. To fight my way out and to save +my wife, I knew was impossible, had I dashed out boldly as I at first +thought of doing; but she whispered to me, `Let us make a figure; our +enemies will stab at that, and we meantime may perchance get clear.' +The idea struck me as good. She brought me a mat, and we rolled it up +round a thick stick. We then fastened a shield to it, and on the top a +bundle of assegais, as if held in the hand of a warrior. It was much +too dark for our enemies to discover the deceit. When all was ready, I +held the figure in one hand, while I grasped my weapons in the other, +Kalinda keeping close behind me. I then opened the door, and thrust out +the figure in the midst of those standing near, thirsting for my blood. +They instantly, as I knew they would, gathered round it, piercing it +with their assegais. While they were thus employed, I sprang out, still +holding the figure, and in a few bounds reached the inside of the outer +fence, against which I placed my back, and kept my assailants at bay. +As they drew away from the door to attack me, Kalinda rushed out; and +our enemies, who had supposed that there was only one person in the hut, +seeing another appear, fancied that there might be more, and became +confused, not knowing how to act; for many of them had already felt the +point of my assegai. Kalinda, getting close to me without a wound, +threw the figure over the fence, among those guarding the outside. They +instantly rushed at it, leaving the gate for a few seconds unguarded. +This was all I required. Sheltering my wife with my shield, as she +clung to my arm, I sprang with her through the opening, over the bodies +of my slaughtered followers, and before our enemies knew we had gone we +were running like springbocs down the hill. We knew that if our flight +should be discovered we should be pursued, but we hoped that we had not +been seen at the moment we were rushing out of the kraal. I had been +out hunting until late in the evening, and had discovered the tracks of +your waggon. I guessed therefore whereabouts you would camp, and +determined to place my wife under your protection, knowing that while +with you our pursuers would not molest her. For myself, I intended to +follow up my enemies, and revenge myself by trying to kill some of them. +When morning breaks, and they do not find my dead body, they'll know +that I have made my escape." + +"You have acted a brave part," said the trader; "but I would advise you +to let your enemies go their own way. You have saved your young wife +and your own life. You will, I hope, be able to reach Natal in safety, +where you will be free from danger. If you attempt to kill your +enemies, you will very likely be killed yourself, and there will be no +one to protect your wife. You are also now weak from loss of blood, and +although your heart is courageous, your strength may fail you." + +One of the servants had in the meantime been employed, by command of his +master, in making some broth over the fire, which he now brought to the +young chief, who notwithstanding his boasting was very glad to obtain +it, being much exhausted from the exertions he had made. + +The trader then took some to Kalinda, who lay trembling in the waggon, +expecting every moment the arrival of their pursuers to kill her and her +husband. The trader did his best to soothe her fears by promising that +he would not deliver them up to their enemies, even though it should be +discovered where they had taken refuge. + +The remainder of the night passed quietly by. The glare from the +burning kraal could be seen in the distance for some time, but it +gradually died out, and all was dark in that direction. No sounds were +brought down by the night wind to show whether the Zulus were still +surrounding it; but Umgolo, knowing their habits, gave it as his opinion +that they had departed as silently as they had come, after executing +their fell purpose; and that if they had discovered the flight of the +chief and his wife, a party had gone in pursuit of them in the direction +it was supposed they had taken. One thing was certain, it could not +have been suspected that the fugitives had taken refuge in the camp, or +some of their enemies would have arrived before now to demand them. + +The trader had previously determined to spend a day where he was now +encamped, in order to rest his cattle from their rough journey, and he +thought it prudent to adhere to his intention the better to deceive the +Zulus, who would be less likely to suspect that he was sheltering the +fugitives should he remain stationary, than were he to be found hurrying +away from the neighbourhood. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE FOUNDLING OF THE KRAAL. + +The trader having selected three of his men to keep watch, lay down, +wrapped in a mantle of skin, under his waggon, having given up his usual +sleeping-place to his guests. + +No one was seen however, nor were any sounds heard to indicate that any +persons were approaching the camp, and dawn at length broke. + +Rising from his bed under the waggon, the trader walked a few paces +beyond the camp, to take a look over the country around, for the purpose +of ascertaining as far as his eye could help him, whether any of the +Zulus were still in the neighbourhood. The air was deliciously fresh +and balmy, the atmosphere was bright and clear, so that the outlines of +the distant hills were clearly defined against the sky. There were a +few soft, white, fleecy clouds of mist floating here and there, which +the breeze, as the sun rose, quickly dispersed; while below, winding +through the valley, could be seen the sheen of the river between the +clumps of the trees bordering its banks. + +It was difficult to believe that a terrible tragedy had been enacted a +few short hours before in the midst of so lovely a scene. He proceeded +on along the hill to a place whence he could see the spot where the +kraal had existed. Looking through his telescope, he could clearly +distinguish a large black circle of ashes marking the spot where the +habitations of the slaughtered people had lately stood. He could see no +human beings moving about in the neighbourhood, though he turned his +glass in every direction. He feared the worst. + +"Perhaps some of the poor people may have escaped death from the +assegais of their enemies, and may be lying hid in the bushes or +plantations around," he said to himself; "though I fear those savages do +their work too surely to give much hope of that." + +He hastened back to the camp, and having taken a hurried breakfast, and +advised his guests to remain quiet in their places of concealment, he +set out, accompanied by Umgolo, towards the kraal. + +The stream was easily forded. As the morning was fresh, he and his +companion walked briskly on. They were thus not long in reaching the +neighbourhood of the kraal. A dreadful sight met their eyes. +Everywhere the ground was strewed with the dead bodies of its late +inhabitants. As he had supposed, the assegais of the avengers had been +used too well to allow any of them to escape with life. Some lay +outside, others within the two circles of ashes where the huts had +stood. Still it was possible that some might have crept to a distance. +He and his companion searched, however, all round, and although every +bush was examined, no one was discovered, nor did they perceive any +traces of blood which might have indicated that some wounded person had +got thus far from the scene of slaughter. + +They were about to return to the camp, when, looking towards the kraal, +the trader fancied that he saw some object move in the centre among +several dead oxen, which had probably been wounded by the assegais of +the attacking party, and had returned there to die. He accordingly made +his way towards the spot, followed by Umgolo, over the still warm ashes. +He preferred the risk of burning his boots to going round through the +entrance, where the bodies of the slaughtered people lay so thickly that +he could scarcely pass without treading upon them. + +"Who can this be?" he exclaimed as he got near where the dead oxen lay. +"If my eyes do not deceive me, here's a young white boy. Who are you? +What brought you here, my child?" he asked in a kind tone. + +But the boy did not reply. He had been lying between two of the cattle, +partly under one of them, and having apparently been asleep, and just +awakened, was endeavouring to get up. Round his waist was a robe of +monkey skins, and a cloak of wild cat skins hung over his shoulders. +Both were stained with blood, but whether it came from a wound he had +received, or was that of the animals whose bodies had sheltered him, it +was difficult to say. When the trader lifted him up, he evinced no +fear, though he still did not speak. + +"Are you English or Dutch?" asked the trader. "A Zulu you cannot be, +though dressed like one." + +There was no reply. The boy, who seemed to be about eight or nine years +old, looked round with an astonished gaze at the circle of ashes to +which the kraal had been reduced. + +"Why, the poor child is wounded, I fear," said the trader, examining his +arm. "Terror probably has deprived him of his wits." + +As he said this, taking a handkerchief from his pocket, he bound it +round the injured limb, so as to staunch the flow of blood. + +"The sooner we get him to the camp the better: he wants both food and +water. Although he cannot say anything about himself, I have no doubt +that Mangaleesu will be able to give an account of him." + +Saying this, the trader, giving his gun to Umgolo to carry, lifted the +boy up in his arms, and hurried with him down the hill towards the camp. +Had the boy been a Zulu, Umgolo would probably have recommended that he +should be left to shift for himself, but observing his white skin he did +not venture to interfere. + +The child, evidently satisfied that he had found a friend, lay quietly +in the strong arms of the trader, who walked on with rapid steps, +carrying him as if he had been an infant. + +The camp was soon reached, and the trader, placing the boy on some skins +in the shade of the waggon, ordered one of his Kaffirs who acted as cook +to get some broth ready, while he sent off another to obtain fresh water +from the spring. + +This done, he examined the wound in the boy's arm, more carefully than +he had before been able to do. He first got out of the waggon a salve +and some lint, with some linen bandages; for he was too experienced a +hunter to travel without articles which might occasionally be of the +greatest necessity. + +Having taken off the handkerchief and carefully washed the wound in warm +water, he dressed it with the skill of a surgeon. The boy looked up +gratefully in his new friend's face, but still did not speak. The +trader having in vain endeavoured to obtain an answer when addressing +him in English or Dutch, he at last spoke to him in Kaffir. + +The boy at once said, "I thank you, white stranger, for what you have +done for me. I thought at first that you belonged to those who had +killed our people, and that you were going to kill me. Now I know that +you are my friend." + +"You are right, my boy; I wish to be so," said the trader. "But tell +me, how comes it that you who are white, cannot speak your native +tongue?" + +"I have been so long with the Zulus that I have forgotten it," answered +the boy. "I once could speak it, and I well remember the white people I +lived amongst. For a long time I remembered my native language; but as +I always, since I could speak, knew some Kaffir, I soon understood what +was said to me. I had a black nurse, but she was assegaid, and I was +torn from her arms by the Zulus who carried me off. More than that I +cannot tell." + +The kind-hearted trader was obliged to be content with this information. +He was unwilling indeed, till the poor boy had regained his strength, +further to question him, and he hoped to learn more of his history from +Mangaleesu and Kalinda, who he had no doubt would be able to afford it. + +Having given the boy some of the broth which was now ready, and placed a +blanket under his head to serve as a pillow, he left Umgolo to watch +over him. He then went and sat down by the side of Mangaleesu, who +still lay in the hammock under the waggon, not yet recovered from the +exertions he had made on the previous night, and the loss of blood from +his wounds. + +"I have recovered one of your people, and have brought him to the camp," +said the trader. + +"Who is he?" asked Mangaleesu eagerly. "I thought that all had been +killed." + +"Although he has a white skin, he seems by his dress and language to be +a Zulu," answered the trader. + +"Then he must be little Unozingli," said the chief. "I am glad he has +escaped, for he was a favourite with us, and will some day, if he lives, +become a great warrior." + +"By what chance did he happen to be living among you? Although he is +dressed like a Zulu, and speaks the Kaffir tongue alone, he is evidently +the child of white parents." + +"He was brought to my kraal by a tribe from a distant part of the +country, who afterwards joined my people," answered the chief. "They +had taken him, they said, from a black woman who had been killed; but +the child being white, they had been unwilling to destroy him, and had +carried him off with them. He was at once adopted into the tribe, and +has lived with us ever since, learning our customs and language, and we +gave him the name of Unozingli." + +From this answer it was evident that no further satisfactory information +could be obtained from Mangaleesu respecting the boy. This was a +disappointment to the trader. He had hoped, after rescuing the little +fellow, to have had the satisfaction of discovering his parents or +friends, and restoring him to them. He was satisfied that the child was +either English or Dutch, and from his features he was inclined to think +he was the former. + +"I don't fancy calling him by his Kaffir name," he said to himself. "I +must get one more suited to him." As he looked at the thick auburn hair +which hung in curls over the boy's head, his freckled, though otherwise +fair countenance, his large blue eyes, and broad, open countenance, he +exclaimed, "I have it! I'll call him Lionel; for a young lion he looks, +and will, I hope, some day bring down many of the brutes of the forest." + +Unwilling to leave the camp himself, lest their enemies might come in +search of the young chief and his bride, towards evening the trader sent +out Umgolo and another man in search of game to supply his followers +with meat, for in that climate what is killed one day is scarcely +eatable the next. + +He also despatched two others in different directions to ascertain if +any of the Zulus were in the neighbourhood, apparently searching for +Mangaleesu, as he intended in that case to keep the chief and his bride +more carefully concealed until he had carried them safely across the +border. + +The hunters were the first to return, loaded with the flesh of a couple +of antelopes. Soon afterwards, while they were busily employed in +cutting up the animals and preparing them for supper, the scouts came +in, bringing the information that they had seen a large party who seemed +to them coming from the south-west, but who were too far off to enable +them to ascertain who they were. As--the intermediate ground being +uneven--it would have taken them a long time to get nearer, they deemed +it wise to return at once with their report. + +"Whether friends or foes, we are ready for them," said the trader. "In +case they should be foes, we must keep our guests concealed; but from +the direction they come, I think it more likely that they are friends, +and we will have some food ready for them." + +The cooks therefore spitted according to camp fashion an additional +supply of meat to roast, while the trader walked on a short distance in +the direction he expected the strangers to appear. He was not mistaken +in his surmise. After some time he saw through his glass a waggon very +similar to his own, accompanied by two persons on horseback and several +on foot. On this, returning to the camp, he ordered his horse to be +saddled, and went out to meet them. As he was seen approaching, the two +mounted strangers rode forward. + +"What, Hendricks the Hunter!" exclaimed the elder, a tall, gaunt man, +with a weather-beaten countenance, whose grey twinkling eyes, the form +of his features, and his rich brogue showed him to be an Irishman. +"Mighty glad to fall in with you, old friend!" and the gentlemen shook +hands warmly. + +"I'm equally well pleased to meet you, Maloney," answered Mr Hendricks. +"You can give me news of the civilised world, of which I have heard +nothing for many a long month." + +"Faith! as to that, it wags much as usual. Skins are fetching fair +prices, which is good news for you; but the Kathlamba bushmen are again +becoming troublesome, and have lately carried off several head of cattle +and horses from the settlers in that direction, which is a bad matter +for them, while the new arrivals are grumbling and complaining as usual +because they do not find the colony the Eldorado they expected, before +they have had time to dig a spade into the ground or run a plough over +it. For my part, I'm mighty glad to get out of their company and find +myself in the wilderness." + +"So am I generally, after I have been a short time at home, I confess, +though I have many friends in Maritzburg, with whom I am glad now and +again to spend a few days," replied Hendricks. "Had you, however, +waited a little longer, I intended to propose that we should join forces +and travel together. I thought it possible indeed that I might fall in +with you, although as I did not expect to do so for several days to come +I was in hopes that you would be induced to wait for me till I was ready +to make a fresh start." + +"I would willingly have delayed my journey or waited for you, had we met +closer to the Natal border," answered Mr Maloney; "but as you know, it +would not be prudent to remain longer than possible in this part of the +country, and even now, as I shall spend some time trading and hunting to +the south of the Drakensberg, you will probably overtake me before I get +over the mountains." + +"It will be from no fault of mine if I do not," said Hendricks. "I +shall not be long in transacting my business at Maritzburg. However, +we'll talk of that presently; and now come along to my camp, for supper +will be ready by the time we get there. By the bye, who is the lad with +you? He looks somewhat tired from his journey." + +"He is my son Denis, a chip of the old block," answered Mr Maloney. +"To say the truth, however, he is just now somewhat sick, and I'd rather +see him safe at Maritzburg than travelling with me into the wilderness. +I have a favour to ask--it is that you will take charge of him and let +him accompany you back to the town. I shall be mighty thankful to you +if you will." + +"I will do as you wish," said Hendricks, "though the lad, I suspect, +would rather be hunting with you than kicking his heels in town with +nothing to do." + +"He has been too well-trained to dispute my authority," observed Mr +Maloney. "I took him from the office of his uncle, my worthy +brother-in-law, and he must go back for a few months until I return and +am ready to make my next trip. By that time he'll have more muscle and +stamina, and be better able to stand the fatigue and hard life we +hunters have to endure." + +"I'll carry out your wishes with all my heart, and will look after the +lad while I remain in the colony," said Hendricks. + +This conversation took place while the two leaders were riding on +towards the camp, the lad following a short distance behind them. + +Mr Hendricks briefly related to his companion the attack on the kraal, +and the way in which the Zulu chief, his bride and the little boy had +been rescued. "I intend to take the child with me, to leave him in +charge of my good sister, Susannah Jansen," he added. "We may some day +discover to whom he belongs, but I will, in the meantime, act the part +of a guardian to him." + +"It is a kind act of yours, but faith! I suppose I should be after +doing the same sort of thing myself, though I find one son as much as I +can manage. To be sure, all boys are not like Denis here, who boasts +that he shot a springboc before he was ten years old, and that he has +since killed a lion and a wild boar, his great ambition being now to +bring an elephant to the ground." + +As his father was speaking, Denis, who had hitherto kept in the rear, +hearing his name mentioned rode up. + +"I have asked Mr Hendricks to take you back with him to Maritzburg, +where you must wait with all the patience you can muster till my next +trip," said Mr Maloney. "You are not strong enough for the work before +us; and if you knock up, the object of my expedition will be defeated, +for I shall have to nurse you instead of being able to hunt or carry on +trade." + +"I am much obliged to Mr Hendricks, but I don't intend to knock up," +said Denis, not looking very well pleased at his father's proposal. +"I'm a little sick now, but I shall be all to rights in a day or two, +and will be able to continue the journey." + +His looks, however, belied his assertion, though he was evidently doing +his utmost to appear at his ease. + +"Well, well, we'll see about it, my boy; but for your own sake, as well +as mine, I wish you to go back. I took you somewhat against my better +judgment, in the hopes that the journey would strengthen you, instead of +which you look worse than when we started." + +Denis still begged to be allowed to go on, until his father, losing +patience, told him to say no more about the matter; that he should +decide what was best to be done, and should act accordingly. + +Hearing his father say this, Denis, not venturing to make any further +appeal, again dropped behind. + +"You see the boy has a will of his own," observed Mr Maloney. "Though +so tall and full of spirit, he is scarcely twelve years of age, and has +in truth outgrown his strength. Since he lost his mother he has only +had his uncle, Tom Lumly, to look after him when I have been away, and +my good brother-in-law being much taken up with business has had little +time to attend to him, so that he has been allowed to run rather wild. +However, as he is now well able to make himself useful, Tom will give +him work to do, and that will help to keep him out of harm's way." + +"You are right, my friend; there's nothing like plenty of work to help +keep a person out of mischief; but, after all, he must have steadiness +and good principles. They alone are to be depended on, and I hope your +son has got those as ballast." + +The two gentlemen, followed by Denis, soon arrived at the camp. They +found the promised repast spread out under the shade cast by the waggon +as the sun sank towards the western hills. + +The two ciders did ample justice to the venison steaks and other African +luxuries placed before them; but though Denis managed to eat a little, +he had to acknowledge that he was somewhat off his feed. + +Umgolo, who ranked as a chief amongst his followers, and shared his +master's board, ate considerably more than the two white men together. +Mangaleesu and Kalinda, who had been invited, at first hung back, but +overcoming their bashfulness at length came and joined the party, and +did ample justice to the food offered them. At last, little Unozingli, +the white boy, or Lionel, as his protector determined to call him, crept +out from the corner of the waggon, and, tempted by the smell of the +viands, came and placed himself by the side of the Zulu chief, of whom +he showed no fear. + +"The child has been well treated, or he would keep away from our +dark-skinned friend there," observed Mr Maloney. "It's mighty curious +that he's unable to utter a word of English; but he'll find his tongue +soon, when he has stowed away a little food." + +The little fellow, unlike the Zulus, ate moderately, and after taking a +draught of cold water declared that he was satisfied. His wounded arm, +which Hendricks had placed in a sling, did not appear to cause him much +pain; at all events, he did not complain as most boys more delicately +nurtured than he had been would have done. + +The Zulu chief now addressed him in a kind tone. He at once answered, +and was soon chattering away either with him or Kalinda, with whom he +appeared to be a favourite. After this, as he had recovered his +spirits, Hendricks called him to come and sit by his side, and speaking +in the Zulu language, questioned him as to his early recollections, when +his answers fully confirmed the account given by Mangaleesu. + +"Do you wish to return to your white friends?" asked Hendricks. + +The boy's countenance brightened. "I am fond of the chief and Kalinda, +but I should greatly like to see the white lady who often used to talk +to me, and whom I called mother, and a man with hair like mine, who +sometimes carried me on his back or in his arms, and let me ride on his +knee. Then there was the black woman, but I shall never see her, for I +remember well how the Zulus pierced her with their assegais. She fell +into the river and was swept away, while one of the warriors carried me +off." + +"We will try and find your parents if they are still alive, and until +they are found I will be a father to you," said Hendricks. "Will you +trust me?" + +"Indeed I will, for I like your face," answered the boy frankly. + +"I suspect the little fellow is the child of some Dutch boers, +slaughtered by the Zulus, while travelling in search of a location," +observed Hendricks to his guest. "So many of the unfortunate settlers +have thus lost their lives, that it is very improbable I shall ever +discover to whom he belongs. If not, I will adopt him as my son, as he +seems to have been committed to my charge by Providence." + +Meantime Mr Maloney's waggon had arrived, and had been drawn up close +to that of his friend, in such a position that in case of necessity it +might serve to afford additional strength to the camp. Their respective +Kaffir and Hottentot servants had assembled round a large fire a little +distance off, the necessary guards only remaining to watch the cattle. + +As the night was drawing on, and young Denis looked very sleepy, his +father ordered him off to his berth in the waggon, which, though pretty +well loaded with goods for traffic, had space enough for a couple of +sleeping-places. + +The lad got up, and wishing his father and Hendricks "good-night," +sauntered away to the waggon, while the hunters remained seated near the +fire, discussing their plans for the future. The Irishman intended to +push forward through Zululand to a region some distance to the +northward, where elephants, rhinoceroses, and hippopotami abounded, so +that he might obtain a supply of ivory as well as of skins and any other +valuable products of the country which he might discover. + +Hendricks proposed, after remaining at Maritzburg two or three months, +again to set out northward with the same object in view. He however +relied less on trading than his own skill as a hunter to load up his +waggon. + +"If you find my boy well enough, and think fit to bring him along with +you, do so; though don't tell him of your intention until the time for +starting has arrived, or he will not settle down to his work in the +town," said Maloney. + +His friend promised to carry out his wishes, and at last, their various +plans being arranged, they gave the word to their followers to go to +sleep, while they themselves retired to their respective waggons. + +A resting-place had been constructed for the young chief and his wife +under the waggon, and little Lionel, who did not occupy much space, +crept into his corner on the top of the cargo beneath the tilt. + +Before lying down Hendricks took a turn round the camp to ascertain that +the guards were properly posted and on the watch. This precaution his +friend did not appear to have considered necessary, a single Hottentot +alone being left to watch the cattle. The night was calm and clear, +enabling him to see a considerable distance both up and down the valley. + +No sounds broke the silence, and if there were lions or other wild +animals in the neighbourhood, they did not make themselves audible. +Satisfied that all was right, he at length got into his usual berth, and +was soon fast asleep. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +LOST AND FOUND. + +Hendricks was awakened by the voice of Maloney shouting-- + +"Do you know what has become of my son Denis? The boy is not in his +berth, and none of my people can tell where he has gone. They all +declare that they did not see him leave the camp, and though I have been +shouting to him for the last ten minutes, he has not replied to me." + +The hunter, springing out of the waggon, answered-- + +"As I have been fast asleep I cannot tell you, but the chances are that +he has taken his gun to show his skill as a sportsman, and hopes to +bring back a pallah or springboc for breakfast. We must ascertain in +what direction he has gone. Perhaps some of my Hottentots who went down +with the oxen to the stream may have seen him." + +Neither of the Hottentots, however, could give any account of the +missing boy. The men who had been on guard were also questioned, but +none of them had seen him, and from the answers they gave it seemed more +than probable that they had been nodding at their posts. One of them at +last acknowledged that he had caught sight of a figure, just before +daybreak, some little distance from the camp, going to the northward. + +Further search was made, and Denis not appearing, his father and +Hendricks determined to set off in quest of him, in the direction he was +supposed to have gone, leaving orders with their followers to get +breakfast ready and to prepare for inspanning directly they returned. + +"I fancy that my first suspicions are correct, and that your boy wants +to prove how able he is to accompany you," observed the latter. "If he +appears loaded with venison, it will be difficult to persuade him to the +contrary." + +"Faith! the young rascal has spirit enough, but his strength is not +equal to it," answered Maloney. "If I take him with me, he'll be +getting into mischief; whether, therefore, he appears loaded with +venison or empty handed, nolens volens, I'll send him back with you." + +While they were speaking, the sound of footsteps was heard coming up +behind them. They both turned expecting to see Master Denis; but +instead, little Unozingli the white boy, or Lionel, as Hendricks called +him, came running up to them. + +"What brings you after us, boy?" asked Hendricks in Zulu. + +"To help the masters find my white brother," answered the boy. "I know +the way he has taken, for I saw his footsteps on the grass, though the +master may not have discovered them. We shall find him in time, but he +may already be some distance away." + +"I will trust you, boy, and am glad you came," said Hendricks. "But how +is it you are so confident of finding him?" + +"Because I have often gone out with my Zulu masters to search for game, +and sometimes to follow their enemies, and I know the signs on the +ground which guided them. Here the grass pressed, there a twig broken +off, or a stone moved, or the mark of feet on the sand or soft earth." + +"You understand what is wanted, I see. Come with us," said Hendricks. +Then turning to his companion, he added, "The boy's wits have been +sharpened by his life with the blacks. I have always noted that when a +white man has the same necessity for acquiring knowledge as savages, he +always surpasses them. In course of time, had that boy continued with +the Zulus, he would have become a great chief among them, and would +probably have made himself a terror to the settlers, had any cause of +quarrel arisen. It's an ill wind that blows no one good, and it's +fortunate for him as well as for the settlers, that the kraal was +destroyed and that he was liberated." + +The boy, on obtaining permission to accompany his new friends, +immediately took the lead, with his eyes fixed on the ground, at a pace +with which they found it somewhat difficult at times to keep up. The +trail, or as the Dutch call it, the spoor, when an animal is being +tracked, must have been remarkably clear to the eyes of the little +fellow; for he did not hesitate a moment, though the white men, with all +their experience as hunters, were unable to distinguish any of the marks +by which he was guided. Several animals were seen as they went along. +Now a buffalo would dash out of a thicket, and go rushing at a rapid +rate across their path. Now a herd of peewas were caught sight of, +making their way towards the stream to take their morning draught. +Presently a flock of Guinea fowl would rise from the tangled underwood, +and fly hither and thither, filling the air with their discordant notes. +Then suddenly a white rhinoceros would appear strolling along, until, +seeing the strangers, he would break into a gallop similar to that of a +well-bred horse; notwithstanding his heavy body, showing a splendid +action, with his head well up, and moving at a pace few horses could +rival. But these occurrences did not for a moment draw off the boy's +attention. The heat as the sun rose became excessive, beating down with +a force which only those accustomed to the wilds of Africa could have +borne without complaining. + +After going a considerable distance the boy stopped and examined the +ground. What was the horror of Hendricks and Maloney to see the grass +stained with blood! It was too probably that of Denis. + +"The poor boy must have been struck down by a lion, and has been carried +off into the thicket," exclaimed his father. + +"I am not so sure of that," answered Hendricks. "What is it, +Unozingli?" + +"The white boy shot a pallah, which galloped off away out there, and he +followed," answered the little fellow, pointing to the north. "We shall +find him before long. He thought to get another shot, but he had little +chance of that." + +Scarcely had he spoken when a roar was heard coming from the direction +towards which he pointed. He looked anxious; it was the voice, +undoubtedly, of a lion. + +"Come on!" he said; "but be ready to fire." + +Presently another roar was heard, but this time there were the voices of +two lions--the sound, however, came from a considerable distance. The +hunters pressed on. They were too well accustomed to encounter the +monarch of the wilds under ordinary circumstances to have any feeling of +alarm for themselves, but they became intensely anxious about Denis; +still it was not likely that the lions would be roaring had they seized +him. They hurried on even faster than before, though they had several +times to turn aside to avoid the thorny thickets in their path, through +which even their young guide did not attempt to make his way. The +sounds grew louder and louder. They were approaching the spot where the +lions would be discovered. For their own safety it was necessary to be +cautious. Their great hope was that Denis had turned aside, and that +the beasts were roaring over the body of the wounded pallah which they +had brought down. Still Lionel, though he slackened his pace, did not +hesitate, but went on, his eyes peering about in every direction. He +seemed to place perfect reliance on the power of his companions' +firearms. For some time the roaring ceased. Could the brutes have gone +off, or were they watching the approach of the strangers? Suddenly +three lion cubs burst out from a thicket. Maloney was instinctively +about to fire, but Hendricks stopped him. "Take care! the old ones are +not far off. Those little brutes were sent out by the lion and lioness +to watch us." + +As he said this, the cubs, turning round, galloped off to the left up +the hill. Cautiously the hunters advanced. It was well they did so, +for scarcely had they gone fifty paces more when a lion and lioness +suddenly bounded out with rapid strides, their heads and tails up. + +"You take the lioness, I'll take the lion," said Hendricks calmly, while +the boy, showing no signs of fear, stepped behind his friends. All at +once the lion stopped, then gazing a moment at the intruders, galloped +off after the cubs, but the lioness still came bounding on. Hendricks +on this refrained from pulling his trigger. Maloney fired, the ball +struck the savage animal in the neck, but notwithstanding on she came +towards him, and in another instant would probably have laid him low on +the ground with a blow from her powerful paw. It was fortunate that +Hendricks had not thrown his shot away. He stood as firm as a rock, and +raising his rifle aimed at the lioness's chest. She made one bound into +the air, and fell close to his feet. She was still not dead, and he, +grasping the boy by the arm, sprang to a distance on one side while +Maloney leapt to the other. She made several efforts to reach them, +crawling along for some distance on the ground, but in vain attempted to +rise, and after giving a few convulsive struggles, she fell over on her +side dead. + +"My poor boy, my poor boy! If he has encountered those brutes, what +chance of escape can he have had?" exclaimed Maloney. + +"We'll hope for the best. Come on," was the answer. And not stopping, +as they would otherwise have done, to skin the lioness, they hurried +forward, led by their young guide. + +"He's not far off, he has not been killed," he said, in answer to a +question Hendricks put to him. + +Presently a shout reached their ears, and looking up, there, to their +intense relief, they saw Master Denis seated amidst the branches of a +tree, well out of reach of the lions. Below it lay his gun. + +"Have you settled the brutes?" he shouted out. "I'm glad you have come, +for I'm desperately hungry. They seemed inclined to keep me here all +day. If I hadn't had to leave my gun on the ground, I should soon have +driven them away. I saw the brutes just in time to scramble up here." + +"You may thank heaven that you were not torn to pieces by them," said +Hendricks. + +"Come down, Denis," cried his father, thankful that he had escaped, and +too glad to find fault with him just then. + +The boy made his way down, but would have fallen on reaching the ground, +had not his father caught him. He looked paler even than on the +previous evening, but that was not surprising, considering the alarm he +had been in, and that he had had no breakfast. It was important that +they should get back to the camp as soon as possible, and the two +hunters, each taking an arm, helped him along, for by himself it was +very evident that he would have been unable to walk even a short +distance. + +"You have given us a pretty fright, Denis," said his father. "What made +you take it into your head to start off alone from the camp, without +letting any one know where you were going?" + +"Faith! for the sake of showing you what I could do," answered Denis. +"Besides, I just honestly confess that I thought you would have +inspanned and come along this way, when I hoped you would not have +refused to take me with you." + +"I thought as much, but you've gained nothing by the move," observed his +father. "You have shown me more clearly than before that you are +utterly unfit to go through the fatigues of a hunter's life. You'll +just take advantage of the kind offer of our friend here, and go back +with him to Maritzburg." + +Poor Denis looked very crestfallen, but said nothing, for he did not +feel just then well able to enter into a controversy with any one. +Indeed, he was growing weaker and weaker, and it seemed more than +probable that he would be unable to get back to the camp unless he was +carried. Little Lionel had picked up his gun, and was staggering ahead +with it over his shoulders. He kept his eyes looking about him as if on +the watch for something or other. Presently he cried out in Zulu, "Be +on your guard, white chief. See, see! there they come!" and Hendricks +caught sight of the lion, followed at a distance by the cubs, stealing +down the hill towards the spot where the lioness had been shot. He kept +his eye on the animal, to watch its movements. Both he and Maloney had +loaded with ball, and they now halted until the lion came within range +of their weapons. + +The brute moved slowly on, and then suddenly sitting up on its haunches, +surveyed them at a distance. + +"The lion has no stomach for a fight. We may go on," said Hendricks. +They walked on supporting Denis, while the boy kept close to their side +until they had passed the body of the lioness, the lion all the time +retaining its position, conscious probably that its duties were to +protect its cubs. They went on and on until they got out of sight of +the lion, which, when they last saw it, had not moved from its post. +Very frequently, however, Hendricks looked back to ascertain whether the +animal was following them. "After all, they are cowardly brutes," he +observed. "They will seldom attack a man when they see he is prepared +for them, unless hard pressed by hunger. I have never found them +otherwise." + +A rhinoceros, a panther, and several deer were seen, but they had no +further interruptions to their progress, and at length the camp was +reached. They found breakfast ready for them. From the appearance of +Denis, who scarcely ate a morsel, it was more than ever evident that he +would be unable to accompany his father. It was doubtful indeed whether +he would be able to start with Hendricks the following morning, unless +room could be found for him in the waggon. In the meantime a bed was +made up for him in the shade beneath it, consisting of a blanket and +kaross, the latter being a robe composed of jackal skins sewn together. +Hendricks, although anxious to get to Maritzburg, agreed to wait until +the following morning, when it was hoped that Denis would be able to sit +his horse, and benefit by the fresh air of the early day. + +His father was very grateful to their friend for his kindness. + +"Don't talk about it," answered the sturdy hunter. "Our oxen will +benefit by having another day's rest and good feeding, which neither +yours nor mine are likely to obtain for some time to come; for when once +I inspan, I shall let nothing stop me until I get to the end of my +journey, and you, of course, will have to traverse the barren country I +lately passed over." + +The young chief, however, showed great impatience at the delay. He +evidently feared that his countrymen would discover him and drag him +from the protection of the English. He expressed this idea to +Hendricks. + +"They will have to fight pretty hard to do that, and you must not be +slow to defend yourselves," observed the hunter. + +The black chief flourished his assegai with a fierce look. "Mangaleesu +has shown what he can do, and he will not yield while life lasts," he +exclaimed. + +"Those who are ready to fight for themselves merit assistance," observed +the hunter. "Rest assured, we will not deliver you up." + +During the hot hours of the day the Kaffir and Hottentot servants lay +about in whatever shade could be found, some smoking, others spinning +interminable yarns, but the larger number passing the time fast asleep, +stretched on the ground with a few boughs or pieces of blanket over +their heads. Occasionally the Hottentots were roused up to take then +turn in watching the cattle, on which, even during the day, it was +necessary to keep a bright look-out lest a lion might pounce down upon +them, or a black rhinoceros charge into their midst and put them to +flight. At length Hendricks called out the hunters, and sent them in +search of game. While they took one direction, he himself, with +Maloney, accompanied by Umgolo, proceeded higher up the mountain-side, +his object being to discover if there was any more practicable route +than the one by which the latter had come, as also to ascertain if there +were any native kraals in the neighbourhood. The summit of the hill was +soon reached. + +"It is as I thought," said Maloney, after they had surveyed the country. +"You'll not find a better road to the east or west, bad as it is; if +you make the attempt, you'll very likely get out of the frying-pan into +the fire." + +On either side were seen a succession of tree-covered heights, through +which no waggon could force its way, unless preceded by a party of +pioneers to cut down the trees and bridge the ravines. In the far +distance were a few kraals with open spaces marking the mealy grounds of +the inhabitants, but in other respects the whole country was a perfect +wilderness. + +As they were descending they caught sight of a graceful animal which at +that moment had leapt on a rock not far from them. In colour and +appearance it resembled the common roe, but was considerably smaller. +On seeing the strangers, it was on the point of turning to escape, when +Hendricks, raising his gun in a moment to his shoulder, fired, and the +little klipspringer fell from the projecting rock on which it was +standing, down on the smooth side of the hill, where it lay motionless. +The klipspringer is one of the most active of antelopes, differing from +others of its species in having small hoofs and somewhat short legs for +its size, thus adapting it to its roaming mountainous life, while the +hair is so loose in the skin, that even in the short distance the animal +just shot had fallen, a considerable part had been knocked off. Umgolo +at once shouldered it, and without difficulty carried it off to the +camp. Had it been a load of any other description, he would have +declined to demean himself by lifting it on his shoulders. On their way +back, the hunters shot several dassi, or rock rabbits, which thus paid +the penalty of their curiosity as they came out of their holes to look +at the passers-by. Their flesh, although not so highly flavoured, was +more likely to prove tender than that of larger game, and they were thus +an acceptable addition to the store of meat. + +Poor Denis made his appearance at supper-time, somewhat revived by a +long sleep. Although he tried to be cheerful, and declared that he was +fit for anything, it was still very evident that he would be unable to +accompany his father. + +Except that there was a continual serenade of hyenas and jackals, with +the occasional low mutterings of lions in the distance, the night passed +quietly by. Before dawn the next morning both camps were astir. After +a hurried breakfast the oxen were inspanned, and Denis was placed in the +homeward-bound waggon. His father having taken leave of him, and parted +from Hendricks with a hearty shake of the hand, the two vehicles +commenced their journeys in opposite directions. Mangaleesu and Kalinda +walked together close to the waggon, and it had been arranged that +should any natives appear, she was to get inside, while the young chief, +who had put off the insignia of his rank, and was dressed like one of +the other natives, would then, it was hoped, pass without discovery. +Little Lionel, whose wound was slighter than at first supposed, and who +seemed to look upon it as a mere scratch, some times trotted alongside +them, and at others clambered up by the side of the driver, to whom he +took an especial fancy. Denis frequently called him to sit in the +corner at the other end of the waggon, and amused himself by trying to +teach him English, which the boy acquired with wonderful rapidity, it +being scarcely ever necessary to tell him twice the name of a thing. + +"I'm sure the little chap is English," said Denis to Hendricks, when +they outspanned for the night. "Had his parents been Dutch, he would +not have recollected the names of things so uncommonly fast as he does. +When I put my hand to my head, and said head, he immediately repeated +the word after me, and when I asked him again ten minutes afterwards he +had not forgotten it. When I touched my cap, without telling him the +name, he at once said `cap.' If he goes on at that rate, he'll be able +to talk English before we get to Maritzburg, and I shouldn't be +surprised if he will then be able to give us a more clear account of +himself than he has hitherto done." + +"That's right, Denis; go on and try to make him talk as much as you can. +I have got some books, and you may be able to teach him his letters, +and perhaps even to read before the journey is over," said Hendricks. +"He is a sharp little fellow, no doubt about that, and will do credit to +your instruction." + +Denis looked well pleased at this remark. He was flattered at the +confidence placed in him, and was thus reconciled to sitting quietly in +the waggon all day, instead of mounting his horse. He was really unfit +for hard exercise, though, had he not found this employment, he would +probably have been restless and discontented, and would have insisted on +mounting his horse, and exposing himself to the hot sun. + +Day after day the waggon moved on, generally only ten miles were +accomplished, frequently even less, and seldom much more, except when +the ground was level and hard. Occasionally the men had to put their +shoulders to the wheels to help on the oxen where the ground was +unusually steep. On these occasions the young chief made himself +useful, not disdaining to labour with the other men. He appeared +desirous, indeed, of showing his gratitude to Hendricks for the +protection afforded him. He still, however, did not seem to be at his +ease. Whenever a height was reached, his eye ranged anxiously over the +country, as if he expected his enemies to be coming in search of him. +Hendricks inquired one day who he supposed was the leader of the attack +against the kraal. Was it Cetchwayo? he asked. "No, but Mapeetu, +another chief, a great friend of his. He had seen Kalinda, and wished +to make her his wife, but she ran from him because she loved me, and she +became mine. He knew that he could not get her back, because I kept too +strict a watch over her, and would never allow her to go out of the +kraal without going myself, with a strong party; so in revenge, when one +of the king's wives fell ill, he bribed the doctor to declare that I had +bewitched her. I heard of this, and so, when the king sent for me, +knowing that I should be murdered on the way, I refused to go. Mapeetu +was cunning, and appeared to have forgotten all about the matter. This +threw me off my guard, or I should have moved with my people and cattle, +as soon as our crops had been gathered in, to another part of the +country. Thinking that all was secure, I kept no watch at the kraal +that night, but the moment I heard the sounds outside, I knew what was +about to happen, and resolved to fight, not so much to preserve my own +life, as to prevent Kalinda from falling into the power of Mapeetu. Had +she been killed, I would have sought him out, and followed him through +the country until I had satisfied my revenge." + +"I am glad that you both escaped. And now tell me; how are you going to +support yourself in Natal?" asked Hendricks. + +"Where game is abundant one need never be anxious on that score," +answered Mangaleesu. "When I have provided for my wife, I intend to +return to Zululand and punish Mapeetu for the slaughter of my people. +Cetchwayo will not dare to kill me, for it will be acknowledged that a +chief so brave as I have proved myself could not have been guilty of +witchcraft. Then, when I have gathered some people round me, and have +built another kraal, I will go back for my Kalinda." + +Hendricks, though suspecting that the young chief would probably lose +his life in endeavouring to carry out his plan, was well aware that to +attempt dissuading him from it would be useless; he therefore simply +observed, "You have a good many things to do first, and perhaps you will +not find it as easy as you suppose to obtain a livelihood in Natal." + +The chief looked somewhat disconcerted at this remark, but the next +moment drawing himself up proudly, he answered-- + +"Mangaleesu's strong arm and rifle will supply him and his wife with all +their wants. The Zulus are not like you white men, they can live where +you would starve." + +"You are a brave young man, but you have no rifle and ammunition to +begin with," said Hendricks. "However, I will supply you, and will +purchase the skins you bring me at a fair price. In that way, if you +hunt diligently, you will be able to support yourself and your wife." + +The chief appeared well pleased with this arrangement, and did not for +the remainder of the journey again talk of returning to Zululand to +revenge himself on his enemies. When the waggon was passing in the +neighbourhood of kraals, the natives on several occasions paid Hendricks +a visit, supposing that he had come to trade with them; but, as his +goods were exhausted, and his waggon already fully loaded, he told them +that he could do no business, and they soon again took their departure. +None of them appeared to recognise Mangaleesu, and as Kalinda always +cautiously crept inside she was not seen. It was therefore hoped that +Mapeetu had no suspicion of how the young chief and his bride had +escaped, and that the party ran no risk of being molested. Several not +very important adventures were met with. Game, which was everywhere +abundant, was killed to supply the travellers with food, and at length +descending from the high ground they reached the colony. They had a +considerable distance to travel, but all danger from hostile Zulus was +over. A journey of about ten days brought them in sight of the high +black hills, devoid of a single tree, which bound Maritzburg on the +north and north-west. Soon afterwards the town itself appeared, +situated on a large knoll or plateau, rising out of a natural basin, and +almost surrounded by "little Bushmans" river. Crossing the stream, the +waggon passed along a broad road bounded by green hedges of pomegranate, +enclosing nicely kept gardens, in which stood neat little whitewashed +cottages with verandahs in front, round whose posts were twined +beautiful and luxurious creepers. By the side of the water-courses by +which the gardens were irrigated, coming from the main stream, grew +weeping willows and lilac trees, with several other water-loving and +rapidly growing shrubs. The streets of the town were at right angles; +the houses uniformly white, few of them being of more than one story, +but all looking very neat and clean, as did the streets themselves, with +channels of clear water flowing on either side, affording the +inhabitants an abundant supply for all their wants. Indeed, it could +not but be acknowledged that the site of Pieter Maritzburg had been +admirably chosen for a colonial town. + +Hendricks having outspanned in an open place at the entrance of the +town, left Umgolo to look after the waggon, and took Denis and Lionel to +dispose of them as he had arranged. Denis was kindly received by his +uncle, who, thanking Hendricks for having brought him back, promised to +give him employment until his father should come or send for him. Denis +seemed very sorry to part from Lionel, who had been so long his pupil. + +"Don't you be after forgetting all I have taught you, Lionel," he said. + +"No fear, me no forget," answered Lionel, laughing. "Soon talkee +English well as Den 'self." + +The little fellow, as he walked alongside his tall friend, gazed with +astonishment at all he saw, and when he came near the public buildings-- +which though unpretending edifices enough, were of gigantic size +compared with any structures he had seen--he opened his eyes and +inquired how men could ever manage to put them together. + +Mr Hendricks led him through the town, until they reached a neat little +cottage standing in a nicely kept garden surrounded by a pomegranate +hedge, and full of gay flowers. In front of the house was a porch, +round the posts of which were trained several luxuriant creepers, so as +to hang in festoons from the roof. The floor was paved with Dutch +tiles, kept as polished and clean as a dinner-table. + +As they entered through the wicket gate, a fair, portly-looking dame, of +a comely and cheerful countenance, her white cap concealing her smooth +light hair, appeared at the door. + +"What, do my eyes deceive me? or do I really see my dear brother safe +and sound in limb and body?" she exclaimed, sticking her +knitting-needles and balls of cotton into one of her ample pockets, +ready for the affectionate embrace she was prepared to give and receive. + +"Yes, indeed, you see me as strong and hearty as ever, and richer than I +have been since I first started off from home as a younker, with a pack +at my back and a rifle in my hand. Never have I made a more successful +trip; for I have returned with the waggon so loaded that I sometimes +feared the stout wheels would give way under the weight they carried." + +"What young stranger have you brought here?" asked the dame, after the +first salutations were over. "A fine little child, by my troth!" + +Hendricks briefly described how Lionel had come into his hands. "And I +want you, my good sister, to take charge of him, and bring him up, until +by some means we may discover his parents. He will repay your trouble +if I judge rightly of his disposition; and although he has no large +amount of English at his command at present, he will soon chatter away +fast enough to afford you plenty of amusement." + +Kind Mistress Jansen, taking the boy by the hand, and drawing him +towards her, answered, "That I'll do with all my heart, and we shall be +good friends at once, shall we not, my boy?" + +The little fellow did not answer, but looked up at Hendricks as if +asking him to reply. The hunter spoke a few words in Zulu, on hearing +which the child's eye brightened. + +"I have told him that you will be a mother to him Susannah, and he seems +well pleased at the thought." + +That matter being settled, the hunter having taken a cup of tea with his +good sister, and enjoyed a little further conversation, left his young +_protege_ with her, and returned to where his waggon and followers were +encamped to make arrangements for the disposal of his cargo. Finding, +however, that it would be well worth his while to proceed to D'Urban, he +the following day set off for that town, to dispose of the produce of +his hunting, and to procure fresh goods for his next journey. According +to his promise, he made a present of a good rifle and stock of +ammunition to the young chief Mangaleesu, giving him authority to +procure a further supply of powder and shot when that was exhausted. + +Lionel was soon perfectly at home with Mistress Jansen. He showed an +amiable disposition, and willingly obeyed her, but at the same time she +discovered that he had several savage habits and customs to be cured of. +Young as he was, he showed a fearless and independent spirit, but she +endeavoured by kind and judicious treatment to keep him in good order. +He paid almost a daily visit to Denis Maloney to be taught his lessons; +but Mistress Jansen took upon herself to give him instruction in +religious truth, of which very naturally he was totally ignorant. He +had no idea that there was a God in heaven, or how the world had been +formed, or of a future state, and it was some time before he could +comprehend the plan of salvation, while he exhibited a woeful ignorance +of what was right and wrong. Had he been older, the task of instructing +him would have been more difficult, but as it was, his mind in most +respects was a perfect blank. He was ready enough, however, to receive +the impression his kind instructress endeavoured to make. As he gained +knowledge himself, he felt very anxious to impart it to Mangaleesu, who +had built a hut on the nearest piece of wild land he could find to the +town. Here he lived with the independence of a Zulu chief and +gentleman, his wife attending to household affairs of a very primitive +description, while he, gun in hand, hunted through the neighbourhood, +and never failed to obtain an ample supply of food. The agent of +Hendricks also was always ready to make advances on the skins of the +animals and the feathers of the birds he shot, which afforded him and +his wife all the other necessaries of life. Though he listened to what +Lionel had to say, he had always a ready answer to excuse himself for +not following his advice. At the same time he assured the boy that he +should be very glad to see him whenever he would come to pay him a +visit. By this means Lionel kept up his knowledge of the Zulu language, +which there would have been a risk of his forgetting while he was +acquiring that of English. + +When his guardian returned from D'Urban, he was greatly surprised at his +proficiency, not only in speaking, but in general knowledge. + +"If you continue as you have begun, Lionel, you will soon be able to +accompany me on my journeys, and make yourself very useful in a variety +of ways," he said. + +"Then I'll make great haste," answered Lionel. "I'll go with you as +soon as you will take me, and learn how to shoot lions and elephants, +and Zulus too, if they try to treat us as they did the people in +Mangaleesu's kraal." + +Lionel had still need of further religious instruction, as his last +remark showed, and good Mistress Jansen endeavoured to give it by +teaching him "to love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, to do +good to them that hate us, and to pray for them which despitefully use +and persecute us." + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +A JOURNEY NORTHWARD. + +What the camel is in Northern Africa--the ship of the desert--so may be +considered the waggon in the southern part of the dark continent. It +may be likened indeed to a huge, deeply laden merchantman, steadily +making her way amid the rolling waves of the ocean. + +Some time had passed, not reckoned by months only, but by years, since +the events narrated in the previous chapters occurred, when one of those +lumbering vehicles, dragged by a span of fourteen sturdy oxen, was +rolling along through the eastern part of Natal towards the Zulu border. + +A short distance ahead rode our old friend Hendricks the hunter, +scarcely changed since we first knew him, except that his beard might +have become slightly more grizzled, and that here and there a wrinkle +had deepened on his open countenance. Occasionally a shade of +melancholy passed over it, as he spoke to a companion who rode at his +side on a light, active little horse. + +"It was His will who rules all things, Lionel, to take her; but I would +rather you had remained some time longer under her fostering care, +instead of commencing the rough life you will have to lead with me. But +she has done you justice. You are better fitted morally and physically +for what you may have to go through, than I might have ventured to hope. +You will be of great service to me, as I can rely on you in a way I +cannot even on Umgolo, or certainly on the rest of our Kaffir and +Hottentot servants." + +"Thank you, uncle, for your good opinion of me," answered Lionel, who +had learnt to call his kind protectress, Mrs Jansen, by the name of +aunt, and very naturally in consequence addressed her brother, the +hunter, as uncle. "I will do my best to show my gratitude to you, and +to Aunt Susannah for all her kindness to me. Though I shall never see +her again, I cannot help