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+ float: left; + margin-right: 1em } + +.align-right { clear: right; + float: right; + margin-left: 1em } + +.align-center { margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto } + +div.shrinkwrap { display: table; } + +/* SECTIONS */ + +body { margin: 5% 10% 5% 10% } + +/* compact list items containing just one p */ +li p.pfirst { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0 } + +.first { margin-top: 0 !important; + text-indent: 0 !important } +.last { margin-bottom: 0 !important } + +span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 1 } +img.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; max-width: 25% } +span.dropspan { font-variant: small-caps } + +.no-page-break { page-break-before: avoid !important } + +/* PAGINATION */ + +@media screen { + .coverpage, .frontispiece, .titlepage, .verso, .dedication, .plainpage + { margin: 10% 0; } + + div.clearpage, div.cleardoublepage + { margin: 10% 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; } + + .vfill { margin: 5% 10% } +} + +@media print { + div.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10% } + div.cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 10% } + + .vfill { margin-top: 20% } + h2.title { margin-top: 20% } +} + +</style> +<title>SETTLERS AND SCOUTS</title> +<meta name="PG.Rights" content="Public Domain" /> +<meta name="PG.Title" content="Settlers and Scouts" /> +<meta name="PG.Producer" content="Al Haines" /> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/img-cover.jpg" /> +<meta name="DC.Creator" content="Herbert Strang" /> +<meta name="DC.Created" content="1922" /> +<meta name="PG.Id" content="39161" /> +<meta name="PG.Released" content="2012-03-15" /> +<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> +<meta name="DC.Title" content="Settlers and Scouts" /> + +<link href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" rel="schema.DCTERMS" /> +<link href="http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators" rel="schema.MARCREL" /> +<meta content="Settlers and Scouts" name="DCTERMS.title" /> +<meta content="settlers.rst" name="DCTERMS.source" /> +<meta content="en" scheme="DCTERMS.RFC4646" name="DCTERMS.language" /> +<meta content="2012-03-16T03:54:30.223484+00:00" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.modified" /> +<meta content="Project Gutenberg" name="DCTERMS.publisher" /> +<meta content="Public Domain in the USA." name="DCTERMS.rights" /> +<link href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39161" rel="DCTERMS.isFormatOf" /> +<meta content="Herbert Strang" name="DCTERMS.creator" /> +<meta content="2012-03-15" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.created" /> +<meta content="width=device-width" name="viewport" /> +<meta content="EpubMaker 0.3 by Marcello Perathoner <webmaster@gutenberg.org>" name="generator" /> +<style type="text/css"> +.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } +.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } +.lineno { position: absolute; left: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } +.lineno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } +.toc-pageref { float: right } +pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 39161 ***</div> +<div class="document" id="settlers-and-scouts"> +<h1 class="document-title level-1 pfirst title">SETTLERS AND SCOUTS</h1> +<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 4em"> +</div> +<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-produced-by"><span>Produced by Al Haines.</span></p> +<div class="noindent vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +<p class="noindent pfirst"><span></span></p> +</div> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 58%" id="figure-41"> +<img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-cover.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +Cover art</div> +</div> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 62%" id="figure-42"> +<span id="the-bengali-hurled-the-canful-at-his-head"></span><img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-front.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +"The Bengali hurled the canful at his head." <em class="italics">See page 253</em>.</div> +</div> +<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">SETTLERS AND SCOUTS</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"><em class="italics">A TALE OF THE AFRICAN HIGHLANDS</em></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost small"> +<div class="line">BY</div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">HERBERT STRANG</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost small"> +<div class="line"><em class="italics">NEW EDITION</em></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">HUMPHREY MILFORD</div> +<div class="line">OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS</div> +<div class="line">LONDON, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW</div> +<div class="line">TORONTO, MELBOURNE, CAPE TOWN, BOMBAY</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">REPRINTED 1922 IN GREAT BRITAIN BY R. CLAY AND SONS, LTD.,</div> +<div class="line">BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst">The present story completes a series of three books in which I have +endeavoured to give impressions of life in the immense region known as +Equatorial Africa. The scene of <em class="italics">Tom Burnaby</em> was laid in the centre, +around the great lakes; <em class="italics">Samba</em> was concerned with the western or Congo +districts; <em class="italics">Settlers and Scouts</em> is a story of the east, more +especially the magnificent highland region which seems destined to +become one of the greatest provinces of the British African Empire.</p> +<p class="pnext">The steady stream of emigration already flowing to British East Africa +is bound to swell when it is more generally recognized that in the hill +districts of Kenya, Naivasha, and Kisumu there are vast areas of +agricultural land constituting an ideal "white man's country." In the +following pages I have attempted to show some of the conditions under +which the pioneers of emigration must work. The development of +communications and the settlement of the remoter regions will soon +relegate such alarums and excursions as are here described to the +romantic possibilities of the past. But it will be long before the +lion, the rhinoceros, the hippopotamus and other more or less +formidable neighbours cease to be factors with which the emigrant has +to reckon.</p> +<p class="pnext">For many facts, stranger by far than fiction, concerning the wild +inhabitants, human and other, of this most interesting region, I am +indebted to Mr. Arkell-Hardwick's <em class="italics">An Ivory Trader in North Kenya</em> and +Colonel Patterson's <em class="italics">Man-Eaters of Tsavo</em>, among several important +works that have appeared during recent years.</p> +<p class="pnext">It may be added that in the spelling of native names I have sometimes +rather consulted the reader's convenience than conformed strictly to +rule. The name <em class="italics">Wanderobbo</em>, for instance, applied to an individual, +is a solecism, the prefix <em class="italics">Wa</em> being a sign of the plural. But it +seemed better to err than to afflict the reader with so uncouth a form +as <em class="italics">N'derobbo</em>.</p> +<div class="left line-block medium outermost"> +<div class="line">HERBERT STRANG.</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<hr class="docutils" /> +<div class="level-2 section" id="id1"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title">CONTENTS</h2> +<div class="container contents"> +<ul class="compact simple toc-list"> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-first-the-emigrants" id="id2">CHAPTER THE FIRST--The Emigrants</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-second-said-mohammed-failed-b-a" id="id3">CHAPTER THE SECOND--Said Mohammed, failed B.A.</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-third-in-a-game-pit" id="id4">CHAPTER THE THIRD--In a Game-Pit</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-fourth-white-man-s-magic" id="id5">CHAPTER THE FOURTH--White Man's Magic</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-fifth-juma-takes-to-the-bush" id="id6">CHAPTER THE FIFTH--Juma takes to the Bush</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-sixth-raided-by-lions" id="id7">CHAPTER THE SIXTH--Raided by Lions</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-seventh-john-runs-the-farm" id="id8">CHAPTER THE SEVENTH--John runs the Farm</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-eighth-hard-pressed" id="id9">CHAPTER THE EIGHTH--Hard Pressed</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-ninth-a-rearguard-fight" id="id10">CHAPTER THE NINTH--A Rearguard Fight</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-tenth-driving-sheep-to-market" id="id11">CHAPTER THE TENTH--Driving Sheep to Market</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-eleventh-rhinoceros-and-lions" id="id12">CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH--Rhinoceros and Lions</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-twelfth-the-sack-of-the-farm" id="id13">CHAPTER THE TWELFTH--The Sack of the Farm</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-thirteenth-tracking-the-raiders" id="id14">CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH--Tracking the Raiders</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-fourteenth-ferrier-insists" id="id15">CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH--Ferrier Insists</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-fifteenth-a-coup-de-main" id="id16">CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH--A Coup de Main</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-sixteenth-juma-is-reinforced" id="id17">CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH--Juma is Reinforced</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-seventeenth-john-s-letter" id="id18">CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH--John's Letter</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-eighteenth-an-attack-in-force" id="id19">CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH--An Attack in Force</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-nineteenth-trapped" id="id20">CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH--Trapped</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-twentieth-shooting-the-rapids" id="id21">CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH--Shooting the Rapids</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-twenty-first-a-combined-assault" id="id22">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST--A Combined Assault</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-twenty-second-a-counter-stroke" id="id23">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SECOND--A Counter Stroke</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-twenty-third-the-ivory" id="id24">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-THIRD--The Ivory</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-twenty-fourth-ferrier-takes-the-lead" id="id25">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH--Ferrier takes the Lead</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-twenty-fifth-the-fight-in-the-swamp" id="id26">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH--The Fight in the Swamp</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-the-twenty-sixth-back-to-the-farm" id="id27">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SIXTH--Back to the Farm</a></p> +</li> +</ul> +</div> +</div> +<hr class="docutils" /> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</div> +</div> +<div class="left line-block medium outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-bengali-hurled-the-canful-at-his-head">THE BENGALI HURLED THE CANFUL AT HIS HEAD.</a></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal" href="#one-of-the-wakamba-slipped-off-when-he-was-in-mid-stream">ONE OF THE WAKAMBA SLIPPED OFF WHEN HE WAS IN MID STREAM</a></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-bengali-hurled-the-canful-at-his-head">THE BENGALI HURLED THE CANFUL AT HIS HEAD.</a></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal" href="#ferrier-raised-his-rifle-and-brought-him-down-with-a-bullet-through-the-heart">FERRIER RAISED HIS RIFLE, AND ... BROUGHT HIM DOWN WITH A BULLET THROUGH THE HEART</a></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-hippo-gave-a-snort-and-the-water-around-him-was-agitated-as-by-an-immense-churn">THE HIPPO GAVE A SNORT, AND THE WATER AROUND HIM WAS AGITATED AS BY AN IMMENSE CHURN</a></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal" href="#john-ordered-his-askaris-to-fire-among-the-negroes-on-the-left-bank">JOHN ORDERED HIS ASKARIS TO FIRE AMONG THE NEGROES ON THE LEFT BANK.</a></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">MAPS</div> +</div> +<div class="left line-block medium outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal" href="#part-of-british-east-africa">PART OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA</a></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal" href="#environs-of-juma-s-fort">ENVIRONS OF JUMA'S FORT</a></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-first-the-emigrants"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id2">CHAPTER THE FIRST--The Emigrants</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The train was steaming over Mombasa Island, and Mr. David Halliday, +ejaculating "Now we're off!" settled himself in his corner and +comfortably fell asleep. Age has its weaknesses--or its privileges, +according as you look at it. Not that Mr. Halliday was aged, or even +old. He was nearly fifty, and might have passed for younger. His son, +at any rate, was neither old nor sleepy. He was, in fact, but a few +months past his seventeenth year; and being possessed of an average +curiosity and a healthy interest in novel scenes, he looked with +delight on the groves of lofty cocoa-nut palms, the wide-spreading +mangoes and baobabs filled with chattering monkeys, and the long +stretches of park-like glades, brilliant with flowers, through which +runs the Uganda railway in the first stage of its long course to the +shores of Victoria Nyanza.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Halliday, son of a Scots farmer who had emigrated from Ayrshire +thirty years before, had been for many years agent--or "factor," as he, +being a Scotsman, preferred to call himself--on the estates of Lord +Sussex, who, as everybody knows, owns half the county from which his +title is derived. He had managed to save some money during his +stewardship, but having entrusted the greater part of it for investment +to a bland London solicitor of his acquaintance, he had the misfortune +to learn one day from the newspaper that the lawyer had absconded, +leaving defalcations to the tune of some £50,000. A few weeks +afterwards another calamity befell Mr. Halliday. His employer, a +bachelor, died; the estates passed into the hands of a distant +relative; and the new peer, taking alarm at the large sums demanded of +him in the shape of death duties, announced his intention of cutting +down expenses, and employing a younger man to steward his estates, at a +lower salary. Luckily Mr. Halliday had a thousand or two safely +invested, apart from what he had lost through the lawyer's rascality; +and being disinclined, at his time of life, to seek similar employment, +he cast about, during his six months' notice of the termination of his +engagement, to find some new outlet for his energies and some secure +channel for the use of his little capital.</p> +<p class="pnext">The problem was complicated by the necessity of starting his son in +life. He had intended David for one of the professions, and put him to +a good school; but the boy had not shown any particular aptitude for +book work, except in the one subject that interested him--natural +history. He was never so happy as when he was with dogs and horses; he +read with avidity every book about animals on which he could lay hands; +and once, when his career was being talked about, he said bluntly that +he knew he couldn't stand work at a desk in stuffy London, and implored +his father to let him go out to Canada or Australia. Mr. Halliday +merely grunted at the time; he was a man of few words; but he thought +the matter out very carefully, and his attention having been called to +the opening up of East Africa consequent upon the completion of the +Uganda railway, he quietly made inquiries, obtained information about +the country, its climate, soil, and prospects in regard to +stock-raising, and one day startled his son with the news that he was +going out in a few months to settle. Having once made up his mind he +let no grass grow under his feet. One May day father and son left +London in a Peninsular and Oriental Liner, transhipped at Aden into a +vessel of the British India Steam Navigation Company, landed at +Mombasa, and after spending a fortnight there in preliminary +preparations, took tickets for Nairobi, three hundred and thirty miles +down the line, whence they proposed to strike up country and select the +ground for their settlement.</p> +<p class="pnext">They travelled by the intermediate class--the third of the four classes +into which passengers on the Uganda railway are divided. Mr. Halliday, +as he said, had not come out to Africa for the fun of it and having +spent considerably over £100 already in travelling expenses, he was not +inclined to spend more was absolutely necessary now. By travelling +intermediate, unusual though it was, they saved nearly a hundred rupees +(the currency of British East Africa) on the first-class fare, and +twenty-five on the second, and every rupee they could save would be of +importance when they came to stock their ranch. "And I haven't taken +return tickets, John," said Mr. Halliday.</p> +<p class="pnext">Since the boy had been named David after his father, and had no other +name, it is necessary to explain how he came to be called John. At +school, his name being David, on the principle of association of ideas +he was immediately dubbed Jonathan, though he might just as reasonably +have been called Saul. Jonathan being too long was cut down to Johnny, +and finally to John; and when one of his school-fellows, on a visit in +the holidays, addressed him by this simple monosyllable, the name was +laughingly accepted by his parents as an excellent means of +distinguishing between the two Davids. People who knew him only as +John were puzzled when he signed himself "D. Halliday," and one +matter-of-fact lady was not quite pleased when he said gravely that, +Prince Edward being known in the family circle as David, it was only +right that David Halliday should be known as John. "I am glad I am not +your godmother," she replied grimly.</p> +<p class="pnext">John, then, as we, like all his intimates, will call him, smiled +affectionately when he saw his father settle himself to slumber, and +devoted his own very wide-awake eyes to the scenery. It was a feast +for the senses and the imagination. The train, leaving Mombasa island +for the mainland, runs through a tract of undulating richly-wooded +country, with, here, groves of cocoa-nut palms and papaws; there, +orchards of mangoes and cashew apples; anon, vast plantations of maize +and millet and other grain crops. There is plenty of time to take in +the details of this luxuriant panorama, for the train is climbing, +climbing always, and the traveller is not whirled along at the +bewildering speed of an English express. Leaning out of the window, +and looking back over the route, John catches a last glimpse of the sea +at Port Reitz, guarded by the Shimba hills, and realizes that a new +chapter in his life is opening, full of romantic possibilities.</p> +<p class="pnext">"A verree fine country, sir," says a thin staccato voice behind, and +turning, he is smiled upon by a swarthy face, with black moustache and +beard that have never known a razor, and surmounted by a spotless white +turban.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Magnificent," replies John, eyeing his fellow-passenger curiously.</p> +<p class="pnext">"But this is not the best," says the man again. "We shall see, in due +time, scenes of still more prepossessing appearance, together with +myriads of four-footed beasts, et cetera."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Indeed," says John, a trifle amused.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, sir. When we come to Tsavo we may behold lions, truly +denominated the king of beasts, but no longer monarchs of all they +survey, as William Cowper beautifully and poetically says. Man, sir, +plays the very dickens with Nature; the surveyor molests the ancient +solitary reign of Mr. Lion; he has to take a back seat."</p> +<p class="pnext">John was quite unaccustomed to conversation interlarded with quotations +from what he had at school irreverently called "rep.," and wondering +what manner of man he had to do with he hazarded an indirect question.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You seem to have read some of our poets," he said.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, sir, I am familiar with the masterpieces of English literature, +edited with notes. My name, sir, is Said Mohammed, failed B.A. of +Calcutta University."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Failed B.A.?" said John, puzzled. He had met B.A.'s of several +universities, and even junior masters who called themselves Inter. B.A. +Lond. (honours); but a failed B.A. was a new species.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, sir; the honourable examiners formed a less elevated estimate of +my intellectual attainments than was reasonably anticipated, and when +the list was published, lo! my name was conspicuous by its absence. +But that is a bagatelle. The honorific distinction--what is it but the +guinea stamp? It is work, sir, that ennobles. I have accumulated a +priceless store of knowledge; I am all there, I assure you."</p> +<p class="pnext">John thought it only polite to murmur an assent to this, but he felt +himself ill equipped to sustain a conversation on the dizzy heights to +which Said Mohammed appeared inclined to ascend, and turning once more +to the window, he viewed in silence the ever-changing scenery. The +luxuriant vegetation of the coastal region had given place to a vast +plateau covered with a dense scrub of umbrella-shaped acacias, with +patches of dry grass, and here and there a massive baobab rearing its +antic form from out the undergrowth. He was interested in the little +stations, with their trim flower-beds and home-like appointments, at +which the train stopped at intervals of several miles; and gave but +perfunctory answers to the Bengali, who kept up, with every appearance +of pleasure, a continual flow of talk, informing him that this tree was +an aristolochia and that an aloe, and calling his attention at one spot +to a herd of sable antelopes which were startled by the train as they +drank at a stream, and dashed off into the jungle. "Their scientific +name, sir, is <em class="italics">Hippotragus niger</em>," said Said Mohammed, and Mr. +Halliday waking at this point, the Bengali favoured him with a smile, +and said, "A verree fine country, sir; good-morning."</p> +<p class="pnext">They took their lunch at Mackinnon Road station, at the foot of the +Taru hills. Refreshed by his sleep and the meal, Mr. Halliday began to +take more interest in things in general, and John having introduced +Said Mohammed (mentioning impressively that he was a failed B.A. of +Calcutta University), a three-cornered conversation was begun, in which +the Bengali fluently expounded his views on many subjects.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, sir," said he, when the question of the treatment of native races +cropped up, "that is a subject to which I have devoted considerable +acumen. Is it just, I ask you, is it worthy of this immense and +glorious empire on which the sun never sits, that the natives, the +primordial owners of the soil, should be laid under such restrictions +as are now in force? Are we Indians not subjects of the same gracious +and glorious majesty, F.D., et cetera? Have we not shed our blood in +defence of the Union Jack? Are we not ready to fight and conquer again +and again like your jolly tars and all? And yet my countrymen, to wit, +are not allowed in South Africa the full rights of citizens; and in +this country, where this verree railway was built by the labour of +Indians, it is becoming the rule to refuse them grants of land. Is +this sauce for the gander, I ask you, gentlemen?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's a very ticklish subject," said Mr. Halliday, "and I don't profess +to understand it. I dare say those zebras yonder--look at them, John, +hundreds of 'em--think it great impudence on the part of this engine to +run snorting through their grounds. But the engine runs all the same."</p> +<p class="pnext">At Tsavo the line crossed the river Athi. John looked out eagerly for +a glimpse of the lions which were said to infest this region, but to +his disappointment saw none. Indeed, as the train passed through mile +after mile of uninteresting scrub, he began to feel that his first +enthusiasm for the country was premature. But at Kibwezi the line +enters another belt of forest, the trees looped together with +festooning creepers, and filled with chattering monkeys and barking +baboons; the undergrowth brilliant with colour, both of the flowers and +of birds and butterflies innumerable. Some miles farther on, at +Makindu, the forest yields to rich pasture land, the undulating plain +stretching on both sides of the line, broken by streams whose beds are +lined with date-palms and firs. All the vegetation was fresh and vivid +through recent rains, and Mr. Halliday, viewing the country with a +stock-breeder's eye, now for the first time allowed a remark on the +scenery to pass his lips. "That's grand!" he said; and when the +rumbling of the train set startled herds of antelope and gazelle, red +congoni and black wildebeeste, scampering over the plain, he stood up +in the carriage and gazed at them with kindling admiration.</p> +<p class="pnext">The oppressive heat of the morning had now given place to a pleasant +coolness, with a crisp exhilarating breeze. When John expressed his +surprise at this, within a degree or two of the Equator, Said Mohammed +explained that they were now four or five thousand feet above +sea-level, among the Highlands of East Africa, where Europeans may live +in health and comfort. By the time they reached Nairobi, indeed, the +evening air was so chill that both Englishmen were glad to don their +overcoats. Said Mohammed deferentially took leave of them on the +platform of the station, and disappeared among a crowd of Orientals +gathered there; while Mr. Halliday inquired for the coffee-planter to +whom he had an introduction, and who had offered him the hospitality of +his bungalow so long as he remained in Nairobi.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-second-said-mohammed-failed-b-a"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id3">CHAPTER THE SECOND--Said Mohammed, failed B.A.</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Nairobi was disappointing. At a distance it looked like a cluster of +tin cottages, and though these appeared larger and more substantial on +a nearer view, they retained the dreary aspect of makeshift which +corrugated iron always gives. Mr. Gillespie, however, the +coffee-planter with whom the Hallidays were to stay, was hospitality +itself; he and his good wife received their visitors with real Scottish +heartiness of welcome. They gave them a capital dinner, and made them +feel thoroughly at home.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Gillespie was much amused when, in answering his question about +their journey from Mombasa, John told him of Said Mohammed, failed B.A.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm that myself," he said, with a comical smile--"failed M.A. of +Glasgow, though I don't call myself so. Professor Ramsay's Latin +Composition fair stuck me, that's a fact. Man, these Indians are a +problem. We've some thousands of them here, industrious, quick, and +able to live on next to nothing, which we Scotsmen have got out of the +way of. I believe in free trade, when it is free; but I don't believe +in free competition with people who can beat us hollow, and these +Indians will do that if we let 'em. We're bound to put restrictions on +them."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But they're British subjects, sir," John was beginning.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Aye," interrupted Mr. Gillespie, "and so are the lions and rhinoceros +of these parts, and we have to fight 'em. A country can't belong to +both wild beasts and men; nor can it belong to black men and white; one +or other must go to the wall. Not that the Indians are wild beasts, or +even black; on the contrary, they're very decent folk in the main, and +that's the worst of it. The only solution I see is to let them develop +the Lowlands where we can't live, and to keep the Highlands for +ourselves. Man, it's a grand country."</p> +<p class="pnext">After dinner Mr. Gillespie led his guests to the verandah, and +providing them with deck-chairs and cigars, discussed with them their +immediate future.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We've a decent club here; I'll introduce you to-morrow, Halliday. You +can get a round of golf; and there are several young lassies who'll +play lawn tennis all day with your son if he wishes."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't speak of it, man," said Mr. Halliday hastily. "We're out on +business--strictly on business, and we've no time for playing till +we've fixed on our land. Where is this Mount Kenya, anyway? John +Gilmour--d'ye know him?--was out hunting a while ago, and he wrote me +he'd found the very place for me, somewhere south-east of Mount Kenya; +he stuck a post in the ground to mark the spot, and I've the directions +written down somewhere."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Mount Kenya's a bit north-east of us, a hundred miles or so. Fine +country, too."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And how do you get there?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, the ground's not exactly fit for motor-cars yet, and horses +don't thrive. You can get mules, but they're apt to be a trouble, so I +guess you'd better tramp it. You'll have to carry food with you, and a +load of 'trade' for the natives; we'll have to see about getting +carriers for you; you pay 'em about four rupees a month, and feed 'em. +Their food don't cost much; you can get a hundredweight of native grain +and red beans for three or four rupees, and if you're good shots you +can provide yourselves with plenty of meat on the way."</p> +<p class="pnext">"There's no fear of trouble with the natives, I suppose?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not if you don't go too far north. South of Kenya they're friendly +enough as a rule, but there are wild tribes on the east and north. You +must have two porters who can shoot; Sniders they're used to; but don't +let 'em use them except in case of necessity. Do all the game shooting +yourselves, and keep a firm hand on the men; they'll play you all +manner of tricks if you don't. They're the queerest people God ever +made, that's a fact. They'll desert at any moment and forfeit their +pay, for no reason at all that we can understand. I could tell you of +men who'll carry a load of ninety pounds or more every day for a month +on end, and then all at once decamp, hundreds of miles away from their +home, and with no earthly chance of getting there. But you'll find 'em +out for yourselves."</p> +<p class="pnext">The talk lasted far into the night, Mr. Gillespie giving advice and +retailing reminiscences of his own early days as a settler, which John +drank in eagerly. Next day they set about collecting porters for the +journey. The news that a white man was going up country had already +spread through the native quarter of the town, and Mr. Gillespie's +office was besieged by a great crowd of black men, representing a score +of different races, all eager to join the stranger's "safari." The +experience of the coffee-planter was very useful at this juncture, and +the Hallidays were quietly amused as he dismissed man after man with +little ceremony and a curtness of speech which, had they understood it +(he spoke in Swahili, the common vehicle of intercourse between +European and native), would have amused them still more. A little +M'kamba would come forward with a smile. "You're a thief; be off," +said Mr. Gillespie, and the man went away, still smiling. A hulking +Swahili appears, a sullen look on his face. "You're always +quarrelling; be off," says Mr. Gillespie, and the Swahili retires, to +join the crowd of rejected. At length half-a-dozen men were selected, +three Swahilis, of whom Coja ben Selim, a big, good-tempered-looking +fellow, was to be headman; and three Wakamba. Mr. Gillespie was +doubtful whether so small a safari would suffice; but Mr. Halliday was +bent on economy; he argued that he could not in any case afford an +escort large enough to cope with a serious native attack, and further, +that a party of modest dimensions was not so likely to provoke +hostility as a large one. Moreover, he intended to pay only a flying +visit to the site of his proposed settlement, for the purpose of a +preliminary survey. If he was pleased with the country, he intended to +mark out the ground and put in an application to the Land Commissioner +for a lease of a thousand acres or so. With luck, a month would +suffice for this prospecting journey, which incidentally, as Mr. +Gillespie informed him, would absolve him from paying registration fees +on his porters, such fees only being necessary when they were engaged +for two months or more.</p> +<p class="pnext">It remained to hire a cook for the expedition.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We don't need a cook," said Mr. Halliday. "I've roughed it often +enough; we can do our own cooking."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Man, you're a tenderfoot," said Mr. Gillespie, laughing. "You must +have a cook. Your men would all mutiny if you didn't. I don't mean +that he would cook for them; they'll have their own cooking-pots; but +they wouldn't obey you for a day if they saw you cooking for yourself. +The first maxim for a white man in this country is: 'Never do a black +man's work.' Order your men about as much as you please, but <em class="italics">don't do +anything</em>."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But that's a doctrine of the dark ages. Confound it, man, that's the +kind of thing we shook off centuries ago. I'm not a duke."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's just exactly what you are here. The natives will regard you as +their lord and master, and if you don't act up to the part--why, man, I +think the Governor will expel you as an undesirable alien. In short, +you must have a cook."</p> +<p class="pnext">Here Mr. Gillespie's native servant came in to say that an Indian +gentleman desired to see him.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Send him in," said Mr. Gillespie, and there entered, suave and +smiling, Said Mohammed, failed B.A. He bowed respectfully--a little +too respectfully, thought John--to his acquaintances of the day before; +then, addressing himself to Mr. Gillespie, he said--</p> +<p class="pnext">"Having learnt in the bazaar, sir, that the esteemed gentleman in whose +company I had the honour to travel yesterday is engaging a safari, I +embrace the opportunity of submitting tender of my services in +unremitting attention to the interior economy--soups, joints, sweets, +et cetera, or, as one might say, <em class="italics">hoc genus omne</em>, as it were."</p> +<p class="pnext">John opened his eyes. Apparently the failed B.A. was offering himself +as cook; but John thought he must be mistaken. Mr. Gillespie, however, +after a stare at his visitor, said in a severely practical tone--</p> +<p class="pnext">"You have experience?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, sir, I am <em class="italics">experientia docet</em> with several years' standing, and +testimonials galore. Videlicet, the Central Restaurant, sir, in +London, continuously chock-a-block on curry day when my dishes, +prepared Indian fashion, were the delight of city gents and ladies of +prepossessing appearance who feed there regular as clock-work. In +soup, joint, entrée I am a don; in sauce I am a wily adept."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come up to my bungalow and cook my dinner to-night," said Mr. +Gillespie.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Verree good, sir. The proof of the pudding is in the mastication +thereof. Good-morning, sir, and assuring you of my best services at +all times."</p> +<p class="pnext">There was a laugh when Said Mohammed had gone.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He'll never do," said Mr. Halliday.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Man, if he's any good at all he'll be a perfect treasure," said Mr. +Gillespie. "And you'll have to pay him fifty rupees a month."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Near £3 a month for cooking?" cried Mr. Halliday. "Can't afford it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But, my dear sir, you can't get any sort of a cook here for less than +thirty rupees; and our failed B.A., if he's worth his salt, will be +worth fifty. He will at least be clean; it's a part of his religion."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, perhaps he's a failure all round. Anyway, we don't want +kickshaws, and a cheaper man will do all we need."</p> +<p class="pnext">But the dinner at Mr. Gillespie's that night turned out excellent--well +cooked, well served, and varied though simple dishes.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Faith, Halliday," said the host, "if you don't engage the man I'll +take him myself. That'll bring you up to the scratch if you've any +Scotch blood left in you."</p> +<p class="pnext">Whether it was due to this provocation or not, Mr. Halliday engaged +Said Mohammed next day, for a month. Then, having been advised of the +inexpediency of delay, which might be taken advantage of by his porters +to desert, he decided to set off the same day, as soon as the hottest +hours were past. He sent Said Mohammed into the bazaar to buy the +necessary amount of food-stuff for the natives; Mr. Gillespie undertook +the purchase of small quantities of "trade"--sheeting, coloured cloths, +and beads for the most part; Mr. Halliday himself bought a small tent, +provisions, blankets, rifles and ammunition, and a few cheap utensils. +All these articles were sent up to the bungalow. At three o'clock Said +Mohammed and the six porters arrived and set about packing up, under +Mr. Gillespie's directions. Within an hour the loads were packed and +placed in a line on the ground.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now, Halliday," said Mr. Gillespie, "it's up to you. You must give +each man his proper load, and don't be jockeyed."</p> +<p class="pnext">There was a twinkle in his eye which Mr. Halliday detected.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Are you setting a trap for me?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No, no, man; but as you're to be master, the sooner you feel your feet +the better."</p> +<p class="pnext">Whereupon Mr. Halliday, who was not without courage as well as shrewd +common-sense, instantly confided the tent and personal baggage to two +of the three Swahilis, and distributed the remaining loads among the +three Wakamba by a rough and ready estimate of their muscular +capabilities. Then began what John called the "fun." The Swahilis +accepted their loads without a murmur; were they not the best fitted to +carry the <em class="italics">bwana's</em> belongings? But one of the Wakamba, a stout little +fellow with one eye, uttered a terrible wail when he lifted his bundle +to his back, and, letting it down again, began to expostulate in a +torrent of gibberish, of which the <em class="italics">bwana</em>, of course, understood not a +word. The others instantly followed his example, and all three began +to wrangle and gesticulate and abuse one another with a deafening +clamour. It was plain that every man wanted the load of somebody else. +Mr. Halliday looked on calmly for a few moments, Mr. Gillespie +curiously watching to see what he would do, and placidly smoking a +cigar without offering any suggestion. Suddenly Mr. Halliday called to +Coja ben Selim, the Swahili, and the only man whose name he knew.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You're headman; settle it," he said calmly, turning on his heel. "I +give you five minutes."</p> +<p class="pnext">The big Swahili instantly went among the Wakamba, cuffing them right +and left. In less than five minutes peace was restored, the Wakamba +slung their loads to their backs, passing the long loop of raw hide +around their foreheads; the Swahilis set theirs upon their heads; and +the cry of "Safari! safari!" indicated that they were ready to be off.</p> +<p class="pnext">"A capital start, Halliday," said Mr. Gillespie. "Good luck to ye."</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Halliday and John shook hands heartily with their host and hostess, +and taking their rifles under their arm, set off after the little +caravan, the leader of which had already started a marching song. Said +Mohammed, carrying a little bundle of his own, brought up the rear, +with Coja ben Selim.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-third-in-a-game-pit"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id4">CHAPTER THE THIRD--In a Game-Pit</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">John felt all the thrilling excitement of a new experience. There was +nothing romantic, it is true, in trudging along at two miles an hour +over a decent road, which led at first through the spacious estates of +colonists who had already settled in the neighbourhood of the town. +But he knew that before long the caravan would enter a wild, unsettled +region, swarming with game large and small, holding innumerable +possibilities of encounters with strange beasts and men. And though +there was nothing novel in the mere exercise of walking, it was both +new and amusing to find himself in company with African natives, +marching stolidly along under heavy loads, to a monotonous chant kept +up by their leader, who repeated the same words endlessly. Curious to +know what the man was singing, he asked Coja ben Selim, the only man of +them that knew English. The Swahili gave him a wide grin and said it +was all nonsense, and when John pressed him for the exact meaning he +prevaricated and looked uncomfortable. The song was, in fact, an +impromptu one, and the words, literally translated, meant nothing more +than "Two more white men; oh, what noses! Oh, what legs!" and if John +had known he would only have wondered what amusement the porters could +have derived from the constant repetition of such an uninspired and +uninspiring refrain. He made up his mind to learn the native tongue as +soon as possible.</p> +<p class="pnext">After they had walked for three or four miles it became suddenly dark, +but there was no pause, Mr. Gillespie having advised that they should +take advantage of the cool hours, and do a good ten miles before +camping for the night. A new moon shed a little light upon the path, +which, as the scattered cultivated districts were left behind, entered +a region of long grass and belts of forest land. Presently they heard +the rushing noise of water, and came to the brink of a deep ravine, +whose bottom they could not see for the trees and dense undergrowth +with which it was clothed. Coja ben Selim was for crossing the ravine; +he said he knew of a fine place for camping a little beyond it; but Mr. +Halliday was not inclined to risk a broken leg, and decided to camp in +a glade on the nearer bank, and to attempt the crossing by daylight. +The loads were set down, the tent was pitched, and a fire lighted; soon +the men were cooking their simple supper, chattering cheerfully; and +Said Mohammed, opening up the stores, produced some cocoa, tinned milk +and biscuits, and in a few minutes provided his employers with a simple +meal. Mr. Halliday discussed the advisability of setting a watch +during the night, but Coja said that there were no black men in the +neighbourhood, and the fires would keep off wild animals; so the two +Englishmen wrapped their blankets around them, and slept soundly till +the dawn.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Gillespie had given his guests some instruction in the general +conduct of a safari, so that when Mr. Halliday put his head out of the +tent and called to the headman to take up the loads, there was a brisk +movement among the porters to the pile in which their bundles had been +stacked during the night. They laid them in a row for inspection, +first lashing to them their mats and cooking-pots. When this was done, +they squatted down to eat a few roasted grains of muhindi (maize), and +while the Swahilis struck the tent and tied up the bedding, the two +Englishmen having rapidly dressed, Said Mohammed prepared breakfast of +tinned meat, biscuits, and tea. Then, to the customary cry of +"Safari!" the porters lifted their loads, the utensils were quickly +packed, and while the dawn was still grey the little party left the +camp and began the descent of the ravine. Looking back as he came to +the brink, John saw a hyena slink out of the undergrowth and steal past +the smouldering embers of the fires, and birds like kites swoop down +with rushing wings, soaring up again with some remnant of food in their +talons. He felt now that his new strange life was beginning indeed.</p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 58%" id="figure-43"> +<span id="part-of-british-east-africa"></span><img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-032.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +PART OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst">The descent was safely made, the river waded, and climbing up the +further side, the travellers found themselves entering a region of bush +and thorns and tall rank grass, in the midst of which they heard at +times a swishing sound as some animal, invisible, darted away from +before them. They had left the road leading to Fort Hall, the nearest +Government station, and struck off in a direction north by east. The +leader picked his way steadily, following the track of an animal, the +others close behind him, though after a time some of the porters, +weaker or less willing than the rest, began to lag behind. Though it +was still early morning, John found it already uncomfortably hot, and, +taking off his coat, gave it to Coja. Once or twice he removed his +sun-helmet also, but Said Mohammed, at this, came to his side, and +said, very respectfully--</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ten thousand pardons, sir, but a word to the wise: never expose your +manly brow to the solar luminary. In a brace of shakes you will have +sunstroke."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But there is no sun; I shan't hurt with this mist over the ground," +John protested.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is human to err, sir. You cannot see the sun, but he sees you, and +lo! in a moment he smites you, and it is no go. The head, sir, is the +weaker vessel."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Put on your hat, John," said Mr. Halliday. "We don't want to run any +risks."</p> +<p class="pnext">By and by the mist cleared, and having reached a ridge bare of trees, +the travellers suddenly caught sight of Mount Kenya in the distance, +rearing itself from the plain by such gentle slopes that it was hard to +believe that its summit was 14,000 feet above sea-level and covered +with snow. Its peaks were swathed in cloud; indeed, only once or twice +during many months did the travellers catch a glimpse of them. Then +the view was magnificent, and for the first time in his life John felt +a longing to climb a mountain.</p> +<p class="pnext">Every day's programme was the same. They started early. After a march +of two hours a halt was called, to allow the laggards to come up with +the party. Then the march was resumed, and continued until the sun's +heat became unendurable, and the men clamoured for a long rest. One +day at this time Mr. Halliday, selecting a glade shaded by immense +trees, bade the men set down their loads, and take a siesta. The +resting-place was not so well chosen as it had appeared to be; a stream +ran close by, and the travellers had hardly settled themselves when +they were beset by innumerable red ticks, which clung to the white +men's clothing and bit their skin savagely, sparing the natives. The +Hallidays, finding their attacks intolerable, sprang up and went on, +instructing Coja to follow them when the porters were sufficiently +rested. They had not gone far when they saw a herd of congoni, an +animal of the antelope kind, dashing across the plain, and John +fingered his rifle longingly. But Mr. Halliday would not permit him to +go in chase of them.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We shall have plenty of sport by and by," he said, "and we don't want +to heat ourselves or lose touch with the men."</p> +<p class="pnext">He had scarcely spoken when John caught sight of another safari coming +across a ridge in the distance. Mr. Halliday thought it prudent to +halt until they were rejoined by the rest of their party, and they +threw themselves down under a baobab to wait for them. It was two +hours before they came up, and the march had just been resumed when +they heard shots, and saw a number of black men rushing towards them at +full speed. Mr. Halliday was a little alarmed, thinking that an attack +was imminent; but in a few moments Coja told him that the approaching +men were plainly porters, for they were unarmed, but they bore no +loads, and he suggested that something had frightened them.</p> +<p class="pnext">In a few minutes the first of the runaways came up, and began to talk +excitedly to Coja, who informed Mr. Halliday that the men were indeed +porters belonging to a safari returning to Nairobi, and that a +rhinoceros had just charged them, whereupon they had flung down their +loads and bolted.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where is their master?" asked Mr. Halliday.</p> +<p class="pnext">The man, who had been joined by several of his comrades, pointed back +in the direction whence he had come. No white man, however, was in +sight, and Mr. Halliday decided to hurry on and see what had become of +him, ordering the men to follow, which they were plainly reluctant to +do. He came within half-a-mile to the scene of the stampede, the loads +of the porters strewing the grass; but there was no sign either of the +rhinoceros or of the young white man who, as the scared natives said, +was the master of the safari. Coja declared that the <em class="italics">bwana</em> must have +been gored or trampled by the rhinoceros, and suggested that they +should hurry on and get out of danger as quickly as possible; but Mr. +Halliday would not hear of leaving the spot until he had made an effort +to find the unfortunate traveller. He ordered the men to set down +their loads and remain with them while he made a search, and asked +whether any of them could follow a rhinoceros trail. One and all first +denied that they had ever seen a rhinoceros; but Mr. Halliday sternly +told Coja that they would have no supper unless they recovered their +memory, and then Coja himself reluctantly admitted that if the trail +was very clear, and if the white men would go one on each side of him +with their guns, he would try to lead them after the animal.</p> +<p class="pnext">As a matter of fact, the trail was easily found, the ground being soft +and the grass heavily trampled. It led them into a dense mass of bush. +Mr. Halliday, holding his rifle ready for the least sign of danger, +plunged into the jungle with John and Coja, the latter soon declaring +that he saw, together with the great hoof-marks of the animal, forming +paths on both sides of a ridge of grass, the smaller and fainter tracks +made by a white man's boots.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Him killed dead, sure 'nuff," said Coja solemnly. "No good look no +more."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We'll make sure of it. Go on," said Mr. Halliday, and the three +continued to follow the trail.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What's that?" cried John suddenly, a few minutes later.</p> +<p class="pnext">"White man call; him no dead yet," said Coja.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hallo!" shouted Mr. Halliday, and a faint "Hallo!" came in answer.</p> +<p class="pnext">Coja turned a little to the right, in the direction of the sound. Mr. +Halliday called again, and again the answer came, louder, but still +curiously muffled. Led by the sound, they now left the trail of the +rhinoceros, and had proceeded but a few steps farther when Coja +suddenly came to a halt, and bursting into laughter, cried, "Him down +there!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where?" said Mr. Halliday in amazement, looking about him. And then +he saw, in the midst of the grass, a deep hole, and at the bottom, nine +or ten feet below the surface, a young white man sitting cross-legged.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hallo!" he said, looking up with a smile. "I thought it was my +brother, though it wasn't like his shout. Can you help me out? I'm +afraid I've sprained my ankle."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of course we can," said Mr. Halliday, "but I'd like to know what on +earth you are doing there."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Thanking my stars I'm not skewered," said the other. "Let down your +rifle, will you? Perhaps I can manage to scramble out; but don't let +me drag you down."</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Halliday lowered his rifle, holding it by the barrel, having first +taken the precaution of emptying the breech; and the prisoner took it +by the stock, and tried to clamber up the side of the hole. But he +winced as his right foot touched the earth, and after a few moments +said--</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm afraid I can't manage it. My ankle has got a twist. If you'll +shout for my men I'll get one of them to make a sling of rope and haul +me out."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We needn't wait for that," said John. "I'll jump down and give you a +lift."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Look out, then. There's a pointed stake in the ground here which I +only escaped by a hair's breadth. Jump to the left. It's uncommon +good of you."</p> +<p class="pnext">John leapt down, and making a pick-a-back, got the stranger to mount +and then to stand erect on one foot. His head was now just below the +level of the pit.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm afraid we're not much for'arder," he said, with a smile.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Can't you get your elbows on the edge and hoist yourself up?" +suggested John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Can't reach. You'd better let me down."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'll tell you what," said John: "cut a notch in the wall for your +foot. Then you can hoist yourself up by the rifle until you are high +enough to get your elbows on; then it'll be easy. The earth is pretty +soft."</p> +<p class="pnext">Sitting with his legs over John's shoulders, the stranger soon cut a +notch with his knife; and in a few minutes he was hauled to the surface.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm much obliged to you. I might have stayed there till I starved for +all my men would have troubled."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How did you manage to fall in?" asked Mr. Halliday.</p> +<p class="pnext">"A rhinoceros charged us as we were crossing the foot of the kopje +yonder. He sprang out from behind a small mountain of an ant-hill. My +men instantly flung down their loads and bolted--idiots! and as we're +rather short of meat I thought I'd try to get within shot of the beast. +I was following him up when the earth gave way under me, and I found +myself in this old game-pit, and don't know how I managed to escape the +skewer sticking up at the bottom, as long as my arm. I say, you +haven't happened to see anything of my brother, I suppose?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We met nobody but your men," said Mr. Halliday. "Has your brother +lost himself?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Old Joe lost! Not a bit of it," cried the young man. "He'll turn up +all right. He left me a couple of hours ago to shoot something for +to-night's pot, and I thought you might have come across him. I'm +rather a nuisance, I'm afraid; I can't put my left foot to the ground, +and our last donkey died four days ago, so that I can't ride. We've +had uncommon bad luck with our donkeys. As a rule they're hardy in +this climate, we were told; but every one of the six we started with +has died. Really, I am a nuisance, keeping you here."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Nonsense," said Mr. Halliday. "Coja, shout for some of our men."</p> +<p class="pnext">"No come, master," said Coja. "Berry much 'fraid."</p> +<p class="pnext">"If he goes and calls our headman a coward I think it will answer," +said the stranger. "Headmen are very jealous of each other."</p> +<p class="pnext">Coja entered into the spirit of the suggestion, and ran back over the +tracks. In a few minutes the sounds of angry altercation came through +the bush, and Coja reappeared, in company with a white-clad Somali, +each man abusing the other at the top of his voice. Mr. Halliday +silenced them sternly, and ordered them to construct a litter, +promising a few cents to the man who did the larger share of the work. +They set to work at once, weaving strands of creeping plants and stalks +of grass with amazing rapidity. In less than twenty minutes a sheet of +matting was finished and firmly bound to two rifles, and on this +extemporized litter the stranger was carried between the headmen back +to the open ground.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the way he explained that his name was Oliver Browne, "commonly +called Poll," and that he came from Cape Colony. With his elder +brother he had been shooting and prospecting in North Kenya and +Gallaland, and they had thoughts of settling in British East Africa, +which seemed to offer better prospects than they could see in South +Africa.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I suppose you're on the same job," he concluded.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, we're going to have a look round," replied Mr. Halliday +cautiously. "We're on a flying visit, you see."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And I'm a nuisance, hindering you like this. Here are my wretched +men; I shall be all right now; and I can't thank you enough. We may +meet again, if we decide to come north. Good-bye. And I say, if you +meet that brother of mine, please tell him to hurry up, for if another +rhinoceros takes a fancy to charge us, and I can't bring him down, I +shall be a mangled corpse in no time."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hadn't we better stay with you till your brother turns up?" said John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not at all. The plain is pretty open here, and a rhinoceros could not +take us unawares. I shall go on slowly, and camp when I come to a +suitable place, and my men will rig up a boma in no time. Good-bye +again."</p> +<p class="pnext">The matting had been transferred to two of the Brownes' rifles, and the +men of each party having collected and shouldered their loads, they set +off in opposite directions, the two headmen hurling abuse at each other +as long as they remained in sight. Coja was particularly indignant +because his rival had received the reward for completing the greater +portion of the litter; but after a little Mr. Halliday consoled him by +saying, casually, that his portion had been the more closely knit, so +that he should receive a reward also.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Dat oder fella no good, what I say," remarked Coja.</p> +<p class="pnext">Half-an-hour after they had parted with Oliver Browne, they met a white +man whom at the first glance they knew to be his brother, so striking +was the resemblance. He was attended by four porters, each carrying a +large portion of some newly-killed animal. Mr. Halliday halted as they +came up, saying--</p> +<p class="pnext">"You're Mr. Joe Browne?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"That I am, but----" He paused, looking puzzled.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You don't know me," said Mr. Halliday, "so you needn't rack your +memory. We've just met your brother. He was after a rhinoceros and +tumbled into a game-pit."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Clumsy ass!" cried Mr. Browne, in the manner of an affectionate +brother. "No bones broke, I hope?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Halliday reassured him on that point, and the two stood for a few +minutes exchanging notes. The South African said that he had been much +attracted by what he had seen of the country, and if Mr. Halliday +became a settler, he would in all probability have him for a neighbour.</p> +<p class="pnext">"But it won't be yet," he added. "We must settle up our affairs at the +Cape first. Three or four months, perhaps; you'll have grown your +first crops by then. Don't shoot all the game before I come."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You have left us some, I hope," said John, eyeing the porters' burdens.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh, that's a couple of water-buck for the pot. You'll find bigger +game than that. Hippo meat's uncommonly good, but don't try elephant's +foot; it's a fraud. Don't believe any one who tells you to the +contrary. Good-bye; pleased to have met you; bar rhinoceros or +game-pits we'll meet again."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-fourth-white-man-s-magic"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id5">CHAPTER THE FOURTH--White Man's Magic</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">When John found opportunity to put pen to paper, he wrote, as he said, +"loads" to a school chum about the incidents of the next few days, +every one furnishing a new excitement. Mr. Halliday was so anxious to +accomplish the aim of his journey that he pushed on resolutely each +day, striking camp at earliest dawn, marching with intervals until ten, +resting until three or four, and then going on again until nightfall. +The ground was varied, now a stretch of grass land, now a belt of +forest; here a rapidly flowing stream rushing between high banks +covered with dense vegetation, there a tract of hard volcanic soil so +rugged and hot under the sun's rays that walking was painful. It was +only during the intervals for rest that John was able to indulge his +sporting tastes, and at the same time do service to the commissariat. +He caught some fine fish in the rivers, and wished there had been time +to follow up the hippopotamus tracks he discovered on the banks. He +brought down several water-buck and red congoni with his .303 rifle, +and one day was vastly excited to see a black-maned lion with his +lioness cross from one patch of reeds to another. The sight of other +game in wonderful variety--zebras, leopards, antelopes--became so +common that after a time it ceased to be impressive, and opportunities +for shooting them came but rarely, the country they frequented being +flat and open, and their scent being so keen that it was almost +impossible to come within range.</p> +<p class="pnext">One incident that gave a little excitement was the crossing of the +Thika river. The water was so deep and the current so swift that to +ford it was impossible, and after vainly searching for a shallow part, +Mr. Halliday confessed himself at a loss to know how to proceed. John +suggested that they should fell a tree and throw it across the river as +a bridge, but this would be a somewhat lengthy operation; and Said +Mohammed said it would take less time to construct a raft. This was +accordingly done, by lashing together three dead logs found on the +bank; but Mr. Halliday asked how it was to be prevented from being +swept away by the stream. Coja showed himself to be a man of resource. +Taking a rope between his teeth, he plunged into the river, first +looking warily round to make sure that no crocodiles were in the +neighbourhood, and swam across, the force of the current giving his +course an inclination of sixty degrees. Having reached the other side, +he fastened the rope to a tree, and by aid of this line the raft was +ferried over, conveying now the loads and now the men. One of the +Wakamba slipped off when he was in midstream, and instantly howled that +a crocodile was after him; but Coja called him a liar, sprang after +him, and catching him by the hair, towed him safely to the farther bank.</p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 61%" id="figure-44"> +<span id="one-of-the-wakamba-slipped-off-when-he-was-in-mid-stream"></span><img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-046.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +"One of the Wakamba slipped off when he was in midstream."</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst">Hitherto the party had met no natives; but Coja now informed his master +that the people of these parts were very bad, and advised that they +should go slowly, so that no stragglers should be left to be set on and +robbed--if not maltreated or killed. Mr. Halliday was somewhat +troubled at the thought of unfriendly natives between his prospective +estate and the outposts of civilization; but consoled himself with the +reflection that the area of settlements was rapidly enlarging, and the +country in the settled parts being brought thoroughly under control.</p> +<p class="pnext">The country beyond the Thika river proved to be more difficult than any +that had hitherto been traversed. Bare rocky hills, cut by deep and +dangerous ravines, alternated with stretches of long coarse grass and +dense thorny scrub, impenetrable save by low tunnels made by roaming +hippopotami. As they burrowed painfully through these tunnels, they +were oppressed by the suffocating heat, their clothes were torn by the +thorns, and their skin irritated by the multitudinous insects. It was +like wandering through a complex maze, the hippo paths twisting this +way and that in apparently aimless fashion, though Coja said they were +a clear sign of the neighbourhood of water. After a whole day spent in +this fatiguing march the party came abruptly upon a broad river, +flowing with swift but almost noiseless current between banks clad with +noble palms and every species of tropical vegetation, amid which +countless throngs of monkeys desported themselves, and birds of many +colours darted this way and that like fragments of a rainbow. Mr. +Halliday pitched his camp for the night above the river, and for the +first time the porters surrounded it with a boma--a close fence of +thorn bushes, which they constructed with wonderful celerity. For the +first time, too, a watch was kept, the porters being told off to take +turns at sentry-go. It occurred to Mr. Halliday, waking in the middle +of the night, to see whether the sentry was alert at his post, and he +was not greatly surprised to find him fast asleep. He shook him up and +rated him very soundly, his reprimand being, perhaps, the more +impressive because delivered in a tongue which the man did not +understand. Mr. Halliday slept no more that night, coming to the +conclusion that if it was necessary to keep watch, the porters were not +to be entrusted with the task.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was next day that the party first encountered the native +inhabitants. They came upon a luxuriant plantation of manioc, and +shortly afterwards saw a number of fierce-looking men, armed with +spears, lurking in the long grass. Mr. Halliday ordered Coja to go +forward and explain that he was a friend, bent on a peaceful errand, +and that he would give good prices for any food the people cared to +bring him. One of the natives ran back to the village, and soon +returned with the chief, who presented a singular appearance in a +ragged and stained khaki jacket, and a dilapidated sun-helmet with an +ostrich feather stuck in it at a rakish angle. It turned out that this +was not his usual attire, but had been hastily donned in honour of the +white man.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He seems a very respectable old guy," said Mr. Halliday to John as the +chief came up with a broad smile. With Coja's aid as interpreter, Mr. +Halliday repeated what had already been said to the men, and as an +earnest of what was to come, presented the chief with a number of +coloured beads, feeling somewhat doubtful whether such trifles were +worth the acceptance of one who, as his dress showed, had already had +some intercourse with Europeans. But the chief showed unmistakable +pleasure, and immediately sent two of his young men to bring wild honey +and gourds of milk for the wasungu. Presently a number of women came, +bearing loads of water-melons and other vegetables, which were very +welcome after the dry fare of the past few days, the vendors being +thoroughly satisfied with a handful of red beads or a short strip of +cloth.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Halliday had directed the course of his march, under Coja's +guidance, according to instructions and a rough map given him by his +friend Gilmour. The district recommended to him as an excellent site +for his farm lay on high ground to the east of Mount Kenya, and Mr. +Gilmour had marked the exact spot by erecting a post, the top of which +was carved to the shape of a man's head. When Mr. Halliday expressed a +doubt whether the post would still be found after the lapse of several +years, his friend reassured him on the point, declaring that the +natives would not touch it, and unless it had been thrown down by a +sportive rhinoceros, or "collected" as an object of interest by some +wandering European sportsman, it would remain precisely as he had left +it. Mr. Halliday, judging by his sketch-map that he must have nearly +reached his destination, got Coja to ask the natives whether they knew +of this post, and was disappointed with their negative answer. There +was nothing for it but to continue the march. Accordingly he took +leave of the friendly natives, after purchasing considerable quantities +of food, and set off.