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diff --git a/old/37661.txt b/old/37661.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d6720c6..0000000 --- a/old/37661.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5169 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The War of the Axe, by J. Percy-Groves - -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: The War of the Axe - Adventures in South Africa - -Author: J. Percy-Groves - -Illustrator: John Schönberg - -Release Date: October 8, 2011 [EBook #37661] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAR OF THE AXE *** - - - - -Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England - - - - -The War of the Axe -Adventures in South Africa -By J. Percy-Groves -Illustrations by John Schonberg -Published by Blackie and Son, 49-50 Old Bailey, London. - -The War of the Axe, by J. Percy-Groves. - -________________________________________________________________________ - -________________________________________________________________________ -THE WAR OF THE AXE, BY J. PERCY-GROVES. - -CHAPTER ONE. - -THE SURAT CASTLE--OUR HERO--A ROUGH NIGHT IN THE ATLANTIC--AFTER THE -GALE--LAND HO! - -In the early summer of the year of grace 1844 the _Surat Castle_, a fine -clipper barque of 400 tons burthen, left the London docks on a voyage to -the Cape of Good Hope, with a valuable cargo and several passengers, -including a small draft of volunteers and recruits for the Saint Helena -regiment. The _Surat Castle_ traded regularly between the port of -London and Table Bay, and so well-known was she as a fast-sailing, -seaworthy vessel, with excellent accommodation, and such was the -popularity and reputation of her commander and part-owner, Captain John -Ladds, that many Cape gentlemen, who had occasion to make the trip to -the old country and back every two or three years, preferred taking -their passage in her rather than in the ordinary mail-packets. - -Amongst the cabin passengers who were now returning to the Cape in the -_Surat Castle_ was a good-looking lad of sixteen--a fine, well-built -youngster, with a cleanness of make and shape that bespoke muscular -strength and activity combined, and whose sun-burned healthy face and -clear well-set eye bore ample evidence that he was in capital condition; -in fact, sound in wind as well as limb. - -Thomas Flinders, for that was the lad's name, was the only son of a -retired major of the Cape Mounted Riflemen, who had, with the money -realised by the sale of his commission, purchased a farm in the -neighbourhood of Cape Town, and there settled down with his family, -"turning his sword into a ploughshare." On this farm Master Tom first -saw the light of day, and there he lived until within a few weeks of his -eleventh birthday, when Major Flinders, finding that his son and heir -was becoming somewhat troublesome and self-willed, packed him off to -England to be educated at Rugby, under the great and good Doctor Arnold, -who was then in the zenith of his fame. Five years of public-school -life--three under Doctor Arnold [Arnold died in 1842], and two under his -successor--worked wonders with young Flinders, and developed him into a -plucky, straightforward English lad, full of fun and exuberant spirits, -but without a spark of vice in his composition; a gentleman in the -truest and noblest sense of the word, holding in hearty contempt aught -that savoured of meanness or "bad form." Nor had the lad's physical -education been neglected, for he became a very fair hand at most outdoor -games and sports; from fives to football, from quoits to -hare-and-hounds, and could play rough-and-tumble with any boy of his own -weight. And now Tom Flinders, having imbibed the regulation quantum of -Latin and Greek and a modicum of mathematics, together with a very -proper notion of his position as an ex-school-house boy and a member of -the upper-fifth, had left Rugby for good, and was returning to the land -of his birth under the nominal charge of Captain Ladds, who was an old -friend of the major's. - -The early part of the voyage of the _Surat Castle_ was unmarked by any -incident worth recording. Stress of weather detained her in the Downs -for some few days, but once clear of the Channel she met with favourable -winds and (except in the Bay of Biscay) smooth seas, and so made a quick -run to the island of Saint Helena, where she anchored off James Town in -order to disembark her military passengers and replenish her fresh-water -tanks and sea stock. At Saint Helena Tom had the opportunity of -enjoying a run ashore and of visiting the empty tomb of the great -Napoleon Buonaparte, whose remains had recently been removed from -beneath the weeping-willows in Slane's Valley (whither, nineteen years -before, they had been carried by the grenadiers of the 66th Regiment) to -their honoured resting-place within the walls of the Invalides. - -But the _Surat Castle_ remained at anchor only a short time, for as soon -as the soldiers were clear of the ship, and the fresh provisions and -water had been taken on board, Captain Ladds put to sea and shaped his -course for Table Bay. - -On the sixth evening after the barque left Saint Helena there was every -indication of a change for the worse in the weather; away to the -north-east the clouds were thick and threatening at sundown, and Captain -Ladds, judging that a heavy gale lay behind them, ordered sail to be -reduced. The breeze stiffening into a gale, everything was made snug -for the night; the top-gallant masts and yards sent down, -preventer-braces rove, the hatches battened down, and dead-lights -shipped--preparations which bespoke no good tidings to the passengers; -many of whom retired to their berths at a much earlier hour than usual. -Nor did these preparations prove unnecessary, for gradually the wind -increased until it blew with almost hurricane force, and before long the -_Surat Castle_ was scudding under bare poles, not a stitch of canvas -showing, her storm-sails having been blown from their bolt-ropes or -split into ribands. - -The storm raged throughout the long hours of the night with undiminished -fury, the lightning darting forth from the dark clouds illumined the -whole firmament, and the thunder rolled continuously; whilst the sea, -running mountains high, threatened every instant to engulf the gallant -barque. - -Tom Flinders had remained on deck, not caring to go to his cabin. This -was the first big storm he had experienced, and he stood watching the -gigantic and angry billows with mingled interest and awe. - -"You had much better go below and turn in, my boy," said Captain Ladds -kindly, as a huge wave "pooped" the barque, and, sweeping along the -deck, drenched Tom to the skin. "We have not had the worst of it yet, I -can assure you. You might get washed overboard like poor Jennings was -just now." - -"What! the bos'un?" exclaimed Tom, who was clinging to the brass -handrail of the companion. "I _am_ sorry to hear that! Do you think -there's much danger, Captain Ladds?" he added. "If so, I'd rather stop -on deck--that is if you don't object. I shouldn't like to be drowned -like a rat in a hole!" - -Before the captain could reply to his young friend's question a -tremendous squall, with a shift of the wind, struck the barque, and -immediately afterwards another heavy sea broke over her weather quarter, -causing her to shiver from stem to stern. The half-doors of the -companion burst open, and poor Tom, losing his grasp of the handrail, -shot down the ladder head foremost, whilst it was only by a supreme -effort that Captain Ladds saved himself from a similar mishap. - -"The boy must have broken his neck!" was the captain's anxious -exclamation when he recovered himself. "Below there!" he continued, -raising his voice and peering down the hatch. "Steward! Jackson, see -to Mr Flind--oh, there you are, Tom! Are you much hurt?" - -"Made my nose bleed, that's all," Tom replied, picking himself up. "I -landed on a heap of blankets and was then pitched against the -pantry-door. All the same I sha'n't come on deck again; I think I had -better turn in." - -"I think so too," was the rejoinder. "A pretty figure you'll cut -to-morrow morning! Good night!" - -"Good night, captain!" replied Tom, mopping away at his nose; and off he -staggered to his berth. - -It blew "great guns" for the next fifty-six hours, and the unfortunate -passengers--Tom Flinders included--were reduced to a state of misery -pitiable to behold. One and all were frightfully ill, and the steward -and his assistant were run off their legs, and could no longer attend to -their duties. The cabin now presented a scene of confusion and disorder -that contrasted woefully with its usual comfortable appearance; the -floor was strewn with the debris of the breakfast and dinner services-- -shattered plates and dishes, cups and saucers, glasses and decanters, -whilst the piano had fetched away from the ring-bolts and lay on its -"beam ends" with its front stove in. - -At length the weather began to moderate, the heavy storm-laden clouds -rolled away, and on the fourth night of the gale the stars shone out -bright and clear. The wind continued to slacken, and the sea to go -down, until dawn of day, when the sun rose once more in all his wonted -splendour, and the sky was blue and cloudless. - -At noon Captain Ladds and his chief mate brought out their quadrants and -took an observation, when it was found that the storm had driven the -barque far out of her course; much further indeed than the captain had -thought. However, there was no help for it, the lost ground must be -recovered, so all hands set to work to repair damages, and after many -hours' arduous toil through the night the _Surat Castle_ had once more a -taut ship-shape appearance, and was running before a favourable breeze -which most opportunely sprang up in the morning. - -And now by twos and threes the passengers appeared on deck to breathe -again the invigorating sea air. Very pale and woebegone did those -helpless mortals look, and listless was the manner in which they lolled -about, until they were suddenly startled into a semblance of life and -action by the unexpected cry: - -"Land! land on the port bow!" - -CHAPTER TWO. - -THE DESERT ISLAND--A HAPPY RELEASE. - -The land, thus unexpectedly reported in sight, proved to be a small -rocky island, which the second mate, after a careful examination through -his glass, declared was inhabited. - -"My eyes don't often play me false," said that officer to Captain Ladds, -who had followed him into the fore-top; "and I'm a'most sartin that I -can make out people moving about on yonder shore. Please to look for -yourself, sir," he added, handing his glass to the skipper. - -"Yes--no--and yet--yes, I'm inclined to think you are right, -Weatherhelm," said Captain Ladds, bringing the mate's glass to bear on -the island. "But my eyesight is not so good as it was ten years ago, -and I cannot be positive." - -"Ay, but _I_ am, sir," retorted the mate, who was a thorough outspoken -"salt" of the old school; one who, having "come in through the -hawse-holes," had worked his way to his present position by acquiring a -sound practical knowledge of his profession, and attending strictly to -his duties. "It's possible that the crew of some craft--probably a -whaler, for we're pretty well out o' the track of other vessels--have -been cast away there." - -"Quite possible," the captain assented, "and we will stand in a little -closer. It is our duty to make sure whether such is the case; for we -have been mercifully preserved through one of the worst gales that I -have ever experienced, and should therefore be all the more ready to -render assistance to those who have been less fortunate." - -"That's truth, sir," rejoined old Weatherhelm, as they descended the -fore-rigging, "and 'tis a pity that others don't see things in the same -light as you do. We hear a sight too much of distressed vessels being -passed by, by those who could help 'em if they'd only the will." - -So the barque's course was altered, and she stood towards the island. - -When the passengers heard that there was reason to suppose the island -was inhabited, their recent sufferings were forgotten in their -excitement; and many and marvellous were the speculations amongst them, -as to who, and what, the mysterious islanders could be. - -One old gentleman declared that they must be savages--probably -cannibals--and expressed his decided opinion that the captain had no -business to go near them; _he_ was immediately, and most deservedly, -snubbed by the ladies, whereupon he retired to his cabin in high -dudgeon. Another suggestion was, that some of the passengers and crew -of the ocean steamer _President_ (which left New York in March, 1841, -and was never seen or heard of afterwards) might have escaped and got -ashore on the island; and this notion found great favour with the fair -sex, until Captain Ladds, on being appealed to, hinted that they were a -_few_ degrees too far to the southward to expect to fall in with any -survivors of the long-missing ship--even if such survivors existed, -which was not within the bounds of probability. - -"No, my friends, there can be very little doubt that the _President_ -foundered off the banks of Newfoundland," said he, with a mournful shake -of the head; "and that poor Roberts and his crew and passengers went -down in her. If there are people on yonder island, they will most -likely prove to be the crew of some Yankee whaler." - -As the _Surat Castle_ approached the island all doubt as to its being -inhabited was dispelled, for standing on the summit of a conical rock -were three wild-looking individuals frantically waving their arms. The -barque was then hove-to, and one of the quarter-boats lowered. - -"May I go in her, Captain Ladds?" asked Tom Flinders, all alive at the -prospect of an adventure. - -"Very well, my boy; only don't get into mischief," replied the -good-natured skipper. "Remember that I promised your good mother to -keep an eye upon you, and unless I can hand you over with a whole skin, -I shall not dare show my nose at Rustenburg Farm." - -"No fear of _my_ coming to grief, sir," laughed Tom, as he went down the -side and seated himself in the stern-sheets of the boat. "They taught -us to take care of ourselves at Rugby!" - -"But not to keep your legs in a gale of wind!" retorted Captain Ladds. -"Don't forget the header you took down the companion-ladder, young man! -Are you ready, Mr Weatherhelm?" - -"All ready, sir." - -"Then shove off, if you please; and mind that you are cautious in -approaching the island." - -"Ay, ay, sir!" responded the officer. And at his command the bowman -pushed off, and the sailors, bending to their oars, sent the light boat -through the smooth water in a style that would not have discredited a -man-o'-war's crew. - -It was now discovered that the land consisted of two low-lying rocky -islets, divided by a narrow channel, the entrance to which was barred by -a dangerous reef, over which the waves broke with considerable force; -the southmost of the islets terminating in a lofty "sugar-loaf" peak. -When within a hundred yards of the shore, Mr Weatherhelm ordered his -men to rest on their oars, while he looked out for a likely spot to run -the boat ashore. Just then a tall, gaunt man appeared from behind the -sugar-loaf rock, and hailing the boat, pointed to a narrow strip of -beach some yards away to his left. - -"You can land there," he shouted, in a husky voice. "Steer between -those rocks right ahead of you--port a little--steady! now give way!" - -The next moment the boat's keel grated on the shingle, and the man ran -forward to meet it. He was followed by a lad, apparently about Tom's -own age, and a young girl of eleven or twelve, whose long fair hair hung -down her back almost to her waist, its golden colour contrasting -strangely with her skin, which was so tanned by exposure to the fierce -rays of the tropical sun, that the child was as brown as any gypsy. - -The poor creatures looked thin and careworn; their cheeks were hollow, -their eyes were unnaturally bright, and wore an anxious expression of -mingled hope and doubt--an expression rarely seen except in the faces of -those whose hearts have been sickened by hope long deferred. Their only -garments consisted of a sack-like tunic made of goat-skin which reached -some inches below the knee, but left the arms and neck bare. - -With what delight and emotion did the castaways welcome their rescuers! - -"Are you alone on this island?" inquired Mr Weatherhelm, wrapping his -pea-jacket round the girl's shoulders. - -"We are," the man answered, tears of joy and thankfulness coursing down -his sunken, weather-beaten cheeks. "These are my children, and here -have we been for more than twelve weary months. My name is Weston, and -I was owner and commander of the _Sea-mew_, whaler, which was wrecked on -this island after the crew deserted her." - -"Just what I thought!" exclaimed the old mate. "But we mustn't waste -time palavering; get your traps together--" - -"They are here," interrupted Mr Weston, holding up a battered tin -deed-box. "This is all I care to bring away." - -"Then jump into the boat and let's be off," cried Weatherhelm. "Now, -Missy! I'll take care of you." - -The castaways needed no second bidding, and in another half-hour they -found themselves safe on board the _Surat Castle_. - -Captain Ladds received the unfortunate strangers with the utmost -kindness, expressing his deep commiseration at their sorry condition, -and heartily congratulating them on their providential release from -their seagirt prison. Mr Weston thanked him in broken tones, but was -too overcome with feelings of emotion to say very much, and presently he -asked that he and his children might be allowed to retire to rest; so -the captain took him down to his own cabin, whilst the lady passengers -carried off the little girl, and Tom Flinders marched the boy to his -single state-room, and insisted on his taking possession of the only -berth. - -CHAPTER THREE. - -TOM FLINDERS IS REMINDED OF THE OLD SAYING--"THE WORLD IS VERY SMALL." - -The sun was high in the heavens when young Weston awoke next morning, -and on turning his face to the light, the first object that his eyes -rested upon was Master Tom Flinders, seated on a portmanteau, regarding -him with pitiful looks. - -"Halloa, old fellow!" exclaimed our hero, colouring red as a -turkey-cock, at being thus caught staring; "how do you find yourself -this morning? You've had a jolly long caulk!" - -For a moment young Weston appeared a little confused; but he quickly -recollected the joyful events of the previous day, and feeling much -refreshed by his protracted sleep, replied that he was all right, and -would like to get up and go on deck. - -"All serene!" said Tom; "turn out by all means; and while you're -washing, I'll see what can be done in the way of clothes. There's some -water in the basin, and there's my sponge and towels. It's too late for -you to have a tub, for the bath-room boy goes off duty at ten, and it's -now close on twelve." - -"Then I must have slept nearly twice the round of the clock!" cried the -other in surprise. - -"Going on that way," laughed Tom, diving into his portmanteau and -fishing out several garments. "My `duds' are most of them packed away -in my trunks," he went on, "and they, you know, are down in the hold -with the rest of the heavy luggage; but I'll do my best to turn you out -respectably. By the way, what's your name?" - -"George--George Maurice Weston." - -"Well, George, here's a pair of white flannel `bags,' and a ditto -shirt--they're my old cricketing `togs;' but I thought they'd come in -useful during the voyage, and so left 'em out. Here's a jacket, rather -the worse for wear, and that stupid fellow, the second steward, capsized -a plate of soup over it the other night--see, there are the stains, down -the right shoulder and arm! But you won't mind that?" - -"Not a bit," put in George, taking the unlucky garment. "I've learnt -not to be over particular." - -"There's a collar, a cravat, and a pair of socks; and there's a pair of -shoes--nice, easy ones, too. Now, look alive, old chap; slip 'em on, -and then we'll go and get some grub." - -Rattling on in this manner, Tom helped his new friend to dress--or -fitted him out "from truck to kelson," as he expressed it; for Tom had -become very nautical in his language since he joined the _Surat -Castle_--and then surveyed him with a critical eye. - -"Come, that's not so bad! you look less like an ancient Briton now," -said he, crowning young Weston with a cricket cap upon which was -embroidered the school-house badge. "Feel a bit queer though at first, -eh, George Maurice?" - -"Rather so," George answered, wriggling himself. "The shoes and socks -are the worst. You see I've gone barefoot for such a precious long -time. However, I shall no doubt get accustomed to them in a day or -two." - -"Of course you will," assented Tom. "Now come along and I'll introduce -you to the ladies; we have five on board--three married women and two -girls. Won't they make a fuss over you and that little sister of -yours!" - -When our hero and his friend made their appearance on deck they found -Mr Weston (now shaven and shorn, and clad in a suit of true nautical -cut, the property of Mr Weatherhelm) standing near the skylight talking -to the skipper and Mr Rogerson, the chief mate of the _Surat Castle_. - -"Halloa!" he exclaimed, catching sight of his son's head-gear. "I ought -to know that cap." - -"It is the Rugby school-house cap," said its owner with conscious pride. -"We have only lately worn them; but I've heard old school-house men say -that they were introduced years ago--long before Arnold's time--but -dropped out after a while." - -"That's quite right," rejoined Mr Weston. "I am an old Rugby boy -myself, and well remember the school-house badge being introduced. It -must be nearly five-and-thirty years ago," he added with a sigh, "when I -was about little Grade's age." - -"Why!" Tom cried, his interest in the family increasing fourfold, "you -must have been at Rugby with my father! Flinders is his name--Major--" - -"Not dear old Matthew Flinders surely?" interrupted the other, "who -afterwards went into the Cape Rifles?" - -"The same," answered Tom, nodding his head. "Did you know him?" - -"Know Mat Flinders! Why, my dear boy, your father was the best and -truest friend I ever had! But it is many, many years since we met. You -must tell me all about him." - -Tom was delighted at this discovery, and he there and then proceeded to -give Weston a full account of his father's doings, and of their farm -near Cape Town; in the midst of which he was interrupted by the steward -announcing that "tiffin was on the table." - -"Well," said the boy as they entered the saloon together, "they say the -world is very small, and that one tumbles against friends and -connections in all manner of queer places; but I should never have -dreamed of meeting an old school-house man, a chum of the _pater's_, on -a desolate island in the South Atlantic Ocean." - -The Westons soon became favourites with both the officers and cabin -passengers of the _Surat Castle_. Mr Weston himself was a well-bred, -well-informed man of pleasing address and manners; in person tall and -powerfully built (old Weatherhelm was the only one on board who -approached him in height), with a handsome but rather sad countenance, -and dark curly hair just slightly grizzled. - -George Weston, though he had not had the advantage of a public-school -education, was as nice a lad as anyone could wish to meet; well-behaved -and intelligent, quiet and studiously inclined. He was in his sixteenth -year, had a pleasant bright look about his face, and was slight of -figure, but active and sinewy withal. - -As for Miss Gracie, when she recovered her spirits and got over her -shyness, she became the life and soul of the ship; and must inevitably -have been spoiled had she not been blessed with a sweet unspoilable -disposition. As Tom had prophesied, the lady passengers made a great -deal of Gracie and her brother, for their tender womanly hearts -overflowed with compassion when they heard of the misfortunes and -sufferings of the family. - -It was not until he had been on board nearly a week that Mr Weston gave -a full account of the loss of the _Sea-mew_, and of his previous -adventures; but one Saturday, when the cabin party were seated round the -dinner-table chatting over their wine and walnuts, Captain Ladds -suggested that he should spin them a yarn. - -"Willingly," replied Mr Weston, pushing away his plate; "and as we are -all friends here I will also give you a brief sketch of my career before -I became skipper of a South Sea whaler. My life has been a chequered -one, and not devoid of adventure, so I trust my story will interest you; -anyhow, I feel assured that I am secure of your sympathy." - -And without further preamble Weston commenced his yarn, to which we will -devote the next chapter. - -CHAPTER FOUR. - -MR WESTON'S STORY. - -"I have already stated," began Mr Weston, "that I was educated at -Rugby, where I first became acquainted with our young friend's father. -Mat Flinders and I were both school-house boys, and we shared the same -study, fagged for the same sixth-form boy, belonged to the same form, -and no doubt--if the truth is to be told--were often flogged with the -same birch; so we were, as a matter of course, firm allies. - -"Shortly before my fourteenth birthday I was offered a midshipman's -rating on board the _Thetis_, a fine 36-gun frigate which had been taken -from the French and purchased into the navy in 1808; and as my father--a -retired rear-admiral who had served with distinction under Keppel and -Rodney--was determined that I should follow in his footsteps and serve -King George afloat, I bade farewell to the old school and all my chums -and journeyed down to Chatham, where the frigate was `fitting foreign.' - -"Those were stirring times in the navy, I can tell you, my friends! and -our captain was no niggard of shot and shell; indeed a more dashing -officer never trod his majesty's quarter-deck! - -"His invariable rule was to engage every Frenchman under a `74' that he -fell in with, and he certainly managed to fall in with a good many; so -that during the four years I remained in the _Thetis_ I saw my share of -fighting, and was twice wounded--once when engaged in a `cutting-out' -affair, and again in action with a 50-gun ship, which I'm proud to say -we took. - -"Having powerful interest at the Admiralty it was not long before I -received my commission, and when barely twenty years of age I was -appointed second lieutenant of the _Dido_, a corvette on the West Indian -station. - -"My messmates regarded me as one of fortune's special favourites, but -the `fickle goddess' treated me scurvily enough in the end; and if my -promotion had been rapid, at any rate I was not destined to enjoy it for -any length of time. - -"Whilst at Jamaica I stumbled up against my old school-fellow, Mat -Flinders, then a lieutenant in the --th Foot. Mat was quartered at -Kingston, and as the _Dido_ had been docked to undergo certain repairs -we saw a good deal of each other, and renewed our friendship. - -"But now it was that Dame Fortuna began to frown upon me, or perhaps it -would be more honest to say that I incurred her displeasure by my rash -conduct. It so happened that I had the ill-luck to offend my captain, a -man of imperious overbearing temper; high words ensued between us, and -in a moment of ungovernable passion I knocked him down. Of course my -prospects in the navy were for ever blighted; no provocation could be -urged as an excuse for such a gross act of insubordination; no interest -with the `powers that be' could shield me from the consequences of my -rash act. - -"A court-martial assembled, and I was tried, found guilty of the charges -preferred against me, and sentenced to be dismissed his majesty's -service. - -"My fair-weather friends gave me the cold shoulder, for Captain B--was a -near relation of the Governor and a man of considerable influence; so -everybody took his part, and abused me roundly. No, not everybody! I -had one true friend--Matthew Flinders. If I were to tell all that Tom's -father did for me during that miserable time I might keep you round this -table until we reach Table Bay. Suffice it to say, that never did poor -unfortunate meet with a kinder or stauncher comrade. - -"I returned to England under arrest, and the sentence of the court -having been approved and confirmed I was broken and turned adrift. My -father closed his doors against me, with a curt intimation that he would -have nothing more to say to a son who had disgraced himself and his -family as I had done; he would listen to no explanation, and returned my -letters unopened. - -"I had a few pounds in my pocket, and they represented all my means; but -I was a good sailor, and had no fear but that I could earn my own -living. Through the kind offices of Matthew Flinders, who had given me -a letter to a relative of his connected with the mercantile marine, I -obtained a berth as second mate on board a merchant brig, and in her I -made three voyages to the Cape. - -"An offer was then made to me to ship on board a South Sea whaler as -second mate, with the understanding that I should be promoted chief mate -after my first trip; this offer I closed with. My captain was a -gentleman, and a right good fellow, and I made two voyages with him; he -then retired. I succeeded him in command of the ship, and shortly -afterwards married his youngest daughter. - -"Several years passed happily enough, and two children--George and -Gracie--blessed our union; but my happiness was short-lived, for when -Gracie was nine years of age my wife died of a fever. - -"Two years after this sad event I received news of my father's death, -and that I was entitled to a few thousand pounds, which it was not in -his power to will away from me, for, implacable to the last, he had left -the bulk of his fortune to a distant relative, who had already more -money than he knew what to do with. - -"I now purchased and fitted out the _Sea-mew_, a barque of 300 tons; my -intention being to take a long whaling cruise in the South Seas, and, if -successful, to retire altogether from a seafaring life, and settle down -in one of the colonies. Save 500 pounds, which I left in my agent's -hands, I embarked every guinea of my slender fortune in this venture; -though fortunately I took the precaution to insure the barque for about -half her value. - -"Not wishing to be separated from my children for so long a period I -determined that they should accompany me. I therefore engaged the -carpenter's wife--who had no youngsters of her own, and was a highly -respectable woman--to attend on Gracie; and the surgeon of the -_Sea-mew_, Angus McDougal, an old shipmate of mine and a sound scholar, -volunteered to superintend George's education. - -"On the 22nd January, 1842, we sailed from England, and after a tedious -and perilous voyage arrived at our fishing ground, and prepared for our -campaign against the `spermaceti.' - -"But we did not meet with the success I had anticipated; three months -passed away and still we had a clean hold; the whales