fancying that she will know what I am about. +It was a sad day when she was taken from us so suddenly, and I thought I +should have broken my heart if you had not arrived. I was so happy with +her, that I never wished to be away, though I used to like going out +with Mangaleesu, and shooting with the little fowling-piece you gave me, +as long as he lived in the neighbourhood. Did you know that a short +time ago he and his wife disappeared without saying where they were +going? When I last went to see them, what was my dismay to find their +hut burnt to the ground! At first I was afraid that they had been +murdered; but Denis Maloney, who accompanied me the next morning, and I +could discover no remains of anything belonging to them, and he is of +opinion that they had some reason for going off. If they hadn't been in +a desperate hurry, they would, I am sure, have come to bid us good-bye." + +"I have no doubt that Mangaleesu was summoned by a superior chief to +whom he owes allegiance for some special object--probably to take part +in an attack on another chief. We shall hear about it when we get into +Zululand," replied Hendricks. "You were speaking just now of young +Maloney. I am glad to hear so good an account of him; he appears to +have acted the part of a true friend to you." + +"Indeed he has, and I am much obliged to him. It was fortunate for me +that he remained in Maritzburg so long, for he taught me a great many of +the things I know. Still he declares that he hates books, and would a +hundred times rather be shooting elephants and lions than studying. +Poor fellow! he has become very anxious about his father. Still he does +not give him up, though everybody else in the town thinks he is dead." + +"I do not agree with them, though I confess that I am very anxious about +my old friend," answered Hendricks; "I still hope that he pushed, as I +know he intended doing, far away to the northward, and that though he +may probably have got into difficulties, he has escaped with his life. +I think it very likely, however, that he has lost his waggon and +servants, or he would have managed to communicate with me during my last +long trip. I made every possible inquiry, and sent out messengers in +all directions; but could hear nothing of him. It is strange that he +should have so totally disappeared, without leaving any trace to show +the direction he took. I am inclined to believe that he was entrapped +by some treacherous chief or by some rebel boers who have often vowed +that they would allow no Englishman to come near the territory they +claim." + +While Hendricks was speaking, Denis Maloney, now a well-grown lad, rode +up. He had previously been forming one of a party of three following +the waggon at a little distance. All traces of sickness had +disappeared, his muscles were well knit, and his countenance bronzed by +the heat of the sun to which he had been exposed during a trading +expedition dispatched by his uncle into Zululand. He had gone in the +capacity of clerk or accountant to the leader of the expedition, his +duties being similar to those of a supercargo on board ship. He had +acquitted himself in the most satisfactory manner, and had thus gained +experience both as a hunter and a trader. His uncle was so much pleased +that he promised before long to fit him out with a waggon and team on +his own account, that he might try his fortune in trading, chiefly for +cattle, among the Zulus. + +"Mr Crawford and young Broderick asked me to come on and inquire when +we are likely to outspan, for they complain that they are both hungry +and tired, as they are not well accustomed to our style of travelling," +he said, addressing their leader. + +"Tell them we shall camp in an hour or in less time perhaps; and if they +can't hold out, do you get some biscuits from a box in the hinder part +of the waggon," answered Hendricks. + +Young Lionel was inclined to feel something like contempt for those so +much older than himself, who were not ashamed to acknowledge that they +were hungry and tired after travelling somewhat under twenty miles in a +broiling sun. Denis, who had, it must be confessed, spoken one word for +them and two for himself, soon got out the biscuits, and keeping a +portion, distributed the rest between his two companions. One of them, +Percy Broderick, was a lad about his own age, fair and good-looking, and +well-grown, not having the appearance, however, of a person particularly +well fitted for a life in the wilderness. The other, Harry Crawford, +though much older, looked at the first glance still less fitted for +roughing it. Not that he wanted breadth of shoulders, strong muscles, +or stout limbs; but that his countenance betokened intellect and +refinement, rather than firmness, resolution, and the other qualities +requisite for a person who has to go through the hardships of a +settler's existence. + +"Faith! I wonder what brought you two fellows out here, and I doubt +much whether you'll like the country now you have come. It's a mighty +fine one, there's no doubt about that, for those who have a fancy for a +wild life, and shooting rhinoceroses and buffaloes, not to speak of +elephants and lions," exclaimed Denis. He had as yet had but little +conversation with his fellow-travellers, they having only that morning +joined the waggon party from a farm at which they had been staying. All +Denis knew was that they had come out together from England, and were +now bound in the same direction. + +"As to that, I was born in the colony, and have only come back to my +native land," answered Percy. "Haven't you heard of my father, Captain +Broderick, who is settled at Falls Farm on the borders of the Transvaal +country? I suppose I can endure what my father and mother, and my +brothers and sisters have to go through, and I shall soon get accustomed +to it. I can't say I know much about it at present, as I was sent to +school in the old country, when I was a very little chap under the +charge of an uncle, with whom I spent my holidays, and who looked after +me all the time I was in England; but he died some months ago, and as my +father could not send money to pay for my schooling, I was shipped off +to return home, and Mr Piatt, the owner of the Cloof Farm, where we +were staying, was good enough to ask your friend Mr Hendricks to let us +accompany him as far as we were going, as he said that he expected to +pass close to my father's house." + +"You are very fortunate to find so good a man to travel with," said +Denis. "He is the most noted hunter in the whole colony, and a capital +fellow besides." + +"I was much pleased with him," remarked Crawford, "and should greatly +like to accompany him throughout the whole of the expedition; but as I +came out to farm, I must lose no time in endeavouring to learn. Half a +year ago I had no notion of doing such a thing. I was at Oxford, +intending to become a barrister; but the small fortune I expected to +inherit disappeared, and as it might be several years before I could +obtain a brief, I thought the wisest thing I could do with the remainder +of my possessions was to come out to this country, of which I had heard +glowing accounts. I cannot say exactly that I am disappointed; but were +I to purchase a farm, and attempt to commence operations by myself, I +should feel remarkably like a fish out of water, for I confess I have +not the slightest idea what I should do." + +"Faith! there are a good many young gentlemen like you, Mr Crawford," +observed Denis, "only they haven't the wisdom to keep their money in a +bank while they are learning something about the business they wish to +engage in. In most instances they are so eager to begin, that they buy +land, and very soon find all their money gone, long before their crops +have grown, or what they have laid out in other ways has given them any +return. When I was in the office of my uncle, Mr Walker, in +Maritzburg, numbers of young gentlemen used to come and ask for +employment, just for their food and lodging. Those who have friends at +home who can pay their passage money return, others have to turn their +hands to digging and delving, or road making, though a few occasionally +get to the surface. Now if they, as I was saying, had kept their money, +and begun by working on a farm, either for wages or even for nothing, +they would have been able in time to set up for themselves." + +"As to that, I must not boast too much of my wisdom," answered Crawford. +"My capital hasn't yet been sent out to the colony, so that I could not +invest it even if I wished to do so. Percy assures me that I shall +receive a warm welcome from his family, and that I may besides have an +opportunity of seeing how farming operations are carried on. He tells +me also that I shall obtain an easy introduction to every description of +wild beast: elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, gnus, black and brindled, +blessbocs, hartebeests, reitbocs, not to speak of others of smaller +size, and birds innumerable." + +"Faith! you'll not find any want of them, but you'll remember it's not +always pleasant to meet a lion or a black rhinoceros in a morning's +ramble, and you will have reason to be thankful if you don't, for I can +assure you that they're rather troublesome acquaintances. I came to +that opinion not many years ago, when I had to spend some hours up a +tree, waiting for my breakfast, while a couple of lions and their cubs +were watching below, eager to breakfast off me;" and Denis told, with +much _naivete_, his adventure on his first journey with his father. + +Besides the white persons who have been mentioned, the waggon party +consisted of three Hottentots, whose duty was to drive and attend +especially to the cattle; and six Kaffir hunters, among whom Umgolo was +the chief. Hendricks intended to obtain others who had before served +under him on the way. There were three spare horses, which followed the +waggon, fastened by riems or thongs of hide, the general substitute for +rope in the colony. Five dogs may also be counted as forming part of +the expedition, rejoicing in the names of Spout, Growl, Pincher, Fangs, +and Raff. The latter belonged to Denis, who so called the animal after +the name of a countryman, Paddy Rafferty, who had given it to him. The +"baste," he boasted, did credit to the "ould counthry:" for although no +beauty, he was the cleverest and bravest of all the dogs, and much +attached to him. + +Each of the fourteen oxen had a Dutch name, to which it answered, well +knowing when the driver shouted out, that if it did not exert itself, it +would presently feel the effects of his long whip on its hide. + +Travelling in Africa needs the exercise of a large amount of patience. +Even when the ground is level, the huge machine moves leisurely along; +but when rough hills have to be surmounted, the progress is still +slower. + +The "trek," as the day's journey is called, had been far from a pleasant +one. A dry scorching wind blew in the faces of the travellers, while +the country presented a vast stony plain, burned and arid, with here and +there a few small round hills breaking the line of the horizon. Harry +Crawford and Percy looked about them with dismay. + +"I hope the country ahead is not all to be like this," said the former. + +"No fear of that," answered Denis. "We shall have, to be sure, a few +stony mountains to climb over, and now and then, in parts, it's hard to +find a tree, but that's only here and there; for there are forests, and +grassy meadows, and streams, and beautiful valleys, such as are to be +found in no other part of the world, or, at all events, none superior to +them, in my opinion. Look out there ahead, you'll see, just rising +above the plain, what I daresay you took to be a cloud, but it is a +range of mountains; when we get over them, we shall have fine scenery +enough to satisfy you. We shall then meet also with what you fellows +from the old country call adventures, but which we out here are so +accustomed to that we do not think much about them." + +Dreary as was the scenery in other respects, it was enlivened by +numberless gorgeous flowers, the beauty of which Harry Crawford was well +able to appreciate, although ignorant of the names of most of them. + +"We should value these in our hot-houses at home," he said. + +"For my part I'd sooner have plenty of green grass," observed Denis, +"and so would the cattle, I've a notion. To say the truth, I've seen so +many of these things that I no longer pay any attention to them, +although they are mighty fine, I'll acknowledge, now that I come to +examine them more particularly." + +Percy, who admired the flowers as much as his friend did, every now and +then got off his horse to pick some of them, until he had collected a +large bouquet, greatly to the amusement of Denis. + +"Take care, my boy, not to catch hold of the tail of a puff adder," he +exclaimed, as Percy again dismounted. "They are pretty numerous +hereabouts, and you may chance to put your hand close to one of their +holes while you are picking those flowers." + +Percy, without making any remark, threw himself into his saddle again, +satisfied with the collection he had already made. + +As they advanced the country improved. They passed the ruins of several +farms, the owners of which had "trekked" to the Transvaal republic. + +Hour after hour the waggon proceeded on through the same monotonous +style of country, until towards evening, no other more convenient spot +being found, a halt was called near one of the mounds which have been +described, and close by which ran a small "spruit," or stream, affording +the weary oxen sufficient water to quench their thirst. As no trees or +shrubs grew near, a quantity of dry dung was collected to serve as fuel. +This, when once lighted, threw out an intense heat, quickly boiling all +the pots placed over it; but as it produced little or no flame, it was +not so well calculated to serve as a watch fire to scare away wild +beasts as one formed of wood. It was necessary, therefore, to keep a +stricter watch than usual at night, lest a lion might visit the camp +with the intention of making a feast off one of the oxen or horses. + +While the party were seated at supper, Denis amused himself by telling +all sorts of terrible tales of the way a lion had occasionally leapt +into a camp and carried off a man before his companions had time to +rescue him. + +"Come, Denis, don't be trying to frighten our young friends with your +wonderful stories, and to make them wish that they were out of the +country again," said Hendricks. "The lion is not so very formidable a +beast, after all. I've never been troubled by one in my camp, although +I have not unfrequently had half a dozen roaring round it at night; but +then I have always kept up a good fire, and had men on the watch, ready +to shoot the brutes, should they come near; so their instinct, I fancy, +has told them that it would be prudent to keep at a distance." + +The horses had been knee-haltered, the usual way of securing them from +straying, and had been turned out with the cattle to pick up as much +sustenance as they could obtain from the withered grass, with one of the +Hottentot boys, old Dos, to watch them. The Hottentots, like +postilions, are always boys to the end of their days. Dos, though near +sixty, was so small and wiry, that at a little distance he might have +been mistaken for a boy. + +As Hendricks intended to start at daylight, he ordered all hands to lie +down at an early hour, and obtain as much rest as they could, with the +hard ground for their beds, and the starry heavens overhead. A piece of +canvas let down from the side of the waggon served somewhat to screen +the young Englishmen--who were supposed to be more luxuriously inclined +than the rest of the party--from the chilly night air, while the mound +also contributed to protect the camp. + +Denis and Lionel did not disdain to creep in beside them, while +Hendricks occupied his usual berth inside his waggon. In a few minutes +all voices were hushed, but though Crawford and Percy did not speak, the +strangeness of the scene prevented them from going to sleep. Some time +had passed, and they were at length beginning to get a little drowsy, +when they were startled by a terrific roar, which seemed to come almost +from above them. Starting up, and knocking their heads against the +bottom of the waggon as they did so, in a very unpleasant fashion, they +scrambled out from their sleeping-place, their impulse being to meet the +danger, whatever it might be, on their feet, and to look about them. +They were followed by Denis and Lionel, who had naturally been awakened +by the roaring. + +"What is it? Where is it?" asked Percy Broderick. + +"Look there," answered Denis, pointing to the top of the mound, where, +in the dim light, the outlines could be seen clearly defined against the +sky, of two lions. The monsters, placing their heads to the ground, +again sent forth a roar, which sounded fearfully loud in the silent +night air. The hideous uproar they made at length aroused Hendricks, +who, turning out of his berth, seized his gun, ever ready at hand, and +stepped a few paces from the camp towards them. The rest of the men in +camp had sprung to their feet, and held their rifles ready for instant +action, while the dogs, rushing to the front, continued barking in +varied tones, though they showed no inclination to venture beyond the +protection of their masters. The lions, however, did not advance, but +continued standing in the position in which they had at first been seen, +contenting themselves with uttering an occasional roar, as if to terrify +the occupants before making a final rush into their midst. The hunters, +however, were too well accustomed to encounters with lions to be +alarmed, let them roar ever so loudly; still a fight with a couple at +night would not be free of danger, should either of them be wounded and +not killed outright. It would indeed be no easy matter to bring them +down at the distance they were off. + +"We must send these brutes away, or they'll give us no time for sleep," +said Hendricks, and he summoned Umgolo and another experienced hunter to +his side. Ordering the other men to keep back the dogs, he slowly +advanced with his two companions towards the foot of the mound. Denis +and Lionel, who was well able to use the small rifle his friend had +procured for him, with Percy and Crawford, kept behind as a reserve, but +Hendricks had ordered them on no account to fire, unless by chance the +lions should break through and come down upon them. + +Slowly the hunters advanced up the mound: the lions, however, not +appearing to have noticed them, continued roaring as loudly as before, +till suddenly they seemed to become aware that enemies were at hand, +when, instead of springing boldly forward, Percy and his companions, to +their astonishment, saw them retiring as cowardly dogs are apt to do +after barking, then finally turning round, they trotted off until they +were lost to sight at the other side of the mound. + +"The brutes often prove poltroons, if courageously met, and so these +have shown themselves," exclaimed Denis. "We shall not be troubled +again to-night by their sweet voices, though we may hear them in the +distance growling and muttering over their disappointment." + +In a short time the camp was again quiet, and Denis and Lionel, +accustomed to such adventures, quickly went to sleep, but Percy and +Crawford could not, as before, close their eyes. Every now and then, as +they listened, they heard a low muttering sound coming from a distance. + +"What can that curious noise be?" asked Crawford. "I should fancy it +was made by deer; I have heard something like it in England." + +"I don't fancy any deer would remain in the neighbourhood with a couple +of hungry lions roaming about," answered Percy. "Perhaps it is made by +monkeys. I'll ask Denis. He was awake a few minutes ago. I say, +Denis, what creatures are making those curious sounds? Just listen for +a minute." Denis was asleep, but on hearing himself called, awoke in an +instant, fancying that something was the matter. + +"What curious sounds?" he asked. "Sure I only hear a couple of lions +muttering away as the beasts have a fancy for doing at night when they +want their suppers, and haven't yet found anything to eat. There now go +to sleep, and don't be bothering a fellow by waking him out of his first +nap; you'll soon get accustomed to stranger noises than those." And +Denis covered his head up again with his blanket. + +The rest of the night passed quietly by, but at early dawn there was a +great hubbub among the Hottentots and Kaffirs. The horses had +disappeared; either the lions had put them to flight in spite of their +being knee-haltered, or they had gone in search of greener pastures. +Old Dos had not seen them go. He had been herding the cattle, and had +taken little note of them, thinking that they could take care of +themselves. The consequence was, he and another Hottentot boy, Tan, +were sent off in search of them as soon as daylight had increased +sufficiently to enable their spoor to be seen. The party had therefore +to remain encamped until they were brought back. + +"I should have preferred more picturesque scenery to spend the day in. +I wonder our leader takes the matter so coolly," observed Crawford. + +"It's just this, that he's accustomed to it," answered Denis. "A man +who travels in this country must have a vast amount of patience. He +must not value time as you do in the old country." + +Hendricks, however, did not let his people remain idle. They were +employed in repairing or strengthening the harness, cutting thongs, +collecting fuel, and doing other odd jobs, while he and Umgolo went out +with their guns in search of a pallah or other game. Crawford and his +younger companions amused themselves in camp, for the heat was too great +to enjoy exercise. Before noon the horses were brought back, and the +hunters returning with a springboc, no time was lost in inspanning, and +the waggon proceeded on at a faster pace than usual, to make up for lost +time. A drift or stream was forded, the waggon sticking as it reached +the opposite bank, and much more time was lost in dragging it up, as the +oxen obstinately refused to pull all together. In vain the Hottentot +boys rushed in among them, endeavouring by soft blandishments to induce +them to move. The Kaffirs swore in strange-sounding tones, and Denis +flew here and there, poking one, lashing another, hauling at the head of +a third, his example being followed by the other Englishmen. Their +leader rode forward, merely observing-- + +"You must make haste, boys, for we have a worse bit than this to cross, +and cross it we must, before we outspan for the night." + +Scarcely had he disappeared in the distance than the oxen, suddenly +pulling together, hauled the waggon out. Denis uttered a loud shout of +triumph, and away it went rumbling after them. + +The promise of their leader was soon fulfilled. After moving on for +three miles or so, the foot of a hill was reached. The driver knowing +what was before him urged on the oxen, hoping that by pulling together +as they were then doing, he might urge the waggon up without a stop. +For the first two-thirds of the way they did very well, but at last +coming to a steep pitch, suddenly the whole span stopped, and refused to +budge an inch farther. Frantically the driver lashed and lashed, and +cracked his whip, the reports resounding like a sharp fire of musketry +amid the hills. It was of no avail, and had not two of the men rushed +up with two huge masses of rock, which they placed behind the wheels, +the waggon would have gone backwards, and dragged the animals after it +to the bottom of the hill. In vain the driver shouted and yelled; +forward they would not go; but began twisting and turning round in their +yokes, some facing one way, some another; some dropping down on their +knees, others rolling over with the risk of being strangled by the riems +which secured them to the yoke. To Crawford's eye they appeared in a +state of confusion, from which it would be impossible to extricate them. +The Hottentots shouted, the driver leapt from his box, and with the +other boys rushed here and there, uttering yells, shouts, and +execrations while they plied their tough waggon whips with a vehemence +which brought blood at every stroke from the backs of the obstinate +brutes. Now they seized the animals' tails, twisting them round and +round, some actually seizing them with their teeth, while they +endeavoured to get them back into line, all the time shouting "Juk! +juk!" to make them start, or "Om! om!" whenever they wanted them to turn +round, generally at the same time hitting them on their noses with the +butt ends of their whips. Crawford and Percy could do nothing, but +Denis and Lionel exerted themselves fearlessly. At last old Dos, +dragging at the leading oxen with a riem, the whole span "trekked" at +the same moment, and in a few moments the waggon was again moving +forward at a slow pace. + +"All our difficulties are not over yet," observed Hendricks to Crawford, +as they were walking ahead, leading their horses. "See, there's an ugly +spot yonder, which it will require all the skill of old Dos to surmount. +I'll leave the drivers, however, to their own resources. If I +interfered, they would simply follow my directions, throwing the +responsibility upon me, and take no further trouble about the matter. +If they get into a fix, I try and get them out of it." + +The ugly spot was reached. The path was sufficiently broad for the +waggon to pass, but it sloped down to the edge of a steep precipice, not +however quite perpendicular, as the tops of tall trees could be seen +rising out of its side, but sufficiently steep to cause a waggon to turn +over and over, and of a depth which would ensure its being crushed or +smashed to fragments when it reached the bottom. The Hottentots gazed +at it with uneasy glances. They first examined the harness, to see that +all was secure, they then fastened four riems of stout buffalo hide to +the side of the waggon opposite to the precipice. The whole of the +party were next summoned to lay hold of the other ends of the riems, and +the driver fixing himself on his box with his whip ready for action, Dos +went ahead, and the waggon started. The ground was of clay, excessively +slippery, and the party holding on to the riems and running alongside +the waggon, found it no easy matter to keep their feet. Every moment it +appeared that the waggon must slip down the steep incline. Lionel and +Denis worked as hard as any one, although their united weight did not do +much to keep back the heavy vehicle. All the party were slipping, +hauling, scrambling along, shouting at the top of their voices, now and +then one of them coming down in the mud, but still holding on to the +riems. The fear was that the oxen would come to a standstill. So long +as they kept moving, the danger was not so great; but there appeared +every probability, should the waggon once fetch way, that not only it +and the oxen, but the whole party, would be dragged over the precipice. +Hendricks, assisted by Crawford, had taken charge of the horses, and +rode on ahead, too well accustomed to similar adventures to feel +especially anxious about the matter. + +"The waggon will get over it," he remarked; "if it does not, it will be +provoking; but I always make up my mind for an occasional accident, +although on the present occasion I should regret it very much, as it +would delay the search for my friend Maloney: for in spite of what +others think, I have hopes that he is still alive." + +"Denis thinks so too, and frequently alludes to the subject. He could +not be as merry as he is if he believed that his father was really +lost," remarked Crawford. + +Meantime old Dos and the other Hottentots were shouting and shrieking in +shrill tones, the Kaffirs roaring in deeper bass, while Denis, Percy, +and Lionel were halloing and laughing as they tugged away at the thongs. +The oxen, encouraged by the voices of their drivers, were doing their +part. The difficult spot, which the Dutch settlers called a squint +path, was passed, and the waggon gained the top of the height, when at +some distance a broad river was seen flowing to the southward. + +"There is the Tugela; we must cross that to-morrow morning, to get into +Zululand," said Hendricks to Crawford. "To-night we must encamp midway +between it and the foot of the hill." + +The waggon at once began its descent, as there was but little time to +spare before darkness came on. The riems were now secured to the hinder +part to prevent its slipping down too rapidly in the steeper places. +The scenery from the top of the hill was wild and picturesque. Beyond +the river lay several cloofs or valleys, containing numerous fine timber +trees, and rich in the variety of their foliage and gorgeous flowers. A +carpet of green clothed the side and foot of the berg, as well as the +borders of the broad river, although the intermediate space was dry and +parched by the summer heat. + +The waggon reached the bottom of the mountain in safety, and soon +afterwards the travellers camped by the side of a small stream flowing +down from the berg they had crossed, a thick wood near at hand affording +them abundance of fuel. + +While the camp was being formed, Hendricks and Umgolo, according to +their usual custom, hastened out with their guns, and each before long +returned with a klipspringer, which were forthwith cut up and prepared +for supper. The abundance of good meat restored the spirits of the +Kaffirs and Hottentots, which the toils of the day had somewhat +depressed. The night passed without any unusual incident. Lions might +have been heard roaring or muttering in the distance, and occasionally +the camp was surrounded by musically-inclined jackals or hyenas, but the +brutes did not venture near enough to disturb the slumbers of the +travellers, and at daylight every one was on foot ready to commence the +trek which was to carry them into Zululand. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +CROSSING THE TUGELA. + +The bank of the river was reached. The stream was broad and rapid. +Crawford and Percy looked at it with dismay. + +"By what means are we to get across?" exclaimed the former. + +"I'm sure I can't tell," said Percy. "There's not a ford here, at all +events." + +"We'll soon show you," said Denis. + +The oxen were outspanned, and while the Hottentots began unloading the +waggon, the Kaffirs, headed by their leader, went along the river, and +cut down a number of poles of a soft buoyant wood. These they +immediately began to form into a couple of rafts. The waggon being +unloaded, was next rapidly taken to pieces, and the wheels lashed +together, while the upper sides and pole being removed, the rest of the +vehicle formed a strong and substantial raft. Long poles and paddles +having been procured, a portion of the goods were placed on it and the +other rafts. Four of the Kaffirs then stepped on the smallest two, +having long poles and two paddles, and commenced the passage, shouting +loudly as they did so, the paddlers splashing the water. + +"What do they make all that noise for?" asked Crawford. + +"Sure to frighten away the crocodiles," answered Denis. "The beasts +would otherwise be running their snouts against the raft, wanting to see +what it is, or they would be catching hold of the horses or oxen as they +swim across." + +The first raft having reached the opposite bank in safety, the passage +of the waggon, of which Hendricks himself took charge, was commenced. +This, being heavier, required a larger crew, but even then it was some +time in getting across. The cargo from the first raft being landed, it +returned for a further freight, bringing back some of the men who had +crossed in the waggon, while the rest, under the direction of Hendricks, +began putting the vehicle together. The second raft began to cross, the +people in charge of it shouting and shrieking as before. All this time +the Hottentots had remained with the oxen and horses, as they were to +cross last, while Crawford and Percy, with Denis and Lionel, employed +themselves in loading the rafts. It had been arranged that they should +cross on the smallest raft after the cattle had swam over. + +While they were thus employed, three of the horses, whose legs had been +left free, discovering that they would have to cross the river, and +apparently not liking the undertaking, took it into their heads to +gallop off. When the Hottentots ran after them, the cattle began to +scatter in a way which threatened a general stampede; they were +therefore obliged to return in order to keep the animals together, "This +won't do!" cried Denis. "Come along, Lionel; we must manage to catch +the brutes. If we don't look sharp, they will be away back to +Maritzburg." + +Percy, seeing them start off, also followed. While Denis went on one +side, Lionel took the other, accompanied by the young Englishman. +Fortunately the horses stopped to graze at a tempting spot of grass +which they found on their way. This, after a long run, enabled the lads +to get to the south of them. They then crept up slowly, and Denis, who +was the most active of the party, caught one which had a long halter +trailing from its head. Instead of hauling at it, he allowed the horse +to continue feeding until his two companions had seized the others. +They were, however, at this time, at a considerable distance from the +river, and when they got back they found the remaining horses and oxen +swimming over, with the Hottentots and several Kaffirs holding on to +their tails, shouting, shrieking, and splashing the water, to keep the +crocodiles at a distance. + +"I vote we cross on horseback," said Denis. "It will be half an hour or +more before the raft can come for us, and I'm getting desperately +hungry. We can get over just as easily as those Kaffir fellows. We can +either sit on the horses' backs, or hold on to their tails, while they +tow us over. See, that's how the Kaffirs are crossing." + +"I'm ready, at all events," said Lionel. "I think I'll ride my horse." + +"Mind if you do, give him his head, and don't on any account pull at the +halter," said Denis. "What way are you going to cross, Percy?" + +Percy did not quite like the undertaking, not being accustomed to this +sort of thing. But he was ashamed to refuse; at the same time, being an +excellent swimmer, he was not afraid of the water, but more apprehensive +of crocodiles, which he thought after the noise had ceased might come +swimming up to the spot. At last, however, after seeing Denis and +Lionel mount, they having secured their outer clothing to the heads of +their horses, he imitated their example, and all three plunged into the +river together, the horses now, with riders on their backs, taking to +the water willingly enough. Denis led the way, keeping on the left or +up stream. Percy followed closely a little farther down. Lionel was on +his right. For some distance the river was sufficiently shallow for the +horses to wade, with the water only half-way up their backs. Presently +Denis's horse began to swim. + +"I'll try the Kaffir fashion, and I'd advise you to do the same," cried +Denis. "Lionel may stick on his horse's back if he likes." + +Saying this he slipped off, and grasping hold of his horse's tail, was +towed across, while he laughed and shouted to Percy to imitate his +example. Neither Percy nor Lionel felt willing to make the attempt. + +"Just try it," cried Denis again; "you'll find that your animal swims +twice as fast. He can't kick, if he were to try." + +They had already got more than half-way over, when, gaining courage, +Percy slipped off, and had just got hold of his horse's tail when +Lionel, who was, as has been said, a short distance off, uttered a cry +of alarm. What was Percy's horror to see his horse frantically beating +the water with his fore-legs and making no progress! The dreadful +thought instantly occurred to him, that a crocodile had caught hold of +the animal's legs, and that the boy, who had acknowledged a short time +before that he was not much of a swimmer, would either be seized by the +monster, or be drowned. Percy, though quiet and unassuming in his +manners, possessed more courage and resolution than he was aware of. +Another crocodile might seize him even while swimming behind his horse, +but he did not think of that risk. He could not bear to see his young +companion perish without an effort to save him. + +"Throw yourself off, and swim towards me," he shouted. + +Lionel did as he was advised, narrowly escaping being struck by the +horse's hoofs. On this, Percy, letting go his horse's tail, and +exerting all his strength, swam to meet Lionel, who, although supporting +himself in the water, was evidently unable to reach the bank towards +which they had been directing their course. + +"Keep up, keep up until I come to you," cried Percy, and in a few +seconds he was up to Lionel. "Now place your hand on my back, and +strike out with the other and your feet at the same time. Don't attempt +to clutch me, and we will, please heaven, gain the bank." + +Lionel, who kept his presence of mind, did as he was bid. At first +Percy was in hopes of regaining his horse's tail, but the animal had got +too far ahead, and was now abreast of Denis's horse. Denis himself was +too much ahead to see what had happened, and not until Percy's horse had +got up to him was he aware of the danger of his two companions. His +first impulse was to let go and swim to their assistance, but his next +thought was that his powers were insufficient for the task. + +As he looked round he saw them both swimming on steadily, while Lionel's +unfortunate horse was gradually sinking beneath the surface, although +its fore-feet were still striking out in the vain attempt to escape from +the jaws of its captor. + +"Shall I come and help you?" he shouted out. "I'll try to do so if you +want me." + +"No, no," answered Percy. "If you are not a good swimmer, you'll do no +good. Get to shore as fast as you can, and send off a raft to us, for +they don't appear to be looking at us." + +Owing to the oxen and horses having just landed, what had occurred had +not been perceived from the shore. Crawford, who had gone across on the +last raft, was the first to discover that there were only two horses. +He then saw the heads of Percy and Lionel close together. + +Shouting out to Hendricks, who was at some distance, attending to the +waggon, he leaped on to one of the rafts, making signs to the nearest +Kaffir, to whom he could not otherwise communicate his wishes, to come +off with him. + +Fortunately Hendricks heard his voice, and rushing down, sprang on to +the raft. In the meantime Percy had a hard matter to keep up. The +stream was carrying him and Lionel farther and farther down; and as they +got away from the noise made by the cattle, he well knew that the risk +of being seized by another crocodile was greatly increased. + +Still, though he might easily have gained the shore by himself, nothing +would induce him to quit his young charge. + +"Hold up, Lionel," he cried. "Kick about with your feet, and shout as +loud as you can. Those brutes of crocodiles won't hurt us while they've +got the horse to eat. Hurrah! we are seen from the shore; your father +and Crawford are on it. They are stopping to pick up Denis, they'll be +up to us soon. Now stop and tread water, it will give me a rest. It +won't matter if we are floated a little lower down. Shout and shriek as +loud as you like." + +All this Percy said at the top of his voice, for he did not feel quite +as confident as he tried to make Lionel suppose, that another crocodile +would not make its appearance. Still his hopes of escape rose as he saw +the raft urged on by poles and paddles approaching. He kept looking +round him, however, to watch whether one of the dreaded monsters was +rising to the surface, not that, should it approach, he would be able to +do much to make his escape. Lionel all the time showed not the +slightest fear. He did exactly as he was told. Had his skill as a +swimmer equalled that of Percy, he would rather have trusted to his own +powers, than have hindered his companion from reaching the shore. The +raft was still some way off, although they could distinguish the +features of their friends. When, as they were treading water, holding +each other's hands, Lionel, casting a glance down the stream, exclaimed, +"O Percy, can that brute be coming this way?" Percy looked in the same +direction, and there sure enough he saw the head of a huge crocodile, +with its snout directed towards them. + +"We won't stop here to be gobbled up, at all events," cried Percy. "Put +your hand as before on my back, and we'll swim towards the raft. We may +be in time to get on to it before the creature reaches us." + +Though he said this, he felt very faint hopes of success; still, like a +brave fellow, he kept up, shouting and splashing as much as he could +without stopping on his way. Once he glanced over his shoulder. The +dreaded monster came swimming on. In another minute, before they could +possibly reach the raft, it would be up to them, though Hendricks and +his companions were exerting their utmost strength to urge it on. Just +then a man was seen running along the bank. He stopped, and raised a +rifle to his shoulder. Percy fancied he could hear the bullet whistle +through the air, and the thud as it struck the crocodile's head. The +monster sank from sight. Denis and Crawford raised a loud cheer, and in +a few seconds they were hauling Percy and Lionel, both almost exhausted, +on to the raft. + +"Bravo! Percy, you did it well," cried Denis; "and Lionel showed +himself to be a brave little chap, or he would not have enabled you to +save him as you have done." + +Hendricks was less demonstrative, but equally grateful to Percy, +although he had no time just then to show his feelings. Placing the two +boys on the centre of the raft, he, with the rest who had come on it, +had to exert themselves to pull back to the shore, where they found +Umgolo waiting to receive them. + +"You saved the boys' lives, my friend," said Hendricks, addressing him +and taking his hand. "You have rendered me many services; this is not +the least of them." + +Of course he spoke in Kaffir, and Umgolo replied in the same language, +that he was always ready to serve his young master, and that he was very +glad to have prevented the crocodile from destroying the two boys. No +time was lost in conveying them up to the spot where the camp was to be +fixed. Here a fire was immediately lighted to dry their clothes and to +cook some provisions, while they sat close to it, wrapped up in +blankets. They both speedily recovered, the proof of which was that +they ate heartily of the viands prepared for them. + +"It's the last time I'll endeavour to cross a river at the tail of a +horse, when crocodiles are likely to be swimming about," exclaimed +Denis. "I'm mighty glad that you escaped from the brute, Lionel; had +you been swimming as I was, it would have had you to a certainty." + +The circumstance which had occurred tended greatly to draw the lads +together, while Percy rose much in the estimation of all his companions. + +"I only wish that I could see a hungry lion rush out on you, or a party +of Zulus coming out of a kraal to cut off your head; I'd show both the +one and the other what I could do with my rifle," exclaimed Lionel. +"I'd fight until I was killed, and should not care if you made your +escape." + +"Thank you!" answered Percy. "I hope we shall not come to that +extremity, but I am very sure that you will do your best to help me out +of any danger I happen to get into." + +The night passed with the usual chorus from hyenas and jackals. At dawn +the travellers were on the move. For a considerable distance few +inhabitants were met with, the king not approving of his subjects living +near the border, lest, when he should require them, they should get +across it, and escape from his paternal care. + +After moving on for some days, another steep hill rose before them. +They encamped at the foot, that the oxen might the better be able to +drag up the waggon in the morning. The ascent was no easy one, and the +Hottentots had to exert their arms and voices. + +"I hope the descent will not be so difficult, or the waggon may chance +to be capsized," said Crawford, as he and Denis were following behind, +ready to put big stones under the wheels, and prevent the vehicle +slipping back. + +"No fear of that, for we shall not have to descend at all," answered +Denis. + +He was right. On the summit being reached, the travellers found +themselves on the edge of a vast plateau, extending to the north and +south. Some parts were covered with fine timber trees, others with +scattered mimosa bushes, and here and there a hillock rose above the +plain. Deer of various species were seen bounding along in unrestrained +freedom, chiefly small animals; now and then a herd of pallah or koodoo +would make their appearance, sorely tempting the hunters to go in chase. +Hendricks, however, was anxious to proceed as fast as he could through +the country, until he could reach a region where elephants and other +more valuable animals abounded. + +Although the sun was intensely hot during the day, the air was pure and +exhilarating, especially in the early morning. Day after day the party +travelled on, occasionally passing near kraals, but Hendricks generally +avoided them, unless he wished to do a stroke of trade with the +inhabitants. The country as they advanced became wilder and rougher, +and game of all sorts abounded, so that after outspanning in the +afternoon, the hunters who went out with their guns never failed to +bring back an ample supply of meat for the camp. When there was time, +and there was more than was required for immediate consumption, the +flesh, whether of deer, or quagga, or gnu, was cut up into long strips, +and after being slightly salted, was strung up, either outside the +waggon, or on a rope fastened from it to a tree, where it quickly dried +in the warm air. The meat thus prepared is called beltong, and requires +no further cooking to suit the palate of the hunter. It is to be sure +somewhat hard, but not bad tasted. Even the flesh of the quagga, which +few white men would eat willingly, becomes, when thus prepared, +tolerably palatable. + +Occasionally it was necessary to give the oxen a rest, when they might +regain, on an abundant pasture, their strength, exhausted by the toils +they had encountered. + +Next time they stopped, Denis, Percy, and Lionel agreed that they would +go hunting together, so that they might have all the glory to +themselves; for, should they accompany Hendricks and Umgolo, or even +Crawford, who had become a good shot and a daring hunter by this time, +they would, as Denis observed, "not have a chance of shooting anything." + +Two days after this, having arrived at a suitable spot, away from any +kraal, where there was an abundance of grass, and a stream of bright +water flowing at the bottom of the valley; their leader calling a halt, +the oxen were outspanned and the camp formed. As there was sure to be +plenty of game in the neighbourhood, the three lads at once made +arrangements for their trip. As their steeds had merely followed +quietly behind the waggon, they were perfectly fresh, and it was settled +that they should ride them. They agreed also to take with them a Kaffir +servant, Gozo, who, though not equal to Umgolo, was considered an +experienced hunter. Hendricks did not object to the boys accompanying +him, though he gave him strict charge to keep them out of harm's way. +They turned in early, that they might be off at daybreak, as Hendricks +wisely insisted that they should return before nightfall. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +A HUNTING EXPEDITION. + +The three lads, accompanied by old Gozo the Kaffir, set off in high +spirits at daylight, expecting to have a magnificent day's hunting. +Denis, from having more experience than his companions, took the lead. +Lionel, who, though much younger, had spirits enough to carry him +through anything, kept up with him; but Percy, although he did his best, +being less inured to the heat of the climate, soon began to feel +fatigue, and expressed his fears that he should have to turn back. + +"Don't say that; come along, come along," cried Denis. "You won't mind +the heat or feel tired, directly we get sight of the game. Gozo says +that about five miles farther on there's a broad stream, running through +a wide valley or rather a plain, and that at the ford to which he will +conduct us we shall be certain to meet with large animals, elephant and +rhinoceroses, quaggas and pallahs, and other deer." + +Percy, thus encouraged, pulled himself together, and tried to forget the +heat. They rode on, however, for several miles, without meeting with a +living creature. Nothing was to be seen on either hand but wild +mountain-sides and arid plains dotted here and there with gigantic +ant-hills and occasional groves of tall trees. + +At length, having surmounted a low ridge, they came suddenly in sight of +a herd of wildebeests or gnus, grazing quietly about a mile from them. +Denis was about to dash forward, when Gozo called to him and advised him +to make a circuit so as to come upon the herd on the lee side. Turning +their horses' heads, therefore, they descended the hill they had just +mounted, and keeping under its shelter, made their way northward. They +were thus able to get round until they found themselves within a few +hundred yards of the herd, in which there could not have been less than +sixty or eighty animals. Suddenly, however, the leader of the herd, a +fine old fellow with a flowing mane, and a beard descending down his +breast, perceived them, and off they dashed at a slashing pace, a cloud +of dust marking their course, while the young hunters pursued. Denis +led the way, Lionel keeping close after him. Gozo galloped off to the +right, intending apparently to get ahead of the herd, and turn them, so +as to drive them back and enable the lads with more ease to shoot one or +two down. The chase was exciting in the extreme. The wildebeests at +first ran well ahead of their pursuers. + +"We shall soon be up to them!" cried Denis. "They'll not keep at that +pace long together, you'll see." + +He was right, for after a run of a couple of miles the animals began to +slacken their speed, and at length Gozo was seen far away in the +distance, and well ahead, gradually nearing them. + +"We'll stop here," cried Denis, as they came to some thick bushes. "We +can conceal ourselves, and the wildebeests won't mind the horses, even +if they see them." + +He and Lionel dismounted, placing their horses behind the bushes, with +their reins on the ground, a sign to the well-trained animals that they +were not to move from the spot. Percy soon came up, and followed their +example. They then knelt down so as to be completely concealed. The +herd, now turned by Gozo, came galloping back, not apparently +frightened, and in no hurry, for Gozo having accomplished his object, +had pulled in his rein so as to allow them to move at a moderate rate. +On the animals came, lashing their sides with their flowing tails. +Sometimes their leader would break away from the ranks, paw the ground, +apparently determined to make a headlong charge, should an enemy appear; +then suddenly he would face about and rejoin the herd. Then the whole, +which had stopped for a short time, would again dash off in wild +confusion, enveloping themselves in a cloud of dust which almost +completely hid them from view. The young hunters waited with no little +anxiety, lest they should take another direction, but on they came +towards the bush, which they were about to pass when Denis whispered to +Lionel to fire at the second, while he would take the leader. + +"Percy, do you aim at the third; I feel sure you'll hit him in the +breast." + +Percy could not help smiling, for he felt far from sure of doing +anything of the sort, anxious as he was to succeed. The lads held their +breath. Denis was the first to fire, and a loud thud told him that his +shot had taken effect. Directly afterwards Lionel and Percy pulled +their triggers, but with what effect they could not tell, for the herd, +frightened by the report, began kicking up the dust, as they scampered +off, in a way nearly to conceal them from view. All that could be seen +was a confused mass of prancing heels, whisking tails, and occasionally +a few heads. + +"Hurrah!" cried Denis; "my fellow is down." Not far from them, where +the leader had been seen when Denis fired, it now lay struggling on the +ground. + +Denis reloaded, and another shot quickly put it out of its misery. +Whether any of the others were hit could not be ascertained, as they all +went scampering off together; but Gozo was seen pursuing them, and the +report of his rifle showed that he, at all events, considered himself +within range of one of them. + +Denis at once set to work to skin the animal. Neither Percy nor Lionel +could render him much assistance, and he was very glad when Gozo made +his appearance. The Kaffir had shot a wildebeest, he said, but he had +come to assist them in disposing of theirs. It was agreed that the +parts of the flesh which were worth preserving should be left in the +bush, covered up with branches, so as to prevent the hyenas and jackals +from getting at it until their return. + +It took them some time, and their task accomplished, they sat down to +enjoy some of the food they had brought in their holsters. Although +they might without shame have returned to camp, satisfied with their +morning's sport, they had a wish to secure some larger and more valuable +game. Their patient horses stood all the time cropping the leaves and +herbage near them; for grass, properly speaking, there was none. + +Their lunch over and their thirst quenched with some water which they +had brought, although there was none for the horses, they again mounted, +and continued in the direction they were before going. + +They had applied so frequently to the water bottles, that their stock +was soon exhausted; but supposing that they should speedily arrive at +the river, they did not trouble themselves much about the matter, until +they began to feel the unpleasant sensations of extreme thirst. Percy, +less accustomed to the climate than his companions, suffered greatly. + +"When shall we reach the river?" he exclaimed at last. "My throat feels +like a dust bin. I shall choke if I can't pour some liquid down before +long." + +"Never fear," answered Denis; "just try not to think about it. I'll ask +Gozo how far the river is off. It cannot be more than half a mile now, +I should think." + +The Kaffir, however, did not give a satisfactory answer. It was some +time since he had been in that direction, and it might be farther than +he supposed. + +"Then the faster we push on the better," cried Denis. +"Whollop-ahoo-ahoo! on we go;" but although he whipped his unfortunate +steed, the animal refused to move at a quicker pace. All the horses +showed signs of suffering. They opened their mouths, turned up their +nostrils, and the foam was seen gathering on their lips. They were +riding on when, as they were approaching a thicket, a sound, as if a +battle was going on between some of the brute creation, reached their +ears--roarings, snortings, and bellowings. + +"What can produce that tremendous uproar?" cried Percy. + +"Gozo says it is a lion belching," answered Lionel; "but there's some +other animal, and we must be ready to fire or get out of its way." + +They again cautiously rode on. + +"A lion! a lion!" cried the Kaffir, and looking over some bushes, they +saw in an open space a large buffalo cow engaged in battle with the +monarch of the wilds. Not far off lay the body of a buffalo calf, which +at once explained to them the cause of the battle. The lion had taken +up a position not far from some trees and thick bushes, whose branches +were elevated but a short distance from the ground. The buffalo stood +with her horns ready to receive her antagonist. Suddenly the lion +bounded forward, fixing his powerful claws on the face and neck of the +buffalo, when instantly, in spite of his weight, she turned, and rushing +at the boughs, in a moment the lion was thrown off, and lay on his back +with his claws in the air. Furiously the buffalo charged at him, +pounding away with her horns in a manner which made it seem impossible +that any life would be left in him. While the buffalo was retreating to +make another charge, the lion, managing to roll himself over, recovered +his feet. The buffalo received him as before, on her head. He in vain +endeavoured to reach her hinder quarters, and once more she bore him +into the brushwood. In an instant he was knocked off with a crash which +it seemed must have broken every bone in his body; but he was soon again +on his feet. This was more than the lion could stand, and, coward as he +was at heart, finding himself thus defeated in his object, he took to +flight, pursued by the buffalo, who went dashing away after him through +the bush. + +Gozo immediately dismounted, and stealing forward, dragged the calf into +the bush. + +"Gozo is determined that the lion shan't benefit, even if he escapes the +buffalo's horns," observed Denis. "Let's keep out of the way, and we +shall see what will next happen." Presently the buffalo came back, +looking about everywhere for her calf; but not observing it, naturally +supposed that the lion had carried it off, and consequently away she +dashed again in pursuit of the still fugitive king of the wilds. + +"The big cowardly cat! I wish that she may overtake him, and give him a +pounding which will knock the breath out of his body entirely!" cried +Denis. + +"What! do you call the lion a cat?" exclaimed Percy. + +"To be sure I do. What is he but `Felis leo'? which means the cat lion, +as you know, in Latin. He is more cowardly, too, than most cats, for +he'll never attack either a man or a beast unless he thinks he has a +good chance of coming off the victor. I have not forgotten an +unpleasant morning I spent once up a tree, with a couple of lions and +their cubs rampaging round me; and if it had not been for my father and +Hendricks, I should have been there still, at all events my bones would, +for nothing would have induced me to come down and be torn to pieces by +the brutes. It was a day or two after Hendricks found you, Lionel, and +our friends Mangaleesu and Kalinda made a wonderful escape from their +enemies which you have heard of." + +"What do you mean by finding Lionel? I thought he was the son of +Hendricks," said Percy. + +"So I am his adopted son," answered Lionel. "At first Hendricks thought +that my parents might be Dutch boers; when Denis however tried to teach +me English, I remembered so many English words that he was convinced +they were English people; but although he has endeavoured to discover +them for my sake rather than for his own, he has never yet succeeded in +finding even the slightest clue as to who they could be." + +"How very curious!" said Percy. "When I get home to my father and +mother, I must tell them all about it. They will be much interested, +and I hope, Lionel, that you will come and see them." + +"I should like to do so very much, if Hendricks will let me," said +Lionel. "But he wants me to accompany him on this expedition, that I +may become as great a hunter as he is, and that is just what I should +like to be. I am sure, therefore, that he will not allow me to stay +with your family longer than the one night we shall outspan at the farm, +as we have had so many delays that he is in a hurry to push on." + +The conversation was interrupted by a loud crashing of the underwood, +and the lion was seen bleeding from numerous wounds, springing on over +all impediments, with the buffalo in the distance, still pursuing him. + +He took no notice of the party on horseback, except to turn slightly +aside as he came near them. He was too far beyond range to enable +either Denis or Gozo to hit him. Although the buffalo came much nearer, +Denis would not injure the noble brute; but the Kaffir would have tried +to kill her, had not he and Lionel shouted out to him not to fire. The +lion had not made many bounds forward when he fell. He managed, +however, again to get himself on his feet, and was once more going on +when the buffalo got up to him, and striking his hinder quarters with +her horns, sent him flying, heels over head; then dashing forward, she +struck him again and again before he had time to bring his claws into +play. + +"Hurrah! she's done for him!" cried Denis, as the brave animal was seen +butting and then trampling on the carcase of the lion. "We had better +let her enjoy her victory without interference; for probably, being in a +combative mood, she may run a muck at us, and we shall be under the +painful necessity of shooting her." + +Just as he was speaking, Lionel shouted-- + +"Look out! look out!" and the brave buffalo, catching sight of the +horses, and probably fancying that they were fresh enemies, came dashing +through the underwood towards them. Denis had only just time to throw +himself from his horse, Gozo having already dismounted, when the enraged +animal was close upon them. Percy galloped off on one side and Lionel +on the other. Denis fired, aiming at the buffalo, as did Gozo +immediately afterwards, but Denis's bullet flattened against her hard +skull, and although Gozo wounded her in the neck, she came on. Denis +fully expected to be tossed into the air or trampled to death, when +Lionel's horse standing stock still, he raised his rifle and pulled the +trigger. The bullet struck the buffalo, and must have entered her +heart, for she at that instant fell so close to Denis, that he narrowly +escaped an awkward prong from her horns directed towards him. + +"Bravo, Lionel! you did that well, and many thanks to you for it," he +exclaimed. "Hendricks will be as delighted to hear of it, as I am that +you took so true an aim." + +"I am very glad I brought the beast down," said Lionel, "though I would +rather she had shown her discretion by keeping clear of us. Poor brute, +she deserved a better fate." + +Gozo, however, who was influenced by no such feelings, immediately set +to work to cut up the buffalo, and to preserve some of the more valuable +parts of the meat, but Denis suggested that in consequence of the state +of irritation the creature had been in, it could not be wholesome. + +The Kaffir, however, laughed at this notion, and declared that it would +make no difference. Denis begged that he would be quick about it, as +Percy especially was suffering from thirst. + +The Kaffir suggested that he should drink some of the blood, but Percy +naturally shuddered at the idea, and declared that the very thought of +it made him feel less thirsty. + +"A proof that you are not dying of thirst," observed Denis. "However, +you are perfectly right. The chances are, had you followed Gozo's +advice, you would have been made very ill." + +The Kaffir having secured a portion of the meat in a tree, and covered +it over with part