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was every indication that his goal could not be far distant. The +country was open, the soil a rich red loam, covered with rank rough +pasturage and wild clover, with occasional clumps of woodland. The air +was so cool, except at mid-day, that it was hard to believe they were +within a degree or two of the Equator; but by testing the boiling-point +of water John discovered that the height was five thousand feet above +sea-level, and the temperate climate was explained.</p> +<p class="pnext">Two days after leaving the native village Mr. Halliday decided to pitch +his camp, and taking that for a centre, to explore the surrounding +country.</p> +<p class="pnext">"If this isn't the place, it ought to be," he said to John. "I never +saw a finer country for grazing; it's good for three or four sheep an +acre, or I'm a Dutchman, and fruit ought to grow here as well as in +Kent."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's rather strange, though," said John, "that there's no game to be +seen. There ought to be plenty."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's true. Perhaps they've been killed off by some disease, though +I hope that's not the explanation. We'll maybe find out by and by."</p> +<p class="pnext">The camp was pitched near a shallow stream, a boma was erected round +it, and next day the travellers set off with Coja and one of the +porters, leaving the rest in charge of the second Swahili.</p> +<p class="pnext">They waded several small streams, and in the afternoon came to a broad +river which, on consulting his map, Mr. Halliday felt sure was the one +marked as forming the northern boundary of his suggested settlement. +But though they searched its banks for some hours, they failed to +discover the post, and had to return unsuccessful, reaching camp after +nightfall. Next day they set off again in a different direction, so as +to strike the river at a point higher up its course. When they came to +it, Coja pointed to a native village on high ground some distance on +the other side, and suggested that inquiry should be made there. The +river could only be crossed by swimming, and there being no sign of +crocodiles, they plunged in, finding the water deliciously cold. Their +approach was descried from the village, and they were soon met by a +group of young warriors armed with bows and arrows, who, standing at a +distance, demanded who they were and what was their business. Coja +shouted in reply that they had come to make friends with the chief, and +had brought some valuable presents for him. One of the men ran back to +the village, the others remaining on guard, and forbidding the +strangers to advance until the chief arrived.</p> +<p class="pnext">Some little time elapsed before the chief made his appearance amid a +group of elders. At first he stood suspiciously aloof while Coja +explained the purpose of the white men's visit, but when Mr. Halliday +displayed a strip of coloured cloth, and Coja announced that it was a +gift for the chief, the natives drew a little nearer, and said that +they were willing to be friends if the strangers would not rob them. +Coja's reply to this was that the white men were very good, and would +never dream of robbing their friends, adding that the cloth would be +handed to the chief if he would come and answer a few questions.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Give it him at once," said Mr. Halliday, "and say there's more if +they'll tell us what we want to know."</p> +<p class="pnext">The gift of the cloth finally disarmed the chief's suspicions. Looking +very much pleased, he came forward with his men, and said that he was +ready to give what help he could. Mr. Gillespie had warned Mr. +Halliday not to believe too implicitly any statements made by natives, +who would always say what they thought would please; so when, in answer +to his question about a post with a man's head, the chief said that he +certainly knew it, and asked for another piece of cloth, Mr. Halliday +shook his head, promising to give more presents if the chief would lead +him to the landmark. At this the chief looked much troubled, and his +men began to talk eagerly, it being evident from their manner that they +were trying to dissuade him from complying with the white man's +request. Mr. Halliday was at a loss to understand their reluctance +until Coja, after a long colloquy with the chief, announced that they +were afraid to go near the post, which was a terrible devil, for their +medicine man had seen its eyes move, and its mouth grin at him. It had +come there suddenly one day, no one knew how, but they thought it must +have sprung out of the ground, and some of their cattle that grazed +around it had soon afterwards died, so that they were sure it was a +devil, and they had never since allowed their herds to roam in that +direction.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where is it?" asked Mr. Halliday.</p> +<p class="pnext">The chief pointed up the river, and said that if the white man had +medicine strong enough to destroy the devil the people would be very +grateful. Mr. Halliday thought he might turn this superstition to good +account. He explained that he had come from the end of the world to +make a home in this country, and the devil had no doubt established +himself on the ground in order to show that it was to be a white man's +property. But now that he had come, the devil's work of guarding the +land was over, and if the chief would promise to be a friendly +neighbour, the devil should be at once destroyed, and a good price +should be paid for the land, since it was clearly a part of the chief's +grazing grounds. The chief gave the promise with alacrity, adding that +he would become the blood brother of any man who should rid the country +of so terrible a creature. Thereupon Mr. Halliday asked him to lead +the way as far as he dared, and he should see for himself that the +devil had no power against the white man's magic.</p> +<p class="pnext">The chief sent a messenger back to the village with this good news, and +soon a great throng of people came flocking down, men, women, and +children, some blowing rude horns, others beating drums, all in great +excitement. The devil was on the bank of the river from which the +white men had crossed. Having swum back in company with the chief and +half-a-dozen of his men, the travellers marched up the river, the +populace flocking along the other bank, being only occasionally visible +among the trees.</p> +<p class="pnext">After walking for about half-a-mile, the chief struck away from the +river, and led the way to a saucer-like depression between two ranges +of low hills. It was open grass country for the most part, but at the +further end of the hollow, about three miles away, there was a thick +mass of forest. All at once the chief came to a halt, and, pointing +ahead, declared that the devil was there, and he would go no farther. +Neither Mr. Halliday nor John could distinguish the post among the long +grass, but asking the chief to remain where he stood, they went forward +to search for it. After a few steps they missed Coja, and turning to +look for him, found that he had halted a hundred yards or so from the +chief, being evidently unwilling to face the devil, and at the same +time wishing to appear braver than the natives.</p> +<p class="pnext">Walking some distance apart, so that they should not miss the post, Mr. +Halliday and his son in a minute or two caught sight simultaneously of +what they sought. A thick knobby post stood among the grass, its top +about a foot above the level of the stalks. The knob had been carved +with some skill to the shape of a face with the mouth wide open.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We may as well do the job with becoming solemnity," said Mr. Halliday. +"We'll have a shot or two at it before we go near. Range about a +hundred, isn't it?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I should think so. Bet you I get most shots in his mouth."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Considering that our rifles and cartridges are alike, I don't see how +you're going to judge. Anyway, you take first shot."</p> +<p class="pnext">John fired. A flock of birds rose with a great clatter of wings into +the air, and the group of natives yelled and flung themselves face +downward into the grass, whereupon Coja began to taunt them with +cowardice. A shot from Mr. Halliday followed; then each fired again, +and Mr. Halliday, turning round, declared that the devil was killed, +and walked towards the post. Coja, now thoroughly reassured, ran after +him, the natives following at a distance.</p> +<p class="pnext">"All four shots in the mouth; the honours are easy," said Mr. Halliday. +"You're a better shot than I thought you, John. We'd better pull the +thing up, hadn't we?"</p> +<p class="pnext">But they found the post so firmly fixed that they could neither pull it +up nor push it over. It was evidently a case for digging. Having no +implements with them they were obliged to leave it standing; but Mr. +Halliday showed the admiring natives the bullet marks in the mouth, +and, slapping the top of the head, assured them that the devil would do +no more harm. He then gave the chief another strip of cloth and a +handful of beads in reward for his services, and the party returned to +the river, where the happy result of the expedition was announced to +the main body of the villagers, from whom the proceedings had been +hidden by the contour of the ground. The chief wished Mr. Halliday to +feast with him, and afterwards witness a war-dance, and when the +invitation was declined, he insisted on his white friend accepting a +small pied goat.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The pioneer of our stock, John," said Mr. Halliday. "But the chief +must take charge of it until we come up to settle. I don't suppose we +shall see it again."</p> +<p class="pnext">But in this he was mistaken, for when he came some weeks later to enter +into occupation of his estate, the goat was brought to him with every +mark of respect by a deputation of the villagers.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-fifth-juma-takes-to-the-bush"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id6">CHAPTER THE FIFTH--Juma takes to the Bush</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Mr. Halliday spent the next two days in surveying the neighbourhood of +Mr. Gilmour's stake. The country was all that his friend had +described. The soil was rich; the river, as the natives informed him, +never ran dry, though its waters were sometimes very low; and the +valley was intersected by several smaller watercourses, which, though +now dry, were full streams in the rainy season, so that the estate +would never lack irrigation except after long-continued drought. Being +well satisfied with the locality, Mr. Halliday got his men to erect a +number of boundary posts about a rectangular area of some 1,500 acres, +and then set off on the return journey to Nairobi to lodge a claim for +a Government grant in the office of the District Commissioner. He paid +his preliminary survey fee of seventy-five rupees; then, knowing that +it would be months before the official survey was made, he decided to +purchase stores, stock, and material for building a bungalow and +out-houses, and to engage porters to convey these to the spot, and a +certain number of servants to staff the farm. Formal possession of the +land would be granted as soon as it was certified to be actually +occupied and the balance of the survey fee, some two hundred rupees, +was paid; but the lease for ninety-nine years would not be made out +until the Commissioner received proof that development had taken place, +which practically meant the expenditure of forty times the rent, this +being twelve cents an acre. Thus it would be about three years before +Mr. Halliday was definitely accepted as a settler and leaseholder, and +he impressed upon John that they must both put their backs into the +work if they intended to be successful.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a month before the second safari was ready to start--a far more +important caravan than the first. To begin with, there was a large +quantity of stores for the use of the white men, together with seeds, +root plants, and a few apple-tree slips, which by all accounts would +thrive. Then there was a considerable amount of thin corrugated iron +for roofing, some glass, and some ready-made window-frames, which if +made on the spot would have involved too great an expenditure of time +and labour. There were a few simple agricultural implements which Mr. +Halliday had brought from home, guessing, and rightly as it proved, +that even allowing for the cost of freight they were cheaper than they +could have been bought in Nairobi. These included the "small holdings +plough" of Ipswich, which had to be taken to pieces for convenience of +transit. Mr. Halliday deplored the lack of roads and of bridges over +the streams, which made it impossible to employ vehicles for the +carriage of his goods, and prevented him from taking several pieces of +machinery he would have liked to have with him. But he purchased a few +donkeys, each of which could carry twice as much as a man.</p> +<p class="pnext">In addition to these articles, a large number of live-stock was +included in the caravan. It might be possible, Mr. Halliday was told, +to purchase cattle and sheep from the natives in the neighbourhood of +his farm, but he was advised to buy a good number of half-bred animals +in Nairobi, the native sheep and goats being woolless, and of no value +except for their flesh and hides. Later on, when he was fairly +settled, he hoped to introduce some English stock to cross with the +native. Accordingly he bought 750 sheep at an average price of six +shillings a head, a few goats, and a score of cattle, for which he paid +£140.</p> +<p class="pnext">To carry his goods he found it necessary to engage, in addition to the +donkeys, forty porters, a few of whom he intended to keep as labourers +on the farm or servants in the house, if they proved satisfactory. Of +these forty only one, Coja the headman, had been a member of the first +expedition, the rest of that party being unwilling to do any more work +until they had spent their wages. Twelve of the new company were +Swahilis, the remainder Wakamba or Wakikuyu. Four of the Swahilis were +askaris, or armed porters. Said Mohammed had done so well on the first +journey that he was engaged permanently as cook. John declared that +his conversation was well worth his wages, but Mr. Halliday took +severely practical views of everything, and said that he didn't pay for +conversation. He hired two Indian mistris for three months, at two +rupees a day, to build his bungalow and do what other carpenter's work +was necessary. And since his farm was to be mainly a stock-farm, he +engaged a stalwart Masai and his son, a lad of sixteen or seventeen, to +assist in the herding, the Masai being a pastoral race <em class="italics">par excellence</em>.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Halliday had not intended to increase his men's burdens on this +occasion by "trade" goods, thinking that the friendship he had already +sealed with the chief of the neighbouring village would obviate any +further dealings with the natives. But he changed his mind on the +advice of Mr. Gillespie, who represented that he might come in contact +with other tribes not so well disposed, that he might find it necessary +to purchase more sheep and cattle, especially if tick fever or some +other disease broke out among his stock, and that it would be well to +have the means of purchasing ivory, if he found an opportunity, the +tribes to the north of Kenya being reputed great elephant hunters.</p> +<p class="pnext">All being at last ready, Mr. Halliday set out on his second journey, +which took him nearly four times as long as the first, owing partly to +a certain turbulence among the Swahili porters, and partly to the +difficulty of driving the animals. Apart from their natural tendency +to lag and to stray, it was a difficult and sometimes a perilous +operation to get them across the many streams; fortunately it was the +height of the dry season, and the depth of water insignificant. +Several sheep were drowned, some strayed and could not be recovered; +one or two died of over-marching. The donkeys also gave a good deal of +trouble, having to be unloaded at every stream, lugged across, and then +loaded up again. It was a long and tiresome business each night to +construct a boma of sufficient circuit to enclose the whole of the +safari, and in spite of this thorny fence, and watchfires kept +constantly alight, a lion on one occasion broke in at dead of night, +snapped up a sheep, and made off with it before the alarm could be +given.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Halliday found the porters even more troublesome than the animals. +It turned out that one of the Swahilis was an old rival of Coja ben +Selim. He was a big man named Juma, with a stronger strain of Arab +blood than the rest, and he constantly disputed Coja's authority, and +incited the other men to complain of their loads and their food. Mr. +Halliday had to be continually on the watch, and only by dint of great +firmness and by keeping Juma on one occasion without food for a day did +he succeed in preventing a mutiny. Juma had brought his wife with him, +a very stout negress of some Bantu race; or rather, she had attached +herself to the expedition when it had marched some ten miles out of +Nairobi, and resolutely refused to leave. Her presence proved to be +rather an advantage than otherwise, for once when Mr. Halliday had +found it necessary to give Juma a stern reprimand, the woman volubly +assisted him, demanding of her husband why he was such a fool as to +endanger his pay. Juma was evidently in some awe of his spouse, and +Coja told John privately that she had a terrible tongue.</p> +<p class="pnext">At length the safari arrived at the site of the farm, and though Mr. +Halliday did not flatter himself that his troubles were over, he felt a +great relief that the anxieties of the journey were a thing of the +past. The first proceeding was to construct a substantial boma. Then +he selected a site for his bungalow, fixing on a pleasant knoll above +the river and at a distance of about two hundred yards from it. John +pleaded for a position nearer the river, but Mr. Halliday pointed out +that the stream was at present shrunk, and would no doubt swell to a +much greater width in the rainy season, when exhalations from it might +be dangerous to health. He had brought a couple of tents to live in +while the bungalow was building; his natives ran up grass huts for +themselves; and within twenty-four hours of their arrival, with the +tents pitched, the huts erected, the sheep and cattle grazing, and a +boma enclosing them all, the place had already begun to assume the +aspect of a settlement.</p> +<p class="pnext">During the first night the sleep of the camp was disturbed by the +distant roaring of lions, and Mr. Halliday took turns with John to +watch. They had learnt from Mr. Gillespie that the lion stalks his +prey in absolute silence, so that they did not fear an actual +visitation while the roars continued; and though the sounds came nearer +towards the morning, the dread beasts made no attempt to break in. +Examining the ground on the following day, Mr. Halliday found pug marks +about half-a-mile from the enclosure, and a little further away the +scanty remains of a zebra. The proximity of lions was somewhat +perturbing. Sometimes, as Mr. Halliday had learnt, the mere presence +of man was enough to drive them away; but if they had once tasted human +flesh they showed extraordinary audacity and cunning in obtaining +further victims. As a precaution, he caused an inner boma to be +erected around the tents and the grass huts of the men, so that if +lions should break into the outer enclosure they would find another +barrier between them and human prey.</p> +<p class="pnext">During the daytime the building of the bungalow and the cattle-sheds +proceeded apace. There was plenty of wood in the neighbourhood, and +the people of the village beyond the river assisted in cutting and +transporting the timber in exchange for a small quantity of cloth, +beads, or wire. No work could be got out of the porters, except a few +of the Wakamba, who began to prepare the ground around the bungalow for +cultivation. Mr. Halliday would willingly have seen the backs of the +whole company, but Juma declared that they must rest a few days after +their long march before returning to Nairobi; and having no means of +expelling them Mr. Halliday must needs submit, though he hoped their +stay would be short. Apart from other reasons why their presence was +undesirable, they consumed a prodigious amount of food, which had to be +purchased from the chief; and while the Wakamba were satisfied with +grain and fruits, the Swahili demanded meat, which meant that either +some of the cattle must be killed, or the Hallidays must go hunting for +their unwelcome guests.</p> +<p class="pnext">One day Wasama, the Masai herdsman, reported that a number of the sheep +had strayed. Not willing to lose them, Mr. Halliday and John set off +with Wasama and two or three of the Wakamba to find them, taking their +rifles in the hope of bringing down some game for the men. They +tracked the wanderers through the long grass to the west of the +encampment, and found that the trail led them into the woods on the +rising ground in that direction. There they lost the trail, and +scattered, the Englishmen arranging to fire a shot as a signal to the +others if either of them came upon the track of the missing animals.</p> +<p class="pnext">John was making his way through the wood, bending close to the ground, +when he suddenly came upon a small hut standing by itself in a little +glade. It consisted of four upright logs, the interspaces filled with +brushwood, and covered with a roof of twisted boughs. He halted, +wondering whose dwelling it might be, and then, a movement among the +undergrowth at the rear of the hut attracting his attention, he walked +slowly towards the spot, holding his rifle in readiness to encounter +danger. To his amazement he saw a quaint little figure emerge from the +thicket. It was the form of an elderly man, not more than four feet +high, dark brown in colour, with strangely bent shins, longish hair +streaked with grey, and protruding jaws. He wore nothing but a loose +cloak of undressed skin hung from the shoulders, and he carried a small +bow. Still more to John's surprise, the little man came forward, and +held out his hand with a frank gesture of friendliness, uttering a word +or two in a low, quiet voice. John shook his hand, feeling a little +confused in his inability to speak to the man; then, thinking that he +might be able to assist in the search for the sheep, he fired off his +rifle, upon which the man sprang back into his hut with every mark of +terror.</p> +<p class="pnext">The shot soon brought up the rest of the party, and on John explaining +why he had fired, Wasama went to the entrance of the hut and shouted +into the interior. After a little hesitation the owner came out, and a +brief conversation ensued between the two men, at the close of which +Wasama, who knew enough English to make himself understood, explained +that the man was one of the Wanderobbo tribe and was living quite +alone. This fact was rather surprising, for the African natives always +live in communities, large or small. But after further speech with the +hermit, Wasama said that he had no tribe or village, all his people +having been killed a long while ago. He had since lived in this little +hut, occupying himself, after the manner of his people, in collecting +wild honey and hunting, selling the skins of the animals he killed to +the neighbouring villagers.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Halliday asked whether the man had seen anything of his sheep, and +the Wanderobbo at once offered to help in the search in return for a +few beads. The party set off again, and, emerging from the wood at its +southern extremity, the little man soon discovered the trail, and the +wanderers were seen placidly grazing half-a-mile away. The Wanderobbo +seemed much more delighted with the few beads given him than the value +of the gift appeared to justify, and at parting shook hands warmly with +the Englishmen, promising, when Wasama had told him of their +settlement, to bring them some honey shortly. Wasama collected the +sheep and began to herd them back towards the farm, Mr. Halliday and +the others going a little farther in pursuance of his intention of +shooting something for the larder. But an hour's search revealing no +trace of game, he started to return. He had just overtaken Wasama, +about a mile from camp, when he saw Said Mohammed hastening towards him +at a run.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I hope there's nothing wrong," he said, but as the Bengali drew nearer +it was plain from his perturbed countenance that he bore bad news.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Master and esteemed sir," he said, panting as he came up, "I regret to +inform you that a calamity has transpired."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What is it?" asked Mr. Halliday, as the cook, who was of substantial +physique, paused to recover breath.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Larceny, sir. Juma, that badmash, awful scoundrel, sir, has lifted, +or shall I say pinched, four donkeys, a dozen rifles, and a regular +heap of trade goods, and has decamped, bunked, sir, with the Swahilis, +who knows where?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"What was Coja about?" demanded Mr. Halliday, at the same time +quickening his pace.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That, sir, deponent knoweth not. In fact, I have not seen Coja for +some time, and suspect that he winked the other eye."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How long ago was this?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I do not know the exact moment, since I was engaged in washing +crockery after our matutinal repast, and did not discover the crime +until I had made a hole in it; but on a modest computation I should +say, not less than five hours ago."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Soon after we left, John. Which way did the men go?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of that also I am in blissful ignorance, sir."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We'll soon track them, anyway. John, we must go after them."</p> +<p class="pnext">They hurried on towards the camp, taking Wasama with them, and leaving +the sheep in charge of the Wakamba. When they reached the settlement, +it was apparently deserted, except by the Indian carpenters and Juma's +negro wife, who, as soon as she saw them, began excitedly to harangue +some person out of sight, and then ran behind the bungalow, the walls +of which were already up, and dragged forth Coja, whom she brought, a +sheepish and crestfallen object, before his master.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Halliday did not delay either to reprimand or to receive +explanations, but ordered Coja and the four Wakamba who had followed +him from his hiding-place to sling on their cooking-pots and a little +food and prepare to accompany him in chase of the fugitives.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We don't know how long it will take us," he said to John. "Said +Mohammed, you must come with us; we may be a day or two and shall want +you to cook. Juma's wife seems a capable body; we'll leave her in +charge. Coja, look for their tracks, and go on; we'll follow you."</p> +<p class="pnext">Within a quarter of an hour of reaching camp the party set off, +numbering eight in all. The track was very clear. For three miles it +followed the route by which the safari had come several days before; +then, to Mr. Halliday's surprise, it made a sudden turn westward.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I made sure they would strike for the coast," he said. "They won't +dare show themselves in any of our settled parts, and I don't +understand their going off into the interior. They've had a good start +of us, but we travel lighter and ought to catch them if we don't lose +the trail."</p> +<p class="pnext">The party hurried on, not pausing, though the day was now at its +hottest. The trail led through open country, and across several +streams, some of them of fair size. Here there were signs that the +donkeys had given trouble, the soft earth at the brink being so +trampled and cut up as to suggest that the animals had had to be pushed +and hauled into the water. The trail was for the most part easily +followed, for the fugitives had clearly been in too great a hurry to +attempt to cover it. Once or twice, when it crossed stony ground, Coja +was temporarily at fault, and he then declared he wished they had the +Wanderobbo with them, for there were no people like the Wanderobbo for +following a trail. Were they not matchless elephant hunters? But a +little skirmishing beyond such stony tracts sufficed to pick up the +trail again, and pushing on without respite, rest, or food, until +sundown, Coja said that the newness of the footprints showed that the +quarry was not far ahead. Darkness fell, however, without their having +sighted the fugitives, and since they were all thoroughly tired and +hungry, Mr. Halliday decided to halt for rest and a meal, and to resume +the pursuit in the night if the moon rose, or at dawn.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I say, father," said John, as they came to a halt, "we mustn't light a +fire, or we'll give ourselves away."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Quite right. We shall have to do without our cocoa to-night, and keep +an extra sharp look-out for lions."</p> +<p class="pnext">The white men had to satisfy themselves with biscuit and water from a +brook; the natives ate some of the roasted beans without which they +never travel. With the first glimmer of dawn the party were up and on +the trail. Two hours' hard marching, at a pace which the natives had +never known before, brought them up with the thieves. Coja was the +first to catch sight of them, and he held up his hand as a sign to the +rest to halt, informing Mr. Halliday in a whisper that the fugitives +were only a little distance ahead, in the act of crossing a stream. +Half of them had, indeed, already crossed; the remainder were trying to +induce the donkeys to face the water.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Can we catch them?" Mr. Halliday asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, sah, go round about," answered the man.</p> +<p class="pnext">He led them in a direction at right angles to the path, so as to make a +circuit and come upon the runaways from among the thick vegetation at +the brink of the river. But Coja's advice turned out to be bad. They +had reached the bank and were wheeling to burst upon the Swahilis, when +they were suddenly descried by those who had crossed. A shout warned +the men struggling with the donkeys; without a moment's hesitation they +let go of the animals and took to their heels. When Mr. Halliday came +upon the scene nothing was in sight but the donkeys, which on being +released had scrambled up the bank out of the river and begun to bray +with pleasure at the riddance of their loads.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We ought to have come straight instead of round about," cried Mr. +Halliday, vexed at his failure to punish the men. It was obviously +hopeless to pursue them further. The scrub was dense; the Swahilis had +good rifles and ammunition; and being relieved of impedimenta, the +loads of goods having been left on the farther bank when they fled, +they could travel much faster than Mr. Halliday and his party, fatigued +after their forced march.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must be satisfied with having got back our donkeys and their +loads," said Mr. Halliday. "The men are a good riddance; but I grudge +those rifles of ours. However, it can't be helped. We must keep a +sharp eye on our people, and fire out at once any we can't trust."</p> +<p class="pnext">The loads abandoned by the runaways were brought across the river +without interference, and after they had been strapped on the donkeys' +backs the little caravan started to return to the farm.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-sixth-raided-by-lions"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id7">CHAPTER THE SIXTH--Raided by Lions</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The return march was not so hurried as the pursuit, and it was the +afternoon of the fifth day after their departure when the little party +arrived at the farm. Mr. Halliday was surprised that none of the +Wakamba had come to meet him, thinking that they must have descried him +from afar; and still more surprised when, on entering the enclosure, he +could not see any of his people. Surely they had not all deserted! +Passing through the second boma, however, he heard a howl, and +immediately afterwards the natives came rushing pell-mell towards him +out of their grass huts, Wasama and Lulu, Juma's wife, leading the way. +They crowded about him, all shouting together, and making such a din +that Coja himself could not at once distinguish what they were saying. +But when Mr. Halliday had sternly called for order, Coja made out that +the people were in a terrible state of fright, because a cow had been +carried away during the night without a sound.</p> +<p class="pnext">They declared that the robber must be the devil whom Mr. Halliday had +professed to slay.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Nonsense!" said Mr. Halliday. "It must have been a lion."</p> +<p class="pnext">But no--Wasama declared it could not have been a lion, for he had not +heard a lion's roar, and there was no breach in the outer boma: only a +devil could have passed through it without forcing a gap.</p> +<p class="pnext">When Mr. Halliday set Coja to question the man, however, he learnt that +neither he nor any other of the natives had stirred outside the inner +enclosure that day, so that they were hardly in a position to know +whether the boma had been broken or not. An examination of it soon +revealed a gap in the western side, and bits of tawny hide were +sticking to the thorns. Mr. Halliday insisted on Wasama following up +the tracks which even his inexperienced eye discovered, and within a +quarter of a mile he came upon some bones and a few remnants of a +carcase, from which a couple of vultures flew away. Wasama, however, +persisted in his assertion that the track was not that of a lion, and +the others backing him up, Mr. Halliday sent John and Coja to the wood +to fetch the Wanderobbo, determined to clear up the point before dark.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Wanderobbo came bringing a small gourd of wild honey which he +offered to Mr. Halliday. The little man threw one glance on the +blood-bespattered ground, and then said that the tracks were +undoubtedly those of two lions, which would probably return to the spot +during the coming night.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then we'll stay and wait for them, John," said Mr. Halliday. "We +mustn't be molested in this way, and the sooner we teach the beasts a +lesson, the better."</p> +<p class="pnext">But the Wanderobbo, when this was explained to him, earnestly advised +the white men not to do anything of the sort. There was no tree at +hand, he pointed out, in which the hunters could rest and watch for the +lions, and they, having far keener sight than men, would merely stalk +them. In the darkness they could not even see to shoot. He said that +they had better return to the settlement and watch inside the boma; and +since darkness would soon fall, he begged to be taken in for the night, +to which Mr. Halliday readily agreed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Neither of the Englishmen slept that night. They sat at their tent +door, with their rifles within reach, listening to the distant roaring, +and awaiting with a nervous impatience the onset of the terrible +beasts. The roars drew nearer, then ceased. The men clutched their +rifles, and stole into the outer enclosure, where the sheep were +huddled together in terror. They waited for several hours, peering +into the darkness, but neither saw nor heard any more of the marauders, +though when they went out with the Wanderobbo in the morning, they +traced the spoor of lions within a few yards of the boma.</p> +<p class="pnext">This experience was repeated for several nights following. To lessen +their fatigue, Mr. Halliday and John took turns to watch, but though +each night they heard the roars, there was no attempt to break in. +Thinking that the fires, which were kept burning all night, were +proving effectual in scaring the beasts, both father and son decided +one day to go to sleep as usual. But in the middle of the night they +were startled by a yell. Springing up, they seized their rifles, and +rushed out of the tent in their pyjamas. There was a great commotion +among the animals in the outer enclosure, and dashing through them, Mr. +Halliday saw that a gap had been broken in the boma no more than three +yards from one of the fires. The man whose turn it was to replenish it +with fuel, and whose yell had awakened the white men, said that a lion +had sprung through without warning and carried off a sheep. It was +useless to attempt to pursue the robber in the dark, and Mr. Halliday +could only swallow his vexation and return to his interrupted sleep.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nothing disturbed the work of the settlement during the daytime. The +Indian carpenters were making good progress with the bungalow and the +other sheds which Mr. Halliday had decided to erect on the north side, +nearest the river. The soil outside the boma was being slowly prepared +for crops, and finding after a few days that his Wakamba porters were +but indifferent labourers, Mr. Halliday dismissed them, resolving to +rely upon the people of the neighbouring villages for such farm labour +as he required. He intended to bring only a small area under +cultivation at first, for the purpose of growing enough grain and +vegetables for his own consumption. Difficulties of transit would +prevent him from dealing in farm produce; the work of driving his +cattle by and by over a hundred miles to market would no doubt prove +arduous enough.</p> +<p class="pnext">But though the days were thus placid, the nights became a horror. If a +watch was kept, the peace of the encampment was undisturbed except by +the remote and harmless roars; but as soon as the weary Englishmen +determined to enjoy a full night's rest, the thorn fence would be +broken at some new spot, and when the sheep and cattle were numbered in +the morning it was found that one or more was missing. The natives +became scared, and as for Mr. Halliday, he declared it was positively +uncanny.</p> +<p class="pnext">"One would think the beasts have the gift of second sight," he said. +"I don't wonder our village friends kept their cattle off these grounds +and believed in Gilmour's devil."</p> +<p class="pnext">The only incident that relieved the tension and afforded a little +amusement was the discovery one morning that the lion in his haste had +snatched up a bag of rice, which was found at some little distance, the +grains scattered about as though the thief had lost his temper when he +became aware of the mistake.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was fortunate indeed for the little community that the lions were +apparently not man-eaters. A lion that has once tasted man thenceforth +scorns lesser fare, and Coja told his employers harrowing stories of +the reign of terror under which the coolies who had been engaged in +laying the Uganda railway had lived. Night after night the terrible +beasts had crept into the native encampments and stolen forth in dead +silence with their hapless prey, ceasing their depredations for months +at a time, but returning when the men were lulled to security, and +beginning their havoc over again. Mr. Halliday had heard of this from +Mr. Gillespie in Nairobi; but the story told now by one who had +actually lived in the camps thus visited at night, and punctuated by +the roaring of lions at a distance, made a much more powerful and +harrowing impression. At any moment the lions might become man-eaters. +They had only to stumble upon a native in their nocturnal raids and +then the life of no man would be safe.</p> +<p class="pnext">More than once Mr. Halliday set off in the daytime with John and the +Wanderobbo, who was now a frequent visitor to the farm, to track the +lions and if possible hunt them down. They found that the spoor led +into the dense scrub higher up the river, a region ten or twelve miles +in length and nearly as much in breadth. So thick was the scrub that +it was impossible to trace the beasts for more than a few yards into +its recesses. After what he had heard of the Wanderobbo's skill and +prowess as a hunter, Mr. Halliday was surprised to find how reluctant +the little man was to accompany them in their expeditions. But he had +a wholesome dread of lions. Elephants he was prepared to tackle, and +indeed any other creature of the wilds; though even them he would +rather snare than stalk; but the lion was a much more cunning and +dangerous enemy. He would talk very bravely sometimes, avowing that if +he met a lion and stared at him the beast would slink away; but he +showed no readiness to enter the probable haunts of the creatures, and +admitted that they sometimes took it into their heads to fight instead +of running away, and then they were quite as clever hunters as he was. +Mr. Halliday somewhat impatiently reminded him that rifles were very +deadly weapons; but the Wanderobbo shook his head and said that he had +never hunted lions with rifles. He had seen the Arabs do so, and pay +for their temerity with their lives. On the whole his advice was to +leave the lions alone, and he once confessed very naïvely that if he, +bold hunter as he was, saw a lion approaching, he would certainly go +the other way.</p> +<p class="pnext">With such half-hearted assistance it was not surprising that many days +passed before the Englishmen so much as caught a glimpse of their +tormentors. However, one morning when they had gone out with the +Wanderobbo and Coja to track the smaller game for food, they descried +two lions stalking slowly across a glade some miles up the river. In +spite of the little man's reluctance Mr. Halliday determined to go in +chase, and then the Wanderobbo, forgetting his fears when his hunting +instincts were aroused, suggested that they should tempt the lions to +come within range. He proposed that they should carry a water-buck +which John had just brought down, to a spot where the scent of it would +be wafted by the wind towards the beasts. This having been done, the +party retreated to the rear of the lions and lurked behind some trees +to watch them. The lions soon scented the game, and came slowly +towards it, moving with a majestic and yet graceful gait that extorted +murmurs of admiration from the Englishmen. But when they had come +within two hundred yards, and John was quivering with excitement at the +prospect of his first encounter with the king of beasts, one of them +became suspicious and halted, lifting his head and sniffing the air, +and then uttering a low growl as if to warn his companion. After a +minute or two they seemed to decide that they were being led into a +trap, and, turning about, stalked slowly away.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Let's go after them, father," said John, unwilling to let this chance +slip.</p> +<p class="pnext">The four set off stealthily to stalk the beasts, and after an hour's +fatiguing march over rough ground, saw them standing together at the +edge of a patch of bush just beyond range. Bending low, and taking +advantage of every tree and tussock of grass, and a tall ant-hill, for +cover, the two Englishmen drew nearer and nearer, and were on the point +of lifting their rifles to fire, when the animals disappeared into the +bush. There was nothing for it but to begin the stalking again. They +cautiously made the circuit of the bush, and presently saw the lions +emerge from the further end and continue their promenade. Again the +hunters followed them, at one moment flattering themselves that a few +yards further would bring them within range, the next chagrined to +perceive that the lions had quickened their pace and outdistanced them. +At length, when a thin patch of woodland enabled them to hurry their +steps and gave hope of overtaking their quarry, the lions broke into a +trot and soon disappeared from view.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, if that isn't disgusting!" exclaimed John,</p> +<p class="pnext">"How long have we been at this game, do you think?" asked his father.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Two or three hours, perhaps."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Five hours and a half, my boy, and I rather think we might have been +better employed."</p> +<p class="pnext">John was too much disgusted at the failure of his first lion-hunt to +say any more; and when next morning it was found that one of the best +cows had been stolen he was still more angry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must put a stop to this, father," he said. "Can't we set a trap?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We'll see what our friend Bill says," replied Mr. Halliday. The +Wanderobbo's name had proved so unpronounceable that he had been called +Bill for short. Bill, however, said that lions were too clever to be +caught in traps, which did not seem improbable when he explained what +he meant by a trap--a simple pit with a sharpened stick at the bottom, +like that in which Oliver Browne had been found, or a spear suspended +from the branch of a tree and brought down by the animal treading on a +rope. Mr. Halliday set to work to devise a more effective machine.</p> +<p class="pnext">He got the mistris to cut several stout logs, out of which they +constructed a sort of gigantic rat-trap. The door was arranged so that +it was held in position by a light pole attached to a length of stout +wire, which was connected with a spring hidden under leaves on the +floor of the trap. If a lion should enter and tread on the spring, the +wire would be released and the door fall behind him down two grooves of +corrugated iron. To entice him to enter, a live goat was placed in a +compartment adjoining the trap, so strongly fenced that the bait was in +no danger.</p> +<p class="pnext">This trap was rigged up, with the expenditure of a day's work, at one +corner of the outer boma.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's rather poor sport to treat the lion like a rat," said John, "but +that can't be helped. If we catch one we shan't be able to get a good +shot at him in the dark, though."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, we can either keep him there till daylight, or, better still, +burn a bit of magnesium wire--I've plenty; that will not only give us a +good light, but possibly help to scare other beasts away."</p> +<p class="pnext">The trap was set. For two nights nothing happened. On the third, just +as the two Englishmen were thinking of turning in, they heard the door +of the trap fall with a clatter, followed by a low growl of rage. They +caught up their rifles and hurried to the spot.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now for the wire, father," said John. "You give me a light and I'll +pot the beast."</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Halliday struck a match and ignited the wire, but just as John was +taking aim it fell to the ground.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What's the matter?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm as nervous as a cat," said his father, with a rueful laugh. "And +I haven't brought a second piece, confound it!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, we'll take a shot in the dark. We can't both miss."</p> +<p class="pnext">They fired together. The next moment there was a terrific roar, a +crash as of shattered match-wood, and they knew that the infuriated +captive had burst through the walls of the trap, stout as they were. +They fired another shot in the direction they supposed him to have +taken, and then, vexed and disappointed, returned to their tent. They +found next day that the lion had been wounded. Bill traced it by the +stains of blood upon the ground. But its injuries were plainly not +very serious, for the track failed at a patch of reeds a mile up the +river, and the Englishmen had to digest their chagrin that the +troublesome beast was still at large. Their efforts, however, had not +been wholly unsuccessful. The nocturnal visitations ceased, and since +no roaring was heard it appeared that the lions had been scared from +the neighbourhood.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-seventh-john-runs-the-farm"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id8">CHAPTER THE SEVENTH--John runs the Farm</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Within three months of Mr. Halliday's arrival at his farm, which he +named Alloway after the village of his father's birth, the place had +assumed the orderly appearance of a prosperous settlement. The knoll +was crowned by a neat bungalow; two hundred yards below it stood two +wooden huts appropriated to Said Mohammed and the mistris; at some +distance from this a row of cattle-sheds had been erected; and beyond +these stood the grass huts of Wasama and his son and Lulu the negress, +these being all who remained of the original party. Pens had been made +for the sheep and goats; about twenty acres of land had been prepared +for planting when the rains began; and a dairy had been started, being +cut out of the side of the knoll on which the bungalow stood, for the +sake of coolness and protection from the sun and dust.</p> +<p class="pnext">The work of the Indians being finished for the present, Mr. Halliday +thought of paying them off; but reflecting that more fencing would be +needed by and by, as well as lambing-pens and cattle-sheds as the stock +increased, he decided to retain the men, even though he could not make +full use of them.</p> +<p class="pnext">It chanced one day that a Swahili came to the farm with a letter from +Mr. Gillespie, enclosing one addressed to Mr. Halliday, and bearing the +Glasgow postmark and a date nine weeks back. The flap of the envelope +bore the name and address of a firm of lawyers unknown to Mr. Halliday, +and he opened the letter with some curiosity mixed with apprehension.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well now," he exclaimed, as he hastily read it, "this is a pretty fix."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What is it, father?" asked John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You've heard me speak of my uncle Alec--the old curmudgeon who lived +by himself and hasn't spoken to any of his family for twenty years. +Well, the poor old man is dead, and these people, Wright and MacKellar, +tell me that he left no will, and understanding that I am the next of +kin, they urge me to come to Glasgow and make good my title. The +letter was written nearly three months ago, and seems by the look of +the envelope to have had an adventurous career."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But hadn't your uncle any children?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"One daughter. She married without his consent: I forget the man's +name, and I haven't heard about her for five-and-twenty years."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What will you do?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm just thinking. My uncle was a shipowner, and pretty well-to-do: +indeed, your poor mother's friends used to advise me to keep in with +him, but I couldn't toady to the old bear. I suppose I ought to go +back, and yet!---- It's rather upsetting, my boy, just as we are +getting settled. He must have died before we left England, and if I +had known then, and really inherit his property, we needn't have come +out at all, perhaps."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm jolly glad you didn't, then, for I wouldn't have been out of this +for anything."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's all very well, but there's the property: it would be a pity to +lose that: shouldn't like it to go out of the family. At the same +time, I'm not inclined to give up the farm; we've made a good start, +and I'm uncommonly interested in it. Besides, I may not be the heir +after all; my cousin may be alive: and I should look a pretty fool +after going to this expense if I cleared out and got nothing--like the +dog in the fable. I think I'd better take a trip back to Nairobi and +see Gillespie. And I'll tell you what I'll do, John. If I decide to +go home, as most likely I shall, I'll find an experienced man in +Nairobi and send him up to take charge while I'm away."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's rather rotten," said John with a crestfallen look. "I don't +want anybody here bossing me, father. Why not leave me in charge?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"You're over young, John," replied Mr. Halliday dubiously.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm just on eighteen, and I've got a bit used to things. I learnt a +lot in that six months at the agricultural college before we started. +I'm not exactly a fool, either. Plenty of fellows have gone to the +Colonies on their own at my age, and done jolly well too. Look at Ned +Cooper; he's got his own ranch in British Columbia, and he's not more +than a year older than I am. Besides, look at the expense. You won't +get a decent Englishman who'll be any good under £300 a year, I should +think, and if this business in Glasgow turns out a frost, you'll be +precious sorry you spent the money."</p> +<p class="pnext">"There's something in that," said Mr. Halliday, stroking his beard. +"Well, I'll think of it."</p> +<p class="pnext">The upshot of his meditations was that he decided to do as John +suggested. The lad was unfeignedly delighted; the responsibility did +not daunt him; though he said little he felt capable of carrying on the +work of the farm, and inwardly resolved to have a good budget to show +his father when he returned. Mr. Halliday spent a good many anxious +hours in instilling principles of caution and carefulness into his +mind: he gave directions about the steps to be taken to bring the +cattle and sheep and dairy produce to market when the proper time came; +and then one day he set off with Coja and a couple of villagers as +porters, determined to ask Mr. Gillespie to keep an eye on the boy as +far as he could.</p> +<p class="pnext">Before leaving he had a little conversation with Said Mohammed, upon +whom he impressed the necessity of paying implicit obedience to his +young master, and of helping him in every possible way.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Verb. sap., sir," said the Bengali. "Mr. John is a chip of the old +block, a second edition of you, sir, and I esteem myself most fortunate +and in clover to do this trivial round for such a superior person."</p> +<p class="pnext">Things went on very peacefully and on the whole prosperously at the +farm after Mr. Halliday's departure. He sent Coja back from Nairobi +with a letter in which he wrote that Mr. Gillespie had advised him to +return to England, and had promised to pay John a visit if he found +time. The rains began soon after Mr. Halliday had gone, and John was +mortified when a few of the sheep died through catching a chill; but +apart from this misfortune nothing happened to trouble him. He had no +difficulties with the people under his authority. Coja proved to be a +handy man; Wasama and his son were excellent herdsmen; and Lulu not +only did a fair share of labour in the fields with the villagers, but +excelled in laundry work, and looked after John's simple wardrobe with +a neatness and care which would have put many a London landlady to the +blush. As for Said Mohammed, he was a compendium of utilities. He was +cook, khansaman, and table-servant rolled into one. He was careful to +explain that in India he would scorn to serve in more than one +capacity, but "Tempora mutantur," he quoted impressively, "et nos +mutamur in illis."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Rest, sir, is change of occupation," he said, "and when I have +accomplished the culinary part of my functions, I make a lightning +change and become a dumb waiter, remembering the beautiful words of the +blind epic poet, 'They also serve who only stand and wait.'"</p> +<p class="pnext">With the beginning of the rains came the season for planting. Mr. +Halliday had brought a variety of seeds with him, for though he hoped +to make money out of stock-raising rather than agriculture, and +reckoned on getting cereals from the neighbouring village for his +native and Indian workers, he was not sure that the villagers would +always grow enough to supply their needs, and he wished also to grow +English vegetables and fruits for his own consumption. John made a +start towards the end of November with oats and wheat; next month he +sowed cabbages, peas, tomatoes, potatoes and vegetable marrows, and +planted a few apple-tree slips. In January he put in cabbages and +onions, and finished off with cauliflowers in February. The great +dread of the African cultivator is drought, but the rains fell almost +continuously for three months, so that there was every prospect of good +crops.</p> +<p class="pnext">The sheep and cattle throve apace. There was no sign of scab or +heartwater in the former, but they were troubled for a time by the +nostril-fly, a pest that lays its eggs in the nasal passages, causing +intense irritation and sometimes a dangerous fever. Two or three of +the animals died, but there happening to be a syringe among the things +brought from Nairobi, John made a point every night of thoroughly +washing out the nostrils of the sheep affected, and had the +satisfaction of preventing any more deaths from this cause, though he +never succeeded in banishing the pests. He felt not a little gratified +at pulling one of the bulls through an attack of pneumonia. After a +little trouble in inducing the two Masai and Lulu to be scrupulous in +washing their hands, he managed to get the dairy into working order. +Each cow yielded about four pounds of milk a day, some of which he +turned into butter, which his people consumed in enormous quantities. +All the spare milk over and above what was used for food was utilized +for making cheese, which was stored in a deep pit until it could be +transported to market at Nairobi.</p> +<p class="pnext">Being dissatisfied with the grass huts which had originally been +erected by the natives, he set the mistris to build substantial houses +of logs and thatch, and found them both cleaner and healthier. They +cost no more than £1 apiece. He also got them to put up a plant-house +with wickerwork sides and thatched roof at a cost of £5. Finding that +the villagers possessed fowls, he bought a number, and this provided +more work for the carpenters. They built a large hen-house of wood +with an iron roof, and fenced in a run of about 1000 square feet in +area. With the prospect of good crops a barn was necessary, and they +erected a wooden building with a floor of about 300 square feet. +Having no iron left, he had to roof this with thatch, resolving to buy +more galvanized roofing on his first visit to Nairobi.</p> +<p class="pnext">Before all this work was finished some of the vegetables and cereals he +had planted grew to maturity. Said Mohammed gave him turnips for +dinner in February; next month he had some fine tomatoes and potatoes, +and by the beginning of April the most delicious peas and vegetable +marrows he had ever tasted. The grain fields, however, suffered a good +deal from the depredations of weaver birds, and after ineffectual +attempts to get rid of these with his rifle and by setting up +scarecrows, John resorted to a poison supplied by his native +neighbours--a decoction of a certain root. This proved effective. The +wheat was ready for reaping in April, and he was amused to see the +natives cut it with knives, they being quite unable to handle the +scythes Mr. Halliday had brought. They threshed it with sticks and +winnowed it with hand-sieves. There was a small hand-mill among the +farm utensils, and by the end of April John enjoyed the unaccustomed +luxury of eating bread baked by Said Mohammed in an earthen oven. Only +half an acre had been sown with wheat, and as the yield was 400 lbs. of +grain John was thoroughly satisfied. The oats were not ripe until +July, and the yield was much less than that of the wheat; but they made +good porridge, and John was able to write to his father that when he +returned he could have the national breakfast.</p> +<p class="pnext">John had heard from Mr. Halliday several times since his departure. +The first letter arrived early in December, and caused him mingled +amusement and vexation.</p> +<hr class="docutils" /> +<p class="pfirst">"Here I am, in Glasgow, flourishing as ever. Tennant's stack is +behaving even worse than usual, and the atmosphere makes me fair sick +after the air of Kenya. I had a horrible passage: we were terribly +knocked about in the Bay, and I got a black eye one night through being +pitched out of my bunk and coming into collision with the ledge of the +one below. There was a teetotal commercial on board (rare bird), who +looked at me very suspiciously at breakfast, and asked me at lunch +whether I drank pot-still or patent. I asked him which was his line, +and he got so red that I was uncharitable enough to conjecture he +drinks on the sly.</p> +<p class="pnext">"But here I am, and I think I've made a fool of myself in coming; for +when I called at Wright and MacKellar's they showed me a cable they had +just received from the Cape. 'Halliday's daughter inherits; letter +this mail.' The death of poor old uncle had of course been announced +in the <em class="italics">Herald</em>, and that goes everywhere, and sure enough when the +mail came in there was a letter from some lawyer fellows at Cape Town +to say that their client, Mrs. Burtenshaw, née Sylvia Halliday, having +seen the announcement of her father's death, had made arrangements to +return to Scotland to claim the estate I asked them why the +ballachulish they hadn't waited before they sent for me, and Wright +said that if he had been aware that I had changed my domicile (law for +left the country, I suppose) he would certainly have hesitated before +putting me to the inconvenience (and expense, I put in) of making so +long a voyage. I asked whether my expenses would come out of the +estate, and he said that he was inclined to believe the trustees would +not homologate any claim for my outgoings. I'm glad you were not a +lawyer, after all. I was for starting back at once, but he wouldn't +hear of it: said I must wait to see whether Mrs. Burtenshaw could +substantiate her claim; she might be an impostor, and since the estate +is valued at over £100,000 it would be a pity to be out of the way if I +turned out to be the heir after all. My cousin's name is Sylvia right +enough, and I'm convinced the claimant will prove her bona-fides, but I +suppose I must kick my heels until she turns up. It's twenty-five +years or more since I saw her, and I shouldn't know her from Lulu, so I +can't help to identify her. Altogether I'm very unhappy. Tell me how +you're getting on. I am wearying until I get back, and on thorns in +case anything goes wrong. God bless you!</p> +<p class="pnext">"P.S.--Don't forget that cabbages and cauliflowers must be transplanted +<em class="italics">about five weeks</em> after they are sown."</p> +<hr class="docutils" /> +<p class="pfirst">This was vexing enough, but when the next letter came, saying that Mrs. +Burtenshaw was laid up with bronchitis and would be unable to travel +for some time, John was thoroughly distressed. He knew how his father +would hate hanging on indefinitely, with nothing to do, and no +interests to keep him in St. Mungo's city. Mr. Halliday, however, did +not remain in Glasgow. He went to his old home in the south of +England, instructing Wright and MacKellar to summon him by telegraph +when the lady arrived.</p> +<p class="pnext">As time went on, the stock on the farm was considerably increased by +the arrival of healthy lambs and calves. John had expected his father +to return before it became necessary to drive the animals to Nairobi +for sale, and he became seriously concerned as to how that was to be +done. Being the only white man on the farm he could not leave it; yet +the animals must be taken to market somehow, for his father was relying +on the proceeds of their sale to replenish his small balance at the +bank, which he had had to draw upon to meet the expenses of his +prolonged stay in England. John himself was running short of "trade" +for the payment of his native workers from the village, and of ready +money for his immediate dependants, who required hard cash or notes of +the East African currency. He did not wish to draw on the bank, as his +father had authorized him to do; and he knew that the sums realized by +the sale of the stock would enable him to carry on for a considerable +time, and also to add to the bank surplus, upon which Mr. Halliday +might have to draw at any moment.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was no one among the hands to whom he could entrust the driving +of the cattle. Wasama and his boy, no doubt, could do the actual +driving, if they were not plundered on the way; but the presence of a +white man would be almost a <em class="italics">sine qua non</em> to prevent molestation on +the journey. Even in the unlikely chance of Wasama getting the beasts +safely to Nairobi he could not be expected to sell them to advantage, +and Said Mohammed, when John spoke of it to him one day, very frankly +acknowledged that the Masai would come off second best in any attempt +to barter with the traders of Nairobi, whether Indian or European.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You have to be up to snuff, sir," said the Bengali, "in dealing with +gentlemen of business capacity. Wasama is a very good chap: I have +high opinion of his honesty, et cetera; but honesty is no go in markets +without the possession of considerable acumen, and Wasama has not had +the advantage of gaining that familiarity with the methods of +civilization, which, as the proverb says, breeds contempt," an +unconsciously double-edged remark which did not amuse John.</p> +<p class="pnext">Of course he might ask the help of Mr. Gillespie, which would no doubt +be very willingly given; but John was very reluctant to let things out +of his own hands, having a full share of Anglo-Saxon independence. The +matter, at any rate, was not immediately urgent. Two or three more +months must pass before the young animals were weaned and fit to +undertake the long journey; and John still hoped that by the time the +sale of them became imperative his father would have returned.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was about six months after Mr. Halliday left that John received the +following letter from him--</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">"The lady has arrived. She's a very decent, respectable widow body. +She has brought all her family, two boys and a girl--a pretty creature, +the image of her mother when I first knew her. The widow produced her +birth certificate and a series of photographs, the first showing her in +her father's arms at about a week old, for all the world as if he were +a royalty displaying the infant to a crowd of grandees. Wright and +MacKellar are satisfied, which is more than I am, coming all this way +on such a fool's errand. The widow wanted to repay me the £100 or so +I've wasted, but of course I couldn't hear of that. I expect to sail +next week. Glad to hear you're getting on well.</p> +<p class="pnext">"P.S.--I suppose you haven't seen anything of those young Brownes? I'd +be a deal happier if I knew you had neighbours."</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">A week later came a brief note.</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">"Fate's got a downer on me. I was fool enough to go for a ride in the +widow's new 40 h.-p. Panhard. The chauffeur ran us into a dyke; the +rest got bruises, but I survive with a broken leg. Tony Weller was +right: beware of widders."</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">Since then no news had come, and John grew anxious, though he reflected +that he would have heard if his father was seriously ill.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-eighth-hard-pressed"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id9">CHAPTER THE EIGHTH--Hard Pressed</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">John spent a good deal of time with Bill the Wanderobbo. He found it +at first difficult to communicate with him, for the little man knew no +English, nor even Swahili, which John was rapidly picking up, partly +from Coja, and partly from a Swahili grammar and Bible which he had +brought from Mombasa. He had to employ Wasama as the medium of +intercourse with Bill, the two men speaking in the Masai tongue, and +Wasama translating either into his imperfect English, or into Swahili, +as John became more proficient in it. Coja told him that the +Wanderobbo have a language of their own, and he tried to get Bill to +teach him that; but the man became reserved and shy whenever the +suggestion was made, and Wasama explained that the Wanderobbo never +allowed any foreigner to hear them speak in their own tongue. After a +time John managed to converse with Bill about simple matters in a kind +of sign language, in which the Wanderobbo was very quick. He learnt +long afterwards that the mysterious language of the tribe largely +consists of signs, to such an extent that the people cannot understand +one another in the dark.</p> +<p class="pnext">One day Bill darkly hinted that though John was very rich, yet he, the +Wanderobbo, was richer. This was surprising, seeing that to all +appearance he possessed nothing but his hut and weapons. On being +questioned he at first shyly refused to say more, but by and by said +that he owned a very large store of ivory.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where?" asked John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"In his old home away in the hills," said Wasama, who was interpreting.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then why doesn't he sell it and buy himself a good hut and good arms +and make himself comfortable?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Because the store is now in the bad man's country, beyond the +mountain."