seemed to have -disappeared from those seas! - -"This continued ill-luck sent my hopes of realising a modest competence -down to zero, and, moreover, it dispirited the crew, rendering them -discontented and sullen. - -"At length one morning we observed many polypi, medusae, and squid--" - -"And what?" interrupted Tom Flinders, who was listening to Weston's -narrative "_auribus erectis_." "What on earth is squid?" - -"Squid isn't on earth at all," retorted Mr Weston; "it floats on the -surface of the water, and is nothing more or less than a sort of -jelly-fish upon which the whale feeds. Well, the sight of this raised -our hopes, for we knew that we should probably fall in with a whale -before long; and sure enough we were soon roused to action by the -welcome cry: `There she spouts!' - -"I was on deck at the moment, and springing up the shrouds to the -main-top-mast head, I descried three whales right ahead of us and at no -great distance. Two of them appeared to be half grown, or what we South -Sea whalers call `forty-barrel bulls,' forty barrels being about the -quantity of oil we usually get out of them; the third was a regular old -stager, a magnificent fellow of enormous proportions. - -"In a very few minutes we had four boats in the water manned and ready -to push off; I went as `headsman' of the largest, of which--at his -special request--Doctor McDougal pulled the stroke-oar; the second and -third mates and the boatswain took charge of the others. - -"Now I must tell you that the older and larger whales, besides proving -the most valuable prizes, are by far the easiest to kill; whereas the -`forty-barrel bulls' are difficult to come up with, and dangerous -customers to tackle. So I directed my second mate and the boatswain to -go in chase of the old whale, whilst I and the third mate--a very -experienced headsman--attacked the young bulls. - -"Away we pulled, and in a short time approached within four hundred -yards of the young whales, when the one nearest to us `peaked his -flukes'--that is, went down head foremost; but his companion remained -above water and showed no inclination to avoid us. - -"`We'll make sure of that fellow and leave the other alone for the -present,' I shouted to the third mate. `Give way, my lads!' Then the -two boats raced through the smooth water, and we were soon within -striking distance of our prey. - -"Up to this time the two boat-steerers had been pulling the bow-oars of -their respective boats, whilst the headsman steered; but now they laid -in their oars, and, seizing their harpoons, stood up ready to strike. -My boat was the first in action, and the harpoon flew from the -steersman's grasp and sank deep into the whale's body, just as he was in -the act of `sounding;' down, down he went, and our line uncoiling -rapidly from its tub ran out with a loud whirring noise. I now changed -places with my boat-steerer, and, armed with several lances, took my -stand in the bow, ready to give the whale the _coup de grace_ the -instant he reappeared. - -"In less than half an hour the stricken monster rose to the surface -about a quarter of a mile distant, and set off at a good ten knots an -hour, towing the two boats after him, for the mate had bent his line on -to mine. Suddenly he stopped and commenced plunging furiously, lashing -the water into a boiling foam, and spurting jets of blood from his -blow-holes--a sign of approaching death. [Apertures or nostrils placed -on the highest part of a whale's head, through which he breathes.] - -"`He's in his flurry! Stern all! stern all!' was the cry, and quickly -we backed our boats out of harm's way. Soon the whale ceased his -struggles and lay like a huge log on the bloodstained water, apparently -exhausted; then once more we dashed forward, and as the boats came -alongside, the mate and I thrust our lances up to the stocks into his -carcass, close to the fin. - -"Alas, in our eagerness to make sure of our prize we forgot our usual -caution! The leviathan was not yet vanquished, but still had sufficient -life left in him to make one final effort to avenge himself on his -relentless foes! - -"Without a moment's warning the dying whale reared his enormous head and -rushed open-mouthed at the mate's boat, which, unable to avoid the -charge, was capsized and sunk; then the monster gave one last mighty -plunge, and with a stroke of his powerful tail sent my boat flying into -the air, scattering the crew into the foaming water. - -"The mate, his boat-steerer, and one man must have gone down at once, -but the others saved themselves by clinging to their oars. My boat's -crew were even more unfortunate, for I alone escaped; the rest were -either killed when the whale struck us, or else sank to rise no more. I -thus lost, literally at one blow, my poor friend Angus McDougal, and -seven of my best hands; also two boats with all their gear. - -"The accident had been witnessed by the other boats, and the boatswain -at once pulled for the scene of the mishap and picked us up. - -"About six weeks after this disaster sickness broke out in the -_Sea-mew_. The carpenter and the carpenter's wife were the first who -succumbed; the cook and one of the oldest boat-steerers were the next -victims, and several of the crew sickened, but recovered after laying -many days in the `sickbay' almost at death's door. - -"We were now so short-handed, and the survivors of the crew were so -discontented and mutinous, that I resolved to abandon the cruise and -make for some port where I might be able to pick up fresh hands to help -take the ship home, and accordingly I shaped my course for Table Bay. -But my cup of misfortune was not yet full. - -"A fortnight after doubling Cape Horn a stiff gale got up, and increased -in fury until it developed into one of the most fearful storms that it -has ever been my lot to cope with. - -"The storm continued for a day and a night, and when it abated the poor -_Sea-mew_ was left a dismasted wreck at the mercy of the waves. We were -all much exhausted, and sorely needed rest, but not a man could be -spared from the pumps, for the ship had sprung a leak, which gained upon -us slowly but surely. Five more of my crew, including the first mate, -had gone to their last account, three having been washed overboard and -two killed by the fall of the main-mast. - -"By almost incredible exertions we succeeded in keeping the battered -ship afloat, and the sea having gone down we were able to discover and -stop the leak. We then got a spare try-sail up on the stump of the -foremast, and put the barque before the wind. - -"Rest was now absolutely necessary, for we had been working unceasingly -for the last thirty-six hours. The second mate begged that I would take -the first spell, whilst he kept watch; as he appeared the fresher of the -two, I consented, and retiring to my cabin was soon fast asleep. When I -awoke and returned on deck I found that my cowardly crew had deserted -the ship, in the only boat that was seaworthy, leaving me and my poor -children to perish. - -"But a merciful Providence watched over our safety. After drifting for -three or four days the barque ran on a rock, off the island where you -discovered us, and as it was quite calm at the time we succeeded in -getting ashore without much difficulty. A week later the poor old -_Sea-mew_ was broken up by a gale, but after she went to pieces we -managed to secure some casks of provisions, and several useful articles. -I also saved the ship's papers, and other private documents of -importance. On exploring the island we found that it was not altogether -bare of vegetation, and that it was inhabited by a small herd of very -lean goats--whose progenitors had probably been left there by the -benevolent captain of some passing vessel, for the benefit of any -persons who, like ourselves, might be cast ashore; there were also -hundreds of sea-birds, and a plentiful supply of good water; so that -there was no fear of our perishing of hunger or thirst. Of clothes, we -had only those we stood up in, and when they wore out, we replaced them -with goatskins. - -"I will not weary you with an account of our life on the island; as you -may well imagine, the time hung heavily on our hands, though we did all -we could to lessen the monotony of our existence, but at times we felt -very down-hearted; still we never quite lost hope that, some day or -other, a vessel might come within hail, and take us off. - -"At length, after thirteen months of solitude and privation, that hope -was realised--when a kind Providence sent the _Surat Castle_ to rescue -us from our desert home and restored us to the society of our -fellow-creatures." - -"Well!" exclaimed Captain Ladds when Weston finished his narrative; "you -certainly have had a run of ill-luck! Let us hope that brighter days -are in store for you. The tide must turn at last, you know; and you -shall not want friends to help you to retrieve your fortunes." - -"No, indeed!" cried Master Tom impulsively. "If the _pater_ don't stand -by you, I'm jolly well mistaken. You must come to Rustenburg until -something turns up. But I say, Mr Weston," he went on; "you've had -about enough of the sea! I'd try my luck on `terra firma' now, if I -were you!" - -"I'm inclined to agree with you, Tom," Mr Weston replied; "and I might -do worse than settle down in Cape Colony. The anxieties and dangers of -my last voyage have rather sickened me, and if there is a suitable berth -to be found on shore, I don't think I shall be tempted to go afloat -again." - -CHAPTER FIVE. - -THE END OF THE VOYAGE--TABLE BAY--"DOTH NOT A MEETING LIKE THIS, MAKE -AMENDS!" - - "The perils and the dangers of the voyage are past, - And the barque has arrived at--at--at Cape Town at last; - The sails are furled, and the anchor's cast, - And the happiest of the--" - -"Passengers is Master Thomas Flinders!" laughed Captain Ladds, -interrupting our hero, who was giving utterance to his joyful feelings -by trolling forth the above verse with, it must be confessed, more -energy than harmony. "Yes, Tom, my son," he continued, "here we are -safe in old Table Bay; and there's the port-captain's boat putting off -from the quay. You'll be at Rustenburg in time for `tiffin.' Mr -Rogerson, see that the accommodation ladder is ready; Captain Morrison -is coming off." - -It was a most glorious morning when the _Surat Castle_ ran into Table -Bay, and brought up off the old wooden quay, which half a century ago -served as the principal landing-place at Cape Town; for the splendid -Alexandra Docks, affording ample accommodation for the three-thousand -tonners of the Union Company, and Donald Currie's Royal Mail Lines, were -not yet designed; the South African metropolis being in a chrysalis sort -of condition, and not having reached any great degree of commercial -prosperity--though it was a favourite resort of invalided Anglo-Indians, -who found it a very pleasant place in which to spend a few months' sick -leave, after broiling in the "gorgeous east" for the best part of their -lives. - -Tears of pleasure dimmed Tom's eyes at the sight of home (for home is -home, whether we live within the sound of "Bow Bells" or at the -Antipodes) and the thought of meeting his parents and sisters after a -five years' separation. - -How familiar was the scene upon which he gazed. - -There was the old Dutch city, situated on a plain rising by a gentle -ascent to the base of the far-famed Table Mountain--the heights of -which, viewed from the sea, bear some resemblance to the ruined walls of -a Titanic fortress. There was the quaint castle with its broad fosse -and regular outworks, and Forts Knokke and Craig defending the shore to -the east of the city; whilst westward of the principal landing-place-- -overlooked by the saddle-back hill, terminated at one extremity by the -"Lion's Head," and at the other by the "Lion's Rump"--stood the -fortifications known as the Rogge, Amsterdam, and Chavonne batteries, -all of which commanded the anchorage and entrance to Table Bay, with -their "thirty-twos" and formidable 68-pounders. - -"The old place looks just the same as it did five years ago," said Tom -to himself as he leaned over the bulwarks, gazing landwards. "No change -that I can see." - -In these go-ahead, high-pressure days, if we leave a town for any length -of time it is hardly recognisable when we return: villas, "genteel -residences," "emporiums," and hotels, the handiwork of Mr Jerry the -speculative builder, cover the green fields where we were wont to play -cricket and football; and even churches, chapels, and public -institutions appear to have sprung up with mushroom-like rapidity. But -fifty years ago things were very different--both in England and Cape -Colony; people thought twice before they meddled with "bricks and -mortar," remembering the good old saw--"Fools build houses for wise men -to live in." Had our young friend left his native land in 1880 and -returned in 1885, he would have opened his eyes with astonishment. The -good citizens of Cape Town have manifested a wonderful "go-ahead" spirit -of late! But Tom's eyes are no longer scanning the shore, for he is -eagerly watching the port-captain's boat, as, manned by six stalwart -Kroomen, it approaches the barque. "Tom," says Mr Weston, "I haven't -seen my old friend Matthew Flinders for nearly a quarter of a century, -but if he is not--halloa! where's the lad got to?" - -Tom had recognised the dear old _pater_ seated beside the port-captain, -and as the boat pulled alongside he rushed down the accommodation ladder -so as to be the first to welcome him. - -First greetings over, and the usual anxious questions answered, Tom -thought of the Westons, and informed his father of their presence on -board the barque; at the same time he briefly related the circumstances -that led to their being there. The lad had set his heart upon having -his new friends at Rustenburg, at any rate for the present; and he was -not doomed to disappointment. Major Flinders at once hastened to meet -his former school-fellow, and right cordially did he welcome him. - -"I don't forget," said he, "that it was Maurice Weston who risked his -life to save mine, when we were youngsters together at Jamaica! But for -you, Maurice, I should certainly have become the food for `Port Royal -Tom.' Now, remember, no roof but mine shelters you and yours even for a -single night!--not a word, my dear old friend, not a word! If you had a -score of children, my wife and I would welcome them for their father's -sake. Please, say no more. Tom, my boy, get your traps together as -sharp as you can, and then we'll go ashore." - -Three hours later, Mr Weston, Grace, and George were seated in a -four-horse Cape cart, with Tom and the Major, spinning along the Wynberg -road at a good fourteen miles an hour, _en route_ for Rustenburg Farm. - -CHAPTER SIX. - -TOM FLINDERS' HOME--"A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED!"--AN -EXPEDITION PROPOSED. - -Five miles from Cape Town, on the Wynberg and Simon's Town road, lies -the picturesque, wood-girt village of Rondebosch. The ground in rear of -this village is beautifully timbered, and rises with a more or less -gradual ascent, towards a mountain range extending from Table Bay to -Muissenburg; an old fort and military station about two-and-a-half -leagues from Simon's Town; and upon one of the rocky spurs of this -range, overlooking Rondebosch, there used to stand an ancient Dutch -block-house, from the summit of which a splendid view of the surrounding -country, and "veldt," stretching far away to the foot of the -Stellenbosch Hills, could be obtained, on a fair, clear day. - -Between the "Block-house Hill"--as it was then called--and the village -of Rondebosch lay Major Flinders' property, the "Rustenburg House Farm," -consisting of some 300 morgens [about 600 acres] of carefully cultivated -land and vineyards, with a substantial dwelling-house and farm -buildings; the whole being screened from the highroad by plantations of -well-grown trees. The Major also held 60 morgens of coarse -grazing-land, with a cottage and stables, two miles away on the "veldt" -to the north-east of Rondebosch. - -So you see the Major's commission-money had been well invested; the more -so, because--thanks to good management and untiring industry--the farm -had greatly increased in value since he took possession of it. - -One warm evening, some few weeks after the _Surat Castle_ anchored in -Table Bay, Major and Mrs Flinders, with Tom, his two sisters, and their -guests the Westons, were seated on the "stoep" of Rustenburg House; the -ladies busily engaged in mending a pair of canvas saddle-bags, whilst -the Major, Mr Weston, and the two boys occupied themselves cleaning and -oiling a couple of sporting rifles and a double-barrelled "Joe Manton"-- -which latter weapon Tom had brought out from England. - -When Major Flinders heard of the misfortunes that had befallen Mr -Weston he offered to assist him in any way that lay in his power--either -by using his influence with the Governor to obtain for him some suitable -appointment in Cape Colony, or by rendering him pecuniary aid. At the -same time the Major pressed his friend to join him in farming at -Rondebosch, rather than seek government employment, or continue his -seafaring life. - -Mrs Flinders warmly seconded her husband's proposition, pointing out -that Rustenburg House was quite big enough to accommodate the two -families, and declaring--with most unmistakable sincerity--how much it -would please her to have Gracie Weston as a companion for her own girls, -Ella and Maud. - -"They can be educated together, Mr Weston," said the good lady, "and -that, you know, will be a mutual advantage." - -After a little consideration Weston thankfully accepted this offer, and -decided to settle down at the Cape, and join his fortunes to those of -his quondam school-fellow. The _Sea-mew_ was insured for 1500 pounds -(about one-third her value) and Mr Weston had 500 pounds in his London -banker's hands; and the Major introduced him to a lawyer, who consented -to advance him 250 pounds on his policy, and promised to take the -necessary steps to secure the whole sum for which the ill-fated barque -had been insured. So Mr Weston did not come into the "firm" quite -empty-handed. - -"By the way, my dear Mat," said Mr Weston as he proceeded to take the -lock of one of the rifles to pieces, "we have been so engaged with -lawyer Rutherhorn that we have forgotten all about that trip up country -you were talking of the week before last. Suppose you tell us about -it." - -"Oh, I had not forgotten it," rejoined the Major; "indeed Kate and I -were going over the `pros and cons' this morning, and we came to the -conclusion that--" - -"What?" cried Tom eagerly, laying down the barrel he was cleaning. - -"That Rugby hadn't cured our son and heir of his impatience and -impetuosity," laughed Mrs Flinders, rising from her seat. "Come along, -girls, we will leave the gentlemen to talk over this important project -by themselves. There are your saddle-bags, Tom; but if your father -takes you with him, you must have a new pair; these have seen their best -days." - -"Now, Maurice," said Major Flinders as soon as the ladies had -disappeared into the house, "I will give you an idea of my plans, and -see what you think of them. To begin with, I must tell you that an old -brother officer of mine, Donald Jamieson, has gone in for breeding -horses at his farm up country, 180 miles north-east of Mossel Bay. He -has been exceptionally lucky, for it so happens that the district in -which he has settled is wonderfully free from the fatal -`horse-sickness;' and that pest of the country the `tsetse' is almost -unknown there." - -"What is the `tsetse,' Major Flinders?" inquired George Weston, who was -a lad with a thirst for knowledge of any description. - -"A most intolerable nuisance, George," replied the Major; "in the shape -of a small, brownish-yellow fly, which attacks horses and cattle, too -often causing their death; for the bite of this insect produces -blood-poisoning, and that generally proves fatal. Oddly enough human -beings rarely suffer any ill effects from the bite." - -"Jot that down, Geordie," laughed Tom. - -"I think I will," quietly observed his friend, suiting the action to the -word. - -"Quite right, my boy," said Major Flinders, with an approving nod; "pick -up information whenever you can; you never can tell when it may not -prove useful. But to proceed! Just now horses are very dear in these -parts, and high prices are being offered in Cape Town even for unbroken -colts and fillies. I heard some time ago from Jamieson that he had -several young horses to dispose of, so I thought we might combine -business and pleasure." - -"Good!" assented his friend. - -"Jamieson mentioned in his letter," continued the Major, "that he wanted -two good Cape-carts and four sets of double-harness from Muter in Berge -Street, besides a host of other things which are not to be had for love -or money in his parts; and I propose, therefore, to purchase all he -requires in Cape Town, go round by sea to Mossel Bay, and from thence -`trek' up country to Ralfontein, where he lives. If Jamieson has any -suitable horses we can take them off his hands and bring them down to -Cape Town; when the price we shall get for them will cover all our -expenses, and leave a good profit into the bargain. As for sport, we -shall have our fill of it; altogether the trip, at this season of the -year, should prove most enjoyable. Now, what say you?" - -"Capital! excellent, my dear Mat!" exclaimed Mr Weston. "When do you -propose to start, and who are to form the party?" - -"Well," the Major answered, "I saw Muter yesterday, and he has three -carts all but finished. By putting on extra hands--which he is quite -willing to do--two can be got ready for shipment in a week from this, -and the sets of harness will be ready at the same time. Now, old Van -Ryn's schooner, the _Knysna_, makes two trips to Mossel Bay every month, -and I see that she is advertised to sail on Saturday week; so we might -take our passage in her, and that will give us ample time to prepare for -the journey." - -"Very good," assented Mr Weston. "And who are to go?" - -"Why, there will be you and I, the two boys, and Patrick Keown, and -Black William; six all told--a number sufficient to bring down a score -of horses, and to hold our own should any roving bands of Caffres or -Bosjesmans venture to attack us, which is not very probable." - -"How do you propose to travel back, father?" asked Tom, who was highly -excited at the prospect of the trip. - -"Ride, my boy; ride the whole distance from Ralfontein, and let the -led-horses carry our baggage. I shall take a dozen pack-saddles with -us, for Jamieson is certain to have at least twenty horses to dispose -of." - -And after some further discussion, in which Mrs Flinders was invited to -take part, the Major's proposals were carried "nem con." - -CHAPTER SEVEN. - -THE START FROM MOSSEL BAY--ON "TREK"--OUTSPANNED--ROUND THE CAMP FIRE. - -"The carts are all corrict, sorr, and ready for the line of march," -reported Mr Patrick Keown, whilom a troop sergeant-major in the "Cape -Mounted Riflemen," but now his former captain's major-domo, -master-of-the-horse, and general factotum. "And, sorr," he went on, -bringing his dexter hand down from the salute, and assuming a less -poker-like attitude and a more confidential manner, "the mules we've -hired from the postmaster here, seem loikely to suit us--that's to say, -fairly well. They're good animals, sorr, barrin' the off-leader of the -second team, and he's a terrible kicker, and did his best to break Black -William's leg just now. And thin, sorr, there is another that's a bit -contrary in harness--but shure now, that's no matther; we'll soon break -the baste in! I'll lay me quarter's pinsion that they'll have larned -betther manners before we outspan this evening." - -"No doubt of it, Patrick," rejoined Major Flinders, who was standing on -the stoep of the hotel, with his long bamboo whip in hand, listening to -the ex-sergeant's report. "No doubt of it," said he as soon as he could -edge in a word; "we shall manage them all right! But it's quite time we -were on the road, for we ought to cover forty miles before sundown. Now -then, Maurice! Come along, my boys; hurry up!" - -The Major and his party had landed the previous morning at Mossel Bay, -with all their goods and chattels; and now in front of a long -one-storied building, dignified by the name of "Moorhead's Royal Star -and Garter Hotel," two well-built white canvas tilted Cape-carts, fresh -from the hands of Mr Muter of Berge Street, were drawn up, each being -_horsed_ by a team of six mules hired from the postmaster of the -district. - -One cart was packed with a variety of useful articles--from a saddle to -a screw-driver--ordered by Captain Jamieson from the Cape Town -storekeepers; whilst in the other cart the Major and his companions were -to travel. - -Under each cart was slung a strong "witte els" [a soft, tough wood] box, -containing axes, hammers, saws, and other tools, a supply of nails and -screws, straps and buckles, a small coil of "half-inch," and some stout -cord and twine; so that in the event of a break-down, repairs might be -executed on the spot Major Flinders and his faithful henchman Patrick -Keown had travelled too much in South Africa to think of starting on a -long journey without being prepared for emergencies. - -As the crow flies, the distance from Mossel Bay to Ralfontein was rather -more than one hundred and eighty miles, but by road it was nearer two -hundred and fifty. The journey there was to be got over as rapidly as -possible without unduly pressing the teams, and there were to be no -unnecessary stoppages by the way. The return journey would be a much -more leisurely affair, for it was the Major's intention to ride from -Ralfontein to Rondebosch, a distance of at least three hundred and fifty -miles (instead of returning to Mossel Bay, and from thence by sea to -Cape Town), and to take his own time on the road, so as to bring home -his equine purchases in good condition. - -For the first two or three days after leaving Mossel Bay our travellers -had an easy time and were not called upon to rough it in the smallest -degree. The road they followed--one of the best in the colony--led -through a beautiful fertile district, studded with prosperous-looking -farm-houses around which vineyards and orange groves flourished in -wonderful luxuriance. At these farms they were lodged and entertained -with a hospitality worthy of the patriarchal ages, so that, as yet, -there was no "camping out." - -Soon, however, the country presented a wilder, but no less beautiful -aspect, the road became a mere track, and our friends found themselves -journeying across tracts of rough, uncultivated land, through wooded -valleys and steep rocky defiles, aglow with the brilliant crimson and -amber blossoms of the aloe; here for miles they did not meet a human -creature, or see a house of any description, and the silence of these -vast solitudes grew almost oppressive. - -On the evening of the fourth day they arrived at a romantic spot -five-and-twenty miles from any civilised habitation--the nearest being a -German mission station at Ryk's Drift--and here the Major decided to -outspan, beneath the shade of a fine tope of trees, near to a "donga," -or dry watercourse. It was a most suitable halting-place! A tiny -"spruit," or streamlet, trickled amidst the reeds and boulders that lay -all along the "donga," and crossing the track close by the "bivouac," -formed a shallow, but clear pool, at the foot of a grassy eminence, -which was topped by a thicket of silver trees, aloes, and flowering -shrubs. - -On every side the various tribes of the vegetable kingdom throve -luxuriously, perfuming the air; whilst in the distance the foliage and -coppice presented a thousand lively and variegated tints most pleasing -to the eye. - -The mules having been knee-haltered and turned out to graze, under -charge of the Hottentot, Black William, the Major and his companions set -to work to light a fire and put the camp-kettle on to boil, and before -long they were discussing some excellent broiled venison and ship's -biscuit, washed down by copious draughts of black coffee. - -"This is what I call uncommonly jolly!" exclaimed Tom as they sat round -the camp fire after supper; "ever so much better than putting up at a -farm-house." - -"But how will you like taking your turn of `sentry-go' to-night, Master -Tom?" asked Patrick Keown. - -"Ah, to be sure!" put in the Major. "Two hours at a stretch, you know, -Tom; and we shall expect you to be on the `_qui-vive_;' no sleeping on -your post, young man!" - -"No fear of that, father," retorted the boy with a good-humoured laugh. -"But I say, do you really think there's any likelihood of our being -attacked?" - -"Well, it is within the bounds of possibility that some wild beast might -take a fancy to one of the mules, or a roving Bushman or Hottentot to -our rifles," was his father's reply; "so it will be best to keep a -night-watch." - -"I suppose there are no lions in these parts?" inquired George Weston. - -"I should think not, George," answered Major Flinders. "There is no -doubt that they, and many other savage beasts, have retreated before the -progress of European colonisation, and are now very rarely to be seen, -except further north and east. Still they are not extinct, even in this -district." - -"Plenty lion in Bosjesman's country," observed Black William; "an' dey -terrible savage dere too! Eat up poor black mans, like de silver jackal -eat missis' chickens; but dey seldom touch de white mans. Tink de black -moch nicer." - -"Find them more _gamey_, I presume," was Mr Weston's sotto voce remark. - -"I have heard several curious instances of the unwillingness of lions to -attack a white man, especially if he shows a bold front," said the -Major, refilling his pipe; "and I will relate one that I can vouch for. -During the expedition against the Fitcani tribe in '28, I had attached -to my troop as volunteers two Cape Dutchmen--Hendrik and Gert Eoos. -You'll recollect them, Patrick?" - -"Shure I do, sorr," replied the ex-rifleman. "Hendrik Eoos saved me -loife at Schepers Drift, but I nearly broke me heart thrying to kape him -clane! He and his brother were the bravest and dhirtiest men I iver -came across!" - -"Well," continued the Major after one or two draws at his long Dutch -pipe, "the brothers Roos were renowned as mighty hunters, and it was -said that they had killed upwards of thirty lions in their time, to say -nothing of other big game. But you know that `the pitcher that goes too -often to the well runs a good chance of getting smashed,' and Master -Hendrik Roos on one occasion went very near proving the truth of the old -proverb. He was hunting alone in the wilds when suddenly he found -himself face to face with an enormous lion, who, so far from retiring -before the white man, seemed determined to dispute with him the right of -way. Hendrik dismounted, threw his reins over his arm, and, waiting -until the lion was within twenty paces and couched and in the act of -springing, took careful aim at his forehead, but the moment he pressed -the trigger his horse started, the reins broke, and, worse than all, his -bullet missed its mark! - -"The lion bounded forward, and at a few paces' distance confronted the -intrepid hunter, who now stood defenceless--his `roer' [smooth-bore gun -for big game] empty, his horse fled; but he showed no sign of fear. - -"Man and beast stared hard at each other for some little time, and at -length the latter slowly retired backwards, whereupon Hendrik began to -reload his gun. At this movement the lion growled and came forward -again. The hunter stood stock-still, motionless as a statue, and again -the lion retired. Once more Hendrik attempted to ram home his bullet, -and once more his formidable adversary advanced, growling ominously. -Hendrik fixed his eyes upon him, and the lion seemed confused--halted -for a moment, and stood lashing his flanks with his tail, growling all -the while; then of a sudden, unable to face any longer the stern gaze of -the man, the savage beast turned about and fairly took to his heels; and -so Hendrik Roos was saved." - -"Well, he _was_ a plucky chap!" exclaimed Tom. "I wouldn't have stood -in his shoes for something!" - -"You see that this Dutch hunter possessed an intimate knowledge of the -nature of the animal he was pitted against; and knowledge is power," -observed Mr Weston. "But, talking of wild animals, I remember that it -was not very far from Mossel Bay that I fell in, for the first and last -time in my life, with a wild elephant. It was in '16, just before I -`shipped the swab,' and I was then acting third `luff' of the _Phaeton_. -We had been on the Cape station a few months, and our skipper had been -ordered round to the Knysna to make a report as to the feasibility of -forming a government ship-building establishment on the banks of the -river. - -"Whilst there I went out duck-shooting with the purser, who had the -reputation of being a thorough sportsman and an excellent shot. We went -some miles up country, and I soon found that my shipmate, though a -capital shooter, was a precious bad hitter; and got through a large -amount of ammunition in a very short time with no appreciable results. - -"Well, after blazing away half the day without bagging a single bird, we -came to a large pool of water surrounded with very high grass (some of -it quite ten feet in height) and abounding with wild ducks and geese. - -"`Now's our chance, Wraggles!' I exclaimed, bringing my fowling-piece -to the shoulder. `Let fly into the middle of them!' - -"Bang! bang! went our guns, and at least one duck fell a victim to our -unerring aim. - -"But ere we could secure the butchered birds the welkin rang with an -awful roar, and the whole pool was in a state of commotion. The next -moment an enormous elephant rushed from out the grass, trumpeting loudly -and striking the grass with his trunk. - -"Neither the purser nor I had ever seen a wild elephant before, and we -had no wish for a nearer inspection; so, leaving our slaughtered ducks -to their fate, we took to our heels and never stopped until we reached a -place of safety." - -"Well, you certainly did not show a bold front on that occasion," -laughed the Major. - -"No, indeed," rejoined his friend. "But I can assure you that few men -could have presented a broader back than did the gallant purser; and it -has always been a mystery to me how a man of his rotundity got over the -ground at such a wonderful pace. He beat me by a good fifty yards. Now -who is going to take first watch?" - -"Black William is first on the roster, sorr, and I shall relave him," -answered Patrick Keown; and the Hottentot having been duly posted, the -others lay down before the camp fire and were soon wrapped in sleep-- -sleep-- - - "The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, - Great nature's second course, - Chief nourisher in life's feast!" - -CHAPTER EIGHT. - -TOM GIVES THE ALARM--RIFLE VERSUS ASSEGAI--TRIUMPH OF THE WHITE -MAN!