of the hide, some boughs being placed on the top of +all, they rode on as fast as their tired horses could go in the +direction of the stream. They carried some of the meat, both of the +buffalo and wildebeest, with them, but to eat it would have been +impossible until they had quenched their thirst. + +At last Gozo shouted out, "See, see! there is the water!" and they +caught sight below them of a stream glittering in the sun as it wound +its way through the broad valley. Their horses appeared to have seen it +also, for they moved forward with more alacrity than heretofore. +Presently, as they rounded a thicket, up sprang just before them a herd +of waterbok. + +"Whollop-a-hoo!" cried Denis, his usual hunting cry, and he dashed +forward. "Venison will be better than tough wildebeest or heated +buffalo meat." + +Reining in, as he was close to the animals, he fired, and brought one of +them down. + +"Hurrah!" cried his companions. + +"We must have another!" he exclaimed. "Lionel, see what you can do. +Gozo, stop and look after the beast I have shot;" and he rode forward, +loading as he went. + +Lionel got ahead of him, and also pulling up fired, and stopped the +career of another of the herd. + +"Capital!" cried Denis. "If we kill nothing else to-day, we shall have +done very well." + +There was certainly no chance of their catching the rest of the +waterbok, which, dashing down to the river, swam across, and were +half-way up the opposite bank before the horsemen had reached the brink. +A little higher up was a ford, and they might have crossed at once, but +neither they nor their horses were inclined to do so without drinking. +Their steeds rushing in, soon had their noses in the refreshing liquid. +They all three dismounted, although they had to step into the water; but +as the bottom was hard, no mud was raised, and they lapped up the liquid +in their palms. They were soon joined by Gozo, who had thrown the +second waterbok killed by Lionel across his horse. As he had no shoes, +and his legs were bare, he walked farther across the ford, and he and +his horse followed their example. Presently he shouted out in Kaffir, +and Lionel exclaimed-- + +"He says that he sees a crocodile, and there may be more near. We had +better get out of the water as fast as we can, or one of us or a horse +may be caught hold of." + +Percy, who, although as brave as any fellow, had a great horror of the +voracious creatures, quickly led his horse out of the water. + +"Come away, come away!" he shouted. "I see one of the brutes on the +opposite side eyeing us, and he'll be making a dash in this direction +presently, if we don't get on shore." + +Lionel and Denis laughed, and deliberately led their unwilling steeds to +the shore. + +"Tell Gozo to make haste. The crocodile is moving--it is coming towards +him. I'm sure it is!" cried Percy. + +Gozo, looking round, seemed to think the same, for throwing himself on +horseback, he urged on his animal to the bank. He was only just in +time, for the crocodile came on rapidly. + +"Shout, shout!" cried Denis, and they all shouted together. + +He took also still more effectual means of stopping the animal by firing +at its head; with what effect he could not tell, except that the +creature swerved from its course, and away it went swimming down the +stream, probably frightened as much by the shouts as by the tap of the +bullet on its skull. + +"Now I vote we have some dinner," cried Denis. "We have plenty of food, +that's a good thing to be thankful for; but we will be prudent, and not +pitch our camp close to the stream, or one of those gentlemen may take a +fancy to interrupt us while we enjoy our meal, and make a meal of us." + +Matches having been introduced in those days, and there being an +abundance of dry wood about, a fire was quickly lighted, a couple of +hundred yards or so from the bank, on a stony spot where there was no +risk of igniting the herbage. The horses were knee-haltered and turned +loose, and the young hunters set themselves diligently to work to cook +their venison and warm up some mealy cakes which they had brought in +their saddle-bags; a small kettle was put on to boil, and tea was made. +Pepper and salt were not wanting, and although they had no milk, they +agreed that they could very well dispense with that luxury, especially +as they had plenty of sugar. + +"Well, this is what I call jolly," cried Percy. "Although my throat now +feels as if a flowing stream had run down it, pleasanter than being like +a dust bin, I'll trouble you, Denis, for another cup of tea." + +They were too hungry to wait until their meat was cooked, so they +nibbled their cakes and sipped their tea while waiting, till Denis +pronounced the venison fit for the table. It was very juicy, and +certainly not overdone. Gozo had in the meantime disposed of a couple +of slices before they were well warmed through. + +"I say," said Percy, "we must not spend much time here, if we are to get +back before dark. I had no idea how fast time had gone by; it is two +o'clock already. Fortunately we have more game than we can carry home +on our horses, and we need not be ashamed of ourselves." + +"I should like first to knock over another wildebeest, or an elephant, +if one were to come in our way," said Denis. "The tusks would be of +more value than all the meat we have obtained, as I have no doubt +Hendricks will have brought in more than we shall." + +As he spoke, he leant back to enjoy that rest which a hunter can best +appreciate. + +"Still I advise that we should not delay," said Percy. "Hendricks told +us to get back before dark, and we promised to do so. It would be no +valid excuse to say that we were tempted to stop longer than we +intended, for the sake of hunting even the most valuable game." + +"Your are right," answered Denis. "Just hand me another cup of tea, +there's a good fellow. I don't feel I have had quite enough liquid to +supply the amount evaporated during the morning." + +"That was a curious story you were telling me of yourself, Lionel," +observed Percy; "I am more interested than you may suppose. Should you +like to find your real father and mother?" + +"Indeed, I should," answered Lionel; "for young as I was, I fancy I +remember my mother. I have often in my sleep seen her standing by my +bedside and watching over me. I was very fond of Aunt Susannah. Still +I never looked upon her as my mother. She was very different to the +lady I remember." + +"Then you think your mother was a lady?" asked Percy. + +"I am certain of it," answered Lionel; "and a very charming lady, too. +I am as sure of that as I am of my own existence." + +While they were speaking, Gozo, who had been looking about him, cried +out in a low voice, pointing to the river, "See, see!" + +As they sat up, they observed a troop of elephants approaching the ford +from the opposite side. + +"We must try and get a shot at one of those fellows," exclaimed Denis, +looking round to ascertain where the horses were feeding. Satisfied +that they were well away from the track the elephants were likely to +take, he began creeping along towards some bushes close to the river, at +no great distance from the ford. + +"The young master knows what he is about," whispered Gozo to Lionel, as +they followed behind Percy, who had kept close to Denis. + +They reached the bush without the elephants having observed them. The +animals came on, and arranged themselves along the bank, some going into +the ford, while others kept on dry ground, near enough to dip their +trunks into the water. Having satisfied their thirst, they commenced +squirting the water over their backs, so as to give themselves a +pleasant shower bath that hot day, appearing to be in no hurry to +proceed. The party in ambush began to fear that they would move back +the way they had come, and that there would be no chance of getting a +shot at them. + +"The time is passing, and we ought to be on our way to camp," whispered +Percy. "Would it not be better to give up the chance of killing an +elephant to-day? We could not carry home the tusks, and it would be a +long distance to send for them." + +"Hendricks won't mind that. We might carry them between us part of the +way, and they are too valuable to be lost," answered Denis; "but see, +what is that fellow about?" + +He pointed to one of the elephants who had gone farther into the ford +than the rest. He was slowly moving across; now he stopped and looked +back at his companions, then he went on again: from the way he lifted +his legs it was evident that he was dragging something attached to one +of them. Another elephant followed the first, the largest in the herd. +As the former got into the more shallow water, near the bank where the +young hunters lay concealed, what was their astonishment to perceive +that he had a huge crocodile clinging to his leg, just below the knee! +The saurian seemed to have fixed its sharp teeth so securely in the +tough skin of the elephant that it could not withdraw them. At all +events, it made no attempt to get free. Perhaps it held on under the +idea that it would be able to bring the elephant to the ground and feast +off its body. If so, it was greatly mistaken. The elephant seemed in +no way alarmed, but went on dragging the creature along with it. When +it reached the bank, it uttered a peculiar cry and stood still. On this +the largest elephant came hurrying up, and winding his trunk round the +body of the crocodile, which he pressed against his tusks--he dragged it +by main force from the leg of his companion, then lifting it in the air, +walked with stately pace--the creature vainly struggling to free +itself--till he reached a stiff forked, thorny tree of moderate height, +and without more ado, raising the crocodile as high as he could, he +brought its body down with a tremendous crash on the pointed branches, +where he left it impaled, struggling, but ineffectually, to free itself. +Its escape was as hopeless as a poor cockchafer pinned by a cruel boy +to a board. + +The elephants regarded its struggles with evident satisfaction. They +were little aware of the danger they themselves were in from the bullets +of the hunters. The leader at length gave vent to a triumphant +trumpeting, and moved on, followed by his companions, at a leisurely +pace; but instead of coming near the bush where the hunters lay +concealed, they turned in the opposite direction. To fire would have +been utterly useless. The tough hide of an elephant will turn a bullet, +unless discharged at a short distance, and even then it can only +penetrate at certain parts with any chance of killing. The hunters +waited still hoping that one of the hindermost elephants might turn +aside and come nearer to them. But the last went by, following the +footsteps of the leader, and all chance of getting a shot was over, +unless they were to start up, and by going ahead of the herd, have time +to conceal themselves in another ambush until the animals came past +them. + +Denis wanted to do this, but Percy reminded him that they were already +late, and that after all they might miss the elephants. + +"I suppose you are right," answered Denis, reluctantly; "but I vote, +before we start, that we take another slice of venison. I have scarcely +had enough, and it may be a long time before we get any food in these +wild regions. It is always better to eat when we can, in case we should +have nothing to put into our mouths later. You will see that Gozo +follows my principle." + +The fire had kept burning, and probably caused the elephants to turn +aside away from it. As there was no necessity for further concealment, +the party returned to their camp. Gozo proved that Denis was right, by +cutting off some huge slices, which in spite of the quantity he had +before eaten, he quickly stowed away in his inside. The horses were +feeding at no great distance off, so that they could keep watch over +them. They had hitherto been perfectly quiet, notwithstanding the +proximity of the elephants, cropping such tufts of grass as they could +find here and there, or the tender shoots of trees. Suddenly they began +to move about uneasily. First one lifted up its head and gazed around, +then another and another did the same Gozo observing them looked anxious +and said something to Denis. At that instant, before they could rise to +their feet, a dozen Zulus, who had crept up unperceived, suddenly sprang +up as if from the ground, holding their assegais poised in their hands, +and completely surrounded them. + +Lionel, who was rapid in all his movements, lifted his rifle to fire. + +"Don't do that!" cried Denis, in time to stop him; "it would be the +signal to them to kill us. We are in for it, and must try to make +friends with them." + +Percy, who was looking towards the horses, cried out,--"They have got +hold of them all." + +Several Zulus had in the meantime caught the animals, and were now +leading them up towards the camp. + +It was evident that an attempt to escape would be useless, so the young +hunters sat still, as did Gozo, who looked very much astonished, not +being able to make out why the Zulus had captured them. They were +fierce-looking fellows, some of them being apparently chiefs, for they +wore kilts of monkey or cat skins round their waists. Their breasts and +backs were covered with ox-tails, while their heads were adorned with +caps of monkey skins, in which were stuck tall plumes composed of +ostrich and crane feathers. The rest of the men had very little +clothing beyond a small kilt of skins round their waists. They all +carried shields on their arms and a bundle of assegais in their hands. +Denis was the first to recover from his astonishment, and turning toward +one who appeared to be their leader, he asked in as quiet a tone as he +could command-- + +"Why have you thus come suddenly upon us, while we were enjoying our +repast? Such is not the way the Zulus behave towards their friends the +English." + +"We knew not whether you were English or boers, and we found you hunting +in our territory," answered the chief. + +"The English have never been prevented from hunting wherever they choose +throughout Zululand," answered Denis. + +"That matters not at present," said the chief. "You are our prisoners; +you must accompany us to our king, and beware that you make no +resistance or attempt to escape." + +Denis interpreted what the chief said to Percy, who was naturally +anxious to know the result of the conversation. + +"We must put the best face we can on the matter," he added, "and I only +hope that they'll let us keep our guns." + +This seemed very doubtful, for from their looks the Zulus certainly did +not regard their prisoners with any affectionate feeling. Lionel had +not hitherto spoken, and as they found that Percy was unacquainted with +their language, they supposed that he was so likewise. + +"Don't speak to them, Lionel," said Denis. "I'll act as interpreter, +and then you may be able to find out why they have taken us prisoners, +and what they intend to do to us." + +"It will be wise to do so," answered Lionel; "and if I am able to get +away, I will let Uncle Hendricks know what has happened, and he will +very soon be down upon these gentlemen, and rescue you." + +"A good idea, and I hope that you may succeed," said Denis. "In the +meantime the best thing we can do is to pretend to be as much at our +ease as possible. I don't think the fellows intend to kill us, or to do +us any harm." + +"They look fierce enough," said Percy. "I only hope, Lionel, that +you'll be able to carry out your plan; but you must run no unnecessary +risk. I should think that Hendricks is sure to search for us, when he +finds that we do not return; whereas, should they find you trying to run +away, they might, in very wantonness, send an assegai through you." + +"If I try to run, it will be at night, when there will be very little +chance of being discovered," answered Lionel; "I hear the men saying +that they are about to carry us off. Should we be separated, we must +keep up our courage, remember that." + +As he spoke, two Kaffirs seized each of the lads somewhat roughly by the +arms, to make them get up, and at the same time snatched their rifles +out of their hands. This done, the chiefs, squatting down, appropriated +the remainder of the venison, which they quickly ate up, while their +followers stood holding their prisoners at a little distance. The +chiefs then rising, ordered the men who had charge of the horses to +bring them up, and mounting, rode forward, while the rest of the party, +holding fast the young Englishmen, followed behind. + +They first ascended the hill, down which Denis and his companions had +come, but they soon altered their course, and proceeded first to the +south, and then turning due west continued their march. + +"I can't say that I quite like the way they are treating us," said +Denis. "It shows that they are not animated by any friendly spirit, or +they would not have ridden our horses while they make us walk. It +puzzles me to say to what party they can belong. I am nearly certain +that King Panda and his son Cetchwayo would not treat us in this +fashion, as they have always shown a tolerably friendly feeling towards +the English." + +"I have been trying to listen to what the men have been saying, but I +cannot make out what they intend to do with us," observed Lionel. + +"At all events, it is a comfort that we are allowed to keep together," +said Percy. "It strikes me that perhaps their object is to hold us as +hostages for some purpose or other, but what purpose that is I can't +even guess." + +Poor Gozo looked very crestfallen, as he was led along at some distance +from his young masters; he, apparently, fully expecting to be put to +death. + +They proceeded for some way at a rapid rate, which, active as the three +friends were, they found it very difficult to keep up with. +Occasionally the chiefs looked back to see that they were coming, and +Denis thought he saw them laughing and casting scornful looks at him and +his companions. They went on without stopping to rest or take any food; +sometimes up hill, sometimes down, across valleys, and over rocky +ground, until, as evening was approaching, the hum of human voices was +heard. Some little distance ahead a kraal was seen on the side of a +hill, while in the valley below were assembled a large concourse of men +employed in various ways; some formed into regiments were marching here +and there, others collected round fires were engaged in cooking, while a +considerable number were employed in putting up huts. + +"Who can they be?" asked Percy. + +"I suppose that they must be Cetchwayo's followers, and if so we shall +find him there. He, at all events, is not likely to do us any harm, if, +as is generally supposed, he wishes to be friends with the English. I +know that he sometimes holds a sort of court by himself, away from the +king, although he is said to have almost as much power in the country as +his fat old father," answered Denis. "I'll try and find out from our +guards." + +When Denis, however, put the question to the Zulus, they, not +understanding, or not wishing to give him information, made him no +answer. + +"Never fear, it will be all right," said Denis. "When Cetchwayo finds +that we belong to Hendricks, whom he knows well, he will set us at +liberty, and soundly rate our captors for carrying us off." + +They were still, however, left in doubt as to how they were to be +treated. The chiefs on horseback proceeded down the hill, and directed +their course towards one end of the valley, where a large hut had been +put up, before which was seated a tall, rather stout personage, with +several chiefs standing near him. + +"That must be Cetchwayo," said Denis, pointing him out to Percy. "I +never saw the black prince, but he answers his description." + +On reaching the neighbourhood of the hut, the chiefs dismounted, and +giving their horses to some attendants, advanced on foot. After going +through the usual ceremonies, they stood on one side, and their leader +making a sign to his followers to come forward with their prisoners, the +prince cast a frowning glance at them; perhaps it was habitual to his +countenance. + +"Can either of you speak the Zulu tongue?" he inquired in a gruff voice. + +"I can," answered Denis in the same language, stepping forward. "What +does the Prince require of us?" + +"To whom do you belong?" was the next question. + +"To Hendricks the hunter and trader. He is well known to you," answered +Denis. + +"I care not for your relatives or friends. Whom do you hold to be the +chief person in Zululand?" + +"Surely who else but King Panda and his son Cetchwayo?" replied Denis, +in a confident tone. + +"In that respect you have not answered wisely. Panda is king it is +true; but Cetchwayo, who is he?" + +"I thought that you were Cetchwayo," said Denis. + +"In that you are mistaken, young Englishman; I am Umbulazi, a better man +than Cetchwayo, and have more right to be the prince than he has." + +"I beg your pardon," answered Denis, in no way abashed. + +"Understand, Prince, that we are travellers through the country, that we +have come to trade and to hunt, but we do not pretend to have more +affection for one ruler than another. We were on a hunting expedition +to obtain some meat for our camp when your followers seized us and +brought us here. All we now ask is to be set at liberty, and to be +allowed to return to our friends who are anxiously waiting us." + +"Such cannot be allowed," answered Umbulazi. "You will carry +information of what you have seen to Cetchwayo, who will then be induced +to attack us before we are ready for him." + +"We promise to give no information which will in any way injure you," +said Denis. + +"I shall take very good care of that," answered Umbulazi. "Whether the +English intend to be friends to me or not, it matters little. I have +many followers, some of whom you see here, and many more will join me +ere long; so that we shall soon drive Cetchwayo out of the country, and +Umbulazi will some day be king of Zululand." + +Denis had heard that a son of King Panda, Umbulazi, had been supplanted +by a younger son, Cetchwayo, and that, being destitute of talents and +ability, he was not likely to attempt to interfere in the affairs of +state, but to remain quietly at his kraal, attending to his herds, and +cultivating his mealy grounds. It was now evident that he was in open +rebellion, and it was very important not to offend him; for, like other +Zulu chiefs, he was utterly regardless of human life. Denis therefore +feared that should he say anything to excite his anger, he might order +his guards to cut him and his companions to pieces, or might give them +leave to amuse themselves by throwing their assegais at them. He +therefore assumed as humble a manner as he could, and replied, "When +Umbulazi is king, all Englishmen who come into this country will pay him +reverence, and abide by his laws, as I and my friends now wish to do. +Again I ask that we may have permission to proceed on our way, as our +leader, Hendricks, the great hunter, is waiting for us; and as we shall +in a short time pass the borders of Zululand, we cannot trouble Umbulazi +by our presence." + +The prince said something not very complimentary to the speaker, +signifying that he was talking nonsense. He then ordered some of his +attendants to carry the three prisoners to a hut close by, and to place +a guard over them until he had determined how they should be disposed +of. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +IN THE HANDS OF THE ZULUS. + +The three lads found themselves the sole occupants of a hut about seven +feet in diameter, and of a height scarcely sufficient to enable them to +stand upright, except in the centre. There was but one opening, through +which they had been compelled to creep, and this was closed by one of +their guards sitting down before it, with his knees drawn up to his +chin, the only light and air they enjoyed being admitted through the +small space above his shoulders. + +"It isn't altogether pleasant to be shut up like rats in a trap," said +Denis, as he surveyed the hut; "but it might have been worse if a party +of Kaffirs had slept in it last night. As far as I can judge it hasn't +been occupied before." + +"If it had, there would have been mats and bundles of grass," observed +Lionel; "whereas we shall have nothing but the bare ground to lie on." + +"As the ground appears to be perfectly dry, we need not complain of +that," observed Percy, "I only hope that the chief will let us go in the +morning." + +"There's very little chance of that," said Denis. "He intends that we +should be of some use to him, or he would not have sent his people to +capture us. I wonder whether he will send us some food." + +"I can't say I feel very hungry," observed Percy. "It is fortunate that +we took a good dinner." + +They waited and waited, expecting that Umbulazi would think of them, but +no food was brought. At last Denis spoke to their Kaffir guard, saying +that they were very hungry, and would be much obliged if he would obtain +some provisions; but no answer was returned to his request. + +"I believe the fellow is asleep," said Lionel. "Yes! listen, I can hear +him snoring. I see his head nodding through the opening. If that's the +way he keeps guard, I think I can play him a trick; and the chances are +the rest of the fellows are asleep also. It is now nearly dark outside. +In a little time the whole camp will have lain down. We could easily +make a hole under the wall of the hut, large enough for me to creep +through, and once outside, if the guards don't catch me, I could find my +way to where the horses are feeding." + +"A capital idea," said Denis. "I don't think there will be much +difficulty in carrying it out." + +"But you would run a fearful risk of having an assegai sent through you +if you were discovered," exclaimed Percy. "For your own sake I had much +rather you did not make the attempt." + +"I am not afraid of that," answered Lionel. "I'll take good care not to +be caught. I know the ways of the people, where they are likely to be +sleeping, and where their guards are posted. The chances are they will +be asleep in a short time, like that fellow who is acting as doorkeeper +to us. If I can manage to reach our camp, Hendricks will soon come and +set you free." + +"But suppose you were to meet a lion or leopard, as you have no rifle, +how would you defend yourself?" + +"I would keep out of his way, and shout and shriek at the top of my +voice, you may depend upon that," he answered. + +Percy was at last induced, though not very willingly, to consent to +Lionel's making the attempt he proposed. + +They all three sat down on the ground to talk over the matter, and +agreed that it would not be wise to commence operations until later on +in the night. + +Fortunately Percy had a match-box, for the Zulus had not rifled their +pockets, and striking a light, he ascertained that it was about eleven +o'clock. + +"We cannot have a better time," said Denis, "so we'll set to work +immediately; but I say, we must keep talking, lest that black guard of +ours should open his ears and suspect something." + +They accordingly all three began talking as if holding some exciting +discussion, Denis every now and then giving way to a hearty laugh. + +Percy tried to imitate him, but did not succeed very well, for he was +exceedingly anxious about Lionel's undertaking, which he thought more +dangerous than it really was. Having no tools except their knives, the +operation was a long one. They cut through the lower part of the twigs, +and had to scrape away the earth with their hands. Only two could work +at a time, and they took it by turns, the third sitting near the door to +hide his companions or give notice, should the guard awake and look in. + +"We shall be through in another minute!" exclaimed Lionel. "Hurrah, it +is done now!" he cried out soon afterwards. "I can be through in a +moment. What is the old fellow at the door about?" + +"He is still snoring away," answered Percy. + +"Well, then, do you and Denis keep talking and laughing, and I'll slip +out." + +"But do come back if you find any difficulty in making your way to the +horses," said Percy. "It would be far better that we should submit to +whatever the prince intends than that you should run the risk of being +killed." + +"No fear," answered Lionel, as he shook hands with his companions. +"Depend upon it, I shall be safe with Hendricks before the morning. +Good-bye!" and he began to crawl through the opening. He stopped, +however, before he was quite through, and backing in said, "Remember to +close the hole, Denis, before the morning, so that, if possible, the +Zulus might not discover how I got out." + +"I'll do my best," said Denis, and Lionel again crawled through the +opening. Not the slightest noise was made, so that the guards at the +entrance of the hut, even if they had not been asleep, would not have +heard him. Denis, as soon as he had gone, lay down with his head to the +opening to listen. No sound reached his ears. He then crept partly +through, but could see nothing. Not a person was stirring, not even a +dog barked. "Lionel will get clear, I hope," he said, as he drew back +into the hut. "He is a wonderfully sharp, clever little fellow. As he +lived so long among the Zulus, he knows all their ways. Even if he +meets any one, he will be able to pretend to be a young Zulu, provided +it is still dark, though of course his dress would betray him in +daylight. I almost wish that we had gone too," said Denis. "If he +succeed, so might we." + +"Not so sure of that," observed Percy. "Three objects moving along the +ground would be more likely to be discovered than one; and if I were +addressed, I, at all events, could not pretend to be a Zulu boy, +whatever you might do. Still, it would have been satisfactory had we +all got free; but then, what would have become of poor Gozo? They would +have assegaid him in revenge. Depend upon it, we were wiser to remain. +Perhaps, after all, Lionel is hiding, and may find it necessary to come +back." + +They waited anxiously, almost fearing to hear Lionel's voice. Time went +on, but he did not make his appearance. At last Denis thought that he +might venture to stop up the opening; so he began shovelling in the +earth and replacing the twigs; he knew, however, should any one examine +the outside, it must be discovered that a hole had been made; but it was +just possible that it might not be observed, and he amused himself by +thinking that if so how puzzled the Zulus would be to account for the +disappearance of Lionel. + +"I'll pretend not to know what has become of him, and to be as much +astonished as they are," he said, laughing. "I'll suggest that he might +have vanished through the roof, or that he was not put in at all, or +that he has evaporated, although, to be sure, they won't know what that +means, and I don't know how I could well explain it, as the Kaffir +tongue has nothing equivalent to the term. However, I'll do my best to +mystify them." + +"I would rather not make the attempt. I always hold that we ought to +tell the truth and stand the consequences," said Percy. "He had a +perfect right to run away, and he exercised that right. I would rather +you said what had happened, and that he had gone only for our sakes, to +let our friends know what has become of us." + +"Well, we'll see how things turn out," said Denis. "Are you not +beginning to feel hungry?" + +"Indeed I am, and sleepy too," answered Percy. "I would rather have +something to eat; but as we cannot get that, the best thing we can do is +to go to sleep. I'll try, although our couches are not of the most +luxurious description." + +Percy lay down, as did Denis. They felt various creatures crawling over +them; but they knew that they must bear such annoyances patiently. +Their eyes in a short time closed, and they went fast asleep. They were +aroused at early dawn by the shouts and cries of hundreds of voices. +The Zulu gaoler no longer stopped up the doorway by his black body. +They concluded that he was not afraid they would attempt to escape +during daylight, as they would certainly be seen. + +Denis therefore crawled out of the hut to look about him. The sun was +just rising over the hills to the eastward. The whole valley, at the +farther end of which they were, was filled with warriors formed into +regiments of four or five hundred men each. Some little distance off, +in front of his hut, stood the chief, Umbulazi, surrounded by his +counsellors and other wise men. + +Suddenly all the men commenced performing the most extraordinary antics, +leaping, and whirling, and twisting, and turning, at the same time +uttering the loudest shrieks and cries at the top of their voices. + +"What are they about?" asked Percy, who had crept out after Denis. + +"They are simply dancing a war dance in honour of their chief. We shall +have an opportunity of witnessing their performance." + +The chief and his attendants were so busily employed in watching the +troops, that they did not observe the young Englishmen standing outside +their prison. + +Presently the leading regiment began to move forward, the men still +leaping, twisting, and turning, shaking their shields, quivering their +assegais, and shouting all the time until they approached to where the +chief stood, when halting for an instant they redoubled their efforts, +and then passed on (it cannot be said they marched) to give room for +another party who went through the same style of performance. + +When the whole had passed in review, they dispersed in different +directions, some to bring in wood, and others to slaughter some oxen +which had been driven into the camp for the purpose. + +So occupied had Umbulazi been with this extraordinary review of his +troops, that he had apparently forgotten all about his prisoners, who +meantime stood watching the proceedings, much interested with the +curious spectacle. Denis at length proposed that they should make off, +catch their horses, and gallop away. Percy was opposed to this, as it +was nearly certain they would be seen and followed. + +"I'm afraid you are right," said Denis; "and there's another strong +argument in favour of staying--I'm so desperately hungry, that I don't +think I could ride far without food; and as these fellows will soon be +having breakfast, I conclude that they will have the grace to offer us +some. If they don't, I shall make bold to go and take it, for they +won't object, even though they may intend to assegai us directly +afterwards." + +They waited until the review was over. Denis then advised Percy to go +back into the hut, while he set off on a foraging expedition. + +"If we two were to go together, they would wonder what had become of +Lionel, but if I alone appear, they will suppose that you are both +inside the hut," he said. "The chances are, they don't put in their +heads to find out; for everybody is so busily employed that they won't +trouble themselves about us." + +Percy agreed to the proposal, and creeping in, sat down to wait the +return of Denis. + +"There's nothing like putting a bold face upon the matter," thought +Denis; and seeing Umbulazi standing in front of his hut, he walked +boldly up to him. + +"_Unigane_!" he said, saluting him in the Kaffir fashion. + +"_Saka bona_," answered the chief, equivalent to good morning. "What is +it you want, my friend?" + +"My companions and I were made prisoners by your people, but I conclude +that you do not wish to starve us, and we want some breakfast," answered +Denis. + +"You should have remained inside the hut where you were placed, and it +would have been brought to you," said the chief, apparently just +recollecting all about his captives. "How dare you come out?" + +"To obtain some fresh air, and to see you review your magnificent army," +answered Denis. + +"And you think that my soldiers are fine fellows?" said the chief, +evidently well pleased. "They will be able to drive Cetchwayo and all +his followers out of the country, so that none will be left to oppose +me." + +"I have not seen Cetchwayo's army, so that I cannot reply to that +remark," answered Denis. "What is in the future no man can tell." + +"Ah! but I have engaged a famous enchantress who knows all things that +are going to happen. She is to come to me this morning, having spent +the night in looking into the future, and will tell me what is to be my +fate, whether I shall be defeated or gain the victory and become king of +the Zulus." + +"If you become king of the country, you will wish to be friends with the +English, as Panda is. Now it strikes me, the best way to show your +friendly intentions is to treat well those who fall into your power. I +hope therefore, after we have had some breakfast, that you will restore +us our rifles and horses, and allow us to return to those who are +waiting for us." + +"Go back to your hut, and wait until I send for you!" answered Umbulazi, +making a grimace from which Denis drew no favourable augury. He thought +it wise to obey. + +"What news?" asked Percy, as he entered. + +"One certain piece of news is that Lionel got off safe; but what the +chief intends doing with us is more than I can say. I hope he will send +us some breakfast; if not, we must forage for ourselves. The fellows +down there will soon have their meat cooked and their mealy cakes baked. +Before they have eaten them all up I will go down to one of the fires +and claim a portion." + +They waited for some time. + +"I can stand this no longer!" cried Denis at last, and he got up +intending to proceed to the nearest fire, when just as he crawled +through the opening a Kaffir woman appeared carrying a basket on her +head. + +"The chief has sent you this," she said; "you are to eat it and be +thankful; but he bids me tell you that if you attempt to run away you +will be killed." + +"We are much obliged to the chief," said Denis, as the girl placed the +basket on the ground. "Tell him that we wish to remain friends, and +that when he gives us permission we will bid him good-bye." + +Denis, however, was too hungry to say more, and taking up the basket +entered the hut. It contained a gourd of whey, some mealy cakes and +cooked buffalo flesh. + +"This isn't bad, after all," observed Denis as they fell to. "We have +got Lionel's share as well as our own; however, we may stow that away in +case we want it." + +They had just finished their meal when their attention was attracted by +a loud hubbub outside. + +Denis crept out to ascertain the cause of the noise. Percy followed +him, when they saw the whole Zulu army collected in two long lines, +extending to the farther end of the valley. In the distance appeared +one of the strangest figures imaginable. It was that, as the dress +betokened, of a woman. Slowly she advanced up the centre, between the +two lines of warriors, followed by a dozen men or more, carrying large +shields, against which they beat with their clubs, making a sound like +that of drums. As she drew near it was seen that she was bedecked in +the most curious fashion. Her nose was painted white, as was one of her +eyelids, while the other was dyed with red earth. Her long hair was +plastered together by a mixture of grease and clay blackened with +charcoal. Round her neck were suspended coils of the entrails of +animals stuffed with fat, while her hair was stuck over in all +directions with the gall bladders of animals. Several dried snakes, a +human skull, and the heads and claws of birds, hung suspended from her +shoulders, besides which she wore a necklace made of human finger bones, +and rings of the same description round her ankles, her only actual +garment being a short kilt hanging from her waist. In her left hand she +held a wand with long tails at its end, which she flourished vigorously +above her head as she advanced with prancing steps up the valley. In +her right she carried her magic rattle, which she shook violently, now +on one side, now on the other. The men drew aside to let her pass and +to avoid being struck either by her wand or rattle, evidently holding +her in great awe. On she came, however, disregarding their terror, and +showing no inclination to denounce any of them as evil-doers, the +service wizards and enchantresses are generally employed in rendering to +the governing powers. As she got near to Umbulazi, she increased the +rapidity of her movements, springing forward in the most wonderful +manner, now turning to one side, now to the other, and bounding high in +the air, while the charms she wore rattled and bumped against her body. +Umbulazi and the chiefs round him watched these proceedings with intense +eagerness, wondering what she would next do. Presently her eye fell on +Denis and Percy. + +"I think we should be wise to get into our hut," exclaimed Percy. "I +don't like the look of that hideous creature." + +Before, however, they could do so she was up to them, and flourishing +her magical wand she struck them both on the shoulders. Although the +blows did not hurt them, the effects were likely to prove disastrous. +In another instant she had bounded away, and was apparently about to +retire between the lines of soldiers. She had not gone far, however, +before Umbulazi shouted to her to return. + +Almost directly she had delivered the blows, several of the Zulu +warriors, chiefs and others, rushed with threatening gestures towards +the two captives. Denis, who was well acquainted with the customs of +the Zulus, fully expected that a cruel death was instantly to be their +lot; but mustering all his courage, he put on as determined a look as he +could assume. + +"We're in for it, Percy," he said, "so you must be prepared for the +worst; but I'll try what I can do with these abominable savages." + +Then looking boldly at the surrounding chiefs he addressed them in an +undaunted tone. + +"What are ye about to do, my friends?" he asked. "Because that strange +woman struck us, are we to be treated as if we had committed some crime +or were your sworn enemies?" + +But no reply was deigned; all the expostulations he could offer were +without the slightest effect. He and Percy were dragged up to the hut +of the chief, before whom the woman was standing. He had just put the +important question for her to answer--whether if he went to war he +should obtain success over his enemies. + +"Success will attend those who are the bravest and most numerous. See +yonder host spread out before you. Can you doubt, O Prince, that +victory will be yours?" she replied, in a loud chanting tone. + +Umbulazi looked highly pleased at this answer. + +"You hear what the wise woman says?" he exclaimed, turning to his +chiefs. + +"We will fight, we will gain the victory," they shouted. + +Denis and Percy were all this time watching the proceedings with the +greatest anxiety, wondering what would happen to them. + +"What would you have me do with these white boys?" asked the chief. + +"They have come as spies into your camp. They are the sons of those who +have often tried to dispossess you of your lands. Let them, before the +sun sets, be pierced through with assegais, and become as the dust of +the earth." + +"What does she say?" asked Percy, observing the expression of Denis's +countenance. + +"Something not very pleasant to us. She advises these fellows to kill +us. But she has made a mistake, and not for the first time in her life; +for she declares that we came into the camp to act as spies. Now the +prince and the rest of the chiefs know perfectly well that we were +brought in prisoners, and I should think they will have wit enough to +see that she knows nothing about the matter." + +From the remarks made by the chiefs, and the fierce glances they cast at +him and Percy, Denis however felt anything but sure that they would do +so. + +"I'm very thankful that Lionel escaped," said Percy. "He will tell +Hendricks where we are, and if we do not return, he will know what has +become of us. Still I can scarcely fancy that these fellows will really +put us to death." + +"I don't think they would if they were left to themselves," said Denis; +"but that dreadful old woman has so wonderful an influence on their +superstitious minds, that she can induce them to do anything she likes. +Now I suspect that she is in the interest of the other party, and she +thinks that if these fellows can be induced to kill us, they will make +our countrymen their enemies." + +"If they are to die, the sooner they are put to death the better," +exclaimed Umbulazi. "We will then, my brave warriors, set forth, sure +of victory, to fight our foes." + +Just at this juncture a large band of warriors was seen approaching the +camp, led by a chief, who could be distinguished as such by the plumes +in his head-dress, his cloak, and kilt of skins, and the ornaments on +his oblong shield. He hastened on with his followers towards where +Umbulazi was standing. As he drew near, Denis exclaimed-- + +"I am much mistaken if that young chief is not Mangaleesu, who was for +so long living near Maritzburg. He was always a great friend of +Lionel's and mine, and I'm sure he would not see us massacred without +trying to save us." Denis however waited until the fresh arrivals had +paid their respects in the usual fashion to the prince. He then shouted +out in English, "Mangaleesu, Mangaleesu! come and save us. These people +accuse us of being spies, and threaten to kill us, although the prince +himself knows we were brought into the camp against our wills, and that +our only object is to get back to Hendricks, with whom we are +travelling." + +Mangaleesu, on hearing his name called, came up to them, and at once +addressing their captors, inquired what crime they had committed. + +No one could at first answer him, but at last one of them observed that +the great enchantress declared that they had come into the camp as +spies. + +"But you all know that they were brought into the camp, and I will +answer for it that they have no evil intentions against the prince or +any one else. If we were to kill them, we should make all the white men +in Natal our enemies," answered Mangaleesu. + +His arguments appeared to be prevailing, when the savage old hag, +fearing that her influence would be lost, should her orders not be +obeyed, shouted out in a croaking voice-- + +"Kill them! kill them! If they are allowed to live, you cannot gain the +victory." + +"If they are killed," cried Mangaleesu, "neither I nor my followers can +unite with those who allow so cruel an act. The English have always +been my friends, and I will not see them ill-treated, notwithstanding +what that old woman says. It was not long since that she was seen +paying a visit to Cetchwayo, and who can tell that she has not been sent +by him to betray us?" + +The hag, who heard all that was said, began to move uneasily, and +gradually drew back from the crowd, until she joined the men who had +accompanied her into the camp. So deeply steeped in superstition were +the minds of the Zulus, that they could not divest themselves of the +idea that her predictions would be fulfilled, in spite of all Mangaleesu +had said. Denis and Percy were therefore kept strictly guarded in their +midst. + +They could see the old witch at some distance gesticulating violently, +waving her arms about, occasionally leaping from side to side in the +most extraordinary fashion. Now and then she pointed to them in a way +which made them fear that she was still urging the chiefs to put them to +death. Mangaleesu was the only one who held out. Had he not arrived, +it seemed very probable that the savages would have plunged their +assegais in their bodies. Even now their lives hung in the balance. +For some time she was seen talking to several men, among whom were those +who had been their guards during the night. Presently she advanced, and +as she waved her wand, and pointed towards them, Denis heard her +exclaim-- + +"There were three of them! Where is the third? Without him the number +is incomplete." + +The prince, who seemed to have forgotten this fact, on hearing her +speak, exclaimed-- + +"You are right, most sagacious prophetess. There were three. Bring him +forth, that he may suffer the doom of the others." + +Instantly several of the young chiefs rushed to the hut, and were seen, +one after the other, crawling in. + +"They'll be mighty puzzled when they find that he's not there," said +Denis. "I'm doubly thankful that he got off if we are to be killed, and +there seems a great chance of that." + +"Do you think they'll have the barbarity to put us to death?" asked +Percy. "What object can they have in doing so?" + +"Those fellows think no more of killing a man than we do of snuffing out +a candle. If Mangaleesu cannot persuade them to let us go, we'll have a +poor chance indeed of escape." + +It seemed that Denis was right in his conjectures. The dreadful old +witch was evidently bent on their destruction. Still, while there's +life there's hope, and Percy did not give way to despair. They both +maintained as calm a manner as they could command. + +Again Mangaleesu addressed the prince with a boldness which astonished +the other chiefs, who regarded the dreadful old impostor with the most +profound awe; but he was again out-talked, both by her and the other +chiefs. Presently the men who had gone into the hut to look for Lionel +returned with the astonishing announcement that he was not to be found, +declaring that they could not account for his disappearance. + +"What has become of your companion?" asked Umbulazi. + +"We were not set to watch him, and if he's not there, it's clear that +he's gone," answered Denis, adding in English, "and I hope you are much +the wiser for the information." + +"How did he go?" asked the prince. + +"If he walked, he went on two legs," answered Denis. + +"But how did he get out of the hut?" inquired the Prince. + +"The guards who had us in charge should answer that question," said +Denis, in the same tone as before. + +"Where are the guards? Send them here!" cried Umbulazi, in an angry +tone. + +Denis feared that the poor fellows would lose their lives, and unwilling +to have them put to death, he cried out-- + +"They are not to blame. He is but a small boy, so he crept out by a +hole, through which a large man could not have forced his way. He is +with our friends long ago, I hope, so you need not trouble yourselves +about him." + +This answer, however, did not save the unfortunate guards, who soon +approached, looking very downcast. + +"I gave three prisoners into your charge; here are two, but where is the +third?" asked the prince. + +The three guards could not reply. At last one of them asked permission +to go and search the hut. The prince told them that they might do so, +but must come back and be killed, if they did not find the boy. + +As may be supposed, they were a long time in making the search, and +although the Zulus are very indifferent to death, yet they were +naturally unwilling to go back and be killed. Denis earnestly hoped +that they would try and make their escape, for he justly feared that +should the prince once see blood flowing, like the savage tiger, he +would be even more ready than before to shed theirs. + +At last the prince, growing impatient, ordered some men to go to the hut +and bring out the guards, either with or without the prisoner. The +unhappy wretches were quickly dragged forward. + +"Where is the boy?" asked the prince. + +No answer was given. + +"Kill them!" he exclaimed; and in an instant some heavy clubs descended +on their heads, and each man lay in his blood, pierced by a dozen +assegais. + +"It will be our turn next!" cried Denis. "Are you ready, Percy?" + +"As much as I can be. How thankful I am that Lionel escaped!" As he +spoke, a dozen warriors with their assegais uplifted, still dripping +with the blood of their former victims, approached; but at that moment +there was a cry that some white men were coming, one of them waving a +flag. + +"Hold!" exclaimed Umbulazi. "It will not be wise to kill the prisoners +just as their countrymen are coming. I would rather have them as +friends than enemies." + +Denis, who heard him speak, felt his heart bound. + +"I don't think we shall die just yet," he said to Percy, "for here come +Hendricks and Crawford and Umgolo, with a dozen armed men close behind +them." + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +THE ESCAPE. + +Denis and Percy, taking advantage of the excitement which the arrival of +Hendricks and his party caused among the Zulu warriors, rushed out from +their midst, and before any one could stop them, they darted away in the +direction their friends were coming. Lionel, who was among the first to +see them, uttering a shout of joy, galloped forward, followed by +Crawford. + +"Jump up behind me," he cried to Denis, stretching out his hand. "We +possibly may have to run for it, if Hendricks and Umbulazi don't agree." + +Percy at the same moment sprang up behind Crawford, while Hendricks, +ordering his party to halt, rode forward alone towards the prince, +keeping however his horse well in hand, and his rifle ready for instant +use. + +"I come to salute you, Umbulazi, and to ask you why you detained my +young companions; but as they have been restored to me I will not enter +into that subject," he said, drawing up at such a distance that he +might, without difficulty extricate himself should it be necessary. + +"Do you come as a friend or a foe?" asked the prince. + +"I come as a friend, for such I am to all the Zulu people," answered +Hendricks. + +"Well, as a friend I invite you to dismount and partake of a feast which +will speedily be prepared to do you honour," said the prince. + +"I cannot at present delay my journey," answered Hendricks, who, his +keen eye having observed the expression on the countenances of several +of the chiefs, greatly doubted the sincerity of the prince. He also +recollected the treacherous way in which a large body of boers had been +massacred a few years before by a relative of this very man, having been +beguiled by a similar invitation. + +Again, however, the prince pressed him, assuming so courteous an air, +that he was almost persuaded to yield, when the old prophetess, +disappointed at not seeing the boys put to death, came whirling up, +shaking her rattle and waving her wand, and crying out to her +countrymen, "Beware of the strangers! Beware of the people with pale +faces! They are no friends of the Zulus. Now you have them in your +power, kill them! kill them all!" + +Mangaleesu on hearing this cried out to Umbulazi, "Be not deceived by +her. The white men wish to be friends with the Zulus. Harm them not. +If injury is done them, the Zulus will be the sufferers." + +Hendricks, who of course understood all that was said, saw that it would +be the height of folly to put himself in the power of Umbulazi and his +followers, and therefore, thanking Mangaleesu, whom he now recognised, +for his good intentions, replied to the prince's invitation, that his +mission being accomplished, he and his party must take their departure. + +He was anxious for another reason to get clear of them as soon as +possible; for, knowing the jealousy which existed between Umbulazi and +Cetchwayo, he felt convinced that the former was about to make war on +his more favoured brother, and would very likely try to detain him and +his people for the purpose of compelling them to fight on his side. He +therefore, uttering an "Usaleke," the usual Kaffir salutation at +leaving, turned his horse's head and rode back to his companions. + +"Keep ready for a start," he said; "for although we have one friend +among them, I cannot depend upon the rest. Show no hurry until I give +the word." + +They rode on slowly, Hendricks ordering the rest of the party to go on +ahead, while he brought up the rear. He had got to a short distance +when Mangaleesu was heard shouting-- + +"Go on, go on! they try kill! No time lose!" + +These words, spoken in English, were mixed up with Kaffir expressions, +hurling abuse at their heads, evidently for the purpose of deceiving his +countrymen. + +Hendricks inwardly thanked Mangaleesu for the warning he had given; +still he knew that it was important not to exhibit the slightest alarm, +as by so doing he should only the more speedily tempt the Kaffirs to +follow. The old witch, now finding that her intended victims were +likely to escape her, or rather, that her traitorous plan for committing +Umbulazi with the English--for such there can be no doubt she +entertained--was a failure, shrieked out to the warriors-- + +"What! are you going to let the dogs escape? Come on! come on! we shall +be even now in time to overtake them. Never mind what Umbulazi says. +He will thank you for destroying his enemies." + +At this time she was some distance from the prince, so that her remarks +were not heard by him, and no one would have ventured to repeat them. +Several of the chiefs had already been influenced by her, and a large +number of the men, excited by her denunciations against the hunter and +his party, uttering loud shouts, rushed forward with their assegais +quivering in their hands, bent on their destruction. + +Hendricks, who had been carefully noting what was occurring among the +people, even before they made an onward movement, knew what was about to +happen. He now saw that not a moment was to be lost. + +"On, on, my lads!" he shouted; "keep straight ahead up the hill." + +Crawford, who had gone ahead, with Denis behind him, dug his spurs into +his horse's flanks. Lionel and Percy followed close to him. The rest +of the party were not far behind. Hendricks brought up the rear, +keeping his rifle ready to shoot down any warrior with a fast pair of +heels who should come near enough to hurl his assegai. When once he had +got a good start, he had no doubt about keeping well ahead. But the +hill had to be surmounted, when the men on foot would have the advantage +of the horses. He turned for a moment to take a glance at his pursuers. +Excited to fury by the howls and shrieks of the old hag, they were +exerting every muscle of their lithe bodies to spring over the ground, +and were coming on at a rapid rate. The well-trained steeds bravely +pressed up the hill, as if they were perfectly aware of the threatened +danger. Several of the Zulus had already got up to within fifty yards +of the fugitives. A couple of assegais came whistling through the air, +but they fell short of Hendricks, who now urging on his horse, made the +animal spring ahead. The rest of the party were by this time almost on +level ground. A few more bounds, and they were on the brow. There was +now no probability that the Zulus would overtake them. Hendricks might +have punished their pursuers by shooting down one or more, but he had no +desire to kill any one, and the extreme danger passed he rode on to the +head of his party. Still he could not venture to slacken his speed, for +before them was another valley with a good deal of rough ground, and +some of the more active Zulus might even now approach near enough to +hurl their assegais. The desire he felt to avoid bloodshed made him +still more anxious to keep ahead; for he and his companions might +otherwise, by halting, have received their pursuers with a fire which +would effectually have stopped their career. It was satisfactory to +know that the Zulus had no horses, for none had been observed in or +about the camp, so that when once they had got well ahead there was no +risk of being overtaken. + +What all this time had become of Gozo? Denis and Percy had not seen him +during the morning, nor had he made his appearance after Hendricks' +arrival at the camp. It was hoped therefore that he had escaped, +although it was too possible that he had been put to death by the Zulus. + +As the party gained the brow of the slope which led down to the next +valley, they saw below a herd of cattle, among which were several horses +feeding, attended by a few Zulus. + +"The chances are our horses are among them," cried Denis, as they rode +down the slope; "yes, yes, I see them! I am sure they are ours; and, +hurrah, there too is old Gozo safe and sound. He has caught sight of +us, and, depend on it, is planning how he can best get clear of those +fellows near him." + +"You are right," said Hendricks, and he shouted his follower's name. + +The herdsmen, thinking the strangers were about to make a raid on their +cattle, began to drive them off, on which Gozo, throwing himself on the +back of one of the horses, caught the two others, and galloped on to +join his friends. Some of the herdsmen, seeing what he was doing, +hurled their assegais at him; but, experienced hunter as he was, he +avoided them by bending down over the neck of his horse, and escaped. +He was quickly up to his friends. + +"Hurrah! here he comes," said Denis. "I will relieve you, Crawford, and +mount my animal." + +"But he has no saddle," said Crawford. + +"Oh, never mind that; I've ridden many a mile without one; and your +horse will go all the faster for not having my weight on his back," +answered Denis, as he threw himself off and quickly mounted one of the +horses Gozo brought up. + +No time was lost in asking Gozo questions. Lionel, who was as well +accustomed to ride without a saddle as was Denis, at once climbed up on +the back of his own horse. + +Again the party set off, allowing the herdsmen to escape with their +cattle; and looking back, they saw the Zulus in considerable numbers on +the top of the hill they had just crossed; but the slope on the opposite +side was not very steep, and pushing on they gained the summit before +their pursuers had reached the bottom of the valley. Waving an ironical +farewell, they galloped forward. Still it was prudent not to pull rein +as yet, and on they went at a rate which soon carried them far out of +reach of their enemies. + +"I wish that Mangaleesu had not joined Umbulazi; for though the prince +fancies he will succeed, there is every probability that he will be +defeated, as, besides being supported by the king, Cetchwayo has by far +the larger number of people with him," said Hendricks, addressing +Crawford. "Had I found an opportunity, I would have spoken to +Mangaleesu on the subject, and urged him to retreat while there was +time." + +While the two elders of the party were conversing as they rode on +together, the three boys were galloping alongside each other and +exchanging remarks in somewhat disjointed sentences, as people are wont +to do when going at a fast rate on horseback, especially if their steeds +are without saddles, as was the case in the present instance with two of +the lads. + +"I cannot tell you how glad I was to see you come back with Hendricks, +for I was much afraid that you had been caught by the Zulus and killed," +said Percy, turning to Lionel. "How did you manage to escape?" + +"It was not so difficult as you might have supposed," answered Lionel. +"When I got out of the hut, I crept along, keeping as much as possible +under the shadow of bushes and rocks. If I heard the slightest sound, I +stopped and lay flat on the ground, just as the Zulus do when +approaching an enemy or trying to escape. The guards were off guard, +supposing, I fancy, that none of Cetchwayo's people were near enough to +reach the camp. I saw two or three in the distance, but