</p> +<p class="pnext">John had by this time learnt something of the native African's genius +for invention, and treated the Wanderobbo's assertions as sheer +romance; but the old man repeated them again and again, and indeed +seemed sometimes to be brooding over his wrongs, so that John began to +believe that there was some little foundation for his story. Once Bill +said that if the young master cared to go with him a long journey he +would show him how to hunt elephants, so that he might get ivory for +himself. But it happened that Mr. Halliday had only taken out an +ordinary game licence, costing 150 rupees, not caring to pay an +additional 600 rupees for the full licence which would entitle him to +shoot elephants and rhinoceros and other large game. Bill was totally +unable to understand the reason of John's refusal, and John felt that +the old man in his secret thoughts set him down as afraid.</p> +<p class="pnext">But though elephant hunting had to be declined, John was never loth to +go in quest of smaller game when the larder required it. He never +killed any of his own sheep or cattle for food, but depended on the +game that fell to his rifle--waterbuck, grantei, congoni, and other +animals which were to be found at first within short distances of the +farm. Bill was his constant companion on these expeditions, and proved +very useful, having an instinct for the right localities. Two or three +of the villagers were usually hired to carry back the game that was +shot.</p> +<p class="pnext">One day the party had gone some five miles to the northward, and the +bearers were cutting up two grantei which John had shot, when a +solitary figure appeared in the far distance. It was unusual to see a +native travelling alone, but he was approaching so slowly that John did +not think it worth while to await his arrival, and when the cutting up +was finished, he ordered the men to shoulder their burdens. But taking +a look at the stranger before setting off after his men, John felt sure +that he was making straight towards him across the broken country; and +since he was in the middle of a wide plain, trackless and bare, he +wondered whether the stranger had some definite purpose in so directing +his course. Letting the bearers go on in advance, he decided to wait +with Bill for the man.</p> +<p class="pnext">As he came more clearly into view, John perceived that he was moving +very slowly and with manifest difficulty. When he came up, and John, +who had by this time more than a smattering of Swahili, questioned him, +the man explained that he was a Baganda, and had been sent to seek help +for a safari nearly a day's march to the north-east. The master of the +safari was a young msungu (white man), and John was able to make out +from what the messenger said that the party was in extreme danger from +"bad men." The msungu had sent him out at night on the chance of +finding help, but he had not been able to move fast because he was very +weak and hungry.</p> +<p class="pnext">John was in a quandary. On the one hand his inclination prompted him +to set off at once to the aid of a fellow white man: on the other hand +he had no force at command which could hope to intervene effectually if +the "bad men" were in considerable numbers. He was some miles from the +farm, and even if he hurried back he could not raise a strong party. +Coja was the only man on the farm besides himself who could use a +rifle, and John was very doubtful whether he could induce any of the +villagers to leave their own ground on a fighting expedition. Still, +he felt that something must be done. He asked the Baganda whether he +could use a rifle, and on being answered in the affirmative, he first +gave the man some food from the little stock he had brought for his own +use, and then bade him wait with the Wanderobbo while he returned to +the farm.</p> +<p class="pnext">On arriving he dispatched Wasama with the news to the nearest +government station, Fort Hall, forty miles to the south-west. Then he +ordered Said Mohammed to make ready a supply of food, and Coja to +saddle three donkeys, and within a quarter of an hour he was hurrying +back over his tracks, Coja beside him leading the third donkey. Each +had his rifle, and Coja carried a third for the Baganda.</p> +<p class="pnext">They found the man where he had been left with Bill, looking much the +better for his meal. John sent Bill back to the farm, and then, the +Baganda having mounted, the party of three set off to the relief of the +safari. The route lay first north and then north-west round a steep +hill, which John concluded was one of the foothills of Mount Kenya. It +was very rough going at times, the messenger having made his way in a +direct line, up hill and down dale, and he had to return over the same +ground lest he should lose the track and go astray. Fortunately the +donkeys were sure-footed, and only a few stumbles on the sides of +precipitous descents reminded John subsequently that he had taken risks +in his excitement and haste which he would scarcely have faced in cold +blood. He felt that he could have travelled faster on foot, and the +Baganda was plainly ill at ease on the donkey's back; but not knowing +what might be demanded of him, he had thought it wise to ride so as to +husband his strength. They saw no signs of habitation: indeed, the +whole of the region through which they passed was a wilderness, owing, +as was learnt afterwards, to Masai raids in a not remote past.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was close upon nightfall when, on topping a rise, they came in sight +of the spot where, as the Baganda said, his master was beset by the bad +men. It appeared to be about three miles off. The actual place could +not be seen, owing to intervening patches of woodland, but on +proceeding a little farther, the guide pointed out a dark shape on the +plain which he said was a camp of bad men, and some distance beyond it +John was able to descry the boma within which the white man had +entrenched himself.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the way he had succeeded in getting a few more details from the +Baganda, by the interpreting aid of Coja. It appeared that two wasungu +had been making a sporting expedition from northern Uganda by way of +Lake Rudolf to the Kenya district. The elder msungu had been seized +with swamp fever in the neighbourhood of the lake, but had pushed on +southward instead of resting, with the result that he became worse and +worse and at last died near Mount Sil, eighty miles north of Mount +Kenya. The safari had already found the tribes through which it had +passed somewhat troublesome, and as after the bwana's death it +travelled southward, it came into a region where the people were openly +hostile, and hung on its skirts, watching for any opportunity of taking +it at a disadvantage. The party had, however, got safely to the Waso +Nyiro river, which they had crossed a week ago; but then they had been +attacked one night by a tribe of Embe, one of the fiercest and most +quarrelsome of East African peoples. Some of the porters were killed, +others deserted, and the young msungu himself was wounded. The attack +had been beaten off, and the boma round the camp had been strengthened, +and when the messenger left they were holding out against a much larger +body of natives and in dire straits because their food was running +short.</p> +<p class="pnext">The safari consisted of forty men, with only ten rifles among them. +John tried to ascertain how many the assailants numbered, but the +Baganda could only speak vaguely of a very great host. Moving forward +cautiously so as not to be seen by the enemy, John soon perceived a +second camp on the further side of the boma: it was plain that the +savages were subjecting the camp to a strict investment, knowing that, +even if they could not break in, want of food would soon compel the +beleaguered to surrender. But while it was clearly impossible for the +white man's party to make any movement as a body without discovery, it +did not appear to John that the blockade was so close as to prevent +individuals from entering or leaving the camp under cover of night; +indeed, the Baganda had slipped out in the darkness and escaped +detection. John therefore asked him whether he was willing to make an +attempt to get in during the coming night, and tell his master that +help was coming. The man said that he thought he could pass the enemy +safely, but he would certainly be shot at from the msungu's camp if his +approach was heard, and that was a risk he did not care to run. With +some persuasion and the promise of a handsome present John induced the +messenger to try his luck, instructing him to make a big fire if he got +in safely, or if that was impossible through lack of fuel, to ask his +master to fire two shots in rapid succession. John would then +endeavour to enter the camp. He did not suppose, of course, that a +reinforcement of two would enable the besieged party to turn the tables +on the besiegers, but he hoped that his presence would be taken as an +earnest of help to come from Fort Hall, and would at least encourage +the men to hold out.</p> +<p class="pnext">The three waited until darkness covered the ground, having meanwhile +tethered the animals. Then the Baganda set off on foot just after +seven o'clock with a small bundle of food strapped to his back so as +not to encumber his movements. The minutes passed slowly; there was no +sign from the encampment; and after what seemed hours John ventured to +strike a match under cover of the bush and look at his watch. It was +only eight. But there had been time enough for the Baganda to have +reached the encampment, and John wondered what had happened to him. He +did not think he had been captured, for that would have been announced +by a shout or a shot. Only a few minutes after he had looked at his +watch there was a sudden bright glare in the direction of the +encampment: one flash and then darkness. This was followed by a +confused murmur of voices, and then by several irregular shots. At the +same time two fires were lighted, one on the north and the other on the +south of the encampment--a clear sign that the besiegers meant to hold +their ground during the night, the fires having been kindled to keep +off wild beasts. John guessed that the white man within the boma had +adopted the flare as a better signal than the one he had suggested; +undoubtedly the Baganda had reached the camp in safety.</p> +<p class="pnext">The problem now was to follow him without being detected. The flare +had shown John the exact direction in which he should go; but it had +also put the besiegers on the alert, though it was unlikely that they +had any suspicion at present of the meaning of the light. Luckily no +fire had been kindled on the west side of the camp, on which there was +no gate, and as the night was pitch dark, John hoped with care to +escape the notice of the savages. Leaving the animals tethered, he +crept forward with Coja, a little nervous lest he should stumble upon +some obstruction or go astray in the darkness. The plain was covered +with grass up to his knees, and here and there clumps of mimosa. As +the two crept forward the sky in front of them was momentarily lit up +by another flare. "He's got his wits about him, whoever he is," +thought John. Again he heard shots, but he could not tell whether they +were fired within or without the boma. The Baganda had not reported +that the besiegers had rifles: one or two of them, he said, had very +old guns; but the shots were evidently those of rifles, and John +wondered whether the besiegers had been reinforced during the day.</p> +<p class="pnext">The two men, making slow progress, and guided by the flares which were +shown at intervals, drew gradually nearer to the camp. Suddenly a +flash showed them a clump of bush between them and the boma, which John +guessed to be now about a hundred and fifty yards distant. They lay +flat in the grass until the flare had died down, then crept to the edge +of the bush, John hoping to find a speedy opportunity of making a dash +for the camp. Just as they reached the clump Coja stumbled over his +rifle, making a slight rustle among the grass. Instantly there was a +low call, apparently from the other side of the bush. A man was on the +watch there. "Speak to him," John whispered to Coja, who whispered +back that he did not know what tribe the man belonged to, and to speak +might be dangerous. John felt that the critical moment was come. He +dared not retreat: that would arouse suspicion: nor durst he stay +inertly where he was, for the man might come towards them. Yet to +attempt to dash past him across the open would be to risk a shot or a +spear at such close range that the chance of escape would be small, for +though the night was dark, there was enough glimmer from the stars to +enable an alert enemy to take aim, besides a reflected glow from the +camp fires. He made up his mind instantly to venture on a bold course. +Whispering to Coja to follow him closely, he wriggled as quietly as +possible through the bush, and came upon a man sitting on his haunches +with a rifle or musket across his knees, watching the boma. He half +turned his head as he heard the slight rustle of John's approach, but +did not rise. Dropping his rifle, John gathered himself together and +sprang full upon the man, throwing his left arm round his neck in a +strangling embrace. Before the captive could utter more than a gurgle, +John's handkerchief was stuffed into his mouth. Then in a swift +whisper, while he still held the savage firmly, John ordered Coja to +take the man's weapon and creep towards the boma. Giving him a +minute's start, John suddenly flung the man from him, seized his own +rifle, and sprinted across the open, overtaking Coja just as he reached +the fence. At the same moment a shout was raised from the rear: the +sentry had apparently been too much dazed to give the alarm before. +Calling in Swahili and English to warn the garrison of their presence, +John and Coja stood at the boma, looking vainly for a place to enter. +There was an answering shout of "This way!" They ran towards it, and +after stumbling for a few seconds, came to a narrow gap. John felt his +hand grasped and was lugged into the enclosure: Coja followed him; and +they were barely inside when a spattering volley of bullets tore +through the thorn defences.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You did that jolly well," said a pleasant voice, and John was shaking +hands with a young man of about his own height. "Come and have a talk +in my blockhouse."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-ninth-a-rearguard-fight"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id10">CHAPTER THE NINTH--A Rearguard Fight</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The stranger led the way to the centre of the enclosure.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Here's my blockhouse," he said. "We've piled up the baggage, you see. +I say, you're a trump, you know. Are any more coming up?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I sent word to Fort Hall, but that's seventy miles from here, and we +can't expect help for two or three days."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's bad. We've been on short rations for a week and haven't got a +single full meal left. My men are as weak as rats, and I've had a +knock myself, as you see"--his right arm was in a sling--"so that if +those fellows outside pluck up their courage to make a rush I'm afraid +we shall be done for."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not a bit of it," said John cheerfully. "How did you get hurt?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"An arrow made a gash in my forearm. I was in a bit of a funk at +first; my men said it was sure to be poisoned. But I'm all right so +far: had some antiseptic lotion, and the wound seems to be healing. My +man told you how we got into this mess, didn't he? We've had an awful +time of it; for six weeks on end had to fight and dodge these ruffians; +and my poor father----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, I'm very sorry," said John, as the other stopped.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What I can't make out," went on the young man presently, "is why these +fellows haven't rushed our boma. They were reinforced yesterday by six +or eight men with rifles, Swahilis, too, to judge by their dress, and +as I've only sixteen men left out of the forty we started with, and +only five have rifles (four deserted with rifles yesterday), we +couldn't have held out for an hour. There's a couple of hundred of +them, I guess, and a dozen or more have got rifles or else smooth-bore +muskets, and those at close quarters are just as dangerous as rifles, +as we know to our cost."</p> +<p class="pnext">He did not say, but John learnt afterwards, that it was probably his +own fearlessness and activity which had daunted the besiegers. He had +had to get assistance in loading his rifle, and could only fire from +the left shoulder; but as sure as one of the enemy showed himself +within range he became a target, and several had been accounted for +during the past few days. Having no doubt been informed by the +deserters from his safari, however, that provisions had run short, the +besiegers were quite content to play a waiting game.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What do you think we can do?" asked the stranger.</p> +<p class="pnext">John said nothing for a few moments: he was thinking hard.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I wish I could see your face," went on the other. "It's rather odd, +this--two fellows who don't know each other talking in the dark. I +don't even know your name."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Halliday," said John, adding with a laugh, as he struck a match; "take +a good look while the light lasts."</p> +<p class="pnext">By the feeble light each saw a clean-shaven face burnt almost the +colour of copper by the sun.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You aren't a bad-looking chap, and my name's Ferrier," said the +stranger. "Can we do anything, do you think?"</p> +<p class="pnext">A listener might have smiled at the quick transition from banter to +serious business. During the brief illumination, John had observed, +how thin and worn Ferrier looked, and it seemed to help him to make up +his mind.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well," he said, "it's risky, but I vote we make a bolt for it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now?" asked Ferrier quietly.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No, but you'll do it, I can see. You don't say, 'How can we?' You +see, we can't expect help for two days at the least, and it may be much +more. You look worn out as it is, and another day without proper food +might do for you. But we can save time by fighting our way southward, +though it'll be a pretty risky business, as I said. The best time to +clear out will be just about dawn; the fellows outside will be dead +tired with watching and won't expect any movement then. With luck we +may get a mile or two away before they find out we've gone."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Why not start in the dark?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Safer not, I think. We could easily be rushed in the darkness, and +any damage we might do among them wouldn't have half the moral effect +it would have in the light, because they couldn't see it. Now give me +an idea how the land lies round this place: I only saw it from the side +I came in at."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, there's bush pretty well all round, but the ground's clearest on +the east side. There's a gap in the bush there which would be the best +road."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We'll make for that, then. But look here, you're dead tired, and +you'll want all your strength to-morrow. Get a sleep: I'll see to +everything and wake you when the times comes. What are your men, by +the way? Swahilis?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No, most of them are Bantus of one sort or another. I've got one +Swahili; he's headman; and two or three Wakikuyu, strapping fellows who +can shoot."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's all right, then. Now go to sleep like a good chap, and don't +worry."</p> +<p class="pnext">It was so long since Ferrier had enjoyed a good night's rest that he +thankfully availed himself of the presence of a white man capable of +taking command. John immediately set about his preparations for the +sortie. He ordered the porters to make their loads ready as quickly as +possible, discarding everything that was heavy or cumbersome and likely +to impede rapidity of movement. Thinking over the position, he decided +that the best plan would be to issue from the boma on the east side as +if to pass through the gap. This movement, if detected, would probably +draw the enemy to both sides of the gap, where they would wait in the +bush, thinking they had the safari ambushed. But before reaching the +gap he proposed to turn sharp off to the right, seizing a tongue of +woodland jutting southward which he had noticed from his post of +observation in the wood. Beyond that he could not make any plans, but +must trust to the inspiration of the moment and the nature of the +ground.</p> +<p class="pnext">All preparations being made, John told the men to sleep. He would keep +watch until the moment for departure came. He walked round the +enclosure to make sure that no ammunition or anything else of value had +been left, inspected the spot where the boma had been cut to allow the +egress of the party, and then sat down on the tent, which it had been +decided to leave behind.</p> +<p class="pnext">Shortly before six o'clock he woke Ferrier, and Coja woke the men, who +shouldered their loads, and the whole party moved silently across the +enclosure. Some of the men removed the piece of the boma which had +been previously loosened, and John led the way out. There was a slight +mist over the ground, which favoured the escape. They had covered +about two hundred yards in safety when there was a loud shout from both +the camps of the enemy, proving that a determined watch had been kept, +and that their departure had been discovered. A few shots were fired, +and John caught sight of two or three black figures darting among the +trees of the wooded tongue towards which he intended to march; but the +absence of a general rush seemed to show that his anticipation was +being justified, and that the enemy were swarming from their camps to +the two sides of the gap. John threw himself down on a knoll and sent +two or three shots into the woodland to check any movement of the enemy +to station themselves there, which would be fatal to his plan. The +result of his firing was that the men who had been scouting there +rushed away to join their comrades in the bush skirting the gap.</p> +<p class="pnext">Now that the party was fairly out, John asked Ferrier to take the lead, +while he brought up the rear with Coja. Ferrier at first demurred to +this arrangement, protesting that the greatest danger would lie in the +rear, and he didn't see why he should not share in it.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You shut up," said John, with friendly brusqueness. "We haven't time +to argue. We can settle that afterwards. Don't go above a walking +pace: if they think we are bunking they will make a rush for us, and we +must avoid that at all costs. On you go: wheel to the right when you +come opposite the end of the wood."</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier obediently went on with the unarmed porters and his six men who +had rifles, including the one captured from the sentry, John and Coja +marching behind with the man who acted as messenger, turning every now +and then to guard against a rush, and not hurrying their pace though +shots were dropping at unpleasantly close quarters. There were loud +shouts from the enemy lining both sides of the gap when they saw the +safari suddenly sweep round to the right towards the spur of woodland. +Several men on the northern side at once broke cover and began to rush +across the gap. John saw that the best service he could do was to hold +this portion of the enemy's force in check until the woodland was +reached, and so reduce their striking strength. The question was, +could he and Coja and the one other man with him make things so hot for +any of the enemy who tried to cross the gap that they would hesitate +until it was too late? Another question which he dared not think about +was whether the men with Ferrier would be steady enough to meet the +attack from the southern portion of the enemy, which they could hardly +escape. Telling Coja and the Baganda to shoot steadily, he took aim +from behind a bush at the first man who crossed the gap, and dropped +him. Coja aimed at the man immediately behind, but missed. A second +shot from John, however, brought him down, and his companions, firing +into the midst of a group of half-a-dozen who were following their +leaders, gave a shout of delight when they saw two other men fall, and +the rest immediately turn tail and scamper at full speed back to cover.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come on," cried John.</p> +<p class="pnext">Leaving the bush from behind which he had fired, he ran towards another +which would give still better cover and was at the same time slightly +nearer the enemy. The distance was about thirty yards, and several +shots were fired at them as they sprinted across. John felt a bullet +slap through his helmet, but no other hit was made, and they reached +the second bush safely. It afforded excellent cover against the enemy +on the north side of the gap, but would have been useless against any +that remained on the south side. These, however, had left their +positions in order to deal with the safari making for the woodland, +since it was plain to them that they would be at an immense +disadvantage in the more open bush if the copse were once gained. +Indeed, if they had had the courage and the quickness of perception to +seize and hold this spur of woodland, the fate of the safari would +almost certainly have been sealed.</p> +<p class="pnext">John, for the moment left unmolested, had time to look round, and saw +with delight that Ferrier and his men had disappeared among the trees. +But at the same time he realized that the enemy who had tried +ineffectually to head them off from the woodland were now free to +attack him, and there was a danger that he might be surrounded. The +northern end of the woodland was about a hundred yards from the bush at +which he had stationed himself, and there was no time to be lost if he +was to get out of harm's way. It was a straight run across the open. +From his experience of negroes' shooting he did not fear that a flying +shot would hit him except by accident; the only question was whether +all three could rush across the open space before they were intercepted +by the other section of the enemy.</p> +<p class="pnext">Since delay was dangerous he ordered the men to follow him at full +speed, and made a dash for the woodland. A few shots were fired at +them, but luckily the movement had not been seen by the men he had most +reason to fear, and by the time they were warned of it by the shouts of +their comrades beyond the gap the three runners were safe among the +trees. John felt that in the shelter of the wood the party might hold +out all day against an enemy who was so reluctant to come to close +quarters; but to be beleaguered in the wood would be no better than +their situation within the boma, and it was necessary to press on to +the south, both with the idea of lessening the distance between the +safari and the force of East African rifles or Protectorate Police +which he hoped was on the way from Fort Hall, and also of obtaining +food. It was not easy to see how the party could cross in safety the +open country south of the wood, and John felt the necessity of +consulting with Ferrier. Accordingly he hastened on towards him.</p> +<p class="pnext">Soon he came upon Ferrier's askaris, who informed him that their +master, having reached the extremity of the wood, had sent them back to +assist him. Ordering them to remain with Coja where they were and keep +the enemy in check if they showed any sign of advancing, he hurried on +until he reached Ferrier. After explaining how matters stood, he +suggested that Ferrier with the porters should hasten with all speed +across the open country until they reached the clump of trees in which +he had left his donkeys, about two miles away. The enemy would +scarcely suspect that the party would emerge from the wood into the +open, and he felt pretty sure that, reinforced by the rifles, he could +keep them in play until the safari had reached its goal. The course +proposed was favoured by the fact that the safari, by striking off in a +south-westerly direction, would soon be out of sight owing to the +undulating ground. Ferrier agreed to this plan, and John hurried back +to the men.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nothing had happened during his absence. The enemy on the north side +of the gap had not yet plucked up courage to cross, and the rest were +apparently still lurking in the bush to the east of the stretch of +woodland. John led his men back to the southern end of this, where he +halted to watch the progress of the safari, and to assure himself that +its escape had not been noticed.</p> +<p class="pnext">From this position he saw, a quarter of a mile to the right, a mound +which would form an excellent defensive position in case he was +seriously attacked, and he determined to betake himself thither as soon +as the safari was out of sight. After waiting for a few minutes he saw +the enemy, who had no doubt become suspicious, at last swarm from the +further side of the gap and join their comrades. The combined force, +emboldened by numbers, emerged from the bush, and appeared to be +intending to make a dash upon the wood. John waited until they had +come within two hundred yards, and then gave the word to his men to +fire a volley. The effect was instantaneous. Several of the enemy +fell; the rest made all speed back under cover. Taking advantage of +the repulse, John ordered three of the men to rush to the mound, and as +soon as they had reached it, he followed them with the rest. The +movement was seen by the enemy, who, knowing now that the safari must +have escaped them, and probably suspecting that it had already taken +refuge on the other side of the mound, were at last impelled by their +rage to make a determined rush to the spot. John and his men were, +however, so well ensconced that their fire checked the advance, and the +assailants, once more baffled, fled back either into the wood or to +their former position in the bush. Twice they repeated the assault: +each time they were driven back; and though they came closer each time, +and sent a shower of arrows and bullets on to the mound, they were +utterly unable to make an impression, the little party of riflemen +lying flat on their faces at the top of the reverse slope, so that only +their heads were exposed. During the last rush, however, Coja, who was +vastly excited at this fight against odds, incautiously raised himself, +and received a bullet in the shoulder. John was a good deal concerned: +the mere shock of such an injury would have rendered a European +helpless; but the African is not so highly strung, and Coja went on all +day with admirable fortitude.</p> +<p class="pnext">John chose the moment when an assault had just been repelled to +evacuate the mound, and keeping it between him and the enemy, to strike +off to the south-west, intending to make a circuit and rejoin Ferrier +at the clump of trees. He had marched for more than half a mile before +the meaning of the movement became plain to the enemy. Seeing the +little party now in the open, with no cover of any kind, the men set +off with loud cries to intercept them before they reached the clump of +trees which was the only shelter for miles. It was a race between the +two parties. John was north-west of the clump, the enemy due north, +and equidistant from it. Ferrier, who had reached the spot some time +before, and was watching eagerly his new friend's manoeuvres, fired an +occasional shot at the savages as soon as they came within range, but +his single rifle was unable to check the advance. It was fortunate +that John had somewhat easier ground than the enemy, sloping gently +down to the clump of trees. He ran as he had never run since he won +the quarter-mile in his school sports, and the negroes kept pace with +him, in the fierce heat of the sun. Ferrier saw that he was gaining on +the enemy, and shouted to encourage him. Another two hundred yards and +he would be safe. On he came: now he was several yards ahead of his +men, then they spurted and came up with him: and in another fifteen +seconds the whole party gained the wood, the enemy being no more than a +hundred yards away.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier sent a shot among them which brought them to a halt. Even now +they might have overwhelmed the little party, for John and the men were +hot and breathless, and their limbs trembled so violently that for some +seconds they were unable to hold their rifles steadily. But Ferrier's +shot gave them the breathing-space they needed. Then all the rifles +spoke together. A gap was made in the halted throng of negroes; there +was a moment's hesitation; then with furious yells of rage and +disappointment they turned their backs upon the clump of trees, and ran +swiftly towards the distant bush.</p> +<p class="pnext">That was the last that was seen of them. John and the riflemen held +the wooded clump while the safari, taking the donkeys, pressed on to +the south. Then, when all danger of pursuit seemed at an end, he +followed in its track and overtook it within two hours. No pursuers +being in sight, he thought it safe to make a long halt for rest and +food, both badly needed by the whole party, and especially by Ferrier +and his men. Ferrier blessed John's forethought in bringing a quantity +of food on the donkeys. It was only sufficient for one meal, and that +not a very good one; but a little is a feast to men who are famishing, +and there was great contentment among the negroes as they baked little +millet cakes at their fires. When the march was resumed, John shot a +wart-hog during the afternoon, which he allowed the men to cook and eat +there and then. They camped for the rest of the day, building a thorn +zariba and keeping a careful watch all night. Early in the morning +they went on again, and passing through the friendly village and across +the river, they came at midday to the farm. John at once sent +Ferrier's headman towards Fort Hall to say that there was no longer any +need of help. Then he committed the negroes to the care of Lulu, +doctored Coja's wounded shoulder as well as he could, and asked Said +Mohammed to use all his skill in preparing dinner for his guest.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Your esteemed order shall be punctually attended to," said the +Bengali. "The honourable gentleman shall smack his lips and feel jolly +well bucked up. I will do him tiptop."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-tenth-driving-sheep-to-market"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id11">CHAPTER THE TENTH--Driving Sheep to Market</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">"I say, Halliday, you're in clover here," said Ferrier, as the two sat +smoking in the bungalow after Said Mohammed had made their hearts glad +with a capital dinner. "My grandfather made his pile ranching in +Manitoba, and you'll do the same here."</p> +<p class="pnext">John laughed. "We're not paying our way at present," he said, "and I +know my father grudged the money for his passage home again so soon. +He'll grudge it still more now that his journey has turned out useless, +and there are doctors' bills to pay in the bargain."</p> +<p class="pnext">The two young men had exchanged confidences during the latter part of +their march to the farm. Charles Ferrier's father had been called to +the Canadian bar, but he had never practised, his fortune being +sufficient to keep him and his family in something more than comfort, +and to pay for the sporting expeditions which were his real interest in +life. Charles, who was twenty years old, had just come down from the +McGill university, and his father had brought him to East Africa to +"give him a run," as he put it, before he settled down to work.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And his ambition for me was that I should enter the Canadian +legislature," said he, with a wry face. "It's not work much after my +mind; I'd prefer ranching like my grandfather. Poor father! D'you +think I ought to stick to his notion now that he's gone?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I think every man should follow his own bent," said John. "The +mischief is we mayn't know till it's too late what our bent is. For +instance, I like this life out here, but I don't know I'll succeed at +it, and some day I may eat my heart out because I didn't take up law, +as my father wished. He's a good sort, and didn't urge it. Well, +khansaman, what is it?" he asked, as Said Mohammed entered.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Entreating your pardon, sir, Coja has made a discovery and is in an +excessive state of amazement, jolly well flabbergasted, as it were. He +declares that when you went on donkeys to visit the honourable gent you +took three rifles marked with initials D.H., but lo! when he examines +the weapons brought back, he finds four. Q.E.D."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's rum, certainly," said John. "How did one of our rifles get +into the hands of your men, Ferrier? We took three, as Coja says. +Your messenger had one."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't know. Wait a bit, though: didn't you bring three rifles into +camp? Of course: you took one from the man you half throttled outside +our boma. But how could that be marked with your initials?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Tell Coja to bring it here, khansaman," said John. "I've a suspicion, +Ferrier; we'll soon prove it."</p> +<p class="pnext">When Coja brought the rifle, John examined it carefully. It was a +Snider.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's as I thought, Ferrier," he said. "This is one of the rifles run +off with by those porters of ours--the sweeps! I don't like the look +of it. Looks as though they've started an organized band of +freebooters. We shall have to report this at Fort Hall or Nairobi; +perhaps you'll do that. I suppose you'll be off to-morrow to get that +arm of yours properly attended to."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's all right. It's beginning to heal, rather slowly though, and +if you can put up with me for a few days I'd like to stay here. Food +and rest is what I want more than doctors. Besides, if your deserters +have joined that pack of savages they may make a raid on you, and I'll +be of some use, even left-handed."</p> +<p class="pnext">"No, sah," said Coja, "bad man no come all dis way. Juma and dem +debbils, oh yes! but not de Embe, oh no! dey never live for come long +way."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Coja's right, Ferrier," said John. "By all accounts no natives will +go raiding more than twenty miles from their village, except the Masai, +and we haven't to deal with them. Juma and his Swahilis might come if +they dared, but they won't venture without support. That'll do, Coja. +How's your shoulder, by the way?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Jolly fine, sah. Bill him give me stuff to put on, berry good magic."</p> +<p class="pnext">"There you are, Ferrier," cried John, laughing. "We've got a doctor on +the spot. Bill is a Wanderobbo we've made friends with, a little old +man who lives by himself and tells fairy-tales about a wonderful store +of ivory belonging to him in an enemy's country. He's by way of being +a herbalist, too, it appears. We'll have a look at his 'berry good +magic' by and by."</p> +<p class="pnext">The magic turned out to be a decoction of herbs which Bill had smeared +on Coja's wound, binding it up with leaves. He begged the new msungu +to make a trial of it, and Ferrier after some hesitation consented. +His wound healed more rapidly after the application, and Bill was +delighted with the present of a few cents--without doubt the first +doctor's fee he had ever earned.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier remained for the present at the farm, his healthy constitution +soon reasserting itself after the strain of his recent experiences. +His father's death had left him his own master. He had an only sister +living with an aunt at Toronto, and he wrote to her and to the family +lawyers, relating what had happened, but saying nothing of his +intentions. The letters were entrusted to his porters, whom he +dismissed with the exception of three. On reaching Nairobi, the men +would take the train to Kisumu, and reach their homes in Uganda by +steamer across the Victoria Nyanza.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was more than a month since John had heard from his father. A few +days after Ferrier's arrival he received a note which made him very +angry.</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">"I'm on the mend. Doctor says my leg couldn't have healed better if I +were ten years younger. Cousin Sylvia has been very good. Insists on +making reparation for the damage (financial and physical) she has done +me. 'Twas <em class="italics">her</em> chauffeur, and <em class="italics">her</em> motor-car, and so on. Upshot is +that as you're getting on so well I'm inclined to accept her invitation +of a run through the Continent. Will let you know when I sail. Cousin +Sylvia sends her love.</p> +<p class="pnext">"P.S. Glad to hear you got the lambing over well. Be sure and <em class="italics">don't +wean them too soon</em>."</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">This apparently innocent note made John furious.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You see what it is!" he cried, striding up and down the room. "That +woman's got hold of him, and she'll marry him, and all our plans will +be spoilt by an old--old--I don't know what to call her. Sends her +love, indeed!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Seeing that John was in a passion, Ferrier wisely said nothing, and the +storm presently blew over.</p> +<p class="pnext">The presence of Ferrier at the farm solved John's difficulty about the +sheep and calves. He had rather more than 800 lambs altogether, of +which 450 rams were for sale, and might be expected to fetch about £90. +He had also fifteen calves, which might realize £1 each, and the £105 +thus gained would relieve his present anxieties and go far towards +defraying the second year's expenses. In addition to these, there was +a considerable weight of cheese to be taken to market. He had become +so chummy with Ferrier that he did not hesitate to mention to him the +difficulty about transporting the animals.</p> +<p class="pnext">"There's no difficulty at all," said the Canadian at once. "Take them +yourself. I'll stay here while you are gone. A rest will do me all +the good in the world. You must certainly leave a white man in charge, +and I've come in the nick of time."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's jolly of you," said John. "I'd accept your offer in a moment if +it weren't for those blackguards who stole our rifles. It would be +hard lines on you if they came and attacked you while I was away."</p> +<p class="pnext">"They won't do it. You told me yourself that you'd sent Bill out to +see if he could discover their whereabouts, and he didn't hear anything +of them. Besides, if they do come we can defend ourselves. They +didn't show any eagerness to come to very close quarters with us, and I +don't doubt for a moment that with my men and yours--I suppose the +Indians can handle a rifle on occasion?--we could beat them off."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Very well, then: I'll chance it. I'll take Wasama and three men from +the village: his boy can look after the cattle here. I shall have to +hire another Masai to help when I get back: there's too much work for +two now. You'll find Bill a great help; I wish he would come and live +here, but he's an independent old boy and won't leave his little hut in +the wood."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hadn't you better take him with you? Four men won't be enough for the +job. You must carry food and a tent, you know."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I didn't mean to take a tent. Why not camp in the open?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"You'd be rather sorry if it happened to rain."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But the rains aren't due for another month," objected John, looking at +his almanac.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I dare say not, but they may start a bit earlier, and if you think +you're going to get all those beasts to Nairobi in a week, or even two, +you're mistaken. Remember the streams to cross and the thorn bush to +get through. And you'll have to put a boma round the whole lot every +night, and that will be a long job with so few men. You'll need twenty +at the very least, my boy, so make up your mind for it. Ask Wasama."</p> +<p class="pnext">John had in fact felt some misgiving lest the party he proposed to take +should not be strong enough to guard the animals against wild beasts, +or natives who chanced to be hostile or predatory; but he was so +anxious to economize that he had stilled his doubts. When Wasama +backed up Ferrier's point, he yielded to the inevitable, and engaged +fifteen more men in the village. Ferrier insisted on his taking the +three Uganda men he had retained out of his safari, because they were +not only trained porters, but very fair shots. John wished he had a +horse to ride, or at least a mule, not caring about donkey-rides: but +Ferrier chaffed him on his singular regard for appearances, and he +decided at last to mount the best of the donkeys.</p> +<p class="pnext">One fine September day the safari set off, numbering twenty in all. +Coja was very much depressed at not being able to accompany his master, +but his wound was not yet sufficiently healed. The start was watched +by the whole community, and as John rode off in the rear of the caravan +he felt sure he heard Said Mohammed's high-pitched voice quote, "The +lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea," and proceed to a recitation of +the Elegy.</p> +<p class="pnext">John had had an inkling of the difficulties of droving, but the reality +turned out to be immeasurably worse than the anticipation. The +animals, being young, could not be driven hard; their pace at the best +was two miles an hour, and often less than one, and as frequent halts +were necessary, the longest day's march did not exceed eight miles. +The obstacles which had given only amusement or excitement on the +journey from Nairobi caused exasperation now. There were many streams +to cross, and it was often difficult to induce the sheep to face them. +Sometimes they were almost invisible in the long grass, and when they +came among thorny bush, the men had to use their knives freely in +hacking a path for the beasts, causing hours of delay. For the first +week all went fairly well. The bleating of the sheep attracted hyenas, +but by dint of great vigilance and activity they were kept off, and +only two sheep were seized. In crossing one stream Wasama had a narrow +escape from the jaws of a crocodile; but the water in most ran so low +after the dry season that it was easy to examine the beds and avoid +danger of this kind.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the eighth night, however, John was awakened by the pattering of +rain on his tent. It poured in torrents, and when he got up in the +morning he found half-a-dozen sheep stretched lifeless on the sodden +earth. It was still raining at the usual time for starting, and the +animals could not be induced to move, but turned their backs to the +wind and huddled together in a compact mass. The weather cleared about +ten o'clock, and then a start was made; but the safari had only been an +hour on the road when another downpour checked them. So it continued +all day--drenching rain, with brief intervals of sunshine. John +persevered, taking advantage of every bright period to move on a little +farther; but when the rain finally ceased in the evening he found that +during the whole laborious day he had not covered more than about three +miles. Some of the sheep had lagged terribly, and it was quite dark +when the last of them came into camp, and before they could all be got +within the boma a couple of hyenas sprang among them out of the +surrounding bush and killed several.</p> +<p class="pnext">This was only the beginning of trouble. It rained nearly every night, +and every night some of the sheep died. The streams were much swollen +and flowed so swiftly that it was only with the utmost difficulty that +the men prevented the animals from being washed away. One river took +two hours to cross, each individual animal having to be passed over +from hand to hand. At another the current was so rapid that it seemed +hopeless to attempt to cross it at all, until John, with a good deal of +risk, managed to swim over slantwise with a rope, which he fastened to +a tree on the further bank. With the help of this, every man and beast +was got across safely, but with such an expenditure of labour that all +were thoroughly exhausted. That night, to add to John's misfortunes, +his donkey was killed by a hyena, and he was in a state of miserable +depression when he started to resume his journey.</p> +<p class="pnext">The one satisfactory feature of the march was that the natives met <em class="italics">en +route</em> had been friendly. The food was exhausted when the safari had +been ten days on the road, but they had no difficulty in purchasing +muhindi or cassava at the villages. John's rifle provided all +necessary meat, and at one stream he shot a crocodile, the flesh of +which was highly prized by his men. But the very friendliness of the +people became a source of anxiety. They offered their services in +helping to drive the animals, and at the end of a day when they had +apparently been very useful, John found that six sheep had mysteriously +disappeared. He blamed Wasama for not warning him of the thievish +propensities of the volunteer drovers, much to the surprise of the +Masai, who said he thought everybody knew that a man would take what he +could get if he had the chance. After that, John refused all +assistance, however generously it was pressed upon him, and kept a +sharp eye on the natives who hung about the flanks of the safari. With +all his vigilance he lost a dozen more sheep and a fine bull calf by +theft, and he began despairingly to wonder whether he would have any +animals left by the time he arrived in Nairobi.</p> +<p class="pnext">But everything comes to an end. One day, nearly four weeks after +leaving the farm, he caught sight of the chimney-stack of the Nairobi +locomotive works in the distance. Five hours later he trudged wearily +into the town, conscious that he presented a deplorable and +disreputable appearance. His clothes were torn and dirty; the sole of +his right boot had parted from the upper and flapped as he walked, +while that of the left boot had gone altogether, and he trod on his +sock. He felt thoroughly knocked up, and after he had seen his animals +safely penned, he could hardly drag himself to Mr. Gillespie's house. +To his surprise nobody in the streets seemed to pay the least attention +to his appearance; he supposed that such sights were not uncommon; and +Mr. Gillespie did not start back with the look of horror which in his +self-consciousness John had expected. The coffee-planter greeted him +warmly, but had no sooner taken him to his room than he whipped out a +clinical thermometer and stuck it into John's mouth.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Thought so," he said, when he examined it. "You've a touch of fever, +and no wonder. You'll go straight to bed, my boy. We'll have a talk +in the morning."</p> +<p class="pnext">After a hot bath, John was tucked up between the blankets and dosed +with quinine by Mrs. Gillespie, and he fell asleep with a happiness and +a sense of security to which he seemed to have been a stranger for +years.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was better in the morning, but Mr. Gillespie would not allow him to +quit his bed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You just leave it to me," he said when John protested that he must see +about selling his animals. "I'll go and take a look at them. You +won't sell them for a day or two: they'll be all the better for a rest. +I've just heard from your father, by the way. He's a gay old dog, upon +my word, gadding about on the Continent. You must have written glowing +accounts of the farm, or he'd have been back before this. I dare say +there's a letter for you by the same mail: you'll find it when you get +back. And how do you like ranching, eh?"</p> +<p class="pnext">They had a long talk, and Mr. Gillespie said he thought he had done +very well for the first year. He laughed when John related the +incidents of his march.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You'll get used to it," he said. "It's rather disheartening at first, +but you may think yourself lucky the natives didn't bother you. When I +first came out here ten years ago I had a running fight with one of the +tribes for a week, and lost practically everything I possessed. Things +are safer now."</p> +<p class="pnext">John told him about the desertion of Juma with the rifles, and the +plight from which he had rescued Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's unpleasant," said Mr. Gillespie. "If you take my advice you'll +go back by way of Fort Hall and report to the District Commissioner. +He may be disposed to send a company of the Protectorate police to deal +with the ruffians. I'm afraid it's not a big enough job for the King's +African Rifles. Probably they won't trouble you again, however. Their +ammunition will soon be exhausted, and they can't get any more."</p> +<p class="pnext">John remained in Nairobi for a week. He found that he had lost +fifty-two sheep and one calf, besides his donkey; but Mr. Gillespie +said that the animals were a healthy lot, and handed over 1500 rupees +as the proceeds of the sale. The cheese fetched 100 rupees. John +banked the greater part of the money, keeping a little to buy new +clothes for himself, a few articles for the farm, and a fresh stock of +"trade" for the payment of his native workers. Then, feeling that +Ferrier might be growing uneasy at his long absence, he set off one day +with his safari on the return journey, feeling pretty well satisfied +with the tangible result of his first year's labours.</p> +<p class="pnext">He went by way of Fort Hall, as Mr. Gillespie had suggested. He found +it to be only a fort in the sense in which that word was used to +describe the stations of the Hudson's Bay Company in the Far North. A +substantial house perched on a hill, with a solid stone wall and a +ditch around it, the flag of the Protectorate flying from a staff in +the compound, a few huts and houses, a jail, and an Indian bazaar: that +was Fort Hall. The Commissioner received him hospitably, and listened +attentively to his story.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, Mr. Halliday," he said, "the tribesmen certainly ought to be +taught a lesson: in fact, they clearly have been taught a lesson. I +don't know that I can do anything. I got your message, of course, but +had no men available. You see, we don't care to start police +expeditions if we can avoid it. It means great expense, and we want +all our funds for peaceful development. Of course if you hadn't +already given them a dressing we should have had to do something; but I +fancy you've given them a fright, and they won't bother you again. +You're rather far away, and a few years ago you would have had a very +hot time there; but there are signs all over the country that the +natives are settling down peaceably under our government, and the moral +effect of the crushing of the Masai rebellion has been enormous. Let +me know at once if you have any further trouble."</p> +<p class="pnext">The interview left John with the impression that he could expect little +assistance from the officials. In this he probably did them an +injustice. It is not altogether harmful that the settler should be +self-reliant.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-eleventh-rhinoceros-and-lions"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id12">CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH--Rhinoceros and Lions</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">"I'm jolly glad you're back, old man," said Ferrier, as John marched in +one day at the head of his safari. "Began to think you were lost. How +did you get on?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Splendidly," said John, cheerful after his quick journey home. "That +is, pretty well; in fact" (as his memory and his sense of veracity +awoke) "I had the rottenest time I ever had in my life. That sounds a +bit of a muddle, I know, but I'll tell you all about it presently. How +have things been going here?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Splendidly: that is, pretty well; and I'm glad you're back in time to +prevent me from having the rottenest time I've ever had in my life. +It's just short of that at present."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What! Have those blackguards been bothering you?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Worse! Lions!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh! Is that it? I don't know that they're worse than the natives, +though."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, they are, because it doesn't come to a fair stand-up fight. +They're cowardly, skulking brutes, and so disgustingly clever."</p> +<p class="pnext">John laughed at Ferrier's aggrieved tone and look.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, I'll get a bath and a feed, and then we'll talk it over," he +said. "I hope our people have behaved well?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh yes! Lulu has been a mother to me--at a distance, of course; and +Said Mohammed has been a delight three times a day. But go and get +your bath; you'll stand here talking for ever."</p> +<p class="pnext">Half-an-hour later John, having changed into a suit of white drill, was +sitting at table with Ferrier in the little dining-room of the +bungalow. It struck him as rather bare and cold-looking after Mr. +Gillespie's comfortable rooms, and he resolved, if things went well the +second year, to buy a few bits of furniture.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It wants a woman, you know," said Ferrier. "She'd rig up some +curtains and make things look cheerful in no time. But you'll never +get a woman to live among lions."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Verree true, sir--excuse the liberty," remarked Said Mohammed, as he +handed the fish. "A lion among ladies is a most dreadful thing; for +there is not a more fearful wild-fowl than your lion living."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's how he goes on," said Ferrier, exploding when the Bengali had +gone for the joint. "That's Shakespeare; next time it'll be Milton."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Did Shakespeare write that rubbish about the wild-fowl?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Why, that's the excellent Nick Bottom in <em class="italics">Midsummer Night's Dream</em>!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Never read it: we only did <em class="italics">Julius Cæsar</em> and <em class="italics">Henry V</em>. But tell me +what's happened."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Nothing, for three weeks, except rain. My word, didn't it come down! +I'm sorry to say some of the sheep died until we thought of covering +them up at night. But a week ago I heard a lion roaring in the night, +and in the morning a calf was gone. Last night it was two sheep. The +boma's not a bit of good to keep them out. Why don't you put up some +wire fencing?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's expensive, but I will by and by."</p> +<p class="pnext">"The lion got clear away the first time, but last night I was roused by +the commotion among the animals, and managed to get a shot as he was +slinking off: it was bright moonlight. I'm afraid I missed: my right +arm isn't fit for much even yet. I wanted Bill to go and hunt him with +me; but he wouldn't. I suppose he won't visit us again now you've come +back: Coja said he's sure the lion's an afreet, which is devil, I +suppose, and knows when the coast is clear."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I rather fancy he finds other game scarce in this rainy weather. It's +much easier to break into the boma than to hunt game in the open, and I +expect now that he's tasted blood again and got back his confidence we +shall have some more trouble. We shall have to tackle him."</p> +<p class="pnext">"If you excuse me, sir," put in Said Mohammed, so respectfully that +John could not resent the indiscretion, "I will tell you of the +machinations of my prophetic soul my uncle. He has a small property in +the Sunderbunds; choice site, excellent amenities, et cetera. There +lurks the tiger, tiger burning bright. In my childhood innocence I +resided with my avuncular relative, and he being a great shikari I saw +some A1 sport. I should esteem it a privilege to be allowed to give +you a leg up in hunting the abominable creature. The sahibs in general +have derogatory opinion of us Bengalis; but I am a Socialist, +gentlemen, in so far as believing in equality of chances, and I am +cocksure that if only I get a look in I shall prove to demonstration +that I am full of both grit and beans."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All right, khansaman, I'll give you a rifle and you shall come with us +when we go after the beast. It may be rather exciting."</p> +<p class="pnext">"A regular beano," said Ferrier, sotto voce. "But I want to hear all +about your droving, Halliday."</p> +<p class="pnext">John gave him a running account of his experiences, which were more +amusing in retrospect than in actuality. They spent the rest of the +day in going over the farm together. John was very well pleased with +the signs of progress he saw everywhere. The sheep and cattle looked +healthy; the second crops were in good condition; and the only failures +among all the vegetables he had planted were the onions and artichokes, +which had produced too much stalk and gave no indication of fruiting.</p> +<p class="pnext">That night a lion broke in and carried off a ram. John was too late to +get a shot at the beast, and next day was too much occupied about the +farm to go in search of it. But when Wasama came in with the sheep, +somewhat earlier than usual, and reported that he had seen a +black-maned lion with his mate on the edge of the bush, John determined +to go out after them at once. It was the first time lions had been +seen by day, and this sign of growing boldness convinced him that it +was high time to attempt reprisals. He was accompanied by Ferrier and +Said Mohammed with two of the Baganda, but by the time they reached the +bush the lions had disappeared, leaving, however, a trace of their +depredations in the freshly-picked bones of the stolen sheep. Roars +were again heard at night, and John kept watch with Ferrier in +anticipation of another visit; but as had happened before, no lions +appeared, and they turned in towards morning very much disgusted.</p> +<p class="pnext">Next day John sent for Bill and asked him to lead them over the track +of the lions. Meat was required for the larder, and he had determined +to combine game-shooting with a lion hunt. News of his arrangements +was carried to the village by one of the women working on the farm, and +just as he was setting off, a dozen men arrived and begged to be +allowed to join the party, their motive being probably a desire for +excitement mingled with the hope of sharing the spoils. John's policy +being to keep on good terms with them, he made no objection, and +shortly after ten the party set off, consisting of the two white men +with Bill, Said Mohammed (very proud in the possession of a rifle), and +the three Baganda, the villagers following at a distance.</p> +<p class="pnext">Business coming before sport, Bill led the party along the river-bank +where he expected to find the tracks of animals which had come down to +drink. The proximity of the farm had had the effect of scaring +antelopes and gazelles and the timider animals away from the +neighbourhood. Already John had had to go farther afield for game than +in the early days of the farm a year before. The Wanderobbo found his +way among the dense vegetation by following old hippo paths, which +crossed and recrossed in what seemed to the wasungu hopeless confusion. +But he came after some miles to a region where there was an abrupt gap +in the larger trees: a fairly wide and recent hippo path led through +the tall grass on the crest of the river-bank; and the party began to +be on the alert for game.</p> +<p class="pnext">Suddenly Bill halted and took a backward leap which nearly landed him +in the arms of John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Faro! faro!" he cried excitedly, and on John asking where the +rhinoceros was, he pointed a few yards ahead, where, almost hidden by +the grass, lay a huge bull animal right across the path, and apparently +asleep. The white men had brought only their double-barrelled rifles, +which were not the best of weapons for shooting rhinoceros, and John, +having no licence for such big game, though Ferrier had, ordered the +natives to shout, hoping that this would scare the beast away. When it +remained unmoved he went to the river-bank on the right, and breaking +off some clods of earth, flung them at the slumberous creature, which +completely blocked the way. But this proving ineffectual ("It's like +shooting peas at a Dreadnought" said John) there was nothing for it but +to try a rifle shot.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier went forward, cocked his rifle and fired, aiming at the brain; +but though he was ordinarily a dead shot, his right arm had not yet +fully recovered, and he missed. The rhinoceros was now thoroughly +awake; snorting angrily, he sprang to his feet with extraordinary +nimbleness for so unwieldy a brute, and after a glance round came +charging full at Ferrier. He fired his second barrel, and this time +hit; but the shot had no effect except to make the beast more furious, +and Ferrier turned and bolted for his life. All the other members of +the party except John had turned tail and fled away shrieking at the +first moment of the animal's rising. John, licence or no licence, let +fly with both barrels in rapid succession; whether he hit or not he +could not tell; certainly he failed to check the charging beast, which +made with lowered head straight for Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">All this had happened in a few seconds. Ferrier was running hard, but +it was clear that the rhinoceros must soon overtake him, and John knew +that one blow from those terrible horns would inflict a fatal gash. +His hand shaking with nervous anxiety, he reloaded, but when he lifted +the rifle to his shoulder he saw that he could not strike a fatal spot, +the animal being directly between him and his friend. He ran after +them, hoping for some chance to give him a shot. At this moment +Ferrier became aware that the rhinoceros was almost within tossing +distance, and leaving the path made a sudden swerve to the right, +plunging into the long grass. The animal immediately turned to pursue +him, for the first time presenting his flank to John. It was a +ticklish moment. John knew that his friend's life probably depended on +his coolness. He steadied himself, took aim at a spot behind the +beast's shoulder, and fired. He heard the thud of the bullet, but for +a moment feared it had not penetrated the tough hide. The rhinoceros +made a half-turn as if to charge his new assailant, and John, glad that +he had at least diverted the pursuit from Ferrier, was preparing to +fire his second barrel when the great form staggered, recovered itself, +made two tottering strides, and then fell over on its side.</p> +<p class="pnext">The air was rent with jubilant shouts as the natives emerged from their +hiding-places in the grass and ran towards the prostrate beast. They +started back in affright when it made a last convulsive effort to rise. +John put it out of pain with another shot, and the natives surrounded +it and immediately set about cutting it up.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Thanks, old man," said Ferrier, coming up. "That's the second time."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I say, what's the penalty for shooting a rhino without a licence?" +cried John, to cover his embarrassment.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The same as if you shot an armed burglar breaking into your house: the +thanks of every honest man for ridding the world of a villain."</p> +<p class="pnext">Said Mohammed, who had watched the incident from a safe distance, +wondered that two young men should talk so strangely at a time when +they ought to have been overcome with emotion. That is the English +way. John had once seen M. Perrichon in the play fling his arms round +his preserver's neck and weep with gratitude. "What sickening rot!" he +had said. "Come and have an ice."</p> +<p class="pnext">While the natives were cutting up the rhinoceros, the others marched +on. They had no need to shoot more for the larder; there was at least +a ton of meat on the huge carcase, which would last for several days. +It was now a question of finding the track of lions. John went ahead +with Bill, Ferrier walking with Said Mohammed a few yards behind. The +Bengali was talking, and his high-pitched voice carried well in the +crisp, clear air. John heard him say--</p> +<p class="pnext">"In my humble opinion, sir, backed by inestimable experience in the +Sunderbunds, it was deplorable error of judgment to bunk. My uncle, +sir, on that never-to-be-forgotten occasion when I shed the light of my +countenance on his tiger-hunt, he put the tiger to dumbfounder and +flight--how, sir? By standing firm as a rock, 'without or life or +motion,' as the poet Coleridge beautifully says, and staring with +unflinching gaze into the opposing optics. Moreover and in addition, +he recited with unfaltering lips the words of a charm he had learnt +from some old cock of a jogi--you have no word for that in your lovely +lingo, sir, but, without disrespect, I might say parson. Tableau! +Exit tiger. Triumph of mind over matter. 