--"KICKING JAN" OUTKICKS HIMSELF--A CATASTROPHE--ARRIVAL AT -RALFONTEIN. - -The night passed away quietly and day dawned with all the splendour of a -South African morning. By five o'clock the little camp was astir, and -our friends, having first enjoyed a refreshing dip in the clear pool at -the foot of the hill, hastened to prepare breakfast; whilst Patrick -Keown and his sable ally busied themselves making ready for the day's -journey. - -"Well, Tom, how did you get on between one and three am?" was Mr -Weston's first question when they sat down to break their fast with the -remains of last night's supper. "Found it rather lonely, didn't you?" - -"I should just think I did," was the candid reply; "horribly lonely! -And I was obliged to keep trotting backwards and forwards like a hyaena -in a cage to prevent myself nodding; not that I should have minded that, -if I'd only had someone to talk to." - -"Well, you look fresh as a four-year-old this morning," Major Flinders -said. "I'm certain that a trip of this sort is a capital thing for -getting young fellows into condition." - -"No doubt of it," assented his friend; "so long as it is not attended -with too much fatigue or hardship." - -As soon as Tom had finished his breakfast he expressed his intention of -taking a look round before they inspanned. - -"Don't go far, my boy; keep within hail," said his father. "We shall -make a start directly Keown has the carts ready." - -"All right, father," replied the boy, taking up his rifle. "I'll just -stroll up the donga and see if I can get a crack at something or other. -There's no fresh meat in the larder, you know." And off he trudged-- - - "Unknowing what he sought, - And whistling as he went for want of thought." - -Tom had not gone many yards when his attention was attracted by a -rustling amongst the reeds, and looking round, his quick eyes espied -several dark forms stealing down the watercourse towards the bivouac. -He at once scented danger, but had the presence of mind not to show that -he was alarmed; and turning coolly about he returned to his friends and -informed them of what he had seen. Hardly had he given the alarm when -thirty or forty dusky figures rushed down the donga and advanced with -threatening gestures--brandishing their weapons and uttering loud cries -of defiance. - -"Inspan, Patrick!" shouted Major Flinders to his servant as he seized -his rifle. "We can keep these black rascals off until you are ready." - -In order that Keown and his assistant should have time to collect the -few articles which had been unloaded from the carts (the Major was not -the man to abandon any of his impedimenta) and inspan, it was necessary -to meet the enemy in the open and take up a position between them and -the carts. This of course somewhat exposed the little party; but Major -Flinders was pretty well sure that his assailants belonged to a roving -tribe--half Bosjesmans, half Korannas--more renowned for thievish -propensities than for valour or warlike qualities; and he felt satisfied -that if he and his friends received them boldly they would beat a hasty -retreat. These dusky warriors were indeed but sorry specimens of their -race; they were short, narrow-chested, and hippy, whilst their faces -were of a very low type, with thick projecting lips, small depressed -noses, and roguish shifting eyes. Their weapons consisted of rough, -ill-made assegais, iron-wood clubs, or knobkerries, and small oval, -hide-covered shields. However, seeing how small a force they had to -contend with, and animated by the hope of plunder, the dingy troop -advanced with more confidence and _elan_ than might have been expected. - -"Give them one barrel first," said Major Flinders, bringing his rifle to -the "present." "Take a steady aim, and low. Now--fire!" The four -rifles rang out nearly together, and three of the enemy rolled over and -over, but their fall did not stop the rush of the others; on they came, -bent on the destruction of the little band of white men. - -"Fire again!" shouted the Major as he discharged his second barrel. - -This time every bullet found its billet, and four Caffres bit the dust; -whereupon their comrades pulled up, sent a few assegais whistling -harmlessly through the air, and then went to the right-about and bolted. -In the excitement of this, their first fight, Tom and George would have -followed up the flying enemy had not the Major restrained them, saying: - -"I have no wish to kill those poor benighted creatures save in -self-defence. Go and help Patrick to inspan, and let us be off as -quickly as possible." - -"They're not gone yet!" exclaimed Mr Weston, seeing several woolly -heads pop up amongst the shrubs and bushes to the left of the donga. - -"No, indeed! And unless I'm greatly mistaken they intend to renew their -attack," rejoined his friend. "They've more pluck and determination -than I thought for! Get the carts and mules under cover of the trees!" - -Patrick Keown at once dragged the carts into the centre of the tope, -whilst the boys and Black William drove in the mules and tethered them -between the carts, forming a sort of laager, into which the Major and -Mr Weston retired. They all took up their rifles and opened fire upon -the advancing enemy, who showed no lack of courage, and sent their -assegais hurtling amongst the trees in a style that would have done -credit to Zulu warriors. - -But they did not attempt to come to close quarters, their sole object -being to carry off their dead and wounded, not to renew their attack on -the white men, whose terrible rifles had already done to death so many -of their company. Had they been able to explain their intentions they -might have done this without let or hindrance; as it was, they lost -three more of their number. - -At last Black William divined what they were about, and begged his -master to cease firing for a minute or two. The savages then rushed -forward, caught up their unfortunate comrades, and bolted back in -double-quick time. - -"The beggars are off now, and no mistake!" cried Tom. "Let us see what -damage they have done us." - -"First and foremost there are two mules killed," responded his father; -"Sandboy and Admiral--the best animals in either team." - -"And Kicking Jan's got an ugly wound in his flank," put in Keown. "Bad -cess to the contrary baste; he's sure to git into mischief if there's -mischief about!" - -"I got hurt too," said Black William with a grin, showing a tear in his -sleeve, which was covered with blood. "And dere's young Mas'r George -been hit by dem niggers!" - -An assegai had indeed grazed George Weston's shoulder, but happily no -serious injury had been done to any of the party--nothing, in fact, that -cold water and a strip of lint would not cure. - -The dead mules were now stripped of their harness; Kicking Jan's wound -was dressed--an operation that the "contrary baste," true to his nature, -resented to the best of his power; and the travellers resumed their -journey. No sooner were they well on the move, and at a respectable -distance from their late encampment, than the discomfited savages once -more appeared on the scene, and fell tooth and nail on the carcasses of -the slain mules. - -"Bedad!" exclaimed the ex-sergeant when he saw the blacks cutting and -hacking away with their short assegais, "they'll be having a foine gorge -now! Sorra a bit of flesh will they lave on the bones of poor Sandboy -and Admiral." - -"They have paid dearly for their feast," observed Mr Weston, who was -seated beside him. "Are all the Caffres such gluttons?" - -"Indade they are, sorr," was the reply. "Just sit the best of them down -before a dead animal of any sort, from an elephant to a dossie, and -they'd go on eatin' till they were fit to bust." - -Deprived of the two best mules in the teams, and having a third -partially disabled, the travellers did not get so quickly over the -ground as they had hitherto done, and it was some time after dusk before -they arrived at Ryk's Drift. Here they were entertained by the German -missionary, and on the following morning they started on the final stage -but one of their journey. - -Soon after leaving Ryk's Drift the travellers came in sight of a range -of mountains, whose varied outline struck out into bold, precipitous -spurs, or shot up into craggy peaks, the summits of which shone in the -African sunshine almost like snow. - -"On the far side of yonder hills lies Ralfontein," said the Major, "and -crossing them will prove the toughest job of the whole journey." - -"That I can believe," rejoined his friend. "My admiration is now -changed to consternation! How ever will our mules contrive to drag the -carts up such precipices?" - -"As I said before, it will prove a very tough job," Major Flinders -answered; "but `where there's a will there's a way.'" - -"I shall believe that when I _see_ the way," laughed Mr Weston. "At -present I must confess that I am sceptical, for in all my varied -experience I have never come across a quadruped that could fly! -However, it is not for me to give my opinion; I am but a fish out of -water!" - -Towards noon the travellers commenced the ascent, and right toilsome it -proved. - -The way--for road, or even track, it certainly could not be called--was -rugged in the extreme, and full of rocks and gullies, with here and -there a narrow chasm over which the carts were dragged with the greatest -risk and difficulty. - -Every one dismounted and lent a helping hand; the Major and his servants -managing the teams, with much cracking of whips, and loud shouts of -warning or encouragement; whilst Mr Weston and the boys, literally "put -their shoulders to the wheel." - -"Oh, for the turnpike roads of old England!" sang, or rather gasped, Mr -Weston, when for about the twentieth time they halted to allow the -distressed mules to recover themselves a little. "This is desperate -work! eh, boys?" - -"Slightly warm," said Tom, mopping his perspiring face. "It takes the -superfluous flesh off one's ribs." - -"Shure, Misther Weston, we're nearly at the top," said Patrick Keown -encouragingly, "and thin you know, sorr, we'll go down the other side -noice and aisy." - -"A little too `aisy,' perchance," muttered Weston. "Facilis descensus!" - -At length the highest point of the ascent was reached; but this proved -the most hazardous part, as the track swept round a precipitous ledge -jutting out from a spur of the mountain, so narrow that it hardly -allowed six inches grace to the wheels. Along this dangerous path the -carts were taken at a snail's pace; the one containing Captain -Jamieson's goods and chattels leading the way; whilst the other (which, -save for a few articles used when outspanning, was empty) followed at an -interval of twenty paces; the mules going very gingerly, for, surefooted -though they were, it was no easy matter for them to keep on their legs. - -At this critical moment a large bird swept down from its nest in the -overhanging cliff, and with a piercing cry flew close over the tilt of -the hinder cart. Now, as ill-luck would have it, "Kicking Jan" was one -of the four mules attached to this cart, and no sooner did that contrary -and troublesome animal hear the bird's shrill call than he stopped dead; -then down went his head and up went his heels. This unseemly behaviour -set the other mules plunging and kicking, and before Black William, who -had charge of the team, could quiet them, the cart was upset, and fell -half over the ledge; the wheel-mules coming down on their sides at the -same time. - -Another plunge--a violent struggle--a wild snort of terror! and over the -precipice rolled the cart, carrying the wheelers with it. - -The moment "Kicking Jan" and the other leader felt the traces jerked and -then tighten, they ceased kicking, and strained every nerve to retain -their footing. But their efforts were in vain! The weight the poor -brutes had to sustain was too much for them; they were dragged over the -side of the ledge, and down went the cart and its team: down--down-- -down; crashing through trees and bushes and striking against rocks in -their headlong descent; down they fell to the very bottom of the -precipice! - -Horrified at this terrible catastrophe, the Major and Mr Weston ran -back and found Black William lying in the middle of the narrow path; a -broken "reim" clenched in his hand. - -"Are you much hurt?" inquired Major Flinders, picking him up. - -"Not mine vault, baas," blubbered the Hottentot with a frightened stare; -"not mine vault." - -"No, no, William," said his master; "we know that. You did all you -could. Are you hurt?" - -"I got kick in mine stomach; and all mine vind go," was the reply. - -"And our profits have gone with it, I'm afraid," said Mr Weston -dolefully. "'Pon my word, I'm a regular Jonah, and bring misfortune on -all my friends!" - -"Don't talk like that, Maurice," said the Major sharply. "Let us thank -Heaven it is no worse--that no life has been lost." - -"And it might have been the other cart, you know," put in Tom, who had -joined them. "That _would_ have been a smash!" - -"Well, Mat, I am thankful it is no worse--on your account!" Mr Weston -said. "Let us reckon up the damage." - -Major Flinders smiled, and replied:--"There's the cart, forty pounds; -four mules, at, let me say, twelve pounds a head--that's as much as they -were worth!--forty-eight pounds; harness and sundries another fifteen. -I think a hundred will cover everything; so we sha'n't lose all our -profits, Maurice. And now, _en avant_!" - -The travellers accomplished the descent of the mountain without further -mishap, and found shelter that night at a solitary farm situated in the -plain below. - -Here they remained for a couple of days, for the mules were regularly -knocked up, and required a long rest before they were in a condition to -travel the last stage--a distance of forty miles. - -Early on the morning of the second day they once more inspanned, and the -team being freshened considerably by their twenty-four hours "play," -they got over the ground in capital style, and reached Ralfontein an -hour before sundown. - -CHAPTER NINE. - -RALFONTEIN--CAPTAIN JAMIESON AND HIS FAMILY--BUSINESS BEFORE PLEASURE!-- -THE LAST EVENING AT THE FARM--A STARTLING PROPOSAL. - -Captain Jamieson's farm was situated in the midst of a fertile tract of -country, bounded on the north and east by ranges of lofty mountains and -hills; beyond which lay vast plains and dense forests, abounding with -wild animals and members of the feathered tribes, of every size and -description--from the huge elephant to the diminutive "zenik;" from the -ostrich to the tiny "creeper." - -The house, stables, and farm buildings stood on the summit of an -eminence, which rose somewhat abruptly at the junction of two narrow, -but swift streams; they were built in the form of a quadrangle, and were -admirably planned for defence. - -The pasturage in the immediate neighbourhood of the farm was remarkably -rich, wood and water were plentiful, the climate was all that could be -desired; yet this lovely district was but thinly populated, and the -"Squire of Ralfontein" was practically "monarch of all he surveyed," -there being no other settlement within five-and-thirty miles, and no -town or village within double that distance. - -Donald Jamieson was--what our Yankee cousins would call--a "very -remarkable man." He had just turned his sixtieth year, but was as -hearty and active as a man of forty. The youngest son of a poor, but -proud, Scotch laird, he had taken the "king's shilling" when a lad of -eighteen, and after seeing much active service in all parts of the -world, was awarded an ensign's commission in the "Cape Mounted -Riflemen;" in which corps he remained until he obtained his troop, when -he retired on half-pay, and took to farming. He was now considered one -of the most successful farmers in South Africa, and was also noted for -his knowledge of the country, his skill as a hunter, and the influence -he had acquired over the natives. - -[Although a mounted corps, the junior subs, of the C.M.R. held the rank -of _ensign_, not _cornet_.] - -When Matthew Flinders exchanged from the --th Foot to the Cape Mounted -Riflemen he was attached to Jamieson's troop, and from that time they -had been on the closest terms of friendship. Captain Jamieson was a -widower; his family consisted of three sons and two daughters. Frank, -the eldest boy, had just turned eighteen; his brothers, James and David, -were sixteen and fourteen respectively. The girls were--but no, we must -not divulge the young ladies' ages! suffice it to say that Miss Janet -(who since Mrs Jamieson's death had acted as her father's housekeeper) -was well out of her teens, whilst Miss Elsie had not long jumped into -hers. A pair of bonnier lasses could not have been found in the whole -of Cape Colony! - -The young Jamiesons assisted their father in looking after the farm and -the men employed upon it; of whom there were between twenty and thirty-- -mostly Hottentots, Korannas and Griquas, or "Bastaards;" these lived in -decent cottages on the estate with their wives and families, and were -all trained to the use of fire-arms; thus in the event of Ralfontein -being attacked, it could be defended by a well-disciplined and -well-armed garrison. - -"Business first, pleasure afterwards," was Major Flinders' motto; so on -the morning after he arrived at Ralfontein he informed his host of his -wish to purchase some horses. - -"You could not have come to me at a better time, Mat," was the captain's -reply. "I have now nearly seventy young uns--two, three, and four-year -olds--and about half as many aged horses in the paddocks and stables; -and early next month I expect a drove of brood mares and colts from -Campbell's Doorp. You can take your pick of those that are here or wait -for the others." - -Major Flinders replied, that as he could not remain at Ralfontein more -than a week he must choose from the horses then on the farm; so the next -three days were spent in examining and trying several "young uns," of -which the Major ultimately purchased fifteen, making up the score with -older horses. - -Tom and his crony George Weston had hoped to see some big shooting -during their stay at the Jamiesons'; but in this they were disappointed, -as, it being a busy season at the farm, their young hosts had no -opportunity of going out with them; however, like sensible lads, they -contented themselves with roaming about the estate shooting hares and -guinea-fowl, and assisting in the selection and trial of the horses; -thus they found the time pass very quickly and the last day of their -visit to the farm came round all too soon... - -"Well, my lads what think you of Ralfontein?" asked their hospitable -host as they sat round the supper-table the evening before their -departure. - -"It is the prettiest and jolliest place I ever stayed at," cried George, -with unmistakable earnestness; "that is to say, except--except -_Rustenburg_," he added, with some confusion. - -"I only wish the pater would give up Rustenburg, and settle here!" -exclaimed Tom. "How jolly we should all be together, and what sport -we'd have!" - -"That is exactly what our friend wishes me to do, Tom," laughed the -Major; "but I didn't think he would have found a supporter in you!" - -"Yes, that is true," said their host. "I tell your father that he could -sell Rustenburg for a large sum now, and once up here he would make no -end of money. You and Weston must really think it over, Mat." - -"And then you know, father," put in Tom, "when you had made your -fortune, you might return to England, and buy back Flinders Court." - -"That's your ambition, is it!" the captain said. "You want to become a -Marlshire squire! But you must see a little more of your native land -first, Tom; and I should say that a couple of years' service in the -`C.M.R.' would be the best way of seeing it. Mat, my friend, let us -have a glass together and drink to the welfare of the old corps?" - -"With all my heart, Donald! you and I have both served in other -regiments, but I am sure our happiest days were spent with the `Green -Jackets.'" - -"Do you think you will come up here, father?" inquired Tom as soon as -the old comrades had drunk their toast--with "all the honours," as old -comrades should do. - -"We must see what your mother says, Tom; such a `migration' is not to be -thought lightly of," the Major replied. "In the meantime it may satisfy -you to know that our good friend has invited us to spend a month with -him next year, just to see how we like it. And now, as we have to be in -the saddle by cock-crow, I think you youngsters had best turn in." - -CHAPTER TEN. - -FAREWELL TO RALFONTEIN. - -"Good-bye, and a pleasant journey to you," said Captain Jamieson, who, -with his sons and daughters, had turned out at daybreak to see the last -of his departing guests. "Follow the route that I have mapped out, and -I stake my reputation that you will find it comparatively easy -travelling." - -"Shall we come across plenty of game, Captain Jamieson?" was Tom's eager -question, as he took leave of his host. "I am very anxious to try this -rifle." - -"But you had a famous chance coming up here, Tom," laughed Frank -Jamieson. "There's no doubt that one or two of the blacks, who attacked -you, fell before your aim." - -"That's all very well, Frank," retorted Tom, "but niggers aren't _game_, -you know. I want to try my hand at a tiger or buck. I should very much -like to send my old form-master a handsome `kaross,' made up of skins of -my own shooting." - -"Well, my boy," said Captain Jamieson, "if you knock over one-thousandth -part of the game you see 'twixt this and Rondebosch, you'll be able to -present karosses to every master at Rugby, and feather-cloaks to their -wives and daughters; ay, and clothe the elevens with tiger-skins into -the bargain. Once more, good-bye! Hope to see you all again next -year." - -"Good-bye! good-bye!" echoed his stalwart sons. - -"Adieu! adieu! take care of yourselves," chorused the young ladies. And -amidst the waving of white handkerchiefs and regretful farewells the -little cavalcade moved off. - -Our friends had spent a very pleasant week at Ralfontein, and now they -were starting on their return journey, with the twenty horses which they -had purchased from Captain Jamieson. Several of their purchases were -already broken to the saddle, and had also been trained to behave -steadily under fire; four of these horses the Major and Mr Weston -decided to retain for their own stable, to be ridden by themselves and -the boys. Tom's "mount" was a useful red "skimmel" (roan) standing just -under fifteen hands; a well-looking animal enough, with good shoulders, -and clean, well-shaped legs, but--like most Cape horses--inclined to be -"goose-rumped." George rode at least twelve pounds lighter than did his -friend, so Mr Weston picked him out a smaller horse--a nice-looking -quiet little grey. - -Patrick Keown, who was an excellent rough-rider, chose a wild -half-broken bay. - -"I loike to combine business wid plisure," quoth he, when he gave his -troublesome nag the first bucketting. "Shure, I'll `take the gay -impidince out of his tail,' afore he's much oulder!" - -Black William was mounted on an ugly raw-boned animal that matched him -in colour. - -The route which Captain Jamieson had advised the Major to follow lay -across the Middel Roggeveldt, then over the Groote Karoo, striking into -the Beaufort-Worcester track near to Kudos Kop. From thence the road -followed the course of the Gamska River for some miles, passed close to -the base of the western extremity of the Black Mountains, and so through -the Worcester and Stellenbosch districts to Cape Town, the actual -distance which the travellers would have to cover being between 300 and -400 miles. - -The Middel Roggeveldt was traversed without adventure; they saw plenty -of game, and Tom and George proved themselves no mean shots with gun and -rifle; but, as the former truly observed, nothing happened to crow or -fuss about. - -The first difficulty the party met with occurred after they crossed the -Newied Bergen. A small river flows at the foot of this range of -mountains, the road from the north-east crossing it at a place called -Hottentot's Drift. On arriving at the drift, Major Flinders found that, -instead of a shallow river, a hundred and fifty yards wide at the most, -he would have to cross a small inundated plain; for the river had -overflowed its banks, and laid all the low land at the foot of the -Newied Bergen, under water. - -It was rather awkward work getting the horses over. Some of them did -not like it at all, and plunged and snorted with terror; others did not -seem to mind the water, but then they must needs try to roll. However, -after some trouble they were all got across; and as it was then getting -late, the major ordered a "halt," and bivouacked for the night on the -banks of the river. - -CHAPTER ELEVEN. - -HOW TOM AND HIS FRIEND WENT A-HUNTING; AND WHAT BEFELL THEM. - -Early next morning the march was resumed across the Groote Karoo--a vast -undulating plain clothed with long waving grass, and studded with -acacias, mimosa bushes, and camel-thorn--and towards noon on the -succeeding day the travellers came in sight of the Black Mountains. The -country through which they had now to pass was still open, but the -slopes of the neighbouring hills were thickly wooded; here game of all -descriptions was abundant, and the spoor of deer and other animals was -frequently to be seen. - -"Look, father!" cried George Weston, as they were traversing at a -foot-pace a fine savannah. "Look, Major Flinders, is not that a herd of -deer feeding over yonder?" - -The Major drew rein, and unstrapping his field-glass looked in the -direction indicated by his young friend. - -"You're right, George!" he presently exclaimed; "they're hartebeest. I -say, Maurice, suppose we send the youngsters after them on their own -account? They are quite old enough to go without `leading reins.'" - -"Oh, do, father!" cried George eagerly. - -"I'm sure you may trust us," put in Tom. - -"I am quite willing, Mat," replied Mr Weston, smiling at the boys' -eagerness. "After all, there's nothing like letting lads shift for -themselves to make them self-reliant. Let them go, by all means, say -I." Whereupon Master Tom gave vent to an ear-splitting "who-o-o-p," for -which display of excitement he was called to order by the pater. - -"Gently! gently, my boy," said the Major, raising his hand; "don't get -excited, or I shall have to withdraw my permission." - -Tom looked very crestfallen. - -"Now, listen to me both of you," continued his father. "Do you see that -curious-shaped hill looming in the distance?" - -"A little to our right, and about five miles off?" asked George Weston. - -"Five!" exclaimed Major Flinders. "It is nearer five-and-twenty! But -that is the hill I mean. Well, that is Kudos Kop, and we shall this -evening encamp on the banks of the Gamska, about seven miles this side -of it; so now if you lose sight of us, as you're pretty sure to do, you -will know in what direction to steer." - -"I have my pocket-compass," said Tom, producing one from his -breast-pocket. - -"That's right! Now, see that your water-bottles are full, and put a -pound or two of biscuit and some `biltong' [pieces of beef, venison, or -other meat dried in the sun] into your wallets; then you'll be -independent for the next forty-eight