none came in my +way. My chief fear was that I might fall in with a prowling lion or +leopard, or encounter a snake of some sort crawling along. I did not, +however, allow myself to be troubled about such matters, I only thought +how I had best act should I meet with either of them. On and on I went; +but it was somewhat fatiguing work, as I could never venture to stand +upright, and had generally to make my way on all-fours, although +sometimes I ran on my feet, bending low down; but even in that position +I could not run fast. I at last reached the side of the hill up which I +had to climb. There were several open parts, where, had the Zulus been +keeping a bright look-out, I must have been seen, although they might +have taken me for a jackal or a lion. I crawled along as fast as I +could, not stopping even to look behind me, until I reached the brow of +the hill. On getting to the other side I saw a number of cattle, with +several horses among them, cropping the grass. Before I could venture +on I had to try and ascertain whereabouts the men herding the cattle had +posted themselves. I was pretty sure that they would be under shelter +somewhere, and as the night wind was chilly, they would be either seated +beneath the rocks, or would have built themselves huts of boughs. I +feared that if by chance I should creep near one of them, I might be +seen, when the fellow would to a certainty hurl his assegai at me, as he +would take me for a wild beast of some sort. At last, unable to +discover any one, I crawled down the hill, prepared at any moment to +take to my heels, should I be discovered. No sound reached my ears, and +I at length found myself close to several horses. As they were not +alarmed, I guessed that they were our own, which the Zulus had taken +from us. I knew that my beast would come to me, as I had taught him to +do, could I venture to call him. I whistled low. I saw one of the +horses lift his head. I could just distinguish him against the sky. As +I lay on the ground, I whistled again, and he began to move towards me. +The third time I whistled louder than the first, when, to my infinite +satisfaction, he trotted up. He had the rope bridle still round his +neck. Slipping it into his mouth, so as to be able to guide him, I +grasped his mane and leapt upon his back. Just as I reached it and +found myself firmly seated, I heard a shout, and looking round, caught +sight of a Zulu rushing out from beneath a thick bush, where he had +ensconced himself. I did not stop to inquire what he wanted, but urging +on my animal with my voice and heels, I galloped off across the country. +I was breasting the opposite hill when several other Zulus joined the +first. Whether, even then, they had made out that there was anybody on +the back of the horse, I was not certain. I think they did not; for, as +I bent low down, they might have supposed that the animal had been +suddenly seized with a desire to return to its former companions, and +that the others would probably follow, which of course they wished to +prevent them from doing. When once I was on the top of the hill, I knew +that there was little chance of the Zulus overtaking me. I galloped +forward, soon getting beyond the sound of their voices, while I knew +that they could not distinguish even the clatter of my horse's hoofs at +the distance I was already from them. I had a long ride before me; but +as my horse was fresh, and had had a good feed, I had no doubt that I +could accomplish it. I guessed, more or less, the direction of our +camp, and hoped that I was steering a straight course by the stars, +which shone brightly. My steed fortunately could see his way better +than I could, or I should often have been greatly puzzled. At last the +moon rose. Although it dimmed the stars, it afforded more light, and +enabled me to see the outline of the hills, by which I knew that I was +going right. I was galloping along, when my horse started and began to +tremble. Presently a loud roar saluted my ears. Looking ahead, I saw, +to my dismay, a lion just emerging from a thicket. Had I had my rifle, +I would have tried to shoot the brute. To gallop either to the one side +or the other would have been madness, as the lion would have been up to +me in a few bounds; for, heavy as the creature looks, he can, I assure +you, move for a short distance faster than the fleetest horse. Could I +have induced my steed to move forward, I would have ridden at the lion, +taking care, you may be sure, not to get within range of his paws; but +the poor animal, trembling with fear, stood stock still. At first I was +not quite certain that the lion was looking at me. Presently, however, +he roared again. In return I shouted at the top of my voice. This +seemed to encourage my horse, and patting him on the neck, I tried to +soothe him and get him to advance a few paces. I was in a very +dangerous predicament, I knew, but I did not despair. Presently I saw a +pack of jackals run by, with a lioness at their heels, when the lion +turned and joined her. From this I knew that he must have killed a +deer, or some other large animal, and had been calling to his mate, and +that his roaring was to keep the jackals away. People often declare +that the jackals are the lion's providers; but such is all nonsense. I +did not stop, you may be sure, to see how either the lions or jackals +were employed, but rode on as fast as I could out of their way. I was +not certain of the distance I had gone, and was very doubtful whether I +should hit the camp. I was afraid that I had passed it, and should +suddenly find myself in front of some kraal, whose inhabitants might not +be amiably disposed. Still it would not do to stand still. It at last +appeared to me that my horse had a strong inclination to move to the +right, and on reaching the summit of a hill I caught sight of two fires +in the distance. I rode towards them, feeling sure that they were at +our camp. As I approached, I shouted at the top of my voice. In an +instant all the dogs came out barking, followed immediately, to my great +satisfaction, by Hendricks himself on horseback. + +"`I was just setting off to look for you boys, for I feared some +accident had happened,' he exclaimed. `Where are the rest?' + +"I told him. + +"`You must have some food while I make arrangements for our expedition,' +he observed. + +"Very glad I was, I can tell you, to get something to eat. Meantime he +sent for Umgolo, and directed him to order as many men as could be +spared to get ready. He wanted me to stay behind, but I begged to +accompany him, though I asked for a fresh horse, which was likely to +carry me better than my own after his hard gallop." + +By the time Lionel had finished his account, the party had come in sight +of the camp, where they were welcomed by the men in charge, who, having +heard reports of the approach of Umbulazi's forces to attack Cetchwayo, +feared that they might have been detained if not cut off. The fires +were made up, and the remainder of a buffalo killed in the morning was +quickly cooked to satisfy the hunger of the party Hendricks had taken +with him, as they had had nothing to eat since they left the camp in the +morning. They had, unfortunately, no other meat; and it was necessary, +before they could proceed to any distance, to obtain a further supply. +Still Hendricks was anxious, as quickly as possible, to get out from +between the two contending forces, one of which was on his right hand +and the other on his left. + +As soon as the meal was over, sentries being placed round the camp, and +careful watches, to keep a look-out on the oxen, the rest of the party +lay down with their arms by their sides, ready to start in the morning, +as soon as there was sufficient daylight to enable them to see their way +clearly. Scarcely had Lionel, with his young companions, placed their +heads on the saddles or rolls of cloth which served them as pillows, +than they were fast asleep, dreaming of the antics they had seen played +by Umbulazi's dusky warriors on the previous day. Even the howls of the +hyenas and jackals failed to disturb them, nor did the roaring of a +lion, which came up close to the camp, and made most of the Kaffir +servants start to their feet. + +Before daylight, Hendricks, whom no exertion could fatigue, was on foot, +when he quickly aroused his followers. Being in a hurry to set off, he +did not wait for breakfast, but ordered the horses to be saddled and the +oxen to be inspanned, and the men taking their accustomed places on each +side of the waggon, the journey was commenced, just as the first streaks +of day appeared over the distant hills. The road was well known, or it +would have been difficult to find it in the gloom of morning; but as +soon as the sun rose, there was light enough and to spare, as well as +more heat than was pleasant, especially in the opinion of the young +English travellers. Moving on for some miles, they came to the edge of +the plateau, or rather to a broad valley which ran across it. As they +gazed down from their elevated position, it appeared sprinkled with +clumps of mimosa of various sizes, springing up from a sward of soft +green grass. + +"That will be delightful for a gallop!" exclaimed Crawford, as they +halted for a short time to secure the drags to the waggon wheels. + +"Wait until we get down to it," observed Hendricks, laughing. "We shall +find that seeming sward a tangled network of long coarse grass, as high +as our waists." + +Such indeed was proved to be the case, although the oxen managed to +tramp through it. + +"Look out for snakes!" cried Denis. "I saw a big fellow wriggling +through the grass just now. He seemed more afraid of us than we need be +of him; only remember, Crawford, that you don't step upon one, if you +can help it." + +No accident, however, happened, and the waggon in a short time was +ascending the opposite height. Some further distance had to be +traversed before water was reached, when the travellers outspanned for +their morning meal, as also to afford the oxen rest after the toils they +had gone through. + +The travellers had but meagre fare, as no meat had as yet been obtained, +but mealy cakes and bowls of tea were sufficient to satisfy their hunger +for the present. Scarcely had they begun breakfast, however, when +Umgolo, who had gone to the top of a slight elevation in the +neighbourhood, came hurrying back with the report that he had seen in +the far distance a herd of buffaloes, and he proposed setting out +immediately to shoot some. The meal was therefore hurried over, and +Hendricks and Umgolo, with two other Kaffir hunters, accompanied by +Crawford and the three lads, set off on foot, hoping to bring back a +sufficient supply of meat, not only for present consumption, but to turn +into beltong. The party first made for the hill, that they might take a +look over the country, and observe the direction in which the buffaloes +were moving, as also the quarter from whence the wind was blowing, so as +to approach the herd on the lee side, and thus avoid being discovered by +the keen-scented animals. + +Far off to the right was a wood, towards which the herd was travelling +for shade and rest; but as the wind blew from where the hunters then +were towards the wood, it was necessary to make a long circuit before +they could approach from the desired quarter. So bright and pure was +the atmosphere, that distances seemed almost as nothing. The buffaloes, +which were in reality miles away, appeared so near that Crawford and +Percy, who were less accustomed to the country than the rest of the +party, fancied that they should be up to them in a quarter of an hour or +less. As it was, they had a weary tramp, the sun beating down on their +heads with intense force until they reached a wooded part of the +country, where they enjoyed some shade; but owing to the tangled roots +and creepers, they were compelled to make even slower progress than +before. + +"Silence now, lads," said Hendricks, "no talking: we must creep up, and +not let our footfalls be heard. I bring you for the sake of giving you +a lesson. Remember, none of you are to fire until Umgolo and I have +brought down a beast, but then you can exercise your skill." + +Saying this, he and Umgolo set off, followed by the rest of the party, +who imitated their example, stepping cautiously, and stooping down when +they had to cross an open space where they were exposed to view. They +could catch glimpses of the buffaloes moving slowly along, cropping the +grass as they went, an old bull acting as their leader and guardian. At +length a spot which afforded shelter and concealment was reached inside +the wood. Hendricks and Umgolo searched round carefully, lest it should +prove that a lion or some other savage animal had made its lair +thereabouts, and might spring out upon them. + +Satisfied on that point, directed by Hendricks, they took up their +positions, and then commenced creeping forward as noiselessly as mice. +Presently Hendricks pointed in front, and made a signal to prepare for +instant action. By moving aside some of the boughs with the greatest +caution, the whole herd was seen, magnificent-looking fellows, some +standing, others lying down, and several snoring away, enjoying their +noonday siesta. The old bull, the leader of the herd, stood, however, +looking out, as if suspecting danger, yet perhaps not sufficiently +satisfied that it was near to warn his companions. Hendricks had got +within ten or a dozen yards of him; Umgolo had crept up to about the +same distance from another fine-looking brute. The younger hunters had +each selected an animal, but, obeying orders, refrained from firing. +Presently Hendricks, who was kneeling, raised his rifle, and a loud +report was heard. Almost at the same instant Umgolo fired, when the +rest of the party, deeming themselves at liberty to act as they thought +fit, discharged their rifles. As soon as the smoke had cleared away, +three fine animals were seen on the ground, while the rest of the herd +were scampering off in full flight across the plain. One fell before +they had got far, showing that two of the younger hunters had fired with +effect; but which had been the successful shot, neither of them could be +very certain, though each claimed the honour. + +Umgolo, followed by the other Kaffirs, sprang forward, eager to cut up +the carcases. Hendricks had ordered two of the men left in camp to +bring up the horses by a direct path to carry back the meat. They soon +arrived, and the animals being loaded with the more valuable portions of +the slain buffaloes, the whole party set off to return in triumph with +the spoils of the chase. They were scarcely out of the wood, when +suddenly, from behind the bushes and tall grass, a hundred Kaffirs, with +assegais in hand, which they shook as if about to hurl them at the +hunters, sprang up, and almost completely surrounded them. + +"We're in a fearful predicament," exclaimed Percy, as looking round he +saw no means of escape. "Good-bye, Lionel, good-bye, Denis. I suppose +these black fellows will run us through with their ugly-looking spears +before many minutes are over." + +"Sure, I hope they'll not be after doing anything of the sort," said +Denis; "they're only quivering them just now to frighten us." + +"I don't like their looks," said Lionel; "but I hope, as many of them +know Hendricks, they don't intend to kill us." + +"What means this?" exclaimed Hendricks, advancing towards the nearest. +"We are friends of the Zulus, and desire to traverse their country in +peace. You know me; I have often been among you." + +"Yes, we know you well," said a chief, stepping forward. + +"We have no desire to injure you or your companions; but you must +accompany us to our Prince Cetchwayo, who desires to see you. It is +known that you have been at the camp of Umbulazi, and he wishes to know +the object which took you there." + +"I went there from necessity, to rescue some of my followers who had +been made prisoners. I succeeded, and carried them off, tarrying not a +moment longer with Umbulazi than I was compelled to do." + +"The prince will hear what you have to say, and will act according to +his judgment," said the chief. "Yield yourselves as prisoners." + +"If you insist on our going, we have no choice in the matter," said +Hendricks, looking round at the large band of savage warriors which had +surprised them. "But perhaps the assurance I give, that we are friends +to Cetchwayo, and are simply travelling through his country, will +satisfy him." + +"The prince wishes to see the great hunter face to face," answered the +chief; "and he and his followers, with his waggon and cattle, will +accompany us forthwith. The word has been spoken. The order must be +obeyed." + +"We must submit to these fellows," said Hendricks, turning to his +English companions. "But load your rifles, and be prepared to act as I +may direct you, though there is, I fear, but little chance of making our +escape." + +The Zulus had now gathered closely round their prisoners, whom, however, +they did not ill-treat, but allowed them to walk as they liked. + +"I fear that my people in the camp, when they see you coming, will take +to flight," said Hendricks to the chief. "Let me go on first, and I +will tell them that you come as friends. Will you trust me?" + +The chief looked at him. "Yes," he said, "I know that I can trust the +word of a white chief, and you may go forward." + +"Halt here, then, for a few minutes, to give me time to get ahead of +you," said Hendricks, "and I will trust you also with my people, that +you will not injure them." + +The chief, on this, ordered his followers to halt, while Hendricks went +on with rapid strides towards the camp. On his arrival, he found his +people in a state of great consternation, they having just caught sight +of the Zulus, and they confessed that in another minute they would have +fled, believing that he and those with him had been killed. + +He managed, however, to quell their fears by the assurance that +Cetchwayo would not injure them, though he might delay their journey. +This was of greater consequence to him than to them. In a short time +the Zulus were seen advancing. On their arrival, the chief told +Hendricks that he must at once inspan and proceed towards Cetchwayo's +camp, which was much nearer than had been supposed. On Hendricks, +however, representing to him that he and his people had been without +meat the whole day, the chief consented to their waiting until some had +been cooked, observing that he would take charge of the remainder. He +did so, by dividing it among his followers, who forthwith lighted +several fires, and cooking it after their barbarous fashion, quickly ate +the whole of it up, scarcely leaving a few scraps for the hungry dogs. +This was not a little provoking to the hunters, but it allowed them some +time to rest and recover from the fatigue they all felt. + +As soon as the feast was over, Hendricks gave the word to inspan. The +chief somewhat demurred on seeing his prisoners preparing to mount their +horses, naturally fearing that they would try to make their escape, but +on Hendricks assuring him that they would accompany him to Cetchwayo's +camp, he consented to their riding, though he took good care so to place +his people on either side, that they would have found it a difficult +matter to get off, even had they been so disposed. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +KING PANDA. + +The band of Zulus, with the captives in their midst, were compelled to +move at a slow pace; for the Hottentot drivers of the waggon, uncertain +of the reception they might meet with at the end of their journey, would +not hasten on the oxen even when the ground was level, and it was +frequently rough, with steep hills to ascend or descend, so that a +quicker pace was impossible. The warriors belonged to a regiment of +unmarried men or boys, as could be seen from their heads wanting the +ring at the top, which is the mark of those who have been allowed by the +king to take to themselves wives. As they marched along they shouted +and sang songs descriptive of the deeds they had performed, or of those +they intended to do, referring sometimes to their prowess in having +captured a party of white men, who had not ventured to strike a blow for +freedom; while they boasted especially of the way they intended to +annihilate Umbulazi and his followers. Some gave way to their exuberant +spirits by leaping and dancing in a fashion which offered a curious +contrast to the march of a regiment of life guards. They shrieked, they +quivered their assegais, and clashed their shields together, until +Crawford, who had never before seen an exhibition of the sort, began to +fear that they might take it into their heads to kill him and his +companions. + +"I think we should be prepared for an attack from these savages," he +said to Denis, gravely. "For my part, I hope that we shall sell our +lives dearly, if they attempt to take them." + +"No fear of that for the present," answered Denis; "they are only in +somewhat high spirits at the thought of having soon to engage in battle. +You see Hendricks rides on as composedly as ever, so does Lionel, who +perfectly understands what they are saying. They don't intend us any +harm. However, I confess that it is possible their mood may change, and +it would be as well not to do anything to offend them. Hendricks knows +them better than most people, and will take care to keep them in good +humour. I shall be very glad when we are out of their company +notwithstanding." + +"So say I," exclaimed Crawford. "I confess that had I known what +savages they are, I should not have been so eager to come into their +country." + +"As to that, I do not suppose they are worse than other tribes," said +Denis; "they are certainly more intelligent and brave. My chief regret +is that we shall have further delay in going in search of my father. I +wish that you were to accompany us instead of stopping with Captain +Broderick, although I daresay Percy will be very glad of your company; +and he has some sisters, who won't be ill pleased to have an English +gentleman to talk to, as they must lead a somewhat monotonous life in +that out-of-the-way spot, with only an occasional visit from a Dutch +boer and his frau, or, when the weather is not too hot, a gallop through +the wilds." + +"I am half inclined to ask Hendricks to let me accompany him on his +expedition into the interior," said Crawford. "I am afraid I should get +tired of the sort of life you describe. However, I shall be able to +judge better when I have seen the place." + +"Or the young ladies, eh?" observed Denis; "I fancy something will +depend upon that, won't it?" + +Crawford made no reply. + +This conversation caused the journey to appear shorter than might +otherwise have been the case. Lionel and Percy, who generally kept +together, amused themselves by talking away in a lively fashion, while +Hendricks rode ahead, thinking over his plans for the future, and +considering how he could best get free from King Panda and his son, the +Prince Regent, for such was the rank held by Cetchwayo at that time. At +length a kraal was seen on the slope of a hill, rising gradually from +the plain. It was at present the habitation of Panda. The warriors +raised a shout, intended as a compliment to the king, and again beating +their shields and shaking their assegais, they made signals to the +drivers to urge on the waggon at a faster speed than heretofore. The +Hottentots, observing their threatening gestures, obeyed, and the ground +being even, the oxen pulled away, incited by the lash of the drivers, +which came down with incessant whisks on their flanks. + +Hendricks, knowing the customs of the country, put his horse into a +trot, Crawford and Denis and the two boys imitating him, and thus the +warriors and their captives appeared to be rushing forward eagerly +towards the palace of the king. The chief who had captured them hurried +on first to announce the success of his expedition. Just before he +reached the kraal he was met by a tall stout chief, evidently a person +of much consideration, for as he approached he bowed again and again, +and then crouched down to the ground, apparently not daring to look up +at his face. The tall chief wore, like the others, a cap stuck full of +ostrich and crane feathers, with lappets of monkey skins, a kilt of the +same skins round his waist, and a sort of cloak hanging over his +shoulders, fastened in front by numerous white ox-tails. His features +were handsome for a Kaffir; in height he towered above those surrounding +him; and though still young, he was remarkably stout. He was evidently +also a powerful man, and he possessed the supposed attributes of high +birth--wonderfully small hands and feet for a person of his size. + +"Who can he be?" asked Crawford. + +"A whopping big fellow, at all events," answered Denis; "I'll ask +Hendricks." + +"That is no other than Cetchwayo, the real ruler of Zululand," said +Hendricks; "he has come here probably on a visit to his father, and he +it was who ordered our seizure. I have always been on good terms with +him, and must try and induce him not to detain us. It will not do, +however, to approach him on horseback. We must show him some respect, +though we need not bow and cringe as that fellow is doing." + +When the party had approached to about a hundred yards or so from the +prince, a halt was called, when Hendricks, dismounting, summoned Umgolo, +and leaving the horses in charge of the other attendants, they proceeded +together towards the prince. + +Hendricks saluted him in Kaffir fashion, and having paid the usual +compliments, begged to inquire why he and his party had been summoned. +The prince replied that he wished to see him face to face. That no harm +was intended him, but that he required his services for an important +object. Hendricks asked what that object was, saying at the same time, +that he should be always ready to do anything to serve him. + +"That is well!" answered Cetchwayo; "but you are equally ready to do +anything to serve Umbulazi, to whose camp I find you have paid a visit." + +Hendricks replied that he had been compelled to visit the camp for the +purpose of rescuing some of his followers who had been made prisoners, +and that he had neither promised his assistance nor expressed his +approbation of the proceedings of Umbulazi. + +"You must show which side you espouse by joining me, and assisting in +defeating the traitor who is planning to deprive me of my father's +favour, and to rule the country in my stead," said Cetchwayo. + +In vain Hendricks pleaded that although friendly to Cetchwayo, he was +anxious to proceed on his journey for an important object, and that it +was not becoming in white men to interfere in the quarrels of the +natives, with all of whom they wished to be at peace. + +Cetchwayo smiled grimly, remarking, "That whether Hendricks and his +followers fought or not, they must accompany him to see the way in which +he would punish his enemies." + +When he pleaded still more earnestly, the prince began to grow angry, +and hinted that if his white friend did not accompany him willingly he +should be compelled to use more powerful arguments. + +Hendricks, seeing that it would be imprudent to press the point further, +had at length to submit, and Cetchwayo then told him that he might camp +where his waggon stood, and that wood, water, and food would be sent to +him. + +The oxen were accordingly offspanned, the horses were knee-haltered, and +the other usual preparations made. In a short time a party of boys +appeared bringing firewood, which they deposited near the waggon. They +were followed by the same number of girls, who came along laughing and +singing, bringing some large calabashes of water on their heads. +Finding that no meat appeared, Hendricks did up a packet of blankets and +other articles, and bidding one of his men accompany him, proceeded to +the chief kraal. Percy and Lionel followed at a short distance, as they +said to each other, to see the fun. As they got near the kraal, they +observed a number of half-naked blacks dragging at what looked like a +huge gun carriage, but which proved to be a hand-waggon, very similar to +a big chest on wheels. In it was seated an immensely fat man. As he +approached, the people who were standing outside immediately went down +on their hands and knees, shouting out, "Bayete, bayete!" or King of all +other kings; "Zulu-lion, Monarch of the world," and similar +complimentary cries. + +"Why, who is that fat old fellow?" asked Percy. + +"Who should he be but King Panda, to be sure?" answered Denis. "He is +too fat for his legs to support him, so he has to be dragged about in +that fashion." + +The king looked about him in a complaisant manner, and gave some order, +when half a dozen of the courtiers darted off as fast as their legs +could carry them, eager to obey it. On seeing Hendricks, he desired him +to approach. The hunter advanced without considering it necessary to +make a salute in the style the black king's subjects adopted; but taking +the bundle of blankets from his attendant, he offered it, saying that he +had brought a present which he hoped his Majesty would deign to accept. + +The king, on seeing the blankets, which were ornamented with +gay-coloured borders, expressed his great satisfaction, and without +referring to the way in which the hunter and his party had been taken +prisoners, inquired the news from Natal, the price of cattle, and talked +about other similar subjects. + +Hendricks, knowing that it would be useless to plead with Panda against +Cetchwayo's decision, having answered his questions, simply expressed +his pleasure at seeing the king look so well. + +The old fellow grimly smiled, and stroked his stomach as if he +considered himself still capable of swallowing an unlimited quantity of +beef and mealy cakes. Yet this mountain of flesh had unlimited power +over the lives of his subjects, which he showed before the day was over +by ordering one of his courtiers, who had offended him somehow or other, +to be put to death. Some thirty of those standing round darted off with +their assegais in their hands. Just at that instant the unhappy +offender appeared, coming to ask pardon of the king, and to explain the +reason of his apparent negligence. He was met by the executioners of +the king's pleasure, and before he could open his mouth he was pierced +through and through by a score of assegais. When his dead body was +dragged up to the waggon, the king simply nodded his approval of the +act. The body was then dragged off again to be buried. None of the +man's relatives or friends dared to utter a word of complaint. Soon +after Hendricks and his companions had reached the waggon, an ox was +driven towards them by some of the attendants of the king, who had sent +it as a return for the presents he had received. It was at once +slaughtered, and the meat was spitted, and placed before the fire to +cook, greatly to the satisfaction of the Kaffir and Hottentot servants, +who had begun loudly to complain of being starved. Hendricks had still +some hopes that Cetchwayo would allow him to continue his journey the +next morning; but the prince sent word that he must remain another day, +as he was not prepared to commence his march. + +This was a further trial of temper to Hendricks, and by the way he bore +it he set a good example to his young followers. Guards were placed +round the camp by Cetchwayo's orders, so that no one could leave it +without permission. It was thus very evident that he intended to adhere +to his first intention, of compelling the white men to accompany him on +his expedition against his brother. There was no help for it. The +whole party turned in to sleep, satisfied, at all events, that they were +not likely to be disturbed by a lion or rhinoceros, or any other wild +beast, making an inroad into the camp. + +Next day a messenger from the king made his appearance, and presented an +invitation to the great white hunter to dine with His Majesty, and to +bring his young white companions. + +Hendricks groaned. "I know what that means," he observed to Crawford. +"We shall have to drink beer and eat beef until we are ready to die of +repletion. I would thankfully avoid the honour if we could possibly do +so; but if we were to refuse, the king might grow angry, and perhaps +confiscate our goods, if he did not order us all to be put to death." + +"Let us go by all means," said Crawford. "It will be great fun, and we +shall, at all events, be able to boast that we dined with the king of +Zululand." + +"We must go, I fear, but I doubt if you or any of us will find it much +fun," answered Hendricks. + +He then turned to the messenger, who, of course, had no conception of +the remarks which had been made, and begged him to inform the great king +that his white friends would do themselves the immense honour of obeying +his commands. + +At the appointed time Hendricks and his four companions set off, leaving +the waggon under the charge of Umgolo, with directions to keep a strict +watch upon it, lest any of Cetchwayo's brave soldiers should take it +into their heads to appropriate the contents. They then proceeded +towards the kraal at the side of the hill. The heat was excessive, the +sun beat down with intense force upon their heads, so that they were not +inclined to move very fast. Having arrived at the kraal, they were +ushered into the outer circle, where, in a hut considerably larger than +those inhabited by the common people, they found the king seated on a +pile of mats, he being utterly unable to squat down in the fashion of +his less obese subjects. Hendricks saluted him in due form, and +Crawford and Percy imitated their leader as well as they could. They +then arranged themselves so as to form part of a circle on one side of +His Majesty. + +Panda looked at Lionel. "That boy knows how to behave," he remarked, +observing the proper Kaffir salutation which he made on entering. + +"Yes, O King! I have long lived in Zululand, and I know good manners," +answered Lionel, with perfect gravity, while Denis turned away his head +to indulge in a quiet laugh, to which he could not openly venture to +give way. + +Presently several girls appeared, each carrying a bowl holding about a +gallon of beer, one of which they set down before each of the guests. +Others then brought in wooden platters, huge pieces of beef, large +masses of which an attendant cut off with an assegai, and handed to the +king, who munched away at them with infinite satisfaction. The guests +were desired to help themselves with their knives which they carried in +their belts. There were, in addition, baskets of mealy cakes, which +Percy declared were more to the purpose than the tough half-roasted +beef. The king every now and then looked round the circle, exclaiming, +"Eat! eat!" The guests did their utmost, but were very soon satisfied. + +"Pray tell him that I can do no more," said Crawford. "This hot day I +should prefer some cold lamb and a salad, but this coarse beef beats +me." + +Hendricks apologised as best he could. + +"Tell them to drink, then," said the king, "if they cannot eat. The +beer will slip down without any difficulty. Don't you like beer?" asked +the king, when he saw that after taking a few mouthfuls they stopped. + +"Pray tell him that we like beer in moderation, but shall never be able +to finish off one of these bowls," exclaimed Crawford. + +Hendricks assured the king that his young companions were anxious to +please him; but that Englishmen's insides were not of the same +magnificent capacity as His Majesty's, and that therefore it would be +impossible for them to do as he desired. + +A frown gathered on the king's brow. "Drink, I say, drink! They must +drink," he exclaimed. + +"Tell the king that I'll see him at Jericho first," said Denis; an +observation which set Percy off laughing. + +"Command yourselves, lads," said Hendricks, turning to them. "This may +become no laughing matter. Although you cannot drink, and I don't wish +you to do so, you must show the king that you desire to please him." + +"Sure I'll do that," said Denis, putting the bowl to his mouth, and +pretending to swallow a huge draught, and then placed it on the ground +and gasped for breath. "Please tell His Majesty, that unless he wishes +to kill me, he'll let me off this time," cried the irrepressible young +Irishman. "Poor Percy and Lionel will burst outright if they have to +swallow this stuff." + +"That I shall," exclaimed Percy. "I'll not swallow another drop to +please him or all the nigger kings in Africa." + +Lionel did not venture to make any remark, but looked as resolute as the +rest not to turn himself into a beer barrel. + +Hendricks began to wish heartily that he had left his companions in the +camp, but had now to get out of the difficulty in the best way he could. +He therefore reminded Panda that they were very young, and that English +manners were not like Zulu manners, but he hoped the next time they +visited the country, should the king give them the honour of an +invitation, that they would behave themselves better. + +Both Hendricks and Crawford had already swallowed more of the beer than +they liked. Although its intoxicating qualities were very weak, the +latter declared he felt its effects in his head, and that should he take +much more, he could not answer for himself. + +At last Hendricks thought of an expedient which might possibly prove +successful in enabling his companions to escape from a further +infliction of the king's hospitable intentions. "The Lion of Africa" +(such was one of the titles the obese old savage delighted to be +addressed by) "was inquiring about affairs in Natal," he observed. "Not +long ago, there lived in England,--which, as your Majesty is aware of, +is a long way off,--a man named Jones. He was a worthy man, and had he +been born in Zululand, he might have become a great warrior. But Jones +was a man of peace. He had a family of ten children, six boys and four +girls, very like him in all respects. Jones had a brother, and Jones's +brother had twelve children, they were equally divided between boys and +girls. As there was every prospect of there being a good many more +little Jones's born, they agreed that the country might not be large +enough to hold them, and they therefore determined to come out to Natal. +Jones's brother came in a ship called the _Swan_, while Jones himself +embarked in one named the _Duck_. They sailed almost at the same time. +When the sea was smooth, the little Jones's were tolerably well, but +when it grew rough, they became very sick, and wished that they had not +come." + +Hendricks, while he was speaking, kept his eye on the king, who, before +he had got thus far, began to nod. He continued, therefore, in a low +voice, giving the history of the Jones's, which, as it would be +uninteresting to most readers, was especially so to the king, who, +therefore, before the hunter had got much farther, fell fast asleep. + +"Now my lads," said Hendricks, turning to his young companions, "you may +take the opportunity of slipping off. Make a bow to the king as you +leave the hut, more to please his attendants than His Majesty, who will +certainly not see it, and I will follow." + +His directions were obeyed, and they all breathed more freely when they +found themselves in the open air. They guessed that the courtiers would +not let the king discover that any beer had been left in the bowls, by +drinking it up themselves, and they therefore were not troubled on that +account. + +"It is the first time I ever dined with a king, and it's the last, I +hope, ever to have that honour--at least with a black one," exclaimed +Denis, as they strolled back towards the waggon. "I wish we could send +Cetchwayo to sleep as easily as Hendricks has done his fat old father, +and then we might at once continue our journey." + +Cetchwayo, however, was not a man to be sent asleep by any amount of +Kaffir beer, whatever might have been the effect of half a dozen of +London stout. He visited the camp in the evening, to have a talk, as he +said, with his friend the great hunter. + +He intended, he said, to commence his march at daylight the next +morning, to attack Umbulazi, and he should depend upon his friends to +afford him the assistance of their rifles. + +"Do you wish, O Prince, to destroy me and my companions?" exclaimed +Hendricks. "Know you not that I am subject to the laws of my country? +Those laws forbid me to kill my fellow-creatures, except in +self-defence, or in such warfare as is sanctioned by my government. If +I were to kill any of Umbulazi's people, who have not attacked me, and +who are at peace with my country, I should make myself liable to the +penalty of death. Remember, O Prince, that although your warriors are +brave and numerous, yet Umbulazi has a strong force, and should the +fortune of war turn against you, your women and children would be +exposed to great danger. Now if you will place them under my charge, I +will undertake to defend them, and will fight to the last, rather than +allow them to be killed." + +To this proposal Cetchwayo would not consent, but at last he agreed that +Hendricks and his men should remain in the reserve, and that in the +event of any of his regiments being defeated, they should afford them +protection, and enable them to rally, so as to renew the attack. + +Very unwillingly Hendricks was compelled to consent to this arrangement, +for he feared being drawn into the conflict, which he especially desired +to avoid. Next morning, at daybreak, the army began its march. The +main body advanced so slowly, that the waggon was able to keep up with +it; but active scouts were sent ahead, to feel every inch of the way, +while the rest kept themselves concealed, so that there was no +possibility of their being taken by surprise. For three days they +advanced, when it was supposed that they were approaching their enemies; +but the scouts brought in word that they had retreated to a position +nearer the border. This showed that Umbulazi was not so confident of +victory as he had appeared to be--possibly he had discovered that his +forces were far outnumbered by those of his brother. + +On receiving this information, Cetchwayo ordered his whole army to +advance. Hendricks was in hopes of being allowed to remain behind, but +the prince would not hear of it. + +"I will grant you this favour," he answered. "I will leave two of your +people, and six of my own, who are sick, to assist in taking care of the +waggon; but you and the rest must accompany me on horseback, and view +the battle, even if you do not take a part in it. I want to show you +how we Zulus fight, and how we treat our enemies when we gain the +victory." + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +A BATTLE IN ZULULAND. + +Cetchwayo's army, like a devouring host of locusts, advanced across the +country in an extended line, burning the kraals belonging to the chiefs +who had sided with Umbulazi, or were supposed to have sided with him, +trampling down their mealy fields, and destroying their crops. Old men, +women, and children were indiscriminately put to death when found within +the huts. The greater number had fled to die in the woods of hunger, or +to be devoured by wild beasts. No mercy was shown to those who were +captured. The warriors believed victory was certain, for the prophetess +had declared that all the auguries were favourable. One more +preliminary performance had to be gone through--a grand war dance of the +whole army, to excite their enthusiasm, and to warm up their courage to +the highest pitch. The scouts had brought the information that the +enemy were still some distance in advance, and that there was no fear of +the performance being interrupted. The army had been drawn in on +purpose, and were assembled on a level plain backed by a hill to the +eastward, which they had just crossed. On either side were woods, while +a stream ran in front. On the slope of the hill, Cetchwayo took his +stand, with Hendricks and his other prisoners--for such they were +compelled to consider themselves--near him. + +The regiments, headed by their respective chiefs, or colonels, as they +really were, advanced from the woods on either side in due order; the +tall plumes of the chiefs, their skin cloaks, and ox-tail adornments, +fluttering in the breeze. They advanced, singing a monotonous chant, +describing the heroic deeds they were about to perform, till each +regiment in turn came in front of Cetchwayo, when halting, the men +formed a semi-circle, and began slowly moving their feet and arms. As +they grew more excited, their action increased in energy and fierceness, +and their songs became louder, until at length there was a perfect storm +of singing, yelling, and stamping. At the same time the utmost +regularity was kept up; their feet, for they did not move from their +positions, leaving deep dents in the ground. Notwithstanding the +turmoil and apparent disorder which prevailed, they kept perfect time +with their voices, arms, and feet. At length, when well-nigh exhausted +from their exertions, having received the approval of their general, +they moved on to give place to another regiment, which performed +precisely the same manoeuvres, except that the men endeavoured to outdo +their predecessors in loudness of voice and vehemence of action. + +Ten regiments were thus passed in review, forming a force of as many +thousand men. + +"I suspect poor Umbulazi will have very little chance against these +fellows, if they once come up with him," observed Denis to Crawford. +"His best chance will be to escape across the border, where I do not +suppose that Cetchwayo will venture to follow him." + +"From your account, he and his followers are perfect savages, and these +fellows are much of the same description," answered Crawford. "For my +part, I wish we were out of the country. I am surprised that Captain +Broderick should have ventured to settle in the neighbourhood of such +people. I had formed a very different notion of them before I came +out." + +"Of course they are very much like other Kaffirs," said Denis. "They +have no more regard for human life than they have for that of the +animals they chase. They have become formidable from the way they have +been trained by a succession of clever chiefs like Cetchwayo, though I +don't suppose that old Panda has ever done much to maintain good +discipline in his army. However, as Cetchwayo is well disposed towards +the English, he will not give much trouble to the colony." + +"Not as long as he considers it to his advantage to keep friends with +the English," remarked Crawford. "But suppose they offend him, how will +he act?" + +"A few red coats and our colonial militia would soon keep him in order, +should he show any inclination to quarrel," said Denis. + +The conversation was interrupted by a loud shout from Cetchwayo ordering +the army to advance, when they spread out as before, forming one vast +semi-circle, that is, the wings were in advance of the main body, so +that should an enemy be encountered, they might close in and surround +him. In this order they advanced until dark, when they halted, each man +carrying his provisions, so that there was no necessity for forming a +camp or lighting a fire, which would have shown their position to the +enemy. Our friends, who had also brought some food in their holsters, +lay down on the ground near Cetchwayo. + +The night passed quietly, with only an occasional alarm from wild +beasts, who however speedily decamped on finding themselves in the +neighbourhood of so vast a concourse of people, and at early dawn the +army again advanced. In a short time much excitement was caused among +the ranks, for scouts came continually hurrying back with information +respecting the movements of the enemy. + +A line of hills of no great elevation rose in front, extending north and +south for a considerable distance. These had to be surmounted, when +Cetchwayo told Hendricks that he expected to find Umbulazi's force on +the other side. Not a word was spoken along the whole line; for +although the warriors themselves could not have been heard by the main +body of the enemy, the scouts might have discovered their advance. + +Cetchwayo now told Hendricks and his companions to dismount and lead on +their horses, keeping a short distance in the rear of the army. + +The Zulu warriors advanced in the same order as before, as fast as the +nature of the ground would allow, concealing themselves as much as +possible, by taking advantage of the trees and bushes and tufts of tall +grass, so that a person standing on the summit of the hill, if he had +perceived them at all, would have had no conception of their numbers. +Whenever shelter was wanting, they stooped down, and very often crawled +along the ground like snakes amid the grass. + +The two wings could now be seen creeping up the hillside. Shortly +afterwards the main body reached the bottom, and also began to ascend. +Occasionally a herd of deer or smaller game, driven out of their +coverts, started off, some making for the hill, others darting to the +one side or the other, probably to fall victims to the noiseless +assegais of the warriors. + +Hendricks, although as resolved as ever not to engage in the fight, was +still compelled to move forward. The hill covered with trees afforded +as much shelter as the lower ground had done. On gaining the summit, in +the rear of the troops, he was able to obtain a view over the country +beyond. It was a comparatively level region, with a broad river running +across it. On the nearer side of the river, and at no great distance +from the bottom of the slope, could be seen the forces of Umbulazi. It +was tolerably evident from the movement among them that they had just +obtained information of the approach of Cetchwayo's army. The chiefs +were marshalling their men, some facing the hill, some preparing for the +assault on either side, but it appeared to Hendricks that they were +uncertain in what direction they might be attacked. + +Slowly, and still keeping themselves concealed, Cetchwayo's warriors +descended the hillside. Nearer and nearer they drew to the foe, the +wings being gradually extended, and at the same time closing in towards +each other. + +Thus, even before the attack had commenced, Umbulazi's force was almost +entirely surrounded. It had probably been Cetchwayo's intention +completely to hem in his enemies; but before there was time to do so, +they had discovered his right wing, and apparently supposing it to be +the main body, advanced to meet it. On this he gave the signal to his +whole force to commence the attack, and in an instant, from the hitherto +silent woods and thickets, hideous shrieks and yells arose, and the +warriors, no longer taking pains to conceal themselves, rushed on at +headlong speed, clashing their shields and quivering their assegais. + +The rear of Umbulazi's force was completely taken by surprise. To fly +was impossible, either to the right hand or to the left; their own +people engaged with the enemy in front, preventing them from moving in +that direction. Their only resource was to face about and endeavour to +drive back their assailants, or to defend themselves to the last. Now +the main body appearing rushed down on what had been their right flank, +and the slaughter commenced. + +Vastly outnumbered and completely surrounded, they fought with the +energy of despair. Some few of the younger men, seeing relatives and +friends among their assailants, pleaded for mercy, but they pleaded with +those to whom mercy was unknown. The sharp assegais of Cetchwayo's +warriors did their death work rapidly and surely. His victorious bands +pressed forward, closing in on their victims. + +Hendricks stood observing the battle through his telescope, which he +occasionally handed to Crawford and Denis. The scene enacted on the +ground near the foot of the hill could be clearly observed with the +naked eye, but through the glass alone could be distinguished what was +taking place in the distance. + +One path leading towards the river alone remained open, and towards it a +few who had been posted in that direction were seen endeavouring to make +their escape. The greater number were pursued and overtaken; but one +warrior, who had exhibited wonderful activity, kept those chasing him at +bay, and hurling his assegais with unerring aim, brought one after the +other to the ground; then once more resuming his flight, he gained the +river, and, plunging in, was no more seen. + +"Well, I'm glad that poor fellow got off," exclaimed Denis, who had been +watching him anxiously. "I hope he'll make his escape; for he must be +very brave, or he would not have turned round and fought his enemies in +the way he did. It is dreadful to see what is going on below us." + +The battle-field had now become a scene of indiscriminate slaughter. +Here and there a few groups could be discerned standing amidst their +fallen comrades, supporting one of their chiefs, and hurling back the +assegais aimed at them, which they had caught on their shields, and +which had fallen at their sides; but the numbers in these groups were +rapidly diminishing: first one man fell, then another, then another, +until several were seen to fall together, and at last their enemies, +rushing on with triumphant shrieks, and hurling their assegais, brought +the remainder to the ground, finishing those who had fallen with +repeated thrusts of their sharp weapons. At length but one group +remained in the midst of the corpse-strewn field. They gazed fiercely +round them, well knowing that ere long they must be like those lying +dead at their feet. Still they fought on, keeping their assailants at +bay. In their midst was a chief, known by his tall plume and stalwart +figure, a very Ajax in appearance. Cetchwayo, seeing the determined +resistance offered, and that numbers of his men were falling, summoned a +company of his own regiment, and led them on to the attack. The +struggle was fierce, but of short duration. Scarcely a minute elapsed +before he was seen to sweep over the spot, trampling on the bodies of +the slain, into which his followers were fiercely plunging their +weapons. Of the adherents of Umbulazi, who in all the pride of manhood +had a short hour before occupied that now blood-stained field, not a man +remained alive. + +"Now is our time to make our escape from this fearful scene of +slaughter," exclaimed Hendricks. "The savages will be too much engaged +in rejoicing over their victory to think of us, and we are not bound to +remain here longer than we choose." + +Their guards, it should have been said, excited beyond all control at +the scene of bloodshed, had rushed down to join in the work of +slaughter. Not a moment was to be lost. Tightening their +saddle-girths, the party mounted. "You go ahead, Denis, and lead, and I +will bring up the rear," said Hendricks. "We shall gain the waggon, and +be able to push on towards the border, before Cetchwayo sends in pursuit +of us, if he thinks it worth while to do so. Having gained a victory, +he will be in an especially good humour; but if we remain now, he will +perhaps take it into his head to detain us for the purpose of compelling +us to witness his triumph." + +This was said as the party were preparing to mount. They had retained +their arms, and as their horses had moved only at a slow pace, and had +had plenty of time to feed, they were prepared for a long ride. + +Hendricks gave the word, and Denis leading, off they started. They were +soon down the hill and across the plain which they had before traversed, +making a direct course for the spot where the waggon and its guards had +been left. Hendricks occasionally turned his head to ascertain if they +were pursued; but as no one was to be seen, he felt satisfied that +Cetchwayo had not discovered their flight, and the probability was that +he would not do so for many hours to come. As much of the ground was +level, they did not spare their steeds until they reached the waggon, +some hours before sundown. + +The Hottentot and Kaffir servants welcomed them with every sign of joy. +Not aware of the superiority of Cetchwayo's army over that of his rival, +they had feared that he might have been defeated, and that the pursuing +enemy had attacked them in revenge for their being associated with him. + +Hendricks instantly gave the order to inspan, and bestowing presents on +the Zulus who had been left to assist in guarding the waggon, he advised +them immediately to return home. + +They, without demur, took their departure, well satisfied with the +presents they had received, and the oxen were urged on at as rapid a +rate as they could be got to move. The ground was fortunately level, so +that good progress was made, and several miles were got over before +sunset. + +They camped in a hollow, the ground round which was covered with trees, +so that the light of their fire could not be seen to any distance. + +The chirrup of the cricket on the hearth is not more familiar to the +inhabitants of an old country house in England, than is the roar of the +lion to the ears of the traveller in Africa. Our friends had become so +accustomed to the low mutterings, as well as to the loud roars of the +king of beasts, that, provided the sounds came from a distance, they +scarcely interrupted their slumbers. Occasionally, however, when a +brute more savage and hungry than usual, ventured up to the camp, +evidently on a foraging expedition, it was not only difficult but +impossible for any one to sleep; indeed, common prudence required that +all should be on the watch, with their weapons ready to defend +themselves or the cattle, should they be attacked. + +As there was still nearly an hour of daylight to spare, Hendricks, with +Lionel and Denis, who were always ready to start on a hunting +expedition, went off in search of game, accompanied by the dogs, who, +although they have not often been mentioned, had always faithfully done +their duty in giving due notice of the approach of strangers or any +animals. + +They had not got far from the camp when Hendricks shot an antelope, and +to save the necessity of returning at once, it was hoisted up on to the +branch of a tree to prevent its being eaten by the jackals and hyenas +which would quickly have found it out. They went on for some distance +farther, when Lionel, looking ahead, exclaimed-- + +"See, see! the grass is moving; there is some beast within." And +scarcely had he spoken, than out sprang a lion, which, however, instead +of coming towards them, made its way in the direction of the camp. + +"It's as well we secured our game, or the brute would have had it," +observed Denis, as they followed the lion. "I only hope our friends in +camp will be on the look-out, or that brute will be among them and do +some mischief." + +As soon as the lion had turned tail, the three dogs set off in pursuit, +Hendricks and his companions following. The lion at first went along +leisurely; but when he heard the barking of the dogs and the shouts of +the hunters, who wanted him to turn so that they might get a shot at +him, he increased his speed. + +In a short time Fangs got ahead of the other two dogs, and at length +almost reached the heels of the lion. This showed his courage more than +his discretion; for had the lion turned suddenly, he would have paid +dearly for his boldness; but probably the lion was scarcely aware how +close his pursuer was to him. On coming to the antelope in the tree, he +stopped and evinced a strong inclination to try and pull it down. He +saw, however, that it was beyond his reach, and again went on, until he +was in sight of the waggon and oxen; but fortunately he was seen, and +the Hottentots and Kaffirs began shrieking and shouting to drive him +off, while Crawford and Percy seized their guns, ready to fire as soon +as he should come near enough. + +Fangs had kept all this time close after the chase, but well knew that +one kick from those powerful hind-paws would send him flying into the +air with a cracked skull. + +Still, carried away by the excitement of the chase, he was on the point +of springing forward to throw himself on the lion's quarters, when the +latter became aware of his being so near, and making a bound forward, +stopped, turned, and crouched. Fangs saw his danger, and turned to +flee, barely in time to escape the claws of the lion who sprang after +him. Away Fangs went, however, fleet as the wind, followed by the lion, +with his mane flowing, his ears pricked forward, and his tail erect. +The dog took the direction in which his master was coming; but the lion +apparently did not perceive the hunters until he was within range of +their rifles. + +"Now, my lads, show what you can do!" cried Hendricks. "I will reserve +my fire in case you should miss, you couldn't have a finer opportunity. +Denis, do you fire first." + +Denis, highly pleased, raised his rifle and fired. His bullet merely +grazed the back of the lion, which at that instant, taking alarm, turned +aside and bounded off up the hill. The dogs made chase after him; but +Hendricks, fearing that they would perhaps encounter the lioness and +come to grief, called them back. Unwillingly they obeyed, and although +even Fangs, the bravest, would not have ventured to encounter the lion +face to face, they were all eager to go in chase of him when turning +tail. + +Getting down the antelope, they now returned to camp. As it was very +probable that the lion would come back as soon as darkness set in, an +additional fire was lighted. The horses were secured to the waggon +wheels, and the oxen were brought in and also made fast. The antelope +flesh was cooked, and eaten with good appetites by the travellers. +Scarcely was supper concluded when several roars were heard, some on one +side at a short distance, some on the other, close to the camp. +Directly afterwards the horrid chorus was increased by the howl of +hyenas and the crying of jackals, more numerous than at any previous +occasion during the journey. There was no necessity to order the +Hottentots and Kaffirs to be on the watch; for they all well knew the +risk they ran of an attack from the lions. Even the animals seemed +aware of their danger. The men replied to the roars by shrieks and +cries, every now and then firing off a rifle in the direction from which +the sounds proceeded. Hendricks, however, considering that three of the +party were sufficient to keep watch, ordered the remainder to lie down, +either under or close to the waggon, and thus the first part of the +night passed unpleasantly by. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +A SUCCESSION OF DISASTERS. + +In spite of the wild uproar made by the savage brutes encircling the +camp, some of the guards began to doze after they had been on the watch +two or three hours. Crawford had undertaken to keep watch while +Hendricks turned in. Now that he was getting accustomed to the country, +he was anxious to take a more active part than he had hitherto done. +With rifle in hand, he continued walking up and down, keeping inside the +fires and watching to see that all had sufficient fuel to cause the +flames to burn up brightly. Both the horses and oxen were naturally +restless while within sound of their dreaded enemies. + +He had stopped to look out, when, at the end of the waggon farthest from +that to which the horses were secured, he heard the tramp of feet, and +looking round, by the light of the fire, he saw one of them loose and +trotting away. He instantly called to some of the men to secure the +animal, but they either did not hear, or did not understand him, and it +was some time before any of them were on their feet, when the horse had +disappeared in the darkness. + +"You must go and bring it back," he shouted, and was himself about to +set off in chase of the horse, when Umgolo, who had been awakened, +stopped him, and gave him to understand by signs and such few English +words as he could speak, that he would run a great risk of being +attacked himself, and would to a certainty not recover the animal that +night. + +"If he escapes the lions, he may come back, or we may find him in the +morning," said the Kaffir. + +Crawford, acknowledging the wisdom of this advice, remained in the camp, +looking out occasionally, however, in the hopes of seeing the horse +return. After some minutes Umgolo touched him on the arm. + +"Hark! do you hear that sound?" he asked. + +Some suppressed growls reached their ears. + +"The horse is dead, and the lions are gnawing his bones. They are +growling at the hyenas and jackals who have gathered round to join in +the feast, but the lions won't let them until they have eaten their +fill." + +Presently to the growls of the lions was added the howling, shrieking, +chattering, and barking of the hyenas, mingled with the cries of the +jackals, producing a most unearthly chorus. + +"Come, let us try and kill the brutes," said Denis, and he and Crawford +walked out a few yards from the camp; but, although they fired several +shots, no effect was produced; and Umgolo calling to them to come back, +lest a lion should pounce upon them, they returned to the camp. The +sound of the shots had awakened Hendricks, which the howlings of the +wild beasts had failed to do. He rated Denis and Crawford for their +folly in leaving the camp. + +"In spite of your firearms, you might have been seized in the darkness +by one of those savage brutes, who would not dare to face you in +daylight," he observed. "Never, if you can help it in these wilds, be +away at night from the light of a fire." + +It was found in the morning that Crawford's horse was missing. On +searching round the camp, two leg bones and a few pieces of skin were +discovered, the sole remains of the unfortunate animal, the rest had +been carried off by beasts of prey. As soon as the oxen had been +watered and had had time to pick up some grass, the party inspanned and +proceeded on their journey. + +Fortunately Hendricks had a couple of spare horses, one of which he lent +Crawford, who would otherwise have had to march on foot, or have been +indebted to his friends, who would undoubtedly have insisted on his +getting into their saddles while they walked. For three days they +travelled on as fast as the oxen could move. Hendricks, being as +anxious to get as far as possible from Cetchwayo and his warriors, +instead of taking a circuitous route, as he had at first intended, +through a fertile and thickly inhabited district, proceeded on a direct +line across a wild and barren region with which he was but little +acquainted. It abounded, however, he knew, in game, and he hoped that +water, sufficient for the wants of the oxen and horses, would be found. +Scarcely half an hour passed, that a herd of grotesque gnus, with the +heads of bisons and horns of oxen, or of graceful quaggas, swift +blesbocs, or light and elegant springbocs, did not pass in sight, in +hundreds, or rather in thousands, across the plain. Although it was no +easy matter to get up with them, still Hendricks was too experienced a +hunter to be baffled, and he never failed, when he went out for the +purpose, to bring back an ample supply of meat for the party. Water, +however, was becoming scarce. The supply which had been brought for the +use of the men was well-nigh exhausted, while the holes in which it was +expected there would be enough for the animals, were found to be dry. +The country they were traversing was level, thinly scattered over with +trees and small bushes, and there was abundance of grass; so that cattle +and horses were able to obtain food, and such moisture as the grass +afforded, but had had for two days not a drop of water; still, as the +only hope of obtaining any was to push forward, they moved on as fast as +the animals could drag the waggon. Hendricks, the Kaffirs and +Hottentots, accustomed to privations of all sorts, uttered no +complaints, but the younger members of the party began to suffer greatly +from thirst. + +"I'd give a guinea, if I had it, for a thimbleful of water," exclaimed +Denis, "for I feel as if I could drink the Liffy dry." + +Night came on, and they were compelled at length to outspan, when the +poor oxen lay down overcome with fatigue. To move during the night was +impossible, and the whole party sat round their fires in no happy mood. +They attempted to take supper, but few could swallow a particle of food. +The fires had been lit to keep off the lions heard roaring in the +distance, but some time passed before any came near enough to cause +disquietude to the oxen, which invariably show their dread of the savage +brutes. A vigilant watch was kept, but the night became very dark, and +the fires, which for want of fuel had sunk low, scarcely shed their +light far enough to show the oxen lying down a short distance off. Most +of the party had turned in; but Hendricks himself, with Percy, who had +offered to assist him, were keeping the first watch. + +"How soon do you think we shall reach Falls Farm?" asked Percy. + +"In five or six days, possibly, if we are fortunate enough to find +water," answered Hendricks; "but I fear that the cattle will become so +weak, they will scarcely be able to drag on the waggon. If we don't +discover any to-morrow, we must set off to search for it in different +directions. I propose letting Denis and you explore to the north-west, +while I ride ahead with Lionel, and Umgolo, with Crawford, if he choose +to accompany him, can go off more to the north-east. We shall thus, I +hope, fall in before long with what we so much require. The waggon can +in the meantime proceed onwards as fast as the poor oxen can drag it." + +"We can't fail in that way, I hope, to find water," observed Percy. "So +I suppose that I may count on getting home in the time you speak of." + +"Are you tired of the journey?" asked Hendricks. + +"Oh, no, on the contrary," answered Percy. "But I think my father and +mother will be growing anxious at our not appearing so much longer after +the time they expected us; otherwise I should like to accompany you +through the whole of your expedition into the interior. I like the life +much better than I fancy I shall being planted down on a farm, and not +seeing any one for months together, except my family, though I am sure I +shall be very happy with them." + +Just then one of the oxen bellowed loudly. + +"Get a lantern from the waggon, Percy; we must see what is the matter," +said Hendricks. + +Percy quickly brought the lantern, and they advanced towards the spot; +but scarcely had they got half a dozen paces, when a rushing, trampling +sound as of many feet was heard, and three of the oxen dashed into the +camp, almost through the fire, others apparently taking an opposite +direction. At the same time stifled groans reached their ears. + +"One of the oxen must be hurt," observed Percy. + +"Yes, but those groans are not made by the poor beast. They are the +sounds produced by the lion as he devours his prey, and I must try to +interrupt him," said Hendricks. + +As he spoke, he advanced a few paces farther. At that moment Percy +caught sight of an animal, certainly not an ox, springing by. Hendricks +fired, and the next instant every one in the camp had jumped up, asking +what was the matter. + +"The matter is, that a lion has killed one of the oxen, and he may +destroy several others if we don't stop his career," answered Hendricks, +rapidly reloading. + +He now led the way to where the oxen had been lying down, while the +Hottentots secured the three which had come into camp. None of the +other oxen were to be seen, except one, which lay motionless on the +ground, with its neck broken. In their eagerness to overtake them, the +men, in spite of the darkness, would have set off in pursuit, had not +Hendricks called them back. + +"It would be useless in the dark, and you would run a great risk of +being caught by the lion," he observed. "You must wait till morning, +when we will go in search of them; and we may, perchance, find water at +the same time, as they will probably head towards it, if they escape +from the lion." + +This was the most severe disaster which had yet occurred to the +travellers; for in that wild district it would be impossible to replace +the oxen, should they not be found. + +The men, on being summoned, returned to the camp, but none of them were +inclined again to go to sleep, for all were suffering greatly from +thirst, and at any moment another lion might pay them a visit. + +Morning at length dawned. The body of the ox killed by the lion was +discovered about a hundred yards from the camp, a part of the +hind-quarters only eaten, the brute having evidently been frightened +away by the shot Hendricks fired, though whether it was wounded or not +it was impossible to say. + +Although they had gone supperless to bed, so parched were their throats +that they were unable to take any breakfast. The horses had been +secured to the waggon, or they to a certainty would have gone off with +the oxen. Most of them, however, were too much knocked up to exert +themselves. To recover the cattle was of the first importance. +Hendricks therefore found it necessary to alter his plan. The rest of +the party undertaking to go on foot in search of water, he selected the +only two horses fit for travelling, and rode away with one of the +Hottentots to look for the missing cattle, while Crawford and Umgolo, as +had been arranged, proceeded in a north-easterly direction. It had been +decided, as soon as the oxen were recovered, should they be able to +travel, that the waggon was to continue on due north, that they might +have no difficulty in again finding it. + +The morning was fresh, almost cold, and the air pure; so that had not +Denis and Percy, who, accompanied by Gozo and two dogs, were the first +to start, been suffering from thirst, and very much from hunger also, +they would have been able to march merrily along. As it was, by chewing +some grass which they plucked as they went on, they somewhat lessened +their sufferings. They kept their eyes about them for any signs which +might indicate water. Though here and there shrubs, and even trees of +some size, grew out of the sandy soil, yet no moisture could be +discovered. Fewer animals than usual were seen, but occasionally a herd +of gnus or antelopes bounded across their path, but too far off for a +shot. + +As the sun rose the heat increased, but that made them still more +anxious to discover water. The poor dogs suffered even more than they +did, as they followed at their heels; for even the sight of game did not +induce them to scamper off as they would have done on other occasions. + +"It will never do to give in," said Denis, as Percy proposed sitting +down under the shade of a tree to rest, where the dogs had already +sought shelter. + +"I don't wish to give in; but if we cannot find water soon, I fear that +it will be impossible to get on," answered Percy. + +"Look at poor Gozo, he seems to be suffering even more than we are, +though I should have supposed that he would have held out the longest." + +The old Kaffir threw himself down in the shade, and lay on his back +gasping. "I shall die, masters, I shall die!" he said; "I cannot go +farther." + +"Don't be saying that, Gozo; you'll get up after a little rest, and +we'll find water before long; if not, we may fall in with some juicy +roots: I have heard that such grow in some parts of the country where +the soil is sandy, and so we are likely to discover them here." + +"It won't do to stop here long," said Denis. "We must up and away; the +sooner we set off, the sooner we shall find water. Come along, rouse +up, Gozo; you will be better moving along than lying still." + +The Kaffir thus incited to exertion got on his feet. The party set off, +the dogs dragging themselves after their masters, for their instinct +told them that there would be no safety for them alone. On and on they +went, Denis and Percy doing their best to keep up each other's spirits. +Poor Gozo, however, complained more and more. He had drawn his hunger +belt tighter and tighter round his waist, until it looked as if it would +cut him in two. His throat, he said, felt as if a hot iron had been run +down it; yet, encouraged by Denis, he staggered on. It was too evident +that he was growing weaker and weaker, and he declared a last that he +could not carry his gun. + +"But without it you will not be able to defend yourself, should we be +attacked by a lion or lioness," said Denis. + +"No matter: I must die then," answered Gozo. + +"Well, if I carry your gun, will you come on?" asked Denis. + +"I'll try, master, I'll try," answered the black as Denis took the gun. + +"I must help you to carry it," said Percy. "I cannot do much to assist +the fellow along, but I hope that his weakness is more fanciful than +real, and that now he is relieved from the weight of his gun he will +move on more briskly." + +For a short distance Gozo staggered on faster than he had done for some +time previously, but again his feet moved slower and slower, until +coming to a tree he begged that he might lie down under it in the shade +and rest. + +"But rest means delay, and every minute we are becoming more and more +thirsty," said Denis. + +Still Gozo insisted on lying down, and Denis and Percy had to agree to +his doing so. As they could not leave him, they sat down by his side. + +After remaining a few minutes, however, Denis started up. "Come, this +will never do," he exclaimed; "push on we must; we shall be as exhausted +as he is, if we do not soon find water, and we shall not find it by +sitting here." + +"I am ready," said Percy; but when they tried to induce Gozo to rise, he +declared that he was utterly unable to move. + +"Leave me here, masters," he groaned out. "If you find water in a short +time, come back, but if not go on, for it will be useless to return, as +I shall be dead." + +Again and again they endeavoured to induce him to get up, but in vain +were all their efforts. At last Denis said, "We must leave him, I fear, +though he runs a great risk of being destroyed by some wild beast." + +He then turned to the unhappy native. "We will do as you wish. We will +leave you your musket to defend yourself, but I would urge you not to +give in; and if you feel yourself stronger, follow us. You will easily +distinguish our spoor, and we will fire off our pieces to show you our +whereabouts, should we find water," he said. + +With much regret they left poor Gozo, having strong doubts whether they +should find him alive on their return. They set off slightly refreshed +by their rest. They had not gone far when they caught sight of a single +wildebeest, or gnu, scampering along at a great rate, and going almost +in the direction they were pursuing. + +"Perhaps that animal is making its way towards water," observed Percy. + +"I fear not," answered Denis. "If so, it would not be alone. It has +been separated from the herd; and see, there are some creatures chasing +it. They are wild dogs; you can just distinguish their heads moving +along the grass in single file; the leader is close at the heels of the +poor wildebeest." + +As the dogs came nearer, a whole line amounting to several score could +be seen, following exactly one behind the other. Presently the leader +took a leap, and alighted on the haunches of the affrighted gnu. +Another and another followed, until, borne down by numbers, the gnu was +dragged to the ground. + +By this time Denis and Percy were near enough to fire with effect. +Denis knocked over one of the dogs, and the rest, frightened by the +report, turned tail and scampered off. The lads rushed forward, eager +to obtain some of the flesh of the gnu. The animal was already dead, so +they were saved the trouble of shooting it. They at once cut off some +slices, while the two dogs, who had refused to remain with Gozo, ate a +hearty meal. + +"We must take some of this back to the poor fellow we left under the +tree," said Denis. + +Percy agreed; and much revived themselves, they set off by the way they +had come. They hurried on, hoping to find Gozo still alive. As they +approached they shouted out to give him notice that they were coming. +The dogs on this ran forward; but as they got near to the spot, stopped +and gazed towards it, and then came back. + +"What can have happened?" asked Percy. "Surely Gozo cannot have died +during the short time we have been absent, yet otherwise the dogs would +have remained." + +They hurried on to find Gozo lying at full length where they had left +him. His eyes were open, but staring meaninglessly. Denis called him +by name. He made no reply. He lifted his hand, it felt cold and +clammy, and fell as he let it go; his heart had ceased to beat. +Notwithstanding this, he pressed some of the juice from the flesh they +had brought, into his mouth. They lifted up his head, they rubbed his +feet, but all in vain. They saw with sorrow that they had been too late +to save him. To remain longer would be useless, and already the journey +back had occupied some time. + +"We must hurry on to save our own lives," said Denis; "if we don't find +water in an hour or two, we shall be badly off indeed." + +They therefore left the body of the Kaffir where it lay, his rifle by +his side, but they wisely carried off his ammunition, in case their own +should run short. Sometimes they thought they saw shrubs which could +only grow near water, but on getting up to them they were disappointed +at not finding the slightest signs of moisture. Although the flesh of +the gnu had greatly revived them, still in a short time their thirst +returned. They pressed onward as before, the dogs ranging on either +side, apparently aware of what they were in search of, or prompted by +instinct to look out for themselves. Still there were no signs of +water. They went on for fully an hour more, during which time they +could have got over only between two or three miles, for they could not +walk very fast. + +They had gone some way farther when Percy caught sight of some objects +moving over the plain, now stopping, now going on again. + +"They are small animals of some sort," said Denis, to whom he pointed +them out. "We must try and get near them without putting them to +flight. Depend upon it they are not likely to be far from water." + +There were some bushes at a little distance, to which the lads made +their way, in order to get near the creatures without being seen. + +"Why, I believe they are baboons!" cried Denis; "the Kaffirs call the +creature the chacma. They are hunting for babiana root, which is always +full of water. We can drive them off just as they have begun to dig, +and before they have got hold of the roots we shall secure as many as we +want for ourselves. Had we seen them only a few hours ago, poor Gozo's +life might have been saved." + +They were now getting near to the bushes, and the baboons, being very +busy, had fortunately not perceived them. They crept on cautiously +until they had got within fifty yards of the animals. There were a +couple of dozen at least. Some had got hold of roots which they were +eagerly eating, others were busily digging away in the sand. The lads +had some difficulty in keeping back the dogs; for as soon as they saw +the baboons they made efforts to rush at them, and very probably would +have suffered severely in consequence. + +"Now," whispered Denis, "I see three or four have been digging away not +far off, evidently expecting to find roots. In a few seconds we'll +fire, then shout, and let slip the dogs." + +They did as he proposed. The baboons, frightened at the unusual sounds, +and seeing the unknown creatures coming towards them, scampered off as +hard as they could go. Denis and Percy rushed forward to the holes +which the baboons had made, and digging eagerly with their hands, each +of them soon came to a root, and rubbing off the sand which adhered to +the outsides, put them to their mouths. Perfectly refreshing and cool +was the pulpy substance, full of the purest water. The dogs eagerly +gobbled up the portions they threw away. They went to another and +another hole, in each of which a root was found. The effect was almost +instantaneous; they at once felt refreshed and strengthened. Having +satisfied their own thirst, they found two more roots, which they gave +to the dogs; but the baboons had already extracted the roots from the +other holes, and after searching for some time they could find no more. +Although they themselves felt revived, they did not forget the object of +their expedition, and resolved to continue on; but it occurred to Denis +that as the baboons had come to the place to obtain roots, it was not +likely that they would find any water in the neighbourhood. + +"That makes it more important that we should push on as fast as +possible," said Percy; "but I say, Denis, do you think there's any +chance of our getting back to the waggon to-night? It is already late." + +Denis looked at the sun, which was sinking towards the west. + +"Faith! I was not thinking how time was passing," he answered; "and, to +say the truth, I'm pretty sure we shan't get back, and we must make up +our minds to camp out. If we keep up a good fire to scare away the +lions and other savage beasts, there will be no danger and no great +hardship." + +Percy, who did not like the thought of passing the night in the +wilderness, proposed that they should strike away to the right, or about +due east, in the expectation of falling in with the track of the waggon, +which he hoped might have been able to move on. Denis was of opinion +that there was no chance of their getting as far before nightfall, and +that it was very possible the oxen might not have been found, or if they +had been found, that they would have been able to make much progress +towards the north. + +"We shall be wiser if we continue our search for water, and look out for +some food; for now--thanks to the roots--my thirst is quenched, and I am +getting very peckish," he added. + +"So am I," said Percy; "but I am too anxious to get back to the waggon +to think much about my hunger." + +"You'll not be so indifferent about food before long, let me tell you," +observed Denis. "You'll then feel that you'd rather bring down a +springboc, or gnu, or any other animal we may come across, than see the +waggon moving ever so merrily along. I know what it is to be starving, +and to feel that one's life depends on bringing down the game one is +chasing. Come, move on! we will keep our eyes about us on the chance of +finding something to shoot. When the sun gets lower, we will look out +for a clump of trees or bushes which will shelter our camp from the +night wind, and give us fuel for our fire." + +"I would rather find a stream or water hole," said Percy. + +"So would I, provided we could afterwards get something to eat and fuel +to cook it; but if not, we must make the best of circumstances. Many +people have been in a worse situation than we are, so don't let us begin +to complain yet," said Denis. + +His indomitable spirits encouraged Percy, and they trudged on in the +direction they were before going, looking eagerly about them, both for +signs of water and for any animal which might appear near enough to give +them a chance of shooting it. Denis was sure that Hendricks, should he +find water, would at once set off on horseback in search of them in the +direction he had desired them to take, and by his experience would +quickly come upon their spoor and follow them up, or if he could not +come himself, that he would send Umgolo. They were, of course, very +sorry for the loss of poor Gozo, who would have been of great assistance +both in obtaining food and searching for water, if any existed in the +neighbourhood. Meantime the sun was sinking lower and lower, but +neither game nor signs of water had they discovered. In vain Raff and +Fangs ranged widely on either side of them, as eager as they were to +find it. + +Some way to the left there appeared a wood. The trees were not very +high, but they would afford them the shelter and fuel they required, and +Denis proposed that they should make towards them. + +"It cannot be helped; we shall have to go without our suppers, I fear; +but we must hope to find something for breakfast," said Denis. + +Percy groaned. He had become, as Denis guessed he would, very hungry, +and the lower limb of the sun had almost reached the horizon. They knew +that soon after it had set darkness would come on, when it would be +difficult to select a suitable spot for camping, or obtain time for +collecting fuel. They had not gone far when Percy exclaimed, "Hallo, +what's that? What an enormous bird!" And Denis, looking to the right, +in which direction Percy pointed, saw an ostrich scampering away across +the plain. + +Both the dogs instantly started off in chase, but the ostrich quickly +outstripped them; and Denis, fearing that they might lose themselves or +get exhausted to no purpose, called them back. + +"Did you mark the spot it started from?" he asked eagerly. "We must try +to find it. The chances are it was sitting on its eggs, and if they are +tolerably fresh, they will serve us for food and liquid too." + +"I think I can calculate the whereabouts of the place it rose from," +said Percy; and they hastened on, keeping a little apart, that they +might be able to examine a wider extent of ground than if they had been +together. Denis could see nothing like a nest, and he began to fear +that the ostrich had been merely resting after being chased, and that +their hunt would be fruitless. + +"It can't be helped; we must make for the wood, or we shall not be able +to see our way," he shouted to Percy. + +Just then the latter exclaimed, "Hurrah! hurrah! five magnificent eggs!" +and he held up one of them with both hands. + +Denis hurried to the spot. There, sure enough, resting in the centre of +a clump of dry grass, with otherwise very little protection, were four +large white eggs besides the one Percy had in his hand, each large +enough to afford a good meal to them both. + +Their hunger would have prompted them then and there to sit down and eat +the contents raw, but Denis wisely advised that they should restrain +their appetites and hasten on to the clump of trees. They accordingly +each secured two in their handkerchiefs and Percy carried the fifth in +his hand. + +Although the sun had sunk by the time they got close to the wood, there +was still light sufficient to enable them to collect a supply of broken +branches and leaves for their fuel. + +"Take care that you do not catch hold of a snake, fancying you are about +to pick up a stick," cried Denis. "I nearly did so just now. +Fortunately the creature wriggled off more frightened at me than I was +at it." + +"You may trust me for that," said Percy; "but what do you say, instead +of sleeping on the ground, to climbing up into a tree? I see one with +the branches sufficiently low to enable us to get into it without +difficulty. We should at least be out of the reach of lions." + +"Yes, I agree with you it will be the safest place, although not the +most comfortable, and we must remember to carry our guns with us, or we +may chance to be besieged there as I once was," answered Denis, coming +along with a bundle of sticks. "We'll light our fire first, and cook an +egg. If that is the tree you propose, let us pitch our camp beneath +it;" and he threw down the sticks, while Percy hastened to bring those +he had collected and left at a little distance. + +"Holloa! I saw one of the branches move in a curious fashion," he +exclaimed, looking up at the tree in which they proposed to form their +resting-place for the night. + +"A branch! why that's a boa or snake of some sort, big enough to eat us +both up, if so disposed," cried Denis. + +They had fortunately not gone sufficiently close to enable the creature +to spring down upon them, or the consequences might have been serious. + +"We must dislodge that fellow, if we are to get up the tree," said +Denis, raising his rifle. "I can see his head." And he fired. + +The huge snake gave some convulsive struggles, trying to coil itself +round and round the branch, but its folds speedily relaxed, and its head +hung down towards the ground, still it clung on by its tail, the folds +of its huge body twisting and writhing in a manner truly terrific as +seen in the dim light beneath the deep foliage of the tree. + +"We must put a stop to that fellow's performances, or he may be doing us +some mischief still," cried Percy; and raising his rifle he fired. In a +few seconds down fell the big snake to the ground; its tail, however, +still kept moving, and Denis, who had reloaded his rifle with small +shot, stepping forward, discharged it at the tail end of the body. The +effect was instantaneous--its struggles ceased--the huge snake lay dead. + +"I only hope there may not be more up the tree. You see we might have +been in as much danger among the branches as on the ground," said Denis. + +They both looked up, going round and round the tree, but could discover +nothing moving, so they came to the conclusion that the boa had been its +only occupant. + +"It won't be pleasant to have this fellow close under us, as the hyenas +and jackals will to a certainty collect to feast off him before long," +said Denis. "We must drag him off as far as we can. To be sure, if we +hadn't found the ostrich eggs, we should have been thankful to get some +steaks off him; as it is, we may as well cut a few for ourselves, in +case the eggs should not be as fresh as we might desire; while Raff and +Fangs will have no objection to as many as we like to give them." + +"You don't mean to say that we may have to eat some of that horrible +snake!" cried Percy. + +"I mean to say it is possible that we may be very glad to eat a good +junk of it," answered Denis. "We may fancy all the time that we are +banqueting on a magnificent sturgeon." + +"Oh, do let us get the fire lighted first, and cook an egg," cried +Percy. "Without food I am sure I could not drag that snake a dozen +feet." + +To this Denis agreed. Having match-boxes in their pouches, they quickly +lighted their fire, but they had to wait till some ashes were formed +before they could begin to cook one of the eggs. In the meantime Denis +cut some slices from the thicker part of the snake's body, and some +hunches which the hungry dogs very speedily disposed of. He then began +to drag it away, but alone he could scarcely move it, so that Percy, in +spite of his hunger, was obliged to assist him. They did not get far, +however, but hurried back, pretty well exhausted, to cook the eggs they +were longing for. Denis performed the operation in a scientific manner, +by making a small hole at one end, and then putting in some pepper and +salt which they had brought with them, and stirring the inside about +with a stick till the egg was cooked. It was soon done in this fashion; +and greatly to the satisfaction of Percy, who dreaded having to sup off +the snake's flesh, it was found to be perfectly sweet. Although they +had no water, they were able from the liquid nature of the egg to eat a +small portion of the biscuit they had in their pouches. The meal +greatly restored their strength, as well as Percy's spirits. + +Having made up the fire to give them light, they dragged the body of the +snake still farther from the camp. Denis was inclined to remain under +the tree, where he could stretch himself at full length on the ground. +Percy entreated him to come up into the branches. + +"But supposing we were both to go to sleep, and the fire was to go out, +and a lion was to come prowling this way, what would become of us?" +asked Denis. At last he agreed to do as Percy wished, and making up the +fire so as to give them plenty of light, they climbed into the tree with +their guns and four ostrich eggs. + +"We must get up the dogs also, or some wild beast or other may carry +them off," said Denis. "Come along, Raff, old fellow, catch hold of +this;" and Denis, leaning down from the lowest branch, held out his +handkerchief, which Raff, clearly understanding what he was to do, +caught hold of, and was quickly hauled up. Nothing however would induce +Fangs to follow his example, and at last they were compelled to abandon +the attempt to get him up, he having evidently made up his mind to pass +the night at the foot of the tree--probably that he might enjoy at his +leisure a further meal off the snake. Greedy Fangs, like many human +beings, influenced by sinister motives, he was doomed to suffer severely +for his folly. + +They soon selected for themselves and Raff three tolerably secure places +among the forked branches, where they hoped to be able to pass the +night, if not in a very comfortable manner, at all events without the +risk of being pounced upon by a hungry lion. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +IN SEARCH OF WATER. + +After the fatigue and anxiety they had gone through, it was not long +before Denis and Percy began to feel excessively drowsy. + +"Take care you don't fall off, Percy," said Denis; "or let your gun drop +either. I've fastened mine to my neckerchief, and I'd advise you to do +the same." + +"I have jammed myself and my gun between two branches, so that there is +no chance of falling," answered Percy; "but I'll make fast my ostrich +eggs, for I would not lose them on any account, lest we should have to +breakfast off that horrible snake." + +"Little chance of that," murmured Denis. "By to-morrow morning there +won't be a scrap of it left." + +Denis said this in a very drowsy tone. His eyes were fixed on the fire, +which seemed to him sometimes to flare up with unusual brightness, then +to flit about, then totally to disappear, for the best of reasons, his +eyes were closed. Percy was also just going off, when his ears were +assailed by a hideous uproar of shrieks and howls and barks. + +Looking out from his leafy covert, he could see a number of creatures +moving about in the direction of the spot to which the body of the snake +had been dragged. He guessed what they were, and was very thankful that +he and his companion were safe up the tree. + +"Do you hear those brutes, Denis?" he asked; but there was no answer. +He could see the place where he supposed his friend lay, but could not +reach him. At first the dreadful idea occurred that he might have +fallen off, and he was about to crawl along the branch to feel for him, +when the light from the fire flickered on one of his arms, and he knew +that he must be fast asleep. He had not the cruelty to awaken him, and +indeed after he got accustomed to the hideous chorus raised by the +hyenas and jackals, his own eyes began to close. He could just make out +Fangs by the light of the fire, crouching down close to the trunk, and +every now and then giving vent by a low growl to his anger as he watched +the savage creatures devouring the snake on which he had intended to +breakfast. + +Percy had scarcely shut his eyes, when he was startled by hearing a +terrific roar, and looking towards where the hyenas and jackals had been +holding their revels, he saw them scampering away in every direction, +while the glare of the fire fell on the head and shoulders of an +enormous lion. The king of brutes, however, looked disappointed at +finding only a few scraps of a mangled snake, instead of the repast he +expected, and not deigning to touch the leavings of the jackals, he +advanced a short distance towards the tree. Afraid to approach nearer +the fire, he stopped and began to roar loudly. + +"Roar away, old fellow," cried Percy. "You'll not get hold of us." + +That was true enough so far as he and Denis and Raff were concerned, but +the case was very different with regard to poor Fangs. Between him and +the lion there was only a small fire, which the latter might spring over +at a single bound. He prudently neither barked nor growled, but shrank +closer and closer to the trunk, while the lion stood within a dozen +yards of him, every now and then uttering a terrific roar. + +To Percy's surprise, Denis slept on in spite of the roaring. He was +probably dreaming about it, but it had not the effect of awakening him. +Percy thought of shooting the lion and trying to save Fangs, but found +that he could not fire without changing his position, and he was afraid, +in attempting to do so, that he might fall to the ground, he therefore +contented himself with watching the lion. The animal evidently +suspected that there was something up the tree, and having roared for +some minutes, he began to circle round it, keeping, however, at a +respectful distance. Would Fangs escape his scrutiny? Percy could no +longer see the dog, for the fire was getting low, and he was concealed +by the roots. Presently there was the sound of a rush, of a heavy blow +struck, but not a growl nor a cry was heard, and then the lion bounded +off with something in his mouth. + +No sooner had he gone, than the hyenas and jackals came back, but they +too in a short time, having probably finished the snake, also took their +departure. Percy had too much reason to fear that poor Fangs had become +the prey of the lion; but his thoughts began to wander, and overcome by +fatigue, he was soon fast asleep. + +The night passed quietly by. Denis was the first to open his eyes. It +was broad daylight. On looking up through the branches, he observed +that the sky was completely obscured. + +"Hallo! we must have had a long snooze," he exclaimed. "Are you all +right, Percy?" + +"Somewhat stiff and sore, but I shall feel better when I have stretched +my legs, I daresay," answered Percy. "Dear me! the fire has gone out." + +"Then the sooner we get down and light it the better," said Denis. + +They descended from their roosting places, Denis carefully handing down +the guns to Percy, who went first. They then helped Raff to reach the +ground. + +"Take care! I saw a lion close to the tree, just before I went to +sleep, and he may perhaps be in the neighbourhood," observed Percy. + +"You dreamed about one probably, as I did," said Denis, "and a fearful +roaring I fancied he made." + +Percy assured him that he had seen a real lion, and described it so +minutely, and the visit of the jackals and hyenas, that Denis was almost +convinced. He was thoroughly so when, on looking towards the spot where +the snake had been, he saw that not a particle of it remained. + +"Hallo! what has become of Fangs?" he exclaimed. + +"The lion, I fear, has carried him off," answered Percy. + +Of this there could be no doubt, for no trace of the poor dog could be +discovered, except a few drops of blood close to the base of the tree +where he had been lying down. + +"The chances are, the lion has gone to a distance, and won't come back +at all events until we have lighted a fire," observed Denis, as they set +to work to collect fuel, when without loss of time they cooked another +ostrich egg for breakfast. They then started on their tramp, fancying +that, although there was no sun to guide them, they could easily make +their way by continuing the same course as they had followed on the +previous day. + +After going a short distance, still unsuccessful in their search for +water, Percy again suggested that they should keep to the right, so as +to fall in with the waggon. To this Denis agreed, and they accordingly +turned, as they supposed, to the east. As, however, there was no wind, +they could not be certain that they were keeping in a direct line. Had +there been any prominent objects by which they could steer, their minds +would have been more comfortable on the subject. After going some +distance, Percy declared that he thought they must be up to the course +the waggon was to take. Seeing a tall tree a little distance ahead, +they made towards it, and agreed to climb into the topmost branches, +that they might take a look-out, hoping that they should see the waggon +coming along. Percy, who was well accustomed to climbing, offered to +mount the tree, while Denis took charge of his gun and one of the +remaining ostrich eggs which he had carried. The tree was more +difficult to get up than he had supposed, but he managed at length to +reach a high bough, from whence he could obtain a wide view around. + +"I can see nothing of the waggon," he shouted. "The country looks +everywhere equally arid and barren, except to the northward, and there I +see some trees, which from their bright green hue must grow near water." + +"Well, then, come down, and we will make towards them," said Denis; and +as soon as Percy had descended, they set off in the direction he had +indicated. + +They were getting very thirsty. Had the sun been shining, they would +have suffered even more than they did; but as it was, their throats were +parched and dry, and they eagerly pressed forward, in the hope of +speedily obtaining water. + +Their disappointment was proportionally great when, arriving at the +trees towards which they had been directing their course, no stream or +pool could be found. + +Percy, who had hitherto kept up bravely, threw himself on the ground, +almost in despair. + +"Oh, I am so thirsty! What shall we do?" he cried. + +"I'll tell you what we must do--get up and push along," answered Denis. +"I fancy that I see some more trees, much greener than any we have yet +passed, and the chances are we shall find water near them." + +Percy, thus encouraged, got up. He had no wish to give in as poor Gozo +had done. It was very trying, but the lads had stout hearts, and kept +up bravely. They reached the trees at last, once more to be +disappointed. Accompanied by Raff, who was suffering as much as they +were, they ran here and there, attracted by a shrub looking fresher than +usual, then by a depression in the ground. + +Percy, who had gone some distance, shouted, "Hurrah! here are signs of +water." + +Denis hurried to the spot. The ground sloped down to where Percy was +standing, looking into a deep basin or hollow. The bottom was moist. +They both jumped down, digging away with their hands. Though the sand +was wet, no actual water could they see. They somewhat allayed their +burning thirst by putting the moist sand to their mouths. The +appearance of the moisture encouraged them to hope that they might get +to good water at last. Still they dug and dug with the same result as +before. At length Denis stopped. + +"The sand is getting drier instead of moister, and I am very much afraid +that this is merely a hole once full of rain, which being low down and +sheltered has not been dried up by the sun." + +Percy agreed with him, and all they could do was to suck some of the +still moist sand, and to place it on the back of their necks, which gave +them temporary relief. It was very evident that all their labour had +been in vain. + +"It cannot be helped," cried Denis. "Forward is the word, and on we +must go. Perhaps before long we shall find another hole with water at +the bottom, or some more roots, though unless some baboons help us, I +don't know how we shall discover them." + +"I wish that we could feel a little more certain we are going in the +right direction," observed Percy. "If the sun would but come out, I +should be more happy in my mind on that score." + +The clouds, however, hung as thickly as before from the sky. Had they +sent down their contents, the wanderers would have been relieved from +the burning thirst from which they were again suffering. + +Although there was no sun, the air was hot and oppressive, and they +began to feel much fatigued from their long tramp. Still they felt that +it would be folly to halt while they had strength left to go on. So +they pushed forward mile after mile. Denis declared that he was certain +they were going in a north-westerly direction, from the appearance of +the bark on the trees, which on that side was dry and perfectly free +from moisture, while on the other, whence the rain generally came, here +and there a few fungi and a little moss could occasionally be +discovered. Percy did not like to express doubt about the correctness +of his friend's opinion, but he was not convinced that he was right. + +Another night was approaching. Percy, less inured to fatigue than his +companion, felt that unless he could obtain water and rest, he could +scarcely hope to live through it. Still he struggled on, Denis doing +his best to encourage him. + +"Lean on my shoulder, and let me carry your gun," he said; "you'll get +on better then; and when we camp, and you have had another ostrich egg, +you'll find your strength restored." + +"If I can manage to eat it," murmured Percy, "but I much doubt whether I +can get even that down my throat." + +"Never fear; I see some thick bushes, and I fancy some rocks beyond. +We'll camp there, if you find yourself unable to go farther; and we +shall have plenty of fuel for our fire, and who knows but that we may +find water?" + +Denis said this in a no very confident tone, for he was almost beginning +to despair of discovering what they were so eagerly in search of. Still +he hoped that rest and food, and the cooler air of night, might restore +Percy, and that they might push on for another day, at all events. + +Raff continued creeping after them, the very picture of misery, his +tongue hanging out, and his head down. Every now and then he would look +up to their faces in the most piteous manner, as if to ask when they +were going to find water. The poor dog was suffering from hunger as +well as thirst; for although he had licked the ostrich egg shells clean, +he had got but little nourishment out of them. At last the bushes seen +in the distance were reached, and Percy, sinking on the ground, declared +that he could go no farther. + +"Well then, we will camp here," said Denis; "and while you rest, I'll +collect some wood for our fire." + +Raff crouched down by the side of Percy, though his eyes followed his +master while he was employed as he proposed. He was not long in +collecting a sufficient supply of sticks to commence a fire. + +"I'll get more while the egg is cooking," he said, throwing down the +bundle. The fire was soon burning up brightly, and an egg was put on. +Percy had just strength enough to watch it, while Denis collected some +more sticks. He then came and sat down by the side of Percy, to whom he +kept talking, while he stirred the egg. "I think it must be done now," +he said. "Come, eat away, old fellow, and you'll soon be yourself +again." + +"It's water I want! it's water I want!" murmured Percy. + +"But as we haven't water, the egg is the next best thing you can take," +said Denis, helping him. + +But poor Percy could scarcely gulp it down. All the time Raff was +looking up as much as to say, "I wish you'd give me some of that; I'd +eat it fast enough." Denis could not resist the imploring looks of the +poor dog, and gave him a portion of his own share. + +The usual noises of the African wilds were absent,--not even the note of +a bird was heard. Suddenly Denis lifted his head in the attitude of +listening. + +"Hark, Percy!" he said. "I heard a peculiar murmur. Yes, I am nearly +certain it is the sound of falling water. Do you listen." + +"I pray Heaven that you are right. I think so," said Percy. + +"Well, then, do you stay here by the fire, and I'll go and look for it +alone, if you are not able to come with me," said Denis. "Keep your gun +on the cock, and your eye about you, in case any brute of a lion or +leopard should come near, though I don't suppose there's much chance of +that." + +Percy tried to rise, but declared his inability to move farther, so +Denis set off. The moment Raff saw him going, he crawled after him. +Denis had taken both his own and Percy's water bottle. No sooner had he +got round the clump of bushes than he saw before him some rocks, beyond +which the ground rose, covered with shrubs, extending away to a +considerable distance; but no signs of water could he perceive. He +stopped and listened. The same sound as before reached his ears. He +could not be mistaken. He went on, until, to his unspeakable joy, he +saw a spring of bright sparkling water rushing out of the cliff, falling +from rock to rock, but instead of forming a rivulet, it was almost +immediately lost in the sand, of which the bottom of the gully was +composed. There was one part, however, which he could reach by climbing +without much difficulty. Poor Raff, who had followed him thus far, was +unable to get up to it, and looked wistfully at him, evidently +entreating to have some given him without delay. Denis, having quenched +his own thirst, filled the water bottles, and then, looking down at poor +Raff, he filled his hat also, and brought that to the dog, who quickly +lapped up the contents. Losing as little time as possible, he hastened +back to Percy. + +"Hurrah!" he exclaimed, as he came in sight of the fire, "I've got some +water. You'll soon be all to rights, Percy." + +But Percy did not reply; his heart sank. Could anything have happened? +He rushed forward. Percy lay gasping on the ground. He lost not a +moment in lifting his friend's head, in moistening his lips, and then +pouring some water down his throat. + +Percy at length opened his eyes, and said, "Thank you, thank you; oh, +how delicious!" + +Denis gave him another draught of water. "There, now I think you can +eat some more egg," he observed. "I propose that we cook the last one. +We are sure to fall in with game. If we take plenty of food now, we +shall the better be able to go in chase of it." + +At last Percy sat up and managed to eat the remainder of the first egg +cooked, and some of the other; then he took another draught of water. +He felt that he could drink any quantity of that. It was now too late +to continue their journey; indeed, Denis had only time to collect a +further supply of sticks before darkness came on. They made up the fire +in a semi-circle, and lay down as close to it as they could venture to +do without risk of burning themselves, hoping thus to be secure from the +attacks of wild beasts, while Raff took a post near them, to act as +sentinel. + +Poor Percy was soon fast asleep. Denis did his utmost to keep watch; +but he also, having made up the fire, soon dropped off. He had been +asleep some time when he was aroused by hearing Raff growl and bark. He +started up and looked about him, but could see nothing. Indeed, the +fire had burned so low, that its embers cast but a faint light to a +short distance. Fortunately, he had reserved some sticks, which he +immediately threw on the fire. As they burned up, he took another look +round, when he saw the dim outline of some animal passing by. Whether a +lion, leopard, or hyena, he could not make out. Percy was sleeping so +soundly, that he did not like to awaken him; but he determined not to go +to sleep himself again if he could help it. + +Raff had ceased growling, so he concluded that the animal, frightened by +the flames, had gone off. He hoped that it would not return. Had he +not been aroused at the moment by his faithful dog, he and his companion +might have lost their lives, and he felt grateful for their +preservation. He husbanded the remaining sticks with care, for he was +afraid that they might not hold out until the morning, and he employed +himself by stirring up the embers when they grew dim, and raking them +together. At length the sticks were exhausted. He dared not move from +the camp to collect more; indeed, he would have had to go to some +distance, as he had already picked up all those near at hand. + +The fire grew dimmer and dimmer, until at last but a faint semi-circle +of embers remained. Shortly afterwards, however, he became aware by +seeing shrubs and rocks, which he had been hitherto unable to +distinguish, that the light of day was returning, but the clouds still +hung so densely around the horizon, that he was unable to ascertain the +direction of the east. This he had hoped to do, that they might with +greater certainty direct their course. At last the light became +sufficient to enable them to proceed. He called Percy, who at once got +up, saying that he was greatly refreshed and ready to go on as well as +ever, though he wished they had another ostrich egg on which to +breakfast. + +"We can't eat our loaf and have it too," answered Denis, "but I hope we +shall have something as good." + +They first made their way to the fountain, where they refreshed +themselves with a draught of pure water, and having given as much to +Raff as he could drink, they filled their water bottles, washed their +faces and heads, and then pushed on, their spirits cheered with the hope +of soon obtaining some game, and of falling in with the waggon before +the day was over. + +They trudged on, and although they saw some animals in the distance, +they could not get near enough to distinguish what they were. It showed +them, however, that there must be water in the neighbourhood, and they +hoped therefore before long to come upon it. Percy had for some time +been walking with much less elasticity than when they first started. At +last he proposed that they should stop and eat the remainder of the +biscuit they carried in their pouches. Having a good supply of water, +they could now swallow it, which they could not have done on the +previous day. They made towards a tree which would afford them shade, +and on reaching it sat down and took their frugal breakfast, but poor +Raff had to go without any, as Denis knew that it would be folly to give +him any of the biscuit, which would not have satisfied his hunger. +Again they went on, looking out anxiously for the tracks of the waggon +wheels, or other signs which might indicate that their friends had been +that way. Denis at last had to confess that he felt somewhat anxious. +The day wore on, and though very thirsty, they husbanded their water for +fear of not finding any before night. + +They were almost in despair of falling in with game, when they caught +sight, issuing from behind a wood in the distance, of a troop of pallahs +coming in their direction. Looking about eagerly for some cover behind +which they could conceal themselves, until the pallahs came near, they +observed a thick bush a short distance ahead; they made for it, and got +under cover, they hoped, without having been seen. The animals moved +slowly along, feeding as they came. When within a hundred yards of the +bush, they turned aside, to the bitter disappointment of the young +hunters. + +"We must be after them," said Denis; "and if we can still find cover, we +may get near enough to have a shot. Come, let us put our best feet +forward. Stoop down as low as you can. Heel, Raff, heel!" he whispered +to his dog, who was too well-trained to disobey him, and kept close +behind him. + +The pallahs kept moving on, sometimes slowly, at other times much +faster. Percy felt but little able to follow, though he did his best. +On and on they went. Before them they saw a grove of tall trees, +towards which the pallahs were directing their course. + +"The chances are there's water not far off, and if the animals go down +to drink we shall have a good chance of shooting one," whispered Denis. + +The pallahs reached the wood, but stopped to graze outside it. This +enabled Denis and Percy to creep up towards it, at a part some distance +from where they were feeding. They thus hoped, by making their way +through the wood, to be able to get near enough to the animals to obtain +a good shot. They had cautiously crept on for some way when Percy +stopped, and seizing his companion's arm, pointed up to the branch of a +tree under which they were about to pass. There, extended at its full +length, ready for a spring, lay an enormous leopard. Its eyes were +turned away from them, watching the pallahs. They stepped cautiously +back, having no doubt that had they attempted to pass under the bough, +the leopard would have been down upon them, and probably killed both, as +they were close together. They retreated behind a tree, where they +stood watching for what would next occur. Denis well knew that should +they wound the leopard, and not kill it, it would become a terrible foe. + +The pallahs, unsuspicious of danger, at last moved towards the tree, +several entering the wood almost together. One approached the fatal +bough. Like a flash of lightning, the leopard sprang upon the +unfortunate creature, and in an instant it lay dead, struck down by its +powerful claws. + +"Now is our time," whispered Denis: "let us fire together; I'll aim at +the leopard's head; do you fire at its shoulder, and then, without +stopping to see if we have killed it, we'll retreat behind the tree and +reload." + +The plan was perfectly carried out. Before the smoke cleared away they +had sprung back to their places of concealment, and had begun rapidly +reloading. The instant Denis was ready, he cautiously stepped out from +behind the trunk. + +"Hurrah!" he shouted. "We did better than I expected." + +There, within twenty yards, lay the leopard and the deer, both dead. +Under other circumstances they would have been eager to possess +themselves of the leopard's skin, which was of considerable value, but +as it was they were far more anxious to obtain a supply of meat. They +therefore set to work to cut off as much as they could carry from the +pallah, without stopping to skin or disjoint it, while Raff enjoyed an +abundant meal from the pieces which his master threw to him. The rest +of the pallahs had taken to flight. + +"We must remember this spot; and if we find Hendricks before long, he +will be glad to send for this skin, supposing it is not torn to pieces +in the meantime by the rascally hyenas and jackals." + +After the excitement of the chase, they were tempted to stop and take a +draught of water, which nearly exhausted their stock. Anxious to obtain +a fresh supply, they made their way through the forest in the hope of +coming across a stream, towards which they supposed the pallahs had been +bending their steps. + +"There's the water!" suddenly exclaimed Denis; "I see the animals +drinking at it." + +The animals were there, but as the young hunters approached they took to +flight. Having meat enough, they did not feel justified in firing a +shot after them. + +On reaching the spot, great was their disappointment to find that +although there had been a little water, the pallahs had drunk it almost +dry, while the remainder had sunk through the bottom, in which their +feet had trampled. Not a drop could they obtain. + +The wood formed an oasis in the wilderness; for farther on the country +assumed the same barren, arid aspect as before. + +"We must either go back to the fountain we left this morning, or push +our way over this stony ground as fast as we can," said Denis. + +"Let us go on," answered Percy; "we may find water again before long, or +may fall in with the waggon." + +"Then I vote we fortify ourselves first with some meat," said Denis; and +collecting some wood, they speedily had a fire lighted, and some of the +venison roasting before it. + +Eager to prosecute their journey, after a short rest, they again set +off. Night overtook them, however, and they had only just time to reach +some bushes, which afforded but slight shelter and a scanty supply of +firewood, before darkness came on. + +They laboured in collecting sticks as long as the light lasted, and +then, having made up their fire, cooked and eaten their supper, and +drunk the remainder of their water, they lay down close to it, fatigue +preventing them from troubling their minds as to what might happen +during the night. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +THE JOURNEY CONTINUED. + +Overcome by fatigue, both the young hunters fell fast asleep. Watched +over by a merciful Providence, no savage animals came near them. Not a +growl or bark did Raff utter during the night; and when morning broke, +Denis, who was the first to awake, was somewhat dismayed to find that +the fire had completely gone out. He was not long in scraping the ashes +together, and with the remainder of the sticks he had gathered relighted +it and put on some venison steaks to cook. + +When sufficiently done, he roused up Percy, who was greatly astonished +to find that night had passed away. They did not fail to return thanks +to God, who had taken care of them during the hours of darkness; for +they felt, as any persons with the least sense of religion in them must +have done, how utterly helpless they were under such circumstances. +"Oh, how I wish I had some water!" poor Percy kept saying, as he tried +to get down the meat. They neither of them could eat much, and Raff +came in for a larger share than he would otherwise have obtained. + +The clouds had cleared away, a bright sun was shining. According to +their calculation, they had hitherto succeeded in keeping the course +they had intended. The country to the east, however, looked so barren +and uninviting, that they agreed to travel northward, where there +appeared to be a better prospect of obtaining water, without which they +could not hope to get on. As the sun rose in the sky, the heat became +more and more excessive. Not a breath of wind cooled the atmosphere, +and they consequently suffered more than ever from thirst. As before, +poor Raff crawled along at their heels, with his tongue hanging from his +mouth. In vain they looked out for trees of sufficient height to afford +them shade. + +"It won't do to stop here," said Denis, whom no suffering could daunt; +"the faster we move, the better chance we shall have of finding water." + +Percy agreed with him, and did his best to push on. The same rocky +ground, with shrubs growing amidst it, appeared ahead. At last they saw +before them a clump of mimosa bushes. + +"Oh, do let us rest there for a short time," exclaimed Percy. "I think +I shall then be able to get on better. I am keeping you back, I know, +but I cannot help it." + +"Don't let that trouble you. I feel pretty tired myself," answered +Denis; and they directed their course towards the bushes. + +Their meat was rather high by this time, but they had no inclination to +eat, and were too tired to collect wood for a fire. Percy threw himself +on the ground in the shade, where Raff had already lain down. Denis +seated himself by his side. He had scarcely been there a moment, when +he started up, whispering-- + +"I hear some animal moving on the other side of the wood. It may be a +deer, and I must not lose the chance of killing it." + +He stole cautiously among the bushes, endeavouring to discover the +animal he fancied he had heard. He had got a hundred and fifty yards or +so from his friend, when what was his horror to see rushing towards him +a huge black rhinoceros! The creature did not see him, and perhaps +would not have observed Percy, had not Raff started up and begun barking +furiously. This aroused Percy, who, getting on his feet, thus exposed +himself to the view of the rhinoceros. He would have been more prudent +had he remained perfectly quiet. The rhinoceros looked at him savagely, +when Percy levelled his rifle, but instead of waiting till the animal +had got near him, fired; the bullet grazing the creature's head, excited +its rage, and on it rushed, with its horn lowered, directly towards the +hapless lad. In another instant that fearful weapon would have been +plunged into his body. Denis trembled for the safety of his friend; for +he knew, should he fire, that his bullet was more likely to wound him +than the rhinoceros. Percy's death seemed certain, when at that moment, +bursting through the wood, a young Zulu warrior appeared, with rifle in +hand, shouting and shrieking to attract the animal's attention. This +had the effect of making the savage brute turn its eyes towards him. He +fired. The rhinoceros was still rushing on, when its knees bent, its +head sank down, and its horn ploughed along the ground. In another +instant it would have been up to Percy, had not the Zulu, bounding +forward, seized him in his arms, and carried him a few paces from the +spot where he had been lying, which the rhinoceros reaching, it fell +over on its side, and lay motionless. + +"Thank you, whoever you are," said Percy. "You have saved my life; for +the animal's horn would have run me through, had you not come to my +assistance." + +Though the Zulu might not have understood what Percy said, he +comprehended by the tone of his voice that he was expressing his +gratitude. + +Denis in the meantime, dreadfully alarmed, was hurrying on, scarcely +expecting to be in time to save Percy, when the Zulu made his +appearance. At first he was unable to tell whether he came as a friend +or a foe, until he saw him fire, and knock over the rhinoceros. + +"Thank heaven, he is safe! But who can that be? What, Mangaleesu!" he +exclaimed. "Thank you, my friend, thank you! You have indeed come at +the right moment. We feared that you were among those slaughtered by +Cetchwayo and his followers." + +This was said partly in Zulu, and partly in such English as the young +chief understood. Denis had grasped his hand, and pressed it warmly to +express his gratitude. + +"I had a narrow escape; but I slew six of my pursuers, and got off +free," answered Mangaleesu. "I could not, however, make my way directly +into Natal, as I had left my wife, when I joined Umbulazi, in a kraal, +with some of her relatives in this direction. On reaching it, I hurried +her away, for I knew that ere long our enemies would attack it. +Scarcely had we concealed ourselves in the woods overlooking the kraal, +when a party of Cetchwayo's forces appeared, and burnt it to the ground, +destroying all who remained within. We have since been journeying on, +but have been compelled to proceed cautiously, for fear of being +discovered; for, being known as opposed to Cetchwayo, I might have been +captured, and delivered up to him." + +"And where is your wife?" asked Denis. + +"She is in a cave at no great distance, where I placed her while I came +out to hunt; for, as game has been scarce in the country through which +we travelled, we have been sorely pressed for food; but now we have this +rhinoceros meat, we will at once return to her, as she will be +frightened at my long absence." + +Saying this, the chief, who had just placed Percy on the ground, +commenced cutting through the tough hide of the rhinoceros, and was +about to slice off some of the flesh, when, observing how ill Percy +looked, he inquired what was the matter with him. + +"We want water," answered Denis; "and he will die, I fear, if it cannot +soon be obtained." + +"I will at once fetch some for him then," said Mangaleesu; and taking +the two empty bottles, he started away in the direction of some rocks +seen in the distance. + +Percy continued murmuring, "Water, water!" + +"It will come soon, and you'll be all right, old fellow," said Denis, +sitting by his side, and supporting his head while he fanned his face. + +Raff was, in the meantime, smelling round and round the rhinoceros, and +would evidently have liked to get at the meat, but the tough hide +resisted his efforts. + +With deep thankfulness Denis observed Mangaleesu returning, this time +accompanied by another person, whom he recognised, when they got nearer, +as Kalinda. She seemed much concerned at seeing the condition in which +poor Percy lay, and placing herself by his side, she fanned his face, +while Denis poured the water down his throat. She continued tending him +while he went to help Mangaleesu cut into the rhinoceros. A supply of +meat was soon obtained, and Denis proposed to light a fire and cook it. +To this, however, Mangaleesu objected. + +"In this open spot we may be seen, for we cannot tell what enemies there +may be in the neighbourhood," he observed. "Let us at once move on to +the place where I concealed Kalinda. It will hold us all, and we shall +there be safer than we are here, while there is water at hand, and we +can light a fire in a hollow, without risk of its being seen in the +distance." + +It was very evident, however, that poor Percy, although somewhat +revived, was utterly unable to walk. "Kalinda and I will carry him +then," said Mangaleesu, "while you take his gun." + +"But I cannot impose that task on you, for I ought to assist in carrying +him myself," said Denis. + +"No, no, you are not strong enough; we will easily manage it." + +Mangaleesu and his wife set to work to construct a litter, which they +quickly formed with some poles, and fastened together by creepers. They +then placed Percy on it, and set off, stepping along at a brisk rate, +showing that they considered him alight burden. Denis carried his gun; +and Raff, to whom he had given some water, as well as an ample supply of +meat, trotted after them perfectly revived. Reaching the rocks, they +passed through a narrow defile, into which another smaller one opened, +and at its farther extremity they came to some thick bushes, which +Mangaleesu pulling aside, the mouth of a cavern was discovered. + +"Here no one is likely to find us, and if they do we can defend +ourselves against greatly superior numbers," said Mangaleesu. "Your +friend therefore can remain in safety until he has recovered and is able +to proceed on his journey." + +The cavern was dry and of considerable height, so that a fire could have +been lighted within; but as the smoke would have been annoying, Denis +suggested that they should light it outside, as the neighbouring bushes +afforded plenty of fuel. This was soon done, and the rhinoceros meat +put on to cook. + +Mangaleesu and his wife, not being very particular as to its being well +done, were soon able to commence supper. Denis preferred waiting a +little longer, when he took some in to Percy, who was by this time well +able to eat it. They pronounced it rather tough, but remarkably well +flavoured; indeed, the rhinoceros being an herbivorous animal, its flesh +is not to be despised. + +As soon as the meat was cooked, the fire was put out. "We need not keep +up one during the night," observed Mangaleesu, "for no wild beast can +make its way through the bushes which I will draw in front of the cave, +and should any one come near, your dog will give us ample notice." + +Among the first inquiries Denis made of Mangaleesu was whether he had +seen the waggon, or could in any way calculate how far they were from +it. Mangaleesu replied that he had not seen it or fallen in with any +tracks to show that it had passed in that direction. On learning whence +they had started, he led Denis to suspect that he and Percy had wandered +much farther to the north-west than they had supposed, and that they +were not likely for several days to meet with the waggon, supposing it +had moved on. + +"There is, however," he observed, "a white family living on the borders, +the only one for many miles round, not more than two days' journey from +this. As soon as your friend has recovered his strength, if you start +at daybreak, and walk on briskly, you may reach it on the evening of the +second day. Kalinda and I will accompany you, and we will then go into +Natal, and bid farewell for ever to Zululand." + +On telling Percy of the account given by Mangaleesu, he exclaimed, "Why +that must be Falls Farm, where my father lives. I thought we were still +a long way from it. How delightful! I wish that I could get up and set +off immediately. I am sure by to-morrow morning I shall be strong +enough." + +Denis was as anxious as his friend to start; for Percy had often spoken +to him about Falls Farm and its inmates, and he thought that it would be +very pleasant to spend a day or two with them. Hendricks, if he had +recovered the oxen, was very likely to be there, or would arrive +shortly. + +Denis and Percy were thankful to be able to rest securely without the +risk of being carried off by a lion or leopard, or trampled upon by an +elephant or rhinoceros. A hunter in Africa has no easy time of it, +either by night or by day. He has treacherous human foes and savage +wild animals to contend with. + +Although night had not commenced, Denis was glad to lie down by the side +of his friend, so as to obtain a longer rest than he had enjoyed for +many a night. Next morning Percy declared that he felt better, after he +had had another meal off rhinoceros flesh and water. Still Denis saw +that he was not at all able to walk far, and certainly not fit to +attempt making a long journey. He persuaded him therefore to remain +quiet, at all events for another day. + +"I wish that we had something better than this rhinoceros meat," said +Denis to Mangaleesu. + +"You shall have it," was the answer; "but I must be cautious in going +out, lest I fall in with any of my enemies. If I am killed, I will +trust you to look after my wife. Let her accompany you to the farm, +where I am sure the good white chief will take care of her, as he is +kind, I am told, to all the people round." + +"I promise to do as you desire; but if there is any danger, it would be +better not to go out," said Denis. "We can rough it on the rhinoceros +meat." + +Mangaleesu, however, observing that there would not be enough meat to +last them another day, insisted on going out to find a deer or antelope. + +Having closed the mouth of the cavern, and charged his companions not to +venture forth, he set out. Denis and Percy passed their time mostly in +sleep, to make up, as Denis said, "for their want of rest for so many +days." Kalinda sat watching them, having nothing else to do. A +considerable part of the day had passed, and they began to grow anxious +at Mangaleesu's not returning. + +Kalinda waited patiently, but she now frequently got up and went close +to the mouth of the cavern, where she stood in the attitude of +listening. Poor creature, she had long been accustomed to that state of +anxiety, but now she had begun to hope that they would soon get across +the border. They had taken into the cave a supply of water, and had +cooked the remainder of the rhinoceros meat. As Mangaleesu did not +return, the pangs of hunger compelled them to eat a portion, although +they kept some in case he should come back without having succeeded in +obtaining any game. + +The day was drawing on when Kalinda, who was standing at the entrance, +started and said in a low voice to Denis-- + +"He is coming!" + +Presently the bushes were drawn aside, and Mangaleesu appeared, carrying +a small antelope on his back. He looked tired and excited; and throwing +the animal down, he hurriedly again closed the bushes, and sank +exhausted to the ground. + +"We must speak low, lest any one outside may hear us," he whispered. "I +have been seen and pursued, but eluded my enemies. They may not +discover this retreat, for I pretended to go off in an opposite +direction. As I came along I resolved that you, my young friends, +should escape as soon as you can. If found with me, you may be killed; +but if you are alone, should you be overtaken, and will explain where +you are going, you will not be molested." Such, at all events, was the +meaning of what Mangaleesu said. "I would advise you to set off before +daylight to-morrow morning," he continued. "Make your way to the farm. +With the directions I will give you, you will easily find it. You may +very likely be seen and pursued: be not alarmed; invite these who +overtake you to escort you to the farm." + +"But what will you and your wife do?" asked Denis. + +"We will remain here in concealment until our enemies have grown weary +of searching for us. I will watch them until I see them go away, and +then we will set out and get across the border as fast as possible. The +country is thinly peopled, so that we shall have no difficulty in +escaping notice." + +Denis expressed his regret at having to go without his friends, but +agreed that the plan would be the best to adopt. + +Mangaleesu, before it grew dark, showed them the spring, and the +direction they were to follow, and minutely described several points, so +that they would run no risk of losing their way. The antelope meat was +cut up, and a portion cooked at a fire kindled in the cave, which, +though it created more smoke than was pleasant, was easily borne in +consideration of the advantage obtained. + +Mangaleesu and Kalinda, with the two white lads, sat round the fire, +eating their supper of venison, washed down with cold water, and talking +over in low voices plans for that future which it was very possible none +of them might live to see. Raff, who formed one of the circle, watched +them with the greatest gravity, as if he fully understood all that was +said. They then lay down to seek the rest the two young travellers at +all events so greatly needed. + +The night passed quietly; and when they awoke, Percy declared that he +was sufficiently strong to undertake a two days' march, and having +breakfasted, they set off, followed by Raff, a short time before +daybreak. + +Mangaleesu accompanied them some distance, to put them in the right way. +They felt rather anxious about his getting back in safety to the cave. + +"No fear," he answered: "a Zulu can creep unseen where a white man would +certainly be observed. Even if my enemies were near, they would not +discover me; but they are some way from this, and you will, I hope, be a +good distance on your road before they find you, so that they will not +guess whence you set out." + +They shook the chief warmly by the hand, and again thanked him for the +assistance he had rendered them. Scarcely had he left them a minute, +when, as they looked round, they could nowhere see him. + +They trudged on as fast as they could venture to go in the gloom of +morning. When daylight broke, they increased their speed. Percy kept +up bravely, and Denis declared that he had never felt in better trim for +a long march. As they fell in with no hostile Zulus, they more than +ever regretted that Mangaleesu and Kalinda had not accompanied them. +From the rate they went they felt sure that they had accomplished half +the distance. Having a supply of cooked meat, they agreed that it would +be wiser to spend the night in a tree. As darkness approached, they +looked about and found one with wide-spreading branches; into this they +climbed. + +"But I say, we must not run the risk of letting Raff be carried off as +poor Fangs was; we must get him with us," said Denis. "I cannot reach +him as I did before with my pocket-handkerchief, but we'll fasten our +rifle slings together, and he'll easily make his way up." + +This was done. Raff caught hold of one end; they hauled away, and he, +helping himself up with his claws, was soon seated near them on the +forks of a tree. + +"But what if a leopard should think of coming up here, like the one we +saw the other day!" said Percy. + +"Raff will give us due notice," answered Denis. "We'll keep our rifles +ready, and send him back again with a shot through his skull." + +Their beds were not very comfortable, but notwithstanding, knowing that +Raff was keeping watch, they slept soundly till the next morning. +Descending the tree, they breakfasted on the remains of their venison, +and pushed forward, feeling in as good trim as they had when they +started on the previous day. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +THE FIRST THREATENINGS OF DANGER. + +A stream descending from the Drakensberg, that lofty range of mountains +which runs across the whole of the south-eastern portion of the +Transvaal, separates that province from the north of Zululand. The +region is thickly wooded and picturesque, though in many places wild in +the extreme, while the climate, from the elevation of the land, is pure +and invigorating. The stream, after issuing from the mountain-side, +increased by numerous feeders, rapidly assumes considerable proportions, +and rushes on towards the edge of a precipice, over which it falls in +masses of foam, to the depth of fifty feet or so, when it flows on +towards the south in a more tranquil current, with a width which may +well claim for it the title of a fine river. + +"Those must be the mountains, and that must be the river, Mangaleesu +told us we should see," said Denis, as towards the end of the second day +they stood on the height overlooking the valley into which they were +about to descend. + +"I have no doubt about it, from the description my brother Rupert has +sent me," answered Percy; "and I think we shall soon see Falls Farm, +although on the opposite side of the river. From where we stand, it is +hidden by the trees. Hark! I think I hear the sound of the falls. If +we were more to the south, we should see them." + +"Well, then, let's make haste, and we shall be able to get down to the +bank before dark," said Denis; "though how we are to cross is a puzzle." + +"Perhaps we shall see somebody, and get him to send a boat across for +us," said Percy. "Come along." + +They hurried forward, eagerly looking out for the house and the falls, +which would assure them that they were not mistaken in their +expectations. + +"Yes, there are the falls," cried Percy. "I see the water falling like +a sheet of snow to the right, though it's farther off than I supposed, +and there's a wreath of smoke rising above a clump on the opposite side, +that must come from a house. Yes, hurrah! there's no mistake about it. +I see a verandah, or porch, peeping out on the slope of the hill." + +"All right. I congratulate you, Percy, as well as myself," said Denis; +"and now we must see how we can get across." + +They soon reached the margin of the river. It was apparently not very +deep; but on the possibility of crocodiles existing in it, they were not +inclined to attempt swimming across. Presently, however, they saw a +person running along the bank. They shouted and waved to him. He saw +them, and waved in return. + +"I shouldn't be surprised if that is my brother Rupert," cried Percy, +"though I shall not know him to a certainty, even when I see him close; +it is so long since we parted." + +The person they had seen was lost to sight among the trees, but soon +reappeared on board a boat, in which he quickly came paddling across. + +"Who are you?" he asked, "though I am sure you are Englishmen." + +"Yes, I am Percy Broderick, and this is my friend Denis Maloney." + +"And I am Rupert Broderick," said the person in the boat, leaping out, +and shaking hands warmly with his brother and then with Denis. "I am +delighted to see you, and so will father and mother be, and the girls. +We were beginning to grow anxious about you. How have you managed to +get here all alone? and what has become of Hendricks the hunter, with +whom we understood you were coming through Zululand?" + +"I'll tell you all about it as we go along," answered Percy. "I know +Denis here is very hungry, and I confess that my joy in getting home has +not quite taken away my appetite." + +"Well, get into the boat, and we'll soon be at the house; it isn't as +grand a mansion as you might have expected to find, but it's big enough +to hold us, and a few visitors besides." + +They were soon across, Percy and Denis talking all the time, giving such +bits of their adventures as they knew would be interesting to their +hearer. No sooner did they land, than Percy set off running, eager to +meet his father and mother and sisters. + +"Stop, stop!" cried Rupert; "let me say that you are coming, or the +sudden surprise may be too trying to our mother's nerves." + +But Percy had been seen from the verandah, and a middle-aged lady and +three young ones came rushing down the steps, followed by a tall, +strongly built gentleman, who seemed well capable of wielding an axe or +a broadsword, as occasion might require. + +"Percy, Percy!" cried the lady. "I know you, my dear boy! It must be +you. Say I am right!" + +"Yes, mother, yes," answered Percy, and rushing forward he was soon +receiving affectionate embraces from his mother and sisters. His father +was not long behind them, and then Rupert brought up Denis, who was +received in the kindest manner, faithful Raff coming in for a share of +their attention. + +Another person soon appeared upon the scene. A gaunt woman, her grey +hair destitute of cap, a red shawl over her shoulders, came rushing down +the steps, a basting ladle in her hand, which she threw unconsciously to +the ground, while she stretched out her arms as she gazed at Percy, and +throwing them round him, exclaimed-- + +"Sure it's Masther Percy himself come home at last. Welcome, welcome! +It does my heart good to see you, although it's a mighty outlandish +country you've come to." + +"It's home, however, Biddy, for I'm sure you must be Biddy Gillooly; +though so many years have passed since you carried me in your arms, I +remember you perfectly," answered Percy, returning her embrace. + +"Blessings on ye, Masther Percy, for saying that," cried Biddy; "and who +is the other young gintleman?" + +"A countryman of yours," answered Percy, introducing Denis. "He'll be +glad to have a talk with you about the old country, although he's not +seen much of it himself since he was a small boy." + +Biddy was delighted to find that Denis was actually born in her native +village. + +"Come, Biddy, the lads want supper as soon as possible, and the pots may +be boiling over during your absence," said Captain Broderick. + +Biddy took the hint, and picking up her ladle, hastened back to her +kitchen. As soon as the excitement of their first arrival was over, +both Percy and Denis began to feel the fatigue of their long journey. +Percy could scarcely keep his eyes open while he sat at table. Mrs +Broderick advised that they should both go to bed, and they accordingly +retired. Denis managed to attend to himself; but Percy could scarcely +have got into his bed without the assistance of his mother and brother. + +The next day Percy was unable to rise, and Denis did not turn out until +the evening, when he declared that he felt sufficiently rested to start +again, if it was necessary, although he had no wish to leave the farm. +Percy was affectionately tended by his mother and sisters, and he +assured them he hoped in another day or two to be all to rights. The +three Miss Brodericks were very nice girls--Denis thought them +especially so--but they were very far from being fine young ladies. +Assisted by Biddy, their only domestic, they attended to all the +household affairs, cooked and baked, milked the cows, made butter and +cheese, fed the poultry, worked in the garden, but still found time to +stitch, sew, and darn, and make their mother's and their own dresses, as +well as clothes for their father and brother, while they did not neglect +the culture of their minds, aided by their father, who had brought a +small library with him, which had been increased from time to time as he +was able to obtain books from England. They were all cheerful and +happy; but a shade of melancholy occasionally passed over the +countenance of Mrs Broderick, as if her thoughts were reverting to some +cause of grief during the past. + +Captain Broderick had now been settled at Falls Farm about twelve years. +He had selected it on account of the beauty of its situation and the +fertility of its soil, but had not sufficiently considered at the time +its distance from a market. He had been over-persuaded by the Boer, +from whom he purchased it, that settlers would speedily gather round +him, and that navigation would be established on the river, by which his +produce could be conveyed southward. But neither of these expectations +had been fulfilled. Having a small annual income, he had struggled +manfully on, had got up a good house, had planted an orchard of fruit +trees, and brought numerous acres under cultivation, while his herds of +cattle and flocks of sheep and goats had greatly increased. He had done +his utmost also to win the confidence and affections of the natives in +his neighbourhood, who looked up to him as a counsellor and a friend, on +whose assistance they could always rely. When they would work, and he +had employment to give them, he justly paid them the wages he promised, +which were equal to any they could obtain by going farther in search of +them. While they were thus friendly and ready to protect him and his +family, there were others at a distance beyond his influence, who were +as savage as the generality of the Kaffir tribes, and addicted to +predatory excursions on the property of their neighbours. The captain +was an old soldier, and when building his house, had had an eye to its +defence. He therefore had enclosed the acre or so of ground in which it +stood with a high palisade, on the outside of which ran a deep ditch, +and this could be filled by diverting a stream from the falls above, +inaccessible to an enemy. + +The stream served amply to irrigate the grounds and fields beyond, and +neither did it nor the palisade appear to have been formed so much with +the view of serving as a fortification, as for the object of preventing +the inroad of elephants or other wild animals. The height, however, of +the palisade was such that even a lion or leopard would have found it +difficult to leap over. Within it could be penned also a considerable +number of cattle and horses and sheep. The front was, however, left +open, a drawbridge only crossing the moat; but materials for filling up +the gap were kept stored on either side, so that in a few hours the +whole circle could be completed. The planks were of such a thickness, +that neither assegais nor bullets could pierce them, and certainly no +force such as was likely to attack the farm would be provided with guns. +Captain Broderick felt confident that he could rely, in case of an +inroad, on the assistance of the neighbouring inhabitants, who would +eagerly hurry to the farm for their own protection. Here and there were +a few white settlers, but the greater number were Kaffirs, who did not +owe allegiance to the monarch of Zululand. Had not Captain Broderick +carefully studied the habits and customs of the natives, and ingratiated +himself with them, he would have been unable not only to put up his +house or the palisade, but even to have cultivated the ground, and found +herdsmen for his cattle. He had two faithful followers, of whom a +description will hereafter be given, as also three Hottentots, who lived +in huts outside the farm; and he occasionally obtained the assistance of +a couple of other white men; but the rest of the labour was performed by +the Kaffir natives. Indomitable perseverance and energy had enabled him +to overcome numberless difficulties, and had there been a market at +hand, he would by this time have become a rich man. But the expense and +loss of driving his cattle even to the nearest town was very great, and +the profit very small after their arrival, while the trader who +occasionally came that way could afford to give but low prices for +animals which might never reach their destination. + +Provisions, however, were abundant; and Captain Broderick and his son +Rupert seldom failed, when they went out hunting, to return without a +good supply of game, as they could always depend upon the assistance of +the Kaffirs and any of the white settlers whom they invited to join +them. + +A couple of days had passed since the arrival of Percy and Denis, and +they began to grow anxious at hearing nothing of Hendricks. It was +difficult to account for his delay, unless he had lost so many of his +oxen as to be unable to proceed with his waggon. This, however, was not +likely. The natives were not hostile, as they were always glad to have +traders come among them to purchase their produce, and from whom they +could obtain the articles they required. The tsetse fly, although +destructive in some parts to cattle, was not supposed to exist in the +district through which he was passing, and although one or two of the +animals might have been killed by lions, that would not have hindered +him for any length of time, as he might easily have supplied their +places, or travelled on with a smaller team. At last, Captain Broderick +resolved to send out a couple of trusty men in the direction it was +supposed Hendricks would come. + +One of these, Conrad Vermack by name, whose chief characteristic was his +intense hatred of the Zulus, had at one time possessed a farm of his +own, but it had been destroyed by the savages while he was absent on a +hunting expedition. He had returned to find his house burned to the +ground, and his wife, five children, and two servants massacred. He had +attempted to avenge their death, and had narrowly escaped with his own +life. With three assegai wounds in his body, utterly ruined in purse, +and his health broken, he had received shelter and kind treatment from +Captain Broderick, who pitied his misfortunes. He had in time recovered +his health, but had no desire or energy to attempt again setting up for +himself, though offered some stock with which to commence. He declined +the offer, saying that he would infinitely prefer devoting the remainder +of his life to the service of one from whom he had received so many +benefits; and he had thus remained on year after year, without changing +his resolution, apparently contented, if not happy. In appearance he +was unlike most of his countrymen. His figure was tall and bulky, his +face long and rugged. A smile never illumined his countenance. A mass +of long coal-black hair fell straight over his forehead and down his +back, giving him a strong resemblance, except in colour, to a North +American Indian. On all occasions he wore a short shooting jacket, his +arms sticking considerably beyond the sleeves, while it was darned and +patched in all directions, as were his trowsers, which had once been of +blue cloth, but had been mended with pieces of so many colours that it +was difficult to say what had been their original hue. Though Captain +Broderick had given him a good suit which he wore on Sundays, and had +offered him another instead of the one which has been described, he +could never be induced to leave it off. He had worn a portion of it at +his marriage, and he hoped to live and die in it, he said. He was a +first-rate hunter, and was more frequently out with his gun than +labouring on the farm, which was evidently not much to his taste, though +when his services were absolutely required he worked as hard as any one, +and amply repaid his host for the support he received. + +The other man was a Kaffir, called Matyana. He belonged to a tribe +almost exterminated by Dingan, the predecessor of Panda, and +consequently hated the Zulus as much as did the Dutchman. Having made +his escape from his enemies, though desperately wounded, he had been +found by Captain Broderick in an apparently dying condition; but being +carried to the farm, and carefully tended, he recovered. Although his +people are generally supposed to be destitute of gratitude, he showed +that he possessed that virtue by willingly remaining on with his +protector, and rendering him all the service in his power. + +Both these men, being well acquainted with the country, and thoroughly +trustworthy, were selected by the Captain for the proposed expedition. +They willingly undertook the duty, and set out well-armed and well +mounted, promising to discover Hendricks and his party if they were +still in the land of the living. + +Denis begged to go with them, but Mrs Broderick interfered, declaring +that he was utterly unable to undertake the journey; he indeed confessed +to Percy that he scarcely felt up to a gallop, while he certainly was in +no hurry to quit Falls Farm. + +Percy agreed with him, and thought indeed that he showed his good taste +in enjoying the society of his mother and sisters. + +The young ladies found time, after the day was over, to play and sing +and talk, although they had nothing to say about their neighbours, and +especially to listen to the accounts Denis and Percy gave them of their +adventures. + +By the bye, the three fair daughters of Captain and Mrs Broderick, +Helen, Rose, and Maud, ought before this to have been formally +introduced to the reader. The eldest was about two-and-twenty, Rose was +just eighteen, and Maud was a year younger than Percy. Miss Broderick +recollected a great deal about England, and it is just possible might +have preferred living there to existing in the wilds of Africa, at the +same time that she was contented with her lot, which many young ladies +would have thought a hard one. + +As Percy was unable to walk any distance, on the evening of the day the +men had been sent off to look for Hendricks, Rupert proposed to Denis to +take him a row, and Maud, hearing of it, begged that she might go also. +The boat was the same in which Percy and Denis first crossed the river. +It was kept on the bank of the river, concealed in a thicket from the +view of passers-by, a short way from the house. They had just reached +the place where the boat was kept, and Rupert and Denis were busy +preparing her, when Maud exclaimed, "There are two people on the +opposite bank. They are natives, and are waving to us." + +Percy looking up cried out, "Yes, so there are, and they appear to me +like Mangaleesu and Kalinda." + +The two natives continued to wave still more vehemently, occasionally +looking behind them, as if they expected to see some one coming from +that direction. They then both stepped into the water, about apparently +to swim across. + +Rupert and Denis on this made signs to them to wait. + +"You remain here, Maud, with Percy," said Rupert, as he shoved off the +boat with his oar from the bank. + +He and Denis rowed with all their might, for they saw that the natives +were evidently in a great hurry. + +"Yes, there is no doubt that the man is the Zulu chief who saved Percy's +life, and who helped us on our way, and that the other is his wife," +exclaimed Denis. "I would not have them on any account fall into the +hands of their enemies, who would kill them to a certainty. Pull away! +pull away!" + +They quickly reached the opposite bank, when both Mangaleesu and his +wife hurriedly stepping into the boat, sank down thoroughly exhausted. + +"What has happened, my friend?" asked Denis. + +"We are pursued by our enemies, and they will soon be here;" answered +Mangaleesu. "Can the white chief give us shelter? or must we continue +our flight? For myself I would not mind, but my wife is well-nigh +exhausted, and I fear she would be overtaken." + +"You do not, either of you, look as if you were capable of continuing on +much longer," said Denis, as he and Rupert began to row back as fast as +they could. "I am very sure that the white chief will protect you, +especially when he hears that you saved his son's life, and helped us +both so greatly. I may say that, may I not, Rupert? I am sure that +your father will protect them." + +"No doubt about that," answered Rupert. "Pull away then; and if we can +get them concealed in the house before their pursuers see where they +have gone, it will save a great deal of trouble." + +There was not much time to settle any further plans before they reached +the western bank. Immediately landing, they drew up the boat on shore, +at a spot where she was completely concealed by the bushes. + +Scarcely had they landed when a large body of Zulus were seen on the +height of the opposite side of the river, waving their assegais, and +rushing down as if they fully expected in a few minutes to come up with +the fugitives. + +"Come along, Mangaleesu. We must get into the house before those people +out there see you," cried Rupert, taking the chief's hand. + +Unfortunately they had an open space to cross. As they did so they were +perceived by the Zulus, who broke into loud and savage shouts, which +even at the distance they were off could clearly be heard. + +"Don't be afraid, Kalinda. They shan't hurt you," said Percy; "I am +sure my father will not let them take you away." + +As they hurried on they saw the Zulus making signs to them to bring back +the boat. It was evident that the savages had perceived how the +fugitives had escaped them. + +"You may beckon and shriek and howl as much as you like," cried Rupert. +"We are not going to allow you to murder these people if we can help +it." + +Without paying further attention to the Zulus, they hurried on to the +house, where they found Captain Broderick. + +Percy at once introduced Kalinda and Mangaleesu to his father, telling +him how much he and Denis were indebted to them. + +"We come to crave your protection, O White Chief," said Mangaleesu. +"Our enemies are seeking our death, and if we are turned away I fear +that we shall be overtaken." + +"I promise to afford it you, my friends," said Captain Broderick. "They +dare not drag you from my house by force, and I will not allow them to +enter." + +"There is no time to be lost then, for they are very close to the bank," +said Rupert. "I will go and see what they are about." + +Captain Broderick led the chief and his wife into the house, while +Rupert hastened to where he could watch the Zulus. They were doing as +he feared they would; nearly half the band were already in the stream, +stemming the current, shouting and shrieking, to keep away the +crocodiles, while the other half were preparing to follow. The current +was carrying them down, but not very rapidly, so that they would land at +a point not far below that on the opposite bank from which they had +started. + +He at once returned to report what he had seen. Captain Broderick had +by this time come back to the front of the house. There were +fortunately two white men, as well as the Hottentots, and several +faithful Kaffirs within call. He ordered Rupert at once to bring out +the arms and put them into the hands of the Kaffirs, whom he knew he +could trust. The white men had brought their rifles, and by the time +the Zulus had landed, he had a dozen men, besides himself and Denis and +his two sons, ready to defend those to whom he had promised protection, +should their enemies attempt to take them. Having drawn them up on the +inside of the moat in front of the house, he waited to see how the Zulus +would proceed. As soon as they had landed and shaken themselves dry, +they looked about as if expecting to see the fugitives; then guessing +that they had taken shelter in the farm, they advanced towards it, until +they came in sight of the force prepared to receive them. Their leader, +a chief of some consideration, judging by the cow-tails hanging round +his neck, and the feathers in his head-dress, advanced and began an +address to Captain Broderick. + +"The Zulus and the white men are brothers," he said. "The enemies of +the one are the enemies of the other. How comes it then that I see the +white chief in arms against us? We have long been seeking one who is a +traitor to his country, and who has defied our king Panda, the lion of +the world, and I desire to know whether he is still flying across the +country, or has been received into the house of our friend. If he has, +we demand that he may be delivered up to us forthwith, to be treated as +he deserves." + +Captain Broderick listened patiently until the chief had come to an end. + +"I wish to be friends with the Zulus, as well as with all the people +among whom I live," said the captain. "I have no desire to protect any +one because he is an enemy to the Zulus, but I cannot allow any injury +to be inflicted on persons who have rendered essential service to those +dear to me. There is no one in this house I can consent to deliver up +to you, and therefore if you expect it you must go away disappointed. I +have said it, it is useless to ask more." + +The chief, on hearing this, looked very angry, and muttered something +which Captain Broderick could not understand. The Zulus appeared +doubtful how to proceed; at length Captain Broderick spoke to them. + +"To show you that I wish to be friends, if you are hungry, I will feed +you," he said. "You shall have a heifer, which I was going to kill +to-night, but you must retire with it across the river, where you can +feast as you desire." + +This promise had evidently a good effect on the Zulus. They saw, +indeed, that they were not likely to gain anything by force from a white +man, who was well prepared to repel it, and was not to be intimidated. + +They accordingly shouted out, "Give us the heifer. We will go." + +On this Captain Broderick ordered one of the Hottentots to bring out the +animal from a shed at a short distance off. The Hottentot obeyed the +order with evident unwillingness; indeed, the poor animal seemed to +know, by the way it walked, the fate prepared for it. As it approached, +the Zulus rushed forward to seize it, for they considered it rather +gained by their own prowess than as a gift. + +"We take the heifer because we want food; but understand, we do not +abandon the right of search for the fugitives who have rebelled and +deserve death," said the chief, turning to Captain Broderick. + +Having thus delivered himself, he stalked off with his followers to the +bank of the river, when, plunging in, they waded and swam across the +stream, driving the heifer before them. + +Rupert hurried down to watch them. They went on for some distance to a +sheltered spot under the hill, where shortly a fire was seen blazing up, +evidently for the purpose of cooking the heifer. As it continued +burning brightly for some time after darkness had set in, there was no +doubt that the Zulus were enjoying themselves, and intended to remain +there till the morning. Captain Broderick was too well accustomed to +Kaffir warfare to trust to them, and thinking it possible that they +might attempt to surprise the farm during the night, he kept a vigilant +watch, and ordered his little force to remain under arms until it was +ascertained to a certainty that they had taken their departure from the +neighbourhood. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +UNPLEASANT NEIGHBOURS. + +Some hours of the night had passed, but still the fire in the distance +was seen burning as brightly as ever. It showed that the Zulus were +awake, and probably banqueting on the meat of the heifer given to them. +Whether they would go away or remain in the neighbourhood was doubtful. +Although they had accepted the gift, Captain Broderick thought it +probable that they had some treacherous intentions, and would, at all +events, make an attempt to get hold of Mangaleesu and Kalinda: perhaps +even now a party might be stealing across the river with that object in +view, intending to make a sudden rush at the house, should they find the +garrison off their guard. + +Captain Broderick therefore ordered his men to keep under arms, while he +sent two of the Kaffirs, on whom he could rely, to watch along the bank +of the river. He had little fear of their crossing above the falls, as +the current there ran with great rapidity, and they would have had to +make a wide circuit over difficult, almost impassable ground. Still, to +escape the risk of being taken by surprise, he placed a sentry to watch +on the northern side of the palisade, where a platform had been erected +for the purpose. Meantime Percy, who had wished to keep guard with the +rest, was persuaded by his mother to go to bed. + +"You will better be able to do your duty, should any work be required, +when you have regained your strength," she observed. "Should the Zulus +attack us, which I don't think probable, I will call you. You can then +take your part in the defence." + +"And what are you and the girls going to do, mother?" he asked. + +"We will load the muskets, and tend any who are wounded," she answered, +in a firm voice. "Rose and Maud propose to keep a look-out round the +palisade, lest any of the enemy should steal up and attempt to take them +in the rear; while Biddy will not fail to play her part in some way or +other." + +"I wish that Hendricks and Crawford, with that gallant little fellow +Lionel, had arrived," observed Percy. "I cannot help thinking that some +accident may have happened to them, or they would have been here before +now. They and the servants would have added greatly to our strength. +Indeed, I don't think the Zulus, if they were here, would venture to +attack us. I have not, by the bye, told you much about Lionel, mother." + +"No; but your friend Denis has, and he described to us the gallant way +in which you saved the boy from being drowned or destroyed by a +crocodile," answered Mrs Broderick. + +"I was too glad to be of service to Mr Hendricks, who had treated my +friend Crawford and me so kindly in letting us accompany him, besides +which, I had a strong liking for the young fellow, whom I should have +been very sorry to have lost. I first fancied that he was either the +son or nephew of Mr Hendricks, but he afterwards told me that he was +neither the one nor the other, but that he had been rescued by Hendricks +during a trip he made some years before into Zululand." + +Percy went on to give an account of Lionel's history. Mrs Broderick +listened with deep attention, and inquired the age and appearance of her +son's friend, which Percy described. + +"Did you ever hear, Percy, that your youngest brother, during the +journey we made in coming here, was lost? We always supposed that he +perished with his nurse, who was killed and thrown into the river by the +savages. Her body was discovered some time afterwards, though our +child's was never found." + +"Do you know, mother, I cannot help thinking that Lionel must be that +young brother of mine," exclaimed Percy. "I am aware that I ought not +to raise your hopes, but I felt drawn towards him from the first; and, +as Denis will tell you, he very soon learned to speak English. He +remembered a lady he felt sure was his mother, and a tall gentleman he +supposed to be his father, although he had no recollection of how he +came into the hands of the Zulus. It is strange that he should have +been found in the kraal of Mangaleesu, who is now here. He, however, +can give very little information as to Lionel's history, as he was +brought to the kraal by another tribe who were afterwards destroyed. +Besides Lionel, Mangaleesu and his wife are the only inhabitants of the +whole kraal who escaped. Denis, however, knows the exact particulars +better than I do, as he joined Hendricks the very next day, and has been +with Lionel nearly ever since." + +Mrs Broderick, on hearing this, could scarcely restrain her agitation. +She naturally at once felt sure that her child's life had by some +wonderful means been preserved. Her impulse was to hurry forthwith to +gain more particulars from Denis, and to talk over the subject with her +husband, but she felt that it would be wrong to draw off their attention +from their duties, engaged as they were in guarding the house. She then +thought of visiting Mangaleesu and Kalinda, who had been placed in a +small room at the back of the house. She knew enough of the language to +speak to them; but Percy assured her that they would not be able to give +her more information than he had done. + +"I don't know that Denis can do so either," he added. "We must wait +until Hendricks and Lionel himself arrive, and we are sure to hear of +them in a day or two, unless some accident has happened, and I don't +know why we should expect that." + +Poor Mrs Broderick's heart sank within her as she thought of the +possibility that such, notwithstanding Percy's hopes, might have been +the case. She could not but believe that Lionel was her long-lost boy, +and she longed with all her mother's heart for his arrival. She would +know him by his features, and by the tone of his voice, and she +recollected two small marks on the shoulders of her boy, which, if found +upon Lionel, would leave no doubt as to his identity, as that must +satisfy others as well as herself. + +Though she wished Percy to go to sleep, she could scarcely refrain from +continuing to talk with him on the subject. At last his incoherent +answers, and finally his total silence, showed her that he was +slumbering soundly. She went to her daughters' room to give them an +account of what she had heard. They all three were unanimous in +believing that the brave boy Denis had been speaking to them about was +their brother. They had heard the history of little Walter's loss, +although they never alluded to it, and they had often observed a shade +of melancholy pass over their mother's countenance, which they guessed +was owing to her thinking on the subject. + +The night passed slowly away. Captain Broderick was unwilling to trust +entirely to any one, except to himself and his son Rupert, or to his +young guest, who he at once saw possessed all the qualifications of a +good soldier. Either one or the other went occasionally to the point +whence the Zulus' camp could be seen. Their fire was burning as +brightly as ever, and for some time appeared to be increasing. It +diminished however in size just before daybreak, when one of the scouts +returned reporting that he had crossed the river, and not finding any of +the enemy moving about as he had expected, had got so close to their +camp as to be able to calculate the number of persons assembled. He was +certain that a portion only of the force which had pursued Mangaleesu +had crossed the river, or otherwise that their numbers had since been +greatly augmented. + +Hearing this, Captain Broderick strongly suspected that they would again +present themselves and demand the delivery of those whom he felt in +honour bound not to give up. He counted the cost. He was aware that +they might ravage his fields and carry off many of his cattle, but he +had resolved not to yield to their demands. His first care was to put +the farm in a more complete state of defence. He immediately sent off +one of his men to obtain further help from any white settlers or Kaffirs +who were able to come. With those remaining, he at once commenced +putting up the palisades which have been mentioned, placed in readiness +for the purpose. The uprights were so formed that the horizontal beams +or planks could be fitted into them without the use of nails, while they +were supported from the inside by beams placed at an angle to serve as +buttresses. Near to the top of the wall was a platform which ran round +the whole of the palisades, and served as a rampart from which to fire +down on an enemy. Such a structure would have been easily destroyed by +fire, but the deep trench which ran in front prevented that danger, and +the wooden wall was thus well calculated to resist any attack which the +Zulus were likely to make against it. Inside the fortifications, for so +they might be called, was a large barn, containing a good supply of +fodder for the cattle, while in the house provisions of various +descriptions were stored. While some of the men were employed in +putting up the defences, the Hottentots were sent off to drive in the +more valuable of the cattle, so that they, at all events, might be +preserved, while the Zulus in revenge might make a raid on the +unprotected part of the farm, and destroy or carry off what they could +lay their hands on. Considerable progress had been made before +daybreak, but still much remained to be completed, and it was hoped that +until this was done, the Zulus would not cross the river. + +Captain Broderick at first contemplated the possibility, with the force +he hoped to have under his command, of preventing them from crossing by +attacking them while they were in the water; but then again, they might +possibly, expecting to be opposed, divide into two or more parties, and +while he was engaged with one party, the others might get across. He +was also unwilling to commence hostilities, and considered it wise to +throw the responsibility of so doing on the Zulus. He therefore with +unabated energy continued the preparations for defence. + +There was little doubt that if the Zulus meditated an attack, they would +send scouts to watch what was taking place in the farm. He was +thankful, therefore, when soon after daylight the Hottentots arrived +with the choicest of his horses and oxen. In a short time also several +Kaffirs came dropping in, two or three at a time; some with muskets, but +others armed only with their assegais and shields, though they were +mostly accustomed to the use of firearms. They immediately joined those +labouring at the fortifications. They were followed by three white +settlers, two of whom were Dutch Boers, the other an Englishman; hardy +borderers of a low class, who, having suffered from the Zulus in former +years, held them in utter detestation. + +Before the day was many hours old, the fortifications on the farm were +complete. Captain Broderick had a great desire to avoid hostilities, +and he hoped, should the Zulus come, that they, on seeing at once they +had no chance of success, would retire. + +He had set an example to his men by working harder than any of them; and +at length, overcome with fatigue, he had retired to the house, desiring +Rupert to summon him immediately, should the scouts return, or anything +of importance occur. Denis insisted on keeping company with Rupert on +the platform, whence a good look-out could be obtained over the +surrounding country. + +"I got so sound a sleep the first two nights after I came here, that I +did not feel at all inclined to go to bed," he said, as they walked to +and fro. "Not that I think there is much chance of having a visit from +those Zulus; for, from what I know of them, I suspect that as soon as +they find we are prepared to give them a warm reception, they will turn +tail and go the way they came." + +"Probably they will, but I hope they will not fall in with your friend +Hendricks and his party, or they may revenge themselves by murdering and +robbing them," observed Rupert. + +"They will not dare to do that," answered Denis. "They depend so much +on the traders for supplying their wants, and enabling them to dispose +of their produce, that they will not willingly quarrel with any of them; +still I should be very thankful to see Hendricks arrive here in safety." + +While they were speaking they were joined by Percy, who said he felt +himself much better, and up to anything. He had not been with them more +than a minute, when he asked Rupert for his spyglass. Directing it +towards the opposite shore, he exclaimed-- + +"I thought I saw some horsemen, and I am right, I see four, but only one +is a white man, the other three are black. Two of them look very like +those we sent away from here, and the other is apparently a chief." + +Rupert took the glass from his brother. "You are right!" he exclaimed. +"They are riding fast, and keeping clear of the Zulu camp, which they +probably discovered from the height, and think it prudent to avoid. We +will go down and meet them. Percy, do you remain here on guard. You +need not rouse up our father, but if you see anything suspicious, send +down and let him know." + +Saying this, Rupert, followed by Denis, hurried down. They made their +way over the drawbridge to the spot where the boat was concealed, and +pulled across to the opposite bank, towards which the horsemen came +galloping at full speed. + +"Why, there's our friend Crawford," cried Denis, "and there are Umgolo, +old Vermack, and Matyana. They'll bring us news, I hope, of Hendricks +and Lionel." + +Crawford, immediately dismounting, began to take the saddle off his +horse. "Thank you, my friends, for coming to meet me," he said; "you've +saved me from a wetting, and perhaps from the jaws of a crocodile. +Excuse me for being somewhat in a hurry; but the fact is that the old +Dutchman who escorted me here thinks that the Zulus out there would like +to get hold of our party, to retain us as hostages till you deliver up a +runaway chief who has taken refuge here." He was unbuckling the girths +as he spoke, and now, with the saddle on his arm, was stepping into the +boat when he recognised Denis. "What, my dear fellow, is it you +yourself, safe and sound!" he exclaimed, as they warmly shook hands, "I +am delighted to see you. The messengers who came from this place told +us of your arrival; for until then we were in great anxiety about you +and Percy. How did you get here?" + +"I'll tell you all about it as we pull across," answered Denis; "but we +have no time to lose. See, there come a whole party of Zulus scampering +towards us, and whether or not old Vermack was right in his conjectures, +I don't suppose that they are coming with any friendly intentions." + +As he spoke, he and Rupert shoved off, the Boer and the Kaffirs, who did +not dismount, driving his horse before them across the river. + +While Rupert and Denis pulled, Crawford sat in the sternsheets, more +than once turning his head to ascertain how near the Zulus had got. He +and his companions on horseback had distanced them so much that he and +Denis had time to exchange a few words. + +"You gave us a tremendous fright, I can assure you, Denis," said +Crawford. "Hendricks sent in all directions to look for you; and when +the body of poor Gozo was found, it was feared that you had met with the +same fate. He was so dreadfully cut up, that I thought he would have +abandoned his expedition and gone back to Maritzburg." + +"I am sorry to have caused the fine old boy so much trouble," answered +Denis. "He may be certain that it was very much against our wish, and I +know that I wouldn't again go through what we did for a good deal. But, +faith, those black fellows are getting mighty near; and if they happen +to have a musket or two among them, they may shoot one of us. Pull +away, Rupert!" + +"You are right, Paddy," said Rupert. "Though I doubt if they have +firearms, I don't wish to run the chance." + +They accordingly both gave way with a will. Instead of returning to the +place where the boat was usually kept, Rupert directed her upstream +until they came to a point where the moat communicated with the river. +Landing, they quickly towed her through the moat to the entrance, where +she could lie protected from an enemy. Here they found Captain +Broderick, who had risen on hearing that the Zulus had been seen moving +towards the river. After welcoming Crawford, whom he was prepared to +receive, as Percy had mentioned the invitation he had given him, he +eagerly asked what had become of Hendricks. + +"He begged me to express his regret at not being able to pay you a +visit; for he has been so long detained during the search for your son +and Maloney, and by various other misadventures, that he is anxious to +push on northward without further delay," answered Crawford. "He has, +however, sent his chief hunter to escort back our Irish friend, who is +of course desirous of proceeding in search of his father." + +"Had Hendricks known how anxious I am to see him and young Lionel, he +would have paid me his promised visit," exclaimed Captain Broderick. "I +would at once set off with Maloney, but I dare not leave the farm with +these Zulus in the neighbourhood, even could I get away without being +observed by them. I doubt, indeed, whether it will be safe for our +friend here and his guide, to set off while they remain; for if seen +leaving the farm, the Zulus will certainly endeavour to capture them, +and hold them hostages until I deliver up the fugitives who have sought +my protection; and that I am bound not to do." + +Crawford expressed his delight at seeing Percy, who now came down from +the platform. + +"We will tell you all about our adventures by-and-by; and I shall be +glad to hear yours," said Percy, as they cordially shook hands. "Come +in. I want to introduce you to my mother and sisters. I have been +talking to them about you, so that they will not look upon you as a +stranger." + +Crawford was soon made at home. Mrs Broderick liked his looks, and the +young ladies thought him very agreeable. + +In a short time, Rupert, who had taken Percy's place on the platform, +came down with the information that the Zulus, who had attempted to cut +off the horsemen, had retired to their camp. It was uncertain what +their intentions had been; but Captain Broderick believed that they were +hostile. + +Crawford said that Hendricks intended to travel by slow stages, so as to +allow Denis and Umgolo quickly to overtake him. He was, indeed, unable +to move fast, as he had lost several of his oxen, and had not hitherto +replaced them, though he hoped to do so shortly. The Zulus had shown a +less friendly disposition than formerly, and this also made him anxious +to get out of their country as soon as possible. + +The message from Hendricks to him much perplexed Denis. He wished to +accompany him in the search of his father; but he was unwilling to +desert his new friends at a time when they were placed in danger, and +required all the assistance to be obtained; besides which, he had become +attached to Percy, and was greatly interested in the whole family. + +The young ladies he thought charming, superior to any he had ever met +before. His interest in the family was still further increased when the +Captain and Mrs Broderick begged him to give an account of the finding +of Lionel. Next to Hendricks, he was better able to do this than any +other person; and on their telling him that they had lost a child, whom +they had hitherto thought had been destroyed with his nurse, and who +would now be about the same age that Lionel was supposed to be, he +exclaimed, in his usual impulsive manner-- + +"Then I am ready to stake anything that Lionel is your son. He has the +same look and features as Miss Maud, more ruddy to be sure. Though I +never thought him much like Percy, he greatly resembles Rupert, and he +has often told me he remembers his mother, and the tall gentleman he +supposed to be his father, who there can be no doubt must be Captain +Broderick." + +Captain and Mrs Broderick were as fully persuaded that Lionel was their +son, as Denis. How they longed to see him, and to thank Hendricks for +the care he had bestowed on the boy. Still there was the difficulty of +reaching him, and bringing him back in safety to the farm, should the +Zulus remain on the watch for Mangaleesu. Peace might be established at +once by delivering him up, but that was not to be thought of, neither +would Captain Broderick express any wish that he and his wife would quit +the farm, and relieve him from the responsibility of protecting them. +Percy offered to accompany Denis to bring back Lionel; but although he +had plenty of spirit, he was not strong enough to undertake the journey. +Rupert also begged that he might go, but it was a question whether +Hendricks, who was so greatly attached to Lionel, would deliver him up +without further proof that Captain Broderick had a right to him. + +By making a wide circuit to the west, the Zulus, although they continued +on the watch, might be avoided; but the mountain would have to be twice +crossed before Hendricks could be reached, and it would be difficult to +find him. Crawford then offered to go; but being much knocked up by his +journey, he would be unable to start for a couple of days. On further +consideration, Captain Broderick came to the conclusion that the longer +route was not to be thought of, as there would be a great risk of +missing Hendricks altogether. + +The day was already too far spent for any one to set off until the next +morning. Possibly by that time the Zulus, finding that the garrison had +been further increased, would consider that they had no chance of +success, and would take their departure. If so, Captain Broderick was +determined to set off himself with Denis and the two men he had before +despatched to look for Hendricks. A party of five, well-armed and +mounted, might travel without difficulty, and would, he hoped, soon +overtake the slow-moving waggon; while, although there would be only +four to return, Denis assured him that Lionel was worth any grown man. + +Captain Broderick again sent out a couple of scouts to watch the enemy; +and should they move, to ascertain in what direction they went. They +returned after dark, saying that the Zulus were still encamped, and that +they had scouts out in all directions, evidently on the watch for +Mangaleesu, whom they probably supposed would try to make his escape. + +This was a great disappointment. Though Captain Broderick knew that he +might easily evade them, they would certainly discover that he and his +party had left the farm, and might be tempted, on finding that its +garrison had been decreased, to attack it. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +AN IMPORTANT EXPEDITION. + +The delay caused by the presence of the Zulus was excessively trying to +Captain and Mrs Broderick. The more they heard from Denis about +Lionel, the more they were convinced that he was their lost child. +Ellen and Rose were persuaded that they should know him at once, as they +had often carried him about and nursed him, though the rest were too +young to recollect more than that they had had a little brother, who had +disappeared while a baby. Biddy declared that she could pick him out +from among a thousand if she could once set eyes on him. She +recollected what Master Rupert had been, and looking at him as he now +was, she was positive as to what Master Walter would have become. + +"Sure, if Master would let me, I'd start off at once by meself, an' not +care for the Zulus, or lions, or other bastes in the way, and soon bring +him back safe an' sound in me arms," she exclaimed in her enthusiasm. + +"You would find it a more difficult task than you suppose, Biddy, to +make your way all alone through the wilds," said Percy. "It was no easy +matter for Denis and me, with our rifles in our hands, and well +accustomed to tramping. If my father will let me go, with Vermack, and +Matyana, and Denis, and Umgolo, I am sure I can persuade Hendricks to +let Lionel return with me." + +To this Mrs Broderick objected. She was sure that Percy was unfit to +perform the journey, which might be of considerable length, as +Hendricks, it was supposed, was travelling almost in an opposite +direction, and might before they could overtake him, be several days +ahead. She dreaded also the danger to which he might be exposed; +besides which, it was doubtful whether Hendricks, deeply attached as he +was known to be to the boy, would give him up to any one but to his +father, who alone could be certain that Lionel really was his son. It +was possible, after all, that the child might belong to a family of +Boers, slaughtered by the Zulus, and that Denis might have been mistaken +in the idea he had formed, when trying to instruct him, that he had +previously known English. + +Mangaleesu and Kalinda, though they both were cross-questioned and +examined over and over again, could throw no further light on the +subject than they had already done. They only knew that the boy had +been brought to the kraal by another tribe, all of whom were now dead; +and although they had taken an interest in the child, they had made no +further inquiries about him. Captain Broderick therefore kept to his +resolution of setting out with his two attendants as soon as it was +ascertained that the Zulus had left the neighbourhood. In the meantime +the defences of the farm were increased as much as possible, in case the +Zulus should venture to attack it. + +The night was passing by quietly. Crawford volunteered to keep watch, +Mangaleesu also offered his services, so that those who had been on foot +the previous night might obtain the rest they required. Rupert and +Denis joined them shortly after midnight. They were continually going +round the whole circuit of the stockade to see that the men who were +ported at the different angles had their eyes open, and that the enemy +were not stealing up, as it was thought possible they might attempt to +do, to take them by surprise. + +Crawford had just returned to the platform in front of the house, when +Mangaleesu pointed across the river, towards the Zulu camp. No fire was +to be seen, and Crawford remarked that the flames had sunk completely +down, although there was still a glow as if from hot embers. + +Rupert and Denis soon afterwards came up. + +"That looks as if they had gone away at last," observed Rupert, "and I +hope that my father will be able to set out to-morrow." + +"Don't be too sure of that," observed Denis. "The fellows are up to all +sorts of tricks. They may have crossed the river lower down, and we may +see their ugly faces in the morning, or hear their shrieks and yells +before then, or it is just as likely that they have crossed to the +north, and will try to make their way down from above the falls. I have +heard a great deal of their devices from my father and Hendricks, and +the other traders, and it never does to trust them." + +Mangaleesu did not understand what was said, but perhaps he would have +considered the remarks rather complimentary than otherwise, although +made about those who were now his deadly enemies. Denis asked him what +he thought upon the subject; he replied, that he believed they had gone +away to the eastward, finding that the garrison of the farm were keeping +a vigilant watch, and that they could not hope to succeed, unless at the +risk of losing a number of men, with the comparatively small force they +possessed. He expressed his regret at causing his friends so much +trouble and anxiety, and offered the next morning to make his way with +Kalinda to a distance from the frontier. + +"I do not suppose that Captain Broderick will allow you to do that, for +Kalinda has not yet recovered from the hardships she went through, and +you yourself are scarcely able to make a long journey," said Denis. +"Even if the Zulus have gone away, and have no intention of attacking +the farm, they may have sent scouts to watch for you, so that should you +try to escape, you and your wife may lose your lives after all." + +Rupert was of the same opinion as Denis. + +"My father is a man who always means what he says, and as he has +promised to protect you, he will not, even though you yourself might +offer to go, allow you to run the risk of being killed." + +Mangaleesu acknowledged that he should grieve to expose Kalinda to the +dangers she must go through, and proposed to leave her, if Captain +Broderick would still afford her protection, and to go away by himself. + +"That would not mend matters," observed Rupert; "for if the Zulus should +again venture to come to the farm under a belief that they were strong +enough to capture it, they would insist upon her being given to them as +a hostage until you deliver yourself up. No, no! you and she must stay +here until there is time to send to Natal, to complain of the +proceedings of the Zulus; and Cetchwayo, if he instigated them, must be +taught that he cannot attack English settlers with impunity." + +Although it was very possible that the Zulus had gone away altogether, +Crawford and his companions agreed that it would be prudent to keep as +vigilant a watch round the stockade as ever. They therefore continued +their rounds, but they could discover nothing to indicate that an enemy +was in the neighbourhood. When at length the sun rising lighted up the +beautiful landscape, all around was as calm and smiling as ever. The +scouts who had been on the look-out now came in, and reported that the +Zulu force had really retired, and that the road to the north-east was +clear. Captain Broderick, who had previously made all arrangements, at +once prepared to start. + +Percy felt very sad as he shook hands with Denis. "I wish that you had +been able to stay on with us, old fellow," he said. "I cannot help +thinking of all the dangers and hardships you will have to go through, +though, if I were not at home, I should be glad to go with you, and help +you get through them. However, you must try to come back, and take a +long spell with us, if Hendricks will let you, or your father, if you +find him, as I hope you will. The girls, too, will be glad to see you, +as you are a favourite with them, I can tell you that." + +Denis had reason to flatter himself that such was the case. All the +family had been pleased with his hearty, unaffected manner, and thankful +to him for the service he had rendered Percy. + +He bade them all a friendly good-bye; and Maud, who was generally so +merry and smiling, looked unusually grave and burst into tears as soon +as he was gone, though she tried hard to hide them. + +The horses having been sent across, Captain Broderick and his party +proceeded down to the boat, accompanied by the inmates of the farm. +There were more leave-takings, the nature of which can be imagined, and +further charges given by the captain, as he and Denis stepped into the +boat, pulled by Rupert and Crawford. At once mounting, he led his party +at a rapid rate to the north-east, those on the opposite bank watching +them with anxious eyes until they were lost to sight behind a grove of +trees. + +"My father charged me at the last to keep a vigilant watch in our +fortress, lest after all any Zulus should be lurking in the +neighbourhood," said Rupert to his brother. "We must not let Mangaleesu +go outside, or he may be seen by one of the enemy's scouts, in which +case they would be certain to return in the hopes of capturing him. At +present they probably fancy that he has gone away, and that they have +therefore no excuse for attacking us." + +Crawford and Rupert did not fail to carry out Captain Broderick's +directions; and Percy, who was rapidly recovering his strength, was soon +able to assist them. Although the drawbridge was let down, it was +constantly watched, while one of the three was always looking out from +the platform, with a good telescope, so that any objects moving could be +discovered at a considerable distance on three sides of the farm; for +the hills rising abruptly in the rear shut out the view in that +direction. A scout occasionally sent out by Rupert reported that he was +certain no Zulus in any number could possibly be in the neighbourhood, +although he could not be positive that one or two might not be lurking +about, on the watch for Mangaleesu. They therefore kept the chief and +his young wife carefully concealed as before. Mrs Broderick bestowed +much attention on them. She could speak the Zulu language sufficiently +well to make herself understood, and she called in Rupert, who had +studied it thoroughly, to assist her. Her great desire was to impart a +knowledge of Christian truth to them, of which they were at present +utterly ignorant. Kalinda's countenance brightened as she first heard +the story of redeeming love, and she begged Mrs Broderick to tell her +more and more of it. + +Mangaleesu listened attentively to all that was said. Though Kalinda +appeared inclined to accept the truth, yet when he was asked what he +thought, he only shook his head, saying, "It may be so; but if I become +the sort of Christian you wish me, I shall no longer be able to revenge +myself on my enemies." + +"Most certainly not!" answered Mrs Broderick. "God has said, +`Vengeance is mine, I will repay.' You must leave all in His hands. It +would be your duty to forgive your enemies. If He thinks fit to punish +them, He will do so." + +"But you English punish evil-doers, don't you?" asked Mangaleesu. + +"Certainly, the government do; but that is to prevent others committing +the same acts, and to teach by the most forcible means possible that +those acts are wrong." + +"I will consider the matter," answered Mangaleesu, and for a long time +afterwards he scarcely spoke to any one, and appeared to be in a very +thoughtful mood. + +Affairs at the farm went on in their usual way. The cattle could no +longer be kept in the kraal, and had to be driven out to their pastures, +under charge of the Kaffir herdsmen who tended them, with arms in their +hands, and who were ordered to keep a watchful eye on every side to +prevent being surprised. They had the advantage of the river on one +side and the mountains on the other, so that the enemy could not come +upon them without making a wide circuit. In consequence of the absence +of the captain and two of the best men, while two others were engaged in +scouting, the labour of the rest was much increased. Crawford and Percy +did their best to supply the deficiency, but they were, of course, as +yet unaccustomed to the various duties required of them. The ladies +took upon themselves the care of the dairy, which was far more +successful than is generally the case in Natal, where the farmers have +mostly to depend upon their Kaffir servants, by whom the animals are +treated very roughly, and consequently are excessively wild. Under the +instruction of Biddy, the three young ladies had learned to milk the +cows, and very successfully they performed this operation, seldom or +never allowing a pail to be upset, or losing a drop of the milk. They +had some pet animals which they had taught to feed out of their hands, +and which were consequently as tame and gentle with them as could be +desired, although they would allow no one else, with the exception of +Biddy, to approach them. They would come at their call, and allow +themselves to be milked with perfect docility. The contrast between +their cows and those tended by the Kaffirs was very great. The Kaffir +process of milking was barbarous in the extreme. The animal to be +operated on, being driven into the kraal, was made fast by the horns to +one of the posts. Her hind legs were then tied together, and the calf +was permitted to take a draught, when a Kaffir stood ready to haul him +aside, and the rest of the milk was yielded into the pail. + +Biddy acted not only as cook for the family, but also for all the men on +the farm, who assembled in a hut close to the house, with a long table +in the centre, at which they sat in primitive fashion, the master taking +the head. The fare generally consisted of beef, game, meal cakes, +capital bread, pumpkins and other vegetables, and a variety of fruits; +among others, when they were in season, there were figs and +pomegranates, which grew in the greatest profusion on the farm. The +family generally retired at an early hour, and rose at dawn, when they +went about their respective avocations for a couple of hours before +breakfast. As soon as the cows were milked, they and the heifers and +calves were driven off to the pastures, while the ploughman yoked a span +of ten oxen to the plough, and set out to break up some new land, and +very hard work it was. Although the soil was tolerably rich, it was +baked by the sun, and as hard as a rock, and in some places the whole +strength of the oxen was required to draw the share through it. Two of +the labourers were employed in hoeing the young mealies, and, strange as +it may seem, others at the same time were engaged in picking off the +ripe cobs, stripping back their leafy covering, and hanging them in +pairs across rails, where they could further dry, until they were +carried to the granary. In the mealy fields, indeed, can be seen the +corn in all stages, some just rising above the ground, and the +full-grown stalks of others bending with the weight of their yellow +heads. + +Crawford undertook all carpentry business, having, as he said, practised +the art when he made up his mind to become a settler. He had also +learned to mow, and he and Rupert spent some hours, scythe in hand, +cutting down the tall grass for the purpose of securing fodder for the +horses through the winter months, as also to prevent the necessity of +burning close round the homestead, as it is necessary to do, in case one +of the fires, which are constantly occurring, should spread in that +direction. Should this precaution not be taken, the crops to a +certainty would be destroyed, and the buildings themselves be in great +danger. Captain Broderick had surrounded his cultivated fields with +hedges, either of the prickly cactus or the mimosa, whose hooked thorns +were well calculated to prevent any animals from breaking through. + +Crawford was much amused on seeing one of the Kaffirs dig. Instead of +using the spade in the English fashion, he grasped the handle with both +hands, holding it at arm's length, with the face turned towards him, and +then stuck it into the ground with a swing of his arms, never pressing +it with his foot. He used the handle as a lever to shovel out the loose +earth, all being done with a jerk, and yet he managed to dig into the +hard ground with extraordinary rapidity. When Crawford, taking a spade, +wished to show him his mode of digging, the Kaffir shook his head, +saying, "No good," and went on in his own way. + +To Percy, who was not fit for hard work, was allotted the duty of +picking the ripe cobs in the mealies, as has been described, but he +begged his brother to find him some more interesting employment. + +"All in good time," answered Rupert, "you will learn to plough and mow, +put up a fence, and drive the waggon." + +"I can do that already," answered Percy; "I learned that from old Dos on +the journey, and I flatter myself I could manage a span of twelve oxen +with perhaps a little assistance." + +There were so many duties to be performed on the farm, that there was no +time for hunting, which Crawford and Percy had looked forward to as one +of their most interesting employments. Rupert promised, however, as +soon as Captain Broderick returned, to give them a day's sport. + +"You have not seen our preserve yet. We may have time, before dark, to +take a gallop down to it," said Rupert. + +"Is it a deer park or a pheasant preserve?" asked Crawford. + +"Far larger game than even the largest deer," was the reply. + +"What do you mean to say you keep, tame elephants?" inquired Crawford. + +"No, our game is somewhat smaller than the usual run of elephants; but +come along." + +They had been taking a circuit of the farm on horseback. They now +turned down along the bank of the river. After going a couple of miles, +they reached a small lake, filled by the overflowing of the stream. It +was mostly surrounded by a thick border of reeds, but there was one spot +which enabled them to approach close to the water. Presently a huge +head rose above the surface, then another appeared. + +"Why those are hippopotami!" exclaimed Crawford. + +"Yes, they are the game I spoke of," said Rupert. "They have been born +since we came here, and have been so accustomed to us from their +infancy, that they are now as tame as cows, and never think of attacking +us, although I do not know what they would do to a stranger. Many will +come when we call them, as they have been used to be fed by us, though +when provisions have occasionally been scarce we have been compelled to +kill a few of them. The rest, however, do not resent the death of their +relatives; indeed, they benefit by it; for were they to increase much +above their present number, they would not find sufficient food, and +would be obliged to migrate, with the risk of being trapped." + +"Do you mean to say that the flesh of those huge beasts is fit for +food?" asked Crawford. + +"Most certainly; it is equal to the best beef, or rather veal, which it +more nearly resembles." + +As they were leaving the neighbourhood of the pool, Crawford exclaimed, +"Did you see any one stealing behind those bushes out there? I am +nearly certain I did." + +"Yes, I caught a glimpse, not only of one black fellow, but of two, and +there may be more," said Rupert. + +"Let us rout out the rascals," cried Crawford; and on the impulse of the +moment he was about to stick spurs into the flanks of his horse, and to +dash on towards the bush, behind which the natives had concealed +themselves. + +"Stay, it would be better to ride forward as if we had not noticed +them," answered Rupert. + +"But ought we not to watch them, and insist on their telling us why they +are skulking in this place?" asked Crawford. + +"The attempt would be dangerous in the extreme, for they are probably +ready to hurl their assegais at us, should we approach them near +enough," answered Rupert. "Our only prudent course will be to get away +from them, and to keep a look-out lest they should steal on, concealed +by the underwood, and manage to get ahead, when they may salute us with +a shower of assegais before we can get a glimpse of them. My father, +who knows all their tricks, has enjoined me never to trust them, and +considers that though they are savages they are much cleverer than we +are when fighting in their own country." + +Crawford, somewhat reluctantly, agreed to follow Rupert's wise advice, +though he did not like the idea of running away from a foe for whom he +felt the utmost contempt. + +While they were speaking, a loud clap of thunder burst on their ears, +and looking back they observed a dark bank of clouds rising from behind +the trees, which had hitherto concealed it from sight. + +"We have ample reason for galloping on, even though there were no Zulus +in the neighbourhood," exclaimed Rupert. "We shall ere long have a +storm burst upon us, which it will be no joke to be caught in. We may, +however, manage to distance it, as well as the Zulus." + +A second peal, louder than the first, made the horses start, and away +they galloped at full speed. As they went on, the raindrops could be +heard pattering on the ground behind them, but by urging on the horses +they managed to keep ahead of the deluge. + +As the gloom of evening drew on, the lightning grew more and more vivid, +and the thunder rattled louder and louder. + +"It is fortunate that we caught sight of those fellows; for they are +very likely, while the herdsmen are keeping under shelter from the +storm, to try and carry off some of the cattle," said Rupert. "I'll +ride round and put the men on their guard; but as there is no necessity +for you to get a wet jacket, you had better go on direct to the farm." + +"No, no," answered Crawford; "I'll accompany you; I don't mind a +wetting; and though the Zulus we saw cannot yet have got as far as this, +even should they have pursued us, there may be others concealed near at +hand, who, if they find you alone, might venture to attack you." + +They accordingly turned their horses' heads as Rupert proposed. The +cattle had only just reached the kraal, and the herdsmen were closing +the gates. Rupert told them of the strange Zulus he had seen, and +warned them to be on the alert. They scorned the idea, however, that a +few Zulus would venture to attempt stealing any of the captain's cattle, +but they promised, notwithstanding the approaching storm, to be on the +watch, and to punish the marauders, should they appear. + +"Good-night, my friends!" said Rupert; "and now, Crawford, we must ride +for it." + +The rain, at length overtaking them, seemed to come down in a perfect +sheet of water, and in a few seconds they were wet to the skin. + +They quickly, however, reached the farm, and unsaddling turned their +horses into the kraal, where a shed afforded the animals some protection +from the pitiless shower, while they themselves hurried into the house +for shelter. The gate was regularly closed at night, so that neither +Zulus nor wild beasts could steal in. Falls Farm had in this respect an +immense advantage over nearly all others in the colony, which were +perfectly unfortified, and open to the depredations of all descriptions +of animals. Had Captain Broderick expended the same amount of labour on +a farm near town, as he had bestowed on his present property, he would +ere this have become a rich man. It was the instinct of an old soldier +which had induced him to fortify it, although his great object was to +live at peace with his neighbours. + +By the time the supper Rupert and Crawford found prepared for them was +over, the rain had ceased, and they went out as usual to make the round +of the walls. + +Nothing could be seen moving outside, but the hideous howls and cries of +the jackals and hyenas came down from a distance on the night air. + +"Those brutes are enticed into the neighbourhood by the scent of our +cattle, and they howl with disappointment at not being able to get at +them," observed Rupert to his companion. "We cannot drive them away, +and the hyenas especially are such cunning rogues, that it is a hard +matter to get a shot at them. We find that the only successful plan is +to form traps, in which, with all their cunning, they frequently lose +their lives." + +Rupert and Crawford having seen that the men on the ramparts were +keeping a vigilant watch, returned to the house. + +The night passed away without interruption. When daylight returned, and +the sun shed a bright light over the landscape, Crawford expressed his +belief that no treacherous enemy could be lurking in the neighbourhood. +It seemed probable that he was right, for when two of the Kaffir +servants, who had been out as scouts returned, they reported that they +had seen no one, nor had they discovered the traces of any strangers in +the neighbourhood. + +"The chances are, the men we saw were merely passers-by, who were +seeking shelter from the storm under a bush, and had we ridden up to +them we should probably have found them to be very harmless characters," +observed Crawford. + +"I am not fully persuaded of that," answered Rupert. "They probably, +finding that they were discovered, thought it prudent, if they had any +sinister design, to beat a retreat for the present." + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +THE MASTER ABSENT. + +Four days had passed since Captain Broderick had started on his +expedition. His family were now hoping every hour to see him return. +It was difficult, however, to calculate how far Hendricks might have got +before he was overtaken, and what delays might have occurred. Perhaps +he might be unwilling to give up Lionel, and would not be satisfied that +he was Captain Broderick's son. He was deeply attached to the boy, and +looked forward to having him as his companion during his travels, and +making him his successor in his arduous, though interesting and +lucrative, calling. Captain Broderick was only slightly acquainted with +Hendricks, and had from the first been doubtful how he might be +received. He had therefore resolved to go himself, instead of sending +any one else, to bring his supposed son to the farm. It is more easy to +imagine than describe Mrs Broderick's state of anxiety. Was her +long-lost boy to be restored to her? or were the anticipations she had +formed to be fallacious? Her daughters shared her feelings, but they +were so much occupied from morning till night in their various duties, +that their minds consequently dwelt less on the subject than did hers. +Rupert had satisfied himself that there was no doubt about the matter, +and that Hendricks would immediately give up his young brother, as he +called him, to his father. + +The evening of the fourth day was coming to a close, when a Kaffir was +seen on the opposite side of the river, making signals. Rupert and +Percy, who were together, instantly hurried down to the boat to +ascertain what he wanted. + +"I wonder whether he brings a message from our father," said Percy; "if +so, I am afraid he has been delayed." + +"Yes, I am sure he does," answered Rupert. "See, he carries a stick, +with a letter stuck in a cleft in the end. That's the way the Kaffirs +always carry written messages. We shall soon know its contents." + +They were quickly across, and the Kaffir, stepping into the boat, +presented the letter at the end of the stick to Rupert. It was +addressed, however, to Mrs Broderick, in his father's handwriting, so +that he could not open it, and he and Percy had to repress their +curiosity until its contents could be communicated by their mother. +They eagerly questioned the Kaffir messenger as they pulled across. He, +however, could give them but little information beyond the fact that the +white chief had overtaken the hunter and his waggon about five days' +journey from the border of Zululand; that two horses had been lost, and +that one of the party had been severely injured or killed; and as they +could obtain no animals to supply the places of those they had lost, +they were likely to be detained some time. He was, he said, the only +inhabitant of his native village who knew the country in that direction, +and he had therefore been selected to bring the message, but he had had +no other communication with the camp, and was unable to give more +particulars. + +As soon as they landed, they hurried up, accompanied by the messenger, +to the farm. They found Mrs Broderick in the sitting-room. She +eagerly opened the letter, while they anxiously watched her countenance. + +"Is our father well?" inquired Helen. + +"What does he say about Lionel?" asked Percy. + +"I hope no one has come to grief," exclaimed Rupert. + +Mrs Broderick did not reply until she had read through the letter, and +then, holding it in her hands, and still glancing at its contents, she +said-- + +"Your father is well, though his journey was a dangerous one. Hendricks +seemed much surprised, but received him in a friendly way, until he +explained the object of his visit, when the hunter appeared very +unwilling to believe that Lionel is the child we lost. He is evidently +deeply attached to the boy, and does not wish to part with him. He +said, however, that he should be satisfied if Mangaleesu could produce +any one of the tribe who was present at the attack on our party, when +the nurse was murdered and the child carried off. This, from +Mangaleesu's account, seems impossible, as he declares that the whole of +the tribe had joined him, and that every person in the kraal was put to +death, with the exception of himself, his wife, and the child. Your +father writes, `I cannot come away without the boy; for the more I look +at him, the more convinced I am that he is our son. A certain +expression in the countenance, which all our children possess, is there, +though it is difficult to make Hendricks understand this. Still, as he +is an honourable and right-minded man, I am convinced that he only +requires to be persuaded I have a just claim on the boy, to give him up. +He assures me--and I believe him when he says that he loves the boy as +if he were his own child--that he has made him his heir, and that he +will, he hopes, inherit a fair estate and a good sum at the bank. Of +course I am unwilling to deprive the boy of these advantages, which are +superior to any I can hope to give him. At the same time, if he +accompanies Hendricks, he will be exposed to many dangers, and might not +live to enjoy them. I hope, however, that Hendricks will allow me to +bring the boy away, when I promise to restore him should he not prove to +be our son, or should he desire to return; and I trust he will not under +any circumstances alter his intentions towards him. The boy, as it is, +has no real claim upon the hunter, who might at any time change his +mind, and leave him destitute, though I do not, judging from his +character, see any likelihood of his doing that. I however must, at all +events, remain here some days, for I have lost two horses on the +journey, and my faithful follower, Vermack, has been so severely injured +by a lion, narrowly escaping with his life, that he is at present +utterly unable to travel, though he declares he shall be as soon as I am +prepared to start. He received the injury from which he is suffering on +the morning of the day we reached this place. He had got off to tighten +the girths of his saddle, but had again mounted, and was following some +way behind, when a monstrous animal rushed out from behind a thicket, +and sprang on his horse. His side and leg were much lacerated as he +threw himself from his saddle, and before he could get on his feet and +unsling his rifle, the lion had killed his horse, and was about to leap +on him, but the brave old Dutchman was up to the emergency. The sound +of his shot, as he fired at the brute's head, was the first indication +we had of his danger. + +"`Galloping back, we saw him on the ground, while the lion lay dead on +the top of the horse, close to him. Fortunately, Hendricks had +outspanned at no great distance off, and had sent out some hunters, who, +coming up directly afterwards, assisted us in carrying the wounded man +to the camp. That very night the horses which Denis Maloney and the +Kaffir had ridden were attacked by a troop of hyenas, and one was so +severely injured that we were obliged to put him out of his misery. +Hendricks cannot spare us any of his horses, and it may be some days +before I can obtain any fresh ones, though I have sent in all +directions. Let me know by bearer of this--Omkomo--who will be ready to +set off after a few hours' rest, how you are all getting on. Bid Rupert +not to relax his vigilance, although, from information I picked up on +the road, I trust that the Zulus who are in search of Mangaleesu have +given up the pursuit, and have returned to their own district. This +necessitates a long delay, for which I had not reckoned when I left the +farm.'" + +Though deeply thankful to hear of her husband's safety, Mrs Broderick +was left in the same state as before regarding Lionel. Her mother's +heart, and the account Percy had given her, convinced her that he was +her son. + +"I knew my father would see the likeness as soon as he set eyes on him!" +exclaimed Percy. "Didn't you, Crawford? Wouldn't you be ready to swear +that he was our brother?" + +Crawford could scarcely help smiling. He thought Lionel something like +Rupert and Maud, but he did not consider him to resemble either Helen or +Rose. + +Mrs Broderick at once wrote an answer to her husband's letter, which +was delivered to Omkomo. After a hearty meal he went to sleep. Rising +when it was nearly daylight, he took some more food, and declared that +he was ready to set out. Rupert and Crawford ferried him across the +river. + +"In case the white chief should not be ready to begin his journey when +you arrive at the hunter's camp, will you promise to return with any +message he may have to send?" asked Rupert as he put the Kaffir on +shore. + +"Yes, for the same reward I will come," was the answer. + +Farewells were exchanged, and the messenger quickly disappeared in the +gloom. + +The day passed by, the inmates of the farm being engaged in their usual +occupation. Rupert obeyed his father's injunctions, and had a strict +look-out kept, that he might obtain early notice of the approach of +strangers. An active scout was also employed in scouring the country +round on the east side of the river, keeping himself concealed while he +made his way to spots from whence he could take a wide survey, and +ascertain if any persons were moving about. The country on that side +was entirely depopulated; Panda, as has before been said, not allowing +any of his subjects to live near the borders. So far the farm was +favourably situated, for there were thus no natives likely to prove +hostile in its immediate neighbourhood, as there were no flocks, or +herds, or game to tempt them, and savage wild beasts were comparatively +rare. + +Some days had passed since Rupert and Crawford caught sight of the +strange natives, on their visit to the hippopotamus pond, and they had +ceased to think about the subject. They were indeed fully convinced +that none of the party of Zulus who had threatened to attack them +remained. + +Mangaleesu, they considered, might without risk take his departure; but +he expressed no wish to go, and Mrs Broderick was anxious to keep him, +that he might give such particulars as he possessed with regard to +Lionel. It has been said that the inhabitants of the farm depended +greatly on the chase for their supply of meat, and as no hunters had +gone out for several days, their stock had run short. + +Rupert was always ready for a hunting expedition, and Crawford, who had +come out to Africa under the belief that the chase would form one of his +chief occupations, was eager to engage in the sport. + +"I don't think there can be any objection to our going away for a few +hours," said Rupert. "I can leave Percy in charge during our absence, +as he will have nothing to do except to see that the men keep at their +work. You and I, with our two Kaffir guides, will start to-morrow +morning, and I hope that we shall bring back meat enough to supply us +until my father returns." + +Crawford eagerly agreed to the proposal, and Percy was pleased at the +thought of being left in sole charge, although it was to be but a few +hours. + +"Try and not be absent longer than you can help," said Mrs Broderick, +as she wished her son good-night--for the party were to start the next +morning. "Although I apprehend no danger, we cannot tell what may +occur." + +"There is nothing to fear," answered Rupert, "and meat we must have, +that's very certain. My father would not object to my going under the +circumstances; for if I sent the Kaffirs alone, they are such bad shots +that they may bring back nothing, though they are very useful in finding +the game and helping me to kill it." + +Before daybreak Rupert and Crawford were in their saddles, and Percy was +up to see them off, as were his sisters, who had insisted on rising to +give them breakfast before starting, a delicate attention which Crawford +duly appreciated. + +Followed by two Zulus, also well mounted, they directed their course to +the lower ground in the south-west, where game most abounded. The air +was pure and fresh when they started, coming from the hills, and both +young men felt in the highest possible spirits, and ready for the sport. +As the sun rose, however, and they got on the lower ground, the heat +increased, and they appeared to have passed into a different region. +Occasionally from the woods came the cheerful chirp of the feathered +tribe, but otherwise, all around was hot, silent, and lonely. + +"We shall be in sight of some game soon, or I am much mistaken," +observed Rupert. "I'll send the Kaffirs out on either side to turn them +towards us, and it will be hard if we don't manage to knock over some +before long. I ordered the two Hottentot boys to bring on the light +waggon to take home the game, for we can carry back but a small portion +on our horses." + +Just as he spoke, a troop of graceful pallahs appeared bounding along in +the distance. They stopped gazing in wonder and terror at the +strangers, while the two Kaffirs, making a wide circuit, galloped on in +the hope of cutting them off. Still the animals stood gazing until +Rupert and Crawford got considerably nearer, when two or three of them +were seen to change their places; then suddenly the whole herd, each +leaping high in the air, started off as fast as they could go, +apparently endeavouring to avoid one of the Zulus who was coming up. +The effect was singularly pretty, as they made bound after bound, the +red on their backs and sides, and the white on the under parts of their +bodies, alternately appearing and disappearing. In vain the hunters +rode after them. + +"We may have some of those fellows yet, though," observed Rupert; "but +we must be more careful how we approach them." + +Almost immediately afterwards some loud sneezes were heard, and looking +to the right they caught sight of a troop of mingled gnus and quaggas, +passing and repassing without a pause. Every now and then a gnu would +rush out from among the crowd, whisk his tail, give a sneeze, and then +rush back again amongst his comrades. Now and then a young gnu was seen +to fall behind with its mother, or the bull would drop out of the ranks, +and switching it severely with its long tail, compel it to keep up. The +older quaggas also seemed to keep their youngsters in excellent order. + +Frequently, for some misdemeanour, one of the elder animals, with its +ears back, would make a rush at one of the smaller ones, and give it a +severe bite as a hint to it to keep in its place. As the hunters got +near the herd, the animals, turning their heads towards them for an +instant, suddenly whisked round, giving a glance back as they did so, +with a cunning expression, as much as to say, "You'll not catch me this +time," and off they set. + +The quaggas and gnus, however, soon after separated, going off in +different directions. As the ground appeared more favourable in the +direction the quaggas had taken, Rupert proposed that they should give +chase to them. + +The two Kaffirs dashed over all impediments for the sake of turning the +herd and giving the gentlemen an opportunity of shooting some of them. +A cloud of dust marked their course. On the animals dashed at a +slashing pace, but very soon relaxed their efforts, as they are no match +for a horse. The two Kaffirs now appeared ahead of them, and shouting +and shrieking, drove them back towards Rupert and Crawford, who had +drawn up out of sight behind a clump of bushes. Both firing at the same +time, each brought down a quagga, and before the herd had recovered +sufficiently to go off in another direction, they had reloaded, and two +more lay struggling on the ground. Just then Crawford saw a young filly +which had missed its mother and got separated from the herd. + +"I heard your sister Helen say she should so much like to have a young +quagga to try and tame it," exclaimed Crawford, riding up to the little +animal, which seemed in no way alarmed at the appearance of the horse, +but apparently mistaking it for its parent, trotted alongside. + +"If you like, we'll endeavour to keep it between us till we can give it +in charge of one of the Kaffirs," said Rupert, coming up. + +The little animal at first appeared perfectly contented with its new +companions, and galloped between them. Suddenly, however, finding that +it had made a mistake, it attempted to bolt; but Rupert, expecting this, +had prepared a noose at the end of his halter. Finding itself caught, +the filly made a most determined resistance, kicking, snapping its jaws, +in which not a tooth was to be seen, dashing round and round, and +hanging back with its whole weight, altogether exhibiting its ferocious +nature. + +Fortunately the Kaffir soon came up, and applying his water bottle to +its lips, quickly brought it to a more amiable state of mind. Crawford +now stroked its back and spoke gently to it, till the little creature +appeared perfectly at its ease. + +"I should so much like to keep the small animal alive, for I am sure it +would please your sister to have it, and I am afraid that the Kaffir +might not treat it properly," he observed to Rupert. "If you don't +object, I'll lead it back to the farm, while you and your men continue +the chase." + +"With all my heart," answered Rupert, who guessed that Crawford, as yet +inexperienced in hunting, would not be of much use. + +Crawford, therefore, leading his horse with one hand and the animal by +the other, set off for the farm, while Rupert and his men, having +covered up the dead quaggas with bushes, to guard them from the vultures +and jackals until the arrival of the waggon, continued on in pursuit of +further game. + +Rupert was fully as successful as he expected; a couple of pallahs, +three springbocs, and a buffalo being the result of the expedition, in +addition to the quaggas, and all within the radius of a couple of miles. +The waggon appeared in due time, and being loaded, he and his men set +off to escort it back to the farm. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +PREPARATIONS FOR THE DEFENCE. + +Mrs Broderick did not feel quite satisfied with herself at having +allowed Rupert and so many men to quit the farm. Percy noticed that she +was less at her ease than usual. She at length desired him to take a +look-out on the platform to ascertain if his brother and Crawford were +returning. + +"They are not likely to be back for some time," he answered, "so that I +am afraid I shall not be able to report their appearance in the +distance." + +"Then, my dear Percy, take a survey of the country round, especially on +the opposite side of the river. Perhaps the Zulus may be coming back; +and should they find out how few persons there are at the farm, they may +demand Mangaleesu, and threaten us with an attack should we refuse to +give him up." + +"Pray set your heart at rest on that point, mother," answered Percy. "I +will, as you desire it, take a look round, though I am pretty sure not +to see any one. Supposing the Zulus were to come, we would close the +gates and keep them out." + +"But when they see only you on the platform they would force it open," +said Mrs Broderick. + +"They would find that no easy matter, while I should be peppering them +from above," said Percy, laughing. "I will mount the two swivel guns on +the platform above the gate, and I will carry up all our spare rifles, +so that I can pop away briskly at the fellows if they approach with +hostile intent." + +"Were you to do that, you would expose yourself, and they would soon +find out that there was only one person defending the walls," said Mrs +Broderick. + +"I have a bright idea," exclaimed Percy. "What do you say to letting +the girls dress up in Rupert's and my clothes? Perhaps we shall also +find some among my father's and Crawford's which would suit them. They +might show themselves while the enemy appeared at a distance, and then +get out of harm's way." + +Mrs Broderick could not help smiling, notwithstanding her anxiety at +Percy's proposal. + +"The girls will be ready to do anything that is necessary, but I trust +that after all no enemies will come near us, and I only wish you, as a +precautionary measure, to convince yourself that none are in the +neighbourhood," she said. + +"Very well, mother, I will go, and shout out loud enough for you all to +hear, if I see any one," answered Percy. "Then let the girls put on +their male attire and hurry up, with muskets in their hands, to the +ramparts. They need not put on any lower garments, as the Zulus would +only see their heads and shoulders. By the bye, if they were to rig up +a few dummies, it might assist to deceive the enemy, and they might be +left to be shot at in case they should have firearms among them." + +On leaving his mother, Percy shouted to his sisters to come and hear the +proposal he had to make. + +The young ladies, who had been employed in various ways at the back of +the premises, hearing his voice, hurried round to ascertain what he +wanted. He had by this time reached the platform. + +"I was telling mother that, should any enemy appear, I would advise you +all to rig up in our clothes. I forgot Biddy; she would be a host in +herself, if she will rout out father's old uniform coat and his cocked +hat and sword. If she flourishes the blade in the rays of the sun, and +rushes about here and there, she'll make the enemy believe that we have +a large garrison, and they will hesitate to approach us. Tell +Mangaleesu that he must disguise himself, and that he will not be +recognised in a round hat and big necktie; and his wife too, she will +prove useful. `We shall do finely,' as Denis would say, and now I'll +just look out and see if any enemy is at hand. In all probability the +Zulus have given up their search for Mangaleesu as hopeless, supposing +him by this time to be miles away from the frontier, so you need not +begin your preparations just yet, though I should like to see Biddy +dressed up in our father's cocked hat and uniform coat, with a sword by +her side. She'd make a fine picture of an Amazon." + +Having thus delivered himself, Percy placed his telescope at his eye, +and slowly sweeping it round, took in every spot between the farm and +the most distant part of the landscape. + +"Do you see any one?" asked Maud, who had climbed up and stood by his +side. + +"Nothing moving that I can make out," he answered; "but that, of course, +does not prove that no one is coming. Perhaps a whole army of Zulus may +be advancing behind the trees, and it will be only by a lucky chance +that my glass is pointed at them at the moment they are crossing some +open space." + +"You don't really think they are coming, do you?" asked Maud, in a +somewhat anxious tone. + +"Of course not; but I almost wish they would, that we might have an +opportunity of putting my admirable plan of defence into execution. I'd +give anything to see Biddy hurling defiance at the savages from the +ramparts. I'm confident that we should make an heroic defence, and +immortalise our names." + +"I wish you would not joke about so serious a matter," exclaimed Maud. +"What would be the use of immortalising our names if we were all to be +killed?" + +"I don't mean that we should be killed," said Percy. "My idea is that +we should drive them back defeated and discomfited. I confess that I +should like to have old Vermack and a few of our other men to follow up +the enemy. Depend upon it, they would give a good account of all they +caught sight of. The Dutchman, who hates the Zulus with all his heart, +would knock them over like ninepins." + +"Oh, don't speak in that way!" said Maud. "But are you sure that you do +not see any one coming? Pray do take another look round with your +glass. I daresay you are right. But mother is unusually anxious, and I +don't think she would be so unless there was a strong impression on her +mind that danger is at hand." + +"Well, I'll make another examination of the surrounding world," said +Percy; and he again took up the glass, and resting it on the top of the +wall, swept the country. "Don't start back with terror if I say that I +see a regiment of Zulus in the distance. They may not be intending to +come here. Perhaps Cetchwayo is at their head, and he may merely be +making a visit of inspection round his father's territories." + +"But do you really mean to say that you see a regiment crossing the +river?" asked Maud, in a somewhat alarmed tone. + +"No; I was only supposing the matter," said Percy, laughing. "In case +any may have crossed over, and be creeping up on our side, I'll now turn +my glass in that direction." + +He was for some time silent, while Maud watched his countenance. +Suddenly he exclaimed-- + +"Yes, I do see something moving. Now don't tumble down off the +platform, Maud; for whether they are men or beasts I cannot yet clearly +make out. Yes, I see now; there is a man leading a horse with one hand +and a small animal with the other. I do believe it is Crawford. The +animal is a quagga. Every now and then the creature begins to frisk +about and pull away from him. He has a hard matter to get it along, +that is very evident. Now he stops and is patting the creature, now +they are coming on again. Now the little brute is kicking and plunging, +trying to bite him; but he holds on manfully. I wish that I could go +and help him; but I must not desert my post. I guess how it is; he has +managed to catch the quagga, and is bringing it in to try and tame it, +very likely to present to one of you girls." + +"Not for me or Rose. If it's for one of us, it's for Helen," exclaimed +Maud. "He evidently admires her, though she is too busy to admire him +in return. At all events, we shall have him as an addition to the +garrison, should the Zulus come before Rupert and the men with him +return." + +"I have been looking out for them, but I don't see them. Crawford, +however, will be here presently, and tell us what they are about, so +that we may know when to expect them." + +Percy had taken two or three turns on the platform, when he suddenly +exclaimed, "I do believe there are some people coming down the mountain, +but who they are I cannot make out, though there appear to be a good +many of them. Maud, do you go down and tell Helen and Rose and Biddy to +get ready. I'll fire the signals to let the men know they are to drive +in the cattle. Crawford will be here long before the Zulus can cross +the river, even if he doesn't mount his horse and let the young quagga +go. Don't alarm our mother, that's all. I say, Maud," he added, as his +sister was hastening away, "before you do anything else, send Biddy here +with the swivel guns. One at a time is as much as she can carry, and I +have got a rope to hoist them up. There are places already fitted to +fix them in; and then tell her to bring along the muskets and a good +store of ammunition. Let Mangaleesu know what is wanted, and he'll help +her, and his wife too. As long as they do not show themselves, there is +no reason why they should not come out of their retreat." + +Maud hastened away to obey these directions, and Percy resumed his +look-out through the telescope. He was more than ever sure that a +considerable force was coming over the hill,--a force, too, which took +no pains to conceal itself. This might prove that they came with no +hostile intentions, or it might be that, confident in their own +strength, they were indifferent to being discovered. + +"I wish that Rupert and the hunters were not away," said Percy to +himself. "This may be no joking matter; at the same time we must put on +a bold face, and not allow the savages to suppose that we are daunted by +their numbers. I only hope that Rupert will be back before they cross +the river, for it would be serious were he to be caught by them; and +then perhaps my father and Lionel will be coming, and they may be +surprised by the cunning rascals." + +Again and again Percy turned his glass to the eastward. + +"Hurrah! that's one good thing; the fellows have halted just about the +spot where they were before encamped." + +His remarks to himself were interrupted by Biddy's voice. + +"Sure, we've been after bringing yer one of thim big pop guns, Masther +Percy; but how will ye git it up there?" + +And, looking down, he saw her and Mangaleesu carrying a swivel gun +between them. The Zulu showed himself to be more of an adept in +securing a rope than was Biddy, who at once climbed up to the platform. +The swivel was soon hoisted up, and mounted in the place intended for +it. Mangaleesu in the meantime had brought out the other, which in like +manner was quickly got into position. + +"Now for the muskets, Biddy," cried Percy, who felt himself of no slight +importance at being actually in command of the fort; his spirits rose +accordingly. + +Biddy, Mangaleesu, and Kalinda quickly returned with muskets and +ammunition. + +"Now go and rig yourselves out in the fashion I told Maud that you must +all do; and be ready to come up here as soon as the Zulus reach the bank +of the river, from which they can see us clearly." + +Percy had at first made the proposal half in fun, but his sisters and +Biddy took it in right down earnest, although he scarcely supposed that +they would really do as he proposed. He had made Mangaleesu understand +that he must be ready to assist in hoisting up the drawbridge, as it +would require the strength of the whole party to perform the operation. +He did not, however, intend to hoist it up until the Zulus approached +nearer, as he hoped before that time that not only Crawford would have +arrived, but that his brother and the men would have reached the farm. +As far as he could judge, when looking through the telescope, the Zulus +were preparing to encamp, although they might have had some other reason +for halting. + +He had kept his glass continually fixed on them to watch their +movements; it now occurred to him to turn it in the opposite direction, +when to his satisfaction he saw that Crawford had almost got up to the +farm. He waved to him to come, and then made signs to Mangaleesu, who +was waiting below, to open the gate. + +Just as Crawford, leading his horse and the quagga filly--as tame as a +dog--crossed the drawbridge, Biddy and the three young ladies came out +of the house, dressed exactly as Percy had suggested, with hats and +coats, sashes round their waists, and rifles in their hands. He started +with astonishment, unable to comprehend the cause of their strange +masquerading. + +"I beg your pardon, young ladies," he said, "but I did not at first know +you in your disguise. Did you take me for an enemy?" + +"We should not have let you in so easily," answered Helen. "Percy has +seen the Zulus approaching, and being afraid that they would attack the +fort before you and Rupert had returned, we have got ready to defend it +to the best of our power." + +"I consider that Percy is mistaken, although I have no doubt that you +have made the best preparations for defence," said Crawford, inclined to +treat the whole affair as a joke. + +"Sure, if the inemy do show themselves near this, we will put them to +the right about," cried Biddy, flourishing the captain's sword. + +"Let me secure my horse and this little zebra filly which I have brought +for you, Miss Helen; I will then join Percy, and ascertain what is +likely to happen," said Crawford. + +Helen duly thanked the young Englishman for his intended gift, but as +the little animal at that moment took it into its head to grow restive, +and kick, scream, and prance about, she did not show any inclination to +approach it. + +Crawford having taken his horse and little captive round to the yard, +hurried up to the platform, where Percy was standing. Looking through +the telescope, he was satisfied Percy was right in supposing that the +people he saw below the hill were Zulus. They were probably not aware +that they could be distinguished at so great a distance. He then turned +his glass in the direction he hoped Rupert and his men would be coming. + +"I see their waggon," he exclaimed, "although they appear to me to be +moving very slowly. I tell you what, Percy, the best thing I can do is +to set off and hasten Rupert and his men. It will be better to lose the +waggon than to have them cut off. Depend upon it, I'll not spare whip +or spur." + +"Thank you, Mr Crawford; pray go by all means," said Mrs Broderick, +who had just then come out of the house. "I was wrong in letting Rupert +start, but I pray that he may be back before the Zulus reach the river." + +"No fear of that, mother, as Crawford is going for him," said Percy. +"We'll get in the waggon too, with its load of meat, which will better +enable us to stand a siege." + +Crawford, without further delay, threw himself on his horse, while Percy +returned to the platform to watch what the Zulus were about. + +"They are still halting," he shouted out, "though I suspect they will +send forward scouts to reconnoitre our fortifications. Come up, girls; +come up, Biddy, and show yourselves on the ramparts. I am half inclined +to fire off the guns, but it may be wiser not to let them know that we +are prepared for them until they come nearer, as they probably expect to +take us by surprise, and the disappointment will be the greater when +they see armed men on the walls." + +The young ladies and Biddy quickly climbed up, and Percy placed them at +intervals, with muskets on their shoulders, and told them to walk about +like sentinels. + +"Now, Biddy, flourish your sword, and make it flash in the sun. That +will do famously. They'll see it in the distance, and suppose that we +have a dozen men with bayonets, at least." + +The girls, forgetting any alarm they might at first have felt, laughed +heartily at Biddy's vehement gestures, as she carried out Percy's +directions to the full. Now she rushed to one end of the platform, now +to the other, giving vent to her feelings by various war shouts in her +native Celtic. + +"You, Helen, keep a look-out on Crawford, and tell me how he gets on," +said Percy, handing her the glass, having first taken a glance through +it himself. + +"Yes, I can see him clearly," said Helen. "He is galloping along at a +tremendous rate, and I fancy that I can make out Rupert and the waggon +in the distance." + +Helen, who had put down her musket, showed no inclination to take her +eye from the telescope. + +"Hurrah!" cried Percy, "here come the herdsmen with the cattle. I +thought they would not be long after they heard the signal. They will +help us to defend the walls. Perhaps Crawford will fall in with some +settlers, and we shall soon have a sufficient number of men to dispense +with your services, girls." + +"But we don't wish to have our services dispensed with," cried Rose. +"We want to make ourselves useful." + +"But I don't want you to get killed or wounded," said Percy. "Some of +the Zulus may have firearms, or they may venture near enough to hurl +their assegais. You will have done all that is necessary by showing +yourselves as at present in martial array, and I feel very sure that the +enemy, when they see you, will defer their attack until they come up +under cover of the darkness to try and take us by surprise." + +Percy allowed Helen to keep the glass while he was employed in loading +the swivels, and pointing them in the direction the Zulus would probably +attempt to approach the gate. She in the meantime was watching +Crawford's progress; though he and his horse looked no larger than an +ant crossing over a large field, she still kept her eye upon him until +she could report that he had joined Rupert. The latter was riding ahead +of the waggon till Crawford got up to him, when she saw both of them, +followed by the two Kaffir hunters, come galloping at headlong speed +towards the farm, while the waggon still kept moving on as before, +though at a faster rate. + +As soon as the cattle had been driven into the kraal, Percy supplied the +Hottentots with fresh ammunition, and posted them in different parts of +the walls, that they might make as great a show as possible, taking care +to keep his white warriors, as he called his three sisters and Biddy, in +the front. + +"Wouldn't Denis be in his element, if he were here!" he said to Maud, as +he passed her. "He would be flying about in all