'He held him with his +glittering eye,' et cetera."</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">"'The man recovered from the bite,</div> +<div class="line">The dog it was that died,'"</div> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">quoted Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oliver Goldsmith, sir," cried the Bengali delightedly, "who wrote like +an angel but talked like poor Poll. I esteem it a glorious privilege +to hold communion, even in humble capacity of cook and bottle-washer, +with gentleman of literary taste and elegant extracts."</p> +<p class="pnext">The river-bank had descended until the path was almost level with the +surface of the water, and passed several patches of reeds which Bill +negotiated warily, saying that any one of them might harbour a lion. +The white men followed him with growing excitement, and John confessed +he felt rather nervous, not knowing but that a lion might at any moment +spring up at their feet. He stole a glance at Said Mohammed, and +exchanged a smile with Ferrier as he saw that the cook looked decidedly +jumpy. Far in the rear came the villagers, eager not to miss the +sport, and yet fearful to approach too near.</p> +<p class="pnext">All at once Bill halted and bent towards the ground. There were the +unmistakable pug marks. Following the track with his eyes, but without +moving from the spot, after a few moments he stretched out his spear +towards a clump of trees about a hundred yards ahead, whispering, +"Simba!" Neither John nor Ferrier could at first distinguish the lion, +but presently two lionesses sprang out of the undergrowth, and made off +with long low bounds across the plain. For a moment the white men +watched their graceful movements with admiration, forgetting that these +were the pests they had come out to slay. Then they set off in +pursuit. But they had not advanced three paces when a huge black-maned +lion showed his head among the bushes, snarling angrily. He stared at +the strangers for a moment or two, then turned with another growl and +trotted after his mates.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come along," said John excitedly. "We can't get a fair shot at him +yet."</p> +<p class="pnext">They set off at a run, not troubling about Bill or Said Mohammed, who +followed at a discreet distance. They gained on the beast, but after +running some three hundred yards found themselves rather short of wind, +owing to the fact that they were in rarefied air at least 6000 feet +above sea-level.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We shall spoil our aim if we get puffed," said Ferrier. "Better go +slow."</p> +<p class="pnext">At this moment, however, the lion halted behind a tree, as if to check +the pursuit of the lionesses, and stood watching the huntsmen, growling +in a very threatening way. He seemed disinclined to budge, so John lay +down on the path, and bringing his rifle to his shoulder, covered the +huge head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Confound it, look how my hand wobbles," he whispered to Ferrier. "I +can't fix the sight on him. Be ready to shoot if I miss or just sting +him, for he'll fly at us like the wind."</p> +<p class="pnext">He steadied his arm and pulled the trigger. The fierce head instantly +dropped out of sight, and the air was filled with such appalling roars +that John hastily fired the second barrel, in the hope of finishing the +beast before he could charge. He had to aim by guess-work, and fired +half-a-dozen shots before the roaring ceased.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now the others," cried John, shouting to the Wanderobbo to keep his +eye on the spot.</p> +<p class="pnext">He ran forward with Ferrier towards the lionesses, which had halted a +quarter of a mile away, and could just be seen above the grass. At the +men's approach they cantered off, and though the chase was kept up for +nearly a mile, they always got to cover before the pursuers came within +effective range, and finally disappeared among a large patch of reeds +by the river, whence it was hopeless to attempt to dislodge them.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Better luck next time," said John, as they retraced their steps. "You +shall have first shot, Charley."</p> +<p class="pnext">Returning towards the spot where the lion had been shot, they found +that Bill had deserted his post. He was standing in the middle of the +path with Said Mohammed, a good hundred yards away from any bushes or +trees. The natives were chattering at a little distance.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Why didn't you do as I told you?" cried John, vexed at the possibility +of having lost his quarry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Conscience made a coward of him, I fear, sir," said Said Mohammed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, go and see if you can find the lion. Get the natives to help. +I don't know which tree it was we shot him at," he added to Ferrier, +"but I'm not going back without his head."</p> +<p class="pnext">The party split up and made a systematic search, the natives beating +the bush and long grass thoroughly with their spears. At last one of +them shouted that he had found the simba, instantly running away from +the spot at the top of his speed. There was no growling to be heard, +however, so plucking up his courage he returned to the place with his +comrades. When John reached them, he found the men grouped a yard or +two from the lion's tail, jabbering in much excitement. The beast was +stretched on his side, but John was surprised to see by the heaving of +his flanks that he was not yet dead. Judging that the chatter of the +men would have roused him if he had been able to rise, John went +towards his head, but the moment the lion caught sight of him he +uttered a terrible roar and to John's amazement sprang to his feet. +Stepping hastily backward, John stumbled against Said Mohammed, who, +believing like every one else that the beast was helpless, had become +bold. The Bengali went down like a ninepin. John recovered his +footing with an effort, and raising his rifle, fired at the lion at a +range of four yards; but he was too hurried and agitated to take a +careful aim, and the shot merely had the effect of throwing the +infuriated animal on his haunches as he prepared to spring.</p> +<p class="pnext">All this had happened so quickly that Ferrier, who had been beating the +bush in the opposite direction from John, had not yet come up. The +sudden flight of the villagers apprised him that something was wrong, +and as he hurried to the spot he was horrified at the sight that met +his gaze. Man and beast seemed only a yard apart. He dared not shoot +for fear of hitting John, and seeing that the shot had but momentarily +checked the animal, he had given up his friend for lost when, as by a +miracle, a sudden diversion occurred. The lion was leaping on John, +who fired his second barrel with shaking hand and missed, when Said +Mohammed scrambled to his feet and flew down the path, shrieking at the +top of his voice. As if supposing that this white-clad yelling +creature was his worst enemy, the lion changed the direction of his +spring, almost grazing John as he fell, and bounded off after the +Bengali, with such enormous leaps that escape seemed impossible. John +hastily reloaded and fired, but he was trembling from head to foot; a +mist seemed to rise before his eyes; and his shot went very wide of the +mark. By the time Ferrier reached his side the chase seemed over; they +thought that nothing could save the unlucky Indian. But when almost +within the brute's clutches, Said Mohammed with the desperation of +terror made a sudden jump to the right towards the river, as if +intending to fling himself into it. The lion swerved after him, +presenting his flank to the anxious spectators. Quick as thought +Ferrier raised his rifle and, just as the beast was midway in his final +spring, brought him down with a bullet through the heart.</p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 61%" id="figure-45"> +<span id="ferrier-raised-his-rifle-and-brought-him-down-with-a-bullet-through-the-heart"></span><img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-148.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +"Ferrier raised his rifle, and brought him down with a bullet through the heart."</div> +</div> +<!-- --> +<p class="pfirst">John heaved a deep sigh of relief.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Good man!" he said. "But what on earth is the fellow up to?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Next moment both he and Ferrier were shaking their sides with laughter, +almost hysterical now that the tension was relaxed. The Bengali, too +much overcome with terror to be aware of his safety, was scrambling up +a thorn tree with an agility that would have done credit to a slimmer +man. Up he went, frantically swinging himself from bough to bough. +Half way up he lost his puggaree, snatched from his head by a long +spike, and every stage of his ascent was marked by little bits of his +white cotton dhoti left clinging to the branches. For some moments +John was helpless with laughter, but at last he managed to shout to +Said Mohammed to come down, for the beast was dead. The shout only +made him climb the faster, nor did he stop until he was perched on the +topmost branch, his white robe flapping in tatters about him. Nothing +would induce him to budge until the lion's head had been cut off, to be +carried back to the farm as a trophy. Then he descended, much more +slowly than he had mounted, and with a piteous effort to regain his +dignity that was too much for John and Ferrier, who turned their backs +so that he should not see their amusement.</p> +<p class="pnext">These excitements were considered enough for one day, and the party set +off for home, the natives carrying the lion's head and shouting a song +of triumph. John said nothing to Said Mohammed until he thought his +composure was restored. Then he said--</p> +<p class="pnext">"I owe you my life, khansaman. It was very plucky of you to draw the +lion after you, and I shan't forget it.--Shut up!" he whispered to +Ferrier, who emitted a sort of gurgle.</p> +<p class="pnext">A gratified smile stole across the Bengali's face.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am quite bucked, sir," he said. "Your words are sweeter than honey. +When your honoured parent returns to this vale of woe, my heart will be +in my mouth when I say to him: 'Lo! here is your progeny, whom I, Said +Mohammed, failed B.A. of Calcutta University, saved from the jaws of +the lion. If I had not been on the spot he would have been absolutely +up a gum-tree.'"</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier guffawed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Why didn't you do as your uncle did in the Sunderbunds?" he asked +presently, unable to resist the temptation of a sly dig at the failed +B.A.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The absence of one ingredient, sir, spoils the sauce. It was rotten +nuisance, but I forgot <em class="italics">in toto</em> the words of the charm."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-twelfth-the-sack-of-the-farm"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id13">CHAPTER THE TWELFTH--The Sack of the Farm</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">At breakfast on the day after the lion-hunt Ferrier, who was silent and +seemed embarrassed, said suddenly--</p> +<p class="pnext">"I say, old boy, d'you know I've been here nearly two months?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"What! Getting tired of it?" said John, with a smile.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not a bit; only--well, to put it straight, I've been here so long that +I ought to pay for my keep."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Rot!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I mean it. It's all very well to be your guest for a week or two, and +I'm jolly comfortable, but to hang on like this--no, really, I ought to +pay something to help keep the pot boiling."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now look here, Charles Ferrier, you're a very good sort, but I'm +hanged if I stand that. If there's any talk of pay, I ought to pay you +for your services. Five weeks in charge while I was droving--name your +figure. Rounding up strayed cattle; looking after the natives--how +much that lot? You do far more in a day than any hired man, as I +believe you call 'em in your part of the world."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, I like it, and I've nothing else to do; in fact, I've a great +mind to settle about here myself, and I would, like a shot, if it +weren't for Hilda. I'm afraid it wouldn't do to bring her among the +lions, as your khansaman said. But here I am, learning all about it on +the cheap, and with no responsibility."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Look here, we'll leave it at that. I'm very glad of your company, to +say nothing of your help, and as by the look of it that misguided +father of mine has been hooked, and the widow must be rolling in money, +I don't suppose we shall see him back here. He'll settle down in Park +Lane, and die before his time of overfeeding. You stay on as long as +you like, and if you're getting experience, I'm getting your services, +so we'll cry quits."</p> +<p class="pnext">So it was left. The two young fellows shared in the management of the +farm. They found their time pretty fully occupied, and a portion of a +letter which John wrote to his father a week or two later may be quoted +as showing how affairs at the farm were progressing.</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">The rains have stopped, and I've got all the planting done. I'm trying +some radish and rhubarb this season; also carrots, which Mr. Gillespie +told me are good for the cattle. By the way, that bull we called Moses +because he's fierce, is off his feed; I don't know what's wrong with +him, and you might send me Barton's book on common ailments. I don't +suppose you'll find a copy in Geneva, or wherever you are now, but if +you're not too busy to send a card in London, I dare say I'll get it +when Moses is dead.</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">"That'll touch him up, Charley; he'll think Moses would be all right if +he were here."</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<!-- --> +<p class="pfirst">I bought a few fat-tailed sheep from old Sobersides (the chief of the +neighbouring village) the other day. He got them, he says, from a +party of Rendili who were driven south of the Waso Nyiro by the drought +in their own country. I don't suppose it's true, for Coja tells me the +Rendili live a big long way beyond the mountain, and we've seen nothing +of them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sobersides tells us, too, that a gang of Swahilis have established +themselves somewhere north of Kenya, and are raiding the surrounding +tribes. As they've got guns, I bet they're that sweep Juma and his +crew. That's all we've heard of them since we licked them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier is still here; says he's in loco parentis, and won't leave me +till you return to your duties. I wonder if you tell the widow's +children that you're in loco parentis?</p> +<p class="pnext">The lions have been quiet lately, since Said Mohammed saved my life; +but as the mistris had next to nothing to do and were getting too fat, +I have set them to build a stronger boma, of stout poles fastened +together with transverse logs. That ought to keep the beasts out; at +any rate it will give the place more the look of a respectable +stockyard.</p> +<p class="pnext">I wish you'd ship a few merinos for cross-breeding. Our half-breeds +aren't much good for wool. The May lambs were born with long coarse +hair, though they grew a poor sort of wool at three months. Wasama +doesn't like the woolled sheep; he says they're not like the sheep of +his country, and persists in believing that the first woolled beasts +were the offspring of lions and hyenas. What ignorance! as old Martha +used to say.</p> +<p class="pnext">Out shooting the other day we saw a herd of zebras, and Ferrier has got +a mad idea of catching some of the foals and taming them. We may try +it if we come across them again, so don't be surprised if you see us +riding to meet you on striped chargers. You, I expect, will be wearing +striped trousers, light gloves, and a new silk topper.</p> +<p class="pnext">The failed B.A. is a perpetual joy. His latest. Ferrier found a hair +in his soup the other night. "Accept humble apologies, sir," says Said +Mohammed, as he took it away. "In such circs. I can best cheer you up +by reminding you of a verse of the little but divine Alexander Pope: +'And beauty draws us with a single hair.'" That may appeal to you, dad.</p> +<p class="pnext">I hope your leg is all right, and you're enjoying yourself. <em class="italics">I've</em> got +to work for my living.</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">One day the younger Masai, who had taken a flock of sheep out to graze +at the extreme west of the estate, came rushing in breathless and +reported with intense excitement that the sheep had been driven off by +some men who had pounced suddenly out of the bush. One was a Swahili, +the rest negroes. They had carried him along with them for some +distance and then let him go.</p> +<p class="pnext">"How many were they?" asked John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Eight," replied the boy. "One had a gun."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Which way did they go?"</p> +<p class="pnext">The boy pointed to the west.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We can tackle eight, Charley. Coja, saddle up the two best donkeys +and bring us our rifles. This is something new, Charley. I wonder if +it's our friend Juma again?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Rum thing, their letting the boy go, don't you think?" said Ferrier. +"They must know we'll be after them, especially if the Swahili is Juma; +it's not the first time you've chased him."</p> +<p class="pnext">"He reckons on getting away, or on our not finding the trail, I +suppose. We'll take Bill with us."</p> +<p class="pnext">But when, riding their donkeys hard, they came to the little hut in the +wood, they found that the Wanderobbo was not there.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He's gone for honey, I suppose," said John. "Never mind; we oughtn't +to find it difficult to track sheep."</p> +<p class="pnext">They set off at full speed, and easily picked up the trail at the place +where the marauders had rushed from their hiding-place in the bush. +They followed it without difficulty so long as it led across grass +country, but lost it for a time soon after they entered the bush, +because there were evident signs that a herd of animals larger that +sheep had recently forced a way. However, they recovered it again +after ten minutes' search, and found from that point that it led in +almost a straight line--so straight that John was puzzled.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I can't make out why they haven't tried to blind their trail and lead +us astray," he said. "They must be very cocksure, or else they're +trying to ambuscade us. We'd better keep a sharp look-out."</p> +<p class="pnext">They rode more slowly now, yet at a brisk pace, narrowly examining +every specially thick bush as they approached it, and avoiding any +clump of woodland that might give cover to the marauders.</p> +<p class="pnext">Suddenly, when they were a good five miles, as John estimated, from the +farm, on ascending a gradual slope they saw from its crest the flock of +sheep placidly grazing on a little patch of grass about half-a-mile +below. There was no sign of the raiders, and the surrounding bush +being very thin, they must have been visible had they remained in the +immediate vicinity. Cantering down towards the sheep, which scattered +as they approached, the riders dismounted, rounded them up, and +proceeded to count them.</p> +<p class="pnext">"They're the Welsh crosses," said John. "Forty-nine--one missing. I +can't make this out at all. Look, here's the trail of the men, let's +follow it up. We'll tether the donkeys. The sheep won't leave this +grass."</p> +<p class="pnext">The trail led them straight towards a wood a mile further on. At the +edge of this they saw clear signs of a sheep having been slaughtered +and cut up. Entering the wood cautiously, they followed the trail for +some distance, finding that it wound towards the north. Both were +itching to punish the raiders, but the trail became more and more +difficult to distinguish as the wood grew denser, and at length, hot +and tired, and as much mystified as angry, they turned back and came +out once more into the open.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's something to have got the sheep," said John. "But what was the +beggars' game? They couldn't have seen us after them, and they +wouldn't drive the whole flock so far for the sake of cutting up one."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Sheer devilry, perhaps," suggested Ferrier. "They knew we'd overtake +'em before they had got very far, and I dare say are chuckling at +having given us all the trouble for nothing. Rather a poor game, one +would think."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, we'd better drive the sheep home. It's a long march, and +they'll be pretty well done up by the time we get there."</p> +<p class="pnext">They remounted, and headed the flock towards the farm. Sheep, as every +one knows, and as John had experienced on the road to Nairobi, are very +slow travellers.</p> +<p class="pnext">"By Jove!" said Ferrier, when they had marched for an hour and covered +perhaps two miles, "I begin to understand what your droving job was +like. I should never have had the patience."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'd give anything for a good sheep-dog. I must ask my father to bring +one with him--or send one, if he doesn't intend to come himself."</p> +<p class="pnext">It was on the verge of nightfall when, tired and hungry, they came to +the outskirts of the farm. They heard the bleating of the animals that +had been already penned, and the flock, weary as they were, moved a +little faster to rejoin their kind. Coming to the gate of the boma, +John was surprised to find it open, having given strict orders that it +should always be closed immediately after the animals were brought in +for the night. There was not a man to be seen. Having driven the +sheep into their pens, they hurried on towards the farm buildings.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What a smell of wood smoke!" said Ferrier, sniffing.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes; I hope they haven't set fire to anything. Ah! here's Wasama."</p> +<p class="pnext">The Masai came running towards them, followed by his son, the Indians, +Coja and Lulu, all in great haste.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The bad men, <em class="italics">bwana</em>!" cried Coja, and began to pour out a story so +rapidly that John, familiar as he now was with Swahili, could make +little of it, especially as Lulu and the Masai joined in with great +excitement. John silenced them, and asked Said Mohammed to explain +what had happened. His story, told in more direct and natural language +than John had ever heard from him before, was as follows. About +half-an-hour after John had started in pursuit of the raiders Bill had +rushed in, dripping wet, and reported that a large party of armed men, +having raided the village north of the river, were marching rapidly +down with the evident intention of swimming across and making an attack +on the farm. The Bengali, according to his own account, wished to +close the gate and bar the doors of the bungalow, and defend it to the +last; but John afterwards had reason to believe that this was Coja's +proposal, and he had found nobody to support him. Only a few minutes +after Bill's arrival the strangers were seen rushing into the +farmstead. The mistris, the Masai, Lulu, and the few women of the +village who had been working in the fields instantly fled and hid +themselves, who knows where. Said Mohammed went into his own house, +and there awaited the coming of the enemy, resolved to die for the +sahib whose salt he had eaten. The men seized him and dragged him +forth, demanding that he should tell them where the rifles and +ammunition were kept.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That made me very ratty, sir," said the Bengali. "What! should I tell +tales out of school? But when those fearful bounders threatened to +roast me at my own fire I reflected that it could not be your wish, nor +the wish of your excellent progenitor, that a failed B.A. of Calcutta +University should be roast joint for the sake of a quantity of +villainous saltpetre, et cetera, and therefore I owned up. But while +the banditti were gloating and slapping their backs I took French leave +by the back door, and lo! ensconced behind the barn was Coja, who like +me had saved his bacon."</p> +<p class="pnext">From their hiding-place they watched the proceedings of the enemy. +They first of all carried all the rifles out of the bungalow; then from +the little outhouse adjoining it they brought all the ammunition and +all the "trade." The place had been stripped bare, as the Bengali +found when he examined it after the men had gone. The negroes had then +shouldered the loot under the direction of three Swahilis who had guns, +and when they had marched off, the Swahilis had kindled a fire in the +little space between the floor of the bungalow and the ground. Then +they had hurried off after the rest. As soon as they had disappeared, +Coja and the Bengali emerged from their hiding-places, and extinguished +the fire with water from the rain-water tank near the dairy. Very +little damage had been done, the incendiaries having been in such haste +to overtake the rest of their party that they had not waited to ensure +a good blaze.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the first shock of hearing this bad news both John and Ferrier used +such language as might have been expected of them. It was only too +clear now that the sheep-stealing had been a mere blind, cunningly +devised to decoy them from the farm while the real raid was effected. +To John it was a disaster. When he hurried into the outhouses and +bungalow and found that rifles, ammunition, and every bundle of "trade" +were gone, he felt that ruin stared him in the face. It is not +surprising that, tired out after his long day's work, he saw things +even blacker than they were. There was still a balance at the bank, +Cousin Sylvia having insisted on paying all the expenses of Mr. +Halliday's tour; though if John drew upon that there would be little or +no reserve in case the second year's working turned out unprofitable. +Meanwhile the actual loss was heavy, and the inconvenience perhaps +greater, for without the "trade" he could not pay the labourers from +the village, and what with the lack of wages and the damage to their +employer's prestige, John foresaw a refusal to work any more.</p> +<p class="pnext">An examination of the bungalow showed that the floor was little more +than scorched. Nothing had been taken from it except the rifles, so +far as John could see. He kept very little cash, but that was intact. +His rupee notes were always stowed for security in the pockets of his +belt. It was clear that the raiders had come for arms and "trade" +only, and having got what they wanted had wasted no time in merely +looting.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We can't sit down under this," said John, when he had realized the +extent of his loss. "Yet I don't know what on earth we can do. We've +two rifles and twenty rounds apiece, against--how many did these +ruffians number, khansaman?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"In mental arithmetic, sir, I am mere greenhorn, rank duffer; but from +cursory squint I figure them at five hundred."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh, come now, that won't do. If they had been so many they wouldn't +have been in such a hurry, Where's Bill?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"He has not come within my sphere of influence since he ran in like +drowned rat to give us the straight tip, sir."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, get us something to eat. We're famished. By the way, did any +one recognize Juma among them?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No, sah; no Juma to-day, sah," said Coja. "Him berry much 'fraid to +come heah, 'cause of Lulu, sah. Him show him face, ha! ha! she give +him what for, sah."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Go and get your supper."</p> +<p class="pnext">John spoke irritably. Normally good-tempered, he was now unlike +himself.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And I might have guessed it if I had any gumption," he said to +Ferrier. "Juma took advantage of the sheep straying to run off with +our rifles before, and it didn't require much ingenuity to invent the +ruse."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Cheer up, old chap. You'll feel better when you've had some grub. +It's very sickening, but as you say, I don't see what we can do."</p> +<p class="pnext">It was now quite dark, and they ate their supper in silence. Even Said +Mohammed's excellent cookery could not overcome John's furious disgust +at having been tricked. When the Bengali brought in an omelet he said--</p> +<p class="pnext">"A thousand and one pardons, sir. The wanderer, videlicet Wanderobbo, +has returned, and asks for honour of confab."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Bring him in, and fetch Coja; it takes too long to understand Bill +without him."</p> +<p class="pnext">Bill had come to report that he had followed up the raiders for several +miles to the north. They had robbed the villagers of all their +foodstuffs, and all the "trade" which they had received as wages for +their work on the farm, and then marched directly northward, coming +after a few miles to an encampment where they were presently joined by +a smaller party from the west. When he came to this part of his story +Bill grew much excited. In the leader of the smaller party he +recognized one of the safari which years before had attacked his +village, killed his people, and plundered their store of ivory--the +ivory which by rights belonged to him, and which he would yet recover.</p> +<p class="pnext">"But that's nonsense," said John. "If these people seized his ivory +years ago, it has all been sold long before this."</p> +<p class="pnext">When this was interpreted to Bill he was like a man demented, and +poured out a torrent of incoherent speech which even Coja was unable to +understand. John dismissed them both, thinking that the Wanderobbo +must have brooded over some old grievance until it had turned his brain.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Bill's report has given me a notion," he said to Ferrier presently. +"If they looted the village they'll be pretty heavily loaded and will +go slowly. They won't march during the night, and if this business +happened about five hours ago we ought to be able to overtake them if +we start early in the morning."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But, my dear fellow----" began Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh, I know it's a risk, and we're outnumbered, and we ought to be +prudent, and all the other things that people say who sit in +easy-chairs and wear goloshes. But it's the only thing to be done, and +I'm going to do it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But do you think it's right to leave the farm? Wouldn't your +father----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hang--no, I don't mean that; I'm afraid I'm rather a bad-tempered +brute to-night, old fellow; but look at it clearly, and you'll agree +with me. If we sit down under this they'll try it on again. The farm +will never be safe. We might as well cut our sticks at once."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Why not apply to the Government?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Absolutely useless. To begin with, it would take time, and the +raiders would be who knows how far away? If they belong to that gang +we heard of who've got some sort of a fort up north, they're in a +country where precious few white men have ever been, if any. It would +be sheer folly to send a police column into the hills after a roving +band of this sort. No, it's a settlers' job; it's one of the risks we +run, like the lions, and we've got to deal with it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, but how are you going to set about it?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"How are <em class="italics">we</em> going to, you mean."</p> +<p class="pnext">"A slip of the tongue, old chap. Of course I'm with you, all along the +line. How are we going to set about it, then?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't know yet. That's what we've got to decide before we go to bed +to-night. One thing's certain, we must make up our minds quickly, +start soon, and hurry like the very dickens, for if there's any truth +in this tale of a fort, we must collar our rifles and ammunition before +they get to it, or we're done. That's the first thing: to get our +rifles back."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's a large order. How many did they take?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Four and a shot-gun. If they're the same lot we dealt with before +they'll have about a dozen now. I know we don't stand the ghost of a +chance of recovering them in a fight; that's absurd; but I rather think +if we put our heads together we can find some way of diddling them."</p> +<p class="pnext">"If it's a matter of brains I'm conceited enough to believe we have the +odds, but there's a lot to consider besides. We shall have to take a +safari to carry provisions, and a pretty big one if we're going to +bluff them. They won't bolt as they did before. Well, where will you +get your safari from?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"The village. What are you smiling at? Snakes, I forgot they've run +off with all my "trade." I've nothing to pay porters with. That's +bad. Still, the chief has known us some time, and perhaps he'll trust +us. I'll see, first thing in the morning."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Who will you leave in charge of the farm? Not the Bengali?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Rather not. He may be a very Nimrod in the Sunderbunds, but he's a +funk-stick here. No; Coja's a better man."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But you'll want him to interpret."</p> +<p class="pnext">"'M. Afraid I shall. I can rub along pretty well with Swahili by this +time, but we may come across a tribe who don't know it, and that would +certainly be awkward. Well, Coja must come with us, then."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What I suggest is that you should send a note to Mr. Gillespie and ask +him to send up a respectable European to take charge. He might come +himself; he hasn't paid you the visit he promised, and if you tell him +what you're after I'm sure he'll do what he can. Besides, if we get +bowled over, you know, it would be just as well he should have heard +about the business beforehand, for your father's sake. And I'd send a +note to the Commissioner at Fort Hall too; he may be inclined to +stretch a point."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'll do both. A good idea to get Gillespie up here, or some one he +can trust. Of course if we're lucky we shall get our rifles and things +and be back here long before he could arrive. But then we mayn't. +I'll write before we turn in. That's settled."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't you think we ought to have some sort of a plan before we start?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Our plan is to go straight after the raiders, and march two miles or +more to their one."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's all right; but what if they reckon on being pursued and lay a +trap for us? You see, they were pursued last time, and they hadn't +done nearly so much damage then."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's true," said John; "but on the other hand there's such a lot of +them this time--we can divide Mohammed's five hundred by five--there's +such a lot that they may think we'll not attempt to bring them to book. +Still, we ought to be on our guard. The worst of it is that if we have +to go carefully we shall have to go slowly, and time's everything in +this job. Hand me a cigarette and let's think it over."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Any good asking Bill?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not a bit. He can do tracking, follow his nose, but that's about all. +Besides, he's so cranky just now that he's fit for nothing. I wonder +how much truth there is in this ivory yarn of his? We may get to the +bottom of it by and by. But this plan of ours--any ideas, Charley?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not a ghost of one. We <em class="italics">must</em> follow the track, and that may lead us +into an ambush."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Wait a bit, though. If we could march on a line parallel to it we +might go as fast as we liked without much danger."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How could we do that--far enough away from it not to be spotted, and +yet near enough not to lose it?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of course we couldn't all go together; some one must keep on the +track, and that must be Bill for one."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That wouldn't be much good. How could we keep in touch with him? +I've got a field-glass, but that will be useless if we have to go +through much wood. We can't rig Bill up with wireless!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No, but I'll tell you what we can do. You take the safari on the +parallel line; I'll go with Bill and take my pocket-mirror with me. It +will make a fine heliograph. You know the code, of course?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I do, as it happens. I could signal back with my watch-case. But +that won't help us if there's a wood or a hill between us."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, we must chance that; and as Bill and I shall be able to go much +faster than you with the safari, we can come over to you if necessary; +you see what I mean: come and go between the two tracks and yet keep up +with you."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I think that's got it. I suppose it's no use thinking what we'll do +when we come up with the raiders?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No; all will depend on when we find them, and where. I'm not going to +think of that, and as we shall have to be up early to interview the +chief and get our things together, I vote we go to bed."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't forget your letters."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Right. Off you go. Goodness knows when we'll sleep next."</p> +<p class="pnext">John wrote the two letters he had spoken of, and a third, a brief note +to his father explaining what had happened. Then he went to bed +thoroughly tired out, and slept like a top.</p> +<p class="pnext">Next morning one of the most serious of his difficulties was +unexpectedly removed. As soon as it was light, the chief came over +from the village with some of his people to beg the msungu to follow up +the bad men and recover the stores they had stolen. John jumped at the +opportunity. He agreed to do so if the chief would allow forty of his +strongest young men to act as porters. He pointed out that the +villagers had as great a cause of quarrel with the raiders as he had +himself, so that the bargain he proposed was reasonable. The chief +agreed to it at once. John's recent exploits in slaying the rhinoceros +and the lion, his former successes against the raiders, and above all +his fairness and punctuality in paying the villagers for their labour, +had won him the respect of his neighbours, and they joined him with +full confidence that the expedition would be successful. Preparations +were quickly made, a considerable quantity of food was packed up, two +runners were sent off with the letters, and by seven o'clock the safari +was ready to start.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the last moment Said Mohammed came up to John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"With submission, sir," he said, "I offer myself as unit in this +expeditionary force. I undertake to be no cipher, but integer, sir, +and not a minus quantity. Need I remind you of the saying of some +great and glorious general whose name I have forgotten, that an army +marches upon its tummy? <em class="italics">Verb. sap</em>. Grub, sir, is the sinews of war, +and astounding military gumption is no go without a cook. Furthermore, +was I not honoured to interpose unworthy corpus between raging lion and +your honour's nobility? If so, what is a life saved if not also +preserved? Permit me, therefore, to be the life-preserver."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All right. Hurry up! No time to waste," said John, remarking to +Ferrier, as the Bengali went off to fetch his bundle: "I suppose he's +afraid the place will be attacked again in our absence."</p> +<p class="pnext">"A bad look-out if it is."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, we shall soon find out whether the whole gang of the raiders are +on the march. If they are, I don't think they'll come back, and as +nobody else has molested us for more than a year I think we may be +pretty easy. Now, khansaman, buck up; we're off."</p> +<p class="pnext">John had already decided that every member of the party should go on +foot. Donkeys might prove a great nuisance if the country was +difficult; moreover, mounted men would form conspicuous objects in the +plains. Accordingly Ferrier and he had donned stout-soled boots, and +set off to tramp after Bill and Coja, who had gone ahead with the chief +to select the men for the safari. Said Mohammed brought up the rear.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-thirteenth-tracking-the-raiders"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id14">CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH--Tracking the Raiders</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The two white men had just forded the river when they met the porters +marching to the farm to fetch the loads laid there in readiness for +them. It was plain that the chief was in earnest, for the forty young +men were the most stalwart in his community. Each carried his bow and +arrows, and as John turned and watched them striding lithely along he +thought they would prove no mean antagonists in a fight. He went on +with Ferrier to the village, had a short conversation with the chief, +and then set off with Bill on the trail of the raiders, leaving Coja +and Said Mohammed to bring the safari. He wished to go a few miles +ahead in order to examine the trail and get some guidance of his course +before the others came up.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the outset the spoor was very easy to follow. The ground in the +immediate neighbourhood of the village was soft red soil, on which the +print of feet could be clearly seen. But it was impossible at first to +distinguish the marks of the raiders from those of the villagers. +Presently, however, they came to a stretch of grass-land, the grass +cropped short by the villagers' cattle. Here again the trail was so +crossed and mingled with the hoof-marks of the animals that had grazed +there since daybreak that it was impossible to learn anything from it. +But by and by the grass grew longer, and the passage of a numerous body +of men through it was plainly indicated. There were two distinct +tracks, one a narrow path, the other, a few yards to the left, broader. +Both the white men were sufficiently experienced in African travel to +know that the former was the track of the bearers among the party, +proceeding in single file; the latter that of the Swahilis, who, +insolent in their strain of Arab blood, domineer over the native tribes.</p> +<p class="pnext">"They're going pretty fast," said John, as they marched on; "fast, that +is, for men carrying loads."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How do you know?" asked Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"By the look of the spoor. Stop a minute and bend down. Here are the +footprints of the niggers, you see, about thirty inches apart. Every +man trod in the steps of the man in front, so that the prints are +particularly clear. I know they went fast because their feet turned in +a lot; look at the marks; you can't carry a load at any pace with your +feet splayed. Now look at the other trail. The footsteps are farther +apart--three feet, I should think; and one or two of the men had +sandals; there's a flatter impression than bare feet make. I rather +guess that the Swahilis set the pace and made the natives keep up: they +could do that because if there's a lot of them they needn't all carry +loads at the same time."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I say, we could have done without Bill," said Ferrier, with a laugh, +as they went on. "Did he teach you that?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No. I did some scouting at school. Bill can't make any inferences +from what he sees, but he's got sharper eyes than I have, and can often +spot the trail when I've lost it, especially on hard ground. The worst +of this habit of marching in Indian file is that one can't tell how +many the party consists of; at least, I can't; perhaps a more +experienced scout could judge from the depth of the impression of the +footprints. Look here; just as I thought. They stopped here to change +loads. The Swahilis made a group here; the carriers put their loads on +the grass at the side of the path; see how it's pressed down. Here's +the mark of one of my ammunition boxes, I'll swear; and the next man +had a cargo of maize; here are some of the grains."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How far do you reckon they went before camping?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, judging by what Said Mohammed said, they made their attack +between one and two--the hottest part of the day, when everybody would +be sleepy. Allowing a couple of hours to sack the village and get the +loads together, they might start at four and march till seven, so that +in about an hour's time we ought to get to their last night's camp. +The trail runs fairly straight, so it looks as if they're making direct +for their refuge in the hills, and I hope to goodness it's pretty far +away: the farther it is the better our chance of coming up with them +before they get there. It runs west-nor'-west, you see" (he had taken +out his pocket compass), "which leads to the foothills of Kenya. We +ought to find ourselves on rocky ground presently, and may lose the +trail."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hadn't we better wait for our men now?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We'll come to the raiders' camp first. Coja won't lose us; and I want +to see what sort of camp they made: it may help us."</p> +<p class="pnext">They hastened on. At one point the track swerved to the east to avoid +a steep incline, but returned to its former direction immediately that +had been passed. At another it led due west, skirting a swamp, at the +edges of which the footprints were still deeper in the soft mud, which +was, however, beginning to dry in the sun's rays. Then it crossed a +shallow stream, and John wondered at first why the raiders had marched +for some little distance up the bank before crossing, since the stream +was fordable anywhere. He understood when Bill pointed to a long +depression in the soft earth at the brink: a crocodile had lain there, +and the men had given it a wide berth, for if it had heard or seen them +it would have slipped noiselessly into the water and seized some +hapless fellow as they crossed.</p> +<p class="pnext">At length, after a rapid march of two hours, during which they had +covered, as John estimated, about eight miles, they came suddenly to an +open glade in the midst of scrub, where there were clear signs of the +previous night's encampment. A thorn boma was left partly standing. +Within it there were the black marks of fires, and a circular patch of +discoloured grass where the loads had been stacked. Here John decided +to halt and await the arrival of the safari. The smell of burnt wood +was still so strong that he guessed the raiders had not made a very +early start, giving him the hope of coming up with them before +nightfall if his men would be content with a short rest.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was an hour and a half before they came up, very hot and tired, Coja +having not allowed a halt until they reached the stream, where they had +delayed for a little while to drink and cool their feet. Judging that +the raiders were quite out of sight, a belt of forest stretching across +the country about a mile ahead, John did not think any harm would come +of lighting fires; accordingly the men set about cooking their +breakfast, and Said Mohammed made some coffee, which the white men +drank out of tin mugs, with condensed milk. John took the opportunity +to explain to the men that he wished to set off without delay, +promising that with good luck they should recover their stolen goods +before next morning. After an hour's rest, therefore, he gave the +order to march.</p> +<p class="pnext">They now adopted the plan he had arranged with Ferrier over night. +They had come into country favourable to an ambuscade, and it was +advisable to take all precautions. On starting, Ferrier and the safari +struck off to the right, leaving John to follow the trail with Bill. +The latter kept close to the track so long as it led over open country, +where no trap was possible; but as soon as they reached the wood, John +heliographed with his pocket mirror to Ferrier, now nearly a mile to +the east, to halt until he had scouted among the trees. For some time +there was no answering flash to his signals, and he feared the safari +was out of touch, but after repeated trials the answer came, and he +knew that all was well. John then entered the wood with Bill very +cautiously, and found it so thick, and the ground so densely covered +with undergrowth, that it was impossible to see the trail. There was +nothing for it but to penetrate to the other side, and they did this as +rapidly as possible, John thinking it scarcely probable that the +raiders would have attempted to lay a trap for them in the wood, where +there was no path. John found this the most trying experience he had +yet encountered. Here he had to climb over a dead tree-trunk: there to +cut his way through a jungle of bamboos, every stroke of his knife +shaking a shower of dew from the canopy overhead until his shirt was +soaked. He was unable to see a yard in front of him. His progress was +all the more difficult because the wood covered a steep slope. It took +nearly half-an-hour to get right through, though the distance in a +straight line was less than half-a-mile: then they came out upon a sort +of rocky plateau, and John got one of his rare glimpses of Mount Kenya, +far to the west, its snow-clad peaks, for once clear of mist, gleaming +dazzlingly in the sunlight. Leaving Bill to recover the trail, he +hastened back to heliograph that the safari might advance, and by the +time he had once more penetrated the wood and rejoined the Wanderobbo, +Ferrier had come within sight in a hollow a mile and a half to the +east. Bill having not yet found the trail on the hard ground, John +signalled to Ferrier to halt again; the delay was vexatious, but it was +important that the advance should not be continued until he had made +quite sure of the direction.</p> +<p class="pnext">Finding Bill at fault, John cast about for the lost trail in a +systematic way. He laid down his rifle to mark the spot where he had +emerged from the wood, and sent Bill to the left, himself going to the +right, to examine the ground in ever-widening circles. The difficulty +was greatly enhanced by the fact that almost all the raiders were +barefooted, so that there was nothing to mark their passage over the +hard soil. After searching for half-an-hour in the sweltering heat, +and almost despairing, John suddenly observed, about two hundred yards +from the spot where he had left his rifle, a tribe of black ants very +busily engaged. Looking more closely, he was delighted to see that +they were running over and over a grain or maize. Bill came up at his +call, and instantly flinging himself upon his face, and peering along +the surface of the soil northwards, he declared he saw marks of the +scraping of sandals. John hastened in that direction, and within a few +yards came upon a small round depression whence a pebble lying near by +had evidently been kicked. He had no doubt that the trail was at last +recovered, so he sent Bill back for his rifle, and then, finding from +his compass that the line between the grain and the hole led in a +north-westerly direction, towards a low hill, he ventured to set his +course thither, finding, as he progressed, slight traces on the soil +that proved his judgment to be correct.</p> +<p class="pnext">The hill was about two miles away, and by the time he reached it he was +so fatigued with trudging over the shelterless plain under the fierce +sun that he was glad to throw himself under a thorn-bush at the foot of +the slope and rest, first signalling his intention to Ferrier. An hour +after, he rose and scouted to the top of the hill, being careful not to +expose himself on the skyline, and lying down to take a good look round +before proceeding. The plain stretched as far as the eye could reach, +slightly undulating, with patches of grass and scrub. There was no +sign of the raiders, but a herd of wildebeeste were quietly grazing +half-a-mile ahead, from which John concluded that no men had recently +passed that way. The march therefore was resumed. Half-an-hour +afterwards he caught sight of a party of natives on a hill to the +right, and at once signalled to Ferrier to examine them through his +field-glass. In a few minutes he saw flashes, and made out from the +message that there were no Swahilis among the natives, nor did they +carry loads, but appeared to be a hunting party. From Ferrier's report +it did not seem that any danger would attend an advance. Accordingly +the march was continued, and shortly afterwards the natives caught +sight of the safari and bolted into the bush. John wondered whether +they would carry news of his approach to the raiders, but soon made up +his mind to the contrary, for if what had come to his ears was true, +the Swahilis had established a reign of terror in the district, and the +neighbouring tribes would rather avoid them. It struck him, however, +that it was very necessary to be even more carefully on his guard +against premature discovery by the raiders, for these would force any +natives they came in contact with to join their safari and fight for +them. As it was now drawing towards nightfall, and there seemed no +chance of coming up with the raiders, he decided to call a halt, and, +striking to the right, joined Ferrier. The men, who had marched +without a murmur through the hottest hours of the day, were very glad +to drop their burdens and camp. Tired though they were, they at once +set about surrounding the encampment with a boma. While they were +doing this, John and Ferrier, accompanied by Bill, scouted for about +two miles ahead to make sure that the raiders had not encamped in the +vicinity, in which case an accidental noise might betray the safari. +Discovering no sign of their presence, they returned to the men. They +deliberated whether it was safe to light fires, and decided not to do +so, though it meant a cold and dry supper.</p> +<p class="pnext">Before they went to sleep, Bill, who was not usually communicative, +told John more completely, with Coja's aid, the story of which he had +hitherto given only scattered hints. He said that they were now +drawing near to his own country, which lay only four marches distant +beyond the mountain. Between it and their present camp was the country +of the bad men. A long time ago he had been one of a considerable +tribe, who for many years had enjoyed good hunting. Large herds of +elephants had infested their country, and they had slain some with +their spears in open hunting, but more by snaring them in pits. The +flesh they ate, the tusks they buried for fear of the Masai and the +Rendili, who plundered the weaker tribes. They were waiting for the +coming of a safari to which they might sell their store of ivory.</p> +<p class="pnext">The waiting was long, but the safari came at last--a large safari, +commanded by brown men, not white men like the <em class="italics">bwana</em>, nor black like +the people of those parts. Coja explained that Bill referred to Arabs. +One member of the safari was the very man whom he had seen among the +raiders. The Wanderobbo began to bargain with the Arabs, but these, as +soon as they learnt where the ivory was buried, had treacherously +fallen upon the tribe, and massacred all except a few women whom they +spared to make slaves of, for the transport of the treasure. Bill had +escaped by shamming dead when the slaughter was going on, and, lurking +in the woods, he saw his wife among the slaves whom the Arabs loaded +with the ivory. He followed the safari when it marched off with the +spoils, and came in its track into the country of the bad men, who +secretly gathered around it, and early one morning fell upon it in a +fierce assault. From the shelter of a thick tree Bill watched the +fighting. The Arabs had fire-sticks, and slew many of the bad men; but +after a time they ceased to make the big noises; the fire-sticks had +lost their magic. Seeing this, the bad men attacked still more +fiercely, and in greater numbers. A whole day the fight lasted, and +did not cease until night fell. Creeping up to the Arabs' camp and +climbing a tree, Bill saw them bury the ivory by the light of their +fires, working hard all night, and before morning came they broke out +of their camp and forced a way through the enemy. These, following +their custom, waited until daylight before they pursued the Arabs; then +they set off, having no fear of them now that the firesticks were +silent. Bill was too frightened to follow them up, but he learnt +afterwards that the bad men caught the party up in two days and slew +every one, and also the Wanderobbo whom they had enslaved. It was +clear, however, that one at least had escaped. Bill remained in the +tree until the bad men had gone, and then slipped away and took refuge +with a Masai tribe south of his old home. But a time came when +disaster overtook the Masai. Disease seized upon their cattle: they +roamed about and suffered heavy defeats in war: and at length Bill left +them, when almost starving, and built himself the little hut in the +wood where John had found him.</p> +<p class="pnext">Now he was happy. The msungu had been his friend. He had brought him +into the very country of the bad men: and when he had punished the +people who had robbed him, surely he would go farther, a little +farther, and recover the ivory which lay in the earth awaiting its +rightful master.</p> +<p class="pnext">"But did not the bad men take it when they had killed the Arabs?" asked +John.</p> +<p class="pnext">No: they might have sought for it, but they would never find it. They +could not tell where it had been concealed, and if they had returned to +the camp they would not have discovered it, for the Arabs had strewed +ashes from their fires over the spot, to hide the disturbance of the +earth. Bill knew where it was; he could lead the msungu straight to +the spot; and the msungu who had been his friend would show his +friendliness still, and would perhaps buy the treasure when it was laid +bare.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What do you think of it?" John asked Ferrier, as they talked it over +together.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It sounds like a fairy tale. You may be sure that the 'bad men' did +find it. They would naturally suppose it had been buried in the camp +and search for it there."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm not so sure. They're not a very intelligent lot, to begin with. +Imagine a crowd of chawbacons----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"What are they?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh, I suppose you haven't got 'em in Canada--raw country yokels who +haven't any ideas beyond beans and bacon. Imagine them in the same +case, chasing a party for twenty miles or more and then finding that +they hadn't got what they supposed they had. They wouldn't know but +what the treasure had been hidden anywhere along the twenty miles run, +and they'd adjourn to the nearest 'pub.'"</p> +<p class="pnext">"You may be right, though I guess no Canadian would give it up so soon. +Anyway, we can't help the old fellow, can we?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We've got our own job to see through first, and that will be tough +enough, I expect. The beggars must have marched at a tremendous pace, +and we shall be short of food soon. If we don't catch them to-morrow +we shall be in a pretty bad way, for the country seems practically a +wilderness. But we won't croak yet. I'll take first watch while you +sleep: I'll wake you at midnight; and we'll make an early start."</p> +<p class="pnext">The camp was astir while it was still dark, and at dawn was on its way, +observing the same precautions as before; indeed, John was even more +careful, for being ignorant how far ahead the raiders were, it was +necessary to run no risk of approaching them too rapidly. Again the +course took a north-westerly direction, but after skirting one of the +larger foothills of Mount Kenya, it bore a little more to the west. +Bill said that they were now marching almost straight towards his old +home. After two hours they came upon the site of the raiders' last +camp, and John, finding the ashes of the fires warm, though the sun had +not yet broken through the morning mist, concluded that they had been +raked over not more than two hours before. This caused him some little +uneasiness. Though no attempt had been made hitherto to trap the +pursuers, he was still alive to the possibility of such an ambush being +laid: it was possible also that the raiders had left a rearguard to +advance behind the main body, after they had assured themselves that +there was no pursuit. These considerations led him to swerve from the +direct track, and proceed through a belt of scrub half-a-mile to the +right of it, Ferrier with the safari marching at the same distance +still farther to the east, and only at intervals being in sight. He +intended to return to the track from time to time, when a favourable +opportunity occurred, to make sure that he was still proceeding in the +right direction.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was fortunate that he adopted this precaution, for the first time he +struck off to the left to revisit the trail he was astonished to find, +distinctly imprinted on the dewy grass, the footsteps of men going in +the reverse direction. The sun being now up, he at once signalled to +Ferrier to halt, and then carefully examined the new trail. It was +quite fresh; the trodden grass had not had time to erect itself; and +after a careful scrutiny he came to the conclusion that the marks had +been made by four or five men, all wearing sandals. He suspected from +this that they were some of the Swahilis of the party, and suspicion +became certainty when Bill discovered a tiny strip of white cotton on a +spike of a wait-a-bit thorn-bush. The conclusion was irresistible that +some of the raiders had doubled on their tracks in order to watch for +and perhaps ambush any pursuers.</p> +<p class="pnext">Feeling that he must find out exactly what had happened, he began with +Bill cautiously to follow up the new track, looking warily ahead, and +observing with especial care the few large trees that were to be seen +here and there in the distance, for any flight of birds would at once +indicate the presence of men. As they walked, they found that the +trail curved slightly westward, which seemed to show that it would +presently join the main track which they had quitted. John moved now +more cautiously than ever, for if his supposition was correct, the men +would halt before they actually reached the direct course, at some spot +where they could overlook it.</p> +<p class="pnext">As they proceeded, the ground rose and the scrub became thicker. But +suddenly the bushes thinned away and they saw, at the top of a long +incline, a clump of trees. And then they stopped short and dropped +hurriedly to the ground. Before them, on the knoll, at the foot of a +tree, they had caught sight of three white-clad men looking upwards +among the branches. They had rifles. Without doubt this was the spot +chosen for keeping watch on the trail. Wriggling under cover, at the +cost of some scratches, John and the Wanderobbo saw a fourth man +perched high up in the tree below which the others stood. Had he not +been intently gazing towards the main track, and his companions looking +up at him, it would scarcely have been possible for John to escape +discovery.</p> +<p class="pnext">The men were speaking. At the distance John could not distinguish what +they said; foreign words are always difficult to pick up when the +speakers are at all remote; but from a certain impatient intonation he +gathered that the men had been for some time on the watch, and were +weary or disappointed at the apparent fruitlessness of it. As he lay +there, his heart jumped as he thought how easy it would be to shoot the +men. He could take aim at his leisure, and pick off two of them with +certainty. Taken by surprise, the others would probably bolt. But it +would not be playing the game; he could not bring himself to stalk them +as he would stalk a wild animal, though he knew that if they spied him +and got first shot they would have no compunction about shooting him. +For a moment he thought of dispatching Bill to fetch Ferrier; with his +aid, backed by the natives with their bows and arrows, he might capture +all four, or, if they showed fight, dispose of them. But he soon gave +up the idea. The men might decamp before Ferrier could arrive; they +might indeed see the Wanderobbo creeping through the bush, and, the +most important consideration of all, a shot would certainly give the +alarm to the main body of the raiders, and that would defeat his +purpose. If they took to flight he would lose his only chance of +recovering his rifles and ammunition, which was his immediate object. +If they hastened back at the sound of the firing, he would find himself +matched against overwhelming numbers, and the result would be disaster. +His only hope of success lay in a sudden unexpected blow at the main +body, when his numerical inferiority would be compensated by the +paralyzing effect of surprise. How this blow was to be delivered he +had at present no notion; it must be left to the guidance of +circumstances; but certainly its prospects would be hopelessly +jeopardized if the raiders' vigilance was aroused. Patience must be +his watchword.</p> +<p class="pnext">He lay and watched the Swahilis for half-an-hour by his watch. Then, +evidently tired of their fruitless errand, they started to rejoin the +main body. They came down the slope, passing within a few yards of +where John and the Wanderobbo were concealed; but fortunately they did +not retrace their steps along the path by which they had come, but +struck off towards the direct course of the main column, which they +would probably intersect, as John guessed, at the distance of about a +quarter of a mile. If they had returned by the same way the marks of +John's boots might possibly have escaped them unless they were +accustomed to tracking; but if they had caught sight of them he felt +that he would have been in a dangerous predicament. At that moment +John wished that he could march barefoot like the natives, but he knew +that it was a vain wish.</p> +<p class="pnext">John told Bill to creep through the scrub and follow the men up for a +little way, until he was sure that they had finally left the spot. For +himself, he had suddenly resolved to climb the tree as the Swahili had +done, and discover what outlook could be had from it. He found that +the place had been admirably chosen. From a branch thirty feet above +the ground the country was visible for miles around. On the west rose +the giant mist-clad form of Mount Kenya; eastward the plain extended as +far as the eye could reach. South and north he could scan the country +through which the raiders had passed, and westward, from the appearance +of the vegetation, he inferred that a considerable stream flowed. As +he watched, he saw the four Swahilis emerge from the scrub, strike the +track, and hasten towards the north. There was no doubt that they had +dismissed the idea of being pursued.</p> +<p class="pnext">When Bill came back, the two set off to rejoin the safari, which they +found halted by a shallow stream about two miles away. John told +Ferrier what he had discovered.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't think they can be more than five or six miles ahead of us," he +said. "We can easily come up with them by the time they camp, or soon +after, and I think we ought to strike to-night."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Have you any idea how?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"None whatever. All will depend on the lie of the land and the kind of +camp they make. I'll send Bill on ahead to make sure they don't alter +their direction, and then we'll follow up and get to them by nightfall."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's to be hoped they won't get warning. I've seen two or three small +parties of natives to-day, and they must have seen us. I suppose they +won't give any information."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I hope not. The chief danger is that the news of our safari will +spread, and the raiders learn of it by accident. I don't think the +natives will rush purposely to inform them, if they're the kind of +tyrants we've heard they are."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I shall be jolly glad when we come to grips with them. This marching +is rather trying, and the men are getting the dumps. They seem to have +thought we should overtake the fellows in a winking, and wipe them out +with magic. Coja tells me they haven't been so far away from their +village before."