hours. Bear in mind one thing! -never when attacking any animal have both your rifles unloaded at the -same time; always be prepared for danger, as that is the readiest way of -escaping it. Be very careful of your horses; don't over-ride them, and -look out for sore backs." - -"All right, father, we'll not come to grief if we can help it," rejoined -Tom, tightening his girths. "Now, Patrick, hand us over the `grub'-- -there, that'll be plenty. Are you ready, George?" - -"Yes, quite ready," was the reply. "Come along!" - -"Mind you approach the herd to leeward," shouted the Major, as the boys -galloped off. - -A smart "scurry" over the yielding turf soon brought our young sportsmen -within three or four hundred yards of the unsuspecting hartebeest, when -Tom called to his companion to pull up. - -"We mustn't go at them with a rush," said he. "In fact, I almost think -our best plan would be to tether the horses to these trees and stalk the -herd on foot. What do you say?" - -"I agree with you, old fellow," replied young Weston. "You see we're -not much accustomed to shoot from the saddle." And so they both -dismounted, tied up their horses to separate trees (for Tom's nag was -rather given to using his heels), and having unslung and loaded their -rifles with more than usual care, they advanced towards the hartebeest. -The hartebeest--generally supposed to be the _Bubalus_ of the ancients-- -is one of the commonest breed of deer in Southern Africa. It stands -from four to four-and-a-half feet at the withers, the form of its body -being something between that of a red-deer and a heifer; the tail -reaches nearly to the hocks and is terminated by a tuft of coarse hair. -The head of the hartebeest somewhat resembles that of an ox, but the -ears are "asinine" in shape, and the eyes are placed very high; below -each eye is a pore from which exudes a matter: this matter the -Hottentots preserve as a rare and valuable medicine, but what diseases -it is supposed to cure we cannot say. The hartebeest is furnished with -a pair of strong black horns, embossed with rings; the horns are quite -close together at the base, diverging upwards, and at the tops bending -rearwards in a horizontal direction almost to the tips, which are -several inches apart. The colour of this animal is a dark cinnamon, -except the hind-quarter and inside the thighs, which are of a yellowish -white; the face and the fore-part of the legs are marked with black. - -When galloping, the hartebeest appear to go heavily with a donkey-like -action; but nevertheless they get over the ground quite as fast as other -large deer; if, when followed, they manage to get ahead, they are apt to -stop short and gaze at their pursuers. When hard pressed, this animal-- -like the wood-antelope and nil-ghau--drops on his knees and shows fight. - -Cautiously the two boys crept up to the herd, keeping well under cover -of the bushes and tufts of karoo-grass. - -"Now, Tom," said George, who, by the way, was much the best shot; "we're -well within range. I'll take that big fellow standing near those mimosa -bushes." - -"All right, old boy," replied Tom. "I shall aim at the buck grazing -directly in front of us; it is the easiest shot of the two, I think." - -Bang! bang! - -"Missed, by all that's unlucky!" cried Tom. "Here goes again!" He then -discharged his second barrel with no better effect; and the herd, -alarmed by the report of the rifles, galloped off towards the hills. -George Weston had wounded his buck slightly, but not sufficiently to -prevent him from following his companions. - -The boys at once doubled back to the spot where they had left their -horses, and untethering them, sprang in the saddle. - -Away they raced after the herd, but the latter had got a splendid start -and kept well ahead, until they reached some low, forest-clad hills, -which crossed the plain from north to south. Beyond these hills the -ground was covered with trees and tangled brushwood. The hartebeest -ascended the nearest hill and disappeared from sight, and the boys then -pulled up their distressed and panting horses and looked at each other -with inquiring eyes. - -"What's to be done?" asked Tom. "The nags are pretty well pumped, I -guess." - -"Yes, indeed," assented his companion; "we came the last mile or so at -racing pace. I should never have thought the hartebeest could travel so -fast! Shall we go back?" - -"What! empty-handed?" cried Tom. "Not if I know it, old chap. At any -rate we might overtake the beast you wounded. I'm sure you hit him -hard." - -"Well, we can't gallop up those hills, that's certain," returned young -Weston. "Suppose we make for that ravine; no doubt we shall meet the -herd again, if we have patience. But it's no use making a `stern chase' -of it; we must try and get round him." - -Tom nodding assent, they rode forward at a gentle pace, to allow their -horses to recover wind, and presently they entered a narrow ravine, the -precipitous sides of which were covered with arboreous and succulent -plants. - -George Weston was some four horses' lengths in advance, when of a sudden -he gave a shout of delight, as a magnificent female tree-leopard bounded -across his path, and turned up the ravine. Tom saw the brute, too; and -unslinging their rifles, the boys gave chase--George maintaining his -position ahead. - -The tree-leopard of South Africa (though called by Africanders the -"Cape-tiger") is to all intents and purposes identical with the _Felis -leopardus_ of the naturalists; in plain English, is an ordinary leopard, -and partakes of all the characteristics of that beautiful, but dangerous -animal--the terror alike of the timid Hindoo, the Chinee, and the savage -islander of Sumatra. - -Now though the leopard will rarely attack a full-grown man, unless -driven into a corner, he is a very awkward customer to deal with when he -does turn; and many fatal encounters have been chronicled. - -[Some of our readers may remember the sad fate of Captain Bowlby, 94th -Regiment, who, shortly before the Transvaal war broke out, was fatally -injured by a "Cape-tiger."] - -Our readers will now be able to form a fair idea of the sort of "game" -Master Thomas Flinders and George Weston thought fit to go in chase of. -Finding herself hotly pursued, the leopard at first endeavoured to -escape by clambering up the precipice on her left, but at that moment -young Weston pulled up, and let fly with both barrels, inflicting a -severe wound in the fleshy part of her shoulder. Maddened with pain and -mingled rage and terror, the hard pressed and well-nigh frantic brute -turned, and springing upon George dragged him out of the saddle. - -Now, Tom Flinders knew well enough how savage and dangerous a leopard -could be if once brought to bay, so when he saw his friend struggling on -the ground, he uttered an involuntary cry of horror; then, regardless of -the consequences, he jumped off his horse and rushed to the rescue. - -Taking aim at the leopard's flank, Tom gave his two barrels at once; but -owing to his natural agitation as well as his fear of injuring George, -he missed with both shots. The leopard then abandoned her prostrate and -senseless victim, and darted upon Tom with redoubled fury. In spite of -the suddenness and ferocity of this onset, the boy was not taken -unawares; and clubbing his rifle he swung it round his head, and by -great good fortune caught the terrible brute a swashing blow which -brought her to the ground. The butt of the rifle was shivered to -splinters, but our young hero drew his long hunting-knife and threw -himself on the leopard before she could regain her feet. Deep into the -brute's throat Tom pressed the keen blade; with one convulsive effort -she shook herself clear of her antagonist and at the same time stunned -him with a blow of her powerful paw; then, fatally wounded, she bounded -off a few yards and fell dead. - -That night, the moon rose upon a curious scene! Upon the bright green -turf the two lads were stretched senseless and bleeding, and near them -lay the carcass of their four-footed foe. - -CHAPTER TWELVE. - -MISSING!--THE SEARCH--HOW TOM WAS BESIEGED IN A CAVE--THE RETURN HOME. - -"Why, here come the boys!" exclaimed Major Flinders, as he and his -friend Weston sat round the camp fire, on the banks of the Gamska River, -smoking their after-supper pipes and chatting over old times. "I hear -the sound of their horses' gallop." - -"But you did not expect to see them much before noon to-morrow," said -Mr Weston in a tone of surprise. "They would never have returned so -soon! You must be mistaken, Mat." - -"There are horses galloping in this direction, that I'll swear to," -rejoined his friend, who had risen to his feet and was listening -attentively. "And what's more, they're coming towards us at a -tremendous pace. What say you, Keown?" - -Kneeling down, Patrick Keown placed his ear to the ground; and after a -lengthened pause, replied: "They're horses, shure enough, sorr; but, by -the beat of their gallop, I fear there's never a sowl on their backs. -No, sorr, there's no doubt about that," he presently added. "And -they're slackening pace now." - -At that moment, as if to prove the truth of the ex-sergeant's words, two -riderless horses cantered quickly up, and halted a few paces from the -camp fire; they were those upon which Tom and George had ridden after -the hartebeest in the morning! - -The Major and Mr Weston stared at each other in consternation. - -The horses were covered with sweat and dirt, and their distended -nostrils and heaving, foam-flecked flanks bore silent but convincing -testimony that they must have travelled some distance at a stretching -gallop; whilst one of them--George's grey--had an ugly wound on his near -shoulder. - -"Mat," said Mr Weston huskily, his face betraying his agitation and -alarm, "the poor lads must have come to grief--possibly they have been -attacked, and--and murdered by natives!" - -"I trust not, my dear Maurice; nay, I am sure that such is not the -case," answered the Major. - -"In the first place, the natives would have been nearly certain to -secure the horses; and in the second place--" - -"This wound in the grey's shoulder was inflicted by a wild baste, not a -human cratur," interrupted Keown, who had caught George's horse. "Look -ye, Misther Weston, there are the marks of the brute's claws as plain as -a pike-staff." - -"There's no mistake about it," said Major Flinders, stooping down and -examining the grey's shoulder; "this is a tiger's work. Maurice," he -added, "you and Patrick Keown must remain here, whilst I take William -and go in search of the poor boys." - -"I would rather go with you, Mat," replied the other. - -"No, old friend, do you remain here, the Hottentot is an admirable -`tracker,' and I could not do without him. Patrick, saddle up at once." - -A couple of horses were quickly saddled, and Major Flinders and Black -William mounted. - -"Is there any hope, Mat?" whispered Mr Weston, as he wrung his friend's -hand at parting. - -"We must hope for the best, Maurice," was the doubtful reply. - -It was a bright moonlight night, and the Hottentot had no difficulty in -following the back track of the horses, as he and his master went over -the ground at a hand-gallop. The Major's heart was heavy, for he feared -the worst; and for some time he rode along in silence. - -"What think you, William?" said he at length. "Is there any hope that -the young gentlemen are alive?" - -Black William shook his woolly head, saying: "I think tiger pull Baas -George from his horse, and dat Baas Tom try to save him. But tiger too -strong for yong baas to fight." - -The Major's heart sank within him: not that he had had much hope from -the first; and he bitterly reproached himself for having allowed the -boys to go off alone. Day was beginning to dawn when they came in sight -of the range of hills over which the herd had disappeared when chased by -the boys; here the `spoor' of the hartebeest was very distinct, and the -Hottentot, tracking them to the foot of the hill, pointed out to his -master where they had crossed. Hope then revived in the Major's breast, -for it struck him that the boys might have followed the game afoot, and -during their absence the horses must have broken loose and galloped -off--frightened most probably by some wild beast. - -"We will off-saddle for an hour or so, William," said he, drawing rein -and dismounting near the entrance to the ravine. "And do you ascend the -hills, and--" - -"Vat dat, baas?" cried Black William, as a rifle-shot echoed amongst the -hills--a shot that had evidently been fired at no great distance from -the spot where they stood. - -"The boys!" shouted Major Flinders; "the boys, no doubt! Come on, man." - -And springing into his saddle, he put spurs to his horse and rode up the -ravine at full gallop, followed by the Hottentot. - -When Tom Flinders recovered consciousness he staggered to his feet and -took a look around him. - -A few paces up the ravine lay George Weston; the dead leopard was a -little further on; but the horses were nowhere to be seen. - -"This is pleasant!" said Tom, feeling himself all over to make sure that -no bones were broken. "How my poor head does ache, to be sure; that -tiger must have caught me a thundering lick with his paw! I do hope -poor old George isn't done for," he added, kneeling down by the side of -his friend; "he got it far worse than I did. Halloa, George! how are -you, old chap?" - -At the sound of his friend's voice George Weston's senses partially came -back to him, and--much to Tom's relief--he made an attempt to raise his -head; but he had been sorely mauled by the leopard, and was quite unable -to speak, or help himself. - -Seeing this, Tom looked about for a suitable place to take him, and -presently hit upon a small cavity in the hillside: thither he carried -the senseless boy, and proceeded to dress his wounds as well as he was -able; for George was much hurt, the leopard having severely lacerated -his thigh with her formidable claws, besides biting him right through -the forearm. - -However, Tom made him as comfortable as possible; then, seeing that -nothing more could be done until morning, he gathered some boughs, -brushwood, and large stones, and with them built up a rough breastwork -in front of the cavity--which might be described as a small cave about -six feet deep, by five or six in height. Then he dragged the dead -leopard within it, secured George's rifle and the shattered remains of -his own, and, after a heart-felt prayer of thankfulness for his escape, -lay down beside his friend, and fell fast asleep. - -The day was breaking when Tom Flinders was awakened by a violent blow on -the legs. Jumping to his feet, he seized his rifle and looked over the -breastwork; his appearance was immediately hailed by a loud chattering, -and a volley of stones and other missiles came whizzing about his ears. - -"Niggers!" Tom exclaimed, bringing his rifle to the "ready;" "but where -the dickens are they?" - -"Hi! what on earth are you about?" he shouted, as a big piece of rock -knocked off his hat. "You're an uncommon good shot, no doubt," he went -on, ducking down in order to escape another stony "projectile;" "but if -I catch a glimpse of you, I'll let you know that it is not a rook you're -pegging at." - -As the boy spoke he caught sight of a dark active form swinging itself -from tree to bush on the opposite side of the ravine; without a moment's -thought, he raised his rifle and pulled the trigger, and down came the -figure by the run. - -"There!" cried Tom angrily, for his temper was considerably ruffled. -"I'll teach you to make a cock-shy of me!" But now the ravine resounded -with ear-splitting cries, and to Tom's utter amazement a whole troop of -baboons appeared amongst the trees and bushes; and, after gibbering and -grimacing round their deceased brother for a few seconds, they suddenly -scampered off, springing from rock to rock, from tree to tree with -marvellous agility, until they were lost to view. - -"Why, hang it all! I must have bowled over a monkey!" was the boy's -exclamation. "Poor brute! I wish I hadn't been quite so ready with my -rifle." - -The next moment Major Flinders and Black William appeared in sight, and -with a wild shout of delight Tom jumped over his barricade and ran to -meet them. - -The Major looked very grave when he examined poor George's wounds, for -he at once saw that they were of a serious, if not of a highly -dangerous, character--such, in fact, as called for skilled treatment. -If the boy's life was to be saved, it would be necessary to procure -medical assistance as soon as possible. Now the nearest place where -Major Flinders could make certain of finding a surgeon was Fort Crause, -a small town and military post situated some thirty-five miles to the -east-north-east: and to Fort Crause he resolved to carry the lad without -any delay. - -"We must start at once, you and I, Tom," said the Major, as he scribbled -a few hasty lines on a leaf torn from his pocket-book. "William will -take this note back to Weston; I have briefly related what has occurred, -and told him to join us at Fort Crause." - -"And what is to become of Patrick Keown and the horses, father? Are -they to follow us, or wait until we return to the Gamska?" - -"Keown will come on with Weston, and we shall have to change our route, -and return home by the upper road to Tulbagh. Now, my boy, jump up, and -we will place George in your arms; you must hold him in as easy a -position as you can. There--now raise his head a little more; that will -do! I will lead the horse." - -To convey a wounded person thirty miles on horseback under a burning -South African sun is a very dangerous experiment; and, had George Weston -been taken the whole distance under such circumstances, he would -certainly have suffered severely, and probably not have survived the -journey; but happily, before they had gone very far, they fell in with -an empty mule-waggon returning to Fort Crause, to which George was -immediately transferred, and thus he travelled in comparative comfort. - -A week later Major Flinders and Tom, with the servants and horses, made -a fresh start, and at the end of five days marched into Rondebosch; but -George Weston was detained at Fort Crause for more than a month, and of -course his father remained to look after him. At first the doctor gave -but faint hopes of his recovery--for inflammation set in, and it was -feared that tetanus would supervene; but in the end, youth and a famous -constitution gained the upper hand, and George was able to rise from his -sick-bed. - -When, at length, he and his father returned to Rustenburg Farm, they -found to their satisfaction that the Major had disposed of the young -horses for nearly double the price he paid for them; so, after all, -"Kicking Jan" did not dissipate all the profits of the expedition, but -when every expense had been allowed for there still remained a good -round sum to be placed to the credit of the firm of "Flinders, Weston, -and Sons." - -CHAPTER THIRTEEN. - -TWO YEARS AFTER--RUMOURS OF WAR--GOOD NEWS FOR TOM--MR WESTON MAKES AN -INTERESTING PROPOSAL. - -Nearly two years have passed since the events recorded in the previous -chapters, and our hero is once more the guest of Captain Jamieson. The -Westons, too, are at Ralfontein, likewise Patrick Keown and the faithful -Hottentot, Black William. - -But not Major Flinders? - -No; the Major is away in England with his wife and daughters, and many -months must elapse before Tom can hope to see their faces again. - -But let us "hark back," and see what has happened since George Weston -was so nearly done to death by the tree-leopard. - -In the spring of 1845 Mrs Flinders was suddenly seized with a sharp -attack of illness which for some time entirely baffled the skill of the -Cape Town doctors; and when, after weeks of anxiety and watching, they -seemed to get the better of the disease, the poor lady was left almost -at death's door. Days went by without the patient showing any -appreciable signs of improvement, and at length the doctors were obliged -to confess that though they had checked the disorder they had by no -means conquered it. The plain truth was, they were altogether out of -their depth. - -Said the pompous and portly Dr Brownjohn: "Major, you must, I fear, -take our interesting patient to England, and--ha--and--" - -"Seek better advice," interrupted plain-spoken Mr Spike, his -brother-medico. "We can do nothing more, my dear sir. The case is -beyond us, I'm grieved to say." - -"And--hum!--and, I was about to say, the sea voyage may possibly benefit -her," continued the great M.D., looking "prussic acid and strychnine" at -his candid colleague. "As my young friend Spike suggests," he added -after a pause, "you _might_ consult some well-known London physician. -Sir Timothy Glauber and Doctor Peter Bolus are both eminent men--very -eminent men, I may say; you could not do better than seek their valuable -advice." - -"But will my poor wife be able to stand the voyage?" the anxious husband -inquired, glancing from one doctor to the other. "She is lamentably -weak, you know." - -"True--very true!" assented Brownjohn, pursing his lips. "But let us -hope for the best--yes, my dear sir, let us hope for the best! While -there's life--while there's life!--hum! Pray, what is _your_ opinion, -Mr Spike?" - -"That it is her only chance," bluntly responded Mr Spike. "And hark -ye, Major, take Mrs F to Newman--John Newman of Saint Margaret's -Square. He is not a fashionable doctor, but there's not a more clever -fellow in the whole College of Physicians, and what is better, he has -had wonderful experience in intricate cases. If any man can pull your -wife through this illness it is John Newman!" - -And thus it came to pass that Major and Mrs Flinders started for -England by the next steamer, their daughters accompanying them. - -Now shortly before this trouble befell the Major he and Mr Weston -(after much consideration and careful weighing of pros and cons) had, -with the approval of Mrs Flinders, made up their minds to migrate to -Ralfontein and enter into partnership with Captain Jamieson; and the -former was on the point of closing with a most advantageous offer for -Rustenburg Farm, when his wife's illness upset their plans and drove all -other ideas from their heads. - -In fact, nothing more was said concerning the projected migration until -Doctors Brownjohn and Spike advised that Mrs Flinders should be taken -to England. The Major then suggested that (as the above-mentioned offer -still held good) Rustenburg should be sold forthwith, and that the -Westons and Tom should proceed to Ralfontein as soon as the necessary -arrangements could be made. To this proposal Mr Weston gave a ready -consent; and accordingly he, Gracie, and the two boys, attended by -Patrick Keown and Black William, started for Ralfontein a fortnight -after the mail steamer sailed from Table Bay; and at the time the -present chapter opens they had been with the Jamiesons upwards of six -months. - -And now we can go ahead with our "plain unvarnished tale" without any -more "backing and filling." - -It is a chilly evening in the early part of the Cape autumn, [March, -April, and May are the autumn months in South Africa], and Captain -Jamieson and his family are gathered round a blazing _castange hout_ -fire in the general sitting-room of Ralfontein House. The captain looks -anxious and fatigued, as well he may do, for he has just returned from -Graham's Town, whither, ten days before, he was summoned by the -Lieutenant-Governor of the Eastern District to attend a "palaver" with -some troublesome Caffres; and he has ridden upwards of 100 miles over a -difficult country in less than fourteen hours--not bad work for a man -who will never see sixty again! - -"So we're in for another Caffre war!" Frank Jamieson said when his -father informed them that the result of the "palaver" had been far from -satisfactory. "That makes the third in sixteen years, to say nothing of -minor affairs." - -"I suppose the Caffres have grown `fat' again," observed young James. - -"`Fat!'" exclaimed Mr Weston; "in the name of all that's sensible, what -has their growing _fat_ got to do with their going to war?" - -Captain Jamieson and his sons laughed at their friend's astonishment, -and the former replied: - -"You must know, my dear Weston, that our Cape wars rarely arise from -political causes, but chiefly from a desire on the part of the young men -of the various tribes to distinguish themselves and earn the coveted -title of `warrior.' When a tribe has been some years at peace with its -neighbours the number of young men increase; this they call growing -`fat,' or, in other words, becoming ready to take the field. Once in -this condition the young men never rest until they find a pretext for -going to war either with us or their neighbours." - -"And what pretext have they now?" inquired Miss Janet. - -"A very simple one, my dear. Two Caffres, warriors of some standing in -their tribe, were lately caught in the act of stealing an axe from a -Beaufort storekeeper. They were secured, committed by the magistrate, -and in due course were sent down to Graham's Town with some other -prisoners to stand their trial at the criminal court--their escort -consisting of five or six civil constables. Now the highroad between -Fort Beaufort and Graham's Town runs close along the Caffre border; and -before the constables had gone many miles they were suddenly attacked by -a party of Gaikas, who had crossed the border with the express purpose -of rescuing their fellow-tribesmen. The escort appear to have made a -stout resistance, but, overcome by their weight of numbers, they were -forced to beat a retreat and leave their prisoners in the hands of the -victorious Gaikas. Now it so happened that the warriors who were the -cause of this attack were handcuffed to two Hottentots; and their -rescuers, not being able to unfasten the handcuffs, and being pressed -for time, deliberately murdered these unhappy men, and, cutting off -their arms at the elbow-joints, set their rascally friends at liberty. - -"When the lieutenant-governor was informed of this outrage he at once -sent a message to the chiefs of the offending tribe, and demanded that -the two prisoners should be brought back and the murderers of the -unfortunate Hottentots surrendered. But the young `amadodas' of the -tribe were eager for war, and, their counsels outweighing the counsels -of the older men, the government message was treated with contempt. - -"A `palaver' was, however, subsequently arranged for; and last Wednesday -the lieutenant-governor, the senior officer at Graham's Town, and I -started for the Block Drift mission station to meet the Gaika chiefs. -They arrived at the appointed time, attended by a large body of warriors -outnumbering the lieutenant-governor's escort by ten to one. - -"That the treacherous scoundrels meant mischief I am certain, but -Captain S--who commanded the escort placed his men so judiciously that -they made no attempt to attack us; and though the meeting was most -unsatisfactory, at any rate it broke up without a rumpus--which was more -than I expected. War, of course, is imminent; for it is absolutely -necessary that the government should bring the refractory chiefs to -order, otherwise our prestige will be seriously damaged throughout South -Africa." - -"I suppose we shall have it all our way, Captain Jamieson?" said Tom -Flinders, now a strapping young fellow of eighteen, with an incipient -moustache and whiskers. "These Gaika fellows won't make much of a stand -against our troops." - -"The Gaikas and their allies are brave men, Tom, and fight well," was -the reply. "Indeed, my experience of Cape warfare is that at first the -Caffres have it all their own way, though in the long run they succumb -to our superior discipline and resources. Take the advice of an old -campaigner, and never despise your enemies." - -"Shall you have to go out this time?" asked Janet Jamieson wistfully, -putting her arm round the captain's neck. "I hope not, dear father!" - -"I am afraid so, my girl," he answered gently. "The Lieutenant-governor -has offered me the command of a force of volunteers and burghers, and I -could not well refuse it." - -"And what about us?" cried the young men in a breath. - -"You cannot all go, boys," interposed Miss Jamieson, the tears starting -into her bright eyes. "Who is to look after the farm and defend us in -case of attack?" - -"Janet is right," said her father. "Ralfontein must not be left -unprotected, for we cannot tell how far this war may spread or how long -it will last." - -"You must allow _me_ to accompany you, Jamieson," Mr Weston struck in; -whereupon Miss Janet started and the colour left her cheeks. "I shall -be content to serve as a simple volunteer." - -"My dear Weston, I am relying on your taking command here," rejoined the -captain, looking askance at his daughter. "But let me tell you my -plans. In the first place," he went on, "the lieutenant-governor has -offered provisional ensigncies in the Cape Mounted Rifles to Tom -Flinders and Frank, on the--" - -"Hurrah!" shouted Tom, who, in spite of his incipient whiskers, was as -great a boy as ever; "won't the pater be pleased!" - -"On the condition," resumed his host, smiling at the interruption--"on -the condition that they serve a few months with my `commando,' in order -to establish a claim on the government. I have accepted this offer on -their behalf; so they must go with me. I shall also take Patrick Keown, -as he will be useful in assisting me to drill my `irregulars' into -something like soldiers. So you see, my dear Weston, you must remain at -Ralfontein and take charge of the place, with George and James and David -as your lieutenants. I hope you will not refuse the trust." - -"What say the young ladies?" was Mr Weston's rejoinder. "Are you -content to serve under my orders, Miss Janet?" - -"If papa wishes it," answered Miss Janet demurely. - -"Then so be it," laughed Weston; "I accept the responsible post of -commandant of Ralfontein. When do you start for the seat of war?" - -"Not for some days," responded the captain. "Whilst at Graham's Town I -did a stroke of business--sold thirty horses to the government. A -sergeant's party of the Rifles are to fetch them in the course of a week -or so, and I propose to return with them. And that reminds me I have -accepted, in part payment for the horses, a brass six-pounder -field-piece, with eighty rounds of canister, grape, and shell. The -escort will bring it up with them. Should you have to defend the farm, -you will find this gun of considerable service." - -The captain and Mr Weston sat up talking long after the others had -sought their couches, and before they retired to rest Mr Weston told -his friend that he had formed an attachment for Janet Jamieson. - -"I did not intend to broach the subject until I had consulted with -Matthew Flinders," said he; "but after your request that I should remain -in charge of your property and family during your absence, I felt in -honour bound to mention it. In spite of the disparity in our ages, I -cannot but think your daughter returns my affection. If such is the -case, are you willing to give her to me?" - -And as Captain Jamieson had no objection to offer, but on the contrary -appeared well satisfied that the "course of true love should run -smooth," Mr Weston next morning asked Miss Janet to be his wife; to -which tender question the young lady, with a becoming blush, said "Yes." - -CHAPTER FOURTEEN. - -OFF TO THE WARS!