directions, and putting +spirit into every one. By the bye, I quite forgot the dummies. Do go +down to mother, and see if she cannot rig out half a dozen, and hand +them up as soon as they are ready. She might also make Mangaleesu +understand what we want, and he'll manufacture a whole army of Kaffir +warriors with assegais and shields. It would make the enemy suppose +that we had a strong force of natives inside, in addition to our own +men." + +Maud did not like leaving the platform until Percy assured her that he +was in earnest, and that such an array of dummies as he proposed would, +he was certain, have a good effect in preventing the Zulus from coming +close to the walls. + +"They are cunning fellows, and would soon detect the dummies, if they +were to remain stationary; but we will outwit them by moving them about +and putting them in different positions," he said to Helen. "I must, +however, take another look through the telescope. Here come Crawford +and Rupert, so that you don't want it any longer." + +The horsemen indeed could now be seen clearly by the naked eye, +galloping towards the fort. Percy turned his glass towards the party of +Zulus. + +"As far as I can make out they are considerably diminished in numbers, +and I suspect that some of them have been stealing along towards the +river, intending to cross lower down. If so, we must keep a watch upon +them. I can see the channel of the river over a considerable distance, +and they won't get over without being detected." Percy watched for some +time, and at length said, "I can see nothing on the surface of the +stream, not even a crocodile or hippopotamus. The Zulus, knowing that +they have a chance of meeting one of those creatures, won't venture to +cross unless in considerable numbers." + +"Here come Rupert and Mr Crawford!" cried Helen in a joyful tone. "We +shall be safe now, at all events." + +The horsemen soon rode in at the gate, which had not yet been closed. +Rupert was as much amused as Crawford had been at seeing his sisters in +their military attire. He fully approved of all Percy had done; and +when he heard of the proposed dummies, he thought the idea excellent. +While Crawford, who possessed a great deal of mechanical ingenuity, went +in to assist Mrs Broderick, he hurried to the back of the house, where +he found Mangaleesu and Kalinda employed in manufacturing Kaffir +warriors. They had collected a number of poles and sticks, and had +obtained from the storehouse a sufficient quantity of skins for dressing +up their figures. Kalinda had brought in from the garden about a dozen +pumpkins and melons. These served admirably for heads, while some other +skins, bent over oblong hoops, formed shields. Indeed, Mangaleesu had +already put together a sufficient supply of shields and bundles of +seeming assegais, to arm the whole of the dummies. They had not +forgotten to obtain some pigment, with which to darken the faces of +their figures. + +"Very good, indeed. The enemy will fully believe that these are real +Kaffirs," said Rupert. "Your idea of pumpkins for heads is capital. +I'll take some in for my mother; but we'll paint them white to suit the +dresses of the figures." + +"I suppose I must give up the command to you," said Percy to Rupert, +when the latter returned to the platform. + +"You have succeeded so well, that I should not think of superseding +you," answered his brother. "I'll obey your orders, although I will +exert my own wits, and consider what is best to be done." + +"The most important object that I can see at present is to prevent the +Zulus from capturing the waggon," said Percy. "If any of them go +towards it, we must make a dash out and drive them back. I'll go, if +you like, with Crawford and four men; six of us would keep a hundred at +bay." + +"No, if any one goes, I will," said Rupert. "You are in command +remember, and must not leave the fortress. I am not quite certain that +it would be prudent, but the two Hottentots with the waggon have their +arms, and as they will fight bravely enough from behind a waggon, we may +reckon that our force will consist of eight men. It will assist to +convince the enemy that we have a large garrison in the fort." + +As yet, however, no Zulus had appeared, and there seemed every +probability that the waggon would get in without being attacked. Though +Percy kept his glass turned generally towards the river, fully expecting +to catch sight of the Zulus passing across it, he occasionally directed +it towards their main body, which remained as before, stationary. He +had just pointed it in that direction, when he observed a movement among +the dark-skinned warriors. He saw several go to a height, and then set +off running at full speed towards the north. He pointed them out to +Rupert, who, as he looked through the telescope, exclaimed-- + +"What if they should be going to meet our father, who very likely may be +coming; or, if not, they may have caught sight of some messenger he has +sent. I trust that either one or the other may have seen them in time +and pushed on." + +"I feel sure you are right," said Percy. "We must not let our mother +know, however, it will agitate her too much. I am very glad you did not +set off to meet the waggon. I'll tell you what we ought to do. We must +pull across in the boat, and be ready to receive whoever is coming. It +will be some time before the Zulus can reach the river; and I would +suggest that you and Crawford, with four men, go down, and while you and +he take the boat across, the others with their muskets can cover your +passage, and keep the Zulus in check." + +"I agree with you that is the best thing to be done," said Rupert. +"You're a soldier, every inch of you." + +Percy was flattered at his brother's compliment, and his readiness to +follow his suggestions, without showing the slightest tinge of jealousy. + +"In the meantime," continued Rupert, "we had better get up the dummies, +and post them in the most conspicuous places, so as to make the greatest +show possible." + +"I advise that they be fixed a little way from the ramparts, so that we +can pass in front of them," said Percy. "Although they should be placed +where they can be seen by the enemy, it would be as well to conceal as +much of them as possible, or their real character may be detected." + +"Well, do you continue to keep a look-out," said Rupert; "and I will go +down and carry out our proposed plan." + +Rupert found Crawford and Mangaleesu on their way with some of the +dummies, which at a little distance had greatly the appearance of living +people. Mangaleesu's were decidedly the best, his figures admirably +representing Kaffir warriors in various attitudes, prepared for battle. + +Under Percy's and Rupert's directions they were placed as had been +proposed. + +"But we ought to be going down to the boat," cried Rupert; and he +summoned the men he had collected. "Percy, you fire a musket if you see +any Zulus approaching the river, who may be shut out from our view, and +another, if you observe any crossing in the distance; then we shall know +how to act. Come along, Crawford!" + +They hurried out, running at full speed, as they were convinced that +there was no time to be lost. On reaching the bank of the river, they +could see farther up the stream than they could from the farm. + +Percy was in the meantime watching to catch sight of the Zulus who had +gone to the northward. They were still visible as they made their way +among the trees. By this he knew that if his father was coming, they +had not yet succeeded in cutting him off. While still watching them, he +heard the shouts of the Hottentot drivers and the crack of their whips, +and he had the satisfaction of seeing the waggon approaching, the poor +oxen covered with foam, and trotting at a speed at which they had +probably never before moved when yoked. In a few minutes the waggon +drove over the drawbridge into the farm, greatly to the satisfaction of +Percy, both on account of the drivers, who, had they been overtaken, +would have run a great risk of losing their lives, and of the store of +meat which they were bringing in. + +Rupert and his party lost no time in launching the boat. As yet, as he +looked to the north, he could see no one, nor were the Zulus visible to +the naked eye. Confident, however, that Percy would give warning, +should any approach the river, he and Crawford agreed to pull across, +and having stationed their men under cover, they at once shoved off. +They were soon over. Rupert landed, and ran up the bank that he might +obtain a more extensive view than he could in the boat. + +"Hurrah! here come four horsemen, and one of them, I am sure, is my +father, and another must be Lionel," he cried. "They are dashing along +at a tremendous rate. They have seen the Zulus, depend upon it, and +probably expect to have to swim their horses across. How fortunate we +came over for them!" + +Just as he spoke the report of a musket from the fort was heard, it was +followed immediately afterwards by another. + +"That shows that the Zulus are coming this way," he shouted. "Yes, I +see them, a whole band of yelling savages. On they come, clashing their +shields and shaking their assegais, fully expecting to gain an easy +victory; but my father and Lionel will be here first." + +Rupert stood ready to rush down to the boat, should it be necessary to +save his life; for, brave as he was, he knew that it would be wrong to +run any risk of throwing it needlessly away. He calculated that there +were twenty or thirty Zulus approaching, running at their utmost speed; +but the ground was rough in the extreme, and in many places their +progress was impeded by thorny bushes, through which they could not +force their way. Though they were coming on at a fearfully rapid rate, +the horsemen were moving still faster. Another shot was fired from the +fort. This Rupert took to be a signal that some more Zulus were +crossing the river lower down. If they made good speed, they might cut +off his men stationed on the western bank. He became doubly anxious, +therefore, for the arrival of his father. He could now distinguish him +clearly, as he could also Lionel and Vermack and the trusty Matyana. +The Zulus would, he hoped, after all be disappointed. Standing on the +highest part of the bank, he waved his hat and then bounded down to the +boat, which Captain Broderick and his companions could not see, to show +them that she was there, ready to carry them across. The only fear was +that one of their horses might fall, for it was evident by the way they +kept their whips moving that they were hard pressed. On they came, +surrounded by a cloud of dust, as they passed over a sandy tract. + +"They'll do it! they'll do it!" cried Rupert. "Stand by, Crawford, to +shove off the moment we get into the boat. I'm half inclined to send a +shot among those Zulus. I should knock over one of them if they come +much nearer." + +Crawford stood holding the oar ready, and watching his companion. +Presently he saw Rupert springing down the bank; directly afterwards +Captain Broderick and Lionel's heads appeared above it, followed by +those of the Dutchman and the Kaffir. + +The first two threw themselves from their horses. "Well done, my dear +boy! well done!" exclaimed Captain Broderick. "We will drive our horses +into the water, and they will swim after the boat." + +The Dutchman and Kaffir, however, disdaining this mode of crossing, kept +their saddles, urging on the other two steeds, while the Captain and +Lionel took their seats in the boat. There was no time to ask questions +or give answers. Rupert could only say, as he gave a gripe of the hand +to Lionel, "I am sure that you must be my brother Walter. I am +delighted to see you. Now, Crawford, shove off." + +Rupert, as he spoke, grasped his oar, and he and Crawford strained every +nerve to urge the boat through the water. Scarcely had they got +half-way across when a body of Zulus appeared on the top of the bank, +and began to hurl their assegais at them; but the moment they did so a +volley from the west bank poured in among them, making them rapidly +spring back, for every shot had told, and they probably expected a much +larger dose to follow. Captain Broderick and Lionel, having unslung +their rifles, also opened fire on the enemy. This gave the men time to +reload, as also to enable Vermack and the Kaffir to get out of the reach +of the assegais, they and the horses having fortunately escaped the +first shower. + +"What! did you expect the farm to be attacked?" asked Captain Broderick, +looking up at the walls. "How did you manage to collect so large a body +of defenders?" + +"We originated them, sir," answered Crawford. "You'll see who they are +as we get nearer." He could not manage to say more, exerting himself as +he was at the moment, nor did Captain Broderick ask further questions. + +Landing, they drew up the boat, for they had no time to carry her to the +harbour under the walls. They immediately joined the men, and as the +Zulus again appeared on the bank, drove them back, enabling Vermack and +Matyana to get to land with the horses. + +The moment they had fired the volley another shot from the fort summoned +Rupert to look down the stream, where he caught sight, though still, +however, at some distance, of another body of the enemy who were coming +up on the western bank. + +"There's no time to be lost, sir," he said to his father. "We must get +into the fort and haul up the drawbridge, or we shall have a number of +those fellows upon us." + +Captain Broderick, seeing the importance of this advice, called out to +Vermack and the Kaffir, to drive up the horses. The whole party then +hurried on as fast as they could move towards the farm. Percy had +thoughtfully stationed several men at the ropes to haul up the +drawbridge as soon as they were over. + +They were not a moment too soon. Scarcely was the drawbridge secured +when the Zulus who had been coming up the west bank and the party who +had pursued Captain Broderick, and who had now crossed, uniting, made a +desperate rush to get in. + +No sooner, however, had they got within range of Percy's swivels, than +both were fired in rapid succession, throwing their ranks into +confusion, while he, picking up musket after musket, began to blaze away +at them. This kept them in check and enabled Captain Broderick and the +rest of the men to reach the ramparts, who immediately opened so hot a +fire, that the Zulus, wanting courage to face it, hastily retreated, +believing that the farm was defended by a far larger garrison than they +had supposed. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +THE ATTACK. + +As soon as the Zulus appeared, Percy had insisted on his sisters +retiring from the ramparts. + +"You have performed your parts, girls, and I cannot allow you to run the +risk of being hit by one of those black fellow's assegais. Down with +you! down, quick!" he shouted. + +Heroines as they were, they perhaps not very unwillingly obeyed; but +when Percy told Biddy that she must retire, she exclaimed-- + +"What! me a gineral, an' goin' to desert me post! Sure, I don't mind +the niggers' long spikes more than if they wor mop-handles." And +levelling a rifle, of which she had possessed herself, she fired down on +the still advancing Zulus. Then picking up one after the other, she +blazed away with deadly effect, bringing down a Zulu at every shot, +until Percy told her to begin reloading, while he, with the other men +who had now mounted to the platform, kept up the fire. Meantime Captain +Broderick, with Lionel, had entered the fort. Mrs Broderick, who had +been waiting with feelings it would be difficult to describe, seeing her +husband and the young stranger appear at the gate, hurried forward to +meet them. A brief embrace was all Captain Broderick had time to give +his wife, before he, with Rupert and Crawford, climbed up on the +platform, he having scarcely recognised his daughters in their strange +attire. Lionel thought it was his duty to follow them. He was about to +do so, when his eyes met those of the lady approaching him. + +"Yes!" he exclaimed, "you must be--I know you are--my mother." + +Mrs Broderick threw her arms round his neck, and pressing him to her +heart, kissed him again and again, as she exclaimed, in a voice choking +with emotion, "You are my long-lost Walter: I need no one to tell me +that; I remember every lineament of your countenance." + +For the moment, as she clasped her boy in her arms, she heard not the +rattling of the musketry, the shrieks and yells of the assailants, the +shouts of the defenders, the din of battle; every feeling, every sense +was absorbed in contemplating her recovered child. She would scarcely +release him from her embrace to receive the welcome which his sisters, +who now came up, showed their eagerness to give him. + +He looked at them with no little astonishment at first, not +comprehending who they were, until they told him that Percy had +persuaded them to dress up in order to deceive the enemy. + +"But I must not let the rest be fighting on the walls while I remain +down here in safety," he said at length. "I don't like to leave you, +mother; but while others are exposed to danger, it is a disgrace to me +to keep out of harm's way." + +"But, my dear boy, I cannot let you go," exclaimed Mrs Broderick. "You +have only just been restored to me, and the assegais of the cruel Zulus +might reach you on the platform. Percy has sent your sisters down, +which shows that he considers there must be danger." + +"The same kind Being who has hitherto preserved me will take care of me +still," answered Lionel; "and my father and my brothers are exposed to +the same peril." + +Mrs Broderick had a severe struggle, but his arguments prevailed, and +she at length allowed him to join the defenders on the walls. The Zulus +in the meantime had only retreated beyond musket shot. + +Percy had pointed out to Captain Broderick where the main body were +encamped. Taking the telescope, he looked through it in that direction. + +"They have heard the firing, and are marching down towards the river," +he observed. "They little expect to find the farm so well garrisoned. +Percy, you have acted admirably; for I believe, had our assailants not +been led to suppose that a large number of men were posted round the +walls to give them a warm reception, they would have come on much more +boldly. It would be as well now to get rid of the dummies, lest their +keen eyes should discover how they have been deceived, and they should +then fancy that we have even fewer men than is really the case." + +"I don't like so summarily dismissing my garrison, but of course you are +right, father," said Percy; and he and Rupert went round and began to +throw the dummy warriors off the platform, two of the pumpkins +splitting, however, in falling. + +"I say, we must lower them more gently," observed Percy, "for we may +want them again, and it won't do to place them in position with cracked +skulls." + +They accordingly fastened them to the rope by which the swivels had been +hoisted up, and let them all quietly down, one by one. + +"Sure, cap'in, ye don't want me to go down," cried Biddy. "Whether they +take me for a gineral or an old woman, it won't much matter, for they'll +find that an old woman can fight as well as many a gineral. Let thim +come on as fierce as they may, I'll not be after showin' the white +feather." + +"We mustn't tell my sisters what you say, Biddy, or they'll think you +are throwing reflections on them," said Percy. "However, after the way +in which you have handled a musket, I'm sure you will prove an able +defender of our farm, should the Zulus venture again to attack it." + +Besides Captain Broderick, his three sons and Crawford, the garrison +consisted of Vermack and Matyana, and six Kaffir and Hottentot servants. +They were but few in number to oppose the host of warriors threatening +them. Mangaleesu seeing this, begged that he and Kalinda might be +allowed to come up on the ramparts to assist in the defence. + +"If the white chief thinks we shall be recognised, we can soon so +disguise ourselves that the enemy will not know us," he said. + +"Of course you can fight, as you desire it; but unless your wife +insists, as Biddy does, in joining in the defence, I don't wish to +expose her to danger, answered the captain." + +Kalinda, however, declared that her desire was to join her husband, and +in a short time both of them came up, their countenances so concealed by +the hats and the plumes of feathers which adorned their heads, that it +would have been difficult for those outside to have discovered who they +were. The other Kaffirs, who usually wore scanty attire, dressed +themselves in the same fashion, and thus the enemy might easily have +supposed that a native contingent had arrived to assist in the defence +of the fort. + +Captain Broderick, however, feared that although the apparent strength +of his garrison might keep the Zulus at a distance, they would ravage +his fields, and carry off the cattle and sheep which had been left +outside. They might also lay siege to the place, and attempt to starve +him out. He anxiously watched the movements of the main body. Instead +of directing their course towards the usual crossing place near the +farm, they marched to a spot much lower down the river, showing that +they had some dread of being opposed by the garrison, had they attempted +the passage higher up. The party which had made the first attack had +now gone in the same direction to cover their passage. + +"We cannot save the crops, if the fellows are determined to destroy +them," he observed to Rupert; "but we may preserve the cattle and sheep, +by driving some into the fort, and others among the hills, where the +Zulus will not dare to follow them." + +"We have time to do that, if we don't lose a moment. I'll go at once," +cried Percy. + +"No, let me go," said Rupert. "Percy is not accustomed to the cattle. +I will take Vermack and Matyana, and we will bring in as many as we can, +while the herdsmen who remain with the rest drive them off in the +meantime to the mountains. If we are seen by the Zulus, they will +suppose that the whole have been driven into the fort, and will not go +and look after the others." + +Captain Broderick, although he would gladly have avoided employing his +son in so dangerous an expedition, did not think it right to forbid it. +And Rupert, calling the two men, immediately set off, all three carrying +their rifles as well as their long stock whips, required for driving the +cattle. As they made their way towards the meadows where the cattle +were feeding, they bent down and kept as much as possible under cover, +so as not to be seen by the Zulus. They were watched anxiously from the +ramparts. Captain Broderick could not help wishing that he had not let +Rupert go, when he saw through his glass the horde of savages +assembling, and who might come rushing up to the farm before there was +time for him and his companions to get back. The drawbridge was kept +down and the gate open ready for their return. Fortunately the ground +was sufficiently clear in front of the farm to prevent any of the Zulus +coming near enough to make a sudden rush. + +While he kept a look-out on their movements, several men were stationed +at the drawbridge to haul it up, should they again draw near. He had +charged Rupert, to whom he had given his own pocket telescope, carefully +to observe what they were about, and should he feel doubtful as to being +able to bring the cattle into the farm in time, not to attempt +returning; but to drive them all off into the mountains. He should thus +lose three of his best men for the defence of the fort; but it would be +better than to allow them to risk losing their lives and the cattle into +the bargain. Fortunately Mrs Broderick was not aware that Rupert had +gone out, so that she was saved much anxiety on his account. When the +Zulus had retreated, the captain sent Lionel down to remain with his +mother and sisters. + +"They will wish to hear more about my expedition to bring you back," he +said. "You can tell them all you know, and how unwilling my friend +Hendricks was to give you up, although he hesitated no longer, when +convinced that you were really my son." + +Lionel, or rather Walter, gladly obeyed. His mother's thoughts were +thus drawn off from the dangerous position in which the farm was placed. +Walter spoke in the warmest terms of the kindness of Hendricks, and his +regret at leaving him. + +"He told me," he added, smiling, "should you ever get tired of me, that +he will be glad to receive me back, though I don't think that will ever +happen. I am sure that I don't wish to go, for I have often and often +thought of you, and fancied I saw your loving eyes looking down upon me. +I am very sorry for Denis, who will be all alone. If it had not been +for his wish to go in search of his father, he would gladly have come +back with me. He told me to say so, and to ask leave for him to return, +should his father not be found." + +"I shall be glad if he comes back," said Maud; "he was as much at home +here with us as Rupert and Percy are, and I liked him almost as much as +I do them." + +"He is a capital fellow!" exclaimed Walter warmly, "and I too should be +very glad if he were able to live with us always; for I don't think he +would ever grow tired of the life here, although he has been so long +accustomed to travelling and hunting." + +Maud hoped that the buoyant and spirited young Irishman would some day +return to the farm. Meantime Captain Broderick, with Percy and +Crawford, kept watch on the platform, while Biddy marched about +flourishing her sword, of which the captain had not thought fit to +deprive her. Every now and then she gave vent to her feelings by +shouting out defiance to the enemy, who still kept at a distance from +them. Why they did not come on at once to attack the fort it was +impossible to say. Captain Broderick was thankful for the delay, as it +gave Rupert a better chance of being able to drive in the cattle. They +appeared to be holding a council of war, he suspected for the object of +forming some plan of attack. His mind was greatly relieved when at +length he saw the heads of the cattle coming round a wood to the +north-west, and heard the crack of the stock whips. Presently Rupert +and Vermack appeared, urging on the slow-moving and obstinate animals +with all their might. + +Just then Percy, who was looking through the glass, cried out-- + +"The Zulus are moving. They are marching this way. I can see them +clashing their shields and shaking their assegais over their heads, with +their chiefs leading them. I must let Rupert know, that he may hasten +on with the animals. He will understand what is meant if I fire a +musket." + +"By all means," said Captain Broderick. "Fire a second if they do not +attend to the first signal." + +Percy fired as he proposed. + +Directly afterwards Rupert and Vermack were seen, accompanied by two of +the herdsmen, who were flourishing their whips and leaping from side to +side to urge on the still lagging animals. It seemed doubtful whether +they or the Zulus would first reach the farm. There could be no doubt +that as soon as they were seen, the latter would hasten on and attempt +to cut them off. Their friends earnestly hoped that rather than run the +risk of this, they would leave the cattle to their fate, and would make +their way into the fort. + +Percy again fired, and pointed in the direction the Zulus were coming, +trusting that he might be seen. The men in the meantime were standing +at the drawbridge ready to admit the cattle, and then to raise it. + +Presently Matyana and a shepherd, with a flock of sheep, appeared. It +seemed scarcely possible that they, at all events, would escape being +cut off. Though sheep, under ordinary circumstances, walk slowly, they +do occasionally put their best feet foremost. Should they get in, a +great advantage would be gained, for the Zulus would naturally suppose +that the whole of the cattle and sheep belonging to the farm had been +driven inside, and would not go in search of the remainder. + +More than once Rupert looked towards the advancing Zulus, as if to +calculate the distance; still he was evidently unwilling to abandon his +charge, and exerted all his skill to drive them on. Suddenly the +animals seemed to be seized with a desire to rush forward. Whether or +not they observed the Zulus, it is difficult to say, but kicking up +their heels, and whisking their tails, they made towards the drawbridge, +and came rushing in pell-mell, the sheep at the same time following +their example, when they, with their drivers, panting from their +exertions, were safe inside before the Zulus had got within rifle shot +of the fort. + +"Well done, Rupert! well done, Vermack! you succeeded admirably," +shouted the captain. + +The drawbridge was hauled up, the door closed, and the cattle being +driven into the kraal, which was pretty well crowded by this time, +Rupert and Vermack, with the other men, were enabled to assist in the +defence. + +The judgment exhibited by Captain Broderick in his selection of the spot +for his farm buildings was now more than ever evident. One side was +protected by the river, and the other by inaccessible rocks. It could +only be assailed either in front or the right side, where it was +enfiladed by a projecting tower. + +The Zulus had had no experience in attacking forts, and it was very +evident that they looked upon the stockaded farm as they would upon one +of their own kraals. They might have seen the cattle driven in, but +they considered, as they were sure to capture the place, that it would +be an advantage to have them all together, caught as it were in one net. +As Captain Broderick looked through his telescope, he could observe +their countenances, and it struck him they looked very much astonished +at seeing the drawbridge hoisted up. + +The front ranks halted just beyond musket range, to allow the others to +come up, and then giving vent to the most terrific shrieks and yells, +they rushed forward to the attack. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +THE RELIEF. + +Captain Broderick possessed but a small garrison to defend such +extensive fortifications as those of Falls Farm against the numerous +horde of savages now threatening to assault it. But he could trust +thoroughly to the vigilance and courage of most of his men, and old +Vermack was a host in himself, while his sons and Crawford had already +shown the stuff they were made of. As to Biddy, he was very sure she +would fight to the last, but he had to charge her not to expose herself, +as she showed an inclination to do. + +He possessed sufficient firearms to furnish each man, including Biddy, +with a couple of rifles or muskets, besides the two swivels, but he had +reason to fear, should the siege be protracted, that, his ammunition +might run short. He had therefore warned his men not to throw a shot +away. + +Percy, ever fertile in resources, proposed that they should carry up to +the platform a quantity of stones, a large heap of which had been +collected to erect a storehouse which might be impervious to the attacks +of ants. No sooner did the idea occur to him, than he told his sisters +what he wanted. Wheelbarrows had been introduced on the farm, and a +couple were standing ready. Getting three or four big baskets with +strong handles, the young ladies, glad to find occupation, at once set +to work, as did their mother, and exerting more strength than they +fancied they possessed, they quickly filled the baskets, and brought +them under the platform, when they were speedily hoisted up, each man +being soon supplied with a heap. This was done before the Zulus had +recommenced their advance. + +When Captain Broderick saw the enemy coming, he directed his wife and +daughters to retire into the house. + +"If the fellows venture to come near enough, they may hurl their +assegais over the wall, and you will run the risk of being hurt," he +shouted. "Remember we are fighting for you, and it would be a poor +satisfaction to drive off the enemy, and find that you had been injured. +We will call you if you are wanted, but I enjoin you to keep under +shelter until then." + +Mrs Broderick and the young ladies obeyed the captain's orders. +Although they were not allowed to fight, they could pray for the safety +of those they loved. + +Captain Broderick had the satisfaction of feeling that he had not +provoked the attack by any unjust act on his part. It might possibly +have been avoided, had he ungratefully refused to afford protection to +Mangaleesu and his wife, who had been of essential service to Percy and +Denis, but not for a moment did he regret having performed the duty he +had taken on himself. + +On and on came the Zulus, confident in their numbers, evidently +believing that the fortifications of Falls Farm would afford no greater +resistance than the stockades of their kraals. Captain Broderick would +even now thankfully have avoided bloodshed, if the savages would have +given him the opportunity. He had hitherto lived at peace with his +neighbours, and had proved the result of judicious kindness to a large +number of Kaffirs, not further advanced in civilisation than those now +arrayed in arms against him. He ordered his men not to fire a shot +until he should give the command. As soon as the enemy got within hail, +he shouted, at the top of his voice-- + +"Why do you thus come to attack me? Beware before it is too late! I am +prepared to receive you, and make you repent that you come as enemies +instead of as friends." + +He was well aware that the principal object of the Zulu chiefs was the +destruction of the farm, they having become jealous of its existence so +close to their own borders, for they considered that it afforded +protection to others besides Mangaleesu who desired to escape from their +tyranny, and who, from being kindly treated, became firm friends to the +English. + +As soon as they understood the tenor of Captain Broderick's address they +began shouting and clashing their shields to drown his voice. + +"Their blood be upon their own heads," he cried out to his own men. +"Remember to pick off the fellows with tall plumes. If we kill the +chiefs, their followers will quickly take to flight." + +"We will see to that," answered Vermack with a grin, as he tapped the +lock of his rifle. + +The other men, in various tones, responded to the same effect. + +Although the Zulus shouted and shrieked, and rushed on as if resolved +that nothing should stop their progress until they were inside the +stockade, the resolute front exhibited by Captain Broderick and his men +evidently damped their ardour as they approached. Had the guns been +fired while they were at a distance, when the shot would have produced +comparatively little effect, they would have come on more boldly, but +the perfect silence maintained by the defenders puzzled them. They +observed also that there were fewer men on the walls than they had +before seen, and they began to fancy that an ambuscade had been formed, +by which they might suddenly be attacked on the flank. So Captain +Broderick suspected. He remarked that the rear ranks were not coming on +at the same speed as those in front, while many of the men were looking +uneasily over their left shoulders. He still waited, however, until the +front rank, led by the most daring of their chiefs, had got within +half-musket range. + +The discharge of one of the swivels was the signal for opening fire. +Captain Broderick pulled the trigger, and the next instant his men were +blazing away as fast as they could fire and reload. + +When the smoke had cleared off, the whole Zulu force was seen hastily +retreating, dragging off several of their number killed or wounded. +Biddy, as she saw them scampering off, gave vent to a truly Irish shout +of triumph, which was taken up by Percy, and echoed by most of the +defenders of the fort. + +"All very well," observed Vermack, in his usual dry way; "but, friends, +don't be trusting those fellows. They have found us better prepared +than they expected, but they're not beaten yet. They'll bide their +time, and wait till they can see a chance of getting in with less risk +to themselves." + +"Vermack gives you good advice, my lads," said Captain Broderick. "I +agree with him entirely: we must not relax our vigilance, but keep on +the watch day and night." + +"For my part, I wish that they had come on again and let us finish the +business off hand," exclaimed Percy. "What do you say, father, to our +sallying out and pursuing them? I should like to do it, for the chances +are they would take to flight, and not stop until we had driven them +across the river." + +"No, no; we must not despise them too much," answered Captain Broderick. +"If they saw a small force coming, they would to a certainty turn, and +probably surround and cut us off. We are secure within our stockade as +long as we keep a watch to prevent surprise, and here we must remain +until our enemies grow tired and give up the attempt to destroy us, or +until the authorities at Natal hear of the position in which we are +placed, and send a sufficient force to our relief. But as the messenger +I despatched cannot yet have got to Maritzburg, I fear it will be many a +long day before we can rely on assistance from that quarter." + +The movements of the Zulus were watched with considerable anxiety. They +continued to retreat until they were completely out of sight, but +whether or not they had recrossed the river it was impossible to +ascertain without sending out scouts. This Captain Broderick was +unwilling to do, as they would run a great risk of being cut off by the +enemy, who would, to a certainty, be on the watch for them, and good men +could ill be spared from the garrison. + +The hours went by. Night came on. Nothing more had been seen of the +enemy. The captain, as he went his rounds, charged the sentries to keep +a bright look-out. It was arranged that Rupert and Crawford should keep +one watch, while Percy and Lionel, or rather Walter, as his family +called him, kept the other. Biddy was very indignant at being sent back +to the kitchen. + +"Sure I've bin a gineral all day, an' fought as well as the best of ye, +and now I'm to be turned back into a cook an' an old woman, when I'd be +watching as sharply as any of the men lest those spalpeens of +black-a-moors should be coming back at night to attack us," she +exclaimed, as she sheathed her sword and doffed the captain's coat and +hat. + +The young ladies had long before put off their martial attire. They now +set to work to assist Biddy in preparing supper, of which the garrison +stood greatly in need. Only one portion could partake of it at a time, +so that Biddy and the young ladies had work enough in running backwards +and forwards with the dishes. The fare was ample, there being no lack +of food in the fort; and as soon as the men had supped, they returned, +some to their posts and others to lie down until it was their turn for +duty. + +Rupert and Crawford kept the first watch, but no enemies were seen, nor +did even the dogs give warning that any strangers were in the +neighbourhood. They then aroused Percy and Lionel, who sprang from +their couches with all the zeal of young soldiers. + +"This reminds me of many a night's watch we have had together when +travelling with Hendricks," said Percy. "I thought when I came to the +farm that I should have had too quiet a life of it, but I like this sort +of thing, and I hope we shall give the Zulus a lesson which will teach +them we are not to be molested with impunity." + +"We must keep a very strict watch, then," said Lionel. "I know how +cunning they are, and that their great object will be to throw us off +our guard. I have not the slightest expectation that they will come +to-night or to-morrow night either. They may wait days and weeks until +they think they can catch us unawares, and then they will come down like +a thunder-clap on the farm. They are not aware, however, that our +father has sent to Maritzburg, and my hope is that they will put off the +attack until we get assistance, and they will have to hurry away as fast +as they can run. I have no wish to see the poor savages killed. They +are urged on by their chiefs, and know no better." + +Lionel was right in his conjectures that the fort would not be attacked, +for the sun rose once more, and the whole country looked peaceful and +smiling as ever. Not a Zulu was to be seen with the naked eye, and the +only sign of their having been near the fort was the trampled grass, +stained here and there with the blood of their wounded warriors. + +Percy took a look through the telescope. He observed that a body of men +remained at their former camping-place at the foot of the hills to the +eastward, and in the distance to the south he made out several black +heads on the move, showing that the Zulus were still waiting for an +opportunity either of attacking the farm to advantage, or of capturing +the fugitives. They were of course not aware of the powerful instrument +which enabled the garrison to watch their movements, while their sharp +eyes could scarcely see even the fort itself. + +Percy having taken his observations, called his father, as he had been +desired to do. The captain's first thought was about the cattle. The +fodder stored in the farm was barely sufficient to last more than a +couple of days. It would be necessary to collect a further supply. The +grass, however, in the neighbourhood of the farm had already been cut +for that purpose, or had been trampled down by the Zulus, and the men +must therefore go to a considerable distance to obtain it. + +This undertaking would be hazardous; for should they be perceived by the +Zulus, attempts would certainly be made to cut them off. + +Crawford, on hearing what was required, at once volunteered to go out in +charge of a party, promising to keep strict watch, and should any +enemies be seen, at once to return. + +Captain Broderick accepted his offer. He thought it wiser to go +mounted; and the waggon, with horses harnessed to it, was sent to bring +back the grass. + +Vermack went as driver, and four other men accompanied him to cut and +load the waggon. The captain gave Crawford his field glass, to assist +him in keeping a watch on the enemy. Percy promised also to be on the +look-out, and to fire guns as signals, should he observe any movement +among them. + +As there was no time to be lost, the party immediately set off. They +were watched anxiously from the fort until they were out of sight. + +A couple of hours quickly passed, during which time Percy, accompanied +by Lionel, had kept constant watch from the platform. Suddenly Lionel, +who was looking through the glass, exclaimed-- + +"I see some of the Zulus moving to the westward. Depend upon it they +have discovered Crawford, and from where he is he cannot see them." + +Percy, taking a look through the glass, exclaimed-- + +"There is no doubt about it. I must give the first warning signal to +Crawford;" and he fired off a musket. + +As there was no reply, he soon afterwards discharged another and +another. + +Captain Broderick and Rupert came hurrying up to ascertain what was +happening. The Zulus were no longer in sight, but he feared that his +sons were right in their conjecture. All eyes were turned in the +direction it was expected that Crawford would appear. + +They had not long to wait before the waggon came in sight. Old Vermack +lashing the horses, which tore along at a tremendous rate, the rest of +the men being seated in the vehicle, while Crawford, who followed, every +now and then turned a glance behind, as if aware that an enemy was in +pursuit. That such was the case was soon evident. The Zulus were seen +scampering as fast as their legs could carry them, hoping apparently +that the roughness of the ground or some accident might place the +fugitives at their mercy. There indeed seemed even now a great +probability that they would be overtaken. Crawford still gallantly +brought up the rear. He was seen holding his rifle ready to fire, so as +to keep them in check, should they come nearer. The horses' hoofs and +the waggon wheels, however, threw up so much dust from the dry ground +they were now passing over, that he was soon completely shut out from +view. The men were summoned to the ramparts, with the exception of +those required to haul up the drawbridge. Percy got his swivels ready. +Biddy made her appearance with the captain's hat, which she had just +time to stick on her head, and a couple of muskets in her hand. + +Again the horses could be distinguished still coming at the same rate as +before. But what had become of Crawford? A shot was heard, it was +hoped that he had fired it, and not one of his pursuers. + +"There he is, there he is!" cried Lionel, whose sharp eyes had pierced +the cloud of dust. Presently he emerged from the cloud a short distance +behind the waggon, sitting his horse as if uninjured. The Zulus could +also be seen, with their assegais poised, eager to hurl them at him; but +he still kept ahead of them. The pursuers, excited by the ardour of the +chase, at length got within musket range of the west angle of the fort, +from whence a warm fire was opened upon them. They appeared not to be +aware of their danger until the bullets came flying about their ears, +when turning tail they ran off as fast as they had before been going in +an opposite direction, and Vermack drove his panting steeds up to the +drawbridge. They were quickly over, bringing in a considerable load of +grass. + +Captain Broderick descended to thank Crawford for the service he had +rendered. + +"I should have been caught, however, had I not heard your signal guns," +he answered; "for the Zulus were creeping up so noiselessly, that they +were almost upon us before the men had time to jump into the waggon; and +even though Vermack lashed on his horses, we had great difficulty in +keeping ahead of them." + +It is needless to say that Crawford received a further reward from the +way he was greeted by Helen, who had been more anxious, probably, than +any one else during his absence. + +The supply of grass thus brought in was of great assistance in feeding +the cattle, but it had to be husbanded to the utmost, as the Zulus were +certain not to let the waggon go out again without making an attempt to +capture it. + +Another and another day passed as the first had done. The Zulus kept +carefully out of sight. The scouts, who went cautiously out, reported +that they had fallen in with the enemy's scouts in the neighbourhood, +evidently keeping a strict watch on the fort, so that no one would be +able to leave it without a risk of being cut off. + +The fodder was now running very short. There was scarcely enough for +the animals for another day. They might, to be sure, yet live a day or +two without food, although they would suffer in consequence; but that +was better than allowing them to fall into the enemy's hands. + +Two days more passed. Every particle of food was gone. It was +determined as a last resource to turn out the cattle at night. Two of +the Hottentots bravely volunteered to drive them towards the mountains; +but Vermack expressed his opinion that that was more than they could do, +as the poor animals, having been so long starved, were certain to remain +feeding on the first pasture land they came to. "It would be better to +slaughter them at once than to let them fall into the hands of the +savages," he added. + +It was resolved therefore to keep them another day. Crawford had not +neglected his little zebra, which, as it was able to live on milk, was +better off than any other of the creatures, although the supply afforded +by the poor cows, for whom a small amount of fodder had been reserved, +was becoming less and less. + +Another night approached. The garrison were beginning to get worn out +with watching, although they had to make no great exertions in other +respects. + +"I suppose we shall have another night's useless watching," observed +Crawford; "I don't believe that the Zulus will venture to attack the +fort." + +"Don't trust to that belief, Mr Crawford," said Vermack. "If they +don't come to-night, they will to-morrow or the next day; perhaps in the +day-time, if they think that we are off our guard; but it is our +business to expect that they will come to-night." + +The old Dutchman refused to turn in, though it was not his watch, and +wrapped in his blanket he took his post on the platform. + +The night was cloudy and unusually dark. Denis had bestowed Raff as a +parting gift on Percy, who had taken the dog up with him. + +For some time Raff lay perfectly still, but at length he rose from his +recumbent position, and began to move away to the right side of the +fort. + +Percy observing this followed him, and on his way he found Vermack going +in the same direction. Presently Raff gave a low growl, then another, +and began to run backwards and forwards. + +"Go, Mr Percy, and call out all the men: depend upon it the Zulus are +not far off," whispered Vermack. "I'll keep post here. They think to +take us by surprise." + +Percy rushed off to do as he was requested. He fortunately met Lionel, +who hastened to call his father. He had just aroused the garrison, when +the sound of Vermack's gun showed that he had seen something to fire at. + +Most of the men, led by Captain Broderick, sprang up to that side of the +fort, just in time to encounter a shower of assegais, and to see a dozen +dark heads rising above the stockade. Few, however, got higher; for +Vermack, clubbing his musket, struck out right and left, hurling down +the greater number into the ditch, while the rest were shot or struck +down by the other men in the same fashion. The garrison now opened fire +on the mass of dark objects moving about below them. While thus +engaged, Percy's voice was heard shouting-- + +"Come to the front! come to the front! They are trying to get in over +the gate." + +Rupert, Crawford, Lionel and Mangaleesu, with several men, hastened to +his assistance. They were barely in time to drive back the assailants, +who, while their companions had been engaged at the right side, had +managed to place some rudely constructed ladders against the stockade. +At the same time showers of assegais came hurtling through the air. +Mangaleesu had thrown aside his shield, that he might use a club, with +which he had supplied himself, with better effect. He was followed +closely by a light active figure, whom Percy recognised as Kalinda. +Where the Zulus appeared the thickest, there they were to be found, and +many an assegai was caught by the young Zulu woman, and hurled back at +the assailants of the fort. At length a piercing cry was heard above +the shouts of the combatants. + +Mangaleesu was no longer seen wielding his club, and Percy caught sight +of a number of Zulus attempting to climb up at the spot he had hitherto +been defending. Ever prompt in action, he immediately turned one of the +swivel guns, loaded to the muzzle with bullets, and directed it so as to +sweep the wall. + +Groans and cries followed the discharge, and the dark mass of human +beings, with the ladders on which they had stood, fell crashing below. +Still others came on, evidently determined to gain an entrance at all +costs. + +Although the muskets of the defenders had performed their deadly work, +they themselves had not escaped unscathed from the assegais of the +Zulus. Several had been hurt, and Crawford had a severe wound in his +left shoulder. + +Frequently old Vermack's voice had been heard shouting, "Fire away, +boys! fire away! don't spare the savages." There was little necessity +for this advice, however. Every man knew that should their assailants +once get in, the lives of all would be sacrificed. + +It would have been well had the captain's orders not to throw a shot +away been obeyed. As it was, however, every one loaded and fired as +fast as possible, often over the heads of the enemy. + +Percy, who had been employing his swivels with great effect, at length +shouted out to Lionel to go and get some more powder. "I've nearly come +to the end of mine," he said. + +Lionel hurried off, but just as Percy fired his last shot he came back +with the alarming intelligence that the magazine was empty. + +"Our father and Crawford, and some of the men, have a few rounds; but I +have none, nor has Rupert." + +"Then we must use the stones. Fortunately I thought of them," cried +Percy, undaunted. "I only hope that the Zulus won't suspect that our +ammunition is exhausted." + +No sooner did the besiegers again venture under the walls, than the +showers of stones which clattered down on their heads made them once +more beat a rapid retreat; but those who threw them had to expose +themselves far more than before, and many were wounded by the assegais +of the savages, who kept hurling them from a distance which the stones +could not reach. + +Captain Broderick had escaped unhurt. He was seen everywhere firing his +rifle as long as he had a round left, encouraging his men, and finally +taking to stone-throwing. + +But the Zulus were not long in discovering the want of ammunition among +the garrison; and now, confident of success, the main body, which had +hitherto been kept in reserve, rushed up to the attack, carrying ladders +for crossing the ditch and mounting the walls. Still Captain Broderick +encouraged his men to hold out. + +"We will drive them back, my boys, notwithstanding," he shouted. He +sent Lionel with Biddy and two men to bring up a further supply of the +stones. "And tell your mother and sisters, on no account to leave the +house," he added. "Let them keep up their courage; for depend on it we +shall succeed in driving back the savages." + +Although he said this, he could not help feeling how desperate was their +situation. On every side the Zulus appeared, their numbers greatly +increased since the last attack. They had in all probability been +waiting for reinforcements. They now thickly thronged round the walls, +and his fear was that they might even find their way to the rear of the +fort. Already nearly half the garrison had been wounded, two of whom he +had seen fall to the ground, while others, weakened by loss of blood, +had scarcely strength to hurl the stones down on the heads of their +assailants. At length for the first time he began to despair of +successfully defending the fort. As a last resource he resolved to +summon the whole of the garrison, and to retire into the house, which he +hoped to be able to defend with fixed bayonets and the assegais thrown +into the fort. Still, as yet, not a Zulu had got inside, but at any +moment they might make their way over the stockade. + +Just then loud shouts were heard on the left, followed by a rattling +fire of musketry, and the Zulus, who had nearly gained the stockade, +dropped down, almost together, some falling into the water, others +scrambling back by the way they had come. The shouts increased. + +"Erin-go-bragh!" cried a voice from below. + +"It's Denis, I'm sure of it," exclaimed Percy. "Hurrah! he must have +come with Hendricks, and they have managed to cross the river unseen by +the savages. The Zulus have evidently been seized with a panic. I +daresay they fancy that a larger force has come to our relief, so +thought it wise to bolt without stopping to count heads." + +Percy was right in his conjecture. + +"Let down the drawbridge!" cried Denis; "the enemy have scampered off +like wild fowl, though only Hendricks, my father, and our men, with +myself, have been peppering them." + +The drawbridge was quickly lowered, and Denis was the first to cross, +followed by the hunter and Mr Maloney, together with twenty well-armed +Kaffirs and Hottentots. + +"Having arrived soon after nightfall on the opposite side of the river, +and camped, we were aroused by the sound of the firing, and guessing +what was occurring, we managed to push across the stream just in time, +it appears, to render you the assistance which I am delighted to have +afforded," said Hendricks. "We must take care, however, that the enemy +do not attack our waggons, although I don't think they'll have the heart +to do that. We'll bring them across the first thing to-morrow morning; +meantime we must follow up the rascals, and prevent them from rallying. +If any of your men can accompany us, we shall be glad of their aid; but +if not, we are sufficiently strong to do the work ourselves." + +"There's one will go with you," exclaimed Vermack, "and that's myself. +Give me some ammunition, and let me get sight of the fellows, and I'll +make every bullet do its work." Four of the garrison only were capable +of accompanying Hendricks, who without loss of time led his party out of +the fort. They pushed forward at a rapid rate; but had not got far +before daylight broke, and the enemy were seen far ahead, evidently +intending to recross the river a considerable way from the farm. He +judged, consequently, that there would be ample time to pass over the +waggons and the rest of his party, before they could make their way up +the east bank to impede the operation. + +Few braver or more enterprising men than Hendricks the hunter were to be +found, but at the same time he was ever anxious to avoid bloodshed; he +therefore, greatly to old Vermack's disappointment, returned at once to +the farm. + +A sad scene was revealed by the light of day inside the fort. Two of +the defenders lay dead, fallen from the platform to the ground, and a +third desperately wounded with an assegai through his breast, and who +had hitherto been unobserved, lay gasping out his life. But sadder +still was the spectacle near the gateway. There lay the Zulu chief, +Mangaleesu, with his faithful Kalinda leaning over him, the blood +flowing from a wound in her side mingling with his, which, regardless of +her own injury, she had been endeavouring to stanch. Just as she was +discovered she fell forward lifeless on the body of her husband. + +"Och! the poor creature's kilt intirely," cried Biddy, who with Percy +and Lionel had hurried to assist her. "Och ahone! it's cruel to see one +so loving and true struck down. Yet it's better so than for her to have +lived and mourned the loss of her husband." + +Biddy said this as she raised the inanimate body of the young Zulu +woman, and found, on placing a hand on her heart, that her spirit had +fled. + +Percy and Lionel knelt by the side of their friend, whom they at first +hoped might have merely fainted from loss of blood; but after feeling +his pulse and heart, with unfeigned sorrow they were convinced that he +was dead. Others soon joined them, and carried the two corpses into the +room they had inhabited, there to wait their burial. + +There had hitherto been but little time to welcome Denis, or to hear how +his father had been recovered. + +"Sure we didn't recover him, he recovered himself," answered Denis to +the questions put to him. "He had been far away to the north of +Oliphants river, where, after having lost his oxen and fallen sick, he +was detained by an Amatonga chief, a regular savage, who from mere +wantonness used once a month to threaten to put him to death if his +friends did not send the heavy ransom he demanded, while all the time he +was detaining the messengers my father endeavoured to despatch to +Maritzburg. Wonderful however to relate, the savage chief became a +Christian through the influence of a native missionary, who had made his +way into that region. On this he at once released my father, supplied +him with fresh oxen, and enabled him to fill up his waggon with tusks +and skins. He had a long journey south, and reached Hendricks' camp the +very day after Captain Broderick left it. I was about to return with +him to Maritzburg, while Hendricks intended to proceed on to the +north-west, when, just as we were separating, Onoko, the same Kaffir who +brought the message to you a short time ago, came to our camp with the +information that a large body of Zulus were marching, bent on the +destruction of this farm, in consequence of Mangaleesu and his wife +having found refuge here. + +"Hendricks, who would scarcely believe the report, sent out a couple of +scouts to ascertain its truth, which, however, on their return they +fully confirmed. We immediately, therefore, set out in this direction. +Hendricks, I suspect, was not slightly influenced by remembering that +Lionel was with you, and that should the Zulus succeed in their attempt +he would be sacrificed with the rest of you." + +Some time was occupied by Hendricks and Maloney in passing over their +waggons, which were brought within the fortifications, when the oxen and +horses under a strong guard were turned out to graze, all the men who +could be spared being employed in burying the dead at some distance from +the farm. + +A grave was dug for Mangaleesu and Kalinda, on a tree-shaded mound, a +short distance from the farm. Mrs Broderick, while sincerely grieving +for their death, had the satisfaction of knowing from the testimony they +had given, that they had both become true, if not very enlightened, +Christians, and would there rest in peace in the sure hope of a glorious +resurrection. + +Hendricks, who was known and respected throughout Zululand, anxious for +the safety of his friends, considered it a wise course to send an envoy +to the Zulu chief, Mapeetu, who had led, he ascertained, the attack on +the farm, to ask why he had thus endeavoured to injure his neighbours +the English. The envoy was directed at the same time casually to refer +to the death of Mangaleesu and Kalinda. + +Mapeetu, attended by two of his counsellors, three days afterwards made +his appearance at Falls Farm. He expressed his regret at what had +happened, and he hoped, he said, now the cause of enmity had ceased, +that they might live in future on friendly terms with the white chief +and his retainers. + +Captain Broderick replied that he felt much satisfaction at hearing +this; but he observed to Hendricks-- + +"I don't intend to trust the fellow a bit the more for all his +protestations; but shall be as much on the watch as ever, and will take +care to have an ample supply of arms and ammunition, while I will keep +up the stockade which have just done such good service." + +While Hendricks, not wishing again to enter Zululand, set off to cross +the Drakensberg, Mr Maloney proceeded towards Maritzburg, promising, to +the great delight of Denis, that having disposed of his goods, he would +return to settle in the neighbourhood of Falls Farm. + +The Zulus were shortly after this confined to a narrower space of +territory, and Falls Farm, the scene of the stirring events lately +described, became the centre of a thriving agricultural district. Helen +and Maud married respectively Crawford and Denis, who settled on farms +of their own, and Lionel with his brothers, in course of time also +established themselves in the district. They all succeeded, though like +other settlers subjected to various ups and downs, and Lionel had the +satisfaction of watching over the declining years of his foster-father, +Hendricks the hunter. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hendricks the Hunter, by W.H.G. 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