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How's our failed B.A.?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Decidedly jumpy. He said just now that he feels O.K., excluding +organs of ambulation, which are quite below par, owing to filamentous +condition and conspicuous absence of beefiness. He has got rather +spindly calves, to be sure. By the way, an hour ago we saw two black +fellows looking at us through the scrub. We gave chase, but couldn't +catch them. I hope they won't bring a horde of the 'bad men' upon us."</p> +<p class="pnext">"No, indeed. We've got our hands pretty full as it is."</p> +<p class="pnext">Bill returned by and by with the news that the whole party of raiders +had rested in the scrub some distance to the north, but had now resumed +their march. John set off at once on a parallel course, and at four +o'clock halted again, judging that the raiders would now have chosen +the spot for their encampment. Once more he sent Bill forward to +reconnoitre, and learnt from him on his return that the raiders had +stopped, evidently with no intention of going farther, near a small +stream. Knowing that the African native is incapable of estimating +distance, John, though he was tired, determined to press on with the +Wanderobbo and discover how far off the camp was. It was an hour +before he came in sight of it. Some of the men were engaged in +erecting a boma; a few were fishing in the stream that flowed within +about a hundred yards of the camp; others were cooking a meal. The +ground about the camp was for the most part open, but there were +patches of scrub here and there, and one or two clumps of woodland. +The camp was placed on a hillock, the base of which was washed on one +side by the stream. This wound away in a north-easterly direction, and +at one point was a tract of tall elephant grass, lining the banks due +north of the camp and stretching for about half-a-mile to the west, +where it merged in dense scrub.</p> +<p class="pnext">Being unable to learn as much as he desired from his post of +observation south of the camp, John, still accompanied by the +Wanderobbo, struck off to the west, crossed the stream, which was only +knee-deep but fairly swift, and making a long circuit came down upon it +again through the elephant grass, at a point directly opposite the +camp, and only about a hundred yards from it. The ground rose +gradually from the river to the boma. From his position at the edge of +the grass John could not see the gate, but guessed from the coming and +going of the men that it was on the south-west side. The boma was +constructed of material cut from the surrounding scrub, and was of no +great strength, though sufficiently formidable to stop a rush. The +fact that the men had kindled fires showed that they were not seriously +apprehensive of being followed up, and this sign of security was +welcome to John, as favouring his design of surprising them.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was nearly dark when he rejoined the safari, so fatigued that +Ferrier questioned the possibility of his leading an attack that night.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh, I'm all right," said John. "I can rest for an hour or two. Have +you got a pencil? I'll draw a sketch of the camp. Here's the stream: +here's the elephant grass: what I propose is that we make our way to +that and suddenly spring on them. Even disciplined troops are pretty +well scarified by a night attack, and if we can only fairly surprise +these beggars we ought at least to be able to get our ammunition, if +not our rifles, in the confusion."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But if they stand we shall be in a bad way."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's true. We can't match them in mere fighting strength. +Everything depends on the completeness of the surprise, and we shall +have to be very strict with our men. The slightest sound will give the +alarm, and as they're not used to marching at night they are likely to +be scared by anything. That's all I'm afraid of. I don't know whether +we hadn't better gag them all."</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't think that would help matters," he said. "You had better +explain to them what's at stake, and then take your chance."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, we'll try it to-night. D'you know I begin to get a notion of +what their game is. Bill says that one of them belonged to the Arabs +who stole his ivory. If that's so, the fellow will know where the +ivory is buried, and I fancy this is a pretty scheme to get hold of it. +Ten to one it's Juma. That would explain his bagging rifles and +ammunition. He wanted to get together a strong party, so that he could +keep off the 'bad men' in whose country the ivory is. It will be +rather a feather in our cap if we can get back our property and dish +his little game too."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't fly too high, old chap. We may thank our stars if we get +through at all, and if you take my advice, as soon as we have secured +the ammunition if we ever do, you'll make tracks for home and not go +treasure-hunting. There's nobody on the farm, remember."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, we'll see. First things first; I'll go and harangue the men."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-fourteenth-ferrier-insists"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id15">CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH--Ferrier Insists</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">There were long faces among the men when they heard what was expected +of them. Night was terrible to them. They were low-spirited, and John +had to refrain from stimulating them with a full meal; there would be +danger in lighting fires. But he promised them a feast when the work +was done. To march silently, to keep together, to do exactly what they +were told: that was the sum of his exhortation. When he left them to +consider it, some grumbled, others talked of slinking away. But one +reminded them that these wasungu had slain lions and rhinoceros, why +should they not slay bad men too? And they kept their promises: if +they said there should be a feast, a feast there would certainly be. +So they took comfort, and began to talk bravely of the deeds they would +do.</p> +<p class="pnext">Before they set forth, John set Bill to gather some bundles of dry +grass and press them tight. Then he asked Said Mohammed to spare him a +quantity of the methylated spirit he had brought for cooking. He +poured some of this into his pocket-flask from the Bengali's tin can.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You will remain here, Said Mohammed," he said. "I shall leave five or +six men who have most felt the strain of marching."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Respectfully, sir, that is against the grain. I go where honour +calls. Never say die. I gird up my loins and follow into thick of the +fray."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All right. Just as you please. Keep close to us, that's all."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I will stick closer than a brother, sir."</p> +<p class="pnext">Some few minutes past ten o'clock, under a sky whose blackness was +scarce broken by the stars, John and the Wanderobbo led the way out of +the camp, each carrying a bundle of dried grass. Immediately behind +them marched Said Mohammed, then Coja and the rest of the men in single +file, Ferrier bringing up the rear. They moved silently, and the +half-dozen men left behind in the camp, peering out through the boma, +neither saw nor heard them when the last man was a dozen yards away.</p> +<p class="pnext">John did not try to find the track of his former journey. It was too +dark to see it. Bill might have discovered it by his wonderfully keen +sense of touch, but there was no need. All they had to do was to march +due west until they struck the stream; then to hug its bank until they +arrived at the elephant grass.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was slow work, and not without its anxieties for the white men. +Every now and then John heard a gulping sound behind, and knew that +some one was afraid. Once or twice he halted. The men's hard +breathing spoke of terror rather than effort. At such times he passed +down the line, speaking quietly to reassure them; then, returning to +the head, he bent to the ground and struck a match under his hat, to +check the course by his pocket-compass, and went on again. Once there +was a rustling sound upon the left hand, and the scared negroes made +clicks with their mouths, and some would have run had not John, in a +fierce whisper, called to them to stand, and asked whether they feared +an antelope.</p> +<p class="pnext">They came at length to the stream, the gurgle of its waters making a +pleasant music in John's ears. Half the journey was done. So that he +might not come to the stream near the enemy's camp he had directed his +course somewhat south of his former line; and it was a long march +up-stream before they came to the elephant grass. John avoided the +brink, for fear of lurking crocodiles. Once he almost stumbled upon a +hippopotamus asleep in the sedge, and thought it lucky he was at the +head of his men, whom the snort of the beast, as it rose and shambled +away into the darkness, might have infected with panic. He heaved a +sigh of relief as he came at last to the tall, thick grass standing +high above his head. Halting, he passed word down the line to tread +even more cautiously and in even deeper silence, trusting that the +rustling which could scarcely be avoided would, if heard in the camp, +seem to the enemy only the sound of animals moving in the grass. Then +he went on again.</p> +<p class="pnext">Peering out through the screen, he presently saw a dull glow some +distance to the right. There lay the camp; within the boma fires were +burning. Once more the party halted, and John, moving stealthily, +sought Ferrier to consult with him.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm going to set fire to the boma," he said in a whisper. "When you +see the flames, fire off all your rifles and lead the men at a rush for +the camp. They can shout then like the army of Gideon. We're +north-west of it; they'll be startled out of their sleep, and rush for +the gate on the south-west; at least I hope so."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You'd better let me fire the boma, John. You'll lead the men better +than I should; they know you best. Besides, it's my turn."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Rubbish!" said John. "I've been here before."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But I can't miss the boma if I go straight ahead. I insist on it, old +chap; I'm sure it will be best. Hand over your grass and the spirit; +I've got matches."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Your arm's not thoroughly sound yet."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All the more reason. It doesn't require much muscle to strike a +match. Come on; it must be past midnight; there's no time to lose."</p> +<p class="pnext">John gave him the materials somewhat reluctantly. Ferrier pressed his +hand and slid away into the darkness. Time passed very slowly. The +men grew fidgety; John heard the strange gulping in their throats, and +the little noises they made as they moved worried him, lest they were +heard in the camp. True, there were other sounds: the hum of insects, +a lion's roar in the distance, the laughing bark of a hyena; but these +were momentary, not continuous like the rustling of the grass, which +there was no breeze to account for. As minute after minute passed, and +there was still no sign, John grew more and more anxious. The boma was +less than two hundred yards distant. He durst not strike a light to +look at his watch, but surely there had been time to go and come and go +again. What was happening?</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier, stealing across the ground with no more sound than a snake +might have made, guided always by the faint glow from the fires, had +covered, as he guessed, two-thirds of the distance when he thought it +prudent to drop upon hands and knees, lest, upright, his form should be +descried by some keen-sighted sentry. He had crawled thus some twenty +yards further when suddenly he saw dimly before him a something, like +an irregular hedge, no more than four feet high, stretching athwart his +path. Was this the boma? Surely it bespoke unusual security in the +enemy if they had contented themselves with so low a defence. Their +bomas were commonly six feet high or more. He crept on more stealthily +until he touched the obstruction: it was a thorny hedge. He tried to +peer through it, expecting to see the camp-fires; but he looked into +blackness, save for the dull red glow in the sky. Was it possible that +the enemy were not so confident after all, but had erected a double +barrier? Or was the hedge natural?</p> +<p class="pnext">He crawled to the left. The hedge had a regular curve. It must have +been placed by men. Raising himself gradually to his feet until his +eyes were just level with the top, he looked over. Yes; there was the +true boma, a dark mass thirty feet away. Through its interstices he +saw streaks of dim light from the fires burning within. To set fire to +the outer hedge would be useless; within the boma the enemy would be +still secure, and the conflagration would but give them light to take +aim at their assailants. He must cross the hedge.</p> +<p class="pnext">But how? By a flying leap? This would expose him to the view of any +one on watch, for though the night was dark, it was not so black but +that a moving object could be seen. By clambering over? This would be +attended by the same risk and by others. He might indeed scramble over +at the expense of torn hands and clothing, though there was the danger +of being held fast by the tenacious wait-a-bit thorns of which the +obstacle was made. But his movements must cause such a crackling and +creaking of the interlaced branches as could not fail to alarm any one +who chanced to be awake in the camp, no matter at what part of it. +Leaping and climbing being equally out of the question, what course +remained?</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier was not for nothing the grandson of a man who had roughed it in +the backwoods of Canada. If acquired qualities are not inherited, the +stock of which he came must have been sturdy and dogged in grain. At +any rate, Charles was not the man to be baulked. Dropping on his knees +again, he dug his fingers into the soil beneath the hedge. It was +gravel, like the ground he had crossed in coming from the river. Very +carefully he began to scrape out a hole, intending to persevere until +it was large enough for him to squeeze his body through. He soon found +that the task was not to be easy. The soil was so light and mobile +that, as he scraped, it tended to slip at the sides and fill up the +hole he was so laboriously excavating. Further, he felt the hedge, at +the point where he was undermining it, subside, with a rustling and +creaking which, faint as it was, might easily catch the ear of a wary +guard. Fortunately the subsidence was soon checked. The base of the +hedge was composed of stout branches which yielded but slightly, and in +a few minutes the settling down ceased.</p> +<p class="pnext">Relieved on this score, Ferrier scraped away at the hole, thinking of +John, who was no doubt wondering at the long delay. He worked until +his fingers were sore. At last the hole was large enough for him to +wriggle under the hedge. He groped with his hands for any thorns that +might be sticking out downwards from the tangle above, and finding +several, cut them off with his knife. Then, shoving his bundles of +grass before him, he crawled into the hole and began to worm his way +through. It was a tight fit, and the difficulty was all the greater +because of the need for silence. More than once as his body, pressed +close against the lower part of the hedge, put some strain upon it, +there was a sharp creak when his passage freed the branch. At last he +was through, scratched, hot, and breathless, and with a feeling that +the various parts of his clothing were in very unnatural relation to +one another. But he was through: that was the main thing; and pausing +only to take breath, he ran in a stooping posture across the space +between the outer and the inner defences.</p> +<p class="pnext">All was quiet within the boma. Ferrier maintains to this day that +snoring is an infirmity of civilization, for the sleepers emitted no +sound. He lost no time in completing his task. First he soaked the +bundles of grass thoroughly with methylated spirit, having postponed +this until he reached the boma, lest evaporation should diminish the +effect. Then he thrust them beneath the boma, choosing a place where +it was thick and the light from the fires shone through less freely +than elsewhere. Then he struck a match and applied it. Instantly +there was a great flame; the dry thornbushes of the boma took fire +readily. Ferrier slipped away to be out of the glare, but had gone +only a few steps when he heard a soft patter of feet behind him. A +moment after, the air was rent with rifle cracks and a din of shouting, +from within the boma and from a distance. He turned to meet the man +approaching, and saw the form of a big negro silhouetted against the +glare. Ferrier was unarmed save for his clasp-knife, and he had not +made up his mind what to do when a shot whistled past him: the negro +had fired at him while still running. Before the man could draw a +knife or turn in his tracks Ferrier threw himself upon him, trying to +wrest the rifle from his hand. The two fell together; the rifle +dropped to the ground; and black man and white were locked in a +desperate wrestle. Ferrier felt the negro's arms about him, straining +to crush him or to break his back. Oblivious of the tumult around +him--the yells and shots within the boma, the shouts of the assailants, +the crackle and roar of the flames--Ferrier strove to free himself from +the strangling embrace, conscious that he was no match in muscle for +his powerful opponent. He had almost given himself up for lost when +the man's grip relaxed, and with a heavy groan he lay still. Ferrier +sprang up. By the light of the blazing boma he saw the men of his +party at two points of the outer hedge, some leaping over it, some +slashing at it with their knives and tearing it down. None of them +were firing; after the first discharge of their rifles John had ordered +them to rush for the camp. Evidently the big negro had been struck +down by a shot from his own friends.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier stood for a moment, marvelling at the din. Then he saw that +John's men had crossed the outer hedge and were swarming towards the +boma. Shouting at the top of his voice lest he should be butchered by +his own party, he left the wounded man on the ground and joined them. +With John at their head they were sweeping round towards the gate. The +firing from within the boma had now ceased; the shouts were those of +the assailants alone; and when the excited throng reached the gate, +they saw in the ruddy glare the enemy streaming in frantic haste +towards the river. Many an arrow was sped after them; a few of the +rearmost narrowly escaped capture. Seeing that they were hopelessly +routed, John shouted to his men to refrain from pursuit and retire +within the boma. Then, telling off a dozen men to stand at the gate +and watch against any rally of the enemy, he called to the rest to help +him to check the fire. He left the part that was fiercely burning, and +ordered the men to tear down a portion on each side of it, so as to +make two large gaps across which the flames could not spring. The work +was assisted by the absence of wind. The portion around the spot where +Ferrier had kindled the fire soon burnt itself out; the remainder was +saved. Within ten minutes after the first blaze the enemy were +scattered in confusion, and the camp was in John's hands.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-fifteenth-a-coup-de-main"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id16">CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH--A Coup de Main</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">John's first proceeding when the conflagration had been stayed was to +look for the property he had been at such pains to recover. The +camp-fires gave too little light, so he got Coja to make a couple of +torches. Taking one himself and giving the other to Ferrier, he +hastened to the centre of the camp, where the baggage was piled. On +the way he passed a confused medley of things--sleeping mats, cooking +pots, bows and arrows, spears--things left or flung down by the +fugitives in their hurried flight. And there, packed in the middle +space, out of reach of the fires, were his boxes of ammunition and his +rifles.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We've got the lot, by Jove!" he exclaimed joyfully. "They haven't +even opened one of the boxes. What extraordinary luck!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Couldn't be better," cried Ferrier heartily. "And you've got more +than your own, too; there's a good many bows and arrows and a few +spears, besides no end of baskets containing food, I suppose."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, they belong to the villagers. We'll make them a present of the +bows and arrows and spears, and anything else they can find, bar the +rifles. There aren't many spears; I suppose the rascals slept with +them at their side, and snatched them up when they ran. Hallo! Here +are two of the Sniders that Juma ran off with in his first little +scheme. That makes three we've recovered."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And proves that Juma is at the bottom of it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I should like to lay that fellow by the heels. But we'd better get +something to eat. I'm famishing. Where's our failed B.A.?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Here, sir," said a voice at John's elbow. "I obeyed in all points +your esteemed injunctions at closest possible proximity, and tender +hearty congratulations on the success, not in mortals to command, but +more, deserved, which has attended this tour de force."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well now, make up the fire and see what you can do to get us a meal. +I'll go and talk to the young chief, Charley, and butter him up. He +and his men did jolly well. The shouts they let out when I gave the +word made amends for their silence during the march, which must have +been a trial to them."</p> +<p class="pnext">Said Mohammed made up the fire and hunted about for the best +cooking-pot and the articles of fare he thought would be most pleasing +to the white men. The villagers had already set to work to prepare +their own food, chattering and laughing in high elation. Within a +quarter of an hour Said Mohammed had made a stew of some partly cooked +waterbuck he had discovered. He washed out two rough mugs of clay, and +pouring the stew into them, handed one to each of the young men.</p> +<p class="pnext">"A thousand regrets, gentlemen," he said, "that circs. do not admit of +more dainty dishes and service to match."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's all right," said John. "I could eat anything, and this stew is +first-rate."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Permit me to remark, sir, on national characteristics as displayed by +gastronomic ways of going on, utensils, et cetera. The nation, sir, +that invented gas-stoves produced Shakespeare, bard of Avon; what +achievements in science or literature could be expected from a race +that never devilled kidney nor poached egg? Shakespeare himself, sir, +was a poacher in giddy youth; though poaching egg and poaching stag are +in some respects different, yet each is fine art. The fate of empires +lurks in the saucepan; indeed, the mightiest monarch would be +negligible quantity without quantum suff. Wherefore----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"A little more stew, please," said John, interrupting. "You'd better +get your own supper, khansaman; you must be pretty peckish after your +exertions."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am indeed, sir, an abhorred vacuum, and retire with permission to +get jolly good tuck-in."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Thank goodness!" ejaculated John when he had gone. "I say, Charley, I +was getting very nervous when we didn't see the light for so long. You +were pulled up by that hedge, of course; how did you get through?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Burrowed like a mole. I've a greater respect for that animal now. I +suppose we'll make tracks for home in the morning, by the bye?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, d'you know, I'd rather like to finish this job now we've +started. Juma's still at large: his men are a rabble, of course, but +they're not licked, and if he gets them back to this fort of his he may +still worry us, to say nothing of harrying the people about him. What +do you say? Are you game?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"What about the farm?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Gillespie will have sent somebody up by the time we could get back."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But don't you think we've done for Juma? To-night's work will damage +his prestige, and I shouldn't wonder if the 'bad men,' as Bill calls +them, round on him now."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't know. It will take him some time to recover from the blow, of +course, but you see he still has some of our rifles and a certain +amount of ammunition, I should think, and they'll go a long way in this +country of bows and arrows. No: I confess I'd like to follow him up. +The chief difficulty is our natives. They've recovered their property, +which is what they came for, and I rather doubt whether they'll be +willing to go any farther from home. If they won't there's no more to +be said."</p> +<p class="pnext">"In any case we aren't strong enough to storm the fort, if it is a +fort."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I shouldn't propose to do that. My idea is to start at sunrise or +before, and get to the fort in advance of Juma. His men are quite +demoralized: they'll take some time to rally. They'll probably hide in +trees during the night, and they'll have to find one another in the +morning, so that if we start early we can easily outstrip them."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We don't know the way."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But we've got some prisoners, my boy. No, we haven't though; I called +our men off before they caught them. That's awkward."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I wonder if the fellow who tried to pot me is still alive."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You didn't tell me of that. When was it?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier related the incident that happened outside the boma. John at +once accompanied him to the spot, which they reached just in time to +see the wounded man limping towards the outer hedge. They ran after +him and caught him, taking him back to the camp, where John examined +his leg, and did what he could by bathing and bandaging. Meanwhile he +questioned the man, and learnt from him that the fort lay a long day's +march to the north. It was held by about forty men, of whom several +were Swahilis and had rifles. The fort was built on an island in the +river--not the stream flowing past the camp, but a broader river into +which that emptied itself a day's march to the south. To find it would +be easy. They had only to follow the stream for a short distance, and +then strike across country directly to the north. They would soon come +upon the river, and the surrounding country being hilly, the easiest +way to the fort was to follow its course.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now we'll tackle our natives," said John.</p> +<p class="pnext">He found, as he had expected, that they were at first loath to engage +themselves for a further expedition. They had recovered their +property: the chief would be expecting them; they wanted to return and +celebrate their success by a feast. John pointed out that, though they +had done much, they would greatly enhance their glory if they carried +back a great quantity of spoil from the enemy. They had been wantonly +attacked: why not repay their attackers in their own coin? The fort +would certainly contain things worth having. This argument appealed to +the men, and when the chief's son reminded them that the wasungu had +kept their promise and led them to a bloodless victory, they began to +waver. "The wasungu are great hunters of lions," said the young chief; +"they are also great hunters of men." John said that any who wished to +go home might do so; but none were disposed to pass through the country +without the whole body, and ultimately they agreed to follow the msungu +wherever he chose to lead them. "You've a most persuasive tongue," +said Ferrier to John, as they went away to talk things over. "I'm +inclined to think you ought to have gone to the bar after all."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Bosh! The judges aren't savages. We shall have to arrange a flying +column--that's the name for it, isn't it? It's quite clear from what +the prisoner said that we must get to the fort well in advance of Juma. +If they get back we shan't be able to dislodge them: they won't be +caught napping again, you may be sure. As it is, we may find it a hard +nut to crack if there are forty men in the fort. We shall have to +divide forces, too. We must leave enough men to guard this loot, and +I'm afraid we can't both go, old chap: one of us must remain in charge."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, you've done the hardest work so far: you take a rest and let me +try my luck."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But you fired the boma; it's my turn. Tell you what, we'll toss for +it. Heads I go, tails you do as you please."</p> +<p class="pnext">The spin of the coin decided for John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Just my luck," said Ferrier. "I always lost the toss when I captained +the lacrosse team at McGill's. How many men will you take?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I can't do with fewer than twenty. I'll take Bill; Coja and Said +Mohammed had better remain with you. By the way, you'll send over to +our old camp in the morning and fetch the half-dozen we left there. +They'll jump out of their skins if they're left too long. I wonder if +our wounded prisoner could manage to come with me. I might find him +useful. In fact, I'll take him--on a litter if he can't walk."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, you'd better get a sleep now, or you won't be fit for much in +the morning. The men too. It looks as though they meant to jabber all +night."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'll stop that. I'll go and pick my men and make 'em go to sleep. +Wake me at five, there's a good chap. By Jove! Wouldn't my old dad be +in a stew if he knew what was up! We're risking a lot when you come to +think of it; but we've been lucky so far, and with rifles and plenty of +ammunition I fancy we'll win through. If I'm not back within two or +three days you had better make tracks for the farm. Don't forget to +wake me at five."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All right. Pleasant dreams!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Precisely at five o'clock John was roused, to find ready for him a +breakfast of steaming stew and baked millet cakes. Ferrier had also +prepared a litter for the prisoner, whose wound forbade him to walk. +At half-past five the little company set off, consisting of John and +the Wanderobbo, and twenty of the villagers. John had his rifle, a +spare one being carried by a man at his side. Only two of the other +men had ever handled firearms; these were given rifles, and carried the +ammunition in little bundles slung to their backs. John had filled his +bandolier and his pockets with cartridges. Ferrier said good-bye to +him at the gate of the boma, and started the men left behind in a +rousing cheer.</p> +<p class="pnext">The party marched very rapidly, John at the head with Bill and the +litter-bearers, so that the prisoner might keep them in the right way. +They followed the course of the stream for about a mile; then forded +it, and made across a stretch of grassland, in which, as the morning +advanced, they started large numbers of game. Just before noon they +reached the river of which the prisoner had spoken, a slow, gurgling +current of red water. Here they halted for a meal of beans and millet; +then after an hour's rest set forth again. They had gone but a short +distance up-stream when, as they ascended a slight acclivity, Bill was +seized with intense excitement. Pointing to a flat-topped hill many +miles away, he cried that it was there the Arab safari was attacked, +and near by the ivory was hidden. A projecting spur to the right was +the site of the shambas whence the people had pounced out to the +assault. His own old home lay half a day's journey beyond the hill.</p> +<p class="pnext">John pressed on now even more rapidly. Though he had met with no +natives on the way, he could not be sure that some of the fugitives had +not outstripped him along another route. For the most part he kept to +the river, striking off here and there to avoid wide sweeping curves, +as the prisoner indicated. Presently he saw in the distance a bold +bluff rising to a hundred feet above the plain, and stretching across +the line of march. The fort, said the prisoner, lay a short distance +beyond the bluff, which was cut in two by the river. Up the side of +the bluff wound a steep pathway, and at the top a look-out was +constantly stationed, except at night, when he was withdrawn into the +fort. From this high post the plain could be seen for miles. Knowing +how keen is the negro's sight, John called a halt before it was likely +that his party had come within the range of vision. The rest of the +journey must be performed in the dark. He led the men into the bush at +some distance from the river, so that they should not be seen by any +one who might pass either to or from the fort. Again he impressed upon +them the necessity for silence.</p> +<p class="pnext">At nightfall, refreshed by the rest, they started once more, confident +of being able to approach the bluff unobserved. An hour's march under +the pale light of the stars brought them to its foot, and John heard +the noise of water rushing swiftly through the gorge. The pathway, +said the prisoner, started from a spot very near the river-bank. Even +with his directions it proved by no means easy to find in the darkness, +and when at last they lit upon it, and John began the ascent, it was +scarcely less difficult to keep to the track. Bill fell on his knees +and groped along it with his hand, saying when he arose that it had not +been made originally by men, but trodden by game descending from the +hills to the plain.</p> +<p class="pnext">Coming at length, after a tortuous and toilsome climb, to the summit, +John paused to take breath and to look about him. Below on his left he +could now see the foaming river racing through the gorge. Beyond, the +ground sloped gradually to the plain. There was no sound save that of +the swirling water, no sign of the presence of men. He went on, until +he came once more to the brink of the river, and a mile further on saw +gleaming in the starlight a broad pool, in the midst of which rose a +dark mass. This, said the prisoner, was the island and fort, and at +the upper end of the pool the river ran down swiftly, but not so +swiftly as below.</p> +<p class="pnext">Striking off to the right towards a belt of woodland, John led his +party until they came opposite the island. It was dark and silent: no +one would have supposed that the fort held men. John could see an +irregular path leading from the shore to the island. This, said the +prisoner, was a line of rocks flung down into the water, and so narrow +that only one man could walk along it at a time. There was a gap +between the island and the end of the causeway. The prisoner explained +that a bridge was thrown over the gap to enable men to enter and leave +the fort, the wall of which came to within a few feet of the shore of +the island. At night the bridge was drawn up.</p> +<p class="pnext">John stood to consider his next move. His purpose in bringing the +prisoner was to use him as a decoy to draw the garrison from the fort. +He was confronted with a difficulty. The man could not walk. He would +be useless as a decoy unless he could advance along the causeway so far +as to bring him within hearing of his fellows. The bullet was still in +the man's leg; John wished he had thought of probing the wound before; +it was impossible to do it now. The negro is a hardy animal, stolid +under pain. John promised to give the man a handsome present if he +would leave the litter and go with a message to the fort. The man +agreed with such alacrity as to suggest an intention of treachery, but +John provided against that. He had the prisoner bound to him by a cord +about his ankle, and showing him his revolver, he explained what the +result would be if he did anything but what he was told to do. He +carefully instructed the prisoner in the part he was required to play, +repeating his words so that he could not mistake. Then, having placed +the remainder of his party under cover of the wood, he set forth with +the negro.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was now a light in the fort, and the glow of a fire. Clearly +somebody was awake. The two men walked down to the edge of the pool, +and on to the causeway, the guide limping painfully, but uttering no +murmur. John walked close behind him, so that he might not be descried +from the fort. They had gone about half-way along the causeway when a +voice rang out from some point ahead. The prisoner gave an answering +shout. John's nerves were at too high a tension to permit of his +feeling amusement at the greetings that were exchanged.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Is it well?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is well."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ah!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ah!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Um!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Um!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Have you eaten well?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We have eaten well.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ma!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ma!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Mum!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Mum!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Civilities being thus completed, they got to business. The prisoner +recited the story with which he had been prompted, so glibly that a +white man might have doubted its veracity. He said that he brought +good news. The brave warriors (meaning Juma's party), under their +brave leader, had sacked the msungu's farm and the neighbouring +village, and made much plunder, so vast a quantity, indeed, that they +were exhausted in carrying it. He had been sent in advance to order +thirty men to issue forth and help the weary warriors in conveying +their spoils up the bluff.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is dark," said the sentry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is the leader's command," was the reply. "He will be like a raging +lion if you delay."</p> +<p class="pnext">Another voice was heard within the fort. In a few moments the sentry +cried--</p> +<p class="pnext">"We come."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ah!" said the prisoner.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ah!" echoed the sentry.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then, before the garrison could issue from the gate and lay the bridge +across the gap, the prisoner cried that he would hasten back and inform +Juma that the men were coming. He turned, and followed John along the +causeway until they reached the shore. Then the two hurried across the +open to rejoin the ambushed party. The prisoner, who had borne up +stoically hitherto, collapsed with pain before they reached the wood; +and John, alarmed lest his stratagem should be defeated at a moment +when success seemed assured, set the man upon his back and ran into +shelter. A few minutes afterwards he saw a line of men, headed by a +Swahili in a white garment, come across the causeway from the fort, and +turn to the right along the path leading to the bluff. John was +tingling with excitement. All was going well: would his luck hold? +The men's voices faded away in the distance. He gave them ten minutes; +then bidding his men follow him closely, he ran down to the shore, and +on to the causeway. As he expected, the bridge had been left spanning +the gap in readiness for the laden safari. Waiting only to see that +the men were close at his heels, John dashed over the last few feet, +straight into the fort. A dozen men were squatting in a group about a +small fire in the middle of the compound. They looked up as they heard +the tread of men, but before they could spring to their feet, before, +indeed, their slow minds suspected that anything was amiss, they were +bowled over by the rush of twenty sturdy savages with a white man at +their head, and lay in shaking terror on the ground, howling for mercy.</p> +<p class="pnext">John had ordered his men to do no killing. They were surprised, but +obeyed. Shouting for silence, he called to the panic-stricken garrison +to march out of the fort. They sprang up and fled like a flock of +terrified sheep, out of the gate and along the causeway, yelling as +they ran. When the last was gone, and none but his own men were left +in the place, John caught up the bridge and drew it in. The capture of +the stronghold had taken three minutes.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-sixteenth-juma-is-reinforced"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id17">CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH--Juma is Reinforced</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Flushed with his bloodless victory, John ordered his men to make up the +fire, and set two to watch at the gate; then, carrying a roughly-formed +torch, he proceeded to an examination of the stronghold which was so +imposing to the native imagination. It was a poor enough place +estimated from a European point of view. It consisted simply of a +circular space on a low mound about thirty yards in diameter, enclosed +by a rude stone wall rather less than the height of a man. The island +itself was an irregular oval. At the eastern end the wall came to +within a foot or two of its shore; north and south the interval was +little greater, the ground sloping steeply down to the edge of the +pool. Westward it fell away less rapidly, though even here the angle +was considerable. The island was no more than sixty yards at its +greatest length, and from forty to fifty in breadth. The bridge sloped +up from the end of the causeway to the gate, which was itself some feet +lower than the ground within the fort. Just within it, on each side, a +canoe was laid against the wall. Within the enclosure were a number of +grass huts, set at intervals of a few yards apart.</p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 83%" id="figure-46"> +<span id="environs-of-juma-s-fort"></span><img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-218.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +The Pool</div> +</div> +<!-- --> +<p class="pfirst">Having surveyed the place as well as he could by the uncertain light of +his torch, John searched the huts. He found in the largest of them, +which he guessed to be Juma's, two of his rifles, a number of old +muskets, a miscellaneous collection of cartridges, most of which would +not fit the rifles, shot of all shapes and sizes, one or two old +swords, and a curious assortment of articles, mostly useless, which +Juma and his men had no doubt purloined when on safari. Among them +were broken boots, a fancy waistcoat in tatters, several condensed milk +tins, some pewter spoons, a field-glass case, and an empty whisky +bottle. These things, valueless to a European, would be treasure +untold to the natives, and John was glad that his promise of loot would +not be nullified. There was also a fair quantity of grain food, but no +meat.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I think I'm a bit of a fool," said John to himself, when he had seen +all there was to be seen. "What have I come for after all? I've got +back our property, to be sure; but what then? I can't demolish the +fort before Juma arrives. I can't go back at once, because the men +couldn't stand it. It looks as if I shall have to hold the place, for +a day at least; and if those beggars come up in any numbers and manage +to cross the pool I shall be pretty hard put to it to defend a hundred +yards of wall. Ah well! I'm in for it now. The best thing I can do +is to get out as soon as possible."</p> +<p class="pnext">He arranged for a watch to be kept up during the remainder of the +night, and then threw himself down on the ground near the fire, not to +sleep, for the negro is an untrustworthy sentry, but to turn things +over in his mind. He remembered the store of ivory which Bill wished +to recover, and would have been willing to help the old man; but when +he considered the matter he concluded that it would be sheer lunacy to +venture with his handful of men into the country of a tribe that had +been strong enough to annihilate a large and well-armed Arab safari. +There was no reason to suppose that the "bad men" were any less +powerful now than they had been then.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And suppose I got the ivory," he thought, "how the dickens could I +carry it? The men have got quite enough to carry, what with the loot +here and the things left with Charley. Judging by the weight of +billiard balls a single tusk of ivory would be a pretty heavy load for +two or three men, and we might be two or three weeks getting back. +Bill will be upset, without a doubt, but I can't help that. A good +rest, and then start for home: that's my ticket."</p> +<p class="pnext">Pondering further, he came to the conclusion that there might after all +not be the need for haste that he had at first imagined. Juma's men +were thoroughly disheartened, no doubt; the garrison at the fort had +been turned adrift; they had lost the greater part of their firearms +and ammunition and all their stores of food, and it was probable that +for the present they would have enough to do to find subsistence +without wasting their energies in attacking either him or Ferrier. His +own men had been marching or fighting, with only a few hours' sleep, +for two days; a long rest was necessary for them; so he decided, before +he fell into a half-doze from which the least sound would have roused +him, that he might look forward to spending a day or two in the fort +before he need set off to rejoin Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">At dawn he was up, and went to the gate to look round. None of the +enemy were in sight, except his wounded prisoner, whom he saw hobbling +across the causeway. In the excitement of the attack he had clean +forgotten the man, who, he remembered with compunction, must have been +all night in the wood, hungry, a prey to terror and pain. He let down +the bridge and admitted him at once.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Let me look at your leg," he said.</p> +<p class="pnext">Removing the bandages, he saw that it was a case for desperate remedies.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You must let me cut the bullet out," he said.</p> +<p class="pnext">The man made no objection. John opened his knife and carefully washed +the sharpest blade; then ordered two of the men to hold the patient, +and began to probe the wound as gently as he could. The bullet was +imbedded in the flesh where there was no danger of his severing an +artery. He soon found the bullet, and setting his teeth, started the +first surgical operation of his life. He had a steady hand: the man +lay inert as a log, without wincing or even groaning; and in a few +minutes he had extracted the bullet, feeling a vast admiration for the +big fellow's fortitude. Having bathed and bound up the leg, he gave +the man some food, and saw him in a few minutes fall asleep. John drew +a good augury from this little incident. The man had sought him, and +not his own master; John took it, perhaps superstitiously, as an +indication that he, and not Juma, would, as he put it, "come out on +top."</p> +<p class="pnext">He sent out Bill, with one of the men, to look for the enemy. They +returned early in the afternoon, reporting that they had failed to see +either the men who had been ejected from the fort, or the larger party +under Juma's command. Bill judged from the tracks that the former had +scattered, some to the south to meet their friends, others to the east.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the daylight John confirmed his overnight examination of the fort. +He saw now that there were rapids at both ends of the pool, and sighed +for leisure to do a little fishing, guessing that such a river would +provide good sport. But he had something more serious to think about. +After their night's rest the men were less fatigued than he had +expected, so he saw no reason to defer the destruction of the fort. +His purpose was to rase the wall, and hurl into the pool the stones of +which it was built. They were piled loosely one upon another without +cement or mortar, and he thought that it would be a light job to remove +them; but it turned out to be a much more troublesome business than he +had supposed, and when, after two hours' work, he saw how little had +been accomplished he felt rather troubled. At the same rate it would +take two or three days to complete the work. He had no gunpowder to +spare for blowing up the wall; and he wished neither to remain so long +absent from Ferrier, nor to be found on the spot when Juma returned, as +he assuredly would do.</p> +<p class="pnext">A little while after Bill had returned from his reconnoitring +expedition he suddenly cocked his ear towards the south-east and in a +moment declared that he heard the sound of fire-sticks. The men were +chattering, and John fancied that the Wanderobbo must be mistaken. He +called for silence, and all listened intently, but could hear nothing +except the slow gurgle of the water in the pool and the far-away +rumbling of the rapids below.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Do you hear it now?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No," Bill replied; "but I did hear it."</p> +<p class="pnext">John had by this time so much respect for the Wanderobbo's acuteness of +hearing that he felt it unwise to neglect this statement. Bidding the +men to sort out all the provisions the fort contained, with the idea of +carrying a portion with him when he left, and burning the rest, he left +the place with Bill, after giving strict orders that the bridge should +be taken up behind him, and not replaced over the gap until his return, +unless he should send back a message by Bill. The two crossed the pool +and set off at a rapid pace towards the bluff. They were half-way to +the summit when Bill declared that he again heard shots. They +quickened their pace, and on reaching the top, where a wide expanse of +the plain was outstretched before them, they looked carefully all round +the southern horizon, keeping under cover. They could see the river +winding along between its verdurous banks, and when they lost sight of +the shining water they could still trace its course by the fresher +green of the vegetation. The plain was covered for the most part with +grass, with patches of scrub and clumps of woodland here and there. In +the far distance they descried a herd of antelope feeding, but for some +time saw no other living creature, beast or man.</p> +<p class="pnext">All at once both started. In the still air, above the sound of the +swirling water beneath them, they heard distinctly six shots. One of +them, Bill declared, was that of the msungu's rifle, though John was +utterly unable to understand how he could distinguish it from the +others. Some seconds afterwards Bill lifted his hand and pointed in a +south-easterly direction, saying that he saw smoke among the trees. +John looked eagerly in the same direction, but could see nothing. +Unluckily he had left his field-glass with Ferrier. Presently he heard +more shots, in rapid succession. Clearly there was fighting going on; +the natural inference was that Ferrier's party was engaged, and since +only he, Coja, and Said Mohammed could use rifles, the number of the +shots showed that his opponents must possess firearms. It was equally +clear that Ferrier, if it was indeed he, had left the spot where it had +been arranged that he should await John's return, and he must be either +pursuing or pursued. The conclusion was irresistible that for some +unforeseen reason he had found himself compelled to advance towards +John.</p> +<p class="pnext">Anxious on his friend's behalf, John decided instantly that he must set +out at once to join hands with him. He sent Bill back to call the men +from the fort, telling him that they must bring the ammunition and +rifles for those who could use them. He himself would start towards +the firing, pointing out to Bill the general direction in which he +would go. He knew that the men, being rapid marchers when not carrying +loads, would not be long in overtaking him. The fort must be left +unguarded, but there was no help for it; the matter of immediate +urgency was to reinforce Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">While Bill sped back to the fort, John scrambled down the bluff and +hurried over the plain. As he proceeded the sounds of firing became +ever clearer, and when he had covered about two miles at a swinging +pace he could also hear shouts.</p> +<p class="pnext">He had come almost to a thin belt of forest when he saw figures +approaching among the trees. Dropping down behind a bush, he eagerly +watched them. At the edge of the forest they came clearly into view, +and he saw that they were black men, marching in single file, rapidly, +in spite of heavy loads. From behind them came at short intervals the +still louder crack of rifles, and the more voluminous shouts of men. +In a few moments he recognized them as men of his safari, and rose to +meet them. His figure suddenly appearing above the bush startled them, +and they instantly dropped their loads with yells, and began to run +away. But a shout from him dispelled their fright; they turned, and +hastened towards him, leaving their loads, however, where they had +thrown them.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they met him they told him in accents of terror that the msungu +was fighting with a great host of bad men. Two or three showed wounds +they had received. John ordered them to return to their loads and take +them up, and then to look out for the party following him. He hurried +forward into the wood, and half-a-mile further on came upon Ferrier +with the rest of the safari, slowly retiring before a horde of savages. +He had supposed that the "great host" of which the porters had spoken +was an exaggeration born of their panic, but he saw that Ferrier and +his men were, in fact, holding at bay a crowd of natives, among whom he +perceived the white garments of Swahilis. Ferrier had Coja on his +right and Said Mohammed on his left, each at a few yards' interval, the +remainder of the party, armed only with bows and arrows, being spread +out on each side over a considerable space to avoid the risk of being +outflanked. They were retiring slowly, taking cover behind trees, +picking off any of the enemy who showed themselves. Ferrier himself +was a dead shot now that he had recovered the full use of his arm. +Several men had fallen to his unerring aim. What execution Coja and +Said Mohammed did John never knew; but their shots had been effective +in daunting the enemy, who had not dared to come too near, or to make a +rush. With a little more courage and generalship the savages, vastly +outnumbering the safari, could have swept round them and had them at +their mercy; but the young Canadian had hitherto managed to hold off +the bolder spirits who pressed him in front, and the others followed on +without as yet attempting a flanking movement.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Good man!" cried John, as he hastened to Ferrier's side. "My lot are +coming up. We had better get out of this wood, or they'll be all round +us."</p> +<p class="pnext">They retired more quickly. It was time, for when they reached the +plain, they saw that parties of the enemy, who had at last realized +that they were losing opportunities, had crept round to right and left. +John instantly sent a shot among the nearer crowd, causing them to +scatter. Then, perceiving that another party had slipped by and was +hastening in pursuit of the porters, he called some of the bowmen, who +were mightily encouraged by his arrival, and set off in chase. Another +shot sent this party flying. John saw that the river would form an +excellent defence to the left flank of his little force, and running +back to Ferrier, he asked him to edge nearer to it.</p> +<p class="pnext">"If we can only manage to keep them off until our men have had time to +climb the bluff, we can make a bolt for it," he said. "Up there among +the boulders we can hold our own against any number."</p> +<p class="pnext">They retired slowly towards the belt of trees fringing the river. By +the time they reached it Bill came up with the party from the fort. +This reinforcement, together with the more advantageous position of the +retiring force, served to check the pursuit. The enemy were not +courageous enough to dash past them within range, though their numbers +were so great that they could easily have afforded the loss of a few +men. The only means they had of slipping past safely and overtaking +the safari was either to make a wide detour across the plain, which +would have given John's party time to reach the bluff before them, or +to cross the river and make their way through the trees on the other +bank; but the current here was swift enough to make fording dangerous. +So they adopted neither course, but followed sullenly in the track of +the party, firing at times, but never diminishing the distance between +them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Every now and then John crept out from cover to watch the progress of +the porters. To his impatience they seemed to move extraordinarily +slowly, and indeed their speed was much less than when he had first +seen them, for they had reached the beginning of the ascent, and were +tired with carrying their heavy loads. He could see them toiling up +the bluff, not in a close line, but far apart, the rearmost being +nearly half-a-mile behind the leader. At length he saw with relief +that the last man was within a few yards of the summit.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now we'll give them a volley," said he, "and slip away."</p> +<p class="pnext">All who had rifles accompanied him to the edge of the belt of trees, +and at his word fired together at the enemy, who had halted as if +undecided what to do. Another volley flashed from the second barrels; +then, withdrawing among the trees, the party ran along in the direction +of the bluff, reloading as they went. Within a few hundred yards they +came without warning upon a band of twenty or thirty natives with two +Swahilis among them. They must have found a means of crossing the +river, hastened along the opposite bank, and then recrossed ahead of +John's party. There was no time for hesitation.</p> +<p class="pnext">"All together!" shouted Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">They poured in a volley, emptying both barrels; then, with John and +Ferrier at the head, charged straight at the enemy. The savages, +themselves taken aback by this sudden and vigorous onslaught, were too +much flurried to discharge their weapons. While they still hesitated, +the two white men were upon them, smiting right and left with the +stocks of their rifles, their native followers close at their heels, +making the air ring with their shouts. The savages immediately in the +path of John and Ferrier went over like ninepins; a way was cleft +through the group; several fell to the spears of the natives; the rest +turned and fled right and left with wild yells, some plunging into the +river, the others dashing towards their comrades in the plain.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now for a sprint," cried John. "We're not far from the bluff."</p> +<p class="pnext">They ran as fast as they could through the clinging undergrowth, +emerged from cover when the rising ground told them that the end of +their march was near at hand, and began to climb the steep ascent. The +enemy, whose main body had hurried forward at the sound of firing in +the expectation of finding their quarry engaged with the ambush, were +driven frantic at the sight of their prey escaping them. Plucking up +courage at last, they rushed forward in a yelling swarm, hoping to +overcome the little party which had baffled them while it was still on +the lower slope of the bluff, the path being so narrow that the +climbers must go in single file. In a few brief sentences John ordered +the bowmen to climb as quickly as possible, while with the rest he +remained at the foot to check the rush. The enemy had come within two +hundred yards before John and his companions had time to reload their +rifles, which they had been unable to do during their dash through the +undergrowth. But they came no nearer. A volley brought down several +men in the front line of the mass, if the van of such a wild horde +could be called a line. The rest wavered; while they hesitated the +terrible bullets were again singing among them. It was enough: they +broke and fled in disorder, sped by a flight of arrows from the men who +had climbed the bluff and were able to shoot without the risk of +injuring their friends below.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I think that's the end," said John, panting as much with excitement as +with his exertions. "Up you go, Coja!"</p> +<p class="pnext">They hastened up the path, Ferrier and John the last two of the line. +When they reached the top, where their men were awaiting them, they +halted to look back over the plain.</p> +<p class="pnext">"My word! you've done jolly well," cried John, as he saw the dusky +throng halted below. "I had no idea there were so many of them. What +happened, Charley?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yesterday afternoon, just after I had brought in those fellows we left +at our little camp, the beggars made a sudden rush on us, springing up +from nowhere, as it appeared. It was the same lot that we stampeded, +but largely reinforced, and from what my men said, there's no doubt the +newcomers belong to the same tribe I had trouble with when you rescued +me. It was lucky we weren't completely taken by surprise. I had a +sort of notion they might try on something of the sort. I don't +believe they knew at first that you had gone, and their idea was to +have their revenge for the slap we gave them. Juma was among them, +Coja told me."</p> +<p class="pnext">"The blackguard!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I had got the boma repaired where we burnt it, so that they couldn't +get in, but they came all round us, keeping under cover, and thinking, +I suppose, that they would starve us out. I felt I was in a bit of a +fix. We might hold our own in the camp for three or four days; but I +was afraid they'd stay there until you came back, and there was such a +crowd of them, as you see, that I didn't see how you could possibly get +through them. It struck me that the best thing I could do was to come +after you and join forces while there was time; so I left the fires +burning and slipped away in the middle of the night, making a detour +round their camp, which they had pitched about a quarter of a mile +up-stream. We couldn't march very fast with our loads, but the men +were very plucky, and it wasn't till this afternoon that the beggars +caught us. We had been fighting for about an hour when you came up, +and I was jolly glad to see you, I can tell you, for they were +beginning to press us very closely, and we couldn't have kept it up +much longer. What luck have you had?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I've got the fort: I'll tell you all about it when we get there. By +Jove! there is a lot of them. What are they up to?"</p> +<p class="pnext">The enemy, numbering, as nearly as John could estimate, more than four +hundred, had given up direct pursuit, evidently recognizing that to +scale the bluff under the rifles of its defenders would be a hopeless +task. They were marching rapidly to the right. In addition to the +fighting men, there was also a large number of men and women carrying +loads, no doubt provisions: these had only just come up with the main +body.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Is there any other way up the escarpment?" asked Ferrier, anxiously.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not that I know of. It looks as if they're going to make a round to +the fort. We had better hurry on."</p> +<p class="pnext">They turned about and marched rapidly after the men, who were already +some distance away.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I had begun to demolish the fort," said John, "which is a pity if +they're going to besiege us. Perhaps they've had enough of it, though."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Can't we repair it?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Unluckily we've pitched the stones of the wall into the pool +surrounding it, and I'm afraid we can't fish them up again. It's a +good job we hadn't done much. We were in the middle of the work when +Bill heard your shots. He spotted your rifle; his hearing is amazingly +acute."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, it seems to me that we are in for a nice little campaign. It is +to be hoped your friend Gillespie has started for the farm. I don't +like to think of it being left."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Let's see. He must just about have got my letter, I should think. I +don't feel very anxious. We had no troubles except from lions and +Juma, and the chief will lend a hand if any wandering tribe turns up, +which isn't likely. No, Charley; the difficulty's here: and upon my +word it looks as if we've got a campaign on our hands, as you say. +However, here we are! There's the fort, and we've got to hold it, my +boy."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Right ho! I only hope it won't be another Ladysmith."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Can't possibly. Our food won't last a week."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh!" said Ferrier.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-seventeenth-john-s-letter"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id18">CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH--John's Letter</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">In the comfortable dining-room of Mr. Gillespie's bungalow a merry +party was assembled. At the right hand of Mr. Gillespie sat a +handsome, well-preserved lady, who was fifty and looked forty-five. At +the other end of the table, beside the hostess, was our friend Mr. +Halliday, fresh and florid, evidently in the best of health. His +neighbour on the right was a slim young girl in black; hers was a tall, +well-set-up young man of twenty-five. Opposite these two, in due +sequence, were a girl who might have been seventeen, and a youth a year +or two older, so much like her that no one could have doubted they were +brother and sister.</p> +<p class="pnext">Laughter rang round the table; everybody seemed at the top of +cheerfulness, except the girl in black. Even she smiled at a remark +addressed to her by Mr. Halliday. There was a pause in the +conversation as they devoted themselves to the sweets, which included a +wonderful confection of native pine-apples. Then the lady next to Mr. +Gillespie, in slow level tones, and with the clear enunciation and +scarcely perceptible burr of an educated Scotswoman, said--</p> +<p class="pnext">"He's a dear boy, I'm sure. We could read so well between the lines of +his letters that he thought me a very designing woman----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"A Delilah, Cousin Sylvia," said Mr. Halliday.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You'd be the better for having your hair cut, Cousin David. I +shouldn't allude to such a personal matter if I didn't hope that Mrs. +Gillespie would back me up. <em class="italics">I've</em> done my best to improve you, and +failed; perhaps public opinion will do some good."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't worry, Mrs. Burtenshaw," said Mr. Gillespie. "He'll get a +thorough crop before he goes up country, where barbers are unknown."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But it won't matter then, where there's no one to see him.... It was +plain John thought his father would marry me----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"The other way about, cousin," Mr. Halliday interposed. "He wouldn't +suspect me of all men of fortune hunting."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Listen to him!" exclaimed Mrs. Burtenshaw, drawing herself up with an +affectation of injured dignity. "If any man wanted to marry me it +could only be for my money, you see. As I was saying, John quite +expects to be presented with a step-mother, and resents it, like all +young things. Joe there wouldn't speak to me for a week when I married +poor Burtenshaw. It's a nice kind of jealousy, don't you think so, +Mrs. Gillespie?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Just like a dog's," said Mrs. Gillespie, in a tone that made every one +laugh. "When we first came out we had a collie that couldn't see my +husband put his arm round me without whining to be petted."</p> +<p class="pnext">"John will be flabbergasted when he sees us," said the older of the two +young men, referred to by his mother as Joe.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, wasn't it funny that he should come across them in the wilds of +Africa, and rescue Poll from a game-pit without either of them knowing +they were cousins?" said Helen, his sister. "It's quite a romance."