--JAMIESON'S HORSE--A BUMPTIOUS SUB--TOM'S FIRST PATROL. - -Although the Cape government declared war almost immediately after the -"palaver" at Block Drift, some considerable time elapsed before the -troops received final orders to take the field and enter Caffreland; and -the first week of April was nearly over when Captain Jamieson, -accompanied by his eldest son, Tom Flinders, and Patrick Keown, and -escorted by the Mounted Riflemen in charge of the horses, left -Ralfontein to assume command of the volunteers. - -In the interval between the captain's return from Graham's Town and his -departure to join the army, Miss Janet and Mr Weston found time and -opportunity to get married, at a Church of England mission chapel forty -miles from the farm; so he bade farewell to his family with the -consoling assurance that he was leaving them under care of one who now -had a relation's right to comfort them in adversity or defend them in -peril. - -On the thirty-second anniversary of the battle of Toulouse [Wellington -defeated Soult at Toulouse on the 10th April, 1814. It was the final -battle of the Peninsular war.] (in which action Donald Jamieson, then -sergeant-major of the --th Foot, was severely wounded) the party from -Ralfontein arrived at Graham's Town and handed over the horses to the -military authorities; and, having purchased a few articles likely to -prove of service during the campaign, they proceeded to join Colonel H. -Somerset's column, encamped at Victoria--a military post which had been -recently established on neutral territory between the Kat and Keiskamma -Rivers. - -The burgher force, of which Captain Jamieson now took command, consisted -of about six-score well-armed, well-mounted men; for the most part -farmers and their sons from the neighbouring settlements, with a -sprinkling of storekeepers and clerks from Graham's Town and Bathurst. -They were hardy, active fellows enough, accustomed to the saddle and the -use of the rifle; but--with the exception of a few of the older hands, -who had served on "commandos" in former wars--they were as ignorant of -drill or military discipline as any civilian in England before the -"volunteer movement" had been thought of. - -"Shure now, Masther Tom," observed Patrick Keown, regarding his future -comrades (who had mustered and formed up to receive their commandant) -with a critical eye, "we have here fornint us the raw _matherials_ for -as foine a squadron of Light Horse as there is in Her Majesty's service. -But, bedad, sorr!" he added with a solemn shake of the head, "they'll -take a dale of _mixing_." - -"Mixing!" laughed Tom. "I should say they're pretty well mixed as it -is. Still, I wager a dollar they know how to ride, and they'll fight -well enough. After all, that's the main point." - -"They are for work, not for show," put in young Jamieson. - -"True for ye, Misther Frank," the old sergeant rejoined; -"niver-the-less, with your father's lave, I must tache them to pay -attintion to their dhressing and intervals. A loine is a loine, you'll -be plased to remimber, sorr; not a sort of double semicircle." - -Of this irregular corps--which Captain Jamieson formed into two troops-- -Frank and Tom were appointed officers, with the local and temporary rank -of ensign; the lieutenant-governor promising that after they had seen a -little service he would recommend their transfer to the Cape Mounted -Riflemen as provisional ensigns. - -Much to his chagrin, Patrick Keown had scant opportunity of imparting -the "ilimints" of drill and discipline to the Albany farmers and -townsmen who rode in the ranks of "Jamieson's Horse;" for three days -after he was appointed sergeant-major of that corps the advance against -the Caffres commenced. - -Early on the morning of the 13th April, the troops marched from Victoria -in two columns--one commanded by Colonel Henry Somerset, Cape Mounted -Rifles, the other by Colonel Richardson, 7th Dragoon Guards--and -crossing the Keiskamma near its junction with Debe River, they, on the -15th, encamped on the Debe Flats, near the base of the "Taban Doda," or -Man Mountain; here the two columns were formed into one division, of -which Colonel Somerset assumed command. - -At cock-crow on the following day the troops were again on the move; -and, the camp having been broken up, they advanced towards the Amatola -Mountains. The point at which Colonel Somerset intended to enter the -Amatolas was Burns Hill, where there was a large mission station, and -near which the great chief Sandilli had his principal kraal. - -Shortly before the division was formed up, Captain Jamieson received -orders to detail an officer and twenty men of his corps to join a -reconnoitring party, under command of Lieutenant B--of the Mounted -Rifles. The officer who brought the order was a very young and -consequential subaltern of the --th Foot, attached to Colonel Somerset's -staff as galloper. Said he, when he had delivered his message: - -"B--has orders to advance towards Burns Hill, and if he finds Sandilli's -kraal deserted, or only held by a small force, he is to occupy it. -You'll be good enough to make your fellows hurry themselves; in affairs -like this it is important that no time should be lost." - -"They shall be in the saddle in ten minutes," the captain replied. "I -hear the mission station has been destroyed," he added. "Is that so?" - -"Yes, but the missionaries and their people bolted, and are now at -Graham's Town," was the reply. - -"Should all go well, we shall encamp at Burns Hill this evening, and -there await the arrival of Major Sutton's `commando' of Hottentots from -the Kat River. If he joins us to-night, no doubt we shall be at it -`hammer and tongs' to-morrow--or next day at the latest." - -"I trust we shall soon bring the Caffres to reason," Captain Jamieson -answered, with something like a sigh. "These oft-recurring little wars -must inevitably ruin the country, for they paralyse every industry and -trade; besides, the destruction of life and property is simply -appalling." - -"I'm afraid we military men think more of `medals, rank, ribbons,' etc, -than of trade, industry, or even life and property," was the flippant -rejoinder. "Of course that is the soldier's point of view; but you -amateurs--" - -"Amateurs!" exclaimed Tom, boiling over at hearing his "chief" thus -designated. "_Coxy_ young--" - -"I am scarcely an amateur," Captain Jamieson interrupted, frowning at -Tom to make him hold his tongue. "Allow me to tell you, young -gentleman, that I was present at the passage of the Douro, and saw the -last shot of the Peninsular war fired at Toulouse. I presume you have -heard of the Peninsula?" - -"Eh! Peninsula! Oh, yes. I--I--beg pardon, I'm sure!--thought you-- -you were a--a--a civilian, you know. Very sorry--quite a mistake-- -Good--good morning!" stammered the ensign turning as red as his -shell-jacket. And off he cantered, muttering to himself, "Doosid -awkward! Put my foot into it, by George! Hope our fellows won't hear -about it." - -But "our fellows" did hear of it, and the bumptious youth got -unmercifully chaffed in consequence; which he most thoroughly deserved, -and which, no doubt, did him a vast deal of good. - -After a brief consultation with Patrick Keown, Captain Jamieson decided -to send Tom Flinders in command of the detachment; so, twenty minutes -later, our hero found himself cantering over the Flats at the head of a -score of well-armed volunteers. Each man of the detachment was armed -with a double-barrelled rifle, hunting-knife, and horse-pistol, and -carried a "cross-bag" (after the manner of Dutch burghers when on the -"war-path") containing a supply of moss-biscuit and biltong, sufficient -to last for several days. Moss-biscuit, we may add for the information -of our readers, is a light, dry biscuit made of fine flour mixed with -"mosto," the unfermented juice of the grape; it will keep good for -almost any length of time, and is both portable and nutritious. - -Lieutenant B--, who commanded the reconnoitring party, was a right good -fellow, and Tom soon became friends with him. - -B--had been some years in the Mounted Rifles, and was considered one of -the smartest officers in that corps; he was also an enthusiastic -sportsman--just the man that a lad of Tom's age and disposition could -look up to, and at the same time be on terms of good fellowship with. - -"Were you in the `C.M.R.' with my father?" asked Tom, as they rode side -by side; having slackened pace in order to breathe the horses, for they -had been "putting on the steam" since they left camp. - -"No; but I have often met him. The Major, I think, retired in '29, and -I did not get my commission until '35; just about the time Hintza was -killed. You will remember that business, I daresay." - -"Can't say I remember it, for I was quite a youngster at the time; only -just `breeched' in fact," Tom replied, "but I have heard the pater -mention it. Hintza was shot when attempting to escape, was he not?" - -"Yes; when a prisoner on parole." - -"I should like to hear about it," said Tom, who dearly loved a yarn. - -"Well," replied his companion; "it is rather a long story, but I can -tell you the main facts, for I was one of those who pursued him. In -May, 1835, Hintza, the paramount Chief of Caffreland, was a prisoner in -the British camp, and, for his sins, had been sentenced to pay a fine of -50,000 head of cattle. This fine he expressed himself willing to pay, -if he were allowed to return to his own country to superintend the -collection of the cattle. At first the governor would not listen to -this, but after a lot of palaver and negotiation, it was arranged that -Hintza should be permitted to go, under a strong escort; his son Kreilli -and his uncle Bookoo being retained as hostages in the British camp. - -"An old Rifle Brigadesman, General Sir Harry Smith, was selected to -command the escort; which consisted of both horse and foot, regulars and -irregulars, but no artillery. I was then serving in the `Guides' corps -as a volunteer, and was one of those appointed to the general's -body-guard. - -"Well, the column left the head-quarter camp on the banks of the Kei, -and advanced into Caffreland by forced marches. Hintza was treated as a -sort of a prisoner at large, and usually rode with the general; he was -splendidly mounted, and had been permitted to retain his arms--the usual -bundle of seven assegais. - -"On the fourth morning after leaving the camp, the column reached the -summit of a table-topped mountain. We now had a splendid view of the -country beyond the Bashee River, and to our surprise, saw thousands and -thousands of cattle being driven _away_ from us. - -"This circumstance somewhat staggered us, and Sir Harry was examining -the retreating masses through his field-glass, when suddenly somebody -shouted, `Hintza has bolted!' - -"On hearing the cry, Sir Harry dropped his glasses and, putting spurs to -his charger, raced after the fugitive, who had got a start of fifty or -sixty yards. We, of course, joined in the chase, but the general soon -distanced us, and, overtaking the chief, ordered him to pull up; -whereupon Hintza made a stab at him with his bundle of assegais. - -"Sir Harry parried the thrust, and drawing a pistol threatened to shoot -the chief, if he did not immediately surrender. Hintza replied by -making another attempt to stab him, so Sir Harry fired, but without -effect. - -"Thousands of Caffres were now to be seen crowning the hills in all -directions, and towards them Hintza rode for dear life. Once more Sir -Harry dashed up to him, and, seizing him by his tiger-skin kaross, -hurled him to the ground; but the impetus of his gallop carried him past -the fallen chief, who was on his legs in an instant, and off down the -precipitous side of the mountain. - -"By this time four of the Guides, who had joined in the chase, came up, -and jumping from their horses, followed the fugitive on foot; these four -were S--y, D--r, B--r and myself. I sent two shots after the flying -chief, both of which went wide of their mark; he then gained the bush at -the foot of the hill, and disappeared from sight. - -"S--y and B--r now entered the bush from above, and D--r and I (who were -further down the hill) from below; and, working towards one another, we -presently closed in upon our human quarry, S--y being the first to come -upon him. - -"Hintza was then standing up to his middle in a narrow stream, which ran -through the bush, beneath a shelving rock; and when he caught sight of -S--y he drew an assegai, and poised it. Nothing daunted S--y approached -and called upon him to surrender, whereupon the Caffre threw back his -right arm and was in the act of hurling the assegai at his pursuer, when -the latter, seeing that he must either kill or be killed, levelled his -rifle and fired. His ball struck the fugitive right in the centre of -the forehead, and throwing up his hands, he fell backwards against a -rock. We rushed in and lifted him up, but the rifle-ball had done its -work, and Hintza, the powerful Chief of Caffraria, had gone to his last -account." - -"Serve the treacherous scoundrel right!" exclaimed Tom, when the -lieutenant came to the end--the tragical end--of his narrative. "Had he -got the escort into his power not one of you would have lived to tell -the tale. I suppose that was what he was aiming at?" - -"No doubt of it; his purpose was to entice us into the heart of his -country, and then surround us with an overwhelming force," rejoined Mr -B--. "He played a bold game, and lost it! Still we were, one and all, -from the general downwards, sorry for his untimely death; and nobody -more so than the man who shot him. And now, Flinders, I think you had -better ride with your troop, for yonder is Burns Hill. The mission -station lies to the right, and Sandilli's kraal is a little beyond it." - -In another ten minutes they came in sight of the mission station, and -B--galloped forward to join his advanced files. - -"Keep your fellows well in hand," said he to Tom, before riding off; -"and be ready to support me if necessary. From the fact that the houses -and chapel are still standing, I am inclined to think that Sandilli -intends to hold his ground." - -Mr B--, however, was mistaken, for on approaching, with every -precaution, Burns Hill, he found that both the mission station and the -chief's kraal were deserted; but though the former was not burned down -(as had been reported), every house had been ransacked, and broken -furniture, papers, school-books, Bibles, and many other articles lay -scattered in all directions. - -"Verily, the Caffre is a destructive animal!" cried Tom, when he rode up -and surveyed the scene. "His bump of mischief must be strongly -developed." - -"A European mob would commit quite as much damage, if in the mood," -Lieutenant B--answered. "I don't think there would be much to choose -between Santerre's `sans culottes,' and Sandilli's `amadodas.' But -behold our only trophy!" he added, holding up a couple of lions' tails. -"Sergeant Jackson found them at the entrance of the chief's hut." - -"What are they?" asked Tom. "Chamboks?" [A peculiar kind of thonged -whip.] - -"Chamboks! no indeed; they're the Caffre emblems of royalty." - -Towards noon the division reached Burns Hill, and encamped near the -mission station, and shortly afterwards Major Sutton's "commando" -marched up, and formed a separate camp on the other side of the -Keiskamma River. So when the tired soldiers lay down to rest that night -it was pretty well understood that there would probably be warm work on -the morrow. - -CHAPTER FIFTEEN. - -TOM RECEIVES AN UNEXPECTED INVITATION--WITH THE CAPE RIFLES--MOUNTAIN -WARFARE--FORMIDABLE ODDS--THE EFFECTS OF SHELL. - -Shortly before daylight on the 17th April, the trumpets of the 7th -Dragoon Guards and of the Cape Mounted Rifles, and the shrill bugles of -the infantry corps, sounding the "reveille," roused Tom Flinders from -his slumbers; and hardly had he finished a very hasty toilet, and made a -hastier breakfast (consisting of a piece of biltong, a handful of -"moss-biscuit," and a draught of icy-cold water from a neighbouring -spruit), when the clear notes of the "assembly," quickly followed by -those of "boot and saddle," rang through the still morning air. - -"Now, old chap," cried Frank Jamieson, who was already in the saddle, -"look alive! Sergeant Keown is calling the roll; and--why, here comes -the governor looking very down on his luck! What's the matter, father?" -he added as Captain Jamieson cantered up. - -"Matter enough," growled the old gentleman--"matter enough! We're to -remain in camp instead of marching with the column of attack. Where's -that boy Tom Flinders?" - -"Here am I, sir," replied our hero from under the saddle-flap; for he -was tugging away at the girths. "Bother these buckles! they're as stiff -as--" - -"Never mind the buckles, but listen to me," his chief struck in. "Your -friend B--of the Mounted Rifles has got leave for you to be attached to -his troop for to-day. Will you go with him?" - -"Will a duck swi--I beg pardon, sir; I mean I'll go like a shot," cried -Tom. - -"To get shot!--eh, Tom?" laughed Frank Jamieson. - -"But I say, sir," continued Tom after a moment's thought, "perhaps Frank -would like to--" - -"Frank's all right, my boy," interrupted Captain Jamieson; "he is to -ride `galloper' to Major Sutton. And now the sooner you're off the -better. The Rifles are parading." - -And Tom, thrusting the remains of his morning meal into his haversack, -shook hands with the captain and Frank, jumped into the saddle, and -galloped off to the Rifle lines, where he found Lieutenant B--awaiting -him. - -At a "council of war," held at the Burns Hill mission station on the -previous evening, Colonel Somerset and his brother-commanders had -decided to form the division into three columns of attack; and it was in -this order that the troops took the field on the morning of the 17th -April. - -The right column, which was composed entirely of infantry corps, -commanded by Major Glencairn Campbell, 91st Foot, entered the Amatola -Mountains at the gorge of the Amatola Basin, with Mount McDonald on the -right and the Seven Kloof Mountain on the left. - -The centre column, consisting of two squadrons of the Cape Mounted -Riflemen and Sutton's Kat River Burgher Horse, crossed the Keiskamma -River and ascended one of the ridges of the Seven Kloof Mountain to its -summit. - -The left column, under Colonels Somerset and Richardson, consisting of -the 7th Dragoon Guards (the "Old Black Horse," as they loved to be -styled) and the remaining troops of the Mounted Rifles, with a -half-battery of artillery, advanced towards the Seven Kloof Mountain, -and, passing along its base, marched in the direction of Chumie Hoek. - -The troop of the "C.M.R.," to which Tom Flinders was attached, was with -the centre column, which was led by Major Armstrong, with Major Sutton -as his second in command. - -When at length, after a toilsome climb up a steep mountain path winding -amongst patches of bush and rocky boulders, Major Armstrong's horsemen -reached the summit of the Seven Kloof Mountain, they beheld a strong -body of Caffres drawn up in the shape of a crescent, with a dense forest -in their rear and their front protected by a tangled mass of brushwood -and swamp, apparently impracticable for cavalry. - -At the same time the incessant rattle of musketry in the Amatola Basin -below told them that Campbell's infantry were hotly engaged with the -enemy. - -"They seem to be having a pretty warm time of it down there," observed -Tom to his friend B--. - -"You're right, Flinders," the other replied. "And I can tell you those -fellows yonder will give us a warm time of it _up here_. Hark to the -yelling savages! 'Pon my word, they're no--" - -"No worse than `Santerre's sans culottes,'" Tom broke in with a sly -laugh, as he called to mind his friend's previous remarks anent the -"noble savage." - -"I never meant to say that they were," retorted B--; "so none of your -chaff, my boy! But they are very fiends for all that, and Heaven help -the poor fellows who fall into their hands! For my part, I'd rather be -shot fifty times over than be taken alive by Sandilli's warriors." - -"Oh, I don't know," Tom carelessly replied. "`While there's life -there's hope,' as old Brownjohn used to say." - -"Old Brownjohn, whoever he may be, wouldn't have much hope left in him -if he once fell into a Caffre's clutches," was B--'s dry remark. "In a -warfare like this our motto should be that of Napoleon's old guard--`We -die, but we do not surrender!' Here comes Major Armstrong. I wonder if -he intends to attack the enemy's position?" - -All this while the Caffres had been jeering at their foes, uttering loud -cries of defiance and derision, brandishing their weapons and shields, -and daring them to give battle. This insolent behaviour was very -galling to the Mounted Rifles and their Kat River comrades, and they -were naturally impatient to accept the challenge and teach the sable -warriors a sharp lesson. But Major Armstrong, after consulting with his -second in command, decided that the enemy's position was too strong for -him to attack; and so he gave the word for the column to move on towards -Chumie Hoek, in order that he might effect a junction with Colonel -Somerset. - -Though both officers and men were greatly disappointed at their leader's -decision, they could not but own that he was acting wisely. It was one -of those cases when "discretion becomes the better part of valour," and -inclination has to give way to duty. - -Directly the column was put in motion, the Caffres, advancing with -discordant yells (wherewith they thought to strike terror into the -hearts of their foes), made an attack on its rear, and some smart -skirmishing took place; but they never came to very close quarters, and -after a while retired, leaving the column to proceed on its way -unmolested. - -Armstrong now led his troops down a steepish descent on to a low ridge -which divided the Amatola Basin from the Chumie Hoek, at the foot of the -Hog's Back Mountain. Just as he reached the ridge Campbell's infantry -made their appearance, toiling up the precipitous slope of a lofty hill -out of the valley of the Amatola, fighting desperately as they went, and -evidently hard pressed by superior numbers. They had been attacked -immediately after entering the gorge of the basin, and had been in -action ever since; their losses had been considerable, and many of the -wounded had fallen into the enemy's hands, there being no means of -carrying them off the field. - -Now between Major Armstrong's column and the infantry there was a steep -rocky ledge, so that it was quite out of the question his despatching -mounted troops to their assistance. Major Campbell, however, when he -caught sight of the riflemen, ordered his well-nigh exhausted soldiers -to make for the ledge, where the ground became comparatively open; -whereupon Armstrong, seeing his opportunity, placed a couple of troops -in such a position as would enable them to charge the enemy should he -venture upon the open ground. - -This some of the Caffres presently did, and then the squadron of Mounted -Rifles went at them with a will, and, driving them back, sent them -flying right and left into the valley below; at the same time Lieutenant -B--'s troop dismounted, and, advancing to the brink of the ledge, held -it until the last of Campbell's infantry had passed over in safety. -This was not accomplished without loss, for two riflemen were shot dead, -and Tom Flinders got a musket ball right through his "dopper" hat. - -Shortly afterwards Colonel Somerset came up from the direction of the -Chumie Hoek to his lieutenant's support, bringing with him two -field-guns. These guns were at once unlimbered, and the Caffres were -treated to a dose of shell which very soon sent them to the right-about, -driving them out of bush and from behind rocks, and dispersing them in -all directions, until there was not one to be seen save upon the distant -hills. - -"That's always the way!" angrily exclaimed a rifle officer as the enemy -rapidly dispersed. "Directly we get a really fair chance at these -beggars, they disappear like magic. And yet I'd wager a month's pay and -allowances that, if a small party of our fellows ventured only just out -of range of the guns, they would be surrounded and cut to pieces before -we could proceed to their assistance." - -Colonel Somerset now ordered the columns to re-form; and the wounded -having been placed, some on the gun-limbers and others in front of their -mounted comrades, the troops moved down the slope of the hill to the -Chumie Hoek. - -The afternoon was now pretty far advanced, so Colonel Somerset gave up -all idea of returning to the camp at Burns Hill, and decided to move on -to an open plain beneath the high point of the Seven Kloof Mountain, -close to the sources of a stream known as the "Geel Hout" River, and -there bivouac until morning. But before continuing his march to this -spot the colonel wrote a hasty despatch to the camp commandant at Burns -Hill, directing that officer to advance at break of day to Chumie Hoek -with all his forces, guns, ammunition waggons, and camp equipage; and -this despatch he intrusted to one of his staff to carry back to the -mission station. - -A mounted party was at once detailed to escort the staff-officer on his -dangerous mission, and, acting on Lieutenant B--'s advice, Frank -Jamieson and Tom Flinders obtained leave to accompany the officer, so -that they might rejoin their own corps in time to be with it during the -morrow's march. The escort, consisting of a subaltern and twenty-five -picked troopers of the Mounted Rifles and four of Sutton's Kat River -Burghers, paraded about four o'clock; and, arms and accoutrements having -been carefully inspected, the word was given to "mount" and "away!" - -CHAPTER SIXTEEN. - -THE ATTACK ON THE ESCORT--FIFTY TO ONE!--A DEED OF "DERRIN' DO"--ARRIVAL -AT THE CAMP--BAD NEWS. - -The most direct route from the Chumie Hoek to the Burns Hill mission -station led along the valley up which Campbell's infantry column had -fought its way that morning; through the gorge of the Amatola Basin, -then across a branch of the Keiskamma River, and so on to the camp. A -cattle "trek" passed through the valley; but it was ill-defined and -difficult to follow, being intersected at frequent intervals by spruits -and gulches, and in many parts entirely obliterated by thick patches of -"bosch," huge boulders, and tangled masses of "waght-en-beetje," or -"wait-a-bit" thorn. The march of the column was, however, only too -clearly marked by the sad traces of the morning's bloody fray; for here -and there lay the mutilated corpses of the poor soldiers who had fallen -in the fight, presenting a ghastly spectacle, stripped as they were of -their uniform, and gashed and hacked beyond all recognition. - -Along this rough cattle-track the escort proceeded at a smart canter, -both officers and men keeping a sharp look-out, as the track was -commanded by projecting spurs and bluffs where hundreds of the enemy -might be lurking, ready to pounce down upon and annihilate an isolated -body of troops. Tom Flinders, with the four Burgher horsemen and two -troopers of the Mounted Rifles, rode twenty horse-lengths in advance; -then came the main body of the escort in "half-sections," with -"flankers" thrown out on either hand; and Frank Jamieson, with a -non-commissioned officer and four troopers, brought up the rear. - -In this order they rode for a considerable distance without seeing a -solitary Caffre; and they were beginning to hope that the enemy had -really retired far away into the surrounding hills, and that they would -reach their destination without having to fight their way through a -horde of bloodthirsty savages, when one of the Kat River men caught Tom -Flinders by the arm, and, pointing to some huge boulders that lay a few -yards to the right of the track, exclaimed: "Oh, mynheer! there are the -Caffres!" And Tom, looking in the direction indicated, descried the -woolly heads of several dusky warriors who were lying in ambush behind -the rocks. - -Seeing that they were detected, these Caffres at once sprang up from -their hiding-place, and, with their old-fashioned flint-lock muskets and -fowling-pieces (which were mostly loaded with small bullets cast out of -zinc or pewter stolen probably from the neighbouring farm-houses), -commenced a hot but ill-directed fusillade on the escort; whereupon -Lieutenant S--, the officer in command, at once called in his rear -files, and the whole party, bending low in their saddles to avoid as -much as possible the leaden shower, dashed past the rocks at racing -pace. But hardly had they run the gauntlet of this ambuscade when -numbers of the enemy came leaping down from the wooded slopes of the -valley, and, forming across the track, opened fire at about thirty -paces' distance. - -Coolly as if on parade, Lieutenant S--halted his men and wheeled them -into line. "We must cut our way through those fellows," said he as he -fitted fresh caps to his double-barrel. [When in action most of the -officers of the C.M. Riflemen carried double-barrelled sporting rifles.] -"But first we'll give them a volley. Take it quietly, my lads, and -don't throw a shot away if you can help it." The volley was delivered-- -somewhat hastily, it must be confessed, though not altogether without -effect, for several of the Caffres fell before it. - -Then, bursting over the rough ground that intervened between them and -their enemy, the little band of horsemen charged down upon the yelling, -surging horde. The majority of the Caffres broke before this gallant -charge, scattering right and left to take refuge in the bush and amongst -the rocks; but many stood their ground bravely. - -Then for the space of six or seven minutes there ensued a regular melee; -the troopers, urging forward their half-maddened steeds, wielded their -sabres right manfully, and slashed and thrust at their opponents, who in -their turn offered a stubborn resistance, striving to drag the soldiers -from their saddles, and stabbing furiously at the horses' bellies as -they were ridden down; until at length the escort cut their way right -through "the black shining wall of human flesh," and rode onwards at a -swinging canter. - -Tom Flinders--who had borne himself in the melee as gallantly as any -veteran _sabreur_--was one of the last to get clear through; and he was -racing to catch up his comrades when he heard a voice shout out: "Tom! -Tom Flinders! for Heaven's sake don't leave me!" He at once turned in -his saddle, and to his horror saw Frank Jamieson standing across the -body of his gallant "mooi paard," [grey horse] and defending himself -against half a dozen Caffres, who were attacking him with their -assegais. - -Wheeling his horse round like lightning, Tom galloped to the rescue of -his friend, and swooping down upon the group rode clean over two of the -Caffres, knocking them right and left like nine-pins. A third--a -herculean warrior, whose leopard-skin kaross bespoke the chief--sprang -at his horse's head and clung to the bridle; but the brave lad, rising -in his stirrups, threw all his strength into one downward cut, and the -big chief, cloven clean through the brain-pan, fell beneath the horse's -feet. - -"Well done, young Flinders!" cried a cheery voice--"well done, my boy!" -And the next moment Lieutenant S--dashed up and put to flight the other -Caffres, just as they were on the point of assegaiing Frank Jamieson, -whose sword had broken short off at the hilt, leaving him entirely at -the mercy of his assailants. - -"Jump up behind me, Jamieson," Mr S--said as the Caffres made off, "and -let us get out of this before those savages come on again. I've had -enough fighting for one day! Now, Flinders, ride for your very life!" - -And Frank, being safely mounted _en croupe_, they rode at full speed -after their comrades, who, not perceiving their absence, had galloped on -and were now nearly a quarter of a mile ahead. Fortunately, however, -the Caffres did not follow in pursuit; so they rejoined their friends -without further misadventure. - -An hour later the escort arrived safely at Burns Hill... - -When the staff-officer delivered his despatch to the camp commandant he -learned, to his astonishment, that the troops left behind at Burns Hill -had been hotly engaged with the enemy, who early in the day had attacked -the camp, and, though finally repulsed with heavy loss, had succeeded in -carrying off a number of draught cattle. - -In the hope of recapturing these cattle, a troop of the 7th Dragoon -Guards under Captain Bambric (a fine old officer who had fought at the -battle of Waterloo), and a strong party of the Cape Mounted Riflemen -under Lieutenant Boyes, had followed the daring Caffres into the bush, -but, being attacked at a disadvantage by a vastly superior force, they -had been compelled to retire, leaving their veteran leader _mort sur le -champ de bataille_. - -CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. - -FIGHTING THEIR BATTLES O'ER AGAIN. - -The sun had set and "retreat" long since been sounded when the escort -reached Burns Hill, so that by the time Tom Flinders had reported -himself to Captain Jamieson, had seen his horse fed, watered, and -"fettled up" for the night, and had got rid of the traces of his arduous -day's work, the officers of the various detachments in camp were already -gathered round the big watch-fire, and were eating their frugal supper, -talking over the stirring events of the day, or paying a soldier's -tribute to the memory of their brave comrades who only the evening -before formed part of their circle, but who now lay stiff and stark in -the distant bush. Of those who had ridden in from Chumie Hoek the first -to join the group round the fire was Lieutenant S--, and he at once -proceeded to relate the gallant manner in which Tom had rescued Frank -Jamieson from the Caffres. Said he warmly: "It was one of the pluckiest -things I have seen for a long time. Young Flinders is a fine lad, and -will make a capital officer." - -"He is a `chip of the old block,' as those of you who know Matthew -Flinders will agree," put in Captain Jamieson, who had heard full -particulars from his son. "I'm proud of him, I can assure you." - -"And here comes the young hero!" exclaimed Mr S--as Tom walked up to -the fire. "We were just talking of you, Flinders," he added, slapping -the lad's shoulder. "By Saint George, sir, that cut you delivered was -worthy of Shaw the life-guardsman!" - -"Sit beside me, Tom," said Captain Jamieson, making room for him. -"We'll find a bone for you to pick somewhere. I can't say all I wish to -say now," he went on in a low tone. "But you know how deeply I--eh, my -dear boy!" And the old officer pressed his young friend's hand. - -"Allow me to congratulate you on your debut in the battle-field, Mr -Flinders," called out Major G--, the camp commandant. - -"My friend here has informed me of your gallant behaviour, and you may -be sure I shall report most favourably of you to the brigadier." - -Our hero was quite taken aback at thus publicly receiving so much -"kudos," and he felt not a little relieved when the conversation turned -from his personal exploits to matters of more general interest. - -"The campaign has opened with some hard fighting," observed Major G--; -"and I fully expect that Sandilli and his warriors will give us -considerable trouble before we subdue them." - -"If they attack us to-morrow on the line of march we shall have our work -cut out for us," said another dragoon officer. "It will be no easy job -to guard the waggons with the force we have." - -"No, indeed," responded an artillery captain, who had some experience of -South African warfare. "Thompson tells me that we have over a hundred -bullock-waggons to escort, to say nothing of our guns and ammunition -train. We shall have to fight tooth and nail to take them through. -What route do you propose to take, major?" - -"Well," replied the major, "Jamieson, who knows the country thoroughly, -advises me to follow the regular waggon-track--" - -"_Ir_-regular waggon-track, major," laughed Mr S--. "The roads about -here are not _macadamised_, though there's plenty of _metal_ on the -surface." - -"Well, then, the _ir_-regular waggon-track that runs along the banks of -Keiskamma and skirts the high ground upon which the ruins of Fort Cox -stand," continued Major G--good-humouredly. "It is a somewhat -circuitous route, but in this case the `longest way round is the -shortest way there.' No doubt we shall have to fight over every yard of -the ground when once we are across the river." - -"'Pon my honour, Jamieson," struck in an old captain of the Mounted -Rifles, "Sandilli promises to give Somerset as much trouble as your old -friend Marshal Soult gave the Duke!" - -"As the Duke gave Soult, you mean?" was the retort. - -"By the way, Jamieson," said Major G--, "talking of Soult reminds me of -your promise to give us an account of the part your old regiment played -at Albuera. Suppose we have it now? It is just the time and place for -an old campaigner to `fight his battles o'er again.'" - -A murmur of approval greeted the major's suggestion; and so Captain -Jamieson, willing to accede to what was evidently the wish of his -companions-in-arms, thus commenced his "oft-told tale." - -"The early spring of 1811 found me an `impatient patient' in the General -Hospital at Belem, suffering from the effects of a dangerous gunshot -wound received at Busaco during our retreat down the valley of the -Mondego. You must know that I was then colour-sergeant of the Light -Company of the --th Foot; and my regiment--which was attached to -Colborne's Brigade, 2nd Division--had marched in pursuit of Massena, -who, having broken up his camp before Torres Vedras on the 2nd March, -was retiring into Spain, laying waste the country as he went. - -"Great was my disappointment at not being allowed to march with the -regiment; for I began to fear lest my continued absence from the colours -might lead my comrades to suppose that I had become a `Belem Ranger,' -and did not intend to soldier any more. However, I was not detained in -hospital very much longer, for at the end of April the doctors -pronounced me fit for duty; and I was forthwith sent, with a large draft -of men belonging to various corps, to rejoin the --th. - -"After a fatiguing march the draft joined the 2nd Division at Albuera on -the 13th May, and to my great pleasure I found myself reposted to the -`Light Bobs.' - -"Marshal Beresford was then in command of the 2nd Division, General -Rowland Hill, its proper leader, being away on leave. Colborne was our -brigadier. - -"Beresford had taken up a position on the heights of Albuera to cover -the siege of Badajos, information having been received that Soult (with -19,000 veteran infantry, 4000 cavalry, and 40 guns) was advancing from -Seville to the relief of the beleaguered fortress. - -"To oppose the French marshal, Beresford had 32,000 men of all arms; but -of this number only 7000 were British troops, the remainder being -Spaniards and Portuguese under Blake and Castanos. - -"On the 15th May Beresford took post on the Albuera range, about seven -miles from the town and fortress of Badajos. This range extends for -four miles, and, being easy of ascent, is practicable for both cavalry -and artillery. Along the eastern base of the hills flow the Albuera and -its tributary the Feria, and between these two rivers is a wooded range -of hills. This range Beresford most unfortunately neglected to occupy. - -"The village of Albuera is situated above the river just at the junction -of the main roads to Badajos and Seville, and Talavera and Valverde. - -"Beresford placed Blake's Spaniards on the right of the position; the -British held the centre; Colborne's brigade (consisting of the 3rd, -31st, 48th, and `ours') being posted near the village, which was -occupied by Alten's Hanoverians; the Portuguese were on the left. - -"On the evening of the 15th the light company of the --th was ordered to -parade for piquet, and Captain Clarke marched us down to a narrow stone -bridge spanning the Albuera in front of the village. Towards eight -o'clock on the morning of the 16th Soult sent a battery of light guns, -and some squadrons of light cavalry under Godinot, towards the bridge; -and as soon as they had unlimbered, the French artillerists opened a -smart cannonade upon our position, under cover of which Godinot's light -horsemen advanced as though they would charge across the bridge, which -was barely wide enough to allow three horses to cross abreast. - -"`This is but a feint, Sergeant Jamieson,' Captain Clarke said to me as -we watched the movements of the enemy. `This is a feint, I feel sure. -Depend upon it, Soult will try to turn our right, which is our weak -point.' - -"Now it happened that Beresford, who had come round to visit the -piquets, overheard my captain's remark, and turning sharply round, said: - -"`They are going to retreat, sir. I expect to attack their rear-guard -by nine o'clock!' - -"The words were hardly out of his mouth when an aide-de-camp galloped up -from the right, where the Spaniards were posted, with the alarming -intelligence that our _right was turned_! - -"We afterwards learned that during the night Soult had quietly -concentrated 15,000 troops, with 30 guns, behind the wooded range which -Beresford left unoccupied, within ten minutes' march of our weakest -point--the right; and this movement he carried out entirely unknown to -Beresford or his lieutenants, who remained in total ignorance of the -proximity of this powerful force until it was too late to interpose -between it and the Spaniards. - -"So Blake was vigorously attacked and driven back with great slaughter; -and Soult, confident that the day was won, pushed forward his columns. - -"At this critical moment General Sir William Stewart galloped up to our -brigadier and ordered him to move to the right in support of the -Spaniards; our company then rejoined the battalion. Without waiting to -form order of battle the brigade, led by the fiery William Stewart, -doubled up the hill in open column of companies, and, passing the -Spanish right, attempted to open line by succession of battalions as -they arrived. But the French fire was too hot and well-directed to be -borne quietly, and before the manoeuvre was completed the word was given -to `charge.' - -"With a ringing cheer we dashed onwards, but when close to the enemy the -`halt' was unexpectedly sounded, and the `retire' followed almost -immediately. At this time a heavy rain was falling, which obscured the -view; and whilst we were wondering why the `retire' had sounded the -enemy's cavalry appeared in rear of the `Old Buffs,' who were, I -believe, in the very act of re-forming column. - -"We then advanced again; but before we had moved many paces a perfect -swarm of Polish lancers, supported by several squadrons of -chasseurs-a-cheval, charged the rear of the brigade and threw the four -regiments into confusion. Separated and taken at a terrible -disadvantage, our men had to act for themselves; so they formed groups -of six or eight, and thus withstood the furious onslaught of the savage -Poles. Many of the officers joined the men, and prepared to sell their -lives dearly; for quarter was neither given nor asked for. Captain -Clarke, his junior subaltern, Ensign Hay, and I, found ourselves in the -midst of a group composed of a dozen men of our own company. Clarke -snatched up a musket and blazed away as fast as he could ram home the -cartridges, encouraging the men a while with words of approval or -exhortation. Ensign Hay followed the captain's example, and fired as -hard as he could fire; and I too abandoned my pike for `Old Brown Bess,' -and may safely say that I never made better practice. - -"All this time the Polish lancers were wheeling round the groups, -stabbing at us with their long lances whenever they got a chance. It -was reported afterwards that they had been promised a doubloon apiece if -they broke the British line. Gradually our men became mixed up with -these lancers and with the chasseurs and French linesmen; and every one -of us was thrusting and parrying, hacking and guarding, loading and -firing, to the best of his ability. Never have I witnessed such a -melee. - -"I saw a savage-looking, bare-headed lancer attack our ensign and run -him through the lungs, the lance coming out at his back. He fell, but -regained his feet immediately. The Pole again delivered point, his -lance striking Hay's breast-bone; down he went as if shot, whilst his -assailant pitched over his horse's head and rolled over in the mud -beside him. I ran forward to the ensign's assistance, but came in -collision with a chasseur-a-cheval, who cut at me with his sabre and -brought me on my knees. I staggered up and drove my bayonet through his -leg, pinning him to the saddle. He then cut at me again, inflicting a -severe wound on my head and partially depriving me of my senses. At -that moment my adversary's horse was killed by a musket ball, and in its -fall the poor brute crushed me to the ground. I struggled hard to -regain my feet, but the weight of the dead charger kept me down, and so -I was placed _hors-de-combat_ for the rest of the day. - -"In this desperate hand-to-hand encounter Colborne's brigade suffered -terribly, for of the four regiments composing it the 31st alone was able -to form square when the French cavalry charged us. The 3rd Buffs, the -48th, and `Ours' were nearly annihilated. - -"At length a gust of wind blew aside the mist and smoke and revealed our -desperate condition to General Lumley, who was in the plain below; and -he at once despatched four squadrons of heavy dragoons against the -lancers. Almost at the same moment Houghton's brigade came up, and -Major Julius Hartmann brought his light guns into action. - -"When I heard the artillery thundering over the ground I gave myself up -for lost, making sure that they must inevitably gallop over me; but they -passed a few yards to my right, and, quickly unlimbering, opened fire. - -"The battle was now continued with redoubled fury; the guns belched -forth grape at half-range, the musketry kept up an incessant rattle; and -the carnage on both sides was truly awful. Presently our gallant -fellows found that their ammunition was beginning to run short, and they -were obliged to slacken fire; and at this juncture--misfortunes never -come single--another French column established itself on the right -flank. - -"Marshal Beresford--who had been doing his utmost to induce the cowardly -Spaniards to advance to the assistance of their well-nigh vanquished -allies--now saw that retreat was inevitable, and he most reluctantly -gave the unwelcome order. But happily the battle was saved by the -_moral_ courage--hark ye to that, you young fellows!--by the _moral_ -courage of a young staff-officer, Colonel Hardinge, [afterwards Lord -Hardinge, commander-in-chief], who entirely on his own responsibility -rode off at full speed to General Cole (who had just arrived from -Badajos) and urged him to advance with the 4th Division and -Abercrombie's brigade of the 2nd Division. Cole readily assented, and -at once led the 7th and 23rd Fusiliers, flanked by a battalion of -Portuguese cacadores, up the hill; whilst Abercrombie's brigade followed -in support. - -"Separating themselves from the crowd of broken soldiery, these fresh -troops attacked the French with irresistible fury, and slowly but surely -drove them back to the farthest edge of the hill. In vain did Soult -call upon his veterans to hold their ground, in vain did he bring up his -reserves; nothing could withstand Cole's splendid infantry; and after a -desperate struggle the French masses went down the slope of the hill, -breaking like a loosened cliff. - -"The battle was over. By three o'clock the last shot had been fired, -and the remnant of the British troops, who had fought with such devoted -courage, stood triumphant on the bloodstained ground. Since that -memorable day I have taken part in many a `stricken field,' but never -have I seen harder fighting than at the battle of Albuera." - -"It was indeed a brilliant affair," said Major G--n when the old officer -stopped speaking; "and our soldiers gave unmistakable proof of their -superiority over Bonaparte's veterans. Pray, what were the losses on -either side?" - -"I cannot say how the Spaniards and Portuguese came off; but out of 6000 -British and Hanoverian troops actually engaged more than 4000 were -killed, wounded, or missing," Captain Jamieson replied. "The French, I -believe, lost between 7000 and 8000 men. As for the poor old --th, we -went into action over 400 strong, and on the morrow only 53 bayonets -mustered at parade! The battalion may almost be said to have ceased to -exist." - -"Well might Byron exclaim, `O Albuera, glorious field of grief!'" said -S--. "But you have not told us how you fared after the battle." - -"Well, I lay crushed beneath the chasseur's dead charger until morning, -when I was found by a party of the light company who had been searching -for me throughout the night. My wounds were not very severe, and when I -recovered, the commanding officer, Major K--, appointed me -sergeant-major of the battalion. I held that post until the end of the -war, when I was invalided home and promoted to an ensigncy on the -half-pay list. In 1821 they gave me my lieutenancy in the Cape Mounted -Rifles." - -"You are to be congratulated on having seen so much active service," -said Major G--n. "I always envy you Peninsula heroes. Few men, I -should imagine, have passed through so much peril, and yet lived to tell -the tale." - -"I am not out of the wood yet, G--n," was Jamieson's quiet rejoinder. -"But talking of peril, no man has experienced more of `moving accidents -by flood and field' than my friend Richards," he went on, nodding at a -wiry-built grave-looking man who sat near him. "You've seen some rough -work in America--eh, John?" - -"Yes, Jamieson," responded the person addressed, who was an officer of -native levies; "but not such work as you've been describing. This, you -must know, is my first regular campaign. I have always been a `man of -peace,' gentlemen--that is to say, when the Red-skins would let me!" - -"Which was seldom enough, no doubt," put in Captain Jamieson. "By the -way, hadn't you a remarkable escape from the Indians some years ago? I -think I remember hearing of it." - -"A--ah!" rejoined Mr Richards with a sort of gasp--he spoke, too, with -a slight American intonation; "a--ah! that _was_ an adventure! Why, do -you know, gentlemen, that though it happened twenty-two years ago come -next fall, I feel kinder nervous even now when I think of it; for 'twas -just about the very narrowest shave of being scalped that ever I did -run." - -"Come, tell us all about it, John," said the captain. "I'm sure our -friends will appreciate the yarn." - -"Well, then, gentlemen," Mr Richards began, taking a look round the -company as if he wanted to find some individual upon whom to fix his -eye, "you must know that I met with this adventure in '25, when I was a -smart spry young fellow of nine-and-twenty. I was trapping beavers at -the time, in company with my friend Job Potter, near the head-waters of -the Missouri; and as we knew that the Blackfoot Indians were on the -war-path, and that we should meet with but scant mercy if we fell into -their hands, we just set our beaver-traps at night, visited them at -dawn, and remained concealed in the woods during the day. - -"Early one morning Job and I were paddling up stream in our canoe, on -our way to examine the traps, when of a sudden we heard a noise as -though a herd of buffaloes were galloping towards us; and the next -minute a number of Red-skins in their war-paint came rushing along -either bank of the river--a couple of hundred of them at the least. - -"We turned the head of the canoe like lightning and paddled down stream -as hard as we could paddle, but the Indians sent a flight of arrows -after us and killed poor Job Potter, who in his fall upset the canoe. -By a miracle, I only received two slight flesh-wounds; and when I found -myself in the river I dived like a duck in order to escape the second -shower. Now some thirty yards lower down the stream was a small island, -and when we paddled past it I had noticed that against the upper part a -sort of raft of drift-timber had lodged. This raft, I must explain, was -formed of the trunks of several trees, large and small, covered over -with smaller and broken wood to the depth of five or six feet. - -"In my extremity I happily remembered this raft, and I saw in it my only -chance of eluding my pursuers. Rising for one second to the surface in -order to make sure of its position, I dived again and swam under water -until I found myself directly beneath the raft. I then--not without -considerable difficulty--managed to force my head and shoulders between -the trunks of trees, so that the upper portion of my body was well above -water, and at the same time completely hidden from view by the broken -wood on the top of the raft. - -"Hardly had I fixed myself in this position when the Indians arrived -opposite my place of refuge, and several swam off to the island and -searched for me amongst the brushwood; one or two actually got on the -raft. - -"Gentlemen, I remained in that terrible position for eleven mortal -hours!--in fact, until the Red-skins took their departure, which was not -before nightfall. As soon as I was certain that they were gone I dived -from under the raft and swam some distance down the river, and there -landing, made my way to Fort Jefferson. When I arrived there, after two -days' tramp, I found that my hair had turned quite grey; and I can -assure you, that, if I live to be a hundred, I shall Dever forget the -agony of suspense I suffered when fixed up between those trees." - -Many a thrilling tale of sport and war, of peril by flood and field, was -told that evening; and the circle round the watch-fire would not have -broken up until the small hours of the morning had not the commanding -officer reminded them that they must be on the move by cock-crow. So -the officers lay down to rest with their weapons beside them, ready for -aught that might occur; and before midnight the camp was hushed in -slumber, no sound being heard save the measured tramp of the patrol or -the hoarse challenge of the sentinels. - -CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. - -THE 18TH APRIL--A FIGHT AGAINST TERRIBLE ODDS--NUMBERED WITH THE -SLAIN!--THE MARCH TO BLOCK DRIFT. - -The stars were still bright in the heavens, and the grey dawn of day had -not yet appeared in the east, when the camp at Burns Hill was once more -astir with the final preparations for the march to Chumie Hoek; and so -soon as the waggons were ready and the draught cattle inspanned, the -troops paraded without blast of bugle or beat of drum, and the order to -form column-of-route was given. The advance-guard moved off just as the -morning broke, and was presently followed by the long train of -bullock-waggons--one hundred and twenty in number--and the guns and -caissons of the Royal Artillery; but the day had "begun its broiling -course" before the rear-guard, of which Jamieson's Horse formed part, -was clear of the camping ground. - -As daylight grew more distinct, thousands of Caffre warriors were -descried pouring down from the mountains; and it became palpable to all -concerned that the way would be disputed by a determined and--so far as -numbers went--an overwhelming force. - -Said old Captain Jamieson, as he brought his glass to bear on the -distant hordes, "Mark my words, G--! the 18th April will become famous -in the annals of South African warfare. Those fellows yonder mean -business; they have no doubt been excited to the verge of madness by -their witch doctors, and will attack us with maniacal fury." - -"We shall have hard work to get through them," the major replied, -somewhat gloomily, for he felt much his responsibility; "and I fear many -a good soldier amongst us will never see another sunrise. Still, were -it not for the `impedimenta,' I would not mind encountering double the -number; and if we could only get them in the open for half an hour our -cavalry should read them a lesson they'd never forget--a lesson that -should be handed down to posterity! But I must move on to the front. -_Au revoir_, Jamieson! I trust we shall meet again at Chumie Hoek -before many hours have passed." - -The road by which the convoy was to march followed the bank of the -Keiskamma for some two or three miles; until the river, suddenly -changing its course by a sharp bend to the right, swept round a rocky -eminence upon which stood the ruins of a long-abandoned military post -known as Fort Cox. At the base of this eminence (which the road -traversed before it again met the Keiskamma at the drift or ford) the -way led for nearly a half mile up a precipitous ascent, encumbered with -huge boulders, and surrounded by bush. - -It was at this point that the Caffre chiefs massed their eager warriors -for the attack on the baggage-train. - -The leading division of waggons, which carried the "impedimenta" -belonging to Colonel Somerset's column, were so admirably defended by -G--n's advanced-guard and their own escort, that they passed up this -dangerous ground without disaster, and descending to the drift (which -was held by a squadron of the Cape Mounted Rifles, under Lieutenant -Bissett) [General Sir John Bissett, K.C.B., author of _Sport and War in -South Africa_] crossed over the Keiskamma. This part of the train -subsequently reached the camp at Chumie Hoek in safety; its rear being -covered by Bissett's riflemen, who, after the passage of the river was -effected, were relieved at the ford by Major G--n's advanced force. But -the journey between the ford and Chumie Hoek was not made without -opposition, for there was some very hard fighting all through the bushy -country, and several of the escort were killed and wounded; Mr Bissett -himself had a narrow escape of his life, his charger being shot under -him, and his rifle knocked to pieces in his hands. - -The centre division of the convoy--consisting principally of the -baggage-waggons of the 7th Dragoon Guards--did not meet with similar -good fortune; for the enemy attacked the escort with such impetuosity -and in such overwhelming numbers, that the latter was compelled to fall -back on the troops in the rear, and so the whole of the waggons were -captured. To make matters worse, this disaster occurred in a narrow -part of the road, and the wily Caffres immediately freed the teams from -the yokes, overturned several of the waggons, and so completely blocked -the way for the rest of the train. - -By this time Colonel Somerset had despatched every man he could spare -out of camp to Major G--n's assistance; namely Sutton's Kat River -Burghers, and two companies of the 91st Regiment, under Captain Scott; -but the enemy continued to come up to the attack in such astonishing -force that the major was reluctantly compelled to abandon the -baggage-waggons of the 7th Dragoon Guards (fifty-two in number) in order -that he might have more men to defend the guns and ammunition train, -which he was determined to save at all hazards. - -Leaving the waggons to their fate, Major G--n made a detour to the left -along the bushy slope, and having fought his way across the Keiskamma he -entered a valley at the foot of the Seven Kloof Mountain. - -Up this valley G--n led his column, fighting over every yard of the -broken ground, until--just as night was falling--he reached the open -country in the vicinity of Chumie Hoek. The Caffres here made one more -desperate attempt to take the guns, but the gunners opening upon them -with shot and shell, repulsed the attack, and it was not renewed; the -column then marched on, and eventually arrived in camp with the loss of -an artillery waggon, which had to be abandoned owing to the collapse of -its team of bullocks... - -We must now return to the rear-guard, and see how it had fared with our -friends in "Jamieson's Horse" during that eventful day. - -When the officer commanding the rear-guard heard that the escort of the -centre division of the convoy was being driven back, and that the -waggons were in imminent danger of falling into the enemy's hands, he -consulted with Captain Jamieson as to whether he should not take it upon -himself to send a troop to their assistance; but before he had time to -come to a decision a mounted orderly arrived from the front with the -alarming intelligence that the waggons had already been captured, and -that the road was entirely blocked; he also brought an order that -"Jamieson's Horse" should be sent forward at once, to retake the waggons -and hold the enemy in check until the road had been cleared. - -Anxious to reach the scene of the disaster without a moment's delay, and -being well aware that if he advanced along the road he must necessarily -meet with more or less hindrance, Captain Jamieson wheeled the corps to -the left, and started off at a hand-gallop across country until he lost -sight of the convoy; when he changed direction to the right and led his -men over some broken ground, which ran almost parallel to, and was -within easy rifle-shot of the road. They had advanced about three parts -of a mile over this ground, and were within half that distance of the -captured waggons--which were now completely surrounded by hundreds of -the enemy--when Frank Jamieson, who was riding at the head of the -leading troop, espied--away to the left front--a small party of Caffres -driving off the bullock teams into the mountains. He at once pointed -them out to his father, who ordered him to follow in pursuit with -fifteen men, and do his best to recover the teams and bring them back as -quickly as possible. - -"Without them," said the captain, "I do not see how we can take the -waggons on; for I heard Thompson say that he had no spare draught -cattle." - -As soon as Frank had ridden off, Captain Jamieson and the remainder of -the corps galloped onwards, and--the nature of the ground and the "din -of battle" favouring them--they