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Doesn't he know the relationship now?" asked Mrs. Gillespie.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No," said Mr. Halliday, with a chuckle. "I asked him in one of my +letters whether he had seen anything of the Brownes. You see, they +talked of settling here, before they came into this fortune."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's all over now, of course," said Mr. Gillespie.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm not so sure," said Joe Browne. "The people at home were very +nice, and all that, but they're too stiff and starched after what we've +been used to; wear high collars and kid gloves. I don't fancy Poll and +I could settle down to that sort of thing."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And I don't want you to," said Mrs. Burtenshaw. "I don't believe in +healthy young men loafing about, and I tell my boys they'll have to +work for their living just as if I were a poor woman."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Capital!" said Mr. Gillespie. "And when they see what John has been +doing I warrant they'll settle down as neighbours. There'll be quite a +little colony of Scotsmen about Alloway soon, for I've no doubt you've +Scotch blood in you, Miss Ferrier?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Diluted, Mr. Gillespie," said the girl in black. "My grandfather was +a Scotsman, but he married a Frenchwoman--Canadian French, of course. +Do you really think my brother will settle here?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, I can't exactly say," was Mr. Gillespie's cautious reply. "It +seems very probable from what John says in his letters. Don't you like +the prospect?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh, I shall live with Charley, of course; and if it's really as nice +as he says--there isn't any real danger, is there?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"A lion among the ladies!" cried Mr. Halliday, and they all laughed, +Said Mohammed's quotation being common property among them. "I think +you'll find it all right, my dear," he added in his fatherly way. "I +dare say John and your brother between them have exterminated the lions +in our neighbourhood by this time."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I think Hilda was very plucky to come all this way alone," said Helen. +"<em class="italics">I</em> shouldn't have had the courage."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But I wasn't really alone," said Hilda Ferrier. "The people on the +<em class="italics">Mauretania</em> were very kind, and I met you on the <em class="italics">Palawan</em>, you see. +I was thinking more of the natives than of lions: of course, you can +shoot lions."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And you can shoot men, my dear," said Mr. Halliday.</p> +<p class="pnext">"There, now you've frightened her," said Mrs. Burtenshaw, as a startled +look crossed the girl's face. "What an absurd man you are, David! +You've told us over and over again that the natives are perfectly +friendly."</p> +<p class="pnext">"So we found them, Cousin Sylvia. We had no trouble except with the +thieves of our own safari. I grudge them the rifles they stole, that's +a fact. I suppose that villain Juma has never dared to show his face +in Nairobi again, Gillespie?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not to my knowledge. He wouldn't bring your rifles if he did."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Why did he steal them, then?" asked Helen.</p> +<p class="pnext">"To shoot with, of course," said Oliver Browne. "What a question!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I thought he might want to sell them, or pawn them, or something."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We've no pawn-shops in Nairobi," said Mr. Gillespie, laughing, "though +I'm sorry to say we've some Indian money-lenders who've got their +clutch on some of our poorer settlers. Juma won't try to sell the +rifles here at any rate. I suppose he stole them to shoot with, as +your brother says, though I confess it's a little odd. He has been a +porter for several years past, and it isn't like porters to give up +their trade. Perhaps he has taken a fancy for being independent, and +has settled down somewhere with others of his kidney. The rifles would +be very useful to him in getting food. He's a scamp, though; for he +has unquestionably deserted his wife, who has turned out a capital +laundress, John says."</p> +<p class="pnext">"He hasn't been back to the farm?" asked Mr. Halliday.</p> +<p class="pnext">"John hasn't said so. I think my notion must be correct, because the +man has led an adventurous life, and the only surprising thing is that +he should go back to it after years of portering. I believe he once +belonged to a party of Arab ivory-dealers--I can't call them hunters, +for all they did was to buy, or steal, ivory from the Wanderobbo north +of Kenya. They were smashed up a few years ago by a tribe of Embe or +Rendili, and Juma was said to be the only one who escaped. He has +always been a good porter, except for his temper, and people have put +up with that because of his strength and ingenuity.... This is cheese +from John's dairy, Mrs. Burtenshaw; I can recommend it."</p> +<p class="pnext">At this point a black servant entered, carrying a letter on a salver.</p> +<p class="pnext">"A letter from John himself," said Mr. Gillespie, glancing at the +envelope. "Now we shall hear all the news."</p> +<p class="pnext">He broke the envelope and cast his eye over the contents, the others +waiting in silence to hear what he had to say. He looked up in a +moment and gave a quick glance at Mr. Halliday. Then, still holding +the letter, he smiled and said--</p> +<p class="pnext">"Shall we go into the other room, Mother, and digest this letter with +some coffee?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Very well, my dear," said Mrs. Gillespie, rising. No one could have +detected from her placid face and natural movements that she was aware +that something was wrong. Oliver, who was nearest to the door, held it +while the ladies passed out, and stood back for the elder men to follow.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Go on, my boy," said Mr. Gillespie. "I'll look out some cigars I want +you to try; be with you in a moment."</p> +<p class="pnext">He took Mr. Halliday by the arm as he was passing, shut the door, and +putting the letter into his hand, said--</p> +<p class="pnext">"Read that!"</p> +<p class="pnext">This is what Mr. Halliday read--</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">DEAR MR. GILLESPIE,</p> +<p class="pnext">The farm has been raided while we were away--got away by a trick. I +suspect Juma and his gang. They collared all our rifles and +ammunition. Ferrier and I are starting at once to follow them up. I +want you to send up somebody at once--a white man--to give an eye to +things. I dare say we shall be back by the time he gets here, but +it'll be just as well to have somebody on the spot in case we're longer +than I expect. Sorry to trouble you, but I've got to teach Juma a +lesson.</p> +<dl class="docutils"> +<dt>Yours in haste,</dt> +<dd><div class="first line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">D. HALLIDAY.</div> +</div> +<div class="last vspace" style="height: 1em"> +</div> +</dd> +</dl> +<p class="pfirst">"That's the explanation!" exclaimed Mr. Halliday. "Can I start +to-night?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No. This may be a serious business--the young madcap! I hope he'll +turn back if he doesn't catch them at once----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"That wouldn't be John. He'll go on till he has thrashed them."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then heaven help him! Man, he may find himself among a whole tribe of +blood-thirsty savages. And the worst of it is we may not reach him in +time. It's not merely a question of looking after the farm. We'll +start as soon as it's light: I'll get a party together."</p> +<p class="pnext">"The police?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No: can't wait for them. I'll go down to the club and get some +fellows I can rely on. We'll go on horses and mules. We had better +not alarm the women."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must tell them something. Better out with it, I think. They'll +only think it worse than it is if they see we're keeping something +back."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Couldn't be worse. Well, perhaps you are right; but don't let 'em see +we're put about."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All right. Give me a cigar."</p> +<p class="pnext">They strolled into the other room smoking, showing no trace of their +anxiety. Mrs. Gillespie looked up quickly as her husband entered, but +only said--</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come, your coffee is poured out and getting cold."</p> +<p class="pnext">"My own growing, ma'am," said Mr. Gillespie to Mrs. Burtenshaw, as he +took his cup, "and I hope you like it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Mother couldn't say she doesn't, could she?" said Helen archly. "<em class="italics">I</em> +like it very much."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Helen speaks for us all," said Mrs. Burtenshaw. "Well, what does John +say?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Any news of the failed B.A.?" asked Joe.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He doesn't mention him this time. In fact, it's just a note: you +can't call it a letter. He has had to leave the farm for a day or two, +and wants me to send up a man to look after things in his absence."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Has Charley gone too?" asked Hilda Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, they've both gone, or it wouldn't be necessary to ask for a man. +It's lucky Mr. Halliday is on the spot, so we shan't have to hire +anybody."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Gone shooting, I suppose," said Joe.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Or after strayed sheep," said Oliver. "They're always a trouble."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But I don't understand," said Hilda. "You say they have gone: why +didn't John get somebody before he went?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"That shows it's sheep," replied Oliver quickly. "He'd have to start +at once or he wouldn't stand much chance of getting 'em all. That's +it, isn't it, Mr. Gillespie?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, no, not exactly."</p> +<p class="pnext">"In fact," said Mr. Halliday quietly, "the farm has been robbed, and as +there are no policemen in the neighbourhood, John has had to go after +the robbers himself."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Gone shooting: I said so," remarked Joe.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't be absurd, Joe," said Helen.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm going to take Halliday down to the club, if you'll excuse us," +said Mr. Gillespie. "He'll start for the farm to-morrow----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"So soon!" interrupted Joe quickly. "I thought we should all go +together at the end of the week."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I must go to-morrow," said Mr. Halliday, "and as I shall be off before +you're up in the morning I'll say good-bye now. I'll be back in a few +days, and then you can all come and view our estate. It's just as well +that I am going first, for we shall have to get some rooms ready for +you, you know."</p> +<p class="pnext">He shook hands all round, and left with Mr. Gillespie, who had been +speaking in an undertone to his wife. Joe Browne followed them from +the room.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I say, Cousin David," he said, "what's up?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Hesitating a moment, Mr. Halliday put John's note into his hand. Joe +whistled softly.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm coming," he said. "So will Poll. What time do you start?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"My dear boy, your mother----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Mother's an old trump. I shall tell her the exact state of the case +quietly, of course; I won't scare the girls; and she won't turn a hair. +We'll ride, I suppose? You can get us mounts, Mr. Gillespie?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes. We'll start at sunrise. You've got khaki and sun helmets?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of course. We'll be ready, sir, Poll and I."</p> +<p class="pnext">At six o'clock next morning a party of ten rode out of Nairobi. It +consisted of the four men we know, with five friends of Mr. Gillespie +and a Somali guide. Six were mounted on horses, the rest on mules. +Two members of Mr. Gillespie's household watched them leave. One was +his wife, who bid them Godspeed at the door; the other was Hilda +Ferrier, who had passed a sleepless night, and looked forth from the +window of her room with tired and anxious eyes.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-eighteenth-an-attack-in-force"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id19">CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH--An Attack in Force</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">It was within an hour of sunset when John and Ferrier reached the fort. +They looked first of all to see whether it was possible to raise the +stones which had been cast into the pool, for the purpose of repairing +the wall, and found, as John had suspected, that they were too deep +below the surface.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must make the best of it," said John. "It's lucky we hadn't got +more of the wall down. They won't bother us to-night, that's one +comfort. They'll think twice before crossing the causeway in the dark."</p> +<p class="pnext">It proved as he had said. A careful watch was kept all through the +night, but nothing happened to disturb them. As soon as there was a +glimmer of light John went to the gate with Ferrier to survey the +surroundings. Except for the clump of woodland half-a-mile away on the +east there was nothing that afforded good cover, and it struck Ferrier +that it would be a good plan to seize the wood with the fighting men +before the enemy could occupy it. But when he passed over the causeway +with John and a dozen of the natives they discovered to their vexation +that they were too late. They had advanced but a short distance when +they were met by a volley from among the trees, and though none of the +party was hit, John considered it prudent to retire into the fort and +await developments there.</p> +<p class="pnext">During the rest of the day the enemy made no serious attack. The smoke +from their camp-fires was seen rising above the trees, and now and then +a shot was fired if any of the garrison showed themselves at the gate +or in the gap of the wall; but the enemy were indifferent marksmen, and +the day passed without casualties.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Things don't look very rosy, do they?" said Ferrier, as he lay on the +ground discussing the situation with John. They had found when they +came to look into matters that some of the porters during their hurried +flight had abandoned their loads. Two boxes of ammunition were +missing, and several baskets of provisions. Said Mohammed was in great +distress at the loss of the package containing cocoa, condensed milk, +and marmalade. This, however, was not so serious as the loss of grain. +The total food supply, including the provisions found in the fort, +would not last more than three or four days; and John, though he did +not say so, thought that Ferrier would have done better to retreat +towards the farm than to advance chivalrously to rejoin him. He +considered that it would have been possible for himself and his +fighting men, unencumbered with baggage of any great weight, to have +made a rapid march after demolishing the fort, and joined hands with +Ferrier probably twenty miles nearer home. But fate had ordained +otherwise; the situation must be faced as it existed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Things certainly do not look rosy," John replied to Ferrier's remark, +"but they might be worse--which is a pretty rotten platitude when you +come to think of it. It looks as if they mean to keep us boxed up +here. We shall have to get out when our food's exhausted, or starve, +and I'm inclined to think we had better make a dash for it at once, +before the men get weak. These natives who live mostly on grain food +soon crock up: they haven't anything like our reserve strength, +whatever the vegetarians may say."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't know. My poor father and I passed through a village where the +people hadn't had any food for a week, and it was wonderful to see how +energetic they were when they saw us coming. They were all skin and +bone, dreadful-looking objects; but they weren't anything like so +crocked as we should be."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, I suppose it all depends on what you are used to. We'll discuss +the pros and cons of vegetarianism when we're out of this and have got +a full choice of either food. At present we are likely to become +air-eaters before long."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Aerophags, eh? or chameleons: they're supposed to live on air, aren't +they?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"You seem very chirpy."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, old chap, the fact is I'm so uncommonly glad we're both alive +that I am perhaps inclined to be a little----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Light-headed," suggested John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"If you must be serious, I don't think your notion of an immediate dash +is a good one. The men have had a lot of hard marching, and we ought +to give them a good rest--a full day, at any rate."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I dare say that would be wise, but the worst of it is that it will +give time for that crowd outside to grow still bigger, and the chances +of our getting through them safely will be slighter than ever."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But remember they've got to eat, as well as we, and the more there are +of them the worse their position. The country we came through was +practically barren, and when they have used up the food they have with +them they'll have to range about for more. That'll be our chance. I +vote we sit tight for a while."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All right. Here's Said with our supper: what is it to-night, +khansaman?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I suffer pangs, sir, in serving gents with such slops, et cetera, but +cupboard is bare, sir, to quote classic of Mother Hubbard; all I can +provide for sustenance is cassava bread, beans, and bovril. +Incredulity of native mind, sir, is as colossal as credulity. Carved +wooden stick is a devil right enough: but when I tell them my little +brown bottle contains concentrated essence of stall-fed ox, lo! they +grin all over their mug and ask where are its four legs."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's rather a good thing, for they won't envy us our supper. We +shall do very well, as long as it lasts."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ah, sir, I remember the beautiful words of Dr. Johnson, great +lexicographer: 'And every moment makes my little less.' Hunger is the +best sauce, sir, but it does not fill the saucepan."</p> +<p class="pnext">This night, like the last, was undisturbed. On the afternoon of the +next day, when John had ceased to look for any offensive movement on +the part of the enemy, he saw a great crowd of them issue from the +wood, and come yelling across the ground towards the causeway.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hallo! They're getting desperate," he said to Ferrier. He +immediately brought up all the men who had firearms and placed them at +the gap in the wall, bidding them keep under cover and fire when he +gave the word. The yelling horde were met by a volley just as they +reached the landward end of the causeway; but though several men +dropped it did not check the rush, and John concluded from their +intense excitement that they had been stimulating their courage with +fermented liquor. Some sprang on to the causeway, and began to run +across it; others took to the water, which soon swarmed with black +heads moving towards the fort. The garrison fired as fast as they +could reload, but the men rushing in single file along the causeway did +not present a good target, and the swimmers were far too numerous to be +dealt with by a dropping fire from the wall. The defenders in their +turn were how the mark for a fusillade from the further shore of the +pool, where several Swahilis had taken up their position, finding a +little shelter in the reeds, and doing their best to cover the attack +of the natives. John looked eagerly among them for the big form of +Juma, resolving if he saw him to pick him off; the fall of their leader +might demoralize or dishearten the rest. But Juma never came in sight; +apparently he was directing the movement from a place of safety in the +rear.</p> +<p class="pnext">The men running across the causeway sprang into the water when they +came to the gap from which the bridge had been removed, and, swimming +under water, sought to scramble on to the narrow shelf of land which +ran beneath the wall at this part. At the same time those who had swum +round on either side were swarming on hands and knees up the steep +bank. The attack began to look more serious than John had anticipated. +There were several hundreds of the assailants, and to meet these he had +but forty-three, of whom only ten had rifles. The difficulty was +increased by the fact that when the enemy succeeded, as some of them +did, in effecting a lodgment, it was necessary that his men should show +themselves above the wall in order to shoot down upon them, thus +becoming exposed to the fire from the Swahilis. Leaving his riflemen +at the gap to deal with the men who came over the causeway and to keep +down as much as possible the fire from the shore, John ran with Ferrier +to whatever part of the wall was at the moment the most seriously +threatened. He had already proved the poor marksmanship of the +Swahilis, and, seeing that the enemy must be prevented at all costs +from entering the fort, he no longer troubled to seek cover, but +ordered the men to mount the wall and make the most of their advantage +in being several feet above their attackers. Ferrier and he, fully +exposed to the enemy's fire, ran from place to place encouraging the +men, grasping their rifles by the barrel so as to use them as clubs if +any of the storming party came near the top of the wall.</p> +<p class="pnext">The extent of rampart to be defended was so great and the enemy so +numerous that in spite of all efforts many of them succeeded in +scrambling up the mound. Then, having reached the top, they set their +feet in crevices between the stones and clambered up with great +agility, with spears in their mouths. But no sooner did they show +their heads above the wall than John, or Ferrier, or some of the men +were upon them, and with clubbed rifles, spears, or fists, hurled them +down the slope and into the water. A few managed to mount on the wall +before the defenders could reach them, and held their position for a +minute or two, thrusting viciously with their spears and wounding +several of the garrison. John noticed these, and, hastily loading, +called to his men to drop down and then fired, following up the shot +with a rush. This group waited for no more, but sprang from the wall, +fell headlong on the slope, and rolled into the pool, whither one of +their comrades, shot by John's rifle, had already preceded them.</p> +<p class="pnext">In spite of these checks, the enemy still came on. Those who had been +thrown down returned again to the assault, and were constantly +reinforced by others. More parties gained a temporary footing on the +wall; there was hand-to-hand fighting at several points at once; and +John began to fear that his men would lose heart and give way before +sheer weight of numbers. Neither he nor Ferrier could be everywhere, +and it was noticeable that the enemy held their ground longest where +the defenders had not the presence of the white men to give them +confidence. The tide was turned at last by Said Mohammed, who had a +brilliant inspiration. There was always a fire burning in the middle +of the enclosure. It suddenly occurred to him, when he saw his party +beginning to be hard pressed, to boil some water, and observing that +John and Ferrier were occupied at two different points far apart, he +ran towards the wall between them, where a group of the enemy were on +the point of springing down into the enclosure. He carried a can full +of boiling water. Aiming it at the biggest man of the group, just as +he was bending forward to spring, the Bengali hurled the canful at his +head. The scalding water fell not only on him, but on the man next +him, and there rose two frightful yells which drowned all other sounds +of combat. The injured men and their immediate comrades leapt +frantically into the pool; their cries caused a weakening of the attack +elsewhere; and the two white men, seizing the moment, though unaware at +the time to what it was due, laid about them still more lustily with +their rifles.</p> +<p class="pnext">The savages on the side where Said Mohammed had so opportunely +intervened were now seen swimming to the shore. Their panic was +speedily communicated to their fellows, and in a few moments at least +half of the attacking force were in retreat. The defenders being thus +free to devote all their attention to the enemy in the other quarter, +soon made short work of them, and after twenty minutes of exhausting +effort they saw the whole force making shorewards, and scurrying back +under cover. John's riflemen fired a few shots at them as they fled, +but he put a stop to this, thinking that the punishment they had +already received might have taught them a lesson and would break up the +siege.</p> +<p class="pnext">As he turned from the wall to see what casualties the garrison had +suffered, Said Mohammed came up to him with his usually solemn face +spread abroad with a smile. An empty can was swinging in his hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I did that jolly well, sir: <em class="italics">Hoc solus feci</em>."</p> +<p class="pnext">"By and by," said John impatiently, thinking that the Bengali had some +trifling act to relate at epic length. Said Mohammed's smile vanished +like an April sun behind a cloud. He looked sorrowfully after John's +retreating form, then brightened a little as he caught sight of Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Esteemed sir," he said, advancing towards him, "this humble billy was +the <em class="italics">Deus ex machina</em>."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Eh! What! You aren't hurt, are you?" said Ferrier, hurrying by.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Only in my soul," muttered Said Mohammed, gloom descending upon him. +"'Slow rises worth by poverty depressed.'"</p> +<p class="pnext">John and Ferrier spent the next half-hour in attending to the wounded. +Not a man had been killed; but several were suffering from spear +wounds, and still more from rifle shots. The white men were again +struck by the uncomplaining patience of the injured men.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You may call it a lack of sensibility if you like," said Ferrier, "but +I guess it's a fine thing from a military point of view."</p> +<p class="pnext">"One can understand how Wellington's army in the Peninsula, the scum of +the earth, as he called them, did what they did. I wish we could do +something for these poor chaps. One of them is done for, I'm afraid; I +don't feel fit to-day to dig out the bullets from the others. All we +can do is to bathe 'em and bandage them up; they've astonishing +vitality. Did you read some time ago about a fellow who got a bullet +in him in the Franco-Prussian war, and didn't have it removed till +thirty years afterwards? Hallo! You've had a knock yourself."</p> +<p class="pnext">"So have you."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I didn't know it," said John, looking himself up and down.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm sorry to say it's behind," said Ferrier, with a smile: "just under +your shoulder. You'd better take your shirt off and let me see to it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"After you. You've got a pretty gash in your neck. My face must have +scared 'em, and they didn't recover till I had turned, and then jabbed +me in the back."</p> +<p class="pnext">"If we were only outside, Bill might find some of his herbs and plaster +us. However, we're lucky to have got off so well, and I hope we shan't +have anything worse to go through before we get back."</p> +<p class="pnext">Said Mohammed was unwontedly silent when he brought their supper. He +handed them their bovril and cassava cakes without a word. John +suddenly remembered that he had brushed hastily past the Bengali just +as the fight was over.</p> +<p class="pnext">"By the way, khansaman," he said, "you began to tell me something. +Sorry I was too busy to attend to you. What was it?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Trifling matter, sir, not worthy of august attention," murmured the +man.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You made some remark about your billy, didn't you?" said Ferrier. "I +didn't quite catch it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Foreign lingo, sir: in short, Latin, reformed pronunciation."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ah! that accounts for it. I was taught by an old Westminster man. +You should take pity on my ignorance, khansaman."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Accepting your invite, sir, I take you back to critical moment when +all seemed U P. The hour brings forth the man. There came into my +mind the lovely words of Alfred Lord Tennyson, poet laureate--</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Fill the can, and fill the cup:</div> +<div class="inner line-block"> +<div class="line">All the windy ways of men</div> +</div> +<div class="line">Are but dust that rises up,</div> +<div class="inner line-block"> +<div class="line">And is lightly laid again.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">There was the enemy, rising up like dust; here was the can, ready to be +filled. Whereupon I filled it in a jiffy, boiled it in the time +ordained by nature, and with this right hand hurled it in teeth of the +foe. The dust was laid, sir. Q.E.F."</p> +<p class="pnext">"By Jove!" cried John, "I wondered why they slackened off all of a +sudden. You did jolly well, khansaman."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Shows the usefulness of English literature," said Ferrier gravely. +"You never know what inspiration it may give at times of difficulty and +danger."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Verree true, sir; and it makes me feel jolly bucked to know I have +such spanking good memory."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-nineteenth-trapped"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id20">CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH--Trapped</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The failure of their determined assault had evidently discouraged the +enemy, for during the following day they scarcely showed themselves. +John was disappointed, however, to find that it had not caused them to +break up their camp. The stock of food in the fort was seriously +deplenished; but after the spirit the enemy had displayed he felt that +the chances of surviving a running fight with them would be small. The +notion of slipping away in the darkness again occurred to him, and as +he talked it over with Ferrier it suddenly came into his head to make a +preliminary night sortie himself, to see how the land lay on the side +of the fort remote from the enemy.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We can carry one of the canoes to that end, lift it over the wall, and +launch it without being seen."</p> +<p class="pnext">"If there are none of the enemy about," said Ferrier. "You remember we +saw a party of them cross the river to-day and march in that direction, +foraging, I suppose."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, but we've never seen or heard a sign of them at night."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's true."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And I say, I've another idea. We want food badly: why shouldn't I go +out at night with Bill and a few others and shoot something?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Are you quite mad, my dear chap? Your shots would bring them on you +in no time."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of course I shouldn't attempt to shoot anything until we were miles +away from the camp. We could cover five or six miles before it was +light, and if we take care not to go to windward they won't hear a +single rifle-shot. A volley would be a different thing, I grant you."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I doubt whether the reeds on that side of the pool are thick enough to +hide the canoe, and if they discover it----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"There's no need to hide it," John interrupted. "One of the men can +paddle it back, and come for us again when we give you a hail. We +shall have to return by night, of course."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, you bowl over my objections one after another, so I suppose you +must go. Can't I come too?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We can't both leave the place."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, why shouldn't I go and you stay?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"You see, I understand Bill better than you do, and he'll be the one to +find the game. I really think, Charley, this time----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh, all right!" said Ferrier, interrupting. "This time, and that +time, and all the other times!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"But you fired the boma!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Is that to last me for ever?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"And came to find me, fighting: what about that? Still, if you want to +go----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not a bit of it, old man. It's your idea; you go; I'll run over in my +mind all the poetry I know and see if I can get a happy thought like +Said Mohammed."</p> +<p class="pnext">Two hours before dawn the canoe was gently lowered by ropes over the +wall at the end of the fort opposite the gate. Here, it will be +remembered, the slope of the ground immediately beneath the wall was +steep, but the island jutted out, in a fairly level spit, for some +distance into the pool. John, the Wanderobbo, and five other men were +let down in the same way, four of them to accompany John as carriers of +any game he might obtain, the fifth to paddle the canoe back when they +had landed. The night was very dark; they moved with scarcely a sound; +and having gained the further shore John and his companions struck off +across country.</p> +<p class="pnext">John's intention had been to go directly north, but when Bill told him +that the banks of the river would be the most likely quarter in which +to find game at sunrise, when the animals came down to drink, he +resolved to strike off in a north-westerly direction, from which +quarter the wind blew, and gain the river somewhere north of the +rapids. They marched very quickly, the plain on this side of the river +being open, came to the river-bank in about half-an-hour, and then +tramped along up-stream, careful not to approach the water too closely +for fear of crocodiles. At dawn they were, John thought, at least five +miles from the fort, but he decided to go a mile or two farther before +beginning operations, to lessen any risk of shots being heard in the +camp.</p> +<p class="pnext">The river wound this way and that, now between level banks, now +bordered by steep bluffs thick with overhanging trees. The current was +always swift, and John had been conscious ever since the start that the +ground was gradually rising. Bill did not stick closely to the river: +indeed, that would have been impossible; he sought the easiest way, +which led sometimes through scrub, sometimes over stretches of bare +rock which tried John's boots sorely, sometimes through patches of +woodland: always, however, coming to the river at last. From one +elevated position to which they came John looked back and, now that the +morning haze had lifted, saw the river serpentining behind him, and in +the far distance the pool gleaming in the sunlight, the island and fort +a dark spot in the midst.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last he considered that he had come far enough to be out of earshot +from the enemy's camp, and since the nearest village, the abode of the +"bad men," was about a day's march to the north-west, he felt that no +danger was to be anticipated from that quarter. Accordingly the party +of six descended to the level of the river, and Bill began his search +for game-tracks. The river here flowed through narrow channels between +great boulders of a pinkish rock, the brink being lined with reeds. +Before long Bill came upon the spoor of a hippopotamus, and since +necessity knows no law, John thought himself justified in following it +up, in spite of the technical transgression of the terms of his +licence. He was not shooting for sport, he reflected, but for food.</p> +<p class="pnext">They came at length to a rocky pool. Bill halted, and pointing to an +overhanging rock on the other side, drew John's attention to a gentle +rippling disturbance of the water. In a moment appeared two red +nostrils covered with coarse black hair. John lifted his rifle, but +Bill signed to him to wait, and after a few seconds the nostrils sank +below the surface: the animal had merely risen to breathe. They all +sat down on the bank to await his reappearance. Several times during +half-an-hour he showed just as much of himself, and no more. This was +tantalizing. Would he never emerge? John's patience at length gave +out. He thought that if he could cross to the other side he might get +a fair shot at the beast, or at least stir him to movement. Looking +down-stream, he saw that some little distance away the surface of the +river was broken, which indicated shallow water. He hastened to the +spot, and stripping to his shirt, waded across waist deep, climbed the +bank, and stealthily crept up until he came directly over the place +where the hippo had last appeared.</p> +<p class="pnext">Scarcely had he arrived there when the beast heaved its great back, +with a convulsion of the water, above the surface a little farther up +the pool. In an instant the rifle was at his shoulder: he fired; the +hippo gave a snort, and the water around him was agitated as by an +immense churn. Quick as thought John fired the second barrel: and the +beast rolled over on its side, with a bullet through the brain.</p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 61%" id="figure-47"> +<span id="the-hippo-gave-a-snort-and-the-water-around-him-was-agitated-as-by-an-immense-churn"></span><img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-262.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +"The hippo gave a snort, and the water around him was agitated as by an immense churn."</div> +</div> +<!-- --> +<p class="pfirst">The four porters shouted with delight, and plunged into the water to +drag the carcase to the bank with the cords they had brought with them. +The current, however, carried it downwards, and wedged it between two +rocks so tightly that, when they had tied the cords to the feet, all +their hauling failed for a time to dislodge it. John was determined to +secure the prey, which would provide two days' food for his whole +party, so he stripped off his sole remaining garment and, first spying +for crocodiles, swam to the assistance of the men. After ten minutes' +hauling the unwieldy body was freed from the detaining rocks and drawn +slowly to the bank.</p> +<p class="pnext">The men immediately set to work to cut it up with their knives. While +they were engaged in this task, John resolved to go a little farther in +search of more delicate fare for Ferrier and himself. Rolling on the +grass to dry himself, he put on his clothes and set off up-stream with +the Wanderobbo, instructing the others to retrace their steps slowly so +soon as they had tied up their loads. They had proceeded but a short +distance when Bill discovered the track of congoni which had recently +come down to the river to drink. Following it up, they by and by came +in sight of a small herd moving leisurely across the plain to the left. +Being to windward of them, it would be impossible to stalk them +directly. The only chance of getting a shot was to make a long detour +and come upon them from the further side. John's sporting instincts +were roused. There was no fear of losing the track of his men, so he +struck off with Bill at right angles to the river, and after walking +rapidly for half-an-hour in a wide curve, Bill never losing sight of +the game, they got ahead of them, and took cover in a clump of trees +which the animals must pass if they did not change their direction. +They came very slowly, and before reaching the trees swerved somewhat +to the right. It was now or never. John took aim at the nearest of +the herd, which presented its flank to him. His first shot brought it +down: the rest, raising their heads and looking round for a moment, +galloped off; and Bill hurried forward with John to cut from the dead +beast as much as he could carry.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was by this time more than an hour since they had left the men; and +since it would be at least another hour before they could overtake +them, John decided to hurry back as soon as Bill had prepared his load. +He was sitting at the edge of the clump of trees, clasping his knees, +and watching Bill's deft movements a few yards away, when he heard a +slight rustling behind him. Thinking it might be a lion or hyena +attracted by the scent of the game, he sprang up, grasping his rifle, +only to be thrown on to his back by the onset of near a score of +yelling savages. He had no opportunity of defending himself. His +rifle had been knocked from his hand and was now in the possession of a +tall Swahili, who grinned at him with malicious triumph as he lay on +the ground, and ordered the savages to turn him over and tie his hands +behind his back. Meanwhile some of the party had dashed after the +Wanderobbo, who had fled towards the river at the first alarm. The old +man was soon caught; John was hoisted to his feet; and in a few minutes +he had the mortification of knowing that he was being marched, a +prisoner, in a direction the exact opposite of the fort.</p> +<p class="pnext">The men were in an ecstasy of delight over their capture. They laughed +and jabbered among themselves, but John was unable to recognize the +dialect. He could not ask Bill who they were, for the crestfallen old +man was kept at a distance from him. His hands also had been tied +behind his back. John ventured once to speak to the Swahili, but the +only answer was a grunt.</p> +<p class="pnext">They marched on, with intervals for rest, but without food, for the +rest of the day. The country became more and more hilly as they +proceeded, but the Swahili, who led the way, was evidently familiar +with it. Just before sunset they came in sight of a stockaded village, +perched up on a hill, and surrounded by wide well-cultivated fields. +The Swahili called a halt while they were still some distance from the +stockade, and, leaving his prisoners in the charge of a dozen of the +men, went forward with the rest to the gate. There he held a long +parley with the villagers, whom John could see thronging the stockade. +The Swahili turned several times and pointed towards him, and then the +talk began again, with much excited gesturing. John could not guess +the meaning of the pantomime; the only thing that was clear was that it +had some reference to him. At length, when it was almost dark, the +Swahili turned away from the gate and came back to the remainder of his +party. Whatever the subject of the discussion had been, the result was +evidently satisfactory, for a contented smile overspread the man's +swarthy face. He gave a curt order to the men: the prisoners were +lifted from the ground where they had been laid, and urged towards the +village with ungentle proddings from their captors' spears. They +entered the gate and passed through a vast throng of excited people. +John was now able to exchange a few words with Bill, who told him +miserably that this was the village of the "bad men" who had destroyed +the ivory caravan. There was no time for more; the two prisoners were +again separated; amid yells from the men and shrieks of laughter from +the women John was hustled into a noisome hut, and there left, tired +and famished, to chew the cud of bitter reflection, amid the pressing +attentions of innumerable pestilent insects.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Here's a pretty go!" he thought. "I suppose they won't eat me, but +what will they do? This Swahili is surely one of Juma's gang, but what +is he doing here? If what Bill says is true, there'll be no love lost +between Juma and these people. What a precious fool I've been! I +wonder if those poor wretches with the hippo meat are collared too? +Good heavens! if they get back safe to the fort, I hope Ferrier won't +be mad enough to come to the rescue. If he does it's good-bye for us +all. Oh! <em class="italics">what</em> a fool I am!"</p> +<p class="pnext">To know one's folly is a stage towards wisdom: many men never get so +far.</p> +<p class="pnext">John groaned, and shook his head and body in a vain attempt to get rid +of his persistent visitors. He tried to release his arms, but failed. +At last, exhausted by fatigue and want of food, and resigned to the +stings he could not avoid, he fell into an uneasy sleep.</p> +<p class="pnext">Next morning, as soon as it was light, he was taken out of the hut, his +arms were unbound, and he was given a bunch of bananas, which he ate +ravenously, surrounded by a chattering, grinning crowd of villagers, +men, women, and children, who watched him curiously, making what he +felt to be very personal remarks. He looked around for his companion +in misfortune, but could not see him. He made signs that he was +thirsty, and a girl brought him a gourd of a sweetish-bitter liquor, +which he drained at a draught, and felt so silly that he wondered if he +was drunk. Then there was a great shouting, and the men went away. On +their departure the women drew nearer, touched his clothes and his +bandolier and ran back giggling, pointed to his fair skin where his +shirt was open at the neck, whereat he blushed and they shrieked. One +sportive damsel tugged at the leather watch-chain attached to his belt, +and screamed when his silver watch came out of its fob. He thought +with a kind of fuddled amusement that he might impress them by letting +them hear it tick, and when one came and tried to pull his hair, he +held the watch to her ear, and she fled away screeching.</p> +<p class="pnext">What was going on? he wondered. There was a great stirring in the +village. A man passed, and John saw that his face was hideously daubed +with white, and his head surrounded with the skin of some animal. He +carried a spear. Others similarly attired and armed came by. He got +up to watch them more closely, and the spectators fell back and made a +wide circle about him. Beyond them, in the centre of the village, men +were thronging together. It flashed upon him in a moment: they were +forming a war-party. The Swahili had come to enlist their aid. What +inducements he had held out could only be guessed. Probably he had +told them that a white man with great treasure was at their mercy. +"Poor old Charley!" thought John: "it'll be a miracle if he isn't +overwhelmed." For one mad moment he thought of making a dash to the +gate, only to realize that he would never reach it alive. He groaned +aloud, and the wretched little urchins around mocked him, booing with +vast enjoyment.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then he saw the Swahili approaching with the chief in all his +war-paint. They stood opposite him, talking loud and fast, with many +gesticulations. They were growing angry: what were they disputing +about? The Swahili pointed in the direction of the fort: the chief +shook his head and shouted. Could they be discussing whether to take +him with them or leave him behind? With all his heart he hoped they +would decide for the former course: he might perhaps escape from them +when they approached the fort. But no: presently the Swahili sullenly +gave way: John guessed that he felt that numbers were against him. +What was his fate to be? Was he to be held as a hostage for the due +fulfilment of promises held out? He could not tell. It was clear that +he was to be left in the village.</p> +<p class="pnext">The muster was complete. Amid a tremendous clamour the war-party moved +towards the gate. With a sinking of the heart John guessed at their +number: there must be three or four hundred. They marched out, the +Swahili among them, leaving two of his party evidently to keep a watch +on the prisoners--or the prisoner, for where was Bill? They had of +course recognized him as a Wanderobbo: had they butchered him at once? +No: there he was, at the entrance of a small hut thirty yards away. +John took courage at the sight of him. If he was spared, it must be +because, being employed by white men, he might have some commercial +value. It occurred to John now that Juma, the prime mover in these +machinations, would probably stop short of the actual murder of a white +man, and might hold him to ransom. But this did not relieve his +anxiety about Ferrier. The young Canadian would certainly not yield +without a struggle, and in that struggle he might well lose his life.</p> +<p class="pnext">The two men left on guard tied his hands again and took him back to his +hut. John made them understand by signs that he did not wish to be +cooped up in its foetid atmosphere, and they let him sit at the +entrance, standing close by with their spears. He saw now that he was +at the highest part of the village, overlooking a vast expanse of the +lower country. There was the war-party, already a dark blot amid the +green. He could see the river winding its way for miles and miles over +the plain, until it became little more than a silver streak in the +sunlight. Was it his fancy, or did he descry in the far distance the +island like a black spot on a silver plate?</p> +<p class="pnext">Suddenly he remembered that he had in his pocket the little mirror with +which he had signalled to Ferrier on the march from the farm. Perhaps +he could signal to him now--tell him of his plight, and warn him of the +reinforcement of the enemy. The warning would be of little use to him, +for he could not materially strengthen his defences; but it would at +least show him the folly and the impossibility of attempting a rescue. +Neither his guards nor the villagers would understand what he was +about. He took the mirror from his pocket. The group of onlookers who +had never left him came nearer: what was this piece of solid water that +the msungu held?</p> +<p class="pnext">A woman approached him shyly: he held the mirror up to her; she caught +sight of a black smiling face with sharp-filed teeth, and ran away in +consternation, screaming that it was a devil. As she stood explaining +the marvel to her friends, John threw a flash among them: they covered +their eyes, and flew like the wind. Then he turned the glass towards +the fort, and began to make tentative flashes. The guards watched him, +curiously, stolidly; what was the msungu doing? Again and again he +caught the sunbeam, and turned the mirror this way and that. For a +long time there was no answer: he feared the signal had not been seen. +Still he persevered. The guards had ceased to pay any attention to +him. At last he thought he saw a twinkling point of light. Yes: there +it was again: Ferrier was flashing back. Then he began to spell out +his message--</p> +<p class="pnext">"Prisoner: large war-party coming towards you. Good luck!"</p> +<p class="pnext">And presently, with much difficulty, for Ferrier's watchcase was a poor +instrument, he read the answer. He could not be sure of it, but it +seemed to be--</p> +<p class="pnext">"Poor old chap! Never say die."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-twentieth-shooting-the-rapids"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id21">CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH--Shooting the Rapids</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The curiosity of the villagers was lulled after a time, and they went +about their usual occupations. The few men left lolled and loafed and +played at knuckle-bones: the women went into the fields and returned +loaded with vegetables. John found that he was not to be ill-treated; +he was given food when the villagers had their meals, and nobody +molested him. The guards dozed near by. But when night came it was +clear that the men had had orders to watch him strictly. He was bound +both hand and foot and taken into the hut, the two men remaining with +the evident intention of keeping him company through the night. Before +he entered he saw that Bill was not held of so much account. He too +was bound, but to all appearance he was left to himself: indeed, the +hut assigned to him, half in ruins, was so small that there would +scarcely have been room in it for another occupant.</p> +<p class="pnext">John's discomfort this night sprang less from the insects, to which he +had become inured, than from the proximity of his guards. Armed with +spears, they did not trouble to keep awake, and he soon had proof that +snoring is not, as Ferrier had suggested, an accomplishment only of +civilized races. They might have been trumpeters! He lay oppressed in +the hot stifling air. Deep silence reigned in the village.</p> +<p class="pnext">Escape! Why not try? The gate would be unguarded: the negro never +keeps watch unless he is on the war-path, and even then very slackly. +If he once gained the outside, he would have at least some hours in +which to make good his flight. His guards might wake; they might or +might not discover that he had gone; if they did miss him, it would be +contrary to their instinct and their custom if they pursued him in the +dark. There was Bill to be considered: he must not be left behind. +But the first thing was to rid himself of his bonds, and that would be +no easy matter.</p> +<p class="pnext">Lying still to think out his plan, he saw a chance. All was hushed, +but for the tempestuous snores. It was pitch dark. The guards lay +together near the entrance. With careful movements he rolled and edged +and wriggled across the floor until he knew that he was within a few +inches of the men. Then, groping with his bound wrists, he sought for +a spear. He touched it, grasped it, drew it gently towards him. It +resisted: the guard was lying half upon it. He pulled it again: the +snoring ceased with a sudden snap, and John thought it was all over. +But there was a grunt; the man turned heavily on his side; and the +music began again. The spear was now freed. By careful manoeuvring +John got the head between his knees, and holding it fast, began to saw +the thongs that bound his wrists. The weapon was sharp: the strands +parted; he rubbed the skin to relieve the smarting pain, and then, with +two sharp cuts, released his ankles.</p> +<p class="pnext">He stood erect and listened. Only those horn-blasts at his feet. He +peered through the entrance. The darkness without was scarcely less +than within. Carefully, and with a shiver of apprehension, John +stepped over the two stretched forms, in nervous terror lest he should +plant a foot on one of them. He gained the entrance, glancing warily +to right and left, and stepped into the open, snuffing greedily at the +cool air. The village was asleep, calm as the stars twinkling overhead.</p> +<p class="pnext">The tumble-down hut in which Bill lay was thirty yards nearer to the +gate. Four huts intervened. John crept round to the back of them and +stole along on tip-toe. He came to the fifth hut, which was separated +from the fourth by a passage a yard wide. Groping down this, he +reached the entrance, and after another look round, put his head +within. All was silent. Perhaps the Wanderobbo tribe did not snore! +He called the man's name softly.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Bwana!" whispered Bill.</p> +<p class="pnext">In a trice John was beside him. In ten seconds he had cut the ropes. +In twenty both were at the back of the hut. Now Bill took the lead. +He plunged into a banana plantation behind the line of huts, and made +his way swiftly towards the stockade. They came to the gate: it was +unguarded. Being merely a sort of strong hurdle of thorn, held in +position by a few logs, its removal was easy. They passed out, and +lifted the gate back to its former position, though, of course, they +were unable to fasten it. They then ran across the stretch of trodden +grass outside the village, down the hill towards the river.</p> +<p class="pnext">Far to the left a lion roared, and John heard his companion utter the +strange gulping sound which in the negro indicates fright. A night +journey in these wilds was a perilous undertaking. They had one spear +between them, a paltry weapon if they should be pounced upon by some +beast of prey. There was just enough light from the stars to enable +them to choose the opener ground, avoiding bush and trees in which wild +beasts might lurk. They moved fast, for John had set his heart on +reaching the neighbourhood of the fort before dawn. There were few +able-bodied men left in the village, but these would turn out in the +morning as soon as the escape was discovered, and scour the surrounding +country. This was reason enough for haste, but there was another. If +they did not succeed in entering the fort before daylight, it would +probably be impossible until the following night. The attack in all +likelihood had not yet been made; the villagers would scarcely attempt +it after their long march; John's whole mind was set on standing by +Ferrier's side when the assault came.</p> +<p class="pnext">On they went, running when the ground permitted. Every now and then +John had to stop for Bill's sake, the poor old man, weakened by terror +and hunger (John discovered afterwards that he had had no food all +day), being unequal to the pace. Presently, in descending too rapidly +a sharp declivity, John slipped and sprained himself. When he started +again every movement was painful. To go at any great speed was now +impossible. Still he pushed on, grudging every lost minute of the +night.</p> +<p class="pnext">He could not tell what the time was; it was too dark to see his watch. +His pain grew worse at every step, and though he limped along gamely, +he had at length to confess himself done, and sank to the ground. His +distress of mind was as great as that of his body. Was he doomed to +fail? As he crouched miserably in the grass he heard the swirling of +the river close at his right hand. He would go to it and bathe his +aching legs. Bill expostulated: there were sure to be crocodiles; but +John would not be gainsaid. He dragged himself towards the river, and +sat down to rest on a small tree-trunk which had apparently been washed +ashore. In the faint light he saw others dotted about. An idea +flashed upon him. Could they make a raft? Bill had never heard of +such a thing: John did not know if there was a word for it. But he +made him understand that he was to collect some of the smaller logs, +and then to lash them together with strands of the creeping plants +which grew in abundance around. It was hard work and slow in the +darkness, John himself being unable to move freely; but at length +something in the semblance of a raft lay beside him. Rising with +difficulty, he helped Bill to carry it the few yards to the water; +then, peering around for crocodiles, which they would hardly have seen +if any had lain there, they launched the raft and managed to scramble +on board, each carrying a branch to steer with. The current was swift; +there was no need for paddling; and thus, perched precariously on their +crazy craft, they floated down the stream.</p> +<p class="pnext">At times they heard movements on one bank or the other. Once they +heard the horrid snap of a crocodile's jaws. A little farther on the +raft bumped against something; there was a swirl of water, and John +went hot and cold at the suspicion that they had collided with a +hippopotamus. The current bore them past in safety, to his +inexpressible relief; one heave of the monster's body would have turned +them over.</p> +<p class="pnext">So they went on, how long John could not tell. The darkness seemed to +be lifting: from the banks came sounds of awakening life: where were +they? The river was flowing more swiftly; it was racing; and John +suddenly realized with a gasp that he had entered the rapids at the +head of the pool. With frantic movements of the paddles they tried to +steer into the bank; but the current was too much for them; the +lumbering craft was swept along at ever quickening speed; they were +helpless. Dropping their paddles--the spear was already gone--they +held on for dear life to the lashings. Some of them snapped: one of +the outer logs was wrenched away; the raft whirled round, and every +moment John expected it to break apart and hurl them into the race. +Still he clung on with convulsive grip. Bill was flat on his face with +his hands over the edge. On they went, jerked and jarred, until with +startling suddenness they were shot over a rock, and found themselves +floating on the pool.</p> +<p class="pnext">The raft was almost in pieces, but it floated more slowly towards the +island. John's relief at finding himself and his companion yet alive +was dashed by a new anxiety. Dawn was glimmering in the sky. If they +were not rescued they would float through the pool to the longer and +even more dangerous series of rapids at the further end. They might be +seen by the enemy on the bank. He could not swim to the fort; his +whole body was stiff and racked with pain; his limbs would fail him. +The raft was drifting past the fort; very slowly, for it was no longer +in the middle of the current; but being without anything to serve as a +paddle, the two could do nothing to check its steady progress towards +the lower rapids. There was only one chance. He called to Bill to +shout at the top of his voice, and putting two fingers to his lips, he +blew a shrill whistle which no white man would fail to recognize. In a +moment there came an answering whistle from the fort. Dimly he saw +figures at the wall. He shouted: a cheery cry answered him: and in a +few moments he saw Ferrier and four men lug a canoe to the gate and put +off to the rescue.</p> +<p class="pnext">But the whistle and the shouts had been heard by the enemy, who were +already astir. John could not yet see them, but he heard their yells, +and knew that they were swarming towards the pool.</p> +<p class="pnext">"All right, old man, we've got the start of them," cried Ferrier, as +the canoe rapidly approached.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a race between the canoe and the current, between the rescuers +and the enemy. A shot rang out: a flight of arrows hissed into the +water. The raft was drifting within range of the enemy; but in the +half-darkness and against the background of wood on the shore the small +floating object offered but an indifferent mark. Had the day been even +a few minutes older the occupants of the raft would have stood a poor +chance against the arrows, to say nothing of the rifles, of the crowd +that could now be seen flitting like shadows round the margin of the +pool. The greatest source of alarm, however, was not the imperfect +shooting of the enemy, but the rapids to which the raft was drawing +ever nearer. Weakened as it was by its passage of the upper rapids, it +was inconceivable that it could survive the second and far more +formidable strain. The rush of the water could already be heard; the +movement of the raft was perceptibly quickening. Would Ferrier arrive +in time? And if he did overtake the raft, would he too not run a +fearful risk of being drawn into the stream and hurled along in utter +helplessness? The shouts from the shore redoubled in volume; arrows +flew more and more thickly; and John had almost yielded to despair when +the canoe shot up alongside at an amazing pace. Some one grasped the +raft; the crew backed water with all their might. Bill plunged into +the water and scrambled on board the canoe.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I can't move; I've ricked myself," cried John. "You must lug me in."</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier leant over, grasped him, and hauled him by main force into the +canoe. Then the four sturdy natives dug their paddles into the water. +The enemy had reached the brink; some were already on the causeway; but +at this moment four rifles flashed from the fort, and a man toppled off +the causeway into the pool. The others halted. The canoe sped on; a +bullet splashed in its wake; more arrows fell perilously near; but just +as the enemy had gained courage to rush over the causeway again, +Ferrier steered the canoe away from that side and guided it round to +the lower end of the island where landing was easier. The canoe +scraped the shore: its occupants sprang to land: and with Ferrier's aid +the negroes carried John up to the wall, where willing hands hoisted +him over.</p> +<p class="pnext">"A near shave, old chap," said Ferrier. "You look awfully done up."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Pretty nearly crocked," said John, with a feeble smile. "Are those +beggars attacking?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No," replied Ferrier, looking over the wall. "They've gone back. +It's not light enough yet."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Thank goodness! I'm no good at present; I'm----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't you worry," interrupted Ferrier, seeing his lips quivering. +"Just lie easy for a bit: I'll bring you something to eat."</p> +<p class="pnext">John closed his eyes and shivered in his drenched clothes. Ferrier got +two of the men to carry him to the fire, and in a few moments gave him +a mug of soup.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You'll feel better after that: hippo soup, my boy."</p> +<p class="pnext">"They got back safely then?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of course they did, an hour after sundown. They hid in the woods +yonder until the coast was clear. I gave them a good ragging for +leaving you."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That wasn't fair; we left them."</p> +<p class="pnext">"So they said. You may imagine what a funk I was in when they came +back without you. I didn't sleep a wink all night."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Poor old chap! We went after congoni when they were cutting up the +hippo, and were rushed as neatly as possible, and carried off to the +village of Bill's 'bad men' in the hills. Our captors were evidently +an embassy from Juma to enlist the chief's assistance. Three or four +hundred warriors in full fig left yesterday morning: have you seen +anything of them?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not yet. We heard a great hullabaloo in Juma's camp last night, and I +guessed the lot you signalled about had come in. I was glad you +signalled; it was a relief to know you were alive. I wished I could +come up and rescue you, and I'd have had a shot at it if you hadn't +told me the war-party were coming. Of course that dished it. I +couldn't have got through, and I'm afraid our fellows wouldn't have +held out long if I'd left them."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of course not. It would have been simply mad to try it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All the same, it was pretty rotten having to stop here able to do +nothing. I chafed a good deal, I can tell you. When I got your +message, as the enemy were very quiet I sent Coja and one of my askaris +out to see if they could spy out where you were; and what do you +think--Said Mohammed insisted on going too."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, I'm hanged!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"He said it was quite impossible for him to pursue the even tenor of +his way while you, his boss and patron, were in parlous circs. and +durance vile. I'm beginning to think the Bengali has been libelled; go +deep enough and you'll find a man. Anyway, he insisted on going, and +I'm sorry to say none of the three has come back."</p> +<p class="pnext">John groaned from utter weariness and disappointment.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What a mess I've made of everything!" he said. "If ever we get safely +out of this I'll not go rampaging after stolen rifles again. Look what +I've brought on everybody!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Utter rot! Nobody came against his will, and who could foresee all +this? We've had amazing luck really, and as for getting safely out of +it--but look here, old man, you mustn't shiver like that. I'm a +fat-headed chump. Off with your clothes; they're sopping. We haven't +got a change, but you won't shock any one's modesty. I'll rub you dry +with some of Said's cloths; your things will dry in no time, and I'll +try massage for your sprain. You'll take a good stiff dose of quinine, +too; we can't have an invalid on our hands."</p> +<p class="pnext">John winced as he rose to strip. Ferrier got his clothes off, rubbed +him vigorously with cloths ("Shout when I hurt," he said), then rolled +him in a blanket and laid him down by the fire, "To sweat it out, you +know."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Just go and look after Bill," said John, feeling comfortably lazy.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Bill's all right, bless your heart! He's got no clothes to dry, and +he's tucking into roast hippo like one o'clock. It's the last of it, +by the way. It bucked the men up wonderfully. I wish we had some +more."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How do we stand for food?" asked John anxiously.