approached within a couple of hundred -yards of the baggage-train without attracting attention; for those of -the enemy who were not actually engaged with either the advance-guard or -escorts, were busily employed plundering the waggons. Jamieson's -volunteers were thus enabled to deliver a telling volley, and then -charge down on the Caffres before the latter were thoroughly alive to -the fact that they were being attacked from that quarter; and so -impetuous was this charge, that the little band rode right through the -dense masses of the enemy up to the waggons without losing a single man -or horse. The next minute the Caffres, recovering from their surprise, -closed in upon the gallant horsemen, and for a little while there was -some desperate hand-to-hand fighting, in which, however, Jamieson and -his men at first held their own. But the Caffres outnumbered them -twenty to one, and, moreover, were excited to such a pitch of fury that -they were utterly reckless of their lives; and as fast as one was cut -down or shot, half a dozen others would press forward to take his place; -many, too, actually crawled on all-fours amongst the plunging horses, -and thrust their assegais again and again into the poor brutes' bellies, -and so in a short time nearly one-third of the volunteers were -dismounted, and assegaied before they could disengage themselves from -their dead chargers. And now the corps got broken up into groups, and -the end soon came. - -Amongst the first who had their horses killed, were Captain Jamieson, -young Flinders, and Sergeant-major Keown; they, however, at the time, -escaped personal injury, and so continued to fight on foot until they -found themselves separated from their comrades, and standing at bay with -their backs against a waggon. - -Three worthier representatives of our glorious triune kingdom never -faced their sovereign's foes! - -On the left of the "dauntless three" stood the fine old Scotchman, cool -and calm as if at sword-play; his grey head bare, his tall commanding -figure reared to the full height, his long cavalry sabre red with the -blood of his enemies. Next to him was our young hero, a trifle less -collected than his veteran chief, but not a whit less fearless; could -any of his former school-fellows have beheld Tom Flinders at that -moment, they would have rested content that the honour of Rugby was safe -in his hands! Tom had lost his sword when his horse was killed, and he -was now defending himself with an assegai snatched from an enemy's hand. - -Then on the right--close beside his master's son--stood that brave and -honest son of "Ould Erin," Patrick Keown, armed with an old-pattern -dragoon sabre, which he had picked up cheap in some Cape Town store, and -had had sharpened until its edge was as keen as that of a scythe. -Patrick Keown was a splendid swordsman (he had been sergeant-instructor -of fencing to the C.M.E.), and not a few Caffres had fallen beneath his -stalwart arm during the fray; but, alas! that good right arm now hung -powerless--for an assegai had pierced it through and through, and poor -Patrick's coat-sleeve was literally saturated with the crimson stream -that gushed from the wound--and it was his _left_ hand that was clenched -within the basket hilt. Round these devoted men was gathered a mob of -yelling savages, who thirsted for their blood, yet hesitated to come -within reach of their formidable weapons. - -But it was impossible that such an unequal contest could last for more -than a few minutes. - -Tom Flinders was the first of the trio who fell. Struck on the head by -a jagged piece of rock, hurled by one of the infuriated Caffres, Tom -dropped as if shot; and rolling between the wheels of the waggon lay -motionless on his face--to all appearance dead. - -Almost at the same moment Captain Jamieson received a ghastly wound in -the breast, and sinking lifeless to the bloodstained ground was -instantly despatched by his ruthless assailants. Hard fate his, poor -old man! to have fought through many a hotly-contested action with -"foemen worthy of his steel;" to have survived the glorious perils of -the Peninsula campaigns; and then at last to have fallen by the hand of -a South African savage! - -When Sergeant-major Keown saw that his chief and his beloved master's -son were both down, he gave utterance to a bitter cry of mingled rage -and sorrow, and with uplifted sword rushed madly into the very midst of -the exultant foe. Once--twice--thrice did his sabre flash in the sun, -and each time that it descended a Caffre "bit the dust." Then a -crushing blow from a knobkerrie--delivered from behind--brought the -brave Irishman on his knees; he staggered up, and wiping away the blood -that, streaming down his face, obscured his vision, he shortened his -sword and thrust at the nearest Caffre, driving the keen point deep into -his side; but the next moment a dozen assegais were plunged into Patrick -Keown's body, and he fell to rise no more. - -A few of the ill-fated corps succeeded in hewing themselves a path -through the dense masses of the enemy, and rode back to the rear-guard; -whilst one or two--of whom more anon--were taken prisoners; but the -majority of those who took part in the fatal charge were slain -fighting--like their heroic commander and his sergeant-major--to the -very last gasp. The volunteers who escaped to tell the woeful tale were -attached for the rest of the day to a troop of the Cape Mounted Rifles, -and with them fought their way across the Keiskamma, and thence on to -Chumie Hoek; where, late that same evening, they were joined by Frank -Jamieson's party. - -Frank's grief on hearing that his father and Tom Flinders were amongst -the slain was very great, and he would certainly have gone forth alone -to search for their bodies, had not the brigadier given him a peremptory -order to remain in camp; declaring that--being one of Captain Jamieson's -oldest friends--he would not hear of the young man throwing away his -life to no purpose. - -The "General Order" issued on the evening of the 18th, informed the -weary soldiers and Burgher troops that it was the brigadier's intention -to quit Chumie Hoek on the morrow, and march with his entire force and -"impedimenta" to the mission station at Block Drift. This was anything -but welcome news to the poor fellows, who sorely needed rest after the -fatigues they had undergone, and had looked forward to remaining quiet -at least a clear day, instead of only a few short hours; nor were they -permitted to enjoy these few hours undisturbed, for during the night -they had repeatedly to stand to their arms in order to repel the attacks -which the enemy made on the camp. Then when morning dawned there was -every indication of another day's desperate fighting; the mountains -above the camp being alive with the enemy, whilst masses of their -mounted warriors had assembled on the lower heights of the Chumie range. - -As Colonel Somerset's advance-guard marched from the camping ground, the -Caffres moved down from the mountains in vast numbers, extending -themselves all along the line of route; and when the column approached -the bushy country towards Block Drift, they attacked it in front, -centre, and rear. - -Somerset immediately gave orders for the Royal Artillery to come into -action, and the guns opening with shell and canister, quickly drove the -enemy back. When the head of the column neared the mission station, -Colonel Somerset rode forward with his advance-guard and two guns, and -taking possession of the ford of the Chumie River, placed the guns in -position, and opened a hot fire upon the Caffres; who were still -hovering round the flanks and rear of the baggage-train--attacking the -waggons whenever an opportunity occurred. - -About two and a half miles from Block Drift the enemy were strongly -posted on a sugar-loaf, bush-clad hill, at the base of which the road -passed; here there was some severe fighting, and the rear of the column -was at one time very hard pressed. To do the Caffres justice, it must -be confessed that they exhibited undeniable courage, and returned again -and again to the attack; and that in the face of a destructive artillery -and musketry fire, such as might well have daunted even European troops. -The passage of the Chumie River was not effected without considerable -difficulty and delay, for the banks being precipitous and slippery, many -of the waggons stuck fast in the bed of the stream, and had to be hauled -up on "terra firma" by the soldiers--the bullocks not being equal to the -task. - -All this time the fighting in rear of the column was going on with -unabated fury, until at last, the ammunition of the infantry of the -rear-guard failing, volunteers were called for from the cavalry corps to -relieve them. The troopers of the "Black Horse," and of the Cape Rifles -readily responded to the call, and, the required number having been -selected from amongst those who stepped to the front, they dismounted -and doubled back to the rear. - -The Caffre chiefs now began to think they had had enough of it; their -losses had been very heavy, and they had only captured one waggon-- -which, as it turned out, they had much better have left alone; so their -attacks became less furious, and at length they were finally repulsed. -By that time the last of the waggons had been brought across the Chumie -River, and Colonel Somerset continuing his march reached Block Drift in -safety and there established his camp, taking advantage of the -missionary buildings. Amongst those who were reported as "missing," -after the day's work was done, was Frank Jamieson! - -Thus ended what may be termed the "opening campaign" of the "War of the -Axe." - -CHAPTER NINETEEN. - -OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE FIRE. - -When a hard unyielding substance such as a lump of rock, thrown with the -full force of a vigorous arm, hits a man fairly on any part of--what Mr -Seth Pecksniff, Emperor of servile hypocrites, once described as--"that -delicate and exquisite portion of human anatomy, the brain," that man -may think himself exceedingly fortunate if he escapes with no more -serious injury than a broken head and a temporary deprivation of his -senses. And such was the first thought that entered the mind of our -friend Tom Flinders when, some hours after he was struck down in the -manner recorded in the foregoing chapter, he found himself capable of -thinking at all--in other words, when he so far recovered from the -stunning effects of the blow he had received as to be able to realise -the fact that he was still in the land of the living. - -But though Tom recovered consciousness he certainly did not at once -recover the full use of his reasoning faculties, otherwise he would have -had "nous" enough to remain beneath the friendly shelter of the waggon -until he could be sure that the coast was clear; whereas, instead of -doing this, he must needs crawl out on to the road and take a look round -him. The consequence of his rashness was that four Caffres, who were -still prowling about, pounced upon him before he had time to offer any -resistance, and, pinioning his arms with leathern thongs, marched him -off in triumph. - -Wounded as he was, breathless and almost insensible, the poor lad was -half-dragged, half-carried by his savage captors, first across the -Keiskamma Drift, then up the precipitous mountain side, until, shortly -after sunset, they reached a small kraal situated on one of the rocky -spurs of the Amatolas. Here the wretched prisoner's appearance was -hailed with loud shouts of exultation by the few men and the numerous -women and children who inhabited the kraal; and after he had been well -beaten and loaded with abuse (not a word of which he understood) the -thongs that bound his arms were cut, he was stripped of the greater -portion of his clothing, and then ignominiously kicked into a hut, where -his enemies left him to pass the night as best he might, without a drop -of water or the smallest morsel of food. - -That Tom Flinders' reflections as he lay, almost in a state of nudity, -on the mud floor of the miserable hut--the interior of which swarmed -with noxious insects and vermin--were not of an agreeable nature may be -readily imagined. A dull feeling of pain racked his weary limbs, his -temples throbbed violently, and a burning thirst consumed him, added to -which his mental anguish bade fair to drive him mad. - -He could not help calling to remembrance all that he had heard -concerning the appalling cruelties practised by the Caffres on those -unhappy creatures who chanced to fall into their hands; and the -recollection of these horrors almost made him wish that the piece of -rock had struck him just a little _harder_, or that his captors had put -an end to his existence when they discovered him, instead of reserving -him for a doom of protracted and unutterable suffering. - -But Tom was not one to willingly give way to gloomy forebodings, and he -strove hard to change his thoughts; so that presently he found himself -thinking of his parents, especially of his mother, and of their grief at -his sad fate; and next he began to wonder what had become of Captain -Jamieson and faithful Patrick Keown (for when Tom crawled from beneath -the waggon he had not noticed the mutilated bodies of those brave men -lying by the road-side), and of the rest of his comrades--whether any of -them had escaped, and if so whether they would make any search for him. - -"They might as well look for a needle in a bundle of forage," said he -half aloud. - -But thinking of his absent friends was good for poor Tom, for it made -him remember that he had One Friend who was never absent; and, -reproaching himself for his rebellious and ungrateful feelings and his -want of trust, he rose to his knees and offered up an earnest prayer for -pardon, and for deliverance from his savage enemies. - -After which he stretched himself on the floor of his foul prison, and -(in spite of his painful condition and wretched surroundings and the -pangs of almost overwhelming thirst) he at length fell into a heavy -sleep. - -Tom remained in a heavy drowsy slumber--half sleep, half stupor--for -eight or nine hours, and when at length he opened his eyes it was broad -daylight. On attempting to get up he discovered that his ankles were -secured by a stout cord, though his arms were still free. - -"So the beggars have been paying me a visit during the night," said he, -assuming a sitting posture and taking a look round the hut. "I must -have slept uncommonly sound, for them to have lashed my feet together -without rousing me! Halloa! what's this?" he went on as his eye lighted -upon a gourd and a few green mealies placed just within his reach. -"Come, they don't intend that I should die of thirst, after all!" And -eagerly seizing the gourd, which contained about a pint and a half of -sour milk, he drained it to the dregs. - -"I don't remember ever having enjoyed a drink so much!" exclaimed the -poor fellow as he threw down the empty vessel with a sigh. "But oh, -don't I wish there had been three times the quantity!" - -The day passed without a soul visiting the prison except one repulsive -old woman, who brought Tom another and larger vessel of milk and some -more mealies during the afternoon, and who, after regarding him with -looks of fiendish malignity, deliberately spat in his face as she left -the hut. - -"Beastly old crone!" growled Tom as he raised the milk to his lips and -took a long draught. "What on earth did she want to do that for?" he -added, putting down the half-emptied vessel. - -By this time Tom was suffering from the pangs of hunger as well as those -of thirst, and so he set to work on the hitherto neglected mealies, and -managed to dispose of half of them, untempting though they were. - -Next day our captive hero was left entirely alone, receiving neither -food nor drink; driven almost to despair he had serious thoughts of -freeing himself from his bonds and rushing out upon his foes, regardless -of consequences, but he found he was too weak to make the attempt. Then -he became quite light-headed, and jabbered and sang to himself, until at -last he fell into a regular stupor; and when he once more awoke to -consciousness he found that there was another prisoner in the hut, and -that prisoner was--Frank Jamieson! - -CHAPTER TWENTY. - -AN UNEXPECTED MEETING--A FRIENDLY CAFFRE. - -"Can this possibly be you, Tom?" exclaimed Frank Jamieson in utter -astonishment, when, in the squalid, half-clad figure lying huddled up -against the wall of the hut, he recognised his friend and comrade Tom -Flinders. "How came you here? It was officially reported in camp that -you were killed when our corps attempted to retake the waggons on the -18th. I am most--" - -"Would that the report were true!" interrupted Tom in dejected tones; -for he felt so completely broken down that not even the unexpected sight -of his friend could rouse him. "I should be out of my misery then. -These black devils have beaten and kicked me about like a dog; they've -insulted and starved me, and driven me half-mad by keeping me without -drink. Now I suppose they'll finish up by torturing us both to death." -And, unable to control himself any longer, for he was quite hysterical -from exhaustion, pain, and thirst, the poor lad burst into tears. - -In an instant Frank Jamieson was down on his knees beside his prostrate -friend, and, taking a spirit-flask from the pocket of his blouse, he -raised Tom's head and made him swallow a small quantity of brandy; he -then produced a handful of moss-biscuit from another pocket and pressed -him to eat it. But Tom shook his head, saying: "No, thanks, Frank, I'll -not take it; you may want it yourself before long. Food is not -plentiful in this miserable hole, I can assure you." - -"Nonsense, man!" retorted the other, seeing that, in spite of his -refusal, Tom cast a hungry look at the biscuit. "Eat it at once, or -I'll pitch it away." Then, as Tom devoured the biscuit, Frank said: - -"I think our lives are safe, though we may be detained prisoners for -some time. The truth is I have a friend at court, who will do all he -can for us." - -"But you're not a prisoner, Frank?" inquired Tom (upon whom the sup of -brandy and mouthful of wholesome food had already had a most beneficial -effect), as he regarded his comrade with a puzzled look. - -"You cannot for a moment suppose that I came here willingly!" laughed -Jamieson. "What makes you ask such an extraordinary question? I hope -you don't think that I am a _deserter_!" - -"Why, you don't _look_ like a prisoner," Tom rejoined. "In the first -place, the Caffres have left you your clothes; and secondly, they don't -appear to have made free with the contents of your pockets; whereas, -they've stripped pretty nearly every rag off my back, and knocked me -about into the bargain. How is it they let you off so easily?" - -"Well, as I told you before, I have a friend at court," Jamieson -answered. "It fortunately happened that Untsikana, the chief into whose -clutches I fell, is an old acquaintance--in fact, about two years ago I -saved his life; and moreover, he was under great obligations to my poor -father--" - -"_Poor_ father!" echoed Tom. "I hope the captain is--" - -"The dear old governor is dead, Tom," interrupted Frank with a deep -sigh. "I thought you knew it. When last seen he was fighting by your -side." - -"So he was, but he was all right when I got knocked over. Are you sure -he is killed?" - -"There can be no doubt of it, I grieve to say. Untsikana saw his body, -and also that of poor Patrick Keown. The corps was almost annihilated-- -counting the fellows that were with me, there are not more than thirty -left." - -Their conversation was now interrupted by the entrance of two Caffre -warriors, one of whom was Untsikana himself Frank, who could speak the -Caffre language fairly well, at once appealed to him on Tom's behalf, -and with such success that the chief not only provided him with food and -drink, and water to bathe his wounds and bruised limbs, but also -procured him an old tiger-skin kaross and a pair of "veldt schoon," to -take the place of the garments of which his captors had stripped him, -and which had been distributed amongst the dusky inhabitants of the -kraal, so that there was no recovering them. - -"Who shall say there is not _some_ good in a Caffre?" observed Frank -Jamieson as he dressed the wound on his friend's head; "come, Tom, you -must acknowledge that." - -"Your acquaintance Umpty-dumpty, or whatever his name is, is certainly -not half a bad chap," replied Tom, whose customary good spirits were -returning. "But he is a wonderful exception to the rule. I wonder what -they'll do with us?" he added. "Turn us into white slaves, I expect!" - -"Impossible to say," his friend answered. "I must sound Untsikana on -the subject when he next pays us a visit. I might induce him to aid us -in making our escape!" - -"Not you," Tom rejoined with a shake of the head. "That would be -testing his gratitude rather too much. By the way, when and how did he -take you prisoner?" - -"That is soon told," said Frank. "You must know," he went on, "that the -brigadier broke up his camp at Chumie Hoek on the morning of the 19th, -and marched, bag and baggage, for Block Drift. - -"I was with the rear-guard in command of the remnants of our poor old -corps. The enemy came down in thousands from the mountains and attacked -the whole line of waggons, from front to rear, at one time, so that we -had some precious hard fighting all along the route. - -"Whilst the head of the column was crossing the Chumie River the rear -waggons were forced to halt for a bit; and then it was that the Caffres -made their hottest attack. The artillery received them with four or -five rounds of canister and grape, which staggered them above a bit and -checked their advance. A troop of the 7th Dragoon Guards then charged -them, and I was ordered to support this charge; because, as no doubt -you've noticed, the Caffres generally break when charged, and then -re-form when the cavalry have passed through them. - -"Well, during the charge my old horse `Trumpeter' was killed, and I got -a nasty fall, striking my head against a big stone. When I regained my -feet our fellows were a hundred yards away, and before I well knew where -I was, I was surrounded by a dozen Caffres, who would have quickly put -an end to me had I not recognised Untsikana and called out to him to -save my life. He at once interfered and would not let his men lay a -finger upon me; but, in spite of my entreaties, he carried me off into -the mountains. To make a long story short, I was kept, closely guarded, -in a cave until yesterday morning, when Untsikana brought me on here." - -"Did the enemy capture any of the waggons?" asked Tom. - -"From what I heard them say, I think they must have got hold of the -hospital stores waggon," answered Jamieson. "I saw three or four -Caffres yesterday in a very miserable state, and Untsikana told me they -had been drinking the white man's medicines. One fellow was terribly -bad, and, from the condition of his mouth and lips, I should imagine -that he must have been eating some sort of _blister_ [a fact]--and a -precious strong sort, too!" - -"Hope it agreed with his complaint, whatever that may have been!" said -Tom, grinning at the thought of the wretched Caffre's discomfiture when -the blister began to draw. "But what could have induced the stupid -beggar to taste such a thing?" - -"Don't you know that the Caffres have an idea that the white man's -medicines possess extraordinary strength-giving properties?" his friend -replied. "You're not half up in the manners and customs of your -coloured compatriots. They will at any time steal physic in any shape -or form, and swallow all they steal." - -"And did your friend Umpty go in for this course of promiscuous -physicking? Though I don't suppose we should have found him so amiable -if he had." - -"Well," laughed Frank Jamieson, producing a glass-stoppered bottle from -his pocket, "while I was in the cave I saw Untsikana handling this, -which no doubt he `looted' from the hospital waggon; and he was on the -point of swallowing the contents, when, fortunately for him, I caught -sight of the label and snatched the bottle from his hand." - -"Why, what is it?--castor-oil?" - -"Castor-oil!--no. He might have drenched himself with that for aught I -should have cared," Frank answered. "This is _chloroform_--the stuff -the surgeons use during operations to produce insensibility. It has -only been in general use a few months, I believe." - -"Ah! I heard Dr Fraser talking to old McAlpine about it the other -evening," said Tom. "This is the first time it has been supplied to the -field-hospital. But what did you want to keep such dangerous stuff -for?" he added. "There's enough of it to poison a troop, I should -think." - -"To tell the truth, I popped the bottle in my pocket, and forgot that it -was there until this moment. I must throw it away when I have a -chance." - -"The sooner the better," said Tom. "A pretty job it would be if you -smashed the bottle in this dog-hole of a place! We should probably drop -off to sleep, and never wake again!" - -"I will give the bottle to Untsikana when I see him again," Frank -rejoined, "and advise him to pitch it into the nearest river, or empty -it away in the bush. It _is_ nasty stuff to carry about." - -But Frank Jamieson did not see Untsikana again, for the friendly chief -quitted the kraal that very evening to rejoin his brother-warriors, the -majority of whom had by this time crossed the frontier into British -territory, and were committing great ravages and depredations amongst -the Albany farms and settlements--so much so that Colonel Somerset had -to march with the greater number of his troops to Graham's Town, and -from thence follow up the enemy into Lower Albany. - -CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. - -IN DURANCE VILE--THE PRISONERS LEARN THEIR FATE--A FATAL DOSE. - -For three days after Untsikana left the kraal, Tom Flinders and Frank -Jamieson were kept in the closest confinement, not being allowed to take -any exercise, nor even so much as show their noses outside their narrow -prison. During this weary time our unfortunate friends--though they had -sufficient both to eat and drink, and were not made to suffer actual -personal violence--were forced to put up with the insolent taunts of -their captors, and with the virulent abuse of the women and children, -who evidently took a delight in congregating round the hut, and -assailing its occupants with every insulting epithet they could think -of; and, what was far worse, they lost no opportunity of flinging mud, -mealie-husks, and other filth through the low doorway, "as though," as -Tom truly remarked, "the hut was not dirty enough already!" - -This was, of course, exceedingly annoying, and Tom Flinders waxed very -indignant; but his friend took things in a more philosophical spirit, -remarking that, as they could not possibly put a stop to these -unpleasant attentions, they had best "grin and bear them." On the -fourth morning after the friendly chief's departure, the old Caffre who -had been told off to attend on the prisoners and bring them their daily -food, informed Frank Jamieson that he and his companion in misfortune -were to be taken under escort to one of the principal Caffre strongholds -beyond the Bashee River, and there to become the slaves of Untsikana's -father--a chief of no small importance. - -"Never more shall you see your people," said the old fellow with a -malicious grin; for, true to the instincts of his savage nature, he felt -a cruel pleasure in attempting to strike terror into the hearts of his -prisoners. "Our brave and invincible warriors have eaten up the `red -soldiers' of the island-queen, and are now sweeping before them the -hated white men. Not one shall be left alive in this land except you -and this boy, and you will end your days in slavery!" - -"What does the old rascal say?" asked Tom, to whom the Caffre tongue was -quite unintelligible. "Something unpleasant, I'll wager a dollar; he -looks so precious satisfied with himself. Ugh, you hoary-headed, -hardhearted old sinner!" he added, as the man left the hut. - -"He says that Colonel Somerset's troops have been totally defeated, and -that the Caffre warriors are driving our countrymen into the sea," Frank -replied with a slight smile. - -"Oh, hang it all! You must tell that to the marines!" exclaimed Tom; -though at the same time a feeling of uneasiness came over him lest there -should be a spice of truth in their jailer's report. "I don't believe a -word of it! It cannot possibly be true, you know." - -"And you and I are destined for transportation beyond the Bashee River, -where we shall become the bondmen of the great chief Umbodhla--my -friend's father," continued Frank. "A bright look-out, truly!" - -"Very," ejaculated Tom. "But the beggars haven't got us there yet, and -if we get the chance of giving them the slip, why--" - -"We'll do so," interrupted Frank. "But, my dear fellow, if we wish to -succeed in making our escape we must keep quiet and submit to any -affront they may put upon us. Our chief endeavour must be to throw them -off their guard, and thus lead them to imagine that we are both -thoroughly cowed. Now, do you remember this, Tom! for our success -depends upon it. Don't you show your teeth, old chap--unless you have a -good chance of using them." - -"I understand," growled Tom. "A nod is as good as a wink to a blind -horse!" - -They had no time to say more to each other, for at that moment their -jailer came back, and was followed into the hut by three brawny savages, -who, seizing Frank roughly, proceeded to fasten his arms behind him, -after which they placed a long "reim" with a running noose round his -neck; they then served Tom in a similar fashion. - -"Hamb'uye ngapandhle (Get outside)," said the Caffre who appeared to be -the leader, striking Tom Flinders a pretty smart blow across the -shoulders with the staff of his assegai. - -"You uncivilised brute!" shouted Tom, the hot blood mounting to his -face. "If my hands were only free--" - -"But they're not, old boy," interrupted Frank; "so take it quietly, like -a sensible fellow. It may be our turn by and by." And without a murmur -he followed the guards out of the hut. - -The instant the white prisoners appeared outside the hut the entire -population of the kraal--from the grey-headed "indoda" [indoda, man; -inkwenkwee, boy; inkosikazi, chief's wife; intombi, girl] to the -woolly-pated, chubby "inkwenkwee;" from the lean and repulsive-looking -"inkosikazi" to the plump little "intombi"--set up an awful and -prolonged howling and caterwauling, such as would have done credit to an -election mob engaged in the pleasing pastime of hooting an unpopular -candidate. With this charming chorus ringing in their ears Tom and his -friend were conducted by their sable guards through the midst of the -kraal. - -This was really the first time that Tom had seen the interior of an -inhabited kraal (for it was dark when he was brought in after his -capture), and in spite of his unpleasant position he cast curious -glances round as he passed through. The kraal--which was but a small -one--consisted of a number of beehive-shaped huts constructed of canes, -wattled and filled in with clay, and thatched with reeds and long grass; -the space upon which these huts were erected was inclosed by a wall or -lofty hedge, formed of the branches of the "mimosa" strongly and tightly -interlaced. The hut in which our friends had been kept in durance vile -stood in the very centre of the inclosure, and was not above a quarter -the size of the others. "About half as big, and twice as dirty as an -English pig-sty, and as full of fleas as a gypsy's van," was Tom -Flinders' after description of his uncomfortable prison. - -The party told off to escort the white prisoners to Umbodhla's -stronghold beyond the Bashee River consisted of five invalided warriors, -who had received wounds during the attack on Campbell's column on the -17th April; but although their injuries were of such a nature as to -prevent their taking part in a "pitched battle" or a hard day's bush -warfare, these warriors were by no means in a weakly condition, and were -perfectly capable of marching twenty or thirty miles between daylight -and dark, and of resisting any attempt on the part of the prisoners to -escape from their custody. The leader of the party--a most -ferocious-looking savage, with a sinister and forbidding cast of -countenance--was armed with an old-fashioned flint-lock "roer" of Dutch -make; but his comrades carried only the usual bundle of assegais and -their formidable knobkerries. The leader's name was Waishlahla, and he, -too, was a chief, but of much lower rank than Untsikana. - -Quitting the kraal by a narrow opening in the inclosure wall, barely -wide enough to allow of three persons passing abreast, the Caffres -conducted their prisoners across some cultivated ground by which the -kraal was surrounded, and ascended to the summit of the Amatolas. -Traversing the range in a northeasterly direction, they presently hit -upon a path that, passing down a rocky ravine, led over an extensive -plain stretching far away from the base of the Amatolas to the banks of -the Kei River. - -Down this precipitous and dangerous path the escort proceeded at a rapid -pace, forcing their prisoners to keep up with them by repeated blows, -and even prods of their assegais, until they reached the mouth of the -ravine; they then left the path and struck straight across country in -the direction of the Kei River. - -Through broken scrub and thorny mimosas, and over rough stony ground, -Tom Flinders and Frank Jamieson were hurried at a pace that was -well-nigh killing (for when on the march Caffres move over the ground at -a sort of double stride or trot, which is terribly trying to those -unaccustomed to such rapid travelling) until at length their guards came -to a halt on the banks of a small stream. Worn out with heat and -fatigue, and suffering intense pain from their bleeding and swollen -feet, the weary prisoners--after a long refreshing draught of cool -water--sank down on the veldt with a sigh of relief; but one of the -escort immediately seized Frank by the collar and dragged him up again, -and Waishlahla, severing the thongs that bound his arms, ordered him to -strip. Frank hesitated for a moment, and was about to remonstrate, when -a sharp blow over the shoulders reminded him that resistance was worse -than useless; and so, gulping down his wrath, he threw off all his -garments, his shirt excepted, and flung them on the ground. - -"Now you may lie down," said the chief with a savage grin. "You can -have an hour's rest, and then we go on again;" and picking up the -clothes he distributed them amongst the escort, whilst Frank, with an -exclamation of disgust, stretched himself beside his friend, who had -been watching these proceedings with surprise and indignation. - -"We're in a pleasant fix, and no mistake," whispered Tom as they lay -side by side; "why are they treating you in this manner? I thought they -intended to leave you your clothes, but now it appears we're to fare -alike!" - -"I suppose it is the Caffres' nature to maltreat those who fall into -their power," answered Frank in the same low tone. "You see as long as -Untsikana was present this fellow Waishlahla dared not annoy us, but -now--well, you ought to remember the good old nursery rhyme, `When the -cat's away the mice will play!'" - -"Precious rough play," growled the other. Then after a pause he said, -"I'm afraid we shall not have much chance of getting away from these -brutes; they're a deal too wide-awake." - -"They were not wide-awake enough to fasten my arms again," his friend -rejoined, "and that is something in our favour! Never say die, old -fellow! Remember the yarn John Richards spun us; he was in far greater -straits than we are, nevertheless he managed to escape from two hundred -Red-skins, every one of whom was eager to get his scalp. But turn your -back, Tom," he went on, "and let me see if I cannot loosen your bonds; -you will be more at ease then." - -"But I say, Frank, did you take in all that yarn?" asked Tom, as the -other cast loose the thongs round his arms. "I didn't; at least I -thought Richards was drawing on his imagination a good deal." - -"Not a bit of it; what he told us was true enough; Richards is not the -sort of man to romance. I know him well, for he has acted as our agent -at Graham's Town for the last seven years--in fact ever since he came to -South Africa." - -"Well, at all events," yawned Tom, "I couldn't escape at this moment if -I had the chance; for I'm completely knocked up, and so are you, old -fellow; and as we have only one hour--" - -"We had better make the most of it," Frank chimed in. "That is just -what I was about to remark, Tom. We must manage to take rest whenever -we can, for we shall require all our strength and vigour--mental and -physical--if we want to give our guards the slip, and find our way back -to the colony." - -It was about mid-day when our two friends lay down to snatch a hasty -repose after their toilsome journey; but when Frank Jamieson awoke he -found to his intense surprise that the sun had sunk below the horizon, -and darkness was rapidly setting in. Tom Flinders was still asleep by -his side, and round them were gathered the five Caffres, apparently also -asleep--two of them face downwards, with their woolly heads buried in -their arms, the other three stretched on the broad of their backs. - -"Halloa!--why, it is nearly dark!" exclaimed Frank, sitting up and -rubbing his eyes to make sure that he was quite awake. "We must have -been sleeping considerably longer than an hour! Or is it possible that -I have been dreaming?" was his mental question; but his bare limbs and -swollen, bleeding feet were convincing proofs to the contrary. "Tom-- -Tom Flinders," he then whispered, bending over his friend and gently -shaking him. - -"What's the row?" cried Tom, waking up with a start. - -"H'sh," whispered Frank; "don't make a noise! Waishlahla and his men -have overslept themselves, and if we mean to make a dash for freedom, it -must be now or never! We shall not get such a chance again." - -"I'm game," Tom answered. "But we had better secure their weapons -first, especially the chief's gun." - -"Leave that to me," said his companion, as he crept cautiously up to the -recumbent figure of Waishlahla, with the intention of taking possession -of his "roer." - -The savage chief lay flat on his back, with his brawny arms extended -over his head; and when Frank leaned over him he saw that his jaw had -dropped, and that his eyes were wide open and staring. - -But there "was no speculation in those eyes"--for Waishlahla was stone -dead! - -In an instant it flashed across Frank's mind what had happened. - -"He must have taken the chloroform!" he exclaimed. "I left the bottle -in the pocket of my blouse." - -"What?" cried Tom, looking over his shoulder, "you don't mean that!" - -"There cannot be a doubt about it," said the other. "See, the man is -quite stiff and cold; he must have been dead four or five hours." - -"Then, depend upon it, they're all in the same boat!" - -And such proved to be the case. - -Waishlahla had found the bottle of chloroform in the pocket of Frank -Jamieson's blouse, and he and his comrades had drank the whole of the -contents--about eight ounces--between them, with, of course, fatal -results. - -"Frank," said Tom, as they stood over the chief's stiffening corpse, -"I'm very glad we never thought of _giving_ the poor fellows that stuff! -Still--well, it is a lucky thing for us that you didn't pitch the -bottle away!" - -CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. - -A STARLIGHT TRAMP. - -Although by a concatenation of unforeseen circumstances--that is to say, -the accidental possession of a bottle of chloroform, and the Caffres' -extraordinary craze for European medicaments--Tom Flinders and Frank -Jamieson were freed from their savage guards, they felt by no means -certain that they would even now be able to make good their escape. The -untimely fate of Waishlahla and his men had, so to speak, left our -friends "prisoners at large;" and this was a step--a long step!--in the -right direction; but it was no use disguising the fact that there were -still almost insurmountable difficulties to overcome, and unknown perils -to encounter, before they could consider themselves fairly out of the -wood. - -They were alone in a hostile country, with only a scanty supply of food -and almost without means of procuring more when that was gone (for, -situated as they were, it would be running a great risk to use -Waishlahla's gun, save in self-defence), whilst between them and -Albany--the nearest British territory--lay the Amatola Mountains, which -they knew to be swarming with their bloodthirsty foes. Moreover, Frank -Jamieson had grave misgivings as to whether there might not be a certain -amount of truth in what their old jailer had told him--namely, that -Colonel Somerset had suffered a serious reverse, and that Albany was now -overrun by the victorious Caffres; and, lest this should be the case, he -thought it better for them to keep clear of that district altogether, -and endeavour to reach--by a long and circuitous route--one of the more -distant provinces, where they might reasonably hope the war had not yet -spread. And so, after much anxious deliberation, he proposed to his -companion that they should shape their course for the Storm Bergen -(which lay almost due north), and having crossed that range, should -travel in a westerly direction until they reached the Tarka River, and -then proceed along its banks to Cradock--a small town in Somerset -province, 70 miles north-west of Graham's Town. - -"It will be a serious undertaking," said Frank, "and we shall have to -undergo any amount of privation and hardship; but I know you will agree -with me that anything is better than running the risk of falling again -into the hands of the Caffres; for, depend upon it, we should not get -off so easily a second time! Of course," he added, "we must travel by -night, and conceal ourselves during the day--at any rate until we're -clear of the enemy's country." - -"But how are you going to find your way?" was Tom's doubtful query. - -"I shall steer by the stars," replied the other. Then, seeing that his -friend's face still wore a dubious expression, he said, "Remember, Tom, -I don't for a moment suppose that it will be all plain sailing--quite -the contrary! But I do honestly believe that in following this route, -lies our best--nay, our _only_ chance of eluding the Caffres." - -"All right, old fellow," cried Tom cheerfully. "I am ready to trust -myself to your guidance, and we'll sink or swim together. Now, the -sooner we're off the better. I feel fresh as possible after my long -caulk." - -Frank then resumed his clothes (which luckily for him the Caffres had -not put on), whilst Tom despoiled the unfortunate Waishlahla of his gun -and ammunition; he also took his knobkerrie, shield, and bundle of -assegais; and a bag of green mealies. - -"Are you ready, Tom?" asked Frank. - -"Ay, ay!" was the prompt reply; "quite ready." - -The air was mild and calm, and the glorious constellations of the south -shone down on the young men as they started on the first stage of their -perilous journey; not knowing where that stage might end, but resolved -to keep moving forward throughout the night. Setting their faces in the -proposed direction, they trudged on; now dipping into a deep hollow -where the grass grew tall and rank, now topping a gentle rise; now -clambering over masses of rock, now forcing their way through spiky -mimosa jungle or tangled coppice. - -Tom Flinders was deeply impressed by the weird novelty of their first -night march. - -Strange indeed were the noises that sounded through the still night -air--the deep hum of myriads of insects, the melancholy "croak, croak" -of the bull-frog, or the shrill scream of the night bird mingling with -the moaning bark of the jackal, the laughing cry of the hyaena, or the -sullen roar of some prowling leopard; stranger still the gaunt, -spectre-like forms which loomed through the darkness or moved from the -path with snort of terror or angry growl. - -At length the morning dawned, and then the weary, foot-sore fugitives-- -their faces and limbs scratched and bleeding, their garments rent and -torn--climbed into the wide-spreading branches of a well-grown baobab -tree, and sought shelter and rest amidst its dark green foliage. - -Thus--turning night into day and day into night--our friends journeyed -on for a week and a day, covering on an average eight miles betwixt -sundown and sunrise. - -Not very rapid travelling! True; something less than a mile an hour; -but be it remembered that the travellers had to make their way by -starlight through an unknown country; up hill and down dale, over -"bosch" and "bron," through deep, rugged, watercourses, and (twice) -across rapid streams; keeping all the while a sharp lookout least any of -the savage beasts, whose howlings and roarings made the night hideous, -should spring upon them as they passed along. Of water, they happily -found abundance; but all they had to eat during that wearisome tramp -were the green mealies they had taken from the dead Caffres; they -certainly might have killed some small birds or even animals, but then -they dared not light a fire to cook them, and had no mind to devour raw -flesh. - -The ninth morning of their journey brought them to a grassy plain -watered by a clear, shallow stream, which bubbled over a pebbly bed. -This plain was bounded on the north by a long range of lofty mountains -exhibiting a magnificent front, clothed with overhanging woods, -diversified with hoary rocks, and steep buttresses of green turf. - -"Look yonder, Tom!" cried Frank Jamieson, gazing with admiration and -thankfulness on the view before; "there are the Storm Bergen! By this -time to-morrow I trust we shall be on the far side of them." - -CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. - -CROSSING THE STORM BERGEN--A SCENE OF SLAUGHTER--TOM'S LAST -ADVENTURE--"OUT OF THE WOOD" AT LAST! - -Nearly opposite to the spot where the travellers had halted, the Storm -Bergen were pierced by a narrow "poort" or valley, presenting a gloomy -and terrific aspect of solitude. Through the "poort"--and winding in -and out amongst huge boulders of moss-covered rock and beneath frowning -precipices, past wild and gorgeous hollows rank with semi-tropical -vegetation so peculiar to those regions--a rough track led to the open -country north of the range. - -Anxious to pass through the mountains before nightfall, our hero and his -companion--after a very short rest, and a mouthful of mealie--entered -the "poort," and followed the tortuous path until the sun rose high in -the heavens, and its burning rays beat down into the valley with cruel -force; then, unable in their debilitated condition to stand the fierce -heat, they came to a halt, and concluded to rest until the cool of the -evening. - -"This _has_ been a tramp!" exclaimed Tom Flinders, dropping on his knees -beside a tiny rivulet, that bubbled and sparkled across their path, and -lapping up the cool, clear water, like a thirsty hound. "'Pon my life," -he added, when he had quenched his thirst, "there's nothing to be -compared to `Adam's ale,' when one is really parched! I say, Frank," he -went on in more serious tones, "we've a lot to be thankful for." - -"We have that, old fellow," was Frank Jamieson's hearty reply. "Our -escape has been little short of a miracle." Then after a pause he said, -"But I fear our friends will have mourned for us as dead." - -"I'm afraid so," rejoined Tom. "I only hope that Wilson hasn't written -to the _pater_, and reported me `killed in action;' it might be the -death of my poor mother to hear such news, in her delicate state of -health. When do you think we shall reach Cradock?" - -"That, of course, depends a great deal upon circumstances," Frank -answered; "but, barring accidents, I think we may fairly reckon on being -there by this day week at the latest. You see, Tom, now we're able to -travel during the day, we shall get over the ground much more rapidly." - -"How far is Cradock from Ralfontein?" queried his friend. - -"As the crow flies, something over a hundred miles; but the track, -though a good one, is rather--halloa! what's that noise?" - -Frank's attention was attracted by a rumbling sound, which might be -likened to that made by a heavy _slow_ train passing over a bridge just -within earshot; a sound which grew louder every second, and was -presently mingled with horrible shouts and yells that echoed and -re-echoed through the valley. - -"I know what _that_ noise is!" exclaimed Tom, seizing the gun and -springing to his feet. - -"Caffres! we're lost," ejaculated Frank Jamieson, his face paling; -"we're lost, Tom!" - -But Frank quickly recovered himself, and casting a glance around in the -hope of discovering some hiding-place, his eyes rested upon a hollow--or -small cave--in the cliff almost immediately over their heads, and about -eight or nine feet above the path. - -"There's our chance! let us take refuge in that hole," said he, catching -Tom by the arm. "I'll help you up first and hand you the gun and -assegais; then you can haul me after you. Up you go, there's not a -moment to lose!" - -So saying, Frank placed his body against the face of the cliff or rock, -which was all but perpendicular, and Tom, without any hesitation, sprang -upon his shoulders and clambered into the cave. The gun and assegais -were next handed up, then Tom, lying down flat on his stomach, reached -over the edge of the cave as far as he dare, and seizing his friend's -outstretched hands, hauled him up. The cave was just deep and wide -enough for them to turn round, and just high enough to allow of their -squatting on their haunches like a couple of Hindoos; the entrance was -partially hidden by an overhanging bush. - -Hardly had our friends concealed themselves, when--as though they had -dropped from the clouds--a score of sinewy black forms appeared in the -valley, and took up a position on either side of the track, directly -beneath the cave; they were armed with assegais only, and did not -present a very warlike appearance; in fact it was evident that they were -of quite a different race to Sandilli's dusky warriors. - -"I don't believe these fellows will molest us," Frank Jamieson said with -a sigh of relief. "They probably belong to one of the pastoral tribes -inhabiting the country in the vicinity of Campbeldorp, and are now on a -hunting expedition. Ha! I thought so." - -And as he spoke a vast herd of small deer--beautiful animals, graceful -of form and of a light cinnamon colour on the back, with white bellies -and legs--came leaping and bounding along the valley, pursued by a -number of savages, all yelling and shrieking at the very top of their -voices. - -"They're spring-bok," said Tom, leaning forward to get a fair view of -the deer. "I wish I had my double-barrel! A good juicy steak off one -of those fellows wouldn't come amiss, eh, Frank?" - -"No indeed," replied the other. "But, I say, old fellow, take care you -don't overbalance yourself. I wouldn't trust too much to that bush." - -The leaders of the herd of deer were now almost abreast of the cave, and -the sable hunters, who were lying in wait along the path, rushed in upon -them. Then commenced a scene of slaughter; numbers of the affrighted -spring-bok being slain by the assegais of the savages, whilst not a few -fell down and died from sheer terror. - -This cruel and unsportsmanlike butchery was at its height when, -forgetful of his friend's warning, Tom Flinders leaned forward to obtain -a better view of the scene, and in order to preserve his balance he -caught hold of the bush which overhung the entrance of the cave; but, as -Frank had suspected, the bush was not very firmly rooted, and so of a -sudden it gave way, and poor Tom pitched head first out of the cave and -landed right on the shoulders of one of the savages, who fell sprawling -amongst the spring-bok, with our hero on the top of him. - -Now nine feet is not a very terrible distance to tumble (though, of -course, a great deal depends on how a person falls--for there's a knack -in falling, as everybody should know), and Tom would probably have -escaped with a few bruises, had he not unfortunately rolled from off the -prostrate savage right in front of another, who was in the very act of -spearing a spring-bok; the consequence was that his sharp weapon took -effect in the biped instead of the quadruped; that is to say, poor Tom -received a severe wound, the assegai-head being driven clean through his -leg from side to side, an inch or two above the knee-cap. - -The sudden and startling appearance of a white man in their midst so -electrified the hunters that they stood stock-still, and allowed the -spring-bok to dash onward through the valley without attempting to stop -them; thus the greater number of the herd would certainly have galloped -over Tom's body, and probably have injured him not a little, had not -Frank Jamieson dropped down from the cave, and rushing forward dragged -his friend out of harm's way. Tom was indeed badly hurt, and when Frank -drew the assegai from the wound the pain was so sharp that the poor -fellow fainted right away. - -The blacks--to the number of fifty or sixty--now crowded round, and one -of them--who appeared to be in authority--addressed Frank in broken -English, volunteering his assistance, and assuring him that he had -nothing to fear. - -"My name is Ntlororo, and I am captain of a kraal," said he. "My tribe -is at peace with our white brethren, and we will help you in your -trouble." - -Frank thanked the chief most warmly, and inquired how far distant his -kraal might be. - -"Twelve miles," Ntlororo replied. "But my hunters shall carry your -friend thither," he quickly added, seeing his "white brother's" face -fall considerably. "We will start at once." - -He then gave some orders to his men, who commenced to collect the -spring-bok they had slain, whilst Frank, with Ntlororo's aid, bound up -Tom's injured leg. As soon as the stricken deer were all collected, a -rough litter was formed of assegais covered with a kaross; on to this -Tom was lifted, and the whole party quitted the scene of slaughter and -marched up the valley--Frank Jamieson (forgetful of his fatigue and -hunger in his thankfulness and excitement) walking beside the litter. -The spring-bok were carried on the shoulders of the hunters, who kept up -a sort of triumphant chant as they trudged along. - -They were soon clear of the mountain, and three hours' march brought -them to a green savannah, plentifully intersected by the spoor of -cattle; which showed Frank Jamieson that they were not any great -distance from the kraal. Another half-hour's "heel and toe," and the -party came in sight of a cluster of ant-hills dotting a grassy slope -leading down to a small river, beyond which lay the kraal. - -But it was not the sight of the native village that drew forth an -exclamation of astonished delight from Frank Jamieson's lips! - -No, indeed! He scarcely noticed the bee-hive-shaped huts, for his eager -eyes were fixed upon a couple of large bullock-waggons outspanned on the -banks of the river. - -CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. - -THE LAST. - -The bullock-waggons which had attracted Frank Jamieson's attention, when -approaching the kraal, belonged to a certain Mr Abraham Shipp, who was -engaged in the adventurous and not unprofitable occupation of trading -with the natives in the interior of South Africa, bartering a great -variety of British hard goods--principally of "Brummagem" manufacture-- -for elephants' tusks, valuable skins and horns, and ostrich feathers. -Mr Shipp, after many months' sojourn amongst the up-country tribes, had -come down south, and was now hastening on to Natal, where he hoped to -dispose of the ivory, skins, and plumes that he had collected, to some -of the British and Dutch traders, who had branch houses in the -fast-rising town of D'Urban, or else make arrangements to ship them off -to Cape Town in one of the small coasting vessels plying regularly (more -or less!) between Port Natal and Table Bay. - -But apart from his desire to "trade," Abraham Shipp had another and more -important reason for wishing to reach D'Urban as quickly as possible. - -He had with him a sick companion, a young man of four--and--twenty, -Oliver Maurice by name. Young Maurice was an Oxford man of good family -and fortune, but having "gone the pace" whilst at college, and plunged -into the dubious pleasure of what Captain Costigan was wont to call -"poloit societee" with rather too much enthusiasm when reading for the -bar, he had damaged his fortune and lost all taste for what is termed -"life," and so came out to South Africa to seek enjoyment amidst "fresh -woods and pastures new." Meeting with Abraham Shipp, Maurice had -arranged to accompany him on his trading expedition, but whilst up -country far north of the Gareep River, he had been seized with sickness, -and now it was only too evident that his days were numbered. He -suffered no pain, but lay all day in one of the waggons in a state of -apathy. Still Mr Shipp clung to the hope that if Oliver Maurice could -only be placed under a doctor's care he might "pull round." - -Shipp, though somewhat brusque-mannered and rough-tongued, was a right -good-hearted fellow, and when he heard Frank's story he at once proposed -that they should join company. - -"Look you now, my lad," cried he, slapping Frank's shoulder with a hand -half as big as a fair-sized leg of mutton, "just you give up your mad -idea of tramping to Cradock, and make up your mind to come with me. -Your chum can share the waggon with poor Noll Maurice; it's plenty big -enough for both, and they'll cheer one another up; and I've got a spare -nag--rather a rum 'un, but I can see _you_ won't mind that!--which you -can ride. I'll find you in meat, baccy, and grog, and rig you out in -fresh togs into the bargain. We inspan at daybreak to-morrow, and I -hope to be at D'Urban by Tuesday week. Come now, what d'ye say?" - -We need hardly add that Frank accepted this generous offer without -hesitation. - -Early next morning Shipp's waggons were got on the move, and having -taken a friendly leave of Ntlororo--upon whom Frank bestowed -Waishlahla's gun and ammunition--the party left the kraal en route for -Natal. - -Oliver Maurice seemed very pleased to have Tom as his companion, and -before they had known one another four-and-twenty hours they were on -friendly terms. - -Maurice evidently felt a relief in having somebody with him in whom he -could confide, and he gave Tom a brief sketch of his short, but misspent -life. - -"If I had only been a poor man I might have done better," said he one -evening--the day before they reached D'Urban. "But it is a true saying -that money unfairly come by brings--" - -"Unfairly come by!" ejaculated Tom. "You surely don't mean that you -_stole_ it?" - -"Not exactly, my dear fellow," replied the sick man, with just the ghost -of a laugh. "But nevertheless, though _legally_ mine, the best part of -my fortune should by rights have gone to another man. My father had a -distant relative--a queer, crochety old fellow whom he had never seen -and never wished to see--and this distant relative had an only son, a -lieutenant in the royal navy, who unfortunately--" - -"Why!" interrupted Tom, a sudden light breaking in upon him, "you don't -mean Weston?" - -"Weston was the name of my father's relative; and his son was dismissed -the service for striking his superior officer. Do you know anything -about him?" - -"I should think I did!" was Tom's reply; "why, my dear chap, Weston is -my father's partner, and Frank Jamieson's brother-in-law." And -thereupon he proceeded to give Maurice a full account of Mr Weston's -history. - -"I am glad to have the opportunity of making a restitution of this -property," said Maurice when Tom finished. "Ask Shipp to give you some -paper, and this very evening I'll draw up a will in Weston's favour, -which, if I live to reach D'Urban, I will have put into regular legal -jargon. I shall leave him every penny--no, I sha'n't though," he added -with a faint smile; "I owe you something, Tom, and as I see that you -feel a tender interest in Miss Gracie Weston I shall leave her a share -of the property." - -Poor Maurice was as good as his word; he reached D'Urban just in time to -draw up a formal will, which was duly attested by the resident -magistrate, leaving his fortune to Mr Weston, with the exception of -3000 pounds, which he settled on Miss Grace Weston. Two days later he -breathed his last, and after his funeral Frank Jamieson and Tom Flinders -took leave of Mr Shipp and embarked on board the _Mary Anne_ cutter, -bound for Table Bay, where they landed after a rough passage of a week's -duration. - -Our task is ended; but before parting we must ask our readers to -accompany us once again to Ralfontein, and to imagine that ten years -have elapsed since our hero and his friend escaped from the Caffres. - -Quite a large village has sprung up on the plateau in rear of the old -homestead; a village in which may be counted four substantial houses, -"standing in their own grounds," and one tiny wooden church. - -On the fertile plains that surround the plateau hundreds of splendid -cattle are grazing, whilst the meadows and inclosures nearer home are -enlivened by young horses sufficient in number to furnish remounts for -any light cavalry corps in the service. - -The village is inhabited by the employes of "Jamieson, Flinders, and -Weston," the largest and most successful horse-breeders and farmers in -the colony; and in the four substantial houses dwell the families of -Messieurs Tom Flinders, Frank Jamieson, George Maurice Weston, and -Richard (commonly called Dick) Jamieson; the little church is "_served_" -by the Reverend James Jamieson. - -Major and Mrs Flinders reside in the old house with Mr Weston and his -wife. - -And now let us lay down our pen, saying: "God save all this fayre -compagnie!" - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -The End. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The War of the Axe, by J. 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