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Never you mind about food. You shall have your dinner when the time +comes. The best thing you can do is to go to sleep, and when you wake +you can tell me how you managed to escape from the 'bad men.' Are they +very bad, like the little girl who was horrid? No, you needn't answer; +just shut your eyes while I count ten, and you'll sleep like a top."</p> +<p class="pnext">Two hours later, the man on guard at the gate, one of Ferrier's +askaris, reported that a number of men were marching across the plain +towards the causeway. Ferrier went to the gate, and saw that the group +consisted of two Swahilis and four of their followers. A great throng +of black men stood at the edge of the wood, giving no sign of an +intention to move.</p> +<p class="pnext">"A deputation, I presume," thought Ferrier. "Coming to offer us terms!"</p> +<p class="pnext">The men advanced along the causeway, the Swahilis first. When they had +come half-way Ferrier told the askari at his side to order them to +stop. They came to a halt immediately.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ask 'em if one of them is Juma," said Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">No: one was Sadi ben Asmani, the other Jumbi ben Abdullah.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then you may tell Sadi ben Asmani and Jumbi ben Abdullah that I have +nothing to say to them, and they had better be off, sharp."</p> +<p class="pnext">When this was interpreted the Swahilis glowered. One of them began to +speak, but Ferrier signed to him to be silent.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Tell them I'll listen to the others, but won't hear a word from them."</p> +<p class="pnext">The causeway being too narrow for two men to pass securely, the file +faced about and retreated to the shore. Then they came on again, the +negroes this time leading, and the Swahilis remaining at the end of the +causeway. The first negro, a finely proportioned fellow whom it was a +pleasure to look upon, began to address the white man, using his hands +freely.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What does he say?" asked Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">The askari did not know his dialect. From the crowd of men who had +gathered at the wall one stepped forward saying that he knew it.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, tell me what he says."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Him say msungu come out: no lib for no more fight. Great big lot o' +black men: msungu no can run away."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You can tell him that the msungu won't come out, and the black men had +better run away. They have come to fight us, who never did them any +harm. They have come to help a lot of thieves and murderers, who have +stolen the goods of the black men round about. This fort is where they +lived, and where they kept the goods they stole. The fort now belongs +to the msungu. A great many wasungu are now coming from their fort far +away to punish them, and when they come they will scatter them as the +lion scatters sheep. Tell them we are quite happy; we aren't a bit +afraid of them; we have beaten them twice, and we'll beat them again. +They had better take up their cook-pots and go home."</p> +<p class="pnext">This little speech Ferrier delivered sentence by sentence, wondering +how much of it was fairly translated. The deputation clearly gathered +the gist of it, for with every sentence they became manifestly more +incensed. At the close they shouted and waved their arms, and then the +leader, with the air of one playing his trump card, cried out that the +msungu's talk was fool's talk, for they held a sheep-faced msungu a +prisoner in their village far away, and if their demand was not +instantly complied with, the sheep-faced msungu would be killed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"By Jove!" thought Ferrier, "they didn't recognize old John then. What +a tremendous lark! I'll give them a shocker."</p> +<p class="pnext">To the evident amazement of the natives he laughed heartily. Then, +bidding them stand where they were until he came back to them, he +returned into the fort.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I say, John," he said, with a chuckle, shaking the sleeping form; +"wake up, old chap. There's a deputation outside summoning us to +surrender, and threatening if we don't to slaughter a sheep-faced +msungu--sheep-faced, old chap!--whom they've got penned up in their +village. Come and show yourself; I bet they'll look sheepish. It was +evidently too dark to see you when you came down on your raft. Slip +your things on: you don't look the same man in that blanket."</p> +<p class="pnext">John laughed and slipped on his shirt and breeches, now thoroughly dry. +His sun-helmet, which had been fastened on by a strap, was rather +pulpy, but Ferrier clapped it on his head, saying that it didn't +matter. In a few seconds he had limped to the gate, and stood at +Ferrier's side, smiling very amiably.</p> +<p class="pnext">The natives were struck dumb with astonishment. The Swahilis could not +have been more confounded if they had seen a ghost. After gazing for a +full minute at the msungu whom they imagined to be in safe custody +fifteen miles away, they turned round and marched back in silence, only +breaking into excited talk when they reached the shore. The two white +men stood watching them until they rejoined the vast throng gathered at +the edge of the wood.</p> +<p class="pnext">"They've got something to digest," said Ferrier, with a laugh. "Now +we'll go and get some dinner."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-twenty-first-a-combined-assault"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id22">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST--A Combined Assault</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">"Think they'll give it up?" said Ferrier, as they sat over their dinner.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not they! Those fellows haven't come all the way from their village +for nothing. They wouldn't have come at all but for some strong +inducement, for Juma isn't an old friend of theirs, remember."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, there's very little inducement so far as I can see. There's +next to no loot bar the rifles and ammunition, and Juma would bag those +if he licked us. The others would have a very poor look-in."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You forget the sort of old curiosity shop collection that the men were +so delighted with. The 'bad men' would get those, of course."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's very little among so many; you said there were about four hundred +of them."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, but Juma wouldn't be over particular as to what he promised. All +he wanted was to get their help. If he were to lick us, he could +safely defy the 'bad men,' for with the rifles and practically +unlimited ammunition he could do what he liked with 'em. He's sure to +attack us, maybe to-day, maybe to-morrow; and the best thing we can do +is to strengthen our defences. We shall have all our work cut out to +keep 'em off this time: we're three rifles short; I suppose Coja and +the others took theirs with them?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, unfortunately. But I've already begun to strengthen the +defences--started when I got your message."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Good man! What did you do?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"First thing, I cut down some of the young trees at the further end of +the island. I thought they might give cover to the enemy if they tried +an attack in that quarter. Then it occurred to me that if we could +raise a sort of bastion to jut over the wall by the gate yonder, we +could fire at them without exposing ourselves, and--what do they call +it?--enfilade them."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Capital! I wondered what that rummy erection meant. Didn't like to +say so, but it looks like a funeral pyre."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, it's not finished, you know. It took us a good time to cut down +the trees and strip off the branches. The enemy didn't see what we +were about until we had got a pretty good pile of logs, and then they +began shooting at us--with arrows; they didn't want to waste +ammunition, I suppose. I had to draw the men off then, and we haven't +gone at it again: your arrival has put everything else in the shade."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We may as well finish that bastion now, at any rate, and put up +another on the other side of the gate, if there's wood enough. Sorry I +can't help you; I'm too stiff. You'll have to perch me up on one of +the bastions when the attack comes, and leave me there."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh, you'll soon be all right. I'll give you a good rubbing by and by +with hippo grease; it'll be as good as goose fat, and that's what the +old wives use, isn't it?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier set the men to work on the bastions, instructing them how to +pile the logs and to interlace the branches they had lopped off, so as +to form a kind of parapet, the interstices between the branches making +natural loopholes.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were still engaged on this task, about four o'clock in the +afternoon, when Ferrier's attention was attracted by movements among +the enemy, who formed a dense black mass, with a few white spots, +against the background of trees. He thought that the signs of activity +portended an attack, and called to some of the men to occupy the one +bastion that was finished. They obeyed quickly, carrying John with +them at his own order. But it was soon apparent that the enemy were +not contemplating an immediate assault. They suddenly threw themselves +on the ground in a large circle, three ranks deep, the Swahilis, eight +in number, standing at the centre.</p> +<p class="pnext">"A council of war: what they call a shauri," said John.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was soon seen that there was a difference of opinion among the +assembly. At first the discussion proceeded in a quiet and orderly +manner, the sound of voices reaching the fort very faintly. But +presently there were clear signs of excitement. Some of the warriors +sprang up, and harangued the Swahilis fiercely, brandishing their +spears in the direction of the fort. Their voices were raised; the +tumult increased moment by moment; and the sound became a continuous +roar, like the noise of surf at a distance.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The allies are at loggerheads," said Ferrier. "They may raise the +siege."</p> +<p class="pnext">The chief of the "bad men" was in fact demanding to know why the +Swahilis had brought him and his men on a fool's errand. Where was the +promised spoil? In a fort, defended by a wall, a pool of water, and an +army led by wasungu. How had the msungu whom they had left in the +village, bound and under guard, come into the fort? Surely by magic; +and if the wasungu had such wonderful medicine it was useless to attack +them.</p> +<p class="pnext">To this Juma--for it was he--replied that the spoil was indeed within +the fort, but the defences were not so formidable as they appeared. +The wall had been partly demolished; the pool could be swum, it +contained no crocodiles; and as for the men within, it was clear they +must be very weak, for they had taken no food into the fort for many +days. Nor could they get any; no doubt an attempt had been made that +morning, and found to be impossible because of the current. (Such was +his explanation of the incident of the raft.) And as for the msungu +who had reappeared so mysteriously, it was no magic, but the +carelessness of the guards that accounted for that: the msungu must +have escaped, and not being afraid of the dark had marched during the +night.</p> +<p class="pnext">This aspersion on the trustworthiness of the guards roused the chief to +fury. Springing up, he demanded the instant fulfilment of the promise +made to him. He worked himself up to an ecstasy of indignation; his +men caught fire from him; and when the tumult was at its height they +suddenly wheeled round and, following their chief, began to march off +towards their village.</p> +<p class="pnext">"This looks promising, certainly," said John, who had watched the +proceedings closely. "If we could only get out we might even enlist +those fellows on our side."</p> +<p class="pnext">But in a few moments a change came over the scene. Six painted +warriors came running from the north-west to meet the marching force, +which halted, swallowing up the runners into its own mass. A few +minutes passed; then the whole body wheeled about and returned to the +spot where the Swahilis and their negroes were still grouped in a +circle.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Men from the village come to report our escape," said John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"But why should that make the chief turn back?" rejoined Ferrier. "It +ought to have the opposite effect."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I take it that the chief is so mad at being done that he has decided +not to go until he has caught me again."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But your escape is no news to him. They've seen you already."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's true. Well, I can't account for it; but it's clear that those +six fellows have caused a change in the tide, and I wish them at +Halifax."</p> +<p class="pnext">The conference was resumed, and continued until dark. There was no +further outburst. Ferrier utilized the time to finish the second +bastion: it was impossible to doubt that the enemy was planning an +attack. It would not be made in the night, but must be looked for as +soon as morning broke. Ferrier's expression was very grave as he +helped John to reach his little grass hut in the centre of the fort. +He had made an inspection of the stock of provisions during the +morning, and knew that it would not last beyond another day.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I won't worry John to-night," he thought, "but he'll have to know in +the morning."</p> +<p class="pnext">Though convinced that no attack would be made during the dark hours, +Ferrier took the precaution of putting four men on sentry-go. He +insisted on John's going to bed as soon as he had had his massaging, +and sat down by the fire himself, in no cheerful frame of mind. He +knew he would get little sleep that night, for the negro, though +willing enough, is ever an untrustworthy sentinel. And when he +reflected on the horde of savage enemies without, he could not look +forward with confidence to the issue of the coming fight. He canvassed +the possibility of help coming from Nairobi or Fort Hall, reckoning how +long it would take for the messenger to reach Mr. Gillespie, and how +long for a rescue party to gain the fort. But he found the very +elements of the calculation uncertain; try as he might, he could not +recollect clearly how many days had passed since they left the farm. +Never before had he understood the savage man's indifference to time; +it was now clear; time is an invention of civilization.</p> +<p class="pnext">While he was sitting thus brooding over the fire, one of the sentries, +an askari of his original safari, came running to him.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Bwana," he said, "man ober dere."</p> +<p class="pnext">He pointed towards the western end of the island. Ferrier sprang up, +seizing rifle and revolver: surely the enemy had not crossed the river +in the darkness and crept round to attack the fort from this side? +Hastening to the wall, he mounted upon it and peered into the night. +Nothing could be seen. But in a moment he thought he heard a faint +sound. He listened intently: yes, he heard it again; it was a kind of +whinny--the signal he had arranged with Coja in case he should return +after sunset. The men were safe, then; he rejoiced for their own sake, +and because it meant the addition of three good rifles to the morrow's +defence. Calling up two of the men, he had the canoe lowered and +carried down to the water, himself accompanying them, since he could +never be sure that unreasoning panic might not seize them. The canoe +was launched and paddled quietly to the farther shore of the pool. Two +men stepped down to meet it: they were Coja and the askari.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where is Said Mohammed?" asked Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Him gone, sah," replied Coja: "dunno where he are."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You lost him?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Long long way ober dere."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Before it was dark?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Long time, sah,"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Did you look for him?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh yes, sah, look for him long time, sure nuff."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, get in. You're a couple of muffs, to say the least. What were +you doing?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Coja explained that about midday, as they were fording the river, a +number of leeches fastened on their legs. They jumped about to rid +themselves of the creatures, and suddenly a huge brown crocodile, waked +by the disturbance, slid off a mud bank into the stream, within a foot +or two of Said Mohammed. The Bengali heard the flop of the loathsome +reptile just in time to spring out of its reach. The others dashed +across the river at full speed: Said Mohammed ran back to the bank they +had left, scrambled up, and sped away as fast as his legs would carry +him into the bush. Coja did not venture to recross the stream at that +spot: he sought a ford higher up, but was long in finding one. Both he +and the askari waded over and searched along the bank; they did not +dare to shout, for fear of bringing an enemy upon them; and failing +after a long time to discover any trace of the Bengali, they had +thought it best to return to the fort.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And did you find the place where the <em class="italics">bwana</em> and Bill are kept?" asked +Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No, sah: them's dead, sure miff."</p> +<p class="pnext">"They're here, and alive," he said. "I was a fool to let the men go," +was his unspoken thought.</p> +<p class="pnext">The men were amazed and delighted that the master had returned. As for +Said Mohammed, it was doubtful whether his fate gave them any concern.</p> +<p class="pnext">The night passed in peace. Ferrier felt very weary in the morning, but +John, after a long sleep, rose much refreshed, though he still found +moving difficult. About eight o'clock there was a cry from the gate +that the enemy were rushing down towards the causeway. The bastions +were instantly manned, John taking post in one and Ferrier in the +other, dividing the askaris equally between them. Twenty men with +spears and bows and arrows were told off to hold the broken portion of +the wall on either side of the gate, where the attack was most to be +feared. The remainder of the force were stationed at various points, +to be ready to run wherever they were called, and to keep watch on the +opposite side of the island.</p> +<p class="pnext">John was surprised to see that the enemy did not take to the water, as +they had done on the former occasion, but came in a yelling line along +the causeway. They were Juma's newest allies, and being without +personal experience of the reception their friends had formerly met +with, they came rushing across with a reckless courage. When the first +man had reached the middle of the causeway, a volley was fired +simultaneously from each of the bastions, and half the line fell into +the water, uttering dreadful yells. There was a momentary pause; but +the leader had escaped; he bounded forward, followed by the survivors +and others who had not come within the line of fire. The shore behind +was thick with black warriors, hideous in their war-paint, and shouting +furiously. Only Ferrier's rifle was double-barrelled; John's had been +taken from him when he was captured; and before the men could reload, +several of the enemy had reached the end of the causeway, and, +springing into the water at the gap, gained the shelf of land beneath +the wall. Ferrier's rifle disposed of one of them; the rest rushed up +to the gate and the ruined rampart, and were in a moment fighting +hand-to-hand with the men within.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Keep your fire on the causeway," shouted John, who then called to some +of the men in reserve to mount the wall and fling stones on the men +trying to clamber up. A second volley from either side crashed into +the negroes racing towards the fort. Only two of them got across. +Those behind who had not been struck down came to a sudden halt, only +to be pushed on by those surging in the rear. The result was that a +score of unhurt negroes were hustled into the water. John forbore to +fire at these, but as soon as his men had reloaded, sent another volley +among those who were still running along. Meanwhile the defenders of +the wall had beaten off the assault of the men below, who were at a +hopeless disadvantage. Two or three fell groaning to the ground, +transfixed with spears; the rest leapt into the pool, and struck out +frantically for the shore. The sight of this retreat, and a fourth +volley from their unseen enemy, shattered the confidence of the bravest +negroes. There was wild confusion on the causeway. Those upon it +could not retreat because of the pressure of their comrades behind. +They jumped into the water on both sides. The others, seeing that all +was lost, fled back towards the wood. In ten minutes after the first +attack they were in full flight.</p> +<p class="pnext">But at this moment a shout was raised that the enemy were attacking +from the other side of the island. Ferrier instantly sprang down from +his perch, and calling on his men to follow him, rushed across the +enclosure to repel this new assault. John, perforce confined to his +post, ordered his company to join the others, while he alone kept watch +on the causeway. Being undisturbed, he had leisure to consider what +the enemy's plan had been. He could not doubt that they had arranged +in their council of war that the Swahilis with their party should cross +the river and creep under cover of the trees and scrub to the western +shore of the pool. The intention had certainly been that the attack +should be made on both sides of the fort simultaneously. If it had +been perfectly timed, and begun at a concerted signal, the plight of +the garrison might have been very serious. But careful co-operation is +impossible to the negro. The men on the eastern side had rushed +blindly to the assault, heedless of what the other party was doing. +These, led by Juma himself, had made their way unobserved to the place +arranged, and swum the pool under cover of the fringe of trees which +were still left standing. But only one or two had landed when they +heard the din of fighting on the other side. Juma, more intelligent +than the negroes, had seen at once the necessity of striking while the +garrison was engaged in that quarter. But he was compelled to wait +until he had sufficient support, and by the time he had gathered a +score of men about him the eastern attack was beaten off, and the +defenders were hurrying to meet him.</p> +<p class="pnext">When Ferrier reached the wall, he saw the Swahilis and their followers +coming up the slope in a straggling body. The moment they perceived +him, they halted; those who had rifles fired them off, too hurriedly to +take effective aim; the others let fly a shower of arrows. Then they +all rushed forward, a disorderly shouting mob. Ferrier fired his +rifle, but his men had not had time to reload, having hastened from the +bastion immediately after the final volley upon the causeway. The +enemy had come within about twenty yards of the wall when Ferrier, +whipping out his revolver, snapped a shot at Juma and winged him. The +big man fell to the ground with a howl of pain; his men halted in +consternation. This was not the easy victory they had been promised. +Their hesitation was fatal. It had given time to the men on the wall +to load their pieces. A general fusillade spattered bullets among the +waverers; it quickened them into action, but instead of continuing +their advance they turned tail and bolted down the slope, pursued by a +shower of arrows. Juma had risen, and struggled along with the help of +two of his kind. They fled with all speed among the trees, and the +garrison, yelling with delight, saw them no more that day.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-twenty-second-a-counter-stroke"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id23">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SECOND--A Counter Stroke</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">John had every reason to be satisfied when he took stock of the results +of the action. The enemy had been thoroughly routed, with considerable +loss: he had no men killed, and only a few with superficial flesh +wounds. But he looked grave enough when, at dinner-time, Ferrier +confessed that he had already had to put the men on half rations.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Our only hope is that the enemy have had enough of it and will clear +off," he said. "The 'bad men,' at any rate, won't think much of their +job."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And Juma himself has had a reminder that won't leave him for a few +days. But if they <em class="italics">don't</em> clear off----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must wait and see. There ought to be plenty of fish in this pool; +couldn't we try a little angling?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"What about hooks?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, there are some empty condensed milk-tins; we can make some sort +of hooks out of them. And as for bait--I say, look there!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Two vultures were swooping down upon the western end of the island.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Sickening!" said Ferrier, with a shudder. "I'll go and pot them and +get the men to attend to things there. The birds will give us bait, +and the men may like to eat them--I couldn't."</p> +<p class="pnext">Several large hooks were made out of milk-tins. A piece of rope was +unravelled to form lines, and several of the men were soon sitting on +the causeway, angling with portions of the vultures which Ferrier shot. +In the course of an hour or two they caught several fish, large and +small; but the total quantity was insignificant in comparison with what +was needed to give all a full meal. They were all rather hungry when +they settled down for the night, and the white men devoutly hoped that +when morning dawned they would see that the enemy's force had broken up.</p> +<p class="pnext">In this they were disappointed. Daylight showed them parties of +negroes hovering on the outskirts of the wood. That their intention +was to resume their old tactics of watching the fort was proved before +the day was over. A long line of women was observed coming from the +north, bending under heavy loads.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Grub for them," said Ferrier. "They're short, like us: but they can +draw on the village while we starve."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I wonder if we could intercept a convoy," suggested John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Very risky: practically impossible. We couldn't tell when it's +coming. We might have to wait a day or two, and miss it after all. +Besides, we might be cut off; they're strong enough to keep us out if +they get between us and the fort; and the garrison would be so much +weakened that they couldn't hold out against a general attack. No: we +mustn't think of it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, it looks as if we must either break out or starve. We may +starve in any case. We didn't pass a single cultivated field on the +way up, and if we made a dash for home we should have to depend on game +and what wild fruits we could pick up. I don't know what on earth we +can do, that's a fact."</p> +<p class="pnext">Next day saw them no nearer a solution of the problem. The enemy were +still in force, and the punishment they had received had not sufficed +to detach the "bad men," who were easily distinguishable from the other +negroes by their characteristic equipment. Juma had in fact persuaded +them that the surrender of the white men was only a matter of time: +they could not live without food, and while they remained in the fort +to obtain food was impossible.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Look here, Charley," said John that afternoon, "we can't stand this +any longer. It's neck or nothing, and I'm for a bold course. That +village up yonder is crammed with food-stuff of all kinds. They've +just been harvesting. I vote we make a dash for it and seize enough to +last us best part of the way home. All the fighting men are away, or +nearly all. If we can only get there it'll be easy enough to capture +the place and hold it as long as we like: there's a good stockade. But +I don't want to hold it. We might stay there a day or two until our +men are fed up, and then make tracks. Perhaps we'd have the luck to +escape them; it's not likely, I admit. They would be between us and +the farm: we should have to be uncommonly clever to dodge them; and as +we couldn't move fast, with our men loaded, they're bound to come up +with us some time or other. That would mean a fight in the open; +perhaps a running fight for miles, with the odds of numbers against us. +But I prefer fighting to starving; and it's Hobson's choice."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It means a night march."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, but the men won't mind that. We haven't failed in anything so +far, and success goes a long way with them."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Your escape has bucked them more than anything. Bill has told them +some wonderful story about your voyage on the raft, and if you talked +about taking a trip to the moon I believe they'd think it feasible."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Things couldn't be better, then. Suppose we start about eight +o'clock--the enemy will all be asleep by then--we should have ten +hours' grace before sunrise, more than long enough to get to the +village, barring accidents."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That is, if they don't find out that we've gone."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of course. I don't see why they should do that. They've never shown +any inclination to attack us in the darkness, and if any of them keep a +watch on the causeway side, they certainly don't at the other end, or +Coja couldn't have got in. That's our way out. We shall have to keep +the men quiet, but we've done that before, and when we've explained to +them what's at stake they'll be on their mettle. We'll cross the pool +in the canoes, and the paddles won't make any sound that they can hear, +if we're careful."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I've an idea. While we're ferrying our things over, and most of the +men, why not start the others on a sing-song? That would drown any +noise we might make."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And wake the enemy! They'd wonder what was up. Why should we disturb +their rest? Better not make any difference in our usual ways, I think: +keep our fires burning, and give 'em no reason to think we're doing +anything out of the ordinary."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You're right. There's a risk that in spite of all our care they'll +hear something, but it will take 'em some time to make sure that we've +gone, and it's ten to one they won't pursue us in the darkness."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And when they do find out, in the daylight, they'll probably waste +some time in picking up the trail, unless they are good trackers, which +we've no evidence of. I fancy we shall get, as I said, a good ten +hours' start of them, and I defy 'em to catch us then--again barring +accidents."</p> +<p class="pnext">"D'you think you can stand the march?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm going to chance it, anyway. Your rubbings have done me a deal of +good, and we can't go very fast at night, so I think I'll manage to +keep up. If I can't, you must just sling me on to a litter. I'm +eleven stone two--or was; I suspect I've lost a few pounds lately; but +four men could toddle along with me, and a dozen will have loads in any +case. There's the ammunition, and all that flummery I gave to them; +they won't want to leave that."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Suppose we find that some of the war-party have gone back?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's not likely. They're here with the idea of getting loot, and not +a man Jack of them will be willing to lose the chance of his share. +Anyway, we must risk it. If we have luck we shall get to the village +before it's light, and a sudden rush will have the effect it always has +on them."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, it sounds rather promising, and, upon my word, I'm itching to be +off."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All in good time, old man. I wish we could all have a good feed +before we start, but perhaps the men will march the better with the +promise of a meal before them."</p> +<p class="pnext">The preparation of the men's loads was set about betimes. The absence +of large quantities of food was an advantage; the other goods could +easily be carried by twelve of the men, and the labour would be +lightened by transferring the loads to the others in turn.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was much excitement among the negroes when John explained his +plan to them. The past successes had given them entire confidence in +their leaders; and the prospect of actually capturing the village of +the notorious "bad men" had a spice of daring about it which lent it a +certain charm.</p> +<p class="pnext">At nightfall the canoes were let down over the wall and carried to the +shore. Then the men conveyed the stores to them, moving so silently +that only a very alert enemy could have detected the activity. The +canoes had to make several journeys across the pool before all the +goods and the men were ferried over. There was not a sound from the +enemy's encampment. When all were safely landed, John called the men +about him, and repeated his instructions to march quietly and above all +to beware of straggling; then he set off with Bill to lead the way. +Behind him came in order four askaris carrying rifles: then the twelve +men with the ammunition and the assortment of oddments found in the +fort; then six men bearing in litters three others whose wounds +prevented them from marching. After these came the rest of the +negroes, among whom the prisoner taken at the camp was enrolled, +Ferrier and Coja bringing up the rear to ensure that there was no +straggling at the end of the line.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a dark night, but the sky was clear and the air cold. To make a +direct course was impossible. Bill knew the way in the daytime, but at +night he was completely at a loss. John, however, was aware of the +general direction, and by keeping within touch of the river, as he +could easily do by his sense of hearing, he knew that he could not go +very far wrong, though the journey would necessarily be longer than if +he had been able to avoid the windings. Fortunately in this hilly +country the ground was much less obstructed by tangles of thorn than it +was in the less elevated districts to the south, and the safari was not +hindered by the annoying necessity of having to cut a way through +pathless jungle.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nevertheless, the march was not devoid of trials and discomforts. The +ground was very irregular, and at one point, where the bank of the +river rose to a considerable height above the water-level, they found +that they had come to a stretch of hard gravel interspersed with large +fragments of a whitish rock, making progress very slow and difficult. +Looking back, John saw the glow of the fires left burning in the +fort--a little patch of red amid deep black. When they descended to +grassy land again he stumbled over an obstruction about three feet +high, which Bill told him was an ant-hill. A little further on he +heard a strange whistling that seemed to come from a line of trees on +his left hand. Hearing the men behind gulping, he halted, and got them +to exchange loads, listening meanwhile to the weird and mournful sound, +which now increased in volume, now died away in a doleful wail. He +asked Bill if he recognized the sound as that of an animal, but he +replied that he had never heard it before. After a few moments John +observed that the sound rose and fell with the gusts of wind, and +concluded that it was caused by the breeze sweeping through the trees. +He reassured the men; but it was not till long afterwards he discovered +the origin of the sound. The trees were a species of thorn about eight +feet high, with leafless branches on which hung a number of hollow +seed-pods. In these an insect bores a hole, and the wind, passing +through the innumerable tiny apertures, produces the musical notes +which so much disturbed the negroes.</p> +<p class="pnext">After about two hours, John felt much fatigued. The continued exertion +had revived the dull aching pain in his back and limbs, and he thought +it prudent to rest awhile. The progress had been so good that he could +afford to waste an hour: there would still be time to reach the village +before the dawn. The whole party lay down on a grassy knoll, speaking +only in whispers. Occasionally the cry of some night-bird broke the +stillness, and once there came, from far away, the sharp bark of a +hyena. At the end of an hour the safari was again on foot. Twice more +John found himself compelled to halt, and after the second time Ferrier +persuaded him to let four of the men carry him, in a litter which they +quickly made by slinging one of the blankets between two rifles. +Always taking the river as guide, they pressed on again. At last, when +the sounds of re-awakening life in the trees proclaimed that dawn was +at hand, they came to the foot of a long grassy acclivity which John +felt sure led up to the village. After a consultation with Ferrier, he +decided to wait a little until there was light enough to show them the +way clearly. The air was misty, but the blackness of night was +passing, and at length they were able to see the goal of their long +march--the "bad men's" village, lying in perfect stillness on the +hill-top.</p> +<p class="pnext">John led the men among some trees, and waited until he saw the gate +opened, and a number of women come out and wend their way into the +plantations to the left. When they were out of sight, he ordered the +men to leave their loads and follow him closely without a sound. Then, +regardless of his pain, he led the way at a steady run up the hill. +Ferrier came to his side.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We do this together, old boy," he said.</p> +<p class="pnext">On they went. They had almost reached the stockade when a woman in the +fields to the left saw them, and uttered a loud shriek. John quickened +his pace; the men, unable to restrain themselves any longer, raised +their voices in a tremendous shout. A few seconds later the whole +party, the white men still leading, dashed through the gate, and along +the single street, causing a wild stampede among the children playing +there, and the women who were moving about. The uproar drew several +men from their huts, where they were no doubt indulging themselves in a +final nap while their womenkind prepared breakfast. Almost all were +old men. At the sight of the invading horde they yelled and fled. +John hurried on towards the compound where he had seen the war-party +assemble. As the scared negroes left the street vacant, he was struck +with amazement at the sight that met his eyes. At the entrance of a +hut at one side of the central space stood a figure in white. He had +risen from bending over a cooking-pot. Next moment Said Mohammed came +towards his master, walking leisurely, his face beaming with smiles.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Good morning, sir," he said blithely. "You have come in nick of time. +Banana fritters, new dish to savage with untutored mind, are done to a +turn. On point of tickling unappreciative palates, they now serve +nobler end, delectating connoisseur who knows what's what. With +respect, sir, I'm jolly glad to see you."</p> +<p class="pnext">Thus the village of the "bad men" was carried without a blow.</p> +<p class="pnext">John sent Coja back with a few men to bring in the loads and secure the +gate. Then he lost no time in hunting through the village, and learnt, +as he had hoped, that there were very few men left in it; and these for +the most part old and negligible as a fighting force. He had given +strict orders to his party not to injure any one wantonly. The women, +seeing that there was no burning or slaughtering, recovered from their +first fright. They recognized the prisoner in whom they had been so +much interested, and their curiosity overcoming every other feeling, +they drew slowly nearer to the strangers, uttering little shrieks of +excitement. John made them understand that the men were hungry, and +they ran with alacrity into their huts, not at all averse from +preparing a meal for such inoffensive visitors. Meanwhile Said +Mohammed had instantly seized his own cooking-pot and other utensils +from the men who carried them, and set to work to cook more banana +fritters and other dainties to which the white men had been strangers +for many a day. Before long the whole party were seated, enjoying a +capital breakfast, the men laughing and chattering like light-hearted +children. In the midst of the repast they broke into song, one of them +chanting a line of solo, the rest chiming in with a boisterous chorus.</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="inner line-block"> +<div class="line">(Solo) Where did the white men go in the night?</div> +</div> +<div class="line">(Chorus) They went to the place of the bad men.</div> +<div class="inner line-block"> +<div class="line">(Solo) Why did they go to the place of the bad men?</div> +</div> +<div class="line">(Chorus) To get very much food</div> +<div class="inner line-block"> +<div class="inner line-block"> +<div class="line">For themselves and the good men.</div> +<div class="line">The white men must eat,</div> +<div class="line">The black men must eat,</div> +<div class="line">In the place of the bad men is very much food,</div> +<div class="line">O, eat all the food of the bad men.</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">John smiled rather wistfully as he translated the song to Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Poor devils!" he said. "They don't think of what they may have to go +through before they get home. Just like children.... We thought we'd +never see you again, khansaman. What became of you?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Sir, I will round unvarnished tale deliver. Crossing stream, a +thousand horse-leeches take fancy to my nether extremities, and cling +like grim death. I make saltatory gyrations to shunt obnoxious +hangers-on, when lo! enter crocodile, without introduction, his room +better than his company. I was in blue funk, sir, and scooted, with +celerity and splash. In agitation of moment I forgot my pals, and when +I look round, behold! they are no more. I call: no answer; I call +again: silence that can be felt. You could hear a pin drop. In the +charming words of the handsome but afflicted Lord Byron--</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">'What next befell me then and there</div> +<div class="line">I know not well--I never knew:'</div> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">but when I came to myself, to quote from same sublime poem--</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">'I had not strength to stir, nor strive,</div> +<div class="line">But felt that I was still alive,'</div> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">for, below, leeches suck my vital fluid; above, black men have me in +grip as firm as metropolitan bobby. They propel me, sir, with +indignity to reverse of the medal, to this identical spot.</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">'First came the loss of light, and air,</div> +<div class="line">And then of darkness too:'</div> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">in other words, I, Said Mohammed, failed B.A. of Calcutta University, +am consigned to ignominious horizontal extension on floor of beastly +hovel. I suffer in silence,</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">'Nor call the gods with vulgar spite</div> +<div class="line">To vindicate my hapless right.'</div> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">--Allow me to offer you another fritter, sir."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Thanks. What next? Fire away!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"After horrid night, sir, over which I draw veil of decency, I am +transported into light of day. Hail, smiling morn! I purchase freedom +by generous offer to teach fair sex a thing or two. Casting pearls +before swine, sir; pains thrown away. But I earn my salt, and the rest +is blank page, clean slate, until I hear the tramp of armed men, and +behold, the grand finale!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am glad things have ended so well," said John. "And I must say, +khansaman, it was very handsome and plucky of you to undertake a search +for me."</p> +<p class="pnext">The Bengali bowed deprecatingly; then he said--</p> +<p class="pnext">"But alas! sir, the web of our life is mingled yarn, both good and evil +together, as says sweet swan of Avon. There is fly in ointment; gilt +is off ginger-bread. Coja, very good chap, has left sublunary sphere. +'He will awake no more, oh, never more!' to quote the words of Percy +Bysshe Shelley, also failed B.A. We ne'er shall look upon his like +again. Who would not weep for---- By gum! This knocks me silly all +of a heap! There he is!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes," said John, laughing, "and you can exchange notes while I take a +look round."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-twenty-third-the-ivory"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id24">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-THIRD--The Ivory</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">John reckoned that his escape from the fort would probably have been +discovered about the same time as he was entering the village. The +enemy would almost certainly suppose that his flight had been +southward, towards the farm. Several hours might be wasted in pursuing +in that direction; even if they hit upon his trail at once, it would be +four or five hours before they could reach him. His course, then, must +be to take advantage of this respite to prepare the safari for the +struggle that could scarcely be avoided when they came to close +quarters.</p> +<p class="pnext">Issuing from the village with Ferrier, he made his way to the +cultivated fields, which, lying on the sheltered slopes of the hill, +were more fertile than might have been expected at such a height above +sea-level. Much of the harvesting had been done: he had already +noticed that the shambas were filled to overflowing with muhindi and +pumpkins. But the banana-trees were weighed down with huge clusters of +ripening fruit, and acres of the soil were covered with beans and sweet +potatoes. He could provision the safari for the whole of the homeward +journey, and yet make a scarcely sensible inroad upon the resources of +the people. He had no scruples in taking as much as he needed, or +rather as much as the men could carry; by all the rules of war it would +be letting the village off lightly. Accordingly he lost no time in +setting the men to get as much of the native produce together as would +furnish full loads for the men who were not already burdened. This +would inevitably diminish their marching power; but on the other hand +they must carry plenty of food with them if they meant to reach home.</p> +<p class="pnext">While the men were engaged in this task, an idea occurred to Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I say, John, why not go down the river on rafts?" he said. "We should +get along much faster, and be less likely to meet Juma, who is sure to +know a short cut, and won't stick to the river as we did."</p> +<p class="pnext">"A jolly good notion! Wait a bit, though. What about the rapids? +They nearly did for me, and loaded rafts would stand a worse chance +than I did, wouldn't they?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's where I come in, old chap. I've shot the rapids on the St. +Lawrence; these rapids aren't a patch on the Roches Fendues. I didn't +do it by myself, of course; an old fellow named Baptiste Le Sueur +managed the pole; but I saw it all, and I bet I could navigate those +little affairs by the fort."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'll be hanged if we don't try it, then. We can make a better job of +it than Bill and I did. By the way, where is the old fellow? I +haven't seen him since we came into the village."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Nor have I. He won't be far off. Let us set about it at once. Two +large rafts, I think: it'll take some time to cut enough timber."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We needn't wait for that. We'll dismantle some of the huts. The +natives can easily build new ones when we are gone, and I'd like to +give them a little trouble after all they have given us."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Capital! Come on then. The sooner we get them done the better."</p> +<p class="pnext">Returning to the village, they set all the men to work who were not +engaged in the fields. In a short time a large number of poles from +the huts lay on the ground ready to be lashed together, and a quantity +of bast being found, there was no lack of material for the lashings. +Those of the men who had been porters and were expert in manipulating +ropes were entrusted with this work, the two white men superintending +them and making sure that the knots were firm.</p> +<p class="pnext">The first raft, capable of supporting half the party in addition to +half the stores, had just been completed when Bill ran into the village +in a state of great excitement. In such a condition he seemed to lose +almost all power of expression, and it was some time before John, even +with Coja's assistance, could make out what was the matter with him. +Presently, however, he gathered that Bill had gone alone to the spot, a +few miles away, where the ivory had been buried by the Arabs when +fleeing from the "bad men." It was situated on a wooded knoll washed +by the river. Scarcely had he reached the place when his +extraordinarily keen sense of hearing apprised him that a number of men +were fording the river, though he was not able at first to see them, +owing to the trees. Immediately on hearing their approach, he swarmed +up a tree--the same in which he had taken shelter years before--and +from this coign of vantage he spied a large body of negroes gathered on +the further bank. In a little while he saw, moving up the knoll, the +party who had previously crossed: they were Swahilis, and their leader +was the man whom he had already recognized as a member of the Arab +safari. All carried spades or other implements.</p> +<p class="pnext">And then, helpless in the tree, the old man had had the agony to see +the Swahilis dig up the ivory which had lain so long concealed: his +ivory, the recovery of which had been his dream for years, a dream for +whose realization he had counted on the assistance of the white men. +The tusks had been laid only a foot or two below the surface, so that +it was no great labour to unearth them. When they were all dug up, the +men began to carry them down to the river, each tusk requiring four +men. The intention was, Bill supposed, to transport them to the +evacuated fort. He seized the opportunity when their backs were turned +to slip down from his perch and run to the village: would not the +wasungu even now strike a blow for him?</p> +<p class="pnext">This was a staggering piece of news. The knoll was up-stream; there +was not much doubt that downstream the warriors whose village had been +captured were marching up in pursuit of the safari. Probably they had +already been met by fugitives from the village and informed of what had +happened. It struck John that Juma and the chief might have fallen +out, and that the Swahili had made a rapid dash northward to possess +himself of the treasure while the "bad men" were absent from the +neighbourhood. However that might be, there was no question but that +both the Swahilis and the villagers were dangerous enemies, and would +join forces to crush the little band who had defied and routed them.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We're in the tightest place we have ever been in yet," said John. +"They've got us between them. What on earth are we to do?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Slip away, west or east?" suggested Ferrier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hopeless! Loaded as we should be, we couldn't escape them. It's too +late to get on to the river now. This one raft won't hold us all. We +are done at last!"</p> +<p class="pnext">They looked at each other in speechless anxiety. The men had ceased +work on the second raft; they all knew what had occurred, and gazed at +their white leaders with troubled countenances.</p> +<p class="pnext">"There's one desperate chance," said Ferrier at length. "Juma is +nearest. Deal with him before the others come up."</p> +<p class="pnext">John stared at him for a moment with brightening eyes. Then he sprang +up.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Right!" he cried. "It's the one chance. But we can't risk it without +knowing a little of the ground. I'll go out with Bill and have a look +at it, if you'll stay and keep a look-out for the down-stream lot."</p> +<p class="pnext">The two set off at once. Bill led the way rapidly round the village +and further up the hill until they reached the summit. From this point +the ground fell away to the plain, and rather less than a mile away +John descried the knoll of which Bill had spoken, the peninsula from +which it rose jutting out into the river. It was densely covered with +vegetation, and on the other side of the stream there was a similar +screen. Only a short reach of the river was visible, but here he saw +negroes wading waist-deep. They were crossing, however, not to the far +side, but from it. Juma had thought it better to bring his porters to +the ivory than the reverse. Apparently none of it had yet been +transported from bank to bank; but it was all laid in readiness.</p> +<p class="pnext">Bill gazed at the scene with an expression of mingled grief and rage. +Suddenly he stretched forth his hand, pointing towards the trees on the +near side of the river. At first John could not see anything but the +dense mass of foliage; but presently he discerned two negroes standing +motionless at the foot of the knoll. Clearly Juma had posted them as +scouts to give warning of any movement from the village. So many years +had passed since the defeat of his safari that the likelihood of the +people suspecting his search for the treasure was small, especially +since they were obviously unaware of its location. But with the +remembrance of their hostility in his mind he was evidently uneasy.</p> +<p class="pnext">John's guess at the course of events was very near the mark. Ever +since the defeat of the Arabs, Juma, the sole survivor of their hapless +safari, had lived for nothing else than the recovery of the ivory, +which would make him a millionaire according to the native standard of +wealth. But the store lay in the enemy's country; he had the best of +reasons for knowing how formidable they were, and what his fate would +be if he was discovered by them when removing the ivory. He had +recognized that there was little chance of obtaining possession of it +unless he came with sufficient force to repel attack. Its transport +would demand a large number of porters, and a still larger number of +armed men to protect them. It had therefore been the work of his life +to organize such a party. For this he had become a porter himself, to +avail himself of opportunities of stealthy pilfering. For this he had +established himself in the island fort, hoping to seize an occasion +when the villagers were absent on a raid or a hunting expedition to +make a dash up the river and achieve the aim of his ambition.</p> +<p class="pnext">The unexpected series of events that culminated in the capture of the +fort had interposed a check at the very moment when he saw success +within his grasp. But his cunning mind conceived the scheme which he +had carried out: to form an alliance with the very tribe with whom he +had expected to come into conflict. He seized upon the presence of the +white men as a rational basis for their alliance, intending, when the +white men and their safari had been annihilated, to turn his arms +against his allies, and having overthrown them, to secure the prize he +had so long coveted.</p> +<p class="pnext">Again he was baulked by the prolonged resistance of the white men. But +it happened that the combined force of natives which he had gathered +about him ran short of food. In this circumstance he saw his +opportunity. On the morning after John had left the fort, Juma set off +with his own contingent before the escape had been discovered, +ostensibly to go hunting for game. He took with him almost all the men +who had rifles, and a large party to carry the game he promised to +shoot. Striking at first to the west, he turned sharply northward, and +pushed on with all speed towards the knoll where the hoard of ivory lay +concealed. Had he secured it, his whilom enemies, his present allies, +would have seen him no more. He would have taken the shortest route to +the coast, to dispose of the ivory at one of the ports. His approach +was hidden from the people in the village by the hill rising behind it, +and being quite unaware that the village was now held by the white men, +he felt that he had nothing to fear except chance discovery by some one +who might happen to stray up the hill. To provide against this he had +posted the two scouts whom John saw at the base of the knoll.</p> +<p class="pnext">John perceived in a moment that the work of transporting the ivory +across the river gave him an opportunity of taking the enemy at a +disadvantage. Running back to the top of the hill, careful not to come +within sight of the scouts, he reached a point whence he could overlook +the village and where he was himself in full view from it. The moment +he arrived there he knew that he had been seen, for Ferrier waved his +hand above his head. John immediately semaphored with his arms, asking +Ferrier to bring out all the men except a few left to guard the +village, and to join him on the hill-top. In ten minutes they were +with him. Then, descending the western slope of the hill, invisible to +the enemy, they worked their way through the belt of trees on the +river-bank until they arrived within a furlong of the ford. Juma's +porters were staggering down the knoll under their loads--great tusks +from six to nine feet long. To advance further without being +discovered was impossible: the two scouts were full in the path.</p> +<p class="pnext">John gathered his party just within the belt of trees, and in a whisper +told them what to do. Then, at his word, they dashed after him from +cover, yelling at the top of their voices, the askaris firing their +rifles as they ran, and reloading. There was little chance of the +shots taking effect, but John reckoned on them to demoralize the enemy. +The result surpassed his anticipations. The scouts stood for a moment +as if rooted to the ground with amazement; then they flung down their +rifles and fled like hares to the spot where Juma was indicating the +ford. At the same instant the porters dropped their loads with a yell +of fright, and made for the river, into which they cast themselves, +careless of its depth, and of the crocodiles that might be lurking +expectant of a victim. Juma had his arm in a sling: the other Swahilis +raised their rifles, and fired, each one wild ineffectual shot, at the +advancing company. Then, utterly confounded by this amazing attack +from an enemy whom they supposed to be far away, they rushed in a body +to the river, sped by a volley of bullets and arrows. Half wading, +half swimming, they gained the further bank, and by the time John and +his men came to the ford, they had disappeared with all their men into +the undergrowth.</p> +<p class="pnext">Bill ran from one tusk to another, frantic with joy. But John was too +much concerned with the serious work that lay before him to trouble +himself for the present with the ivory, however valuable it might be. +He saw at once that he must remove all his men from the village to the +knoll if the plan of floating down the river was to be successfully +initiated. After their fright, Juma and his men might for a time be +disregarded; but the war-party of villagers could not now be far away, +and the interval before their arrival might be all too short. The +knoll not only formed a good defensible position, but it was the most +convenient spot for the launching of the rafts, and the timber upon it +offered material for the second raft yet to be constructed. Keeping +part of his men to hack branches from the trees with their knives, he +asked Ferrier to return with the rest to the village and bring over the +hill the first raft and all the stores.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Get the women to help," he said. "Promise that we'll do no more harm +to the village if they'll work for us. They'll be glad enough to get +rid of us, no doubt. I'd go myself, Charley, only my back is bothering +me again, confound it."</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier hurried off. In little more than half-an-hour he reappeared on +the shoulder of the hill, followed by a long line of the men of the +safari and the women of the village, carrying the loads of provisions, +the impedimenta of the camp, and the raft, a cumbersome object which +required twenty men to carry it. As they descended the slope, shots +were fired at them from the trees bordering the river, but manifestly +at so long a range that they were little likely to do any harm. They +reached the knoll in safety; the baggage was piled up a short distance +from the bank to form a sort of rampart: and then the whole party, +including a crowd of women who were impressed to fetch and carry, +worked rapidly at the construction of the raft.</p> +<p class="pnext">"There'll be mighty little protection if they fire at us on the way +down," said John gloomily.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes," replied Ferrier, "we haven't got enough baggage to screen us. +But look here! Why not make a sort of fence to go all round?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"The very thing! The men are so used to making bomas that it won't +give them any trouble."</p> +<p class="pnext">While the second raft was being finished, the men who were not engaged +upon it were set to weave a light framework of canes, rushes, and +slender branches, about three feet high, and strong enough to be +impenetrable by spears or arrows. As portions of this were completed, +they were lashed to the edges of the first raft. Fore and aft the +framework was raised to the height of six feet, and a hole was cut in +it through which a pole might be thrust, to ward off rocks or other +obstructions as the raft floated downstream, and to steer the unwieldy +craft.</p> +<p class="pnext">At midday a good deal of the work still remained to be done. The sun +beat down mercilessly upon the workers, and John, eager as he was to +finish, ordered a rest and a meal. The negroes threw themselves on the +grass, and appeared to feel no discomfort from the heat; but the white +men were glad to seek the shade of the trees crowning the knoll, where +Said Mohammed served their dinner.</p> +<p class="pnext">The order had just been given to resume work when they saw a vast crowd +of dusky warriors pouring over the brow of the hill.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Here they come!" said John, starting up; "and by the look of them, and +their yells, we're in for a tight little scrimmage."</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not unless they're prepared to attack us over the bodies of their +wives," he said. "They can't shoot at us without hitting them."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of course not. I hadn't thought of that. But they're so mad that +they may be ready to sacrifice their nearest and dearest. We must +prevent the women from running away. It's shameful coercion, but we +can't help it."</p> +<p class="pnext">The furious villagers halted within a short distance of the knoll, and +one or two let fly arrows at the busy workers behind their rampart of +baggage. A wild shriek arose from the terrified women, though none had +been hit; and John, running among them, told them sternly that their +only safety lay in remaining at their work. To give point to his +warning, and at the same time to daunt the warriors, he lifted his +rifle and fired towards the dense mob, taking care to aim above their +heads. The result was a general stampede. The men had already learnt +the power of the wasungu's weapons, and being exposed on the bare +hillside they recognized their disadvantage. They retreated up the +hill to a position of security, and stood there in impotent wrath, +watching their womenkind toiling for the hated enemy.</p> +<p class="pnext">The work went on without pause until the rafts were finished. The next +thing was to launch them. The river swept round the knoll in a +half-circle, and John decided to have the rafts carried to the water on +the side remote from the village and out of sight of the warriors, any +interference being guarded against by leaving his askaris with loaded +rifles at the baggage. When the rafts were launched and moored to +prevent their being carried down by the current, the ivory was conveyed +to them. One side of each had been left undefended by the framework +until the loading was finished. The tusks having been stowed on one +raft, half-a-dozen men were set to lash on the framework while the +stores and the rest of the baggage were carried to the second raft. It +was clear that Bill had by no means exaggerated the value of the ivory. +There were twenty-three tusks, varying in weight and size, but scaling +in all at least half a ton. John did not know the market value of +ivory, but so large a quantity would probably fetch several hundreds of +pounds.</p> +<p class="pnext">By the time the loads were stacked round the rafts, close against the +framework, it was drawing towards evening.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm afraid we shall have to wait until morning before we start," said +John. "It will be very risky to navigate these clumsy things in the +darkness. They lie very heavy in the water, and I shouldn't be +surprised if they founder before we've gone far."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must chance that," said Ferrier. "I think we had better start at +once. There are no rapids in this part of the river; our real trouble +will begin when we come above the pool. If we stay here till the +morning, we may be set upon before we are well away, whereas by +starting now we shall be past the village by the time it is dark, and +when they see us fairly off they may chuck up the sponge."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All right. Is there anything else to be done?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We'll rope the rafts together, but we must be ready to cut the hawser +if there's any need. I'll go in the first raft, of course. Perhaps +Coja had better come with me to try his hand at steering, if you don't +mind taking Said Mohammed. Your raft ought to come along in the wake +of mine without any difficulty; but have your pole ready to push off if +we strike a shoal."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What's the rate of the current, do you think?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Three to four miles an hour, at a guess. Better let the women go now."</p> +<p class="pnext">John withdrew the askaris who had been keeping guard, and the women, on +being told that they might go, fled away up the hill like a flock of +sheep. All the men of the safari then took their places on the rafts; +these were roped together; the framework was lashed on the unprotected +sides; the mooring ropes were released, and the strange overladen +craft, sinking so low that the logs were covered with water, took the +current and began to float down. Luckily the bales of provisions had +been placed above the ammunition boxes and other baggage, which would +not suffer from a wetting.</p> +<p class="pnext">The actual start was hidden from the enemy by the projecting knoll; but +as the rafts swept round the curve their appearance was hailed with +loud shouts from the hill-top, where the women had now joined the +warriors. The left bank was here too precipitous and too densely +wooded to permit the enemy to approach near enough to do any damage; +and as the voyagers came into the straight reach that ran by the foot +of the hill on which the village was perched, they saw the yelling +horde rush over the brow.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Going to meet us on the level," shouted Ferrier from his place behind +the breastwork of the foremost raft. "Keep the men crouching behind +the palisade."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-twenty-fourth-ferrier-takes-the-lead"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id25">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH--Ferrier takes the Lead</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The river varied in breadth at this part of its course from sixty to +eighty yards. The steersmen, Coja in the first, Said Mohammed in the +second, kept the rafts in midstream, and they glided on the full +current with a steadiness that augured well for the voyage. In less +than half-an-hour they were level with the village. Then a shot rang +out from the right bank. Clearly Juma had been on the watch. The shot +fell short, and the sound of it caused great consternation among the +villagers, who had taken up a position a few hundred yards down-stream +on a stretch of treeless land on the left bank, raised a few feet above +the level of the river. They had evidently been as yet unaware of the +proximity of their allies. But their apprehension was immediately +changed to wild excitement as they saw Juma, accompanied by his band, +appear on a similar eminence on the opposite bank. They shouted with +delight, leaping, brandishing spears, little suspecting the trick which +the Swahilis had played on them.</p> +<p class="pnext">As the rafts approached, they were assailed with showers of arrows from +both sides, mingled with rifle shots from the right bank. Ferrier and +John ordered their men to lie flat on their faces, for those on the +starboard side were exposed to the fire from the right bank, those on +the port side to that from the left. The two white men themselves, and +their two steersmen, could not find shelter in the same way, being +bound to stand erect in order to keep the rafts in midstream. As the +missiles flew around him, John felt that this was a vastly unpleasant +way of running the gauntlet. He instinctively pressed his body close +to the framework; and whether it was due to the growing darkness, or to +the inability of the enemy to hit a moving target, he escaped unhurt. +The immediate danger was past when the banks of the river fell away to +the level of the stream. Both parties of the enemy still fired, +running along in time with the rafts; but their missiles now flew over +the top of the breastwork. Ferrier thought it worth risking a volley +from his own men. He ordered them to kneel, rest their rifles on the +palisade, and take good aim at the Swahilis. Their skill or luck was +superior, for when the volley flashed forth, a yell told that one at +least of the bullets had got home. Immediately afterwards John ordered +his askaris to fire among the negroes on the left bank; but these were +somewhat remoter from the river, and he could not learn that any of the +shots took effect.</p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 61%" id="figure-48"> +<span id="john-ordered-his-askaris-to-fire-among-the-negroes-on-the-left-bank"></span><img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt=" " src="images/img-332.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +"John ordered his askaris to fire among the negroes on the left bank."</div> +</div> +<!-- --> +<p class="pfirst">Night had now sunk upon the land. The moon would rise late, and for +several hours the voyage must be continued in darkness. John called to +Ferrier to ask whether he had not better run into the bank and wait +until there was a little light upon the course.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I can see well enough at present," was the reply. "Besides, those +beggars are keeping it up."</p> +<p class="pnext">His expectation that the pursuit would be abandoned as soon as it +became dark was not borne out. It was obvious from the shouts that +were heard on either side from time to time that the enemy had screwed +their resolution to an uncommon pitch. Their dread of the darkness was +no less, but their savage resentment and vindictive desire for revenge +was more. John was able to account for their pertinacity when he +remembered what lay before him. The rapids! If he, on his light raft, +had barely escaped with his life, how much less was the chance that two +heavy-laden rafts would survive the battering they must receive! If +they were not wrecked and broken up before they reached the pool, they +would then become exposed to a terrific attack. He dared not think of +what the fate of the safari would be if they were cast into the river +and thrown upon the mercy of the enemy. Did they come safe through the +first series of rapids and cross the pool, there was the second series +beyond, sweeping through the gorge, from the heights of which the enemy +could pour down upon them not merely a hail of bullets and arrows, but +an avalanche of rocks which could not fail to send the rafts to the +bottom. Great as were the perils which had beset him since he quitted +the farm, he recognized with a momentary sinking of heart that they +were trifles compared with those that were to come. He felt that his +confidence would be greater if he could be beside Ferrier on the first +raft. Their comradeship during the past few months had brought them +very close together. He wished that they could talk things over +quietly; whereas now they were separated by forty feet of rope, and +anything either had to say must be uttered in a bawl.</p> +<p class="pnext">As the darkness thickened the navigation became increasingly difficult. +Sometimes, when long stretches of the river were banked by woods, it +was pitch dark, and whatever obstacles might have occurred in the +course, it would have been impossible to avoid them. Ferrier did his +best to keep his raft in midstream, for he knew that crocodiles lurked +on the banks; hippos might be sleeping in the shallows; and heavy as +the raft was, he had little doubt that a heave of a hippo's huge body, +a swish from a crocodile's terrible tail, would cause it to capsize, or +at least break a gap in the breastwork.</p> +<p class="pnext">At one such gloomy patch the raft ran ashore upon a mud-bank projecting +into the stream. Before Ferrier could pole it off, the second raft, +borne on by the current, collided with it; there was a shock, John's +raft spun round, and rocked so violently that the men yelled with +fright. The attaching rope, however, pulled it up with a jerk, which +had the effect of hauling the first raft off the bank. Their positions +were now reversed; Said Mohammed was foremost down-stream, Ferrier +last. It was obviously impossible that the voyage could be continued +thus. John and Ferrier ran each to the forward end of his own raft.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Run her ashore again," shouted Ferrier, "and let me swing clear."</p> +<p class="pnext">John obeyed. He would not have shirked the task of leading, but +Ferrier's experience might make all the difference between success and +failure, and it was certainly not a time to run any avoidable risks. +Some minutes passed before he managed to strike the bank, and then the +raft crashed against the projecting stem of a tree with a violence that +threw John on to his back. Up in an instant, he clutched a branch just +in time to prevent the raft from drifting away, and held on until +Ferrier had passed in mid-stream, and the vessels had regained their +former order. During this interlude nothing was heard of the enemy. +The banks of the river were fortunately too steep and too densely +wooded to allow their access.</p> +<p class="pnext">For a little while all went well. Where the banks were low and free +from tall trees the level rays of the rising moon threw a faint light +upon the water, enabling Ferrier to use his pole with more confidence. +But on entering a narrower reach where the trees came down to the +water's edge, the sudden passage from comparative light to absolute +darkness prevented him from seeing a rocky ledge jutting out from the +right bank. The raft scraped it for a few feet, then stuck fast. The +second raft, coming directly in its wake, did not this time sweep by, +but bumped the first, and both were now end to end on the rock. The +most energetic work with the poles failing to dislodge them, John said--</p> +<p class="pnext">"Let's have a rest. There's no sign of the enemy, and I'm desperately +hungry."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's all very well," replied Ferrier, "but the longer we delay the +worse off we shall be presently. It gives the enemy time to get ahead +of us, and they'll be waiting for us at the pool. I rather fancy +they've already outstripped us by cutting across country; the river +winds a good deal."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All the same, we shan't be any the better off for being famished when +we meet them. Besides, I want to talk to you; we haven't settled what +we're going to do."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Very well; we'll have a tuck-in. What's the time? My match-box is +empty."</p> +<p class="pnext">John struck a match. His watch had stopped.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The spring must have broken when I toppled over," he said. "Isn't +yours going?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"It hasn't been going for a couple of days. We can't tell how far +we've come. How is our direction?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We're pointing north-west," replied John, after a glance at his +compass. "There must be a big curve here. I fancy we must have just +about got to the place where Bill and I launched our raft. If so, it +will be getting light by the time we reach the pool. What do you think +of doing then?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"That depends on the look of things when we get there. How long are +the rapids?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"About half-a-mile, I should think."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Any rocks?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Upon my word I don't know. I was too anxious about holding on to +notice. But judging from the battering we got I should say plenty."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then the safest course would be to unload the rafts when we get to the +head of the rapids and make a portage--carry the things along the bank +until we come to the pool. We can't do that if the enemy are in force. +We shall simply have to shoot the rapids and take our chance."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm sorry for us. If my little raft was nearly smashed, what +condition will these clumsy things be in when we get through!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, I can only do my best. Left to themselves they'd be smashed up +in no time, but if I can manage to steer clear of the rocks we may get +through. It won't be safe to go roped together, though. You had +better moor yours while I take down the first; then I'll go ashore and +come back for you."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Rather dangerous, that, if the enemy are about."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Perhaps. But I'm inclined to think they'll wait for us lower down. +In that case I should be back before they could catch me. But really +it's not much good settling on anything until we see how the land lies. +The most important thing will be to take care we are not caught in the +rapids before we know it. If we are, we can only let ourselves go and +trust to luck."</p> +<p class="pnext">After a delay of nearly an hour, during which the whole party made a +meal of the fruits they had brought with them, they strove again to +pole the rafts off the rock. The task was an impossible one while the +vessels were so heavily laden. Accordingly the breastwork was removed +from the shoreward side of each, and a portion of the goods was +conveyed to the bank. Thus lightened, the rafts were got off by +vigorous poling, and allowed to drift a few yards down-stream until +they came once more into the moonlight. Then they were run into the +bank and moored while the stores were fetched and the breastwork +replaced. This took up a considerable time, and it could no longer be +doubted that the enemy, unless they had halted, must arrive at the pool +long before the rafts.</p> +<p class="pnext">As the moon rose higher in the sky the voyage became easier, and it was +continued without incident until there were signs that day was +breaking. Feeling sure that the rapids could not be far ahead, Ferrier +steered into the right bank, followed by John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I must take a look round before we go any farther," said Ferrier. "I +don't hear anything of the enemy; perhaps they are behind us after all."</p> +<p class="pnext">He set off alone, making his way cautiously among the trees. It seemed +hours before he returned, in almost broad daylight.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We're in for it," he said as he came up. "We're within six hundred +yards of the rapids. I went on round the curve until I got a view of +the pool. The fort is manned. Juma must have got well ahead of us and +crossed the river somewhere. But I don't think the others have arrived +on the scene yet."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Have they left nobody on the right bank?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Nobody at all. They're very poor tacticians. I suppose they rely on +our being smashed up in the rapids, and think they'll have us at their +mercy. They ought to have held both banks. It gives us a chance. We +may have time for a portage, but only to the pool. We can't hope to +get past the second rapids on land; but as we shall be hidden from the +enemy until we actually come to the pool, there ought to be time to +load up again there before they can get round to us."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What then?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We shall have to shoot the second rapids in the rafts just as we are. +Can't stop for another portage. From my recollection as we came up +past the gorge, they're much longer and swifter than the first, besides +being straighter and less rocky. I had a good look at the first as I +went down the bank. There's a nasty bit about half-way through: a +narrow channel between two irregular lines of sunken rocks. But it's +no worse than the Long Saut on the St. Lawrence; not so bad, indeed; +and I'm going to run through all right. The only doubt I have is +whether we can get to the second rapids before the enemy occupy the +bluff above the gorge."</p> +<p class="pnext">"If we can't----!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We shall have the pleasure of being targets for at least ten minutes +for bullets and arrows and stones. But we must just go through with it +now; there's no retreat for us. Now we'll unload my raft and send the +men along with the ivory. When we've given them time to get half-way +to the pool, I'll go down with the raft."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Alone?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes. It won't do for you to come, and leave the men, in case they're +attacked; and I don't think any of them would be much help to me. Coja +and two or three of the askaris can escort the convoy. We must make +'em understand they are to wait for me when they get to the pool; +unless, indeed, I'm there first: the current is pretty swift."</p> +<p class="pnext">"There's bush enough to hide them, but you're bound to be spotted from +the fort as soon as you get to the end of the rapids."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It will take Juma a long time to get round with his men."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But they can swim it!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"They won't! They can't attack us when swimming, and they'll be afraid +of getting their heads broken against the raft."</p> +<p class="pnext">During this conversation the men had already begun the work of +unloading the first raft. The breastwork on the right-hand side was +removed, and the ivory conveyed tusk by tusk to the bank. Enough was +left at the rear to balance Ferrier's weight at the forward end. When +all was ready, the men set off with their loads, Coja and two askaris +with rifles going ahead.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Get your raft unloaded while I'm gone, old chap," said Ferrier. "In +fact, the men had better start with it straight away; if Juma has the +sense to come round at once to meet us it'll be a very near thing to +get loaded up again."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All right. I'll go with them myself and leave a couple of men to +guard the raft."</p> +<p class="pnext">"On second thoughts I think you had better go after the first lot at +once. Everything depends on their keeping under cover until I arrive +with the raft, and you know how rash they are. Go and keep an eye on +them. I'll see to the unloading here and send the men after you."</p> +<p class="pnext">Accordingly John hurried in the track of the ivory-carriers, whom he +overtook by the time they reached the head of the rapids. Leading them +carefully through the wood, where they would be invisible to any of the +enemy who might be moving along on the other side of the river, he came +opposite to the point where the rapids entered the pool. There he +ordered them to set down their loads, and sent Bill back to guide the +second party over the same course.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ferrier had resolved not to begin his adventurous voyage until all the +men were gathered under John at the head of the pool. The actual +passage of the rapids would take but a minute or two, and the time +necessary for reloading the first raft would be halved if the whole +party were employed in the work. The second convoy having arrived, +John left them safely under cover while he retraced his steps for a +short distance to a spot where he could witness his friend's +performance. He held his breath and felt his skin creep as the raft +came into view, shooting down at a furious rate to what appeared +certain destruction. Ferrier had removed the upper part of the +framework, and stood with pole in hand, bending low, his whole +attention fixed on his task. Now he prodded to the right, now to the +left: at one moment the raft swerved, having evidently scraped a rock, +and he almost lost his balance; but recovering himself instantly, he +dexterously slipped his pole over in the direction to which the raft +had been driven, and came again into mid-current. John feared lest he +should be carried far into the pool, beyond the spot where the loads +were laid; but when the raft came into smooth water, and its momentum +was checked, Ferrier flung a rope to the shore, and the craft, +uninjured except for some chips at the edges, was hauled in.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Splendid!" said John. "It would be a stunning sport if----"</p> +<p class="pnext">But before he could complete the sentence Ferrier was running hard +up-stream. There was a shout from the fort; the raft had been +discovered; the second raft was still to be brought down. John +instantly set the men to load up the first raft. Every movement was +visible to the men in the fort. There were loud shouts; a few shots +were fired; but the range was too long for inefficient marksmen. To +John's consternation and alarm there came an echo to these shouts from +up-stream. The warriors from the village were evidently within +striking distance. Had they discovered Ferrier? Urging the men to +hasten with the work of loading, he ran along the bank to see whether +the second raft was on the way. Yes; it was sweeping down like the +first, and on the opposite bank a crowd of yelling negroes rushed +along, dodging the trees, and trying to keep pace. Ferrier paid no +attention to them, his whole energy absorbed in his task. John sent a +warning shot among the enemy, and they darted out of sight. The raft +leapt and dashed and jolted down, and in little more than a minute +after it passed John it lay moored beside the other at the shore of the +pool.</p> +<p class="pnext">The men having not yet finished the loading of the first raft, Ferrier +had leisure to observe what the enemy were about. The warriors from +the village, who had marched along the left bank of the river, were +rushing round the northern shore of the pool towards the causeway. It +was impossible to see what they would do when they reached it, and, to +judge by the uproar in the fort, there was more excitement than cool +calculation among Juma's party. But by the time the rafts were loaded, +the breastworks replaced, and the ropes attached, the enemy's intention +became clear. Before the rafts were loosed from their moorings and +poled into the gentle current of the pool, a large number of negroes, +with one or two Swahilis, emerged into view from behind the intervening +island, and were seen hastening along the path which led from the +causeway up the bluff.</p> +<p class="pnext">"They've got a good start of us," Ferrier called from the leading raft. +"We must run the gauntlet."</p> +<p class="pnext">But now that the critical moment had arrived, John was setting his wits +to work. In all the encounters with the enemy hitherto, success had +been gained by the exercise of superior intelligence rather than +superior force. Was there not a chance of outwitting them even now at +the eleventh hour? Could they not be withdrawn from their threatening +position above the gorge? An idea suggested itself: to let the rafts +drift on until they came opposite the fort, and then to change their +direction and pole them across the pool as if with the intention of +landing on the western shore of the island and storming the fort. If +the ruse succeeded, the enemy would rush back and swarm within the +walls again.</p> +<p class="pnext">John imparted his scheme to Ferrier in a few hurried sentences.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's worth trying," said Ferrier, "but can we get back into the +current in time?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes; it begins to flow swifter, as you know, opposite the island. If +only the men are drawn back into the fort, we shall have time to come +back into the current and make straight for the rapids, and then they +may run their hardest but won't overtake us."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, you pole back first, so as not to change our order. They surely +won't be such idiots!"</p> +<p class="pnext">The rafts passed slowly along, hailed with derisive yells from the few +men left in the fort, and by a shower of arrows, which flew harmlessly +over the breastworks, the men having all lain down as before. Then +suddenly they ceased to move; but in a few moments started ponderously +in the reverse direction. John and Ferrier had exchanged places with +their two steersmen, and while they poled on the bottom in the manner +of punters, Coja and Said Mohammed thrust their poles into the water at +an angle which would bring the rafts round to the western end of the +island. It was exceedingly hard work to force the heavy vessels +against the current, slight though that was; but they did move slowly, +away from the gorge, and that was enough for the defenders of the fort. +Alarmed at the prospect of having to repel an assault from the wasungu, +they shouted vociferously to their fellows on the shore to return and +help them.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's working!" cried John in delight. "I only wish we could see round +the island. We shall have to guess when it's time to be off."</p> +<p class="pnext">But there was little chance of their being left in ignorance of the +enemy's movements. The din was tremendous, far and near. Soon the +uproar within the fort increased, and men were seen swarming on to the +edges of the western wall, some scrambling over and running down the +slope to meet the expected attack. The situation of the rafts was too +close to be pleasant to their occupants. Arrows flew over and between +them, some sticking in the meshes of the breastwork. The men flat on +the decks of the rafts were out of harm's way; but the two white men +and their assistants were partly exposed to the flying missiles, since +they could not manage the clumsy rafts unless they stood nearly +upright. For some minutes they cruised along the shore, as if seeking +a convenient landing-place, until they were screened from the enemy by +the fringe of trees. At last, having allowed sufficient time for the +greater part of the enemy's force to regain the fort, or at least the +causeway, John and Ferrier again changed places with Said Mohammed and +Coja, and began to pole vigorously in the opposite direction. Being +hidden by the trees, the rafts, helped by the current, had gained some +speed before the change of direction was perceived. Even then the +meaning of it did not at once strike the enemy. Those who had come +down to the shore ran back to the fort; those within manned the +southern and eastern parts of the wall, anticipating an assault at the +spot where it had been partially demolished. But the rafts were +increasing their distance from the island; they were also increasing +their speed; and as they were now heading straight for the mouth of the +gorge Juma at last recognized how he had been duped.</p> +<p class="pnext">The voyagers were now in full view of the causeway. It was covered +with men returning at a run to the fort. But Juma, the moment he saw +his mistake, hastened to the gate and shouted to the men to right-about +and make for the gorge. The causeway was too long for his words to be +heard distinctly at the shore end, and there was a minute's confusion +among the negroes before they grasped what was intended--a precious +minute to the voyagers, for at the end of it the rafts were swept into +the full current. When the men on the causeway, yelling with rage, at +last set off to run back to the shore, John saw with a leaping heart +that they were too late. A few of the enemy who had not yet reached +the causeway when the retirement was countermanded, rushed along the +shore and came level with the rafts as these began the descent of the +rapids. But they had to run uphill: the speed of the current was at +least fifteen miles an hour; before they could gain the summit of the +bluff the rafts would be a mile or more downstream.</p> +<p class="pnext">As John's raft was swept along in the wake of Ferrier's, he wondered +whether the rafts, when they reached the end of the rapids, would be in +splinters, and the men battered corpses. When he had shot the upper +rapids with Bill, the darkness had concealed the full extent of his +peril; but now in broad daylight it was brought alarmingly home to him. +Ferrier's raft was swinging before him, and John heard his shouts as he +instructed Coja how to move his pole for steering. John stuck to his +post, almost at his wit's end, but trying desperately to follow in +Ferrier's wake, and shouting instructions to Said Mohammed, who steered +accordingly.</p> +<p class="pnext">All at once he saw with terror a large rock almost in midstream, over +which the water swirled and dashed with clouds of spray. He felt that +nothing could avert disaster. Ferrier was safely past; John, grasping +his pole, cried to the Bengali to steer to the right. The rock seemed +to approach him with terrible speed; in a moment the raft would surely +be dashed against it and shivered to splinters. But the force of the +current, and a timely thrust of the pole--how he made it in time John +could never understand--carried the raft clear of the barrier. John's +shove was indeed more vigorous than was necessary, for it swung the +stern of the raft partly across the current, and caused it to scrape +the edge of the rock, with a jar that sent John and the Indian headlong +among the men who lay on the deck. There was a howl of dismay, and +John sprang up, expecting to find himself whirling to destruction. But +to his unspeakable relief he saw that the perilous voyage was over. +The raft had shot clear of the gorge, and was floating with almost oily +smoothness on the river below the escarpment.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-twenty-fifth-the-fight-in-the-swamp"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id26">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH--The Fight in the Swamp</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">"By George!" cried John, breathless, as he poled his raft up to +Ferrier's, "I don't think I could have faced it if I had known what to +expect."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You did famously," said Ferrier, laughing. "I was afraid you'd come a +cropper on that rock. How are your men? Mine are positively sea-sick."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I didn't give them a thought. They'll be all right now, at any rate. +Coja stuck to his job gamely, and so did Said Mohammed. We'll have to +do something for them when we get home."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Do you think we have seen the last of Juma's lot now?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Surely they'll have had enough of it by this time?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"But if your guess is correct, the fellow has missed the aim of his +life in losing the ivory. If I were in his place I'd certainly have +another try. The current is getting slower and slower; they could +easily outstrip us on the bank."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That might be awkward for us. We don't know anything about the river +a few miles down-stream. There may be more rapids. And look: d'you +see men coming over the bluff behind us?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, swarming like ants. Evidently they mean to chase us, and they'll +catch us in an hour at this rate. We had better try punting."</p> +<p class="pnext">The rate of the current here was probably not more than two or two and +a half miles an hour. Vigorous poling increased the speed of the rafts +slightly, but they were too heavy to move above a walking pace. A bend +in the river hid the pursuers from view. When next seen they were +considerably nearer.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We could get on faster if the men walked," said Ferrier. "Let us land +them on the right bank. The enemy appear to be all on the left, and we +can take them in again if they come to too close quarters."</p> +<p class="pnext">The suggestion seemed a good one, and was quickly put in effect. The +men, who had had a fright and thorough drenching, were glad enough to +stretch their legs on dry land again, and the rafts, relieved of their +weight, responded more readily to the sturdy thrusts of the poles. +Again the enemy were hidden, but catching sight of them presently +through the trees, John cried--</p> +<p class="pnext">"I say, they are cutting off to their left. The river makes another +bend, I suppose, and they're going to post themselves before we arrive."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I only hope the bank isn't high," said Ferrier. "If it is they can +fire down on us, and the mischief is, we can't reply and attend to the +rafts as well. Hadn't we better chuck the ivory into the river and +take our own things and make a bolt for it?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not I," said John. "I don't like the idea of skedaddling at all, and +I'm not going to lose the ivory now. That would bring Juma out on top, +and he could crow over us after all."</p> +<p class="pnext">"There's a good deal of obstinacy in you, John," said Ferrier, smiling. +"We shall have to fight, and I shouldn't be surprised if our hottest +time is yet to come."</p> +<p class="pnext">They went steadily down the river, the men keeping pace with them as +closely as possible, though the nature of the ground caused them +sometimes to leave the bank and march at a considerable distance from +it. For nearly two hours, as they guessed, they did not catch a single +glimpse of the enemy, and hoped that they had tired of the pursuit. +But presently they had reason to suspect that they were not to be +allowed to escape so easily. The river spread out into a kind of +swamp, apparently almost half-a-mile in breadth. About half that +distance ahead it was studded with small wooded islands, and Ferrier, +who was still leading, was puzzled as to which of the channels into +which the stream was divided was the safest to attempt. The enemy were +not in sight, but from somewhere ahead came the sound of chopping wood.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What are they up to?" said John.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Can't tell. Making a boma perhaps. Don't you think we had better +take the men on board before we get fairly into the swamp? If the +enemy are hidden on those islands we had better have them with us."</p> +<p class="pnext">John hailed the marching men, who came at his call and were soon +ensconced on the rafts again. They punted along, looking ahead warily +for signs of the enemy. The current became more and more sluggish, and +there was at times scarcely enough water to float the rafts, now again +weighted by their passengers. Ferrier scanned the river in search of a +practicable channel. In the channels on the left he saw mud-banks +rising just above the surface. A wider channel to the right, about +twenty yards broad, gave the best promise of a safe passage, and +towards this he steered. While still some distance from it, however, +he saw some figures emerge from the wooded island on the left, wade +hurriedly across, and enter a similar wood on the right bank of the +river, both the island and the bank being here slightly above the level +of the water. The greater number of the waders were negroes, but among +them were the white-clad forms of Swahilis.</p> +<p class="pnext">"This is nasty," said John. "We can't go back."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Nor forward either, except at a snail's pace," said Ferrier. +"Confound it! We're stuck again. Look out, John: I'm on a mud-bank. +Pull up till I'm free."</p> +<p class="pnext">By dint of energetic poling he managed to get his raft clear. John +avoided the obstacle by slightly changing his course.</p> +<p class="pnext">"All we can do," he said, "is to push on as fast as we can and trust to +the breastwork. The worst of it is, the men can't defend themselves +without exposing their heads to the enemy's fire."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes they can, if they make loopholes," replied Ferrier. "Set 'em to +cut some; we were idiots not to do it before."</p> +<p class="pnext">The rafts were still about eighty yards from the island. Their course +was checked while the men hastily cut loopholes in the breastwork on +each side, at which they posted themselves with their weapons; then the +white men drove the rafts forward as swiftly as the shallow water +permitted. The enemy had again totally disappeared. But just as +Ferrier's raft entered the channel between the island and the bank, +there was a shout, and a boom of logs was drawn rapidly across, +completely blocking the passage. The sound of chopping was explained.</p> +<p class="pnext">The moment he saw the obstruction, Ferrier strove to increase the speed +of the raft, in the hope of breaking through. There was a jolt and a +crash, but the boom held, and instantly with ferocious yells the enemy +on both sides let fly a shower of arrows mingled with a few rifle-shots +at the occupants of the raft. These, kneeling at the breastworks, +replied as well as they could through the loopholes; but they suffered +two disadvantages: while they were exposed to the missiles of the enemy +behind them, and on a higher level, the enemy themselves were concealed +among the trees and brushwood. Cries of pain proclaimed that several +had been hit, and Ferrier, turning for a moment to seize his rifle, +received an arrow in his right shoulder. In an instant he wrenched it +out: there was no time to think of wounds.</p> +<p class="pnext">Meanwhile John had poled his raft somewhat to the left of the other, to +try in his turn to break through the boom. Like Ferrier, he failed. +The rafts were now ranged alongside, and John's men became exposed to +the deadly hail from the island.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must either cut the boom or run for it," he said, gaining what +shelter he could from the breastwork.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Impossible!" returned Ferrier. "We've no axes. Knives are no good. +The logs are three deep. Any one who tried to cut the lashings would +be killed, to a certainty."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'll try and rush the island, then. You keep the others at bay."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'll do my best."</p> +<p class="pnext">John ordered his men to lie down, and rapidly explained to them what he +meant to do. Then, with a few vigorous thrusts of his pole, he drove +the raft against the bank. As it touched, a bullet passed through his +helmet. He dropped his pole, seized a rifle with his left hand and a +revolver with his right, and calling to the men, leapt over the +breastwork on to the island. The men followed him with a yell, all but +Said Mohammed, whom he had ordered to remain and prevent the raft from +drifting away.</p> +<p class="pnext">As they swarmed up the bank, they were met by a shower of missiles. +Two or three men fell; an arrow grazed John's cheek; but the suddenness +of the attack had taken the enemy by surprise. Those who had rifles +had no time to reload before their assailants were among them. +Discharging his revolver at the nearest man, John dashed straight +forward, smiting left and right with his clubbed rifle, the men hacking +with their knives and jabbing with their spears. The enemy had thought +rather of obtaining good cover from which to attack than of sustaining +a hand-to-hand fight. John's men, emboldened by his example, followed +close upon his heels. For a few moments a fierce scrimmage raged among +the trees. Then the enemy gave way, turned tail, and, rushing across +the narrow island, splashed through the shallow water that separated it +from the next. Here they stood and faced about, as if to show fight +again; but when they saw John and his little band springing after them +they lost heart and fled, racing over the second island and the channel +dividing it from the left bank of the river, and never halting until +they gained firm ground a hundred yards away.</p> +<p class="pnext">Meanwhile John had become aware by the uproar behind him that a fierce +conflict was in progress there. He could not delay to see whether the +enemy he had put to flight would return, but rushed back to the +assistance of Ferrier. What he saw filled him with alarm and dismay. +The main body of the enemy, several hundreds strong, and led by Juma +himself, had swarmed out from the trees and shrubs among which they had +been concealed, and after discharging their weapons, were wading +through the river to attack Ferrier's raft. The channel was black with +them, yelling, brandishing spears and rifles, a few still shooting +their arrows as they plunged through the water. Some had run along the +boom, and at the moment when John returned were trying to leap over the +breastwork on to the raft. Some had come round on the other side and +were attempting to tear down the breastwork. Ferrier was laying about +him doughtily with his clubbed rifle; Coja at the further end of the +raft was doing the same; and the rest of the men were darting here and +there, striking the heads of the negroes in the river, or prodding with +their spears at those on the boom.</p> +<p class="pnext">But the numbers of the enemy were so overwhelming that John feared that +nothing could now save the day. Said Mohammed in his agitation had +allowed his raft to drift away from the island into the stream, and a +rush was immediately made towards it. John sprang on to the boom, and +ran with all speed to Ferrier's help, his men close behind. Catching a +big negro by the throat, he hurled him off the boom into the water, +jumped the breastwork, and came to Ferrier's side just as he staggered +and fell with a spear wound in the thigh. The arrival of John's party +checked the assault for a moment, but meanwhile the enemy had clambered +into his raft, overthrowing Said Mohammed, and the current brought it +once more against the boom. The little party was now surrounded. One +after another fell. Two men, a Swahili and a negro, had at last broken +through the defence and gained a footing on Ferrier's raft. John +felled the Swahili with a sledge-hammer blow of his rifle; the negro +was killed with a thrust from Bill's knife. But while these first +invaders were thus disposed of, others had forced their way on to the +raft, and before John could recover himself, a spear was driven through +his arm and he was hustled to the deck.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was a yell of triumph from the enemy. But all at once, above the +uproar there came the sharp crackle of rifles, followed by a ringing +cheer. Juma, who was at that moment in the act of springing from the +boom into the raft, halted for a second, and turned to discover the +origin of these new sounds. He saw, on the right bank of the river, +not two hundred yards away, a party of mounted white men, riding at a +gallop towards him. For an instant he hesitated. While his back was +towards the raft, Bill, with an agility amazing in a man of his years, +leapt the breastwork, knife in hand, and hurled himself upon the +Swahili. Both together, they fell into the river. Juma was undermost. +For an instant they disappeared beneath the surface. Bill never +relaxed his grip. When they emerged, he plunged his knife up to the +haft in the Swahili's throat; then flung his enemy from him. Juma was +dead. So he expiated the cruelties and tyrannies of many years, at the +hands of a member of the tribe which had suffered most wrong.</p> +<p class="pnext">While this tragedy was being enacted, the riders came to the brink of +the stream, and ten rifles sped their bullets among the swarm of black +men. Again the air rang with a British cheer. With screams of pain, +yells of consternation and affright, the enemy broke and fled, some +towards the island, some scrambling up-stream, those who were in the +rafts plunging into the water and swimming in all directions. And +John, rising to his feet, beheld his father and Mr. Gillespie, and +eight men whom he did not recognize, and waving his rifle aloft with +his uninjured arm, he answered cheer with cheer.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-the-twenty-sixth-back-to-the-farm"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id27">CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SIXTH--Back to the Farm</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">One morning, about a month after the fight in the swamp, John was +sitting at the table in his bungalow, a paper outspread before him, a +pencil in his hand, and Said Mohammed standing at his elbow.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must have it all first-rate, you know," he said.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Quite up to dick, sir; you may rely on me."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well now, <em class="italics">hors d'oeuvres</em>--I think we might do without that."</p> +<p class="pnext">"With respect, sir, <em class="italics">hors d'oeuvres</em> is <em class="italics">sine qua non</em>--correct card, +sir, foundation of the <em class="italics">comme il faut</em>."</p> +<p class="pnext">"All right, then; stick down sardines: we've got a tin. Now +<em class="italics">potage</em>--why the dickens don't you put it in English, khansaman?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"The English tongue, sir, is great and glorious instrument, but too +gross for refinements of culinary art. Soup!--listen to it--soup! +disgusting monosyllable, sir, resembling hiccough. Contrast with the +delicate vocables of French."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, what shall the <em class="italics">potage</em> be?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Clear, sir, for the ladies, <em class="italics">consommé à la Wanderobbo</em>."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What on earth is that?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I beg you, sir, not to insist on answer," said the Bengali gravely. +"Thick, for masculine gender: Scotch broth, concession to prejudices of +great nation."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's all right. What's next? <em class="italics">Poissons</em>! That looks fishy. Take +care you don't drop an <em class="italics">s</em>. What fish can we do?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Coja hooked quantity of finny tribe which, with due sauce, may pass +for trout."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now for <em class="italics">entrées</em>."</p> +<p class="pnext">"The partridges you shot yesterday, sir, are in prime condition. I +suggest <em class="italics">perdrix à la Swahili</em>. For <em class="italics">relevé</em> I propose----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I say, we'll drop that. Let's come to a good honest roast. Shoulder +of lamb, say--but we can't manage mint sauce. There's no vinegar."</p> +<p class="pnext">"With respect, sir, in intelligent anticipation I provide for that. I +put quantity of Bill's honey in ferment, and made acidulous liquid +passable imitation of vinegar; pious fraud."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Plenty of vegetables, of course."</p> +<p class="pnext">"<em class="italics">Croquettes de pomme de terre, choux-fleurs à la Lulu, topinambours à +la crême</em>."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Look here, I can't spell that crack-jaw. What, in plain English, are +<em class="italics">topinambours</em>?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"In vulgar tongue, sir, Jerusalem artichokes; but you will agree that +final syllable of artichokes is ominous and forbidding, especially to +ladies."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, I've had enough of it. Finish the menu yourself. I've no doubt +everything will be all right."</p> +<p class="pnext">John went out and strolled round the farm. It presented a different +appearance: four or five new wooden huts, neatly thatched, erected for +the accommodation of the visitors expected, stood near the bungalow. +John was at present the only white man on the farm, Mr. Halliday having +returned to Nairobi with the rest of the rescue-party to make some +purchases, and Ferrier to meet his sister and get attention to his +wounded thigh. The evening before, a messenger had come in advance, to +announce that the visitors would arrive next day: Mr. Halliday was +returning with Mrs. Burtenshaw, her family, and the Ferriers. Said +Mohammed was determined "to do credit to the establishment," as he put +it; he would show the guests "that the resources of civilization were +not dead letter in African wilds."</p> +<p class="pnext">As the day drew on, John became restless. He had the floor of the +bungalow scrubbed twice; set Lulu to scour the pans in the dairy for +the third time; and got Coja to cut his hair. He was in some agitation +of mind as to what he should wear. He looked out a white shirt, +collar, and tie, and a suit of clothes he had not worn since he left +England. His unaccustomed fingers struggled with his collar-stud until +he was in despair, and when he had knotted his tie he found that he had +no clips, and the wretched thing threatened to ride up to his chin.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was standing at the door of the bungalow, thus arrayed, and feeling +ridiculously got up, when he saw Ferrier galloping up on a pony.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hallo, old chap!" shouted his friend. "The others are about +half-an-hour behind. Thought I would ride ahead and prepare you. What +have you been doing to yourself?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"What do you mean?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, don't mind what I say, but you look a bit of a guy, you know. +Your coat's too tight, and your waistcoat too short: are they the +things you wore at school? Your tie's wriggling round to your ear; and +your trousers display a good deal of ankle--d'you know that you've got +on odd socks?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hang it all, Charley, what shall I do? I've got nothing else but +khaki and drill, and I can't show up in those."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't see why. The women won't expect to find Bond Street fashions +here, and if you'll take my tip you'll tumble out of those things as +soon as possible, and rig up in your usual toggery."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You really think they won't mind?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of course not. Hurry up; you'll just have time."</p> +<p class="pnext">John dashed off with a feeling of unutterable relief. He pitched his +tie and collar into a corner, crushed his suit into a drawer, +regardless of creases, and in ten minutes reappeared in flannel shirt +and clean white drill, feeling at ease.</p> +<p class="pnext">In less than half-an-hour the party arrived, six in all, Mr. Gillespie +having accompanied them. Their safari was still some miles in the rear.</p> +<p class="pnext">"How d'you do, John?" said the elder lady, as he helped her to +dismount. "I am Mrs. Burtenshaw--still!"</p> +<p class="pnext">John felt himself blushing.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I know you as Cousin Sylvia, ma'am," he said.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We'll be great friends, I'm sure. You know Joe and Poll; this is +Helen. Hilda, come and be introduced to my long-lost nephew. Regard +me as your favourite aunt, my dear boy. Tell me," she whispered, "is +that fat smiling gentleman in white your failed B.A.?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's he: cook, khansaman, and major-domo. Said Mohammed, escort the +ladies to their rooms."</p> +<p class="pnext">The Bengali approached, bowing to each in turn.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Esteemed madam and misses," he said, "deign to direct your footsteps +to humble abode, or, as William Cowper beautifully says, your lodge in +vast wilderness, with boundless contiguity of shade."</p> +<p class="pnext">The ladies preserved an admirable composure, and retired to the huts +assigned to them.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now, John," said Mrs. Burtenshaw, when they reappeared, "you must show +us round this wonderful farm of yours. It looks very tidy, I must say. +But where are your sheep? I thought you had hundreds, and there aren't +fifty in that pen."</p> +<p class="pnext">"They're out at grass, cousin; you'll see them come in by and by. +There really isn't much to see, you know. Cabbages and artichokes--'m; +<em class="italics">topinambours</em> is the name for ladies, says my cook--they're just the +same, here and at home. If you'd come a few months later, now, I might +have shown you some zebras. I'm going to try and tame some."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ah yes! I remember you threatened to meet your father on a striped +charger, to match his striped trousers.... Who's that funny-looking +little object?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's Bill, scout and huntsman, and a millionaire, as things are +reckoned here. Come and see his ivory."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You're a very rash and headstrong boy. The idea of going miles and +miles after a set of thieves! I wonder you're alive. A pretty +settler, indeed!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, cousin, I dare say I shall settle down now, with father to keep +me in order. You see, we couldn't have felt secure if----"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't tell me! You're just a madcap; if you were my son I should be +in constant terror lest you were brought home one day a mangled corpse."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Look, mother," said Helen, "isn't it a pretty sight?"</p> +<p class="pnext">The lambs were coming home, a great flock, covering the hollow between +two gentle slopes. Their bleatings, heard faintly at first, became a +deafening noise as they neared the farm. The observers noticed how +they quickened their pace as they approached. Within the pen the ewes +moved restlessly about, bleating calls to their young. When the lambs +entered through the gate, they leapt forward frisking with delight, +darted into the open pen, and sprang this way and that, each seeking +its own dam.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Charming!" said Mrs. Burtenshaw. "What a pity sheep are so silly! +Now take us to your dairy."</p> +<hr class="docutils" /> +<p class="pfirst">Said Mohammed's cookery won general applause.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I envy you, Halliday," said Mr. Gillespie. "He's worth his fifty +rupees a month, isn't he?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"You don't have a dinner like this every day, I'm sure, John--French +menu and all," said Mrs. Burtenshaw. "I should like the recipe for +that <em class="italics">consommé à la Wanderobbo</em>."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What is <em class="italics">à la Wanderobbo</em>?" asked Helen.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't know," replied John. "That little old man you saw just now is +one of the Wanderobbo tribe."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Good gracious! I hope he had nothing to do with the soup. He +looked--well, not scrupulously clean."</p> +<p class="pnext">"No, no," said John, laughing. "He had no more to do with the soup +than Lulu had with the cauliflowers--unless she cut them. Talking of +Bill, Mr. Gillespie, what are we to do about his ivory? It has been +his dream for years to recover it, but when we got back he made me a +present of it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Just like a man," said Mrs. Burtenshaw. "You'll struggle all your +life and wear yourselves out for some ridiculous thing, and when you +get it don't know what to do with it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's what you do that counts, not what you get," remarked Mr. +Halliday: "or as our failed B.A. said when we met him first, it is work +that ennobles. But about the ivory?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well," said Mr. Gillespie judicially, "I'm not sure but it belongs to +the Government."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't see that," said Joe Browne. "The Government did nothing for +it. Didn't do anything for you, either. I'd stick to it if I were +you, John. What will it fetch?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Five or six hundred pounds, I should think," said Mr. Gillespie.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I wish it were mine," said Oliver. "Mother keeps me plaguey short."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'd thought of a scheme that would be pretty fair all round," said +John. "Bill was the owner, and he gave it to me. He wants to stay on +the farm. Well, I propose to build him a new hut and set him up with +new weapons: that will make him comfortable for life. Then old +Sobersides has been very decent. His men behaved like bricks, and we +certainly couldn't have got it without their help. We might give them +some bushels of beads and loads of wire and blankets and other things +they value. They may seem trumpery to us, but they're untold wealth to +the natives."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And then?" said Mrs. Burtenshaw.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, perhaps Charley and I might share the rest."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Nonsense!" said Ferrier. "It's yours."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And we'll share it. We shared everything else. Don't be selfish, +Charley."</p> +<p class="pnext">Everybody laughed, and it was ultimately settled that the ivory should +be sent to Nairobi, where Mr. Gillespie promised to get the best +possible price for it.</p> +<p class="pnext">Here Said Mohammed came in with coffee. When he had handed round the +cups he lingered.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't wait, khansaman," said John. "We'll manage now. Every one was +delighted with your dinner."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am repaid a thousandfold, sir. Not to intrude, sir, I have trifling +communication to make."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What is it?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Native chief, sir, did me honour to request I would convey thanks of +self and co. for immense and colossal benefits conferred."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh, that's all right. He thanked me himself, long ago."</p> +<p class="pnext">"<em class="italics">Festina lente</em>, sir. Reflecting on said petition, I deemed the +circs. worthy of more formal commemoration than perfunctory +acknowledgement. Wherefore and accordingly I scorn delights and live +laborious days in inditing few lines pat to the occasion, which with +august permission I will now proceed to chuck off chest."</p> +<p class="pnext">The two girls made suspicious use of their handkerchiefs; Joe Browne +kicked Ferrier under the table; and Oliver, choking over his coffee, +accused Mr. Halliday of smoking very strong cigars. John and the elder +members of the party preserved their gravity, though it was in a +curiously constrained tone that John asked the Bengali to favour the +company. With a smile of gratification Said Mohammed unrolled a scroll +of paper, and, looking round to make sure that every one was attending, +began in his high-pitched voice--</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Hear me tell a moving story, chronicled in lofty rhyme,</div> +<div class="line">Redolent of stripling's glory, monument to end of time.</div> +<div class="line">Idol of my veneration, you I celebrate in song;</div> +<div class="line">Ornament of British nation, you I crack up, hot and strong.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">To begin at the beginning: When one day, at usual pace,</div> +<div class="line">Our oblate spheroid was spinning through an awful lot of space,</div> +<div class="line">You, an up-to-date Orion, Enfield rifle in your hand,</div> +<div class="line">Did for most obnoxious lion, holy terror in the land.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Next, predaceous gang, Swahilis--Juma, if you please, and Co.,--</div> +<div class="line">Prowling, slippery as eel is, on the rampage to and fro,</div> +<div class="line">Depredated native village, spreading woe and dire alarm,</div> +<div class="line">Then for more important pillage fell like ton of bricks on farm.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Faithful servant, Said Mohammed, feeling anything but bold,</div> +<div class="line">Like a bleating orphan lamb hid, sniffing wolves within the fold;</div> +<div class="line">While despoilers collared rifles, ammunition, shell and shot;</div> +<div class="line">Item, sundry piffling trifles which the poet has forgot.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Minions of a base levanter, villains of the deepest dye,--</div> +<div class="line">You are after them instanter, lightning flashing from your eye;</div> +<div class="line">Swoop upon them in their slumbers, catch them fairly on the hop,</div> +<div class="line">Though inferior in numbers, smite them hip and thigh and crop.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Terrified by dire disaster, they make hurry-scurry flight.</div> +<div class="line">Yoicks! our whipper-in goes faster, helter-skelter day and night,</div> +<div class="line">Till dark citadel is sighted, wall-encircled, likewise moat.</div> +<div class="line">Is prodigious effort blighted? Not at all: we simply gloat.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Roberts' grit and Cæsar's clear eye--honestly, you have them both.</div> +<div class="line">'Fas est ab hoste doceri,' august Roman general quoth:</div> +<div class="line">Taking leaf from book of Juma, you perpended ruse de guerre,</div> +<div class="line">And with dodgy slimness you manoeuvred brigands from their lair.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Penned within restricted compass, you repel the fierce attack,</div> +<div class="line">Calm amid most awful rumpus: things are looking very black.</div> +<div class="line">Lo! in thickest of the slaughter, one sees chance of chipping in,</div> +<div class="line">And with can of boiling water stems the tide and scores a win.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Threat of famine, grisly spectre, makes us look a little blue;</div> +<div class="line">But our commonwealth's protector, launching forth in bark canoe,</div> +<div class="line">Quits the precincts of the island, marches at a spanking pace,</div> +<div class="line">Up-hill, down-hill, swamp and dry land, perfect Nimrod in the chase.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Hippopotamus stupendous to your prowess falls a prey.</div> +<div class="line">Ministers of grace defend us! you are spirited away.</div> +<div class="line">Lo! proverbially fickle, Fortune knocks you from your perch,</div> +<div class="line">Leaves you in a pretty pickle, or, as you may say, the lurch.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Meditating in your prison, through the darkling stilly night,</div> +<div class="line">Ere red Phoebus has arisen you have perpetrated flight:</div> +<div class="line">Swift rejoin the little party by Swahili sore oppressed;</div> +<div class="line">Juma then is in the cart, he gets a bullet in the chest.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Pardon slight inaccuracy, due to exigence of rhyme;</div> +<div class="line">Frenzied poet, going pace, imagines only the sublime.</div> +<div class="line">Be pedestrian and pedantic when you're patronizing prose,</div> +<div class="line">Spur your Pegasus quite frantic when a poem you compose.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">To return from this diversion, and to make long story short,</div> +<div class="line">After enemy's dispersion you evacuated fort;</div> +<div class="line">Made a bee-line for the village, situated on a hill,</div> +<div class="line">Scooped the products of their tillage, bloodless coup, resistance nil.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Expediting preparations for strategic move in rear,</div> +<div class="line">'Mid poor females' ululations, most distressing to the ear--</div> +<div class="line">What makes all your pulses throb? oh! what sets all your nerves athrill?</div> +<div class="line">'Tis shikari Wanderobbo, or, to use his alias, Bill.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Pale with rage and indignation (metaphorically pale),</div> +<div class="line">Billy tells of spoliation, thieves his property assail.</div> +<div class="line">Tartar like the bold Cambuscan (Chaucer left his tale half-told),</div> +<div class="line">Juma digs up every tusk and Bill is absolutely sold.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Now behold you on your mettle; now momentous hour has struck,</div> +<div class="line">You in most pugnacious fettle sally forth to try your luck;</div> +<div class="line">Meet marauders by the river, fall on them like bolt from blue,</div> +<div class="line">Crying 'Stand and eke deliver, or I'll run you through and through!'</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">(Note: that speech, correct in diction, is not quite correct in fact;</div> +<div class="line">'Tis a literary fiction, managed with consummate tact.</div> +<div class="line">So the other classic writers, Livy and Thucydides,</div> +<div class="line">Decorate the lips of fighters with sublime apostrophes.)</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Though the words were never uttered, pish! it matters not a jot;</div> +<div class="line">Like March hares the scoundrels scuttered, dropping burdens on the spot;</div> +<div class="line">After years of patient waiting, Bill regains his ownest own,</div> +<div class="line">And with ecstasy gyrating, bellows till he's fairly blown.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">You with prescient acumen see that all is not O.K.;</div> +<div class="line">You alas! have very few men, Juma has a vast array;</div> +<div class="line">Yet while danger round you thickens, lo! you neither quail nor quake;</div> +<div class="line">Though you wonder how the dickens you are going to take the cake.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">To omit progressive stages, which would take up too much time,</div> +<div class="line">Occupy a dozen pages and exhaust a lot of rhyme--</div> +<div class="line">After navigating torrent where the crocodiles disport,</div> +<div class="line">You were spied by foe abhorrent, lurking watchful in the fort.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">How you diddled them just proper, how you did the Johnnies brown,</div> +<div class="line">And how many came a cropper as the rafts were floating down:</div> +<div class="line">This perchance a future Milton, seeking an heroic theme,</div> +<div class="line">May compose splendacious lilt on, in the groves of Academe.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">And perchance some future Hallam, with display of prosy pomp,</div> +<div class="line">Will relate in distant Balham scrumptious battle in the swamp;</div> +<div class="line">And describe the villain Juma, in penultimate despair,</div> +<div class="line">Meeting Bill upon the boom and getting his quietus there.</div> +</div> +<div class="line-block outermost"> +<div class="line">Now the hurly-burly's over, not a cloud bedims the sky;</div> +<div class="line">You are jolly well in clover, and the bloom is on the rye;</div> +<div class="line">'Tempus fugit': I must stow it---end my palpitating lay,</div> +<div class="line">Ever faithful cook and poet, Said Mohammed, failed B.A.</div> +</div> +</div> +</blockquote> +<!-- --> +<p class="pfirst">There was a burst of applause as the Bengali concluded.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Capital!" cried Mr. Halliday.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Wonderful!" exclaimed the girls together, clapping their hands.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Absolutely unique, by Jove!" added Oliver.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You're sure of immortality now, John," said Joe.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I wouldn't wonder if it's good enough for <em class="italics">Punch</em>," said Mr. Gillespie.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Such laudation warms the cockles of my heart, ladies and gentlemen," +declared Said Mohammed, beaming. "But the poem is not destined to be +squandered on <em class="italics">profanum vulgus:</em> it is strictly for private +consumption."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Have some copies printed, Mr. Mohammed," said Mrs. Burtenshaw. "I'll +pay the bill."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Your esteemed order, madam, shall be punctually attended to. And now, +with excuses, I beg to be allowed to retire to my own place--to return +to my muttons, as it were: or in other words, to wash the dishes."</p> +<p class="pnext">And with profound salaams he withdrew.</p> +<hr class="docutils" /> +<p class="pfirst">By the last advices from Nairobi I learn that the Hallidays' farm in +Kenya is exceedingly prosperous. Mr. Halliday received his lease, and +was recently mentioned in a Government report as one of the most +enterprising and successful settlers in British East Africa. Mrs. +Burtenshaw regards this testimonial as unfair, since Mr. Halliday is +only a figurehead, and John does the work; but, as Mr. Gillespie says, +nobody cares a pin for what appears in a Government report.</p> +<p class="pnext">There are two other farms adjoining Alloway, one owned by Charles +Ferrier, the other by the two Brownes. It is rumoured that, as lions +and other wild-fowl have now disappeared from the vicinity, two of the +three farms will soon be graced by the presence of ladies; but there +seems to be some speculation at tea-tables in Nairobi as to whether +Hilda Ferrier will become Mrs. Joseph Browne or Mrs. David Halliday. +Knowing John, I should say that there is no doubt about the matter. +Mr. Gillespie advises Helen Browne to change her name to Ferrier at the +same time: he is a firm believer in economy. Said Mohammed is +anxiously awaiting definite information, for he says that he cannot set +to work on his nuptial ode in honour of the occasion until he knows +which is which; then he will show us all what's what. My own opinion +is that he will be so busy in erecting a wedding-cake of suitable +proportions as to have no leisure to build the lofty rhyme. Meanwhile +he has learnt Spenser's "Epithalamium" by heart, and is convinced that, +with due inspiration, he will knock it into a cocked hat.</p> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">THE END</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">HERBERT STRANG</div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost small"> +<div class="line"><em class="italics">Complete List of Stories</em></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<div class="left line-block outermost small"> +<div class="line">ADVENTURES OF DICK TREVANION, THE</div> +<div class="line">ADVENTURES OF HARRY ROCHESTER, THE</div> +<div class="line">A GENTLEMAN AT ARMS</div> +<div class="line">A HERO OF LIÉGE</div> +<div class="line">AIR PATROL, THE</div> +<div class="line">AIR SCOUT, THE</div> +<div class="line">BARCLAY OF THE GUIDES</div> +<div class="line">BLUE RAIDER, THE</div> +<div class="line">BOYS OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE</div> +<div class="line">BRIGHT IDEAS</div> +<div class="line">BROWN OF MOUKDEN</div> +<div class="line">BURTON OF THE FLYING CORPS</div> +<div class="line">CARRY ON</div> +<div class="line">CRUISE OF THE GYRO-CAR, THE</div> +<div class="line">FIGHTING WITH FRENCH</div> +<div class="line">FLYING BOAT, THE</div> +<div class="line">FRANK FORESTER</div> +<div class="line">HUMPHREY BOLD</div> +<div class="line">JACK HARDY</div> +<div class="line">KING OF THE AIR</div> +<div class="line">KOBO</div> +<div class="line">LONG TRAIL, THE</div> +<div class="line">LORD OF THE SEAS</div> +<div class="line">MOTOR SCOUT, THE</div> +<div class="line">NO MAN'S ISLAND</div> +<div class="line">OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN, THE</div> +<div class="line">ONE OF CLIVE'S HEROES</div> +<div class="line">PALM TREE ISLAND</div> +<div class="line">ROB THE RANGER</div> +<div class="line">ROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS</div> +<div class="line">SAMBA</div> +<div class="line">SETTLERS AND SCOUTS</div> +<div class="line">SULTAN JIM</div> +<div class="line">SWIFT AND SURE</div> +<div class="line">THROUGH THE ENEMY'S LINES</div> +<div class="line">TOM BURNABY</div> +<div class="line">TOM WILLOUGHBY'S SCOUTS</div> +<div class="line">WINNING HIS NAME</div> +<div class="line">WITH DRAKE ON THE SPANISH MAIN</div> +<div class="line">WITH HAIG ON THE SOMME</div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> +<div class="backmatter"> +</div> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 39161 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |