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diff --git a/40838-0.txt b/40838-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c3e4ea --- /dev/null +++ b/40838-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10278 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40838 *** + +The Empire Makers +A Romance of Adventure and War in South Africa +By Hume Nesbit +Published by F.V. White and Co., 145 Bedford Street, Strand, London WC. +This edition dated 1900. + +The Empire Makers, by Hume Nesbit. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +________________________________________________________________________ +THE EMPIRE MAKERS, BY HUME NESBIT. + +PREFACE. + +Africa is still the home of mystery, in spite of the many explorers who +have revealed much of its wonders. This romance is concerned mainly +with the adventures of three young men who went out to South Africa, got +into trouble with the Transvaal Government, and afterwards discovered an +ancient nation in Central Africa. + +On their return they were able to take a little hand in this present war +of Justice and Right, where so many of our best and bravest are shedding +their blood. + +I wish I could have shown my readers the wind up of this vile oligarchy +of Pretoria tyrants. Yet I dare say no real Briton can doubt but that +the end must be the triumph of our glorious Empire and the ultimate +civilisation of those ignorant savages, the Boers. + +It has cost us dearly--it may cost us more--yet never let a true lover +of liberty be biased by the friends of the oppressors. Africa must be a +free country, as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are. Like those +great countries, Africa must become a loyal and faithful daughter to her +beneficent mother, our Empire, and enjoy the fruits of emancipation as +those other sisters do. + +These fruits are Liberty, Equality, Justice, and Fraternity to all races +over which waves the glorious Red, White, and Blue Flag, the Union Jack. + +The boons which we are at present fighting for will cause many a hearth +to mourn for the brave sons who lie under the cold stars and the fierce +suns of Africa. But as the human parts of these sons enrich the veldt, +so will their heroic actions cause countless generations of Boers to +bless their coming. They have fought--not out of revenge, but for duty +and love of their brothers. They have died for a noble cause, and +Africa will yet think of them with pride. While, therefore, we drop a +tear over their sacred graves, let it be one of gratitude and pride. +Who would not sooner share the grave of a soldier in Africa than grasp +the hand of a pro-Boer in England? Who would not sooner lie beside a +hero on the veldt than be placed near the statesman who caused all this +waste of blood? + +That you may forgive all the shortcomings in this book, and be +interested in it and its pictures, is the most earnest wish of the +writer. If it can keep an Imperialist steadfast when persuaded by +crafty traitors, if it can induce a wavering pro-Boer to be once more a +faithful son or daughter to Justice and our Empire, then it has more +than fulfilled the desires of + +ITS AUTHOR. + +Yorick Club, 30, Bedford Street, London, W.C. + +CHAPTER ONE. + +AT SHEBOURNE ACADEMY. + +Three braver, franker, and more chivalrous hearts never beat in male +breasts than those that beat under the jackets of Ned Romer, Clarence +Raybold, and Fred Weldon. + +Ned Romer, the long-acknowledged hero and captain of the school, was +about seventeen years of age. He had won his supremacy, as all lads +must do at schools, by hard fighting and expertness in outdoor games and +sports, as much as by general proficiency in his studies. + +The boys expected him, of course, to be dux in the schoolroom; they +could never have respected a duffer, no matter how smart he may have +been on the field. An ignorant booby could never win schoolboy respect, +no matter how great a fighter he proved himself to be. + +To become the leader of a school requires many perfections in a boy. He +must have the same qualities which form a leader of men--personal force +and self-control, the power of controlling and influencing those about +him. He must be always prepared and ready to face unexpected +difficulties, be tireless in his work, willing ever to help his +followers in their task, and thus win their admiration, by proving that +he knows much more than they do. + +He must be prepared to act as champion for the school, if called upon; +to be the best batsman and bowler, the most tireless runner and swimmer; +in fact, to be constantly on the qui vive. + +Schoolboys are very keen critics, and don't give their admiration +blindly. True, once their allegiance is given, it takes a good deal to +destroy the prestige of their hero. Unlike grown men, they do not +easily forget Ned Romer had all the natural qualities of a hero. +Physically, he was tall for his age, handsome, strongly formed, and +absolutely fearless. + +A well-posed, firm head rested between square shoulders. His hair was +crisp, curly, and light brown. His eyes were those bright and blue eyes +that look frankly and bravely out upon the world, and never shift when +appealed to. When boys or men possess those kind of eyes, a lie direct +is an impossibility with them. They cannot prevaricate. It is not the +despicable meanness of a lie that prevents them; they do not consider +such ethics or reasons. Like George Washington, they simply cannot tell +a lie. To do so would be a physical impossibility. The liar and the +craven are natural products, and go together, as real courage, +magnanimity, and truth are ever found united. + +His habits of constant exercise had made Ned Romer an athlete. A +natural aptitude for study and thirst for knowledge made his tasks a +pleasure, and easy to acquire. He was ambitious to shine, and could not +endure defeat. To him an obstacle meant an enemy to be overcome and +destroyed, and until he achieved this, he had no peace of mind. + +This was his last term at school; and during the years he had spent at +Shebourne Academy, he had learnt that the most precious of all a brave +man's possessions is the habit of controlling his temper. He had a +fiery temper. Now, a temper is as needful to boy and man as a pair of +strong arms, but, like strength, this must be kept in reserve for +occasions when force is required, not dissipated in senseless outbursts. +As our story progresses, the reader will find out more about the +characteristics and temper of Ned Romer. + +Early in life he had been left an orphan, under the guardianship of his +late father's solicitor. + +This guardian was a bachelor, who evidently considered it to be the +beginning and end of his duty to pay the school fees and other expenses +of his ward. + +Thus Ned had never been invited to visit his guardian during his +holidays, the master of the college, or academy, Dr Heardman, LL.D., +M.A., etc., being paid to look after the boy during the holidays. In +consequence of these arrangements, Shebourne Academy was the only home +that Ned Romer had ever known, and his schoolfellows were his only +friends. + +Some lads would have felt lonely and have pined under the monotony of +such a life; but Ned was not one of the brooding kind. The country all +round the academy was beautiful, being in the heart of Devonshire, and +within sight of Dartmoor hills. What money he required, in reason, his +guardian freely sent, and as Ned had lived here ever since he could +remember, his needs were not extravagant, with such Spartan tastes as he +had. + +Books he had in profusion, for the doctor's library was at his disposal. +He found amusement enough during the vacations in studying botany and +reading books of travel and exploration. + +When asked by his guardian what vocation he would like to take up in +life, during one of that gentleman's rare visits, Ned had answered +promptly-- + +"I mean to be a traveller." + +His guardian was pleased with this reply; at least, he seemed to be so +from the way his foxy face beamed and the manner in which he rubbed his +hands together. + +"Yes, Ned, I think such a life would suit a bold, strong lad like you +exactly. You might go to Australia or Africa, and make a fortune in no +time." + +"Oh, I don't care much about the fortune," replied Ned, carelessly. "As +long as I have enough to live and keep clear of debt, I'll be satisfied, +so that I can do some good and help on civilisation and the glory and +power of England." + +"Like the great Cecil Rhodes, eh--the Empire maker?" said his guardian, +slyly. + +"That is my ambition, Mr Raymond," answered Ned, calmly. + +He was not very familiar with his guardian, and although he could not +say that he disliked him, yet he always felt better pleased to bid him +good-bye than to welcome him at the beginning of his infrequent and +short visits. + +"Hum--yes; I think we shall be able to advance your views in this +respect. Your father was not a rich man when he died, Edward. However, +I need not go into that matter now, as I shall tell you all about it +when you have left school. But I dare say--as I have been careful of +what he did leave--that I shall be able to provide you with a +comfortable start in life." + +This conversation had taken place on the last visit of Mr Jabez Raymond +to Shebourne Academy at the beginning of the finishing term. Since then +Ned had diligently pursued his studies, and was pretty well prepared to +face the world, as far as theory could prepare a young man. Experience +must hereafter be the finisher of his education. + +Clarence Raybold and Fred Weldon ranked next to Ned Romer in proficiency +and expertness. They were both bold fellows, who had moulded +themselves, as far as they could, on the pattern of their leader and +hero, Ned. + +Both had battled and worked their way upwards to their present proud +position. The other boys owned their superiority, but--as will chance +so often--while being good and faithful chums, there was not a little +rivalry between them as to which should stand next to Ned Romer. Some +of the boys boasted that Raybold, the Africander, was the strongest and +best; some vowed by Weldon, the Australian. + +A school is somewhat like a ship; there cannot be two first officers any +more than there can be two captains, if perfect harmony is to be +maintained. + +Affairs had been long brewing towards an open contest between these two +friendly rivals for the supremacy. They were very nearly the same age; +Weldon was only a month older than Raybold, both being in their +sixteenth year. + +They were both tall and strong, Raybold an inch wider in the chest, +while Weldon was two inches taller. Raybold was the best batter, Weldon +the best bowler. They could both swim and dive like fish. In this +exercise they surpassed Ned and every other boy round about the +countryside. + +The favourite study of Ned was botany; Fred Weldon was an authority on +chemistry, and Clarence Raybold on astronomy. In these accomplishments +they stood apart and equal. + +In their other studies they were also reckoned pretty equal. If one +excelled in one branch, the other excelled in some other department. + +There was only one way left to decide the question at issue, and this +was, as Nature decides the same question of supremacy, by fighting. + +It may seem a barbarous thing that boys and men cannot settle such +disputed points in any other way except by battle. Savages settle it +thus. Civilised races do the same, and amongst healthy boys it appears +to be as strict a necessity as amongst men. + +Thus it happened that a Saturday had been fixed upon for the grand +tournament between those rival knights, with the entire school as +spectators and Captain Edward Romer as umpire. + +There was no personal bitterness between the two colonial boys, for +although there had been of late considerable friction, this had occurred +more between the supporters than the principals. + +A mass meeting had been called, and the contest between Australia and +Africa decided upon. The two champions were moved alone by ambition and +the desire to settle their future position, once and for all. They had +likewise agreed to abide by the decision of the umpire and the school, +without any further appeal. + +It was to be a friendly enough contest, yet all knew that it would not +be a drawing-room or stage play. It was to be a real, not a sham +battle. + +The ground fixed upon was about three miles from Shebourne, down by the +river, at a spot where the banks were level and the water deep. This +was their usual bathing-place. + +It is not my intention to describe this fight, further than to say that +it was fought according to recognised rules, without prejudice, and +decided in thirteen rounds. + +The umpire watched keenly, and stopped each round when it was likely to +become too fierce. Thus, although some claret was spilt, it wasn't in +serious quantities, and could easily be washed away without leaving any +palpable traces. Clarence Raybold came out of the "mill" with a swollen +upper lip and some bruises on his biceps, and Fred Weldon with a flowing +nose. + +Raybold was declared victor, while Weldon accepted his defeat with a +good grace. Africa had beaten Australia by only two seconds of time, +yet both had fought so splendidly that the audience, without exception, +declared that the defeat was nearly as good as the victory. Both had +conducted themselves so temperately yet sturdily, taking and giving such +real strokes, and warding off with such rare skill, that the supporters +of Weldon were as proud of his actions as were the Raybold section of +his deeds of daring. + +With loud acclaim they were unanimously declared worthy champions of +"Shebourne," of whom the academy ought to be proud. + +It was a glorious day in early summer. The leaves were lushly green and +fresh, the sunbeams warm, and the water in front of them most inviting. + +Therefore, after Ned had delivered his unalterable decision, young +Africa shook hands with his brother young Australia, and they all +finished up the fun by casting their clothes on to the grassy banks and +plunging into the transparent river, like lively tadpoles. + +After this eventful day there was complete concord at Shebourne Academy. +Fred Weldon took his orders from Clarence Raybold, who submitted to the +wise and experienced authority of Ned Romer, and the long and happy days +of schoolboy life flew on unheeded towards their close. + +CHAPTER TWO. + +THE COMPACT. + +The hours which the three school leaders were spending in study and +merry sport were bringing great events into their lives. + +On the same day that Fred Weldon fought with Clarence Raybold by the +side of that Devon river, his father, the reputed wealthy Australian, +died a bankrupt, leaving his family almost paupers. + +He had been involved in the disastrous land boom, and forced to mortgage +all his stock and estates. Indeed, for the past five or six years he +had only been able to carry on his station through the leniency of his +creditors. When death overtook him, he had been threatened with +foreclosure, which took place directly after his funeral. + +It was a couple of weeks before the expiration of the last term for the +three school friends, when a black-edged letter came to inform Fred +about the death of his father and his own penniless condition. A double +blow that was, which prostrated the poor Australian boy, and took the +sunshine out of his life. + +He dearly loved his father, although he had not seen that father for the +six years he had spent at Shebourne Academy. To know that he should +never again on earth see the kindly face of that loved parent nearly +broke his tender heart. + +He had been brought up under the belief that, as far as he was +concerned, the seeking for a living was not a consideration which need +occupy his attention. He might go in for a profession as an amusement +to fill out time, or study the wool markets in London, and afterwards +take up his father's gentlemanly occupation as a squatter. Money had +never hitherto troubled his young mind. A liberal allowance had been +regularly paid to Dr Heardman for his use outside his school and +clothing fees. Up to this date he always had the most lavishly lined +purse in the school. Not being a cad, he never paraded his riches in +the least. He was free and open-handed, and ready always to give +without considering or remembering; but with the instincts of +generations of gentlemen in his blood, he gave or lent delicately, and +without allowing his right hand to know what his left hand did. + +He was in consequence universally liked and respected, instead of being +hated, as ostentatious givers generally are. + +A bluff, offhand manner covered a very warm and tender nature, as the +brown freckles covered his clear skin, until the original tints had to +be guessed at. He had speckled, brown-grey eyes, a good deal resembling +the colour of the iron stains so plentifully bespattered over his face. +This monotony of yellow-brown gave him a bark-like appearance that did +not add to his beauty at first sight. + +It was a good and a brave face, however, that of Fred Weldon, in spite +of its dingy tones. When he opened his mouth to laugh, he exhibited a +fine set of strong white teeth that made him almost beautiful. His +laugh also was a ringing and a hearty laugh, which went straight into +one's heart when heard. By-and-by also, when one began to examine his +points, it was wonderful how many excellences and beauties were +disclosed. Nicely shaped ears, although often skinned and roughened by +the weather; well-shaped hands, although tanned by the sun; hair with a +golden lustre and a sinuous waviness; delicately shaped lips; and a nose +bold, fine, and straight, with nostrils sensitive as those of a +well-bred horse. Fred Weldon decidedly improved on acquaintance, for he +was polite, considerate, and of a singularly happy disposition. + +When the evil tidings came he showed his grit and breeding by at once +facing the difficulty instead of bemoaning it idly. He had no longer +any expectations beyond what pocket-money he had saved, and fifty pounds +which an uncle had sent him, to pay his fare, second class, out to +Australia, if he cared to go. + +This uncle told him kindly, but frankly, however, in his letter, that if +he cared to go anywhere else for the present, it would be as well, for +Australia could not hold out much-prospect for a penniless young man for +some years yet to come. + +His mother and sisters were provided for, as this uncle had taken them +home to his station. He need, therefore, suffer no anxiety on their +account. He had only himself now to consider. + +It is a sad moment in the life of a boy when he loses his natural +protector, even although he may step into his father's property. This +desolation becomes intensified when, besides his father, the boy loses +home, and, with what makes home attractive, all certainty of the future. + +Fred Weldon felt now, for the first time, that he was no longer a +passenger in life's bark, but had been forced into the position of the +formerly utterly trusted and lost pilot. He had now to steer where +formerly he had left that responsibility to others. + +It would have been a most wretched time, those last two weeks at +Shebourne Academy, for poor Fred Weldon, but for the kindly sympathy of +both teachers and fellow-pupils. These made him feel that misfortune +has its compensations, when it brings out these traits of kindness and +friendship. + +The entire school united in showing to Fred how much he was cared for +daring this period of grief and uncertainty. + +But his two chums, Ned Romer and Clarence Raybold, did more, for they +gripped the future with firm and energetic hands, and rendered it a +definite plan. As long as man or boy can map out his course with +definite lines, he has something worth living for. It is the groping +through a damp and dark mistland after a formless ideal which rusts the +mind and saps the vital forces. As long as we can trace a path, so we +can follow it; as long as we know our direction, difficulties are almost +pleasures. Without his two chums, Fred might have fallen into an inert +condition and given way to despair. Without this sudden calamity +befalling him, those three friends might have parted on that vacation +and gone different ways, to idle and dream abortive things. Now it +knitted their lives together, and while they discussed his affairs, they +settled their own. + +Fred had received his letter on a Friday. On Saturday afternoon the +three friends were lying on the banks of the river near the +bathing-pool. + +Fred was in the centre, lying on his back and looking at the sky. His +friends reclined on each side of him, resting on their elbows, and +plucking daisies and buttercups aimlessly. + +That was their way of exhibiting their sympathy. They would not look at +him, for they instinctively felt that he would resent being watched just +now. He could not help his eyes filling now and then, as he saw +pictures of his lost Australian home with his father in that upper patch +of dark blue sky, but he would have hated his chums to see him crying +like a girl. So also would they have despised and detested themselves +for watching these signs of weakness. To cry is human, and sometimes +cannot be kept under--a man will own this with shame; but it is +abominable to be seen at the pitiful game, and no real friend would ever +own he had seen his chum at it. This is one of the sacred obligations +of man-friendship. + +"I say, Raybold," cried Ned, speaking over the silent Fred, "I've been +thinking lately of making my exploration ground Africa. Do you intend +sticking to Johannesburg when you leave here?" + +"Not likely, Ned; the pater wishes me to move about and see the country +before I settle down." + +"Well, what do you say to making a company affair of it?" continued Ned, +cheerfully. "England, Australia, and Africa against the world." + +"I am agreeable," replied Clarence. + +"What do you say, Fred, to this partnership?" + +"What partnership?" asked Fred, waking from his melancholy reverie. + +"That we should go to Africa and become bona fide explorers. The +company to be called the Clarfredned Company of explorers and gentlemen +adventurers." + +"With the last first, of course, Ned," added Clarence, modestly. + +"Well, yes; I suppose I do know a trifle more than you pair of +scientists, having a year's advantage of you. And I haven't the +slightest objection to be your chief, on one condition." + +"And that?" + +"My condition is, that I provide the first expenses." + +"Again agreeable," replied Clarence Raybold, with alacrity. "My pater, +since the Jameson Raid, hasn't had too much cash to spare. What with +confiscation, fines, and taxes, the life of an Uitlander is not an +enviable one in the Transvaal. Therefore I willingly accept your terms, +and declare you to be my captain." + +"What do you say, Weldon?" asked Ned, calmly looking at the water pool. + +He did this because there were indications of a girlish breakdown on the +part of Fred. His eyelids were twitching, and he was gulping something +down that appeared to be choking him. + +"Some fellows go and pay a lot of money to be allowed to join an +expedition of this sort. I regard these fellows as fools to pay for +what should be paid for. The leader always gets the kudos, therefore he +ought to pay the costs. Now, boys, I'm fond of kudos, and I mean to +have as much of it as I can out of this affair, therefore I reckon it is +only fair that I should pay the piper." + +Ned spoke musingly, and flicked with his stick at some grass-stalks. + +Then Clarence Raybold took up the cue with the instinctive feelings of a +gentleman. + +"Those are my sentiments also, of course, when partners go for equal +shares in profits as well as adventures. I think, as a kind of +guarantee of good faith, the subordinates ought to give a little. Now, +I would pledge myself to the extent of twenty pounds, and leave my +leader to do all the rest. What do you say, Weldon, old fellow, to +contributing twenty pounds each, and letting Ned do the rest?" + +Fred crushed back into his eyelids a couple of tears, and then, gulping +down a big sob, like a huge pill, with the indifference of a Stoic, he +said-- + +"I'd give fifty pounds willingly to go with you and Ned; but if you +decide on twenty as the sum, all right, only I have an amendment to +propose." + +"What is that?" asked both Ned and Clar, suspiciously. + +"If we should discover any diamond or gold mines, or other treasures, +that the expenses be then fairly divided, and deducted from our shares +of profits." + +"Done!" cried Ned and Clar, in one breath. + +Then the lads shook hands solemnly, and the compact was made, which gave +them a grand object in life, and sent them forth in search of the +adventures which are now to be related. + +CHAPTER THREE. + +IN THE DEN OF THE LAWYER. + +The next two weeks were spent in maturing plans by the young men for +their intended expedition. Maps were consulted, and books of travel-- +Livingstone, Stanley, and other authorities--devoured in such leisure +times as they had from their finishing studies. + +At last the day arrived--their last day of school life; their last day +under the fatherly control of Dr Heardman. The good doctor was proud +of his three crack pupils, and prophesied great futures for them. The +younger schoolmates went off to their different homes in deep dejection, +wondering how they were ever to get on, the next term, without their +heroes and champions. + +Of course their places would quickly be filled up, for heroic souls and +talented minds are common enough products of British soil. Infatuated +adherents of Disraeli, Gladstone, and Salisbury are apt to fancy that +chaos must come when they have gone from their posts. Yet the old state +coach rumbles along pretty much as it did in the days of former drivers. +The ocean nibbles away at sea-coasts, and encroaches every year in some +parts, while it retires from others in the same proportions. Continents +have been submerged, and ancient cities buried under the brine; but +other continents, cities, and nations have risen and taken the work of +civilisation upon them. The earth has not become a fraction smaller, +the ocean has not increased by so much as a drop of water. + +Heroes have risen and carved their names on the monument of history, but +mankind has not suffered by their passing away. It benefited, +perchance, through their living, as the grain-fields benefit by the +passing rains; yet as the moisture returns to the clouds, and comes down +again and again, so do great deeds repeat themselves amongst men as in +nature. The drop of rain is nothing after it has done its work; the man +is of no more consideration after the emergency has passed for which his +strength was produced. + +For a time the renown of those three champions would hover over +Shebourne Academy. The acts of the new claimants would be criticised +and compared with what had been done before by those doughty heroes. +Then the hour would arrive when their successors appeared to overtop +them in the eyes of the young censors; then they would fade into +oblivion with the majority, and be remembered by a few as demi-gods. In +every school there are minds formed to lead and natures made to admire. +Wisely, the majority of mankind are those who exist for the present, and +trouble themselves neither with the past nor the future. Their hero is +the one who serves their interests for the time. Thus mankind goes on, +trampling the road smoother which old footsteps have partly made, +leaving the dreamers and the regretters to linger on the side pathways. + +Filled with hope and laden with their prizes, the three boys bade +farewell to their old life, and set forth to interview the present +arbitrator of their lives, Mr Jabez Raymond--the man who held the +sinews of war. + +Ned had written to this gentleman, and in his reply Mr Raymond gave +them a warm invitation to visit him and consult over matters at his +place. + +Mr Jabez Raymond was, as we have already stated, not a family man, but +he had a good practice in the cathedral town of Abbotsmore, about one +hundred and thirty miles from Shebourne. + +His sister acted as housekeeper to him, and although it was not a very +large house, yet Ned Romer wondered that he had not been invited before +during his holidays. There were bedrooms enough to accommodate him and +his comrades. He excused his guardian, however, as being a bachelor, +and not caring for the company of youngsters. + +Mr Raymond's house and offices faced the main street, with the +cathedral in front of it, and a large garden leading down to the river +at the back. It was an old-fashioned and somewhat dark house inside, +filled with passages, recesses, cupboards, and unexpected nooks. The +walls of the dining-room were oak-wainscotted. The offices also were +lined with the same enduring and time-blackened material. + +It had been a great family house at one time, as the crests and +ornaments on the ceilings showed. The small-paned windows likewise told +of its ancient history. The furniture also was old and solid, with +little of the modern superfluities to lighten it up. It was a +comfortable house, but not one where youth would be likely to bud out +with exuberance. + +Both Mr Raymond and his austere sister suited the appointments of the +house. She was an elderly spinster, stiff, precise, and most severely +orderly. He was a sharp-faced man, who appeared wedded to his legal +documents, and possessing a mind never far out of his office. + +It was late in the afternoon when our heroes arrived, and, after +spending a few hours in the society of their host and hostess, they were +not sorry when bedtime came. + +"There is no good lingering here any longer than we can help, lads," +said Ned on retiring. "Tomorrow I intend to tackle old Raymond, and see +what he purposes doing for us." + +That night the lawyer had a final look over the papers relating to the +affairs of his late client, Mr Romer. He did this after the boys and +his household had retired and behind locked doors. + +A fox-like man of about fifty Mr Jabez was, with thin hair and side +whiskers, originally dark red, but now grizzled and grey. Much poring +over documents had reddened his eyelids and sharp long nose, and taken +the red out of his long parchment-like jaws. His mouth was thin-lipped +and wide, which gave him an unpleasant grin when he smiled, as he was +doing now, his eyes also were yellow speckled, like Fred Weldon's, but, +unlike Fred's open eyes, they were shifty and half hidden by the +reddened, scantily lashed lids. + +"Hum, these will do, I think. It is not at all likely that this boy +will dispute my accounts or ask outside aid to understand these +professional mysteries. I'll have it over tomorrow with him, while he +is eager to get away, and make him a liberal offer, to be rid of him at +once and for ever." + +It will be seen from this muttered soliloquy inside the door of Mr +Jabez Raymond's study that he was of the same mind as his +unsophisticated ward--to get into and over business as rapidly as +possible. + +Next morning, therefore, after the customary breakfast of bacon and +eggs, he forestalled Ned by asking the three boys into his sanctum. + +"I intended to postpone going into particulars respecting your late +father's affairs until you had gained your majority, Mr Edward; but as +you have already mapped out your career, I think it will meet your views +if I do so at once." + +He grinned, what he considered to be an indulgent smile upon the young +gentlemen, while instinctively they wished he had not done so; that +widening of his thin mouth somehow spoilt the effect of his words. + +"I do not suppose you have any desire to go very deeply into your family +history. Yet you had best glance over these documents after I have told +you briefly their contents, and see how at present your fortune stands." + +"Your word will be quite sufficient, Mr Raymond," replied Ned, hastily. +"My father trusted you, and that is quite enough for me." + +The lawyer once more grinned, and spread out his hands in a deprecating +fashion, as he answered-- + +"You must not do this, my young friend, with every one you meet, or you +may live to regret it. Your poor, noble, and generous-hearted father +trusted too many people for his own welfare and those coming after him, +otherwise I should have had more satisfactory accounts to give you." + +"Yet if others deceived him, I am sure you could not, Mr Raymond." + +"Thank you, Edward. I may say that I have tried my utmost to prove a +just and faithful steward, but alas! I found matters in a sad muddle, +which have taken me all your years to disentangle; even now the +unpleasant task is far from being done. Listen, and I'll try to give +you a summary of how you stand." Clarence and Fred were moving off +towards the window, thinking that they had no right to listen to these +private disclosures, when Mr Jabez stopped them. + +"Please sit down and listen also, young gentlemen. Four heads are +better than two, even although one happens to be that of a lawyer, in a +business of this kind. Besides, we may require you as witnesses." + +The two bowed and returned to their chairs. + +"When your father inherited the Romer estates, Edward, he was, as you +are, an only child, and, like you, had been left early an orphan. + +"My predecessors, Messrs. Skinner and Bland, had been the family +solicitors of your grandfather, and although the property was a +wide-spreading one, with many prosperous farms upon it, yet it had been +considerably mortgaged for the two past generations. + +"Ostensibly your father's income was eight thousand, but really, at the +date of his succession, six thousand five hundred of this went yearly to +pay the interest of the old mortgages. + +"This was bad enough, yet it might have been improved with care, +economy, and a wealthy marriage. Your dear, chivalrous father, however, +did not come from a cheese-paring race, and he was too noble to sell +himself for money." + +"Dear father," murmured Ned. He was too young at that father's death to +remember what he was like, but this testimony to his generous and +disinterested nature touched a kindred chord in the boy's heart. + +"Ah, yes!" continued the lawyer, softly. "You were too young to +remember what your father was like, yet in outward appearance you +resemble him, and doubtless you have the same fine and gentlemanly +disregard for money. It runs in the blood." + +As Ned did not reply, Mr Jabez went on-- + +"Some, as I have said, might have tried by marriage or strict economy to +better their condition. But Mr Romer did neither. He married the lady +of his choice, who had nothing; then, after marriage, he kept up the old +style at Romer Court. + +"After a few years his income had dwindled down to nine hundred, and +then he tried, by speculating, to regain what he had lost. His +speculations were not lucky ones. The friends he trusted failed him at +the finish, so that when he died, twelve months after your mother, he +was responsible for more than the small income left him, and had only +mortgaged property to leave behind, a large number of personal debts, +and nothing else to leave." + +"Then where did the money come from to keep me all these years at +school, Mr Raymond?" Asked Ned, quickly. + +The lawyer flushed a brickly flush as he answered--"Well, I am coming to +that subject, my dear young friend. When I undertook your father's +affairs, I went to work energetically and justly, yet without +sentiment--lawyers do not work often in that vein. I mastered the debts +of honour and the extent of the mortgages, and managed to scrape +sufficient to pay for your education." + +"Then there is nothing left for me?" Asked Ned, blankly. + +"Softly, softly, my dear boy. In ten or twelve years from now I hope, +D.V., to have a good balance for you at the bank, and an income of five +or six hundred pounds for you. I have almost settled all the personal +debts, and am now working to reduce the mortgages." + +"Yes. But how about the present? Can I not realise any money?" + +"I have made some arrangements with my own bank, and can let you have a +lump sum of say five hundred pounds on your note of hand, only if I do +this it will mean drawing your income until you are of age." + +"I am quite willing to sign any document you like if you can do this +without inconveniencing yourself, Mr Romer," said Ned, eagerly. + +Mr Jabez Raymond gazed upon his ward for a few moments silently, while +he appeared to think. Then he spoke. + +"It is not exactly professional; but as you wish to try your fortune in +Africa, while from all reports, Africa is the coming land for +fortune-making, I think it can be done. I wish you first to read over +carefully these documents, in which all I have told you is written, and +also examine carefully this parchment, which I have drawn up for you to +sign--examine them and consult together about them. When you have done +this, if you decide to have the money down now, instead of drawing it +quarterly for the next four years, you can let me know on my return at +lunch-time." + +Mr Jabez rose as he said these words, and leaving the boys to study the +pile of parchment, he went out to attend to his other business. + +They had been accustomed to difficult problems at Dr Heardman's +Academy, but those were simple to solve compared to the understanding of +these legally obscured documents. After a long hour of bewilderment, +Ned laid them down respectfully in a heap, and turned dolefully upon his +trusty but equally befogged comrades. + +"Well, boys, what do you make out of these mysteries?" + +"Nothing, except a dry throat and an aching head," replied Clarence +Raybold. + +"Let's go for a walk, and get some gooseberries. I'm not going to +attempt the impossible," cried Ned, decidedly. + +This proposal was grateful to the others, so together they went out to +the sun, and enjoyed themselves till lunch-time. After lunch the lawyer +read over the document which required the signature of Ned. It sounded +all right, although terribly garnished with obscure phrases. There were +blank spaces to be afterwards filled up, such as the amounts received, +with the terms of repayment, dates, and conditions, which Mr Jabez +explained as he read in his most fatherly tones. + +It sounded all right, therefore Ned put his name boldly at the bottom in +the presence of Miss Priscilla Raymond and his two friends, who +afterwards signed theirs as witnesses. + +This document dried, and locked with other papers into Mr Raymond's +safe, the lawyer drew a cheque in his own name and went to the bank to +get it cashed. + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +STEPHANUS GROBLAAR. + +Five hundred pounds seemed a big fortune to the three young adventurers, +who had hitherto been more than passing wealthy on an odd +half-sovereign. It was a vast sum to think about, and its possibilities +seemed limitless. + +They felt likewise, as they talked over matters, that appearances were +unjustly against Mr Jabez Raymond, and how his face and manners belied +his real nature. If he had the face of a fox, and that peculiarly +slinking manner generally ascribed to false natures and treacherous +dogs, his present actions all went to prove that he was entirely the +opposite to what these outward signs betokened. Ned remembered how the +ancient physiognomist had misread the great Socrates; and how the good +philosopher confirmed his opinion, by telling his disciples that he +might have been the degraded being the physiognomist said he was, but +for his power of self-restraint. Perhaps Mr Jabez Raymond had the gift +of Socrates, and had mastered his original tendencies. If, therefore, +he looked and grinned like a wily fox, while he listened to their plans, +and heard them joy over their store of cash, he certainly showed that he +had full faith in their discretion by placing this large sum so freely +at their disposal. He also exhibited the active side of his +appreciation and sympathy by aiding them in every way that he could. + +Indeed, older heads than theirs might have been a little surprised at +the extraordinary zeal he showed in advancing them on their journey. He +devoted himself so entirely to the lads during their short stay at his +house, that more experienced people might have grown suspicious. + +But to the young fellows, this exclusive attention, which prevented them +from talking with any one outside the lawyer's household--this eager +zeal that made him accompany them to London and attend to their comfort +while there, were so many signs that he was their best friend and +well-wisher. + +Their first unpleasant impressions faded quickly away, and they even +forgot to shiver before that long and crafty grin. Why should any man +be distrusted because at times he may remind one of a beast of some +kind, when his acts are those of a benefactor? It is by their actions +people prove themselves, not by their looks. Mr Jabez Raymond took one +of his rare holidays from business and accompanied them to London. + +He took them to a staid and respectable inn in Holborn, and went with +them to the best theatres, music-halls, and picture-galleries during the +week. On Sunday he took them to hear two of the most celebrated +preachers. + +During the day he accompanied them to the shops where outfits were to be +had, and insisted on getting for them the best that could be purchased, +paying for everything himself without a murmur. They had considered him +to be a hard man at first sight, but now they were forced to alter their +opinions when they witnessed his generosity. + +He introduced them to the Dutch agent of a big South African firm at the +Cape, who was called Johannes Groblaar, and who not only gave them much +sage advice, but told them that his nephew was going out in the next +steamship, and would accompany them if they liked. This friendly offer +they gladly accepted, as Stephanus Groblaar was a native of Pretoria, +and knew the country thoroughly. Thus they found everything made easy +for them at the start by this benevolent and generous guardian, and +after a pleasant sojourn of eight days in London, they bade farewell to +Mr Raymond at the East India Docks, and prepared to enjoy three weeks' +sea-voyage as saloon passengers. + +Everything they could think about, even their passage-money, had been +paid from the purse of Mr Raymond, in spite of their protests, and they +were carrying their store of funds untouched. By this time their hearts +were completely won, and they vowed that old Raymond was a jolly fine +fellow. + +This jolly fine fellow stood on the deck until the bell rang for the +tender to return. He rubbed his lean hands together when not engaged +spreading one hand over his wide mouth to cover a yawn. Then, with a +hearty handshake, he returned to the train, while the steamship +proceeded on her voyage. + +To amuse himself on the journey back, he took out his pocket-book and +added up the expenses he had been put to for the young gentlemen. + +The grin had left his jaws at the last wave of his handkerchief. He now +looked grim, yet on the whole not dissatisfied. + +"Priscilla will grumble at the large outlay," he muttered; "but it was +necessary to keep the young cub in a proper mood, and leave a good +impression. Now he can have no suspicions, and I have four years to +turn myself about, even if he ever comes back to claim his own, which is +extremely doubtful." + +Ned Romer was going away full of faith and loving-kindness towards this +knave who had been robbing him systematically for years. What he had +given had not been a quarter's interest on the money due to Ned, +therefore no wonder that he felt it needful to expend this sum-- +particularly with that document in his possession. + +The trusting father had left him entire control of the estate, with the +possession of all papers and deeds; thus he had not many fears about his +peculations being discovered. The parchment which Ned had signed was +really a deed of sale of all that he had inherited from his father. +Being a minor, it was as yet useless in a legal sense, but as the dates +were not yet added, Mr Raymond was prepared to advance these dates by +four years, if what he expected happened. If Ned added his bones to the +number of those who had left them in the wilds of that fatal country, +this could easily be done without any dispute. Indeed, Mr Jabez would +hardly require any deed to step into the property which he had already +marked out as his own. Yet possible heirs might turn up unexpectedly, +and it would quash their claims. If Ned returned, more wide-awake than +he had left, the wily lawyer had all these years to prepare for him. + +"I don't think this cub will come back, and it is not likely that he +will make name enough for his death to be much noticed." + +Mr Jabez Raymond belonged to the singular sect of Bedlitonians, and +amongst them he was a shining light as a local preacher. The thought of +what he had done, and what he planned, did not disturb his conscience in +the least. He possessed the not uncommon quality of being able to +separate business entirely from religion; therefore the following Sunday +evening he preached a very edifying sermon to his brethren, and went +home to sister Priscilla as full of rectitude and self-righteousness as +any local preacher could be. Humanity is crammed with such anomalies. + +Stephanus Groblaar, the new companion and shipmate of our heroes, was a +pleasant and affable young Boer of about twenty-two. As a specimen of +his countrymen, he impressed them most favourably. + +He was straw-haired and grey-eyed, with skin suntanned to a warm amber +tint. Tall, burly, yet well formed, he was a picture of rude strength +and solid resolution. In repose, his heavy features gave him rather a +morose appearance, however. + +But he could be very frank and engaging when he liked, and as he set +himself to win the friendship of the young men, it was not long before +he did so. + +They passed a very pleasant time going to the Cape, and the river and +coast scenery made them decide to keep diaries. + +These diaries began all right with a description of the river Thames and +coast as far as Southampton, but long before they reached Madeira the +diaries were laid aside, and never again taken up. Jotting down +ordinary events did not appeal to our three heroes. They resolved to +give their pens a rest until they had killed their first real wild +beast. + +Stephanus Groblaar spoke to them sensibly and sagely. While they +listened to his prudent advice, they felt they could not do better than +act upon it. + +"You will find that five or six hundred pounds will not go far in +Africa. It will be best to bank it, and try to make your way without +breaking upon your capital, or rather work for money to add to it." + +"What do you think we should do?" enquired Ned. + +"Anything that turns up. I may get you a bullock team to help to drive +up to the Transvaal. That would show you a lot of the country, and give +you plenty of experience as well. It is rough a bit, and will take you +some time, but you don't mind that, I suppose?" + +"Not at all; it will train us to rough it in the wilds, and we can +afford to spend a little time getting colonial experience." + +This conversation took place between Madeira and the island of Tenerife. + +A curious, and what might have been a tragic adventure had happened to +Ned Romer just outside of Funchal, while they were seeing the sights of +that lovely and precipitous island of Madeira. + +The three young men had gone inland with Stephanus Groblaar. While +standing on the edge of one of the cliffs with a sheer drop of seven +hundred feet, Stephanus had suddenly made a stumble and lurched against +Ned with his full force. + +The guide, who was near at hand, saved our principal hero from a +horrible death, by what seemed like a miracle. + +Ned was just going over, when the guide caught hold of his coat-tails, +and by a sudden and powerful tug, landed him on his back over the body +of Stephanus, who had fallen on his face. + +It was a considerable shock to Ned's nerves, and he rose a little chalky +about the gills. But his pallor was nothing to that which overspread +the face of the young Boer, making his bronzed skin look like old ivory. +He shook as if he had the palsy, and for some moments could not utter a +word. When he did find his voice, his expressions of regret and +self-reproach were painful to listen to, considering that it was only an +accident. + +He said he had been seized with a sudden giddiness which he could not +account for. The guide listened to his explanation and apologies with a +stolid expression, but took good care during the rest of the journey to +keep a firm hold of his arm when they were near any dangerous ledge. + +It was while they were lying at Tenerife that the second attack of +giddiness seized Stephanus, and once more Ned was the object against +which he fell. + +A portion of the ship's rail had been removed, and Ned was standing by +the open gap, looking over the moonlit sea. + +It was a lovely night and hot. Ned had come on deck in his pyjamas to +have a cool down before turning in for the night. The deck at this part +was quite deserted, as it was past midnight. Clarence and Fred had +walked over to the engine-room, and Ned fancied that he was quite alone +at that moment. + +Suddenly he felt a violent push from behind, and next instant he was in +the sea with a splash. + +When he rose to the surface and cleared the water from his eyes, he +found a rope within reach, and very quickly clambered on board, nothing +the worse for his unexpected bath. + +In a few more moments, Stephanus Groblaar with Clarence and Fred were +also pulled up safely from the shark-infested waves. The two friends +had seen the accident which caused Ned and Stephanus to tumble +overboard, and without a pause they had sprung in also. + +It was lucky for the Boer that they did this, also that they were such +expert swimmers, as it appeared he could not swim a stroke. Indeed, he +was almost drowned before they could get hold of him. It had happened +as before, through his unfortunate giddiness; this time Ned had +instinctively made a clutch at him and pulled him over, otherwise he +might only have fallen to the deck. + +When Stephanus recovered his senses, he enquired anxiously who had saved +his life, and, when told that it was Clarence and Fred, he expressed his +gratitude in a few heartfelt words, and vowed that he would never forget +this great service. + +He also said how sorry he was to have imperilled the life of Ned, and +hoped he would forgive him. + +Ned treated the matter as a first-class joke, but told Stephanus that he +should avoid open spaces near the sea, since he could not swim, and +mountain ledges, since he could not fly. + +"For myself, I am as much at home in the water as on dry land; so also +are my chums. It was much more dangerous, however, at Madeira." + +"I trust this may be my last attack of giddiness," answered Stephanus, +huskily. "It is the extra fine living on board ship which must have +made me bilious, I think." + +"Funny, isn't it, that you should have been seized twice when near me?" +remarked Ned, unsuspiciously. + +The young Boer shot a rapid and furtive glance at Ned, but seeing how +open he looked, he smiled and held out his hand. + +"It was lucky for me both times that you were in front of me, if not so +for you. In a sense you have also saved my life, Edward Romer." + +"Not at all; only you ought to learn to swim." + +"And fly," added Fred, who was standing beside them. + +For the rest of the voyage Stephanus had no more giddy attacks, and his +young friends quickly forgot the accidents. The Boer, however, did not +forget his obligations. He was more profuse in his expressions towards +Ned; yet if quieter towards the others, he attached himself more to +them, and showed by many signs that he liked them better than he +appeared to like Ned. + +Thus the days passed pleasantly until they dropped anchor at Cape Town, +and went ashore to begin their new life. + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +AMONGST THE CAPE BOERS. + +The first week at Cape Town shook them up more than years of living in +England could have done. They had been only boys when they first +sighted Table Mountain, but in a week's time they felt and acted like +men. + +"It is a queer place, this Cape Town," observed Ned, as they walked +through the streets, and looked about them. + +It was queer because it was all so strange and new to these English-bred +lads. The sandstorm that greeted them on their landing did not surprise +the two colonial boys as it did Ned Romer. They endured the infliction +philosophically, while Ned groaned, and wished for a few moments that he +had stopped in dear old England. + +But this gust passed, and, being the first of his experience, it seemed +the worst. In a short time he became accustomed to sand, shortness of +water, and the lack of a host of conveniences which had appeared as +necessities to him at one time. + +Stephanus Groblaar continued his protection and friendship to them all +the time they were at Cape Town and its surrounding districts. He took +them to his uncle's house, and so saved them the expense of living at +any of the hotels, which was a great saving to them. + +The South Africans are a hospitable people, and the town-educated Dutch +very different from their country cousins, the Transvaal Boers. + +The lads were delighted with their reception and generous treatment. +They explored Table Mountain, and passed several happy days before they +had exhausted the sights of this ancient African capital. + +The uncle of Stephanus was the owner of a large and prosperous vineyard +in Stellenbosch, and he had half a dozen fair, plump, and lively female +cousins, ranging from seven years of age to twenty-three. Stephanus was +engaged to the second oldest, a girl of nineteen. They had also eight +brothers, all living at home and assisting in the different departments +of the wine business. + +It was, therefore, a large household, and when the day's work was over, +a merry, home-like party in the evenings. + +It seemed to the lads as if they were transported back a couple of +centuries while they rested in this vine farm. The buildings were +nearly the same age as the great oak trees that surrounded them and +shaded the roadways. The tiles and bricks with which they were built +had been made in and brought from Holland. Everything was quaint, +old-fashioned, and picturesque. The master of the house was patriarchal +with his family and servants, and the mother was a real mistress after +the good old style. + +Morning and evening the old Bible was brought out, and every one was +forced to join in the religious exercise. The master did not greatly +believe in his coloured servants having souls, yet as this had come to +be a disputed question amongst some of the advanced Boers, Van Groblaar +gave them the benefit of the doubt, and made them also attend family +worship. He was a strict and severe master with these dark-skinned +bondmen and bondwomen, yet his patriarchal system appeared to be the +right one as far as they were concerned. On this farm they did their +work much better than they would have done under the English system. + +The girls had been educated at the best Cape schools. They could play +on the piano, and had all the other accomplishments of young ladies. + +Yet this did not make them disdain household and farm work. They were +all able to milk the cows, make butter and cheese, and do all the other +duties expected from a Dutch housewife. They reserved their fancy +accomplishments for the evenings, and were up to their daily work long +before the sun rose. + +Although it was a remarkably enjoyable life which the boys led at +Stellenbosch, they quickly wearied of it, and began to long for +something more exciting. The riding lessons which they took with the +sons, and the gun practice were all very useful, yet humiliating also, +since they could never hope to compete with those born marksmen and +centaurs. It is almost impossible for a true Africander to miss his +mark or be unseated from his horse. + +As soon, therefore, as they had learnt something about the managing of +cattle and Kaffirs, and had found their way about the country, they +began to find the society of their puritanical burgher friends slightly +irksome. The charming scenery became monotonous, and the tinkle of a +piano almost as hard to endure as a barrel-organ is to some ears. + +The desire to trek had come upon them, and whenever men or boys get that +desire, no fertile oasis, no earthly paradise, can hold them back from +the desert. + +Stephanus, who was in their confidence, had a private conversation with +his uncle Groblaar, and communicated the result one morning to them as +they were moping amongst the ripening grapes. + +It was not easy for the young ladies or the stolid sons of Van Groblaar +to understand how any human being could be melancholy as long as there +was plenty to eat and drink. In their own placid minds three of the +daughters had decided that Ned, Fred, and Clarence had the makings of +very good farmers and husbands in them, and for this felt gratified to +Cousin Stephanus for bringing them. + +They were considerably startled, therefore, and not a little distressed, +when they saw how our heroes brightened up after they heard the result +of that family confab. + +The old Dutchman, who took a long time to decide upon anything, had been +persuaded to send up his yearly consignment of wines and brandy to +Johannesburg without any further delay. It would go by road as usual, +and the new comrades were to go with the waggons. + +By doing this they would see the country, while the journey would not +cost them anything. + +This offer was gladly accepted by the young men--for they were now, in +their own and the estimation of the young ladies, such. They no longer +wondered how time was to be killed, but eagerly began to prepare for the +long and slow overland journey. + +The Groblaar wines and brandy were greatly prized, and fetched big +prices everywhere in the market. In the Transvaal particularly they +were vastly appreciated. The age was to be depended upon, and the +quality; while the grower considered that the contents of these matured +hogsheads would be ruined if transported by any other mode than oxen. + +Another reason they had for going by road instead of rail. There were +numerous customers to be served en route, at places outside the line of +the railway. + +Three of the eldest sons were deputed to go on this trek along with our +heroes and Cousin Stephanus, and as they looked upon this journey as +their annual holiday, they provided themselves with everything needful +to enjoy themselves. + +Twenty teams were required to carry the stores, provisions, and +merchandise. The oxen were all specially selected, and the waggons and +drays reliable as well as strong; so that when they mounted their horses +and inspanned, they were a very smart and prosperous-looking caravan. + +Our heroes made their farewells joyously, for they were heart-whole. +They did not notice the sad looks that followed after them. Yet three +of Van Groblaar's young daughters did not display their customary +appetite at dinner that day, nor did they seem much inclined for supper +either that night. Next day, however, they all made up for their +unusual fast. + +Ned was a little surprised when he came to say good-bye to the young +lady who had given him most of her company during his stay, by her +saying to him, in a slightly tremulous voice-- + +"You are going out to a strange land, where there are many dangers. +Take care!" + +"Oh, I'll look out for number one, you bet, Miss Santa." + +"Take care of the wild-beast traps." + +"Oh yes, I know; open gaps, and that sort of thing." + +"Yes; and"--she flushed scarlet while she whispered softly--"and look +out also for Cousin Stephanus; he does not like you." + +She turned from him swiftly as she gave this warning, and ran indoors, +while he mounted his horse, wondering what she could mean. + +Then, as he rode slowly on, he recalled the accidents on the outward +voyage, with other signs which might have escaped his notice but for +this last whisper from the young Dutch maiden. He was not quite so +guileless as he had been a few months before. Whatever the reasons +were, he felt himself forced to the conclusion that Stephanus Groblaar +did not care greatly for him, although he seemed attached to his two +chums. Stephanus avoided him as much as possible while they had been on +the farm, and he had caught sundry sullen and furtive glances which +looked almost like hatred at times. + +Well, forewarned is forearmed to some extent. Ned shook the momentary +uneasiness and depression from his heart, and soon was riding along +merrily with the others. + +Not being a fool, however, he resolved to keep a wary eye on this +supposed evil-wisher, and look out for any more awkward fits. + +It is nasty for any one to feel that he is disliked, much more so if he +has done nothing to incur that disagreeable sentiment. Ned Romer was +guiltless of anything as far as he knew. He was the most generous and +happy of the party. As yet he had never entertained a single animosity +towards a human being. Everything that he saw entertained him and +provided him with amusement. He had no fear, and tried to make friends +with every one. + +Besides, he felt specially obliged, in many ways, to Stephanus Groblaar, +and therefore would have sacrificed a good deal to be his friend. + +But a new instinct had been roused in his nature by those parting words +of Santa. The first seeds of suspicion were sown in that generous soil. +This seed would grow until it destroyed the unwise trust of boyhood, +and make of him a vigilant and discriminating man in the future. Truly +he had left adolescence behind him when his horse walked under the shady +oak avenues of Stellenbosch. + +Nothing occurred, however, to mar their harmony as they moved slowly +upward through the populated portions of Cape Colony. + +Day after day went along with varying incidents and amusements. When +they were able they spent the night at some friendly settler's +homestead, and were most hospitably welcomed and entertained. These +were, without exception, Dutch farmers, and old friends of the +Groblaars, so that they saw little enough of the British members of the +community. + +They had mastered enough of the Cape Dutch and "Kitchen Kaffir" idioms +to understand what was said, as well as express themselves to be +understood by those they were so constantly thrown amongst by this time. +As every one was alike free and kind, if a bit rough and homely, they +took the most favourable impression possible of this industrious if +slow-going and bigoted race. + +It was not nice to hear Englishmen so constantly spoken about with such +contempt as a nation of cowards and oppressors; yet as the Boers gave +their opinions good-naturedly, and exhibited such an utter want of +knowledge in their statements, the lads could not help laughing also as +they listened. + +The farther up they travelled the more crassly ignorant and prejudiced +they found their hosts to be; yet, although they universally insulted +and tried to bespatter the Union Jack, they universally made their +English guests as heartily welcome as were their Dutch friends. The +rites of hospitality were most generously observed. It was not that +these Dutch Africanders were all uncouth and ignorant men and women. +The majority of them were as well and even more highly educated than are +these classes in England. A large proportion of them had likewise +travelled and seen England and the Continent. It seemed the fashion to +be prejudiced against England. They had taken their preconceived +notions along with them wherever they went, accepting only such +evidences and historical facts as suited their own side of the disputed +question. "The English are a nation of liars, and don't know much about +anything useful. They are no use anywhere, and they are almost done +for." + +This was the universal opinion of the Dutch natives of Africa, and no +argument could move them one iota. They all spoke banteringly and with +good-tempered irony, as one might speak of something settled and past +curing or dispute. They despised the English as a nation, abhorred +Cecil Rhodes, and laughed at Gladstone as a friendly old imbecile. But +they did not object to individuals. + +The boys listened and laughed with their bigoted but generous friends, +and took all this talk in the same good part. + +CHAPTER SIX. + +THE SECRET MESSAGE. + +There were many incidents on this overland journey, both humorous and +adventurous, which might have formed subjects for future talk. + +But the after events dwarfed these minor adventures so completely that +they were hardly ever mentioned. + +Small game was plentiful on some of the open parts, and afforded them +good enough sport after a tame fashion. Here the Dutchmen displayed +their wonderful skill as marksmen, and won unqualified admiration and +respect. When they saw the unfailing and deadly precision of that +shooting, and how little lead was wasted, the lads no longer felt any +surprise at the surrender of Dr Jameson at Krugersdorp. Surrounded as +he had been by such sharpshooters, he had not a chance of holding out, +almost shelterless as he was. The Dutchmen were all mightily proud of +the achievements of their friends in the Transvaal, and not at all +delicate in their boasting. They were never tired of hearing and +speaking about "Bronkhurst Spruit," "Laing's Nek," and "Majuba Hill," as +well as this latest defeat at Krugersdorp. As for Johannesburg and its +craven citizens, long before the lads saw this golden city of the veldt, +its degradation had been forced deep into their hearts by this +contemptuous banter. + +Stephanus Groblaar altered his manner in a most marked degree as they +progressed up the country. On the voyage out and at Cape Town he had +seemed one of the most advanced and liberal-minded of young Boers. He +even appeared to take the part of the Uitlanders then, and thus had won +their respect and confidence. + +But now he became the loudest and most insulting of the despisers and +denouncers of everything British. He lost the small amount of humour +that he seemed to have possessed, and which his franker cousins still +retained, and grew savage instead of bantering in his expressions. + +He was returning home to Pretoria, after two years of social intercourse +with Englishmen, as full of race hatred as any of his untravelled +countrymen. + +Clarence Raybold saw this new phase with silent surprise, and listened +to his exasperating observations with tightly closed mouth and lowering +eyes. + +At last one night matters were brought to a crisis. They had crossed +the Vaal river, and were outspanning on the open veldt. + +Eight of their heavy-laden teams were all that remained with them. The +contents of the other twelve drays had been disposed of on the way up, +and the teams sent down the country again with chance loads. The eldest +of Santa's brothers alone remained with the young men and Stephanus to +look after the Transvaal business. He was a stolid, good-natured +fellow, who did his utmost to keep peace in the camp, and turn his +cousin's ill-timed remarks into jokes. + +But Stephanus seemed bent on a quarrel that night, although with whom it +was not easy to say. + +Clarence seemed to feel the insults the most keenly. Ned Romer, +however, sat quietly, and watched the young Boer while he listened and +waited. For the first time a strong desire to measure his strength with +this Dutchman came upon him--the kind of desire that young Zulus have +when they want to wash their virgin spears. + +A full moon shone over their heads and lighted up the level landscape +with pale but vivid distinctness. + +"Well," at last observed Clarence, with a lisping drawl; he always spoke +slow and lazy-like when primed up for fighting--"well, not being in +Johannesburg during the time you speak about, Stephanus Groblaar, I +cannot contradict you as to the colour of their flag; yet if I had been, +I think I'd have done my best, young as I am, to show that there was an +equal mixture of red and blue as well as white about it." + +"Hold on till you get to Pretoria. There we make Uitlanders walk with +Kaffirs in the middle of the street." + +"Is this the rule in Pretoria?" asked Ned, gently. + +"Yes, for the like of you; and we'll make them do the same in +Johannesburg before we have done with them," cried Stephanus, turning on +Ned with an ugly scowl. + +"Nonsense. I always like the side path, and I shall use that wherever I +am," answered Ned, laughing. + +"Will you? Why, curs like you could not use this veldt as you like +unless with our permission, far less the sides of our streets." + +"Ah, indeed, Mr Groblaar," said Ned, rising to his feet slowly. "Is +there any particular portion of this place that you as a free burgher +might prohibit tonight?" + +"Yes; I defy you to pass me now." + +They were all standing now with the exception of the cousin Groblaar, +who lay on his back snoring. + +"Wait a moment, Ned," said Clarence, softly. "I think Stephanus only +meant to stop me from walking past him." + +"No," growled the Boer; "I did not mean you. I don't want to interfere +with you, nor with Fred either, for you are both colonial born and bred. +It is this cur of a John Bull that I'd teach to keep his place." + +"Good," answered Ned. "Then this cur of a John Bull accepts your +gentlemanly challenge, and will show you that he knows his place, and +that place is, whatever spot of the earth he finds it expedient for the +advance of civilisation to tread upon." + +He walked steadily up to the Boer with his arms held limply down; then, +before the other could put up his fists, Ned suddenly gripped him and +sent him sprawling some feet away, while he stood where Stephanus had +been. + +"This is Imperial ground, you Dutch Boer, upon which the Lion of Britain +permits your people to play for the present." + +It was a grand speech, which Ned felt proud to give voice to, and which +his chums cheered. Another clear voice behind them cried, "Bravo, young +cub!" but none looked round to hear who spoke. Stephanus did not give +them time for that. + +With a hoarse roar he picked himself up, and made the rush like a +wounded buffalo. He was a powerful young man come to his full strength, +whereas Ned Romer was only ripening. + +But he was heavily built, and slow in his movements in spite of his +rage. He had not had the training nor discipline which Ned could boast +of; and lastly, he had been drinking "Cape smoke" that day, which +rendered him stupid and careless. Possibly also the overweening conceit +and insolence of his race made him contemptuous of this slender lad. + +Ned, on the other hand, was in splendid condition, as lithe and agile as +a young panther, and as quick in the glance as he was active and cool. +The past three months of horse exercise and open-air life had made his +muscles like steel. + +As Stephanus rushed upon him with swollen features and blood-charged +eyes, Ned waited quietly; then, with a sudden spring aside, he shot out +one fist, and landed the Dutchman a thumper on the bridge of his nose, +which caused him to see a perfect flare of fireworks, while it made him +stagger in his tracks. + +For an instant he paused, and put up both hands to his bruised organ; +then as he turned once more and removed his hands, a dark stream burst +from his nostrils, and deluged his chin and shirt-front. + +"First blood, and well drawn," cried the clear voice again. "Go it, my +hearty; you have shown him the red, let him have the blue next stroke." + +Fred and Clarence glanced round, to see a tall, broad-chested stranger +in a light suit and soft felt hat standing behind them, with his horse +beside him and its bridle over his arm. + +As he spoke Ned got in his second blow, and as the stranger had advised, +smote his adversary higher up and right between the eyes. It was a +loud-sounding smash, which completely blinded Stephanus, and made it +apparent to all the onlookers that he had received his blue badge. + +"These will be pretty peepers tomorrow morning," said the stranger; +then, making a hasty step forward, he raised his heavy riding-whip, as +he exclaimed, "Ha! you would show the white next, you treacherous dog, +would you? Drop that knife instantly." + +As he spoke he brought the stock of his whip smartly upon the wrist of +Stephanus, causing him to utter a loud yell, while his glittering +sheath-knife dropped gleaming to the ground. Holding his damaged wrist +with one hand, the Transvaaler staggered blindly back, and abandoned the +field to the calm and victorious Ned. + +"He has had enough of your fists, young man, for the present, I expect, +only be on your guard with him for the future. Boers don't forget +blows, neither do they care much about fighting in the open. He will +try a bead on you next from behind a kopje." + +He was an immense figure of a man who had come out of the veldt so +unexpectedly, considerably over six feet in height and broad in +proportion. His skin was ruddy, with bold features, light, keen eyes, +and he wore a small, fair moustache. As the boys looked at him, they +each thought they had seen him somewhere before, but where they could +not at the time remember. There was about him an air of kingly +authority which fascinated them. + +"Have you any coffee left?" he asked gently. + +Clarence went instantly to the half-empty billy at the fire, and brought +a pannikin filled. The stranger took it with a nod, and slowly sipped +the contents, looking at them scrutinisingly as he drank. + +Cousin Groblaar still lay sleeping heavily within the shadow of one of +the waggons. Stephanus had moved away to some considerable distance to +brood over his defeat and bathe his eyes and nose at a water-hole. The +Kaffirs were also sound asleep on their side of the fire, therefore they +had this contested part of the veldt to themselves. + +"You managed that onslaught in very good style, my lad, and have made +for yourself a pretty dangerous enemy, or I am much mistaken in my +reading of faces." + +"An avowed enemy is better than a secret one, sir, and I have good +reasons to suspect Stephanus Groblaar of being one before this night," +replied Ned. + +"Ah, Groblaar is his name! Any friend of Groblaar, the vine-grower, of +Stellenbosch?" + +"His nephew, sir. Yonder lies his son asleep." + +"Let him sleep," said the stranger, hastily. "Then the young man you +punished must be the son of Burgher Groblaar, of Pretoria?" + +"I believe so, sir. At least, his home is in that city," answered Ned. + +"Hum! thanks for this information. Then take my advice, part company +with this Stephanus Groblaar as soon as possible, and also--don't air +those Imperial ideas too freely when you are going to Johannesburg. +They are not fashionable there at present." + +"I will never hear my nation insulted without resenting it, sir," +replied Ned, boldly. + +"Better swallow insult than run the risk of imprisonment." + +"No, sir; I cannot endorse that sentiment." + +"It is the sentiment generally held by the Transvaal Uitlanders." + +"I do not care. It shall never be mine." + +"Nor mine!" "Nor mine!" cried Fred and Clarence in chorus. + +"Good lads," said the stranger, in feeling tones, holding out his large +hand to our heroes, who grasped it by turns. "I like you for your pluck +and freshness. Tell me your names, so that I may remember them if I can +serve you at any time." + +The lads at once produced their cards and presented them. The stranger +smiled humorously as he took the paste-boards. + +"Ah, you are fresh from England, I see. All the better. You will see +some sad and humbling sights in Johannesburg. But keep up your pluck, +and don't forget that you are sons of a mighty nation of free men." + +"Depend upon it we shall never do that, so long as the great Cecil +Rhodes stays in Africa, at any rate." The stranger started, and a dusky +tint seemed to overspread his face. Then he smiled and looked at the +cards. + +"Edward Romer! I knew a Paul Romer, of Devonshire." + +"That was my father, sir." + +"Indeed! Then I must do something for you. Clarence Raybold. Ah, I +know your father, if he lives at Johannesburg." + +"He does, sir," answered Clarence. + +The stranger looked at Fred with the others intently and silently for a +few moments, then he drew nearer to Ned. + +"You can save me a journey tonight, young Romer, for I think I can +depend upon you as well as upon your companions." + +"I trust you can, sir," replied Ned, modestly. + +"On your discretion as well as your loyalty and courage?" + +"I hope so, sir." + +"Then I shall trust you." + +He glanced round, and seeing the veldt clear and Stephanus still by the +water-hole, he pulled a leaf from his pocket-book, and wrote something +hastily upon it. This small note he folded up and addressed, then he +gave it to Ned. + +"Put that inside your boot, and keep it there until you reach +Johannesburg. When you arrive there, look at the address, and deliver +it to the person it is for. You will find him easily. Meantime, be +secret about it, and show it to no one except the person it is for. +Much depends on its safe delivery--more on it not being taken from you +or lost on the way. If you carry it safely, you will have rendered your +country and the man you appear to admire a great, a very great, +service." + +He sprang on his horse as he spoke, and, taking his hat off, waved it to +them as he rode swiftly away. + +"Remember that you are trusted by Cecil Rhodes. So long. We shall meet +again." + +He was off at a gallop, while our heroes looked after horse and man with +open mouths. + +"What a slice of luck, Ned! Who could have expected it?" whispered Fred +and Clarence, as soon as they recovered from their astonishment. + +Ned did not reply. Kneeling down he took off his boot, and secreted the +precious bit of paper inside; then he rose up with a bright and proud +light gleaming in his eyes. + +"It is, indeed, a piece of luck which we must all try to live up to," he +said at length, in a solemn voice. "My first skirmish with a Boer has +resulted in an easy victory, and it has been witnessed by the greatest +hero who lives. Let us hail it as a good omen." + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +IN JOHANNESBURG. + +Stephanus Groblaar did not patronise the camp. Either he was too much +ashamed or too sulky to show himself so soon after his ignominious +defeat. While our heroes remained awake, his distant figure could still +be seen bending over the waterhole. + +After that frustrated and cowardly attempt to draw his knife upon Ned +Romer, even Fred Weldon, who had been the most friendly disposed towards +him, gave him up. Neither English nor colonial-bred Britons could take +the hand of a would-be assassin. All the instincts of their race are +against this, as they are against using the feet in a fight. Only a +Spaniard can endorse the one weapon, and a Frenchman tolerate the other +mode of getting an advantage. Spaniards stab, Frenchmen kick, and cats +scratch when they quarrel; Englishmen clench their fists and strike, or +grip and throw. + +Inspired by the charge which had been given to them by their illustrious +visitor, and influenced by his timely warning, our heroes resolved to +part company with Stephanus and his cousin as soon as possible. +Meantime, to ward against possible treachery, they also resolved to be +watchful and wary. Therefore it was agreed that, while two slept, one +would keep guard over the waggon. This they did by turns faithfully +until they reached Johannesburg. + +Stephanus came to the waggon about midnight, while Fred was on duty. He +did not speak to Fred, nor did he go inside, but ordered one of the +Kaffirs, whom he roused up for the purpose, to bring out a rug for him. +With this he sullenly retired to the shelter of one of the wine-drays, +and there he spent the night. He was taking his beating in a nasty and +Boer-like spirit. + +In the morning he appeared at breakfast wearing a large pair of +smoke-coloured sun-spectacles, and his nose considerably enlarged. He +did not make any remarks about the preceding evening, and his +good-natured and unobservant cousin never noticed that there was +anything amiss. The boys took their cue from this sulky Dutchman, and +made no allusion to it either. + +As they were about to inspan, a party of armed burghers came on the +scene, and gave them a foretaste of what they had to expect during their +stay in the Transvaal. + +They represented the mounted police, or border tax-collectors. Well +mounted and armed to the teeth, they rode in and delayed the start for a +couple of hours, while they examined every packet most thoroughly. + +They were particularly rude and insolent to the three young Uitlanders, +tumbling their packages about roughly, and scattering the contents over +the ground in a reckless and wanton manner, as if desirous of destroying +what they could not seize. All the ammunition and arms they took +possession of, telling the young men that they would be sent on to +Johannesburg, where, if they could gain permission from the authorities +there, they might get them, or part of them, returned. + +The police gave no promise, however, neither did they favour them with +any list of what they had taken. In fact, as the boys felt, with raging +hearts, they were being treated exactly like prisoners in an enemy's +country. They were fleeced and left utterly defenceless, with the +exception of their belt-knives. + +This was all the harder to bear when they saw that Stephanus and his +cousin were permitted to retain their rifles, revolvers, and cartridges. +It was privileges for the Boer, and none for the Uitlander. + +They protested against this gross injustice, but were told roughly that +they ought to be thankful that they were not taken in charge for +bringing arms of any kind into the country. Also, to their indignation, +they were subjected to a close personal search, and every paper they had +in their pockets opened and read. Ned now understood why he had been +told to place that missive inside his boot, for even their shirts were +felt over to see that they had nothing concealed inside. They were +certainly at last inside a land of suspicion and gross tyranny. + +"So this is the result of democracy," said Ned, with a bitter laugh. "I +suppose every man here is either a tyrant, a traitor, or a spy." + +"Take heed what you say, young fellow," grunted one of the Boer +policemen. "Remember you are not in England now, but in a country where +wagging tongues are silenced pretty quickly." + +"Ah! you need not remind me that I am not in England. Your actions have +proved conclusively that we are subject to the glorious laws of the +Republic. By Jove, though, I wonder what my countrymen would say if a +foreigner was treated to this usage in England? Oh my! wouldn't there +be a public conflagration!" + +"We are free men here." + +"You are, whatever your visitors may be." + +The policeman looked at Ned with a suspicious and most unfriendly scowl. + +"Are you going to stay long in the Transvaal, younker?" he asked. + +"I don't think so. Why?" + +"Because I fancy, if you were, that you would be likely to spend most of +your time in the tronk and the stocks. That is where your sort mostly +find a home here." + +Ned prudently did not reply. His shirt had been examined and his +pockets turned out. He did not want to have to unlace his boots next. + +"I'll report that younker as a dangerous character. Keep an eye on him +as you go along," cried the chief to the Groblaars, as he rode off with +his men. + +Stephanus took no part in this conversation, while his cousin only +chuckled good-naturedly, as if it were a good joke. He was an +easy-going fellow, and did not let anything trouble him much beyond the +keeping of the wine cool and the oxen in good condition. + +It was about four o'clock the third afternoon after this that they +lumbered into Johannesburg amidst a cloud of dust, and unharnessed for +the last time together. + +Our heroes said good-bye with all friendliness to the vine-grower's son; +and with a cold word or two to the still sullen Stephanus, they went off +together to the house of Clarence Raybold, senior. + +Taking it all through, their journey up-country had been an educating +and a pleasant one. They had passed through a prosperous land, full of +variety and strangeness. They had met all sorts of people, both white +and coloured, and every description of pastures. They were brown with +the fierce sun and covered with the white dust, and totally changed, +outwardly and inwardly, from the schoolboys who left England such a +little time ago. + +They had killed puff adders and other deadly snakes on their way, and +had got over their shuddering horror for those obnoxious reptiles. They +had also seen the best side of the Boer character, and had commenced to +experience the other side--the Boer in power, with their countrymen +under his feet. + +It was a new and a disagreeable experience to those proud young Britons +to find their countrymen in the condition of serfs and door-mats, with +clumsy and ignorant clowns tramping over them ruthlessly. As they +walked through the streets of Johannesburg, and saw at every step +evidences of the misrule of that hypocritical and false tyrant, Kruger, +they felt a natural and deep disgust towards the Englishmen who had +permitted such a condition of things to exist. + +They met gangs of Boers swaggering about fully armed, and jeering at the +unarmed citizens. They saw Britons, or what looked like their +countrymen, sneaking about and meekly eating the leek. Their generous +young blood boiled within them as they looked up at the guns which the +hoary tyrant of the Transvaal had planted on the fort to overawe the +city. They felt as if they were inside the walls of a big prison, and +every instinct within them moved towards rebellion. + +From the moment they caught sight of that fort, with the guns dominating +the streets, they were filled with a hatred towards the Boers and a +quenchless desire for slaughter. + +"I wonder what our people out here are made of to stand this sort of +thing?" murmured Ned, as he looked at his chums' blazing eyes. "Surely +some of them have enough of the old blood left to risk it for the sake +of liberty." + +"I'll not be able to stand it long," answered Clarence, with a +deep-drawn breath. + +"Nor can I," said Fred. + +"It will be a lark if we are destined to light the spark," continued +Ned, musingly. "I think we could get over these walls some dark night +without much trouble. Oh, let's get on, boys, or I'll be after having a +try now," he added impatiently, as he strode hastily forward. + +"There, now, who do you think you are shoving against?" he cried +angrily, as he ran against a pair of burghers who were coming round a +corner. + +It was Ned who had been at fault in his haste. In any other place he +would have apologised, but seeing that they were Boers, he pushed them +off the footpath and then turned to abuse them. It was the natural +protest of a free man against unaccustomed tyranny. With those Krupp +guns behind them, politeness looked like submission and fear. +Fortunately for the safety of that billet in Ned's boot, which he had +for the moment forgotten, these burghers were good-tempered and stolid +Dutchmen, who didn't mind either a push or a cross word. They merely +laughed boisterously, and passed on their way. + +Now, Ned felt both aggrieved and rebuked by the good nature of these +Boers, who doubtless considered him to be a foolhardy fellow rendered +extra brave through "Cape smoke." Then he remembered his charge, and +became utterly ashamed of his uncalled-for rudeness. He would have run +after the burghers and apologised, only that might have made matters +worse; besides, they had both gone into some building. + +"That is not how Cecil Rhodes acted when he was being badgered by some +of the commissioners, nor what he advised," Ned muttered to himself, as +he bent his head with shame. "I must try to remember always that I am a +gentleman, and not act like a clown." + +At this moment Clarence proposed taking a cab, as the easiest and +quickest mode of finding out his father's house. + +Mr Raybold was one of the prominent citizens, and the moment the Jehu +heard his name he knew where to drive to. + +"You have most chance of finding him at his private residence, if you +want to see Mr Raybold personally." + +"Yes," answered Clarence. "Drive us straight there." + +What a wonderful city this was, which had grown from nothing within the +last six years! Grown up also in the teeth of as much discouragement +and injustice as ever civilisation had to encounter, from narrow +prejudice, extortion, and bigotry. + +Our heroes drove along streets fifty and ninety feet in width, with +trams running through them, and massive, handsome shops lining them, +with plate-glass windows, looking for all the world like some of the +best West End London shops. + +It was a city where money was spent with lavish prodigality. There were +crowds of flash hotels and clubs, and more than the ordinary number of +low public-houses and canteens, every one crowded with thirsty +customers. + +They passed banks, stores, and palatial-looking offices, with electric +globes and gas lamps ranged over them. They passed crowds of +fashionably dressed men and women, all seemingly busy and lively enough. +In spite of those earthworks and guns which covered them wherever they +went; in spite of the constantly blazoned fact that they were completely +at the mercy of their armed masters, who patrolled the city as warders +do a penal settlement,--they were allowed to earn and spend as much +money as they pleased, after paying the exorbitant taxes, dress as they +please, and drink what they could pay for. + +But they had no more civic rights than convicts or slaves have. They +had no means to defend their women or children from insult. The male +portion wore beards and dressed like men, but they were only men in +outward appearance. They might as well have had chains upon their +wrists and ankles. They were voluntary slaves and shadow citizens. +They were just what their rude masters called them--Uitlanders--and on +the same level as the vanquished and down-trodden Kaffirs. + +Yet they called themselves British, afraid as they were to show the Flag +of England or to sing the National Anthem; all they could do was to +dress, drink, and make money, and, like the servile clients of ancient +Rome, bend their supple backs to their arrogant and uncouth patrons, and +thank them for permission to live. Sixty thousand souls who had been +born free, for the sake of gold bent the knee before sixteen thousand +uncultivated retarders of civilisation. + +Their condition was ten times worse than that of the Scots when Edward +enslaved them with his overpowering hosts. More degrading, because they +were children of the nineteenth century, who had consented to be driven +by a race who had not advanced past the benighted and rusty prejudices +of the dark ages of bigotry and superstition. More shameful, since they +outnumbered their tyrants five times over. No wonder that these Boers +regarded Britons with contempt, and the Empire as a fallen tree. + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +MR PHILIP MARTIN. + +England was powerless to help the Uitlanders as long as they chose to +remain inert and submissive under the yoke. Dr Jameson and his +dauntless band had demonstrated that no outside heroism could lift the +yoke from their shoulders while they bent beneath it so passively. Only +from their own ranks must the Wallace and the Bruce rise to free them. + +Ned and his chums had already read some of the literature of these +Uitlanders, explaining and excusing themselves for their inaction during +the Raid, or even supporting the tyrants in their oppression. These +books and pamphlets had, before they reached the country, made them +grind their teeth with fury. Fancy a Wallace and a Bruce waiting for +the sanction of the Government before they took up their swords! Fancy +their supporters waiting for permission before they rose to help their +heroes! + +Our heroes, although consuming with those high-souled ideas which all +brave and romantic boys must feel, and which the men of Johannesburg had +apparently outgrown, still watched with wonder the mighty edifices they +passed. + +Their wonder increased as they came to the suburbs, and saw the avenues +and tall, shady trees which had all sprung up like magic out of the bare +veldt--stately groves, over a hundred feet in height, all created in six +years; beautiful gardens, luxuriant shrubberies, costly and artistic +villas, grassy lawns, orchards, and tropic climbers covering up +unsightly places with cool and exquisite loveliness. It was as if +Aladdin had rubbed his magic lamp, and lo! his enslaved genius had done +the trick. + +The Uitlanders were the enslaved genii that had wrought this miracle +upon that treeless veldt. Their civilised skill and educated intellects +had accomplished what would have taken centuries to achieve under the +Boer system. Yet the ignorant Boers were the masters, and ruled over +intellect and civilisation. This, to our heroes, seemed even more +incongruous and wonderful than the marvels which were spread out before +them. However had it come to pass? However could it have gone on so +long? How much longer could it possibly continue? + +They were still trying to solve the problem when they drove up through a +delightful avenue of trees, and stopped in front of a large and stately +mansion. It was the Transvaal home of Clarence Raybold. + +Everywhere they looked, the evidence of wealth and lavish outlay stared +them in the face--in the grounds with its trees and lawns, which had +been forced and kept green by expensive irrigation; in the vast columns +and carved work of the masonry. Mr Raybold had expended a fortune on +the rearing of this suburban palace as a testimony to his wealth. Even +Clarence was impressed as he led the way up the steps and knocked at the +heavy, polished front door. + +Mr Raybold, although surrounded by so much luxury, was a bluff and +hearty man, who put on no airs of dignity. He welcomed his son with +affectionate warmth and his two friends with genuine hospitality. +Clarence had written about their intentions from Cape Town, so that they +were expected, and found their rooms all prepared. + +While they were having something to eat to keep them going till dinner, +a man was sent with a trap to bring their luggage. + +Mr Raybold heard the account of their arms being taken by the Boers +with a grim smile; but he made no other comment than to say he would do +his best to have them returned, or kept safely for them until they left +the Transvaal. + +It was only when they were leaving the dining-room to have a bath and +change their clothes, that he closed the door carefully, and said in an +impressive undertone-- + +"Be very careful how you express any opinion about the Government, +outside or inside. Also trust no one, however friendly they may appear. +Remember always that we are as much under surveillance here as people +are in Russia. Paul Kruger has his spies and secret detectives +everywhere." + +"But this is most horrible," cried the boys together. Mr Raybold +merely shrugged his shoulders and smiled the same grim smile. + +"Careless words are sometimes very costly in Johannesburg, and a silent +tongue is worth a great deal more than its weight in gold here. We +don't talk much in society here, and never about politics." + +"But your wrongs?" asked Ned, "We leave that to the newspapers to air, +and to those who have no money to be confiscated in fines." + +The heart of Ned sank as he listened to these wise and prudent words of +this successful citizen. Gold was the chain which the Uitlanders had +forged for themselves; and while the supply continued, it seemed +hopeless to expect them to make any effort towards deliverance. + +The three lads went off to dress themselves sadly and silently. +Clarence hung his head with shame for all the splendour which appeared +so many tokens of his father's fall from independence; while his chums, +out of sympathy and pity for him, refrained from looking at him. + +It is terrible for a brave and generous boy to feel ashamed of his +father. Poor Clarence went into the sumptuous room appointed to him, +and, after locking the door, he flung himself on a couch and groaned in +the bitterness of his heart. + +He remembered his father before he had come to the Transvaal and before +he was quite so rich. Thus he had good cause to look up to him with +pride, for he was a strong, fearless, and self-reliant man, who could +never have uttered such words as he had done that afternoon. What a +change those six years of tyranny had wrought in him! He looked older +now by a dozen years. His eyes had lost their straight, outward look, +and his face had become softer and flabbier, while his voice had no +longer its decided ring. All this was not the father he expected to +meet. + +He did not remember much about his mother, for she had died while he was +very young. Somehow he felt glad now for the first time to think that +she had died before the Transvaal migration. It would have utterly +broken his heart had he seen the same servile look on her face as he had +seen on his father's. + +All at once he pushed those wretched feelings from his heart, to replace +them by an increased hatred for the Boers who had wrought this evil--the +old obstinate baboon of Pretoria, who stood and with his darkened mind +stemmed the tide of civilisation. Ah, how Clarence abhorred Oom Paul +Kruger that afternoon! + +Fred Weldon bathed and dressed himself quietly, thinking all the time +upon poor Clarence, and wishing that he could comfort him, as Clarence +had done when he lost his father. He felt now that death was not the +worst calamity which could happen to a boy with his father. Time cured +that; but what could cure the death of respect? + +"Perhaps he is only lying low, like Brer Rabbit, and playing Indian for +a special purpose. That would be quite fair in a game of this kind. I +must give old Clar this idea and hope." + +He grew cheerful after this, and very soon persuaded himself that such +must be the case. Indeed, before he had finished dressing he was +mentally regarding Mr Raybold as a dark conspirator, only waiting +events to ripen, to blossom out into a daring hero of the William Tell +order. + +Ned, when he got into his room, also locked his door behind him; then he +unlaced his boots, and putting his hand inside, pulled out the folded +sheet of paper. + +It was not so clear as he should have liked, but the address was +readable and the paper intact. + +He was too honourable to open the missive, although, had he done so, he +would have been no wiser, as the contents were written in cypher. The +address was as follows:-- + +"Mr Philip Martin, Johannesburg." + +Having read it, and noted the name, he wrapped it up within a clean +piece of note-paper, and placed it for the time within his purse. + +He meant to ask his host that night if he knew this gentleman, and if +so, he would call upon him after dinner. + +But by good luck, when he got down to the library, where Mr Raybold was +waiting for his young guests, he found the very man he wanted. He had +come to dine with Mr Raybold. + +Ned looked at the man whom the great empire-maker had written to with +interest, nor was he disappointed in his ideal. + +Philip Martin was a strong man, and looked a bold one also. He was +about five feet eight inches in height, with a deep, wide chest and a +massive neck. He had a good deal the air of a sailor about him, which +his navy-blue serge suit and turned-down collar helped. His eyes were +dark and piercingly bright, while over them were thick black eyebrows. +His beard was cut short and pointed, and his features were pronounced, +while his complexion was swarthy. He was quick and decided in his +motions, and had a sonorous voice that loomed through the room. +Altogether he looked a man of strength, character, and indomitable will. +Just the sort of man that Ned could admire. + +Ned opened his purse, and took out his note, removing the outer covering +without being observed. Then, watching his chance when he was left +alone with Mr Martin, he approached him, and said-- + +"I think this is for you, Mr Martin. I got it from a gentleman on the +veldt three nights ago." + +"Thanks." + +Mr Martin opened the note carelessly; then, as soon as he saw the +contents, he started, and crushed it quickly into his pocket. + +"You have not shown any one this note, have you?" + +"No; I was told to be careful about it, and give it only to you, sir." + +"What kind of man was it who gave it to you?" + +"It was the Honourable Cec--" + +"Hush! I am satisfied. It is all right. Do not say any more." + +He went over to the fire, and after reading it carefully, he put it +amongst the logs, and watched it burn; then he stirred the ashes with +his foot, and turned once more to Ned. + +"You have done a great service in giving me this so promptly, and I +shall be happy if I can serve you in return." + +"I was too proud to be entrusted with it, sir." + +"Then you are one of the writer's many admirers, I presume?" + +"Yes, sir. There is no man I admire so much or would like to serve +more." + +Mr Martin looked at Ned keenly for some time without speaking, then he +said-- + +"The writer of that note tells me I may trust you and your companions. +He is seldom wrong in his reading of character, and in this instance my +own opinion agrees with his, respecting you at least. I haven't seen +your chums yet." + +"You may safely trust us all to the death, sir, in anything honourable. +We have sworn to stick together." + +"To the death, you say! Well, I may even want as desperate a pledge as +that. But can I trust your temper and discretion?" + +Ned blushed as he remembered his afternoon fit of passion, but he +replied firmly-- + +"I hope so, sir." + +"Had you that note on you this afternoon when you assaulted those two +Boers?" + +Ned hung his head guiltily. Yet he answered truthfully-- + +"Yes, sir. The sight of the fort made me lose my head for a moment, but +it shall not occur again." + +"You ran a frightful risk," answered Mr Martin, severely. "The +incident took place just opposite my window, and I saw it all, and +expected you to be taken in charge. If you had been, that paper would +have been discovered, and more damage done to the cause of freedom and +federation than you at present could imagine. There, I shall not +lecture you any more; only remember that to provoke a street row is not +the way to qualify for a patriot. Say no more about this now, but after +dinner I shall take you and your friends for a walk, show you some of +the town by night, and perhaps also let you see how you may help the +Uitlanders and--you know who else." + +He pressed our hero's hand warmly, as a token of his forgiveness, and at +once began to ask him questions about his journey up the country. + +Mr Raybold came back while they were conversing, and then shortly +afterwards Clarence and Fred. Almost at the same moment the dinner-gong +sounded, and together they went in to dinner. + +In the lobby Mr Martin whispered something in the ear of Mr Raybold, +who at once turned and looked with interest at Ned. That look cleared +up the doubts of Ned like magic, so that he laid hold of Clarence, and +said to him tenderly-- + +"Cheer up, old chappy; your dad is all right!" + +"Do you think so, Ned? Fred is of the same opinion." + +"I don't think--I know, and so will you before the night is over. Take +his advice and mine. Be discreet, for silence is golden. Just you wait +a bit." + +"Thank God!" answered Clarence, softly, a sudden moisture coming into +his rich brown eyes. + +CHAPTER NINE. + +JOHANNESBURG BY NIGHT. + +Mr Philip Martin was an intelligent and entertaining speaker, with +enough of the boy still about him to make him understand and interest +our heroes. + +His age was thirty-two, and he had both travelled and read a great deal. +A South African by birth and descent of three generations, all his +sympathies and hopes lay in his native land. England, or rather +Scotland, had been the original home of his ancestors, and their +traditions of liberty and independence were not forgotten. But it was +Africa, not Scotland, which held all that was most sacred to him. + +He had come to Johannesburg to superintend one of the mines, the same +one from which Mr Raybold drew most of his immense income. Philip +Martin was therefore a man with no personal vested interests in the +Transvaal beyond his salary. He could therefore leave whenever he liked +this inhospitable soil to Uitlanders. + +He could also plot and conspire, without the same risks that Mr Raybold +ran. This perhaps rendered him more daring and independent than his +host. + +During dinner, when not talking about the market, they conversed on +indifferent subjects. Mr Martin seemed chiefly interested in hearing +all about the life the lads had led at school. + +Ned had a notion that this bright, strong, swarthy man, with his air of +interest, was drawing them out for some purpose of his own, and was +reading them all the time he asked questions and listened to their +replies. + +But he did not mind being studied, as his record and those of his +companions were clean ones. Besides, he found it a pleasure to give his +confidence to this man, for already he liked him very greatly, and felt +that he would not be misjudged. + +So the three lads rattled on, recalling incidents of victories won in +the class and in the field, while Mr Martin listened with his keen, +bright eyes glowing upon them alternately, as if in his heart he was +moving again with them through those merry past times. + +Mr Raybold also sat looking at them and listening with the indulgent +smile of a genial host, who is pleased to find his guests enjoying +themselves. + +It was a good dinner, and the lads did full justice to it, in spite of +their chatter, for they had brought with them good travellers' +appetites. The solids disappeared rapidly as they were placed before +them, without in the least spoiling their zest for the dessert. The +wines, however, they did not touch, which Mr Martin also abstained +from. Mr Raybold was the only one who indulged in anything stronger +than water. + +"What do you drink?" asked Mr Martin, during a pause. + +"Water," answered our heroes. + +"Right you are. That is my tipple also when I can get it; but in Africa +one has to grow accustomed to moderate their desires even in this +indulgence--particularly when on an exploring expedition." + +"And that was our intention in coming out to Africa." + +"You'll have your chance, never fear. There is plenty of ground yet +left to explore, and lots of big game to bag up country." + +Clarence looked wistfully and affectionately at his father during the +dinner, who returned his glances with tenderness. The abject expression +which Mr Raybold had seemed to have worn in the afternoon had now been +replaced by an air of placid content and kindliness. Clarence felt +greatly relieved, and began to regain hope and confidence. + +"Are you going to the club tonight, Philip?" he asked. + +"Yes; I'll look in there about ten o'clock. Shall you be there?" + +"Yes; I think so," replied the capitalist, quietly. "I have a few calls +to make first." + +"I suppose you don't object to me taking the youngsters, to show them +about?" + +"Well--no. If you consider them old enough, I don't greatly object." + +There was not much heartiness in Mr Raybold's tones, and he looked in +the direction of his son with a slightly troubled eye, while he rubbed +his chin reflectively. + +"Oh, I'll vouch for them, and take care that they do not get into any +scrapes also," answered Mr Martin, confidently. + +"Very well; I'll trust them under your wing. Come into my sanctum and +have a cigar first." + +Mr Raybold rose and led the way with a pleasant smile; then, dismissing +the servant who had followed them with coffee, he locked the door, and +turned round to Philip Martin with a stern face-- + +"Look here, Philip, I don't like this! I am risking the biggest part of +my fortune, and possibly my own life, to help on the cause, but I draw +the line at giving up my son also." + +Clarence sprang forward with a joyous cry, and flung his arms +impulsively round his father's neck. + +"Oh, father, how happy you have made me by those words! So you are not, +after all, a tame serf?" + +"Wait, Clarence. I am speaking to Mr Martin at present," said his +father, gravely, at the same time pushing him away gently. + +"I have learnt enough from these lads, Mr Raybold, to know that no +power on earth will keep them out of the fun if they live in +Johannesburg," answered Philip Martin, calmly. "If we don't show them +what is going on under the surface, they are too recently from the home +of freedom to be able to endure the life here." + +"I can send them away." + +"Where? To Rhodesia, where they will be picked up and utilised by our +friends outside?" + +Mr Raybold remained silent, as if he had not a reply handy. + +"Best get them initiated first," continued Philip, "and then they will +be able to hold their own. Cecil Rhodes has already seen them, and +trusts them, young as they are; and you know he is not the man to make +many mistakes. Besides, think of your son's feelings. He must respect +his father. Just give him a chance to speak for himself." + +"Yes, father; let us go with Mr Martin. I want to be proud as well as +fond of my father. We all want to help to shake down this horrible +tyranny, and we can be trusted." + +"Those are our sentiments, sir," echoed Ned and Fred--"to be of some +service to the British, and help to wipe out those ugly stains that now +lie on our flag." + +"My lads," answered Mr Raybold, gravely, "it is not that I do not trust +you, but that I fear to risk you. What has to be done is our business, +not yours--men's work, not boys'." + +"Where a father goes, surely it is a son's duty to follow," said +Clarence. + +"We'll take the risk. And if we are boys, we are able to fight as well +as most men, and run a good deal faster, if running is the game," added +Ned, with a flash in his eyes. + +"Besides," said Fred, quietly, "we know too much already not to know +more." + +Philip Martin laughed, and cried-- + +"That clinches it, I fancy. Come, Mr Raybold, I'd rather have these +three youngsters in our ranks than a dozen of some fellows I know." + +"I must yield, I suppose," answered Mr Raybold, with a regretful sigh. +"Only I wish I could have kept you out of this hornets' nest, Clarence. +Be careful, though, now that you are about to become conspirators, for +we have a very wily enemy to hoodwink." + +He went over to where the cigars were and took one, which he cut and +lit, while he offered the box to Philip. + +"I'll call the committee meeting for half-past ten. That will give you +time to look round the town, Philip." + +"Yes; that will do nicely. Come, boys, if you are ready we'll start." + +They found horses already saddled waiting for them at the front door, +and together they cantered down the avenue and out to the main road. + +The moon was just rising as they started, and very soon it was shining +upon their faces and casting long black shadows behind them. The three +boys were filled with eagerness, not so much to see the town as to be +introduced to that mysterious club. + +They had about four miles to ride before they reached the centre of the +city, and through most of this distance they were passing private villas +and gardens. The mines were situated on the other side of the city. + +Under the silver lustre of the moon, with the dark mystery of shadow +which the shrubs and trees cast, these suburbs appeared to be centuries +old. From the window-blinds of the mansions shone the mellow +lamplights, while the sounds of singing and music all added to the charm +of that warm and radiant night. + +Many people were out on the road, enjoying the beauty of the night-- +parties on horseback, lovers, natives, and not a few children. They all +appeared happy and careless enough. + +Soon they came to the more crowded parts, all brightly lighted up with +electric globes and gas-jets. Many of the shops were still open and +doing a thriving trade. The hotels and canteens were, as usual, +crowded, while the side paths were filled with pedestrians. All the +citizens of Johannesburg seemed to be on the streets at this time, and a +strange gathering of nationalities they were. + +"We have some of the worst blackguards on the face of the globe here," +observed Philip, as they rode slowly along Pritchard Street. + +"And some of the greatest cowards also, I should say," replied Ned. + +"You are right; blackguards are very seldom brave men, although, of +course, there are exceptions to every rule." + +"I see Israel is to the fore here." + +"Yes; that is one of the causes of our past failure. A Jew will never +risk his property nor person for any cause outside of business. We +don't admit Jews nor Germans into the club where we are going tonight, +nor, of course, Dutchmen either." + +"I suppose we must not ask any questions about your club now?" asked +Ned, timidly. + +"No; we shall dismount here, and leave our horses for the present. One +thing I must ask of you, and that is, whatever you may see on the +streets, do not interfere. This is a rough city, after dark +particularly, and swarming with the vilest of both sexes. Yet restrain +your generous instincts and do not pause either to remonstrate or +protest. You will see and hear much to raise your just indignation, but +keep your feelings under, or you will be of no use to the cause." + +It was a timely warning, and the boys acted upon it, although their +chivalrous feelings were sorely tried during that night walk. Almost +from the moment they turned from the hotel, where they left their +horses, to the time they entered the club-house, their eyes and ears +were affronted by evidences of unbridled licence and brutal tyranny. + +All the inhabitants appeared to be more or less under the influence of +drink, women as well as men. They were generally all well dressed, most +of them overdressed, while on shirt-fronts and bare necks blazed out +flashing diamonds. + +"Are there no respectable people in Johannesburg?" asked the boys in +astonishment. + +"The respectable people mostly stay at home on nights like this," +replied Philip. "What you see are the scum of nations drawn here by the +scent of gold, as vultures are to a battlefield. These are the camp +followers of the great god Mammon, greater foes to freedom and progress +than are the Boers. They are nearly all either thieves, spies, or +reasonless beasts." + +It was a gay sight and for ever changing. The women with their shining +dresses and flashing diamonds looked like fireflies as they flaunted +along under the electric lights from canteen to canteen. Tram-cars, +Cape carts, cabs, and horsemen filled up the centre of the streets, +while black men, and whites, showing prominent noses and smoking +enormous cigars, passed to and fro incessantly. + +And amongst them swaggered shaggy-bearded and badly dressed Boers, +scowling or jeering coarsely at the crowd they pushed so rudely through. + +They heard one drunken fellow begin to shout out, "Rule, Britannia," but +he was immediately seized by a couple of Zarps and dragged off to +prison. No one interfered on his behalf, nor did our heroes feel much +pity either; he had such an atrocious rasping voice that they were +almost grateful to the Boers for silencing it. At last they turned down +a quiet street, and soon reached a house where the front door stood wide +open, and where the first-flat windows were lighted up. + +"This is our club," said Philip, as they entered. + +There was an office in the hall where lay a visitors' book. In this he +entered their names, with his own. Then, with a nod to the silent +hall-keeper, he showed them upstairs. + +"Our reading-room," Philip said, as he ushered them into a large room +comfortably furnished. + +There were a good number of gentlemen assembled, reading papers and +magazines, or writing. Philip looked about him keenly, and, nodding to +several, took a chair and touched the electric bell. Almost immediately +a waiter entered from another room. + +"The committee are waiting for you, sir," whispered the waiter to +Philip. + +"All right. Excuse me for a few moments, boys. You will find all the +latest magazines here, and I'll not be long." + +He went out of the room, and left them to amuse themselves as they best +could amongst the papers and magazines. + +They had not very long to wait, however, before he returned and said-- + +"Now, boys, come with me, and I'll show you the other parts of these +premises." + +CHAPTER TEN. + +THE THREE ACES. + +There was nothing about the premises of the Three Ace Club so far to +show its character. It was entered as a non-political club for British +Africanders. As drink and gambling were strictly prohibited, and its +object was more for reading than social intercourse or discussion, it +was regarded as a very slow affair by the majority of the community, and +only patronised by the most staid and respectable. A considerable +number of members, however, were entered upon its books, and as far as +subscriptions went, it was in a flourishing enough condition. + +It had been organised since the fiasco of 1896, and although Uncle Paul +had regarded it with suspicion at first, its respectable and sleepy +character had allayed even his suspicions. + +Philip Martin led the boys up to the second landing, and then, taking +them into a bedroom, he shut the door. + +"I am about to confide in you, my lads, a secret which you must promise +never to reveal to any one." + +"You may depend upon us." + +"I feel I can, otherwise I should not have brought you here. You may +have read about the insurrection of 1896, when the Boers disarmed the +citizens. They were disappointed in only finding four thousand rifles +instead of the thirty thousand they were led to expect." + +"Yes; it was generally thought that the reformers had been boasting." + +"That was the general impression, and so I also thought before I came to +Johannesburg and was initiated." + +"Had they this number of weapons?" asked Ned. + +"Yes; more than that number, as you will see presently." + +"Then why did the cowards hold back and allow Dr Jim to be defeated?" + +"Because, firstly, they had a majority of cowards amongst them; and, +secondly, because they were not properly organised, and the leaders were +afraid to trust their men. Now, however, we have altered all that. +Come with me, and you will see our arsenal." + +He opened the door of a wardrobe which stood at the side of the wall, +and, pulling out the drawer first, he touched a secret spring, and +immediately the bottom moved up and showed them a flight of stairs +underneath. + +"This is the way down. You go first, while I close the entrance." + +He had only to pull back the drawer from the inside, and the aperture +was securely fastened, wardrobe door and all. + +He struck a wax vesta, and showed them their course down the steps, +which were like the steps down to the stoke-holes of an ocean liner. + +"These steps can all be raised and laid flat against the ceilings of +each landing, as well as covered from sight, at a moment's notice," +explained Philip, as they went down. "In the flat below, which we +entered, is a press, through which we pass, with shelves that drop down +when the ladders are raised." + +"It is very ingenious." + +"Very, and unless a traitor showed the working, quite impossible to +discover. We are now passing through the pantry on the ground floor. +Now we are below the street." + +The steps they had used hitherto were composed of iron, felt covered, +but now they were descending solid stone stairs, also carpeted with +thick felt to deaden the sound of their feet. + +The walls and roof were likewise composed of stone and covered with +cement, while at regular intervals along the ceiling were electric +globes, which gave them plenty of light. + +They went down about forty of these stone steps before they came to +level ground, and then, before them, they saw a long, straight, and +well-lighted lobby with an arched roof. + +"This is the secret of the Three Ace Club. We have to take precautions +when we have the like of Oom Paul to deal with," remarked Philip, with a +smile. "Here you may make as much noise as you like, for no one outside +could hear even a gun report. We have stopped the echo." + +"It must have cost something to excavate this vault," said the boys. + +"Yes; a good deal of Rand money has been sunk here. But come and see +our shooting-gallery, arsenal, and general meeting-place." + +He led the way along the lobby until they came to a door, against which +he gave three loud knocks, at the same time pressing a knob. + +Immediately the door opened, and they entered. + +An underground hall of four hundred feet spread before them, in which +were assembled a number of men. + +It was lighted like the lobby by electricity, and lined, floor, coiling, +walls, and doors, with felt. At the far end were placed three targets, +and all round on racks, from floor to ceiling, were rifles. Not thirty +thousand, but over a hundred thousand weapons, were here placed ready +for use. + +Along two sides were placed a row of maxim guns. Ted counted thirty to +each side. He also noticed that there were several doors at different +parts of this vast gallery. + +Philip Martin saw their amazement, and smiled again. + +"You see we are not altogether so much at the mercy of the Boers as they +fondly imagine. That door to your right leads off to our magazine, +where we have sufficient ammunition for our purpose. That other door on +your left leads to a tunnel which we are at present engaged in boring. +When finished it will take us into the fort where Kruger has fixed his +Krupps. We are more than two-thirds on the way now. Those other doors +are exits, and lead to different parts of the city. Oh yes, when next +we rise, if we are forced, it shall not be against our wives and +children that the fort guns will be discharged. We'll use them for +another purpose, and be much obliged to Oom Paul for his valuable gift." + +Philip Martin was treating these young novices as if they were sage men, +which proved his knowledge of human nature. If you wish a boy to act +like a man, treat him like a man, and respect his amour propre. + +He was showing them round as if they were distinguished visitors, and +opening his mind to them with a frankness that won their hearts +completely. It flattered their self-respect and quickened their +reflective faculties. They felt that they were expected to feel, speak, +and act like the men they were amongst, and whose lives were entrusted +to their discretion. + +Then they become grave, attentive, and observant, and got into the +proper mood for the work that lay before them. In England men are apt +to underrate boys, therefore they grow slowly. Napoleon never made this +mistake, but then he was young himself when he became a man, and moulded +his ideas from the youthful heroes of the great past. + +Philip Martin, like Napoleon, had the timely quality of being able to +appreciate young men. He knew from experience that heroism comes more +natural to a youth than to a sage. Johannesburg had been chock-a-block +with prudent sages during the last conspiracy, which had so miserably +failed. He meant to work with enthusiasts this time--have men who +needed curbing instead of urging. + +The effect of this treatment was that our heroes, however much amazed +they were at what they saw, managed to control their feelings, and look +coolly about them. The only thing which caused them regret was, every +arrangement had already been made, and they seemed to have arrived too +late to be of the slightest use. + +"Johannesburg seems to be already in the hands of your party, Mr +Martin. I fear we can be of but small service to you," said Ned, sadly. + +"Don't think such a thing, my lad," replied Philip, warmly. "The +message you brought in from Cecil Rhodes entitles you to our deepest +gratitude, as you will know perhaps presently. It was too important a +bit of paper to be trusted to an ordinary messenger, and as you are a +new-comer and young, you and your friends are just the kind we most +urgently require. As for Johannesburg being in our hands because we +have weapons, and will soon be able to hold the fort, that is of very +little advantage to us while the Home Government work with the Boers and +forbid us to claim our rights. We are helpless, even with this arsenal +in our midst, to do more than protect our lives if our masters wantonly +attack us. We must wait for them to begin hostilities. Say, are you +fair marksmen?" + +"Not first rate, but we have had some practise in Stellenbosch." + +"Then go over to the rack there and select rifles, and amuse yourselves +by trying to get some bull's-eyes, while I talk to the committee about +the news you have brought us. I'll introduce you presently, and get you +enrolled as members of our Three Ace Club." + +"What a strange name! Why do you call it this?" + +"Because we believe we hold `three aces' at present in the game we are +playing against this rotten Republic. Oom Paul believes he holds all +the aces. We give him credit of one, but that, we fear, is the trump. +However, we don't despair. With good luck and hanging on, I hope we may +yet be able to call our party the four ace club yet. Then we can +exhibit our hands." + +He took the boys over to where a party of young men were standing, and +introduced them, telling them to fix them up with cartridges and have +some practice. Then he went and joined some of the elders, amongst whom +Clarence saw his father. + +They were received in a very friendly way by the young fellows. That +they were there at all was guarantee enough for their principles. + +For the next half-hour their attention was fully occupied by the target +in front of them. Out of a dozen shots each, Ned put nine into the +centre, Clarence eight, and Fred ten, at the four hundred yards. + +They were congratulated by their companions, and would have been fairly +satisfied only that they found the others so much better. Out of six +dozen of the other cartridges, only one struck the other edge of the +mark; the other seventy-one went straight, one over the other, right in +the centre. The man who struck the edge looked disgusted with himself. + +As for those other nine misses, they could easily be counted on the +white. + +The self-satisfaction of our heroes died away at their own miserable +display. They felt suddenly as if they were worthy only of contempt. + +"It isn't at all bad shooting for the first try at a new target," said +the young men, encouragingly. "You must remember that we spend most of +our evenings here, drilling and practising." + +That was something in their favour certainly. + +"You must join our squad; we go through our manoeuvres here every night +from seven till ten o'clock. We have the very best instructors in the +British Army to teach us, and I reckon we will make a good show when the +time arrives to show our paces above the ground." + +Our heroes resolved that, while they remained in Johannesburg, they +would fill out their evenings in this way. + +While they had been shooting, Philip Martin and the council were engaged +in another part of the hall discussing politics. The message which +Philip delivered to them seemed to give them universal satisfaction. + +But they were finished now, for Philip came forward and called the boys. + +"I am happy to tell you that you have been accepted as members of this +society. Come and be sworn in." + +They followed him over to a table, where the secretary of the society +was seated with the roll-book in front of him. + +"Young gentlemen," he said, "I am pleased to welcome you to +Johannesburg, and proud to accept you as volunteers to the cause of +liberty and the rights of Englishmen. Our cause is a just and a holy +one, which must commend itself to every loyal member of the British +race, whichever home he hails from. Our objects are threefold: first, +to uphold the power and honour of our Empire, which means the spread of +civilisation and humanity; secondly, the harmony and unity of Africa, +and the federation of all our colonies under the protection of this +Empire of Great Britain; thirdly, the downfall of all tyrants and +traitors to the Empire. Experience has taught us that the Boer +Government is an impossibility, and that while they, the Boers, have +authority, there can be no peace or progress in Africa. They have +denied us all the rights of human beings, and disgraced our name. They +have shown us that they are our enemies and evil wishers. They have +cajoled us too often for us to trust them any more, for they have proved +themselves to be crafty, cruel, and pitiless savages, utterly unworthy +of a place among nations. Therefore we are banded together to destroy +this Dutch Republic in Africa, and restore the land, that traitors to +England gave to these enemies, once again to the Empire as it was +before. We are banded to unite the whole of South Africa under one +flag, and that flag must be the British flag. Are you prepared to swear +that you will help us to achieve this end, and wipe away the stains +which these savages have placed upon that flag?" + +"We are," answered our heroes, earnestly. + +"With all your energies--with the last drop of your blood, if called +upon?" + +"We are." + +"Swear also that you will be faithful to the trust we repose in you from +this night, obedient to the command of those officers who may be placed +over you, and true to your comrades." + +"We swear to be faithful, obedient, and true to the cause." + +"These are the three aces which form our watchword--loyalty, obedience, +and good faith. Now sign your names here, and receive your badge." + +Our heroes went home with Mr Raybold that night proud that they were at +least members of this noble brotherhood, and prepared to live and die +worthy of the small joined aces which they carried in their pockets. + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THE BOER PARAMOUNT. + +The life which our heroes led for the next few weeks in Johannesburg, +although excessively useful, was not momentous. They learned to be sure +of hitting the centre of the bull's-eye with every shot. Also, what +would be of more service in actual Boer warfare, they mastered the +science of taking a bead swiftly and hitting a rapidly moving object. +Sword and bayonet exercises were not neglected, nor horse and foot +drill. + +They saw the miners at work on the tunnel that was slowly crawling +towards the German-filled fort, and helped to carry the debris through +one of the several exits. This was the most delicate part of the work, +yet it was managed without much difficulty by the numerous members who +composed the league. + +During the daytime they walked about the city or rode over the veldt, +getting gradually acquainted with most of their brothers, and learning +whom to avoid amongst the inhabitants. + +They no longer wondered why the former rising had ended in disaster. +Amongst all the crowds who were called Uitlanders not a sixth portion +were, even at this time, bona fide Britishers. At the time of Dr Jim's +gallant raid they were not a twelfth part. The rest of the population +was made up of Russians, French, and German Jews, with a large +sprinkling of other nationalities. Germans mostly, however, +predominated, and they made no secret of their deep and violent hatred +of everything British. Not a single Englishman was employed in any +public department either in Johannesburg or anywhere else throughout the +Transvaal. The labourers even, who were employed by Government were +either Germans or Hollanders when they were not Kaffirs. In the highest +posts were placed Boers, Hollanders, and Germans exclusively. It was a +clear case of "no English need apply" to any burgher employer. + +The president, Paul Kruger, and his bigoted and ignorant Executive +Council had got every concession which crafty greed and tyranny could +get from cowardice and treason. They had introduced German soldiers +wholesale into their country, and purchased nearly all the arms and +ammunition which had entered Africa for the past two years. This, with +blind and misplaced confidence, they had been allowed to do by the other +colonists. Indeed, throughout Cape Colony and Natal, the Dutch +Africanders had been openly spending all their spare money in arming +themselves, while the colonials, as a majority, had been watching them +doing this, and neglecting to take the same precautions. At the present +moment, to all appearance, the Boers and their friends were the only +effectively armed people throughout South Africa. We must except, of +course, those who were under the influence of Cecil Rhodes--the men of +Rhodesia and the Three Ace Club league. Affairs were in a fairly +quiescent condition at present. The citizens of Johannesburg had given +over asking for their rights, and accepted each fresh insult and +oppression quietly, and without outward remonstrance. They knew such +were utterly futile with that obstinate bigot, who regarded himself as +an avenging instrument in the hands of the Lord. + +Neither was it any secret what all these warlike preparations were +aiming at. If the Home Government shut its eyes, not a man, woman, or +child in Africa but knew that the old man of Pretoria intended nothing +less than the subjugating of Africa to the Boers, as soon as matters +were ripe enough. They would soon find excuses for their violence and +treason when they were ready to begin. As for the anarchy and massacres +that would follow, they were satisfied that they would find plenty of +defenders amongst the reptile gangs of Little Englanders, who were at +present doing their utmost to help them in their work of destruction. +It was an open secret that the hated English were to be driven out of +Africa, and the country torn from the empire. + +This was to be the result of our clemency and weak indulgence to a race +who understood only revenge and oppression. The remorseless principles +and inhuman tenets of the Boer religion belonged to those dark ages +which civilisation and the true knowledge of Christianity has swept from +the other portions of the globe where the Bible is known and honoured. +Their colonial history is a long record of steadfast atrocity and abuse +of power. Wherever they have trekked they have left a broad trail of +blood and disaster. Wherever they have settled, progress has ceased to +exist. They are, as a race, the most ignorant, the most remorseless, +and the rudest of barbarians. + +The history of Africa, from the most remote ages, has been one of +conquest. There are, therefore, no aboriginal owners to restrain the +hand of the taker, or lay bona fide claims to compensation for land +seized. It has been, in the past, ruthlessly torn from the weak by the +strong, and held only by force of arms. Humanitarians, therefore, +cannot urge the claims of the Kaffirs over the white conquerors. From a +humanitarian point of view, the race that has proved most worthy of +advancing humanity and civilisation has the best of all possible rights +to this open country. + +For the sake of future races, it is only one of the great existing +nations that dare take up this grave responsibility. + +Neither Germany, France, nor Russia, so far as their colonial policy and +history is concerned, have shown that they are adapted for this great +work. England only has proved that she is equal to the task, as long +ago, Imperial Rome did in a lesser way. Our great empire liberates and +advances every land which she protects. She frees the slave, educates +the savage, and makes the black man equal with the white. She welcomes +the stranger within her gates, asks no tyrannical pledges from the +Uitlander before she gives him employment and all the rights of her own +children. She embraces all humanity as her children, without shackling +them with conditions, either individually or tribal. Whatever king or +chief they owe allegiance to--whatever flag they honour--makes, no +difference to their rights as colonists and citizens while they live +under and claim the protection of the British flag. This is our best +defence for our right to extend and hold our empire in the face of +envious enemies and internal traitors. What we give up, or lose, or +forego is a distinct loss to civilisation, progression, and humanity. +We are the only holders and dispensers of liberty. The German makes a +good colonist under British control; so do the French, the Dutch, and +many of the other clans on the earth's surface. + +But when Germany seizes a land she treats it as the warlike Kaffirs did. +She butchers the original owners, and insists on all outsiders +relinquishing their private rights, and becoming subjects. As the +Kaiser has truly said, "On whatever land the German Eagle fixes its +talons, that land is German." This means, it is no longer free, only a +German is entitled to civil rights. + +The Boer, wherever he has possessed any authority, has pursued a similar +policy, only, being more medieval and ignorantly conservative in his +ideas, he goes many steps further in his candid tyranny than does his +friend the German. His religion is a blending of gross superstition, +narrowness, intolerance, and Judaism in its most relentless and savage +aspect. + +He honestly believes in the justice of the curse of Ham; but he believes +more, for, like the Moslem with his women, he says that the dark races +of the earth are like the beasts, soulless; whom to shoot down is no +murder; whom to enslave is his right, as one of the masterful and +heaven-favoured races. + +He believes in revenge and hatred as sacred duties. "An eye for an eye, +and a tooth for a tooth," are words which he gloats upon. + +According to the patriarchal laws he is a good husband and father, and +will fight for his own like any red Indian. Like all savages, however, +he does not care for fighting in the open. He prefers to skulk behind +rocks, and take his enemy at a disadvantage. + +He is a mass of gross superstition; in this he even surpasses the +Kaffir. He believes fervently in ghosts and omens, and dreads the dark +with trembling horror. He is utterly devoid of chivalry, truth, or +common honesty. A pledge in his estimation means only an expedient to +hoodwink his adversary and gain time. He will make a promise at any +time, and break it without the slightest scruple. He laughs at those +who trust him, as fools. Like the wild boar, he hates to see his lair +disturbed. He would much rather trek than live where civilisation is. +He is rude, uncouth, and pre-eminently inhospitable, and prefers his own +ignorance and superstition to enlightenment. By nature he is a morose +and uncompromising savage who has no place among civilised races, and +not the faintest conception of democracy. + +His greed is sateless; his audacity boundless; and his sense of +gratitude nil. Philanthropy and mercy are qualities which he despises, +because he cannot understand them. He professes to believe in the +Redeemer of mankind, but he draws his inspirations from the passages of +Scripture that suit his peculiar temperament, and the ethics of +Christianity do not. As a nation, he is as utterly impossible as the +Turk, therefore is completely out of place in the Transvaal. + +The past history of the Boers in Africa has proved this beyond dispute. +They have slaughtered mercilessly, and oppressed their neighbours +wherever they have settled. It is only by the strong hand that they +have been kept so far within bounds. + +Their principal grievance against us is that we freed their slaves, and +they nurse this grievance with undying hatred. They have murdered our +settlers ruthlessly, betrayed our statesmen, and mocked us for our +weaknesses. They remember their supposed wrongs, and lose no chance of +repaying them by brutality and treachery, and mock at our generosity in +forgetting what they have done. + +Ah! the gallant sons we have lost through trusting those ruthless +murderers! England may forget, but what of the mothers, wives, sisters, +fathers, and brothers of those who lie buried, and yet unavenged? + +It is possible to pardon a brave enemy who has fought fairly. As +Englishmen, we do this always--but only after we have wiped out the +blot. But what true Englishman could forgive the bloody assassin who +walks about boasting over his crime? What true Englishman could sit +down tamely, and swallow insult and slavery, as well as murder? + +These were the inhuman, hating, and ferocious enemies which some +Englishmen delighted to honour, sympathise with, and admire, for their +treatment of those Englishmen who had saved their Republic from ruin, +and poured wealth into their rapacious pockets. The tactics of their +obstinate and superstitious president is world known. His +shamelessness, greed, craft, and unblushing falsehood, his open enmity, +his avarice, and dense stupidity, all these qualities are representative +of his people, and what we are asked to admire and sympathise with. +Standing as we do afar off, we are apt to forget the atrocious side of +the Boer, and regard the ridiculous side with good-natured contempt. + +But to those in the midst of it all, it was by no means a matter to +laugh at. The constant reminders of those atrocities and disgraces, the +wanton insults, the brutal treatment, the persistent turning round of +the screw, without a moment of relaxation, were maddening even to the +meekest and most long-suffering. + +As we have already shown, our heroes did not come of a mute and lowly +race. They had British blood in their veins--young English blood that +was quickly heated. Since their coming to the Transvaal this blood had +been at boiling pitch. + +They tried to hearken to the words of prudence as preached by Philip +Martin and Mr Raybold. They tried to obey their leaders, and shut +their eyes to the daily outrages of justice which they beheld, and act +in away which their hearts told them was base cowardice. + +They saw ladies hustled rudely by rough and armed clowns from the +footpath amongst the mud. They listened to coarse epithets shouted at +their countrywomen if they looked indignant at this usage, and did their +best to keep their hands in their pockets and their eyes on the ground. + +They saw the German mercenaries knock down, kick, and baton the citizens +without the slightest provocation, and the citizens take their unmerited +punishment without remonstrance, knowing full well there was no possible +redress from the Boer authorities. They saw Boers spit on the beards of +Englishmen, and they only take out and use their handkerchiefs to wipe +the hateful stains away. They saw children ill-treated because their +parents were English, and the parents lift up their children and soothe +them, without attempting to punish the wretches who had made those +innocents weep. + +They saw all this and grosser outrages constantly being enacted under +their eyes, and while they looked they ground their teeth, and wondered +how long they would be able to endure this horrible restraint upon their +pent-up feelings. + +"It will be our turn before long to be batoned," remarked Fred, quietly. +"We cannot expect to be allowed to walk the streets much longer without +being molested." + +"The Boer or German who attempts to lay a finger on me had better look +out. I'll leave my mark on him," replied Ned, grimly. + +"We'll be there at the same time with our signatures," put in Clarence, +cheerfully. + +Fred was right in his prognostications of evil. Their independent +bearing had already been remarked upon by the police, and their turn +came sooner even than they expected. + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +OUR HEROES ARE ARRESTED. + +One morning they had come into town, to have their customary promenade, +listen to the latest news, and keep their blood flowing by watching the +sights. Like Paddy, they were trying how much they could stand of this +music, and vainly hoping to get used to it by constant habit. + +The city had been more than usually in a ferment during the past week. +It had been the election week, and although none of the Johannesburghers +had much hope of a change, yet until the affair was decided, there had +been a good deal of wordy speculation. + +However, as even the most credulous feared, Oom Paul Kruger had once +more managed to keep his chair, thanks to his simple and direct +management. While he was travelling the country canvassing for votes, +the old hypocrite played with his people, as the man who wants to buy an +annuity plays with the insurance company. He did the sick and feeble +old man who had only a few months more to live, and appealed to the +sympathy of those who were tired of him as a master. He played this +role so perfectly as to deceive even his own intimates. As for the +Uitlanders, he humbugged them so completely that they became jubilant +about the nearness of their emancipation. Even for a little while the +news of his return did not depress them overmuch. This they considered +to be a dead certainty, with the ballot boxes in the hands of his +supporters. + +A rumour had somehow spread, on the day after the announcement of the +result, that he was dead. For one whole hour Johannesburg lost its +head, and became intoxicated with joy. Shareholders bounced inside the +chain, while some were even mad enough to wire the happy event to +London, where for another hour on the Stock Exchange Paul Kruger gained +more popularity than he had ever gained in his life. + +But, alas! they were not long left to this most unseemly joy. Hardly +had they wiped their mouths after drinking to his safe translation to +another sphere than the Grand Old Man of Pretoria showed them how dead +he was. + +He enjoyed giving them surprises, and the one he sprang on them now was +the summary dismissal of Chief Justice Kotze, the only Dutchman who was +above bribery or coercion. + +Now, indeed, he was beginning his fresh tenure without any pretence of +wearing gloves. Whoever dared to oppose his autocratic tyranny, and +stand up for any other laws than those which his will dictated, was to +be swept out of the way. At this act of tyranny, worse than any that +the Stuarts ever perpetrated, even Philip Martin looked anxious. + +"It is the beginning of the end," he said. "Cecil Rhodes's last message +was for us to hold on and lie low. How much longer will we be allowed +to do this?" + +Kotze protested against this unlawful outrage, and refused to accept his +dismissal. But he gained no more by that than the Uitlanders had done. + +The inhabitants of Johannesburg were struck dumb when they heard of this +scandal, coupled with the tidings that the president's late illness had +been all shammed. Even the Boers themselves were staggered, as this +touched their rights as much as it demolished all safety for the +Uitlanders. Throughout Africa a wave of expectant horror passed. What +would this hoary tyrant not do next, now that he had demolished the law? +He was supreme. Anarchy and massacre would possibly be the next order +of the day. + +Once again, as in the time of the Jameson Raid, men began to send away +their wives and children, and prepare themselves for the inevitable. + +On the morning that our heroes took their walk, they found the streets +and between the chains blocked with people. + +But no business was being done, neither did men venture to speak to each +other. Every one suspected his fellow to be a spy. Business was at a +complete stand, and they watched the Zarps hustling the pedestrians +about, and inwardly speculated when the Krupp guns would begin their +devastating work. + +Anything might be expected now from Pretoria. With that first act +Kruger had pitched the gauntlet straight in the face of England. Surely +he must have already completed his arrangements with Germany. + +Halfway down the street the young men met Philip Martin. He was no +longer looking so anxious as he had been the past few days. He stopped +for a moment and whispered to Ned. + +"Hold yourselves in readiness to leave for Rhodesia tomorrow. I shall +have a message for you to carry." + +"Oh," replied Ned, a little disappointed. "Must we clear out before the +fun begins?" + +"Don't be afraid. Nothing will take place here yet awhile. This +present buster will blow over. I have just had a bit of news which will +make the old gentleman draw in his horns for a bit." + +"That's all right," answered Ned, laughing. + +Philip Martin had only turned his back on them when four Zarps, who had +been watching them, came forward, scattering the people to right and +left. + +Their batons were drawn, and their purpose unmistakable. Doom had come +upon our heroes. + +"Look out, boys!" cried Ned, as he sprang to the nearest wall, and +planted his back against it. As he did so, he saw amongst the onlookers +Stephanus Groblaar. + +Fred and Clarence ranged themselves alongside of their chum with +alacrity. + +"Now, then, come along, you white-livered Uitlanders!" cried the Zarps, +closing in and raising their batons. + +"Go with them quietly," shouted the onlookers, warningly, as they saw +the boys were preparing to resist. + +Philip Martin had by this time rounded the corner, without seeing what +had happened. + +"Yes; take your licking like true Englishmen!" cried Stephanus, +mockingly. + +"Don't be afraid--we shall!" answered Ned, casting prudence to the +winds, as he darted to one side to avoid the falling baton. + +It grazed his shoulder, while his aggressor stumbled forward with an +ugly oath. + +Next moment he was sprawling on his back, with a mouth filled with loose +teeth and gore, while Ned caught the baton adroitly as it flew from his +grasp. + +As he caught it, he swung it round and landed it with crushing force on +the jaws of the second officer. A sound of breaking bones was heard, +while the Boer went down like a felled ox. + +"Hurrah, boys! Go at it!" shouted Ned, leaping in to help his chums. + +Clarence had been struck, and was lying also on the ground. But Fred +Weldon was giving a good account of himself, dodging the baton of the +Boer--an immense fellow--and getting in some facers, which made the +baton strokes uncertain. + +With a strong tap on the back of the Boer's cranium, which was bare, Ned +quickly sent him alongside of his two mates. + +Then for a moment the fray was over, for the remaining policeman had +rushed to the outside of the ring, and was blowing his whistle for help. + +"Bolt!" cried the crowd, opening a lane for them, although otherwise +they did not offer to help. + +"No, you don't," cried Stephanus, covering the two boys with his +revolver. "Move a foot and I'll riddle you." + +Ned looked down at poor Clarence, who was lying senseless on the ground, +and decided that the game was up. He therefore glanced towards +Stephanus and cried with a scornful laugh-- + +"I won't run away, Stephanus Groblaar, and you may have this useless +baton." As he uttered the words he pitched the baton full at his enemy. + +Stephanus fired as the baton left Ned's hand, while he ducked. Where +the head of Ned had been the bullet struck the wall and knocked a piece +of stone out. + +But Stephanus had no time to fire again or evade the baton. Full in the +face it struck him, and down he also went. + +A faint cheer broke from some of the onlookers, while they turned and +scattered, leaving the victims to their fate. The Zarps were coming in +force. + +Ned saw them coming, and, jumping over to Stephanus, he plucked the +smoking revolver from his grasp, and quickly returned to the wall. + +"We're in for it now, Fred. I guess we'll be hanged for this morning's +work." + +"What's the odds?" replied Fred. "We've shown them that English men are +not curs." + +"Stand back, you fellows, or I'll pot some of you. We surrender, only +let us go gently." + +"Ugh!" grunted the Boers, as they looked round them at the carnage. +"Throw aside your shooter. We won't hurt you and spoil the gallows." + +Ned flung down the revolver, while some of the police went for +stretchers. The others contented themselves with closing round. + +Seeing that they did not offer to molest them, the boys knelt down to +look after Clarence. He had been hit over the head and stunned, but was +now recovering. As they lifted him up he opened his eyes and groaned. +Then he struggled up and looked round him, somewhat confused, for a +second or two. + +"Hallo! Is it all over?" + +"Yes, Clar," replied Ned. "All over, for the present. The next scene +will be prison. Can you walk?" + +"I'd rather say so," replied Clarence, rubbing his skull gently. "By +Jumbo! but that was a clinker I got. It has made a new bump as big as +an ostrich egg. Ah yes, I can waltz along with you two." + +To the surprise of our heroes, their captors treated them quite gently +on their way to jail. They merely held them firmly by the arms, and did +not attempt either to kick or jerk them about, as was generally done +with prisoners. + +Behind them came the stretchers with the wounded men who lay inertly, +and after them followed a numerous crowd. The men kept silence, but the +women waved their handkerchiefs and cheered. + +Ned, Fred, and Clarence had won popularity. Even the Boers treated them +with grim respect, and said-- + +"These pups can bite as well as bark. Ugh, it's a pity they are not +Boers." + +About a couple of hours after their incarceration they received a visit +from Mr Raybold. He had come as soon as he heard about the affair, and +although he looked very grave, yet he did not reproach them. + +"I expected something like this from you young blades; but it is a +serious scrape for all that." + +"Any of them killed?" asked Ned, coolly. + +"No, not quite so bad. You have broken one man's jaw, and spoilt the +nose of young Groblaar. The other two are not much the worse, only +they'll make the most of their bruises." + +"I suppose so; when they make such an outcry over the couple of men they +lost at Krugersdorp. What do you think will be done to us?" + +"You'll be sent on to Pretoria first place. But what will happen next, +no one can foretell. They may sentence you to death, or hard labour for +life. I hope I may be able to get you off with a heavy fine, as the +Boers love cash almost as much as they do revenge. What were you doing +when they set upon you?" + +"Absolutely nothing," replied Ned. "We had just parted with Mr Martin, +and were about to move on, when four big scoundrels pounced upon us." + +"That will not matter," replied Mr Raybold, dolefully. "Oom Paul has +denied any hearing or trial for Chief Justice Kotze. He charged him +with maladministration of justice, and swore in the Volksraad that he +was a liar. When they can treat their own judges in this fashion, they +are capable of hatching up any charge against you. However, we shall +not have long to wait before we know." + +"I hope you won't pay any fines for us, sir," said Ned. "I am sure we +would all rather go to hard labour, or whatever else they like to +sentence us to." + +"We shall see," returned Mr Raybold, shaking his head sadly. "I wish +this day had passed in peace, for tomorrow you would have been out of +this tyrant's clutches." + +"We are sorry also in one way, but our resistance has not made much +difference. I fancy Stephanus Groblaar has got up some story about us. +I had a quarrel with him out on the veldt, and for some reason he seems +to bear me ill-will." + +"Ah! tell me about that?" said Mr Raybold, quickly. + +Ned told him about the fight, and the words he had used on that +occasion. + +"This is bad--very bad. They sentenced a man the other day to two +years' hard labour for merely shouting on the Rand, `Nobody gets justice +in this country.' What that fine speech of yours may cost us, with the +additions which this young Groblaar may put to it, it is hard to say. +Never mind. Keep up your courage, lads. Your friends will not leave +you undefended; and we are all mighty proud of you for your pluck." + +Clarence took leave of his father very tenderly, while the others +received warm hand-grasps. Then the Rand capitalist left them a good +deal comforted by the interview. + +They did not know, but to be able to see them at all had cost Mr +Raybold a tidy sum in the way of palm-oiling. Like the Eastern prisons, +as in every other department of this Republican Government, corruption +ran very high, from the President to the meanest official. + +On the following morning they were examined, and charged with a whole +list of offences; then, after this preliminary farce was over, they were +handcuffed and taken, closely guarded, to Pretoria to be tried. + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +TRONK LIFE. + +Although our heroes had been brought up amidst the comforts and +refinements of better-class English life, they were not fastidious. + +Their recent overland experience among the burgher farmers had taken a +good deal of the fine edge off their susceptibilities as to eating, +drinking, and lodgment. It had also opened their eyes considerably as +to the inconsistency of humanity. Those bare, dirty, and barn-like +homesteads which satisfied the Boers generation after generation, and +compared to which many of the huts of the Kaffirs were fragrant--the +cow-dung and blood-blended plaster and flooring--were, to say the least, +peculiar in their aroma to the nostrils of strangers. Added to this, +the strong flavour of the Boer tobacco, with which those dens reeked, +rendered the atmosphere more powerful than pleasant to any except a Boer +family. To them, however, it smelt home-like and grateful. + +Outside, the approaches to a Boer farm were kept in a state of absolute +and traditional disregard to all sanitary laws. The refuse and decay +teemed with disease and abomination. No wanderer required a candle in +the window to light them to these abodes of the dopper. Their olfactory +organs would have been quick enough, even while suffering under the most +virulent cold, for at least half a league distant. Wherever the Boer +settled, that part of the veldt became a pigsty. + +Our heroes had experienced all this, and become case-hardened against +unholy perfumes and disgusting sights. Their digestive organs had also +become used to the tough biltong, vile coffee, and unvaried nightly +stews. Thus they were able to stand a good deal of dirt and discomfort +without noticing details. + +They had also gained a considerable insight of the Boers' other +peculiarities. Their utter lack of humour and sullen stolidity; their +merciless barbarity to their servants and cattle, joined to their stern +and one-sided religious fervour. The Bible, the cowhide, and the rifle +were always kept handy for constant use by those pious dopper farmers. +The word of God for themselves and families. The cowhide for their +cattle and servants, and the rifle where the cowhide failed to convince. + +They had seen these farmers flog the Kaffirs within an inch of their +lives for the slightest offence, or perhaps because the master was in a +bad temper, and the Kaffir chanced to be in his road. They had seen +them bring out their guns, if the braced-up and lacerated natives looked +nasty, and deliberately shoot them dead, then go indoors immediately +after, read their Bibles, sing their psalms, and thank the Lord of hosts +for giving them grace. Their infernal cruelties never touched their +consciences in the slightest degree, and they had no fear of the laws of +the land condemning them. Each Boer made his own laws, and these were +merciless. There was no justice for the native; he was a beast to be +down-trodden and enslaved. His land and his life were theirs, the +chosen people of the Lord, to abuse or murder as they pleased. + +Yet they never neglected family worship. Nor would they permit the +stranger to go from them without reading a chapter, and delivering +themselves of an unctuous prayer. Sylvan life amongst the pious doppers +was very unlovely and revolting. + +Having already experienced so much, the young men hardly noticed the +filthy and disgraceful conditions of the Johannesburg tronk, or jail. +That they were crammed into a small cell of ten by twenty feet, along +with twenty-five other prisoners, was nasty; yet they endured this fate +with as much philosophy as they could. + +Twenty-eight prisoners, waiting their trial, were immured in this +suffocating, dark, and noisome den, which could be compared with nothing +else than the hold of a slaver, or the black hole of Calcutta. A third +of these were Kaffir women, and the majority of the rest, the vilest and +most foul-mouthed scum in Johannesburg. + +There was no separation of the sexes; they were all crushed together, +regardless of their ages or offences. The atmosphere was horrible, for +there was no other ventilation than what the opening of the door gave. + +It was opened occasionally by the warders as they thought fit, to give +the captives a little air and prevent suffocation. + +The floors were cemented, and the roof of corrugated iron; but as water +is a luxury in Johannesburg, and the Boers are averse to washing and +also are regardless of dirt, weeks if not months had passed since last +the accumulations had been shovelled out. The mind of an Englishman at +home could not conjure up any idea approaching this abomination of +stench and overpowering heat. + +Here our heroes had spent their first night of Boer prison life, +listening, or rather trying to shut their ears, to the groans, curses, +and obscenities of their fellow-captives. Packed closely together, they +were forced to stand still and upright, with the perspiration pouring +from them, and swallow the poison that entered their lungs instead of +air. + +Many--indeed, most--of these prisoners had broken heads and other +wounds, and these, clotted and untended, added to the disgusting +horrors. + +When morning came, and they were hustled into the Pretoria train, they +felt almost half dead. Faint and breathless, they gasped as they were +dragged into the court, and listened to the charges with dull apathy. +There was little enough fight in them now. + +By the time they reached Pretoria, however, their young constitutions, +aided by the fresh veldt air, had restored both their appetites and +their courage. In spite of their jailors' grunts of disapproval, they +were laughing and jesting more from bravado than through good spirits. + +"We must show them we are game, no matter what happens to us," said Ned; +and his chums' loyalty backed him up. + +In the same train, but in a different compartment, Stephanus Groblaar +and the wounded and battered Zarps travelled to give their evidence. +The boys caught a glimpse of Stephanus as he got out, and could not help +enjoying the sight. The baton had smashed the bridge of his nose and +spoilt what little beauty he possessed. He was marked for life, so that +they would recognise him under any disguise almost. They caught his one +eye glaring luridly on Ned, for the other was bandaged up, and they +grinned broadly as they were pushed past. + +They were marched along to the tronk, getting hasty glimpses of the +Dopper Kirk, where Oom Paul sometimes preaches; the frowning forts and +warlike batteries which he has erected at so much expense to his +insolvent government, as a sign of the friendly disposition of the +Volksraad towards the Uitlander, and the open gallows and stocks, which +also were tokens of the social advancement of the constitution. That +church obstructing the traffic was typical of the people's wisdom and +foresight, as their town lying in the swamp was. They doted on mud and +pestilential swamps, as they piously believed in obstruction, dirt, bad +drainage, and public executions. + +The Pretoria tronk--at least, the part into which our heroes were +locked--was a shade more endurable than had been their lodging of the +night before. Morality, if not sanitary arrangements, was slightly more +observed. + +Their cell, which was the same size as the last, was not quite so +crowded, and they had white companions only, and of their own sex. +Between them and the Kaffirs was a sheet of corrugated iron. + +Small holes were bored in the sheet-iron walls; these were, however, +close to the roof, and did not give them much fresh air. During the day +the heat was intense, as the thin iron became almost red-hot under the +sun-glare. At night it was in proportion cold. + +There had been thirty-five prisoners in this cell two days before, but +eighteen of these had been removed; thus they had only seventeen +companions waiting their sentences. Fortunately, also, the majority of +these prisoners were respectable citizens, whose crimes were as yet to +be invented. Like our heroes, they had been seized upon without any +pretext, without being aware yet of the charges. They would learn all +that at the time appointed by their tyrants. + +Small straw mattresses were given to them to sleep on at nights; these +were placed side by side along the walls, leaving a narrow gangway +between. These mattresses had served hundreds of prisoners before them; +they were dirty in the extreme, worn by holes, and infested by other +inhabitants beside themselves, that not only did not sleep when darkness +fell, but did their best to murder sleep. A Salvation Army +night-shelter might be as lively, but it could not be worse than were +those unhallowed beds. They were placed upon the ground, and each +morning were taken out and aired in the exercise-yard. Otherwise the +cells were devoid of furniture. There were neither seats nor tables. + +All that afternoon the prisoners sat looking on the ground, as far away +from the heated walls as they could get. As they had come in time for +dinner, they got a basin of thin soup with some hard meat and black +bread. This they devoured eagerly. At four o'clock they had a supper +of mealie with salt and water. Then their beds were brought in, and +they prepared to enjoy themselves. They were able to breathe; that was +the sole comfort of that shivering night. Being dog-tired with their +previous night's vigil, in spite of the tormentors that bit and stung +them incessantly, our heroes soon fell asleep and forgot their miseries. + +In the morning at seven o'clock they got another dose of mealie-porridge +and salt with water. Then they were allowed to go and wash themselves +in the muddy streams that ran through the yard. All the prisoners were +turned out to the yard at the same time. Kaffirs, Malays, and whites, +thieves, murderers, and political prisoners, they were all mixed up like +their mattresses, and permitted to wash their clothes and themselves in +the same muddy stream together. + +On this day they were allowed to stay in the yard until five o'clock, +and as it was about one hundred and fifty feet, they were able to take +good exercise and have fresh air. They were not long before they began +to play leap-frog and some other games, including a wrestling match +between Ned and Fred, which was watched with keen interest by the other +prisoners. + +At about half-past two they were pleasantly surprised by a visit from +Philip Martin, who brought with him a Pretoria solicitor. + +Both listened to the story of their arrest, and the lawyer took notes, +after which Philip said-- + +"I think we shall manage to square the Zarps, so that they will let you +off mildly. The man with the broken jaw we must give a golden plaster +to; but your most bitter witness will be Stephanus Groblaar. He will +have his knife into you, and swear anything against you. His father is +a personal friend and tool of the president." + +That night they did not sleep so well; on the whole, it was the most +uncomfortable time they had ever experienced. They were glad when +daylight came and the doors opened to let them out. + +They were first in the yard, and took advantage to be the first in the +stream before it was stirred up. After their bath they once more felt +ready to laugh at their discomforts and woes. + +They had hardly supped their porridge, when a couple of German policemen +came and marched them off solemnly. + +Outside the tronk half a dozen more stiff and wooden-looking bodyguards +were drawn up, armed to the teeth with rifles, swords, and revolvers. +They closed in upon our heroes without a word, merely pointing to the +front as their way to march. Ned, Fred, and Clarence drew themselves up +with dignity, seeing that no attempt was made to handcuff them, and +dusting their clothes with their handkerchiefs, stepped out proudly in +the middle of their formidable escort. Handcuffs sadly spoil the effect +of dignity. They make a prisoner look too pathetic. + +"I wonder where these Noah's Ark Johnnies are taking us to?" said Ned. + +"To the court to be tried, I expect," answered Fred. + +"No," said Clarence. "There is some other game going on with us. Don't +you see these are not the ordinary Boer bobbies? They are the +president's own bodyguards." + +"By Jove! so they are. Perhaps old Kruger is going to interview us. I +hope so, for I'd like to see the grand old humbug." + +"Hush! These fellows are sure to understand English. All Germans do +who leave their own country." + +If they did understand what Ned had so rashly said, they showed no sign. +All emotion seemed to have been drilled out of their big faces, as all +free action had been drilled out of their tall figures. + +Solemnly they marched to the word of command with heads jerked up and +immovable eyes. Right, left, right, left, they planted their feet as +one man, without making a single wrinkle in their coats. They were for +all the world exactly like exaggerated German metal soldiers set working +by mechanism, and newly painted. + +Down through the centre of Church Street they marched, the automatic +movements of the guards so infecting our heroes that they unconsciously +fell into the same step after a few paces. Then only one distinct tramp +could be heard, as each left or right foot crushed upon the ground. The +people on the side paths watched them going along curiously. + +Past the grand Government buildings, with that disputed statue to +Liberty on its centre tower, they strode. The enlightened burghers +greatly object to this statue, as they don't believe in a woman +representing freedom, and think it must either mean Her Britannic +Majesty or the Virgin Mary, both highly objectionable personages in a +dopper's eye. + +On they marched, until they reached the western end of the street, where +a verandahed house stood with tall trees in front of it, and on each +side of the gate a helmeted police-soldier. Then they knew where they +were coming to, and felt a tremor pass over them. They were approaching +the kraal of the savage and crafty tyrant chief of the Transvaal, +Kruger. + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +AN INTERVIEW WITH UNCLE PAUL. + +It was a respectable and fair-sized house of the ordinary colonial +fashion, with a broad covered verandah in front, and fine shady trees +inside the rails--a comfortable and homely place, with nothing special +about it to denote the character or position of its owner, except those +two heavily armed sentinels at the gate. + +Yet our heroes shivered slightly at the thought of the coming interview, +and wished they could have put it off. + +They were not frightened physically of this avowed and relentless enemy +of their countrymen. Whatever he might sentence them to, they were +prepared to meet and endure bravely. + +It was his craft that they dreaded, lest he should by some devilish +artifice lure them into a trap, and so get something out of them which +would hurt their friends. They were frightened of themselves, not of +this wily and ferocious Boer of Boers. + +They were going to be sounded by the man who had been able to deceive +and outwit the smartest British diplomatists, and instinctively they +felt how powerless they would be in his hands. + +That they were taken before him, prior to their examination by the +landdrost, was a sign that he suspected them of being in the possession +of some secret, which he would do his best to worm out of them. His +scowls and threats they could defy, but his preternatural cunning they +trembled to think about. + +"Courage, boys, and caution," whispered Ned, as they paused for a moment +outside the gate. "Let me conduct the palaver as much as possible with +this ponderous Machiavelli." + +"Right you are, Ned," answered his chum in awestruck tones. "I wish we +were safe back in the tronk, though." + +"So do I." + +Kruger, the man who could spoof Great Britain, and drive his own people +like a flock of sheep, appeared, before they saw him in their +imagination, to be almost as colossal a character as their ideal hero, +Cecil Rhodes. Throughout Africa these two giants stood facing each +other, while the rest of the world watched and waited the result of +their deadly duel. Kruger, the champion of everything that was +despicable, oppressive, and false; Rhodes, the champion of chivalry, +humanity, and progress. + +Kruger had won his past triumphs by treachery and unscrupulous +steadfastness. He stood like a rock, defying reform. Rhodes also was +another rock, guarding the lands outside this camp of treason. Kruger +had been able to humbug the Imperial Government, and get what he wanted +from them easily; but he could not humbug this sleepless and powerful +watcher. + +Kruger had his agents and spies everywhere; so also had Rhodes. He was +fighting this Boer with his own weapons. + +Kruger was rich, but he liked to hoard his capital, and get as much as +he could for nothing or by promises. Cecil Rhodes spent his wealth +lavishly. + +Kruger was working for his own hand, and with the malignant purpose of +weakening his enemy and causing discord amongst the nations. Rhodes had +devoted his life and his wealth for his country's welfare, and for the +security of Africa. The one was a tyrant of the worst order; the other +was inspired by the purest and most disinterested patriotism. The one +was distrusted and disliked generally all round, even by a large section +of his subjects; the other was universally respected and loved for his +courage, brain-power, and unimpeachable honesty. + +Our heroes had seen for a few moments the first champion of +civilisation; they were now about to look upon his antagonist, the +impious father of lies. + +There was an air of stillness and depression about the place, which +these two immovable policemen accentuated. The shady verandah looked +dark almost in contrast with the blazing brightness outside. As the +boys looked under the branches, the idea occurred to them that they were +about to enter the web of a gigantic human spider. They could get in +easy enough, but how would they come out? + +They were not, however, kept long waiting at the gate. Their guards +stopped suddenly, grounded their rifles; then, while the two gatekeepers +saluted, they were pushed forward and entered the shadows. In another +moment they were ushered, without ceremony, into the presence of the +master. + +It was a large reception-room in which Kruger sat, with a wide stretch +between the door and the table at his side. + +On the table were placed a huge silver tobacco-box, a large clasp Bible, +and what the young men noted more particularly, the small "three ace" +watch-guard tokens which had been taken from them with their other +effects. There were also a few papers placed handy for, the president +to reach. + +He sat in a big, crimson-covered armchair, with a spittoon at his feet, +and his pipe in his mouth. Behind him, on the wall, they saw through +the tobacco mist a large and harshly painted oil portrait of himself. +The room was smelling like a tap-room, while clouds of rank tobacco reek +floated densely overhead. + +Yet that portrait riveted their eyes, and forced them to look at it +before even the original could command their attention--it was such an +exaggerated and hideous reproduction of all his worst points. It was +also so crudely and vilely painted that it seemed like a gross +caricature. Indeed, it was hardly human, but rather as if it had been +an imaginative attempt on the part of a house-painter, to depict a +gorilla-like, semi-humanised monster. + +A large red face, with swollen heavy features; narrow, bestial forehead; +small, crafty, and sullen eyes, with a baboon-like fringe of white-grey +hair running from the large flapping ears to below the heavy chin. The +lips were shapeless, yet relentless in their downward curve. + +A strange guttural and gurgling sound growled out, and drew their +wondering looks from the portrait to the man himself. President Kruger +was speaking; at least, they supposed that loud and deep mouthful of +explosive gutturals and gurglings was his mode of expressing himself. +It must have been an order, for as they glanced round, they noticed the +guards quitting the apartment, and found themselves alone with the +monster and his secretary or interpreter. + +He was looking at them from under his sullen, pent brows, with ice-cold, +piggish eyes that made them shiver again in spite of their efforts to +appear brave. He was so horribly ugly, so revoltingly animal-like, and +so utterly unsympathetic, that they instinctively recoiled before him. +He grinned ogreishly as he observed this step backward, and taking his +pipe in his huge, hairless, flabby hand, he puffed out a volume of smoke +and expectorated loudly into the spittoon. Then he resumed his pipe, +and leaned back in his chair, still watching them intently. He had awed +them, and he was evidently delighted with the effect which he had +produced, for he chuckled hoarsely as he sent out another huge volume of +smoke from his wide mouth. + +That grim chuckle, with the undertaker-like costume and vulgar +deportment of the animal, undid the first effect of his savage glare. +The boys looked again, and saw only an unmannerly, brutal, and hog-like +old man, with the ugliest face they had ever seen; with elephantine +proportions and shapeless great feet, filling out a gimcrack crimson +chair, while his fat, coarse hands gripped the sides. His portrait had +not flattered him, yet it was distinctly like him, with all its artistic +faults. The narrowness and dense ignorance were all there in both +picture and sitter, so also the intolerance, obstinacy, and brutality +painfully pronounced with his greed, cunning, and plebeian meanness. He +was the same sort of Boer as those that they had seen on the farms +ill-treating their servants and cattle, the same superstitious and rude +dopper who read his Bible and doggedly shut out charity from his heart. +All the rudeness, filthy habits, and moroseness of his race were here in +unbending and irredeemable force, carved and cemented by age and habit +into the hardness of cast iron. + +They were no longer appalled by his ugliness; instead, they were looking +at him with undisguised loathing and contempt. Was this the man who had +hoodwinked men of intellect--this low-bred, stupid, and surly beast, +whose only qualities were vindictive hatred and ignorant, stupid conceit +and arrogance? Surely he could deceive no one who stood face to face +with him, for that countenance was an open index of all the mean vices +which make men abhorred and despised? He looked and acted as if his +proper place was amongst hod-carriers, not politicians. + +They had hit upon the keynote of his dangerous power in their misplaced +contempt. It was this appearance of stupidity that threw keen men off +their guard when dealing with him--this and his hypocritical cant. He +looked no more intellectual than an ignorant local preacher, and as he +was constantly preaching, they forgot to look under his words. Behind +all these state platitudes, and copy-book texts, he plotted with the +cunning and ferocity of a relentless savage. + +After watching them for full five minutes with half-shut eyes, while he +puffed like a steam-engine at his pipe, he made a motion with one blunt +forefinger towards the table. His attendant at once rose and handed him +the tobacco-box. + +This was not what he wanted; still, while it was there, he filled his +pipe and lit it afresh. Then he beckoned again. This time the +secretary handed him one of the ace trinkets. He took it in the palm of +his paw, and regarded it with suspicious eyes; then the lips widened and +the cheeks bulged out, while another mouthful of harsh sounds were +belched forth. The secretary explained this jumble of gutturals to our +heroes. + +"Why do you wear this badge? What does it signify?" + +Ned explained that it was the badge of a club in Johannesburg, of which +he and his companions were members. + +The president broke out as soon as he had spoken, and the secretary went +on with his questions. + +"We know that well enough; but how came you strangers to be members of +this club?" + +Ned answered because they wished it. There was no law against +Englishmen joining it at once on their arrival. + +"Take care, younker, and remember where you are. Answer questions, but +don't make remarks. How many members are there?" + +"I don't know." + +"What is the object of this club? Take care how you answer. We know +already that its object is against the State." + +"Then it is more than I do," answered Ned, boldly. + +"What is done there?" + +"Magazine and newspaper reading and letter-writing. Some of the members +smoke, some play dominoes, but not often." + +"And this design--what does it mean?" + +"The ace of hearts, the ace of spades, and the ace of diamonds." + +"Yes?" + +"That's all." + +"Why not the ace of clubs as well?" + +"Ah! I don't think the citizens of Johannesburg have got that ace," +answered Ned, innocently. + +A chuckle came from the armchair. Then President Kruger for the first +time spoke in very fair English--the tongue he understood perfectly but +hated so viciously. As he spoke he smiled a fat wrinkly smile that gave +his face a simple and grotesque expression of good humour. His voice +was thick and rumbling. + +"You are a slim carl for your age, younker. How old are you?" + +"Eighteen," replied Ned. + +"And you, my young brakjes?" + +Not knowing that "brakje" was a term of contempt, they answered freely +enough. Again Kruger chuckled, while he shook his ponderous head and +pointed his clumsy finger at them. + +"Far too young to be mixed up in conspiracy and treason. Young +gentlemen like you ought to stay in your own country, and not come here +breaking the laws and making riots." + +"We have done nothing, your Excellency," said Ned. + +"Do you call it nothing to knock down four honest burghers, smash the +nose of one and the jawbone of another? Do you call it nothing to +threaten my police with a revolver, and use the insolent language you +have done?" + +He had risen to his feet by this time, pulled himself out of the chair +ponderously and by degrees. As he stood now towering above them like a +hippopotamus, he impressed them with his physical strength. His eyes +were beginning to lighten up dangerously. + +"I have you in the hollow of my hand, you miserable brakjes, as I hold +every dog in my country. What you have so foolishly spoken entitles you +to hard labour for some years. The assault you committed on the +authorities is punishable by death. Do you think I can allow my men to +be injured in this way by boys--eh?" + +"We were only defending ourselves. They struck at us first and without +the slightest cause." + +"It is a verodomde lie. You belong to a nation of liars and vipers, +allermachtij!" shouted Kruger, savagely, an ominous gurgle coming from +his throat, while his right arm began to swing as if about to strike +them, and his eyes became buried under the flesh of his upper lids. + +Ned bit his lips and remained silently facing this ogre, with flashing +looks. + +"Ugh!" gurgled the president, controlling his rising temper as suddenly +as it had been raised. "I can do all this to you, and no one dare stop +me, not even your queen," he added childishly. "I am master here, and +what I will is fate. I can send you to my worst prison, where you will +rot all your miserable days. But I can also be kind and merciful to +those who deserve my clemency. Now, if you will be good younkers and +tell me all that you know, I shall pardon you, and never send you for +trial at all--nay, more, I'll give you each a nice billet, where you can +serve the Republic and make your fortune. Now, are you going to be good +younkers and give me all your confidence freely, as if I was your +father, or your tender-hearted uncle--Oom Paul, you know," he chuckled +unctuously--"or must I send you to rot in the tronk?" + +"We are English, your Excellency, and sons of the Empire, not Dutch +spies and traitors," answered Ned, for his companions, proudly and +without a pause. + +"Then go and--rot!" roared Kruger, bringing his big fist down on the +table with a bang that made tobacco-box and Bible jump. "Send these +ruffians to the landdrost, and let the law take its course." + +The last our heroes saw, for that time, of the humane president of the +Republic, was him puffing furiously at his pipe, with his ugly face +distorted and his eyes out of sight. + +"I guess he doesn't like to be contradicted," said Ned, as the police +once more marched them off. + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +AT NYLSTROOM. + +Tender-hearted and magnanimous Uncle Paul had not come best out of this +interview, neither had he exhibited much of his vaunted diplomacy and +character-reading. Indeed, he had shown himself to be what he was +exactly--a densely stupid and tyrannical Boer, who thought to cow three +lads with his threats, and make them his tools by a little clumsy and +transparent cajolery. This was the only method he had, however, of +dealing with people, and what his parasites termed his greatness. + +His agents and whitewashes have called him a man of deep religious +feeling, honesty of purpose, singleness of life, thoroughness of +character, free from all vices and defects, of great magnanimity, mercy, +clemency, and justice, and possessed of the simplicity of a child. + +Yes; he had the simplicity of a very much spoilt, greedy, and vicious +child. Our heroes had penetrated this side of his nature. They were +now about to taste of his clemency and justice. They had thwarted his +intentions concerning them, and, being a Boer, he could not pardon that +from either man or child. No Boer was ever known to forgive or forget +any rebuff. They never reason; they can only brood upon their side of +the question and plan revenge. + +Kruger showed his thoroughness in the way he pursued them with his +witnesses and private orders to the landdrost. He did this with the +thoroughness of a red-skin. Their advocate was snubbed, and ordered to +sit down the moment he rose to defend them. No witnesses were called on +their side, while people they had never seen came and swore to actions +and words they had never thought about or said. Then the verdict was +given without a pause, and their sentence delivered with vicious +denunciation from the judge. As they listened to him they were almost +persuaded that they were very dangerous criminals, and deserved the +gallows, instead of hard labour and long imprisonment. + +Boer justices, now that Kotze was removed and they had only one will to +consult, did their work with sweeping and drastic force. They punished +not only the criminal, but his friends as well, when they could be got +at. + +Their sentences were-- + +Seven years each, with hard labour. + +Å“2000 fine each, or another five years. + +A hundred lashes, to be spread over the first two years in the following +order: twenty-five lashes after the first three months' imprisonment, +and twenty-five each six months after. + +Our heroes laughed at the fines, but they clenched their teeth and vowed +that they would be free or dead before the lashes were inflicted upon +them. + +"If we get free and live, boys," whispered Ned, fiercely, "I hope that +fiend Kruger may not die before I can kill him." + +Mr Raybold and Philip Martin got a few words with them before they were +led away. + +"Don't you pay that fine, father," said Clarence. + +"Not until you are at liberty, then I don't mind what it costs me," +replied his father, brokenly. + +"Don't be afraid, father; the Transvaal hasn't got a tronk that will +keep us in for three months, now that we know our fate." + +Philip stooped and whispered in the ear of Ned. + +"We shall move heaven and earth to get you sent to one jail. After +that, day and night we will work to help your escape. Keep up your +pluck, and take advantage of all chances. We'll have you shadowed with +friends and able horses." + +Ned smiled, and pressed the hand of his friend as he answered-- + +"I will not spend all my time sleeping, you bet." + +It was a desperate life our heroes led after this day, and might have +broken even their spirits, only for the hope they had of accomplishing +their escape. + +After passing a week at Pretoria, they were sent up the country to +Nylstroom, where some heavy road-making was being done. This they did +not object to, as it was so far on the way to Rhodesia. They were glad +also to find that they were not separated. + +Here they were treated with all the ignominy and harshness that the +stupid and merciless Boers could invent to make their captives sick of +existence. They were put into a cell where only natives were confined, +and not allowed any bedding whatever. If they could find space enough +to lie down, that was all the comfort they were permitted to have. + +This, of course, was intended to degrade them as far as possible, and +doubtless would have been a terrible punishment to a Boer. + +But our heroes, being more liberally brought up, did not find the +company of those Kaffirs half the infliction that some of their late +white companions had been. The captive savages were cleaner and more +wholesome, both outwardly and inwardly. + +They were men most of them, whose only crime had been that of conquered +enemies. Tall, powerful warriors they had been once upon a time, with +spirits still untamed, and hearts filled with undying hatred toward +their harsh oppressors. + +As soon as these prisoners discovered that Ned, Fred, and Clarence were +English, and filled with the same hatred as they had, they received them +into their ranks, and treated them with all the kindness and +consideration which they were able to show. + +Several of them formed a blood bond with our heroes, which made them +allies and friends for life. + +One clear benefit in this companionship was that these Kaffirs thus +pledged would be faithful to them. Indeed, amongst the whole gang, +there was not likely to be a traitor or a spy. These poor wretches had +nothing to gain by treachery, for their condition would not be a whit +improved. They all knew the Boers from bitter experience, and abhorred +them as much as they respected their English conquerors. + +By daybreak they were marched out to their work under the escort of an +armed and mounted force of warders. The food served out to them was +mealie porridge with salt, and not too much of that. From the hour our +heroes entered Nylstroom, they were constantly in a famishing condition. + +Yet they had to labour as navvies all day long under the broiling rays +until sundown, with hardly any intermission except the short time +allowed for their midday meal. The overseers rode about abusing them in +German and Low Dutch, and plying their cowhide whips over the backs of +those who fainted or shirked their work. It was worse than slavery, as +these Boers did not care whether the prisoners lived or died. If they +resented the savage stroke by so much as a look, they were tied up and +flogged almost to death. If they showed fight, they were at once shot +down and flung to one side like carrion. + +Our heroes could not have endured the whip even with their hopes of +liberty buoying them up, therefore they laboured with a will, and gave +the brutes no chance of chastising them. Sometimes the whip cracked +over their heads, but fortunately for their future, it did not descend +on their backs. + +The reason for this was that their friends outside had managed to get at +these venal wretches, and paid them a weekly sum to spare the young men +that last outrage. + +They were all the more closely watched for this very reason so that they +might not escape. During the day this would have been impossible, as +before they could have run a dozen steps, they would have been shot +down. + +They had passed a fortnight of this wretched existence, when, one day, +as Ned looked up, he saw a party of horsemen riding past. Amongst them +was Philip Martin, who, catching his eye, pointed quickly north, and +then patted his horse. + +Ned knew what that meant. They were to run northward when their chance +came, where friends and horses would be in readiness. + +His heart bounded as he read the signals and saw his friend gallop past +him. Then he bent and plied his pickaxe with renewed energy. + +In spite of their semi-starvation, the hard labour did not hurt our +heroes. Already they had got over the utter exhaustion that made them +so helpless when they reached their cells. They had lost flesh +woefully, but their muscles were becoming tough and hard as steel, and +their skins tanned and sun-proof. They did not fear but that they would +be able to run once they got the chance. + +Their cell was a small one, with corrugated iron on two sides and +mud-cemented walls on the other two. Each night they were carefully +searched before being locked in, so that it was impossible for them to +smuggle in any tool. + +Still, now that Ned had seen help so close at hand, he did not despair. +What he could not get in himself might be sent to him from the outside. + +That night he told his chums what he had seen, and their spirits rose +wonderfully at the news. + +"They will be on the outlook, I am sure, therefore we must let them know +whereabouts we are located." After some consultation the idea struck +them to hang out a bit of rag from one of the narrow air-holes. If they +did this that night, it was almost sure to be noticed and understood by +those on the watch outside. + +There were fifteen Kaffirs in this cell besides themselves who would +have to be trusted. The lads had seen enough of them to risk taking the +lot into their confidence. + +"Cocoeni," he whispered to a strong young fellow, who had vowed +friendship with him, "would you like to escape?" + +"You bet, baas," replied the Kaffir, who understood and could speak a +little English. + +"And the others, will they help us?" + +"Yes, baas; you may trust us all. We shall all help you if you show us +how." + +"I have friends outside who, when they know where we are, will give us +some instrument to break out of this." + +"Good. And what can we do to let them know?" + +Ned had torn a piece from his shirt while he was speaking; he now said-- + +"Give me a back up, Cocoeni. I'll push out this bit of rag. When the +moon rises they will see it." + +"So will the Boers," said Cocoeni. + +"Oh, we must risk that. If they do wander round that side, they may not +think anything about it. Besides, they are too lazy to do much knocking +about at night." + +Cocoeni willingly placed his face against the wall, and bent his back +while Ned climbed up on to his broad shoulders. It was pitch dark +inside, but they could see the stars through the slits near the roof. + +After the rag had been pushed half through so that one end hung outside +and the other inside, they agreed to watch and watch turn about. At the +first appearance of day they would take in the signal. + +Clarence took the first watch of three hours, while the rest lay down to +sleep. By this time every Kaffir had been told by Cocoeni, and they +were prepared to obey orders. + +Nothing disturbed Clarence. The Boers never troubled themselves to +visit their prisoners during the night, and doubtless not many bothered +themselves to keep awake. + +He saw, however, by the rays of silver that the moon had risen and was +shining on the outer wall. It was a full moon, so that the rag must be +observed if any one was on the watch. + +Fred took the next watch, nor had he anything to report when Ned +relieved him. The moon by this time had moved round to the other side. + +Ned waited patiently for about two hours in the darkness, when, just as +he was beginning to think there would be no answer that night, Cocoeni +touched him, and whispered softly in his ear-- + +"Baas, some one outside creeping gently." + +The keen ears of the savage had heard what Ned could not. + +A few moments afterwards something heavy dropped upon his head, and fell +with a muffled thud on the clay floor. He stooped to lift it, and to +his delight felt the head of a small pickaxe wrapped in flannel. As he +was unrolling it, another article came through the slit, and this he +found to be the handle. + +His friends had understood his signal, and this was their reply. He +hugged handle and head in his arms with an ecstasy of delight. Now, at +last, freedom was within sight. + +It was too late, however, to do anything this morning. In another hour +dawn would be upon them. They must defer operations for another night, +and hide the treasure. + +He explained what he had received to Cocoeni, who woke his friends to +tell them, while Ned did the same with Fred and Clarence. A deep grunt +of joy spoke the Kaffirs' feelings, while our heroes fairly danced with +pleasure. + +To dig a small hole in the corner was the work of the next half-hour, +after which they placed the articles side by side and covered them with +the clay, which they pressed down, and moistening the top from their +water-jug, they smoothed it as carefully over as they could in the dark. + +One of the Kaffirs lay down on the damp clay and dried it with his body, +while the others crawled about and picked up every portion of loose +clay, which they swallowed as they found them. + +Before the first streak of dawn crept in the floor was as clear of +debris as it had been before, and the part over the pickaxe completely +caked and dry. + +Then Ned looked up to see and remove the rag. It was gone. The one who +had brought the gift had removed the signal. + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +BREAKING THE TRONK. + +He is not a gregarious animal the Boer. Except for expeditions of +murder or rapine, when expediency forces him to congregate, he prefers +to wallow in his own sty. + +He does not enjoy night-work, either. The night to him is thronged with +"spooks" and other nameless horrors which he does not care to face. He +can murder a Kaffir in the most atrocious fashion, and think nothing +about it as long as the sun shines, but he dreads that Kaffir's "spook" +after the sun sets. Even the uncertain light of the moon doesn't seem +to comfort him greatly. + +He has no humour in its sprightly and harmless sense. He can appreciate +rough horse-play and clumsy practical jokes, particularly if there be a +strong leaven of cruelty about them, and he is the joker. As a nation, +the Boers have not wit enough to be sarcastic, although they can be +bitter enough at times, and harsh always. But they are possessed, in +its most childish, morbid, and undeveloped state, of imagination. +During the day they are hard-headed, callous-hearted, keen-eyed men, +ever on the outlook to best their neighbours and grab what advantage +they can. Generations of previous warfare have made them quick and sure +with their aim, perfect horsemen, and the finest skulkers in the world. +By day they are impervious and vulture-eyed, and, according to their own +uncivilised mode of conducting warfare, dogged and resolute, if not +brave. We cannot call a man brave who slinks behind kopjes and +circumvents his enemy only by treachery; yet, when driven into a hard +corner, they will turn and fight with the viciousness of desperate rats. + +But at night they are a most timorous and superstitious set of +shrinkers. Every strange sound makes their flesh creep and their hair +bristle. The kloofs, and veldt, and karri are packed with evil spirits, +whose weird revels they no more dare disturb, than would a jackal a lion +while he is feeding. Their God is the Lord of vengeance, their religion +a hotchpotch of rank superstition. + +Our heroes did not fear greatly that the cell would be disturbed while +they were out of it. The prisoners were deputed to do the cleaning once +a week, and Saturday was the day ordained for this duty. On Sundays +they were allowed to rest, as according to the Transvaal laws, no +trekking, or work of any kind, was permitted on that day. + +It was Thursday now, therefore they were almost positive that after they +were driven out, the door would be locked until their return at sunset. + +How wearily the hours dragged on during that day which they fondly +trusted was to be their last in this slavery! + +It was dry weather, fortunately being the middle of the winter season, +as Nylstroom in the summer was one of the most malarial districts. Yet +the sun blazed fiercely down upon the exposed and shelterless place +where they worked, and tried them all severely. + +The mounted warders even became slothful with their whips as the morning +advanced, and found smoking more to their minds than browbeating their +charges. + +Ned and his two chums toiled on even harder than they had ever done +before. They were thrilling with suppressed excitement, and felt glad +of the work that made the hours pass. They scarcely lifted their heads +or rested until the call came for the midday meal. + +Mealie-porridge for breakfast, dinner, and supper becomes monotonous; +yet they were thankful enough even for this fare when it was served out +to them. A mad longing for beef had been on them for some days past. +The thought of it blended with their desire for liberty, so that they +could think of little else. + +"Oh for a grilled steak!" groaned Clarence and Fred, as they bolted +their unsavoury mixture. + +"We'll have it, if all goes well, for breakfast," whispered Ned, to keep +up their courage. + +It was a lovely dream, and they hugged it, and kept their tongues moist +all the afternoon with the sweet anticipation. + +It was astonishing to watch their companions the Kaffirs during that day +of suspense. They wore their customary sullen and apathetic +expressions, as if hope had no abiding-place in their bosoms. Not even +by so much as a flash in their lurid eyes could any one have guessed +that they were thinking of liberty. The only sign our heroes could note +was their extra patience and endurance. When the cowhide ripped across +their bare shoulders, they did not even give a quiver. It might have +been a fly landing on the back of an elephant, for all they seemed to +feel. + +As afternoon drew on, Ned and his chums began to husband their strength. +They dug the pickaxe and spades more lightly into the baked clay, and +played themselves at working as much as possible. + +At last the sun dropped to the horizon, and they were driven back to the +tronk. As they approached, our heroes looked at the walls and building +with keen speculation. The front was the portion occupied by the +warders. A couple of men were supposed to watch the back from opposite +corners, but, as Ned shrewdly surmised, they did not keep a very strict +sentry, otherwise his friends could not have got over the wall as they +had done the night before. + +For the few moments that twilight remained in the cell, they examined +the ground and gave their Kaffir friends directions. The poor fellows +listened attentively to their chosen leader, Cocoeni, and showed that +they were ready. + +Then darkness came, and they began without delay. To prevent the sounds +being heard, Ned and his chums began to sing; the others also made as +much gabble as they could. In the other cells, which were divided by +the iron sheeting, they could hear the prisoners quite distinctly. It +was to prevent them hearing the pickaxe at work that they were making +the row, but as for the Boers, they had no fear of them troubling to +stop a wrangle or a ditty as long as it was not patriotic. Ned took +care of this by starting and keeping up a few of Sankey's hymns which he +knew. While they were singing they likewise prayed fervently for their +deliverance. + +Cocoeni took the pickaxe, as he was the strongest man there. With a few +deft strokes he had broken the hardened surface of the floor; then, +while he dug, the others scooped the earth out of the hole with their +hands. He went down by the side of the wall until he had cleared the +foundations; after this he began to tunnel. + +It took them till long after midnight before they got to the outside of +the wall; then they began to dig upwards. They worked very carefully at +this portion, and carried the debris into the cell by relays. + +At last they had reached the surface, and as some of the earth fell in +upon them, they were able to see the stars. To their joy this side of +the wall was buried in darkness, for the moon was on the other side. + +Ned looked out carefully as soon as the passage was wide enough. + +Halfway across the yard the shadow fell, leaving a patch of whiteness +for some fifteen feet between that and the outer wall, which was about +ten feet in height. + +At each angle a sentry-box stood clearly revealed. As far as Ned could +see, they were unoccupied. The sentinels had evidently left their post, +and the passage was clear. + +One by one they crept out, Cocoeni bringing the pickaxe with him. + +As they stood by the wall, Cocoeni whispered softly to Ned-- + +"Wait, Baas. I creep round and see if no one about." + +He crept off without a sound, while they watched and listened. In a +moment more he was back. + +"All safe that way, Baas. Now for the other side." + +They saw his dark figure glide along the whitewashed wall till he +reached the end, then he disappeared round the corner. + +He was longer gone this time, and when he returned, he was carrying a +heavy load. As he reached them, he laid his burden gently down and +stretched himself up. + +"One Boer done for, Baas. Just caught him in time and brought him +along," he whispered. "You put on him clothes and take him gun, and it +will be safe." + +"Is he dead?" asked Ned, horror-struck. + +"Yes, Baas. Me make no mistake with pickaxe. Other fellow court him +gal on the other side. Quick put on him coat and hat, and go over to +the box. You see other fellow from there. If he still wait, hold up +hand." + +Ned, repugnant as the task was, felt the wisdom of acting upon the +suggestion of Cocoeni. Swiftly he drew off the coat and hat from the +dead Boer and put them on; then, bracing on his bandolier and +revolver-belt, he took up the rifle and boldly crossed the line of light +to the sentry-box. + +There were no windows to this end of the building, while from where he +stood he could see the front gate, outside of which stood the figure of +a stout-built woman pressing against the rails, while inside was the +other sentry, with his face to her and his back to his duty. They were +having their upsitting, or rather upstanding, in the moonlight, and +seemingly totally oblivious to any one or anything else. + +It was gruesome to think of that bleeding corpse within the shadow, and +those ponderous lovers looking at each other with speechless and +moonstruck admiration. Ned shuddered to think of it, and now he was +wearing the blood-soaked hat at the same time. + +However, there was no time to moralise. That Boer lover was likely to +stand there until daybreak without budging, but some one else might +come. + +He put up his hand, and at the signal the seventeen figures left their +shelter and glided across like spectres. Ned could watch them and the +pair at the gate. He was also able to make out that ghastly figure +which they had left behind. + +Cocoeni bent his back and put his head against the wall, while one by +one they clambered over him and dropped out of sight. + +"Now, Baas, your turn," said the Kaffir, softly. + +Ned laid down his rifle and walked over to Cocoeni. + +"How are you going to get up?" he asked. + +"Easy. You go first, I come after." + +In a moment Ned was on the wall. + +"Come on, Cocoeni." + +"Wait a bit, Baas." + +Cocoeni ran over to the sentry-box and snatched up the rifle, then he +returned. + +"Catch, Baas, and get down other side. I be with you presently." + +Ned saw him run back a few yards and then take a flying leap. Next +instant the Kaffir was beside him on the ground, and they were free. + +So far all had gone well. Their danger now lay in the open country, +which spread as clear under the moonlight as if it had been day. As +they got away from the tronk wall they could easily be seen and potted +by any of the authorities who might be posted about. + +However, this had to be risked, and the only course they could pursue at +present was beside the main track. + +They therefore set off as fast as they could run, keeping to the grass, +and making for the kopjes, which were some distance away. Ned had a +notion that they would not have far to go before they met their friends, +if their escape had not been already observed. + +Cocoeni kept alongside of our heroes, and carried both the rifle and +pickaxe, which he had taken a fancy for since the gory deed it had been +the instrument of. The rest scattered and kept on abreast over the +valley. + +They ran past a couple of small houses, rousing the dogs, who started a +chorus of loud yelps, but without disturbing the inmates, apparently. + +They were clear of the township now, and with the open country before +them, yet by no means out of rifle-range, when a most unlucky accident +happened. Cocoeni, by some carelessness or want of knowledge, suddenly +let off the loaded rifle with a bang loud enough to wake the dead. + +Fortunately he had the rifle on his shoulder and pointing skyward, so +that no one was hurt, but the effect meant disaster. It would rouse +every Boer who heard it, and raise the tronk-keepers. + +"You have done it this time, Cocoeni!" cried Ned. "Now it must be neck +or nothing. Forward, boys, with all the wind you can put on." + +There was no time to look behind and see what result that shot had +produced. One and all spun over the ground like racers. + +"Ping! ping! ping!" came the bullets after them. The burghers had got +out of their beds, and were driving away at them from the windows of the +two houses. One poor Kaffir flung up his hands and fell on his face. +The death of the sentry had already been avenged. + +Up the hillside they rushed; they were amongst the stones now, therefore +better able to dodge the bullets. + +For one instant Ned glanced back, and what he saw quickened his paces. +From the tronk gates a body of horsemen were riding out, and spreading +out upon the road. + +"We're done for!" he gasped. "They'll be up to us in five minutes." + +At this instant his ears caught a clattering of hoofs in front of him, +and, looking forward, he saw half a dozen horsemen galloping along the +road, with three empty saddled horses amongst them. + +"Hurrah! we are saved!" he cried joyously. + +"Not yet, my son; but jump up without delay, and we'll do our best," +answered one of the riders, as they reined up beside the escaped +prisoners. + +"Halloa! you've got a tribe with you, I see," said the leader, as Ned +and his chums sprang into the empty saddles. + +"Yes; what about them?" + +"They must run for it and take their chance; we have no more horses +here." + +"Never mind us, Baas. We know where to hide. You get along. The Boers +will follow you." + +"Good-bye, brothers," shouted Ned. + +"Good-bye, Baas! I'll see you again by-and-by, never fear," cried +Cocoeni in his full, deep tones. + +Next instant the troop were riding at full speed, while the Kaffirs had +disappeared as if the earth had swallowed them. + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +A RECORD RIDE. + +"Halt!" cried the leader, after they had ridden about a couple of miles +at full speed. + +The company at once pulled in their well-trained horses and stood +stock-still. They had quitted the track, and were now just behind the +crest of a kopje, so that their pursuers could not be seen. + +"There, lads, change your prison togs for these more befitting rigs-out, +and eat some of that tucker while we settle off a few of these accursed +Kruger whelps. We have a ride before us which will beat Turpin's ride +to York--for distance, at least--before we can next draw rein." + +His men had dismounted while he was speaking to our heroes, and ran back +to the kopje's crest. They were now resting on their stomachs and +taking aim at the approaching Boers. + +As he spoke he pointed to a bundle which was fastened to each of their +saddles. + +"Get into these as fast as you can slip, and put inside you what you +find in the centre of each swag. We must be off again within the next +five minutes." + +Saying these words rapidly, he left them and the horses, and ran up to +join his companions. + +Our heroes were out of their saddles, and had the bundles unrolled +before he had run half a dozen feet. By the time he had taken his place +on the kopje-top, they had got the riding pants and boots on, and were +buttoning up. In half a moment more they were bracing on their +waist-belts and bandoliers, etc., ready for the journey. + +Then they opened the saddle-bags and commenced devouring some biltong +and biscuit, washing this down with modest sips of cold tea which they +found in their water-bottles. Their teeth were sharp and their +appetites keen with long fasting, therefore they made the welcome viands +disappear as rapidly as they had dressed. + +Meantime those on the mound-top were busy. The Boers had galloped up +with somewhat rash confidence, thinking that they had unarmed men to +cope with. Those in hiding reserved their fire until the Boers were +within a hundred yards. Then they fired unanimously, and emptied six +saddles. + +There were only seven burghers left, and they drew rein in sudden +consternation. + +Bang! went the second volley, and only one warder was left upright. +Without waiting for his quietus, he wheeled about with the utmost +promptitude, and raced back to the tronk as fast as his horse could +carry him. + +They let him go, satisfied with the slaughter they had committed, and, +rising, they ran back to their horses and mounted in hot haste. + +"It is saddle and spurs now, boys, until we get over the border. This +morning's work will raise the Transvaal. Forward!" + +No more was said, but at their utmost speed they set off, and dashed +over the country as if doing a race. + +Mile after mile they sped without slackening rein for an instant. The +moon went down by the west, and the stars grew dim. When the day broke +they were at least twenty miles from Nylstroom, and in the midst of a +wild and lonely scrub. + +They had reached a fording-place on one of the tributaries of the +Limpopo river, and were approaching a native kraal. + +Here they saw a crowd of natives, and with them four horsemen, with a +number of spare horses. + +"You see we have made preparations for you youngsters; at every twenty +miles we have relays waiting right on to Palla station. There we shall +find a sufficient force to back us up if there is any fighting to be +done." + +The natives, who, although under Boer control, hated them furiously, had +beer and roasted meat ready for the new-comers. Galloping up, they +flung themselves off their exhausted beasts and rapidly transferred +their saddles and bridles to the fresh horses. The fagged steeds were +turned out to grass. + +Five minutes only they stayed at this kraal, and while devouring their +meat and drink standing, they told the men who had been waiting about +their last encounter. + +"We must get through before the news can spread, and avoid, if possible, +any more encounters; so here goes to beat the record." + +Together they all dashed on at the same speed as before. That morning +our heroes had their first glimpse of some of the wild game of Africa. +They saw in the distance a herd of quagga, and shortly afterwards +sighted some giraffes fleeting away much more rapidly than they were +doing. + +It was a beautiful and varied country they were passing so rapidly +through. But they were too deeply engrossed in the effort to get out of +it to pay much attention to what they might otherwise have noted. + +In another couple of hours they were joined by a fresh company of four, +and again mounted. + +By midday they had dashed across the border-line, having covered over a +hundred and thirty miles in less than nine hours. + +It was the longest and fastest ride at one stretch which Ned and his +chums had ever taken, and by this time they were almost bent double with +fatigue. + +But they were safe from Kruger and his myrmidons. Clear out of the +country, to which they vowed only to return with those who would +terminate this vile oppression miscalled a republic. + +It was their last stage. A few more miles, and they would be at the +Palla Road railway stations, where they could wait for the up-train to +Bulawayo. + +They slackened pace now that they were so near the end of their +desperate race. As they cantered along, they took out the remainder of +their provender and emptied their water-bags; then, considerably +refreshed, they began to converse. + +There had been no leisure to see much of each other during this record +ride. + +Of the country our heroes could recall a flashing panorama of mountains, +kopjes, and veldt. They had passed through the half-cleared portions of +dark kloof, where tall trees were shooting above dense undergrowth. +They had skirted mealie-fields and Kaffir kraals. They had crossed +half-dried streams, with tangles of reeds lining the banks. They had +startled quaggas, gnus, giraffes, and other tempting-looking game, and +forced them to use their limbs over the wolds as the horses rushed +along. + +They had seen snakes spring aside from their horses' hoofs, and natives +who cheered them on their course with friendly cries; all through that +line the Kaffirs knew who they were, and why they were speeding so +swiftly from the country of the Boers. These natives, who waved their +arms like signal-posts, were scouts who would have warned them had there +been danger in front. They had seen with instantaneous glances all that +they wanted to see, and were fortunately saved from the sight of their +deadly enemies. + +But, until now, our heroes had hardly looked at the men who were risking +their lives to help them over the border. Now, however, that they were +outside Kruger's jurisdiction, they ventured to examine their brave +rescuers. + +Twenty-six men, fully armed, rode beside them. They were all tall and +stalwart fellows, with the exception of the leader, who appeared short +beside these six-footers. They were also all bearded like middle-aged +Boers, and costumed like burghers when on field-duty. + +Dust-covered as they were, and swarthy with sunburn, it was difficult to +gauge their years. Judging from their faces and beards, they might have +been any age from forty to fifty-five. + +From their movements, however, and figures, they ought to have been much +younger men. + +"Well, boys," said the leader, "you have had a bad time of it lately; +but I think your Transvaal troubles are about over--for the present, at +least." + +He had kindly brown eyes, and an open fearless look about him that +greatly took with our heroes. Also, in spite of his late exertions, he +did not appear to be the least bit fatigued. + +"Thanks to you, sir, and these gentlemen, we have achieved what would +have been impossible otherwise," answered Ned. + +"Yes; I own that Kruger's country is not easy to get out of, when the +owners want to keep you. One thing this ride has done, I fear--closed a +good road in or out for any future trekker. By Jove! there will be a +nice kick-up over this affair, and no mistake. You'll have to make +yourselves scarce for a while." + +"But surely we are quite safe in Rhodesia?" asked Ned. + +"Well, that remains to be seen. Kruger will make a mountain out of this +ant-hill. Cables will be sent to the Home Government, demanding their +prisoners to be arrested and returned to them, and large indemnities for +the potted burghers." + +"And what will the British Government do?" + +"Sacrifice you, without a pause, to pacify the old man of Pretoria, and +us also, if we can be traced." + +"Then we have got you into a bad fix, I fear," said Ned, regretfully. + +"Oh, don't concern yourselves about us; we are ready with our alibis," +answered the leader, with a merry laugh. "These gentlemen have been on +the sick list in Bulawayo hospital for the past three weeks, while I +have been looking after the health of my friend and chief, Cecil +Rhodes." + +"I say, Jim," said one of the others, "do you consider it safe for us to +take the up train to Bulawayo?" + +"Perfectly safe. There will be a special waiting for us at Palla, and +we will hang on till after sundown before we board her. A wire up to +headquarters will prepare them for our arrival, then you boys can sneak +back to your nurses, while we make our way to Salisbury. We shall have +to disguise you for that journey, but my friends will be done with their +beards by that time, so one of these each will do for you." + +At last our heroes understood what had been puzzling them as peculiar +about their rescuers. They had disguised themselves for this +expedition. + +Who could the leader be, who was at that time supposed to be looking +after the health of the great empire-maker? They looked at him again +more closely, and then light broke upon them. + +Dr Jameson, of course! The hero next to Rhodes most worth following +and worshipping in Africa. + +He saw from their expressions that they had recognised him. + +"Yes, boys; I am Dr Jim. But no one outside this company must know it. +Your friend Philip Martin wrote to me the fix you were in, so we +thought we might as well have a little outing and help you away. Now we +must finish our task and make you disappear altogether from the ken of +man. That, however, we can discuss with our chief when we see him." + +Words failed our heroes; they could only gaze at this dauntless paladin +with speechless admiration. + +After a time Clarence ventured to ask about his father. + +"Oh, he is all right! He was advised to clear out as soon as you were +sentenced, as he could be of more use to you outside the Transvaal than +in it. He has sold his property and transferred his shares in the mine, +and moved his banking account to Cape Town. He is there also, and +stands the expenses of this so far successful private raid. By the way, +he writes to tell us you wish to do a little exploring." + +"Yes," replied Ned; "that was our intention when we left England, but I +don't know how we can do it now." + +"It will be the very best thing you can possibly do, while the +hue-and-cry is out for you. I think we shall be able to fix that for +you at Salisbury. Meantime, as we are within three miles from Palla +station, and it will not be dark for a couple more hours yet, we had +better take a stretch here and breathe our horses." + +They dismounted, and while their horses were left to feed as best they +could on the veldt, they flung themselves down to have a much-needed +rest. Pipes were filled and lighted, then most of them lay on their +backs and smoked enjoyably while they looked at the deep blue space +overhead. + +No one spoke, they were too tired for that; possibly each one had plenty +to think about as they lay there. + +They had accomplished their purpose and wiped out a few of the general +enemy. They had also taken time by the forelock, and had not much fear +of being stopped on the railway, no matter what telegraphic messages +were sent on before them. Kruger had his spies in Rhodesia as he had +elsewhere, but these agents were known, and could be kept back by those +who were working this affair. + +Dr Jim had the most to think about, for after Bulawayo was reached he +had a long distance to ride before he could drop his disguise and feel +safe. Our heroes also would run most risks. + +But they had a fearless and keen-brained man to guide them and think for +them; they felt they had not much to fear. + +The sky was rapidly changing from deep orange to ruddy violet when Dr +Jim roused himself, and said-- + +"I say, Lawson, you had better ride in advance, and get things ready for +us. We'll be after you in half an hour." + +One of the Boer-like men rose lazily and walked over to his horse; then +mounting, he cantered easily off into the dusk. + +Half an hour later, the ebon sky was clustered with stars; then the +company got up and resumed their journey. + +When they reached Palla they found the station clear of all except the +railway officials, and the engine ready for starting. + +Their horses were put into a couple of boxes behind them. Together they +entered the comfortable saloon, where a good supper was waiting for +them. While they were enjoying this, the train was running along +smoothly at about forty miles per hour, and all their troubles over for +the present. They made no stops, but glided on smoothly through the +night. + +When they woke the train was slackening speed, and the bright morning +sun once more lit up the level veldt and glistened on the zinc roofs of +Bulawayo. + +They had arrived at the present termination of the Chartered Company's +latest and most gigantic enterprise. + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +THE RIDE TO SALISBURY. + +There was no chance of letters getting in before them, while as for +telegraphic messages, it was too early yet for such to be delivered. + +As they rolled into the station they saw no one about, except the +station-master and one sleepy porter. + +The town had not yet woken up, as they could see from the lack of wood +smoke issuing from any of the chimneys. + +Three of the men denuded themselves of their beards, which our heroes +put on, transforming themselves into middle-aged men in a twinkling. +They left three young fellows, with their handkerchiefs wrapped round +the lower portions of their faces, so that no one could recognise them. +These precautions were needful, even in loyal Bulawayo, for there were +Boer agents here as well as elsewhere. + +The horses were detrained, and led off by their owners to the stables of +the Palace Hotel, where faithful grooms were waiting to receive them. +After delivering over their steeds, each man went by different +directions back to the hospital. As far as they were concerned the ruse +had been entirely successful. As for the special train, it took on a +fresh supply of fuel and water, and dashed off down the line again. + +When the townsmen of Bulawayo would get up and resume business for the +day, there was no one to tell them that a special train had arrived and +departed. + +"So far, so good," said Dr Jim, as he sent off his wire to Salisbury. +"Now, boys, let us get on. We shall find relays all the road up, and, +although we need not make tracks quite so quickly, for the first fifty +miles we mustn't let the grass grow under us." + +They had filled their water-flasks, and laid in provisions while on the +train, so that now they did not wait to look at this rising city. They +put spurs to their steeds and dashed away impetuously towards Gwalo. + +At Imbembesi they had breakfast, having ridden through a lonely, +undulating, and woody country. The landlord of the small inn there was +prepared for them, and did not keep them waiting. After enjoying a good +wash and substantial feed, they mounted fresh horses and went on at an +easy gallop. + +At Shangain they changed again, and kept on until Gwalo was reached. +Here they rested for a couple of hours, while the doctor received and +answered some telegrams which were waiting. + +"As I expected," he said. "The hue and cry is out, but there is no one +to stop us about these parts. We must keep on all night, though, as +time with me is everything." As they rode out of Gwalo he said, "This +is a most interesting locality from an antiquarian point of view: all +round are ancient mine-workings. Some day, when you can spare the time, +you must come back and examine these remains of past races." + +They changed horses twice during the night, resting and eating at each +place, so that when morning dawned they had reached Fort Charter, two +hundred and fifteen miles from Bulawayo, and had only sixty-five miles +more to traverse. At Fort Charter they had a bath, breakfast, and three +hours' rest. + +They rode easy for the rest of that day, and arrived at the Hamyani +River Hotel about sundown. They were only twelve miles now from their +destination. They were not at all fatigued, although they had been for +thirty-six hours almost constantly on their saddles. Their horses were +also quite fresh. + +Yet their leader, for reasons of his own, did not wish to reach +Salisbury until after midnight. They had, therefore, supper here, and +afterwards lay down and had a few hours' sleep. At half-past eleven +they once more took the road, greatly the better for that short repose +and brush-up afterwards. + +Their ride had been absolutely without human incident for the past two +days, except for those people at the hotels. They had encountered +neither horseman nor waggon. At the inns their coming had been provided +for, so that they escaped any outside curious eyes. + +Dr Jim was in a most contented mood now that he had escaped +observation. It did not matter greatly after this if they chanced to +pass or meet any one, since they were so near to the end. He had +rescued three young Englishmen from the remorseless clutches of his +enemy, and punished some of that enemy's satellites. + +"You are in great favour with the chief," he said. "I don't know if he +would have permitted me to leave his side at this time for any one else. +But when he heard your sentences he swore a mighty oath that you should +not taste the cat, even if he had to go himself and pull you out." + +"We also made a vow that we should not be flogged," said Ned, quietly. + +"You are plucky young fellows, and have stood this journey gamely. If +you look after number one, and do your duty, there is a future before +you. Cecil Rhodes, once he takes a fancy, sticks to it through thick +and thin." + +"We shall try to deserve his good opinion, and yours also, doctor." + +"Be true to your country, faithful to your friends, and never shirk your +duty, and you are safe to keep the good opinions you have already +gained. Here we are at our destination." + +As he spoke he turned into a gate that was held open by a young Kaffir +boy, and walked his horse up an avenue of blue gums, that looked inky, +with their pendulous leaves, in the light of the late moon. The bush +spiders were yet busy spinning their silky traps for the unwary, early +morning fly, and the dew lay heavily upon those gleaming meshes. They +were entering by the back road to the spacious Salisbury abode of the +ex-premier of South Africa. + +On each side of them as they rode slowly along were the numerous +outhouses and stables, all substantially built of limestone, and slated. +The gum trees, which had been planted within the past three years, were +already thirty and forty feet in height, and gave out a pleasant aroma. + +In front of them they could see a wide spreading building, surrounded by +three tiers of verandahs, and terminated with picturesque pinnacles. It +was like a large hydropathic rather than a private residence. + +A solemn stillness lay over this building, plunged as it was in +darkness, and rising out of the shrubbery and fruit trees which had been +planted and forced up regardless of expense. Solemnly and darkly this +combined mass of building and foliage, with the delicate filigree +tracings of palm trees and other exotics, rose against the declining +moon. There was not a light to be seen in any of the windows. + +But in a corner of the garden was a small single-storeyed building, like +a summer-house, and here in the two windows facing them gleamed a ruddy +glow of lamplight. + +"The master is still up, Pete?" observed Dr Jim, as they dismounted and +gave their horses to the Kaffir boy. + +"Yes, Baas. He is waiting for you." + +"Then, we must not keep him waiting. Come, lads, and report +yourselves." + +He opened a little side gate, and strode through the shrubbery towards +the lighted windows, with our heroes at his heels. + +For the second time they were about to behold this colossus of Africa-- +the man who never turned upon a friend, or took refuge behind an excuse; +the man who considered his vast possessions as only trust-money for the +good of his country; the most powerful and striking personality of the +nineteenth century. Our heroes did not tremble as they had done when +entering the abode of the ignoble enemy at Pretoria. There were no +policemen here to guard this potent life. He was hedged round by +admiration and affection. Nor had he any dread of the assassin's +bullet, for he was a man absolutely fearless. Yet they approached with +timid expectation for all that. + +Dr Jim tapped at the door, and a strong clear voice bade them enter. +Next moment they were inside a small room plainly furnished with a +table, a few chairs, and a small camp bed. They were in the favourite +sanctum and bedroom of the modern Napoleon. He had been busy writing +before they came, for the table was littered with papers. But at their +entrance, he sprang up quickly, and, taking two strides, held out his +shapely hand and clasped that of Dr Jim with a firm fervent grasp. + +"Welcome back, old fellow, and you also, young gentlemen; let me +congratulate you on your escape." + +He pushed the spirit-decanter and a box of cigars over to Dr Jim, who +helped himself. Then he looked at our heroes with a genial smile. + +"You have been already adding a line to our history, and making +yourselves famous in Africa," he said. "I have here my orders to look +out for you, and hand you back to prison. Ah, there is a fine to do +over this affair. Thirteen valuable burghers gone under, I believe." + +"Twelve I am answerable for," answered Dr Jim, calmly. + +"The thirteenth was killed by one of the Kaffirs who escaped with us," +said Ned. + +He had been wondering how they had got on, and now enquired if any of +them had been captured. + +"Not yet. Nor do I expect they will be. I suppose you made +arrangements about their safety, Jim?" + +"Yes," replied the doctor. "They will be passed on to their own people +by the friendly Kaffirs, while if any care to come up here, the railway +authorities have orders to forward them without delay." + +Our heroes rejoiced to hear this news, for their Kaffir friends had lain +heavy on their minds since they had parted from them. + +"Then, by this time they are into British territory, for these fellows +know their way about much better than either the Boers or we do. We +shall have them up here in a few days. Now, I suppose, you are ready +for your breakfast, and bed afterwards?" + +Our heroes were ready for their beds at least, although they declined +the offer of any more refreshments. + +"Right you are." + +Cecil Rhodes pressed an electric knob at his side, and in another moment +the Kaffir boy Pete appeared. + +"Show these young gentlemen to their bedrooms, Pete, and afterwards go +to your own lair. I shall not require you any more this morning." + +He nodded to our heroes as he resumed his seat at the table. + +"We shall have a chat after you have rested. Don't hurry up before +noon. Breakfast will be sent up to your bedrooms. Now, Jim, old +fellow, you can do without sleep, I know, and there are three hours' +hard work before us here to get over ere I can let you go." + +Dr Jim drew a chair up to the table, and prepared to listen to +instructions. + +"I guess it is no sinecure that post of Dr Jim's," said Ned to his +chums as they left the little house and walked after Pete towards the +big one. + +"When does your master sleep, Pete?" + +"Never, I think," answered the boy. "He is always working and wide +awake. When sun rises he will be off to the veldt for a long ride with +Baas Jim, then all the day they will be working again. Sometimes he lie +down on that little bed for half an hour after lunch, or he have a nap +in his chair after dinner, but that is all he takes of sleep." + +When they got inside, the boy set on the electric light in the hall and +staircase to show them up to their rooms. There he left them, as they +desired him, to manage for themselves. + +Three nights before they had been slaves, with only a caked earth floor +to lie upon. They were now the occupants of a sumptuous bedroom each, +with every comfort and appliance that unlimited wealth could procure. + +Full of heartfelt gratitude, they knelt and poured out their thanks to +the God who had protected them and liberated them from the house of +bondage. Neither did they forget to blend the names of those who had +been the instruments in His hands of their deliverance. Lastly, they +prayed that He might watch over and guard the dark-skinned brothers who +had escaped with them. + +After this grateful offering they crept into the comfortable beds, and +very soon forgot all the troubles of the past. + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +THEY START ON THEIR ADVENTURES. + +"Well, boys, at last we are having our desires and realising our wildest +dreams." + +Ned was the speaker, and Fred and Clarence the recipients of his +sentiments. Six weeks had gone by since the night they first slept at +Salisbury, and now they were encamped in the heart of unknown Africa. + +Cecil Rhodes, their benefactor, had taken up their idea of exploring, +and as he never did things by half or in a dilatory fashion, he had +fitted them with every requisite on a princely scale. As it was +dangerous, even with all his great influence, to keep them within the +limits of civilisation, he packed them off promptly and secretly to the +kraal of a native ally, and there they remained perdu until their +carriers and luggage were sent to them. + +They were young and lacking in experience, but, as Rhodes said, so was +Joseph Thomson when he led his first expedition across Africa, and what +the son of a Scottish borderman could accomplish, so ought these plucky +and well-educated young Englishmen. They had all the rudiments of +science needful for their purpose, and experience would teach them the +rest. + +He therefore drew out a careful chart for them to follow, gave them full +instructions how to treat with the natives, and, what was of most +service, sent with them a full complement of tried native hunters, +guides, interpreters, and carriers. They had not a boy that was not +faithful and trustworthy. Each of them knew the man who had sent them, +and could depend upon being well rewarded on their return. + +Amongst their servants, to their great delight, were Cocoeni and six of +their fellow-prisoners. The rest had decided to return to their own +people, but these, having nowhere else to go, volunteered gladly to join +the expedition. + +Cocoeni had some adventures to tell them of their perils by the way. +Fortunately, however, they had all got clear of the Transvaal without +disaster. + +Their outfit was thoroughly complete to the smallest detail. A dozen of +properly salted horses accompanied them, while they had eighty carriers +to bear their luggage. A good waterproof tent was amongst the items, +with medicines, beads, and bales of showy cotton to pay their way along. + +As for arms and ammunition, they had every weapon that was wanted for +the largest game, as well as for smaller kinds. They were also amply +provided with the best and latest improvements in rifles and revolvers, +and sufficient ammunition to last them for a couple of years. + +Ned, of course, took the leadership, and his orders from headquarters +were most liberal. He was given a wide track of yet unexplored country +to traverse, with full licence to use his own discretion. + +"Keep a diary," said Rhodes. "And jot down anything that interests you +specially. Watch carefully the lands you pass through, and their +condition and possibilities, and make the best maps you can of rivers, +mountains, and plains. Above all, look carefully after your own health +and that of your boys, and avoid as much as possible swampy and +malarious ground." + +For all the rest they were to do as they liked. Hunt, enjoy themselves, +make friends as much as possible with the chiefs, and avoid anything +like aggression. + +"Go, and stay away for at least six months, and when you return, bring a +good report of yourselves. And may the Lord watch over you." + +These were the final words of their commander, who, with his lieutenant, +Dr Jim, had come to see them make the start. + +It gave them great confidence to have this great man as their friend and +backer. They knew that he had smoothed many difficulties out of their +path, and also that he would not be idle in their behalf during their +absence. Kruger would not have it quite all his own way with Cecil +Rhodes at their back. + +What a difference had those six months of freedom and responsibility +made upon them! They were master men now in all respects excepting +years. With this large following to look after and provide for, what +remained of their boyhood, which the prison had not shown, now had left +them for ever. Cecil Rhodes knew what he was about when he sent them +off on their own account to face the dangers and trials of exploration. + +"If they come back, as I firmly believe they will, we shall have three +worthy successors to Selous. These boys have brains and good pluck, and +their prison experience will be all to their advantage. I am pleased +with them, and have every confidence in their fitness for the task." + +So Cecil Rhodes said, as he waved his riding-whip to them for the last +time, and returned to his own heavy and multifold duties. + +Filled with fortitude and high hopes, our heroes departed, leading their +company of followers into the tropical forest. They were on the outlook +for adventures, and from the first day they were not disappointed. + +Every hour brought some fresh excitement, and opened new wonders to +their eyes. They were passing through a land perfectly crammed with +animal-life, so that there was no fear of going supperless to sleep, so +far at least. + +Our heroes had been wonderfully particular in keeping their diaries for +the first week or two. A good deal oppressed with the importance of +their mission, and fresh to the work of note-taking, they cudgelled +their brains to find far-fetched and varied expressions, so as to give +their efforts literary style. Their models in style were those +ponderous and laboured essays which generally find favour with dictation +masters, where a word repeated is considered bad form. The result was +that their descriptions were of the grand, verbose, and vague order, +rather than the terse and realistic. Striving to produce effect and +variety of language, they at times forgot the main object, which was to +make themselves intelligible, and present the route vividly in few +words. Redundancy is the failing of juvenile literature. Brevity the +soul of experience as well as wit, and simplicity the gift only of poets +and matured masters. + +They went along, more often thinking of what they should write, than +watching for material by the way. They pulled out their pocket-books +when any particularly erudite words or expressions occurred to them, and +jotted these down with supreme satisfaction, to drag them in somehow in +the day's log. At nights, while sitting at their camp fires, they +compared these high-falutin notes, and mutually congratulated each other +over these jaw-crackers. It was a sweet joy to read them over aloud, +and roll them round their tongues. They were most generous to each +other in imparting their critical advice, and sharing their choice +expressions, while, as they had all been educated in the same school, +the three logs, rolled into one, was written down by Ned, and after +great deliberation and corrections, was laid aside as the final copy. + +This was composed and written, as they fondly imagined, for the +printers. They were mighty particular, therefore, over it, so that it +would read smoothly and roundly, and when done, they compared it with +other travellers' works that they had read, with happy conceit. +Herodotus and Mungo Parke, they admitted modestly, had done as well, +perhaps. Joseph Thomson also was pretty fair with his wise and moral +reflections; but as for those other slovenly writers like Stanley, +Selous, and such-like, they thought their amalgamated journal would keep +them at a respectful distance. + +This juvenile mutual admiration and camp log rolling was a great solace +to them for the first week or so. The journal interfered a good deal +with sport and real business, of course. Thinking of it made them miss +many a fine chance and good shot, and several times ran them into real +danger; but it consoled them all the same, while the novelty lasted, for +those other unavoidable mischances. + +Their carriers did not object, as it gave them many opportunities for +resting, which they would not have had otherwise. + +But Cocoeni and the hunters protested often and vehemently against this +waste of time and opportunities. The hunters, who had started full of +faith in their young masters, lost a good deal of their enthusiasm and +respect, and might have turned heel altogether in disgust, if Cocoeni +had not flagged up their weakening interest. Cocoeni was, however, +their right-hand man and staunch supporter. He was an enthusiast in +deeds of daring and destruction, and equally ready to wash his spear in +wild beast or hostile man. If he grunted impatiently when he saw the +note-book produced instead of the gun, he always did his best to excuse +the weakness and explain the mistake away to his sable brethren. + +"Bah! this is nothing," he would say, when he saw the carefully tracked +animal bound away unscathed, all on account of those note-books. "Don't +be afraid. This is only the beginning. By-and-by you will see our +masters wake up and do great deeds. By-and-by they will not write. We +have been together before, and I know them to be men." + +A timely accident, for which Cocoeni was to blame, either with intent or +through carelessness, terminated this fit of cocoethes scribendi for the +rest of that expedition, at least, and woke them up to sterner duties. + +Cocoeni, whom they trusted with their most valuable effects, was one day +carrying the small valise which contained their entire stock of +writing-material. They were crossing a mountain torrent, which rushed +tumultuously through a chasm and over a series of cataracts, when his +foot slipped, and in an instant the precious packet was swept out of his +grasp and whirled out of sight. + +The caravan was instantly stopped and a wild search ordered, in which +Cocoeni willingly took the lead. + +But, alas! all that was found of the contents of the valise were a +couple of closely written sheets. These Cocoeni brought back in a +smudged and soapy condition after many hours' absence. As for the +broken valise and its pulpy contents, he said he had seen a greedy +crocodile bolt these without compunction at one gulp, and straightway +disappear into a dark pool as if he had taken enough. + +Our heroes spent a doleful night, looking at their crammed note-books +and those two hardly legible sheets of paper, all that remained of their +painful and laboured efforts. + +They had plenty of pencils, but not one blank scrap of paper to use them +on. The wail of Ramma rang in their hearts, and for a time they were +disconsolate. + +Then Ned plucked up his courage and cheered his chums. + +"We'll just have to do a bit of memory practice after this, boys, and +put down all we have seen when we get back to civilisation." + +"Let us keep these two sheets carefully as a specimen of what we are +capable of. I fancy they will rather impress our great chief when he +reads them." + +Comforted with this reflection, they packed their note-books and the +manuscript carefully inside their medicine-chest, and devoted their +future days to adventures, and their evenings to criticism on the faulty +writings of other travellers. This cheered and elevated their minds +greatly, until the time came when note-books and style were completely +swallowed up by action as their valise had been by the saurian. + +When Cecil Rhodes read those two rescued pages he laid back in his chair +and wept. When asked by Dr Jim the cause of his emotion, he replied +that it was out of pity for that poor crocodile. Even the most +loathsome of reptiles deserved commiseration for such a dire fate. + +We quote a few extracts from the precious manuscript which affected this +most reticent of men so visibly. A little will be sufficient to prove +how thoroughly in earnest our heroes were. + +"July 28.--The palaeolithic region over which we are passing possesses +fertile streaks of fluviatile deposits that are most encouraging to +future agriculturists. This superincumbent alluvium is most effusive on +the depressed basins or watersheds. Here also the tsetse fly is +indigenous and multitudinous. Three of our horses have succumbed to the +virulence of these pestiferous and dipterous insects. + +"Memo.--The tsetse is similar in appearance and magnitude to the +ordinary house epidemic. + +"July 29.--After traversing for the past lunar month over more or less +elevated plateaux, with intermissions of gorges and kloofs, we have +commenced our descent into a deep depression, or valley. Before us +extends an umbrageous and interminable wilderness. Precipitous cliffs +bar our progress to the right and left, which have been gradually +approaching each other until we are enclosed in a circumscribed upland +chasm. We must either retrace our steps or enter this lower level. We +have decided to proceed downwards. Hitherto we have been on friendly +terms with the inhabitants. They have welcomed our presence and +imparted to us all the information at their command. They have also +accepted our presents with the most affable liberality. + +"The country over which we have passed has been generally adequately +populated, with distinct communities and agglomerations of huts of +considerable magnitude. It is well watered by rivers and tributaries, +and each village has its own fructiferous plantation, also fields of +maize, manioc, and other granuliferous produce. The Carnivora +fissipedia is well represented in these upland regions, likewise the +ungulated order. We have encountered several lions and leopards, and +demolished a pair of the first and one of the latter species." + +[One of these first-named Carnivora fissipedia had nearly demolished Ned +while he was making his notes for this elaborate extract, only that +Cocoeni came to his rescue just in the nick of time. Ned, however, did +not think this narrow escape worth making a note about. It was merely a +personal item, he said, which could not possibly interest the great +public that he was striving so hard and conscientiously to instruct.] + +"We have been dining on buffalo-steak and elephant heart tonight, having +bagged one of each species this afternoon in a reedy swamp through which +we passed. The pecora was a tough customer to deal with, as we failed +to kill him at the first volley, but eventually he was subdued. The +tusks of the proboscidean weighed over a hundred pounds. We have +inhumed this ivory until our return. Tomorrow we vertigate the forest." + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +IN THE FOREST. + +Our heroes were encamped within the "umbrageous wilderness," as Ned had +named it. + +A howling wilderness they discovered it to be, where constant vigilance +had to be exercised, and thinkers-out of verbose phrases had no place. + +Each moment of the day and night they had to be on the qui vive, for it +swarmed with hostile enemies, both human, inhuman, and climatical. It +was lovely in its tropic luxuriance and lushness. They cut their path +through a labyrinth of juicy greens and vegetable parasites which +untravelled Europeans see only in the hothouses of their botanic +gardens. Great trunks festooned with tendrils rose and spread over +their heads hundreds of feet. They were able only at rare intervals to +see the lower limbs, for all above was so interlaced and covered, that +an everlasting twilight of green reigned even on the brightest day. + +Sometimes a slender shaft of sunlight penetrated to the canopy over them +and illumined a patch of leaves, making them gleam like old stained +glass, but that was all they saw of the sun. As for moon or stars, they +were perpetually shut out from these secluded glens and avenues. + +Round, as above them, the same mystical shadow prevailed. They could +see an intricacy of snaky rope work and leaves intermingling, the +creepers crossing and recrossing in all directions as they drooped or +sprung up from the dank undergrowth, or threw themselves from tree to +tree in bewildering arches. Through these tough tendrils they were +forced to cut their path. + +The compass was their only guide, and Ned carried it in his hand and +kept his eyes upon it constantly while they were on the march. + +Under their feet they squashed through oozy slime and rank vegetation, +or tripped over spreading roots. They skirted deadly looking pools, +black, and suggestive of unknown horrors where the fluid was visible. +This was, they knew, only visible when it had been disturbed by the +monsters who made it their noisome lair. The other portions were +covered with flowering reeds and treacherous emerald bright grasses. + +There were paths intersecting this malarious dankness, some worn by +human feet, others trampled by the ravenous beasts with which the forest +teemed. + +They passed well-made, fresh-cut, and straight paths at times, but they +did not use these tempting ways, for they knew the traps which they led +to, as well as they knew that murderous eyes were watching them from the +closely woven thickets and impenetrable canopy that covered them. + +They crossed streams where the clear water ran noisily over sandy +shallows or flowed smoothly beneath waving leaves. Sometimes the ground +became elevated and rocky, then again it dipped into dark hollows that +made them shudder at what lay below them. At times they had to surmount +precipices and listen to cataracts thundering down unknown depths. At +times they drew back with horror at the covered edges of inky chasms. + +At night the blackness was palpable, except when it was rent up by the +most vivid lightning-flashes and appalling thunder-peals. Then they +heard all round them the splitting of limbs and crashing of giant trees +which had been struck, while the tornado shrieked high up and the rain +poured down solidly. + +The atmosphere was as airless, moist, and sultry as that within a +Turkish bath. Whether they walked or stood during the day they were +always wet with perspiration and gasping for breath. At night cold +exhalations rose from the slimy soil and chilled them to the marrow. + +It was the dry season, or none of them could have survived this march. +Yet it is never dry in those forests. + +In the mornings the densest of fogs shrouded everything, and clung to +them like a vast grey muffler. This entered their lungs and nearly +choked them with its thickness and heavy effluvia. While it lay round +nothing stirred. Nature seemed dead, animal and insect life asleep; a +weird and ominous hush brooded over the scene like the sombre stillness +of a grave. They were entombed and spell-bound with the universal and +dim death-silence. + +When this vapour dispersed, the labyrinth would suddenly start into life +and swarm with motion and sounds. Birds would shriek at the welcome +light, baboons chatter and swing themselves aloft with merry and noisy +antics; butterflies would flutter and gleam with gorgeous colours as +they sported through the open spaces. + +Swarms of fierce mosquitoes and other venomous insects buzzed and flew +about, stinging viciously. Ants dropped down their necks or rushed up +their trousers in countless hordes and with maddening effect. These +tormentors never left them alone day or night. Under the deadly bite of +the tsetse fly their most seasoned horses fell one by one, and had to be +left behind before they had gone very far. This, however, did not +discourage them, and when they came to the rock climbing they felt they +were better without these poor beasts. + +All night long the forest resounded with the roaring, trumpeting, and +other strange cries of wild beasts, while round their fires they could +see at times an outer circle of flaming phosphorescent eyes. During the +day they could see sometimes what they took to be a stout tendril or +limb detach itself from the tree and glide noiselessly out of their +path. Sometimes also what they thought was a mud-covered log in their +path would suddenly gape horribly at them, showing serrated rows of +gleaming teeth inside the ugly long snout, while the seedy monster +wallowed ponderously into the turbid bog. + +These were only a few of the countless perils which beset them every +foot of their leafy journey. The reptile, animal, and insect world +encompassed them with as deadly intent as the noxious vapours. But what +they had to look out for and dread more than these were the human +savages who infested and disputed the upper branches with the man-like +apes. + +But our heroes were resolute, and held on undauntedly day after day. +They kept to one course with the dogged perseverance of Englishmen, and +their followers followed after them with blind confidence. + +The wild beasts and savages they scared with their gunpowder and +bullets. The malaria they fought with their medicine chest. The insect +pests they endured with philosophy. + +They went along happy and fearlessly, for it was their nature to enjoy +danger and exertion. Their youth, buoyant spirits, and cheerful +confidence not only supported them, but inspired their followers with +the same fortitude, while their pure constitutions, unimpaired by any +excess, rendered them almost invulnerable to the insidious grip of the +fever. In this their patrons had made no mistake. Where older men +would have succumbed they passed on unscathed. + +"I tell you what, boys, I call this jolly fine experience, and I +consider us lucky to have it," cried Ned one night, as he carefully took +a bead at one of a pair of glowing green eyes which were shining out of +the darkness. + +He fired, and immediately a wild stampede took place from all sides with +thunderous roarings, while a bulky body leapt into the firelight and +rolled over, clawing the ground in its death-throes. + +He had made no false aim this time, but had brought down a +well-developed leopard. + +"A pity we cannot take those skins with us. The people outside won't +believe in our stories when we have nothing to show on our return. But +we cannot cart any more luggage. Never mind, we have something to boast +about all the same, whether we are credited or not, when we get back." + +"If we get back," murmured Clarence, gloomily. + +Since his knock on the head by the Boers, Clarence had suffered now and +again from depressed spirits. The organ of hope must have been damaged +somehow on that occasion. At the present moment, however, he had a +touch of malarial fever, which always makes one feel very morbid and +despairing. + +"Hallo, Clarence!" cried Ned. "I see you require some more quinine. +Never mind, old fellow, we shall soon be out of this swamp; then you +will be all right." + +No one paid any attention to the dead leopard as yet. They had grown +used to incidents of this sort, therefore felt little excitement. +However, seeing that it was a magnificent specimen, and appeared jet +black as it lay stretched out, Cocoeni rose and went over to skin it. +While he was so engaged, the others kept a close watch over him with +their guns, ready to shoot any covetous molester. As they watched the +thickets round, they could see dark forms gliding about. These were +wolves and hyenas waiting to devour the carcase when Cocoeni was done +with it. + +From all sides resounded the howlings, sharp cries, and vibrating +roarings of hungry animals on the prowl. These never ceased all through +the night. + +Neither did the everlasting and varied croaking of the frogs, that kept +up an increasing chorus, running up and down the scale of notes, from +the deep bass of the bull to the reed-like treble of the tender froglet. +Through this orchestra sounded the irritating and brisk humming of the +indefatigable mosquitoes. As Ned remarked merrily, "No one could feel +lonely while this concert went on." + +They had no stint of fresh meat, for as they camped mostly where they +found a running stream, the beasts generally had their choice of the +menagerie as they came down to drink. Sometimes they would pot a fine +young elephant or a hippopotamus, while they could always rely upon some +variety of the antelope family for their larder. + +Each morning and night Ned served out regularly to each man two grains +of quinine. If any showed symptoms of fever, he repeated this mild dose +every half-hour until they were better. Clarence had been under this +treatment for the past two days. + +"How much longer do you think we shall be in this earthly paradise?" +asked Fred, as he brought his Metford up to his shoulder, and took a +careful aim to the left of where Cocoeni was kneeling. + +Ned waited until the bullet had sped on its deadly mission, then he +answered-- + +"Not many days now, I reckon, Fred. We have been gradually ascending +for the last day and a half, as you may know from the more solid state +of the soil under our feet. That stream also, which has kept with us, +shows that it comes from high lands by its speed. I expect we shall +have some climbing to do very soon; then we shall begin to see the sun +and have a breath of clear air." + +"Where are you going to, baas?" asked Cocoeni, who had finished his +skinning, and now returned to his place by the blazing fire. He spread +the hide on the ground, and flung himself upon it as he spoke. + +"Straight ahead, wherever that may take us to," answered Ned. "We will +keep a bee-line as much as possible until we discover something worth +reporting. This course is out of the ordinary track, as any one can +tell from the absence of humans; so that we are sure to find out +something new." + +"Plenty humans by-and-by, you bet, baas; more than you may care to +meet." + +"Still we shall go on, Cocoeni, as far as we can. We shall be friendly +with them, and spare them all we can; but if we have to fight, then we +must do so." + +"That all right, baas. Go ahead, and we will follow, never fear." + +Ned knew this without one of his men assuring him. There wasn't one of +them who would turn and leave him in the lurch. They were all picked +fighters as well as hunters, whose glory and occupation had been battle +from their boyhood, while their pastime was the chase. The oldest man +amongst them was not yet twenty-eight, while the others ranged from +eighteen upwards to that glorious period of manhood and strength. They +were also all tall fellows, belonging to the Matabele and Basuto races, +who were absolutely fearless and disdainful of death in any aspect. +They were devoted friends of Rhodes, who had won their fealty by +courage, and their devotion by kindness afterwards. None would have +turned back if they could, but now retreat was impossible, even if any +would have entertained such a thought. Each man carried his own share +of the load. In this duty our heroes also took their equal part, for +these men were men-at-arms, not henchmen. + +They had cleared an open space, and made a huge fire in the centre, +round which all now lay, except those appointed to keep watch and attend +to the fire. + +High above, the smoke roared and filtered through the canopy of leafage. +For a dozen yards on either side the ruddy flames lit up the massy +trunks, tendrils, and drooping leaves which hemmed them in, with the +fringe of close undergrowth which gave solidity to the thickets. + +They were camped near the bank of a torrent that rushed with impetuous +force over rocks, foaming and swirling over and round these impediments, +and covering the deep pools with curds and bubbles. This was the most +cheerful sound of the many that filled their ears, and it lulled them to +sleep. They had come upon it the day before, and as it was in their +course, they had kept as close to it as they could. + +By-and-by only the watchers were awake, among whom stood Fred, with his +rifle ready for emergencies. He, with Ned, had enjoyed perfect health +since the start; only Clarence gave them any uneasiness. + +He was lying now on three folds of skins stretched face upwards, with +his mouth open, and very wan and sallow. Fred occasionally looked at +him with tender anxiety. He also attended to giving him his medicine +regularly. Doubtless he would be all right when they got out of this +fever-infested valley. He was still able to keep up with them, although +he had not carried anything for the past two days. + +While Fred was looking at his sleeping friend and listening to the +forest outcry, all at once he was startled by the most furious bellowing +and hoarse shrieking, accompanied by the crashing and tearing of some +huge body bursting through the thicket. + +Instantly his rifle was at his shoulder, and the barrel pointed in the +direction of the advancing turmoil. + +Nor had he many seconds to wait before he saw a buffalo, with a leopard +on his neck, rushing at full speed along the open avenue which they had +made in coming straight towards their camp. + +He fired instantly, as did also the other watchers, and before they +could get in second shots, the infuriated beasts had thundered past them +into the other side of the forest. The buffalo had swerved aside at +sight of the fire, and passed just within a couple of feet of where +Cocoeni lay stretched on his new skin. As the pair rushed past, Fred +had a passing glimpse of the red blood glistening ruddily on the sides +of the bull as it gushed out of his wounds. + +Fred calmly reloaded and stood once more at attention, for this was but +one of many such incidents which might be expected before the morning +fog rose and enveloped them. + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +A BABOON HUNT. + +Towards morning Clarence broke out into a lavish perspiration during +Ned's watch. The moisture poured from him like rain for about half an +hour, after which he sank into a more refreshing sleep. + +Ned during this time kept him well rolled up in furs, after which he +rubbed him dry and covered him lightly, giving him at the same time +about a tablespoonful of brandy. When he woke in the morning he was +clear-skinned, hungry, and better. After a hearty breakfast, they once +more continued their journey. + +They did not progress very fast, as they had to cut through the tangle, +yet, to their joy, they found that they were ascending to loftier ground +each step they took, also that the torrent kept beside them. + +After about six hours of this steady upward marching, the undergrowth +became thinner and the ground more solid. At places they had to climb +over moss-covered rocks, which jutted from the earth. The tendrils, +also, were not so thick, nor the tree-trunks so great in girth. + +That night they pitched their camp at an elevation of over four hundred +feet from where they had lain the night before. The forest was still +dense, but there were greater spaces between the trunks. + +"We are approaching the open!" cried Ned, exultantly. "Tomorrow, +perhaps, we may see the sun." + +A herd of koodoo dashed past them up the hill, followed by a pair of +large leopards, and in their rear a pack of spotted hyenas also coursed +along. + +They fired at random into the koodoo, and brought down four. The second +volley killed one of the leopards and wounded the other, who, however, +made his escape, carrying with him one of the antelopes, while the +evil-smelling jackals disappeared with savage yelps. + +There was a succulent supper that night, which all devoured eagerly, as +they were hungrier than they had been for some days past. + +Next morning they rose all in a healthy and energetic condition. The +usual thick fog was absent, and the green looked lighter which spread +around them. All about them the winged insect and feathered world +seemed more full of life and pleasure. + +They were going up the sides of a decided hill now. By-and-by it got so +stiff that they were forced to drag themselves up by gripping the +creepers that spread over and barred the way. + +The torrent was now a series of cascades as it bounded from ledge to +ledge a swirling mass of foam. At times they lost sight of it +altogether. + +They were toiling over an upward spread of forest-clad terraces. When +they reached one ridge, they found several yards of gentle slope, or +even level ground, with a jutting out of boulders to be surmounted after +these spaces were crossed. Still they were hemmed closely in with +vegetation, and could only see a few feet ahead of them. + +All at once they came to a kind of clearing, where the undergrowth was +trampled down and the tendrils roughly broken asunder. + +"Big man-monkey live about here," said Cocoeni, as he looked about him +carefully. + +In front of them were several gaping avenues amongst the undergrowth. +Ned decided on keeping to one that went in the direction his compass +pointed to. + +They went upwards now cautiously, making as little noise as they could. +There was no occasion to use their axes, as the baboon-path was wide +enough for them to pass through in single file. + +Cocoeni and two of the hunters went first, and some feet in advance of +the others. All were on the alert, with their guns ready and their +hearts beating with suppressed excitement. Not a word was spoken. They +even held their breaths as much as possible, and took care not to make +any rustling with their feet. + +This was new game to our heroes, and they were trembling with eagerness. +They crossed several of these open spaces as they scrambled up the +heights. + +Before entering these, Cocoeni scrutinised them cautiously and keenly, +while those behind waited on the result. Until he entered they stood +still and mute as statues. The only sound they could hear as they stood +and listened was the loud-sounding and tumultuous rushing of the +torrent. This being close on their left, although hidden, seemed to +deaden all other sounds. + +At the fringe of the fifth opening Cocoeni suddenly drew back, and held +up his hand as a signal for them to advance carefully. + +One by one they crept up until they were able to see what he was looking +at. + +A strange, weird, yet singularly human-like and domestic picture met +their gaze. + +At the root of a huge tree squatted the most diabolic-looking mother-ape +nursing her baby at her hairy breast. She was a gigantic creature, with +the most villainous-looking face that our heroes thought they had ever +looked upon. + +Yet there was an expression of grotesque tenderness and sentiment upon +that dreadful visage as she looked down at her hideous youngster, that +was half pathetic and half ludicrous. One hairy arm was holding the +young ape up, while the other paw was gently stroking its face as any +human mother might have done when similarly occupied. + +But if she was frightful to look at, her mate, who sat at her side and +also watched his offspring with paternal complacency, was the most awful +and devilish monster that the imagination could conjure up as a +nightmare. + +There was nothing ridiculous about him, but a combination of all that +was revolting, bestial, and terrifying. + +His flat forehead and pent brows; his dreadful jaws, which were slightly +open in a senile kind of leer that exhibited his fangs; his shapeless, +bulging paunch, short legs, deep chest, and long arms covered with +dingy-looking hair,--he looked the embodiment of brutality, loathsome +ugliness, and ferocious strength. + +The first glance made them shiver with horror, the second filled them +with the desire to kill this half-human, wholly fiend-like monstrosity. + +The tree under which this awful group sat grew on the edge of a +precipice, while in front of them the torrent could be seen and heard as +it fell into the chasm, with a sound like thunder, from a lofty cliff. +With that thundering in their ears, and the vibration of the covered +rocks under their feet, they did not fear being heard by the brutes in +front of them, Cocoeni made a silent sign, and the hunters crept through +the leafage to make a half-circle round the still unconscious family +party. While they were doing this, he drew back and whispered to Ned-- + +"Don't shoot till I give you the sign. I know how to manage this +fellow." + +"So do I," replied Ned--"from what I have read." + +"All right. Now for him." + +Cocoeni stepped into the open, holding his gun ready, while our heroes +followed him. They knew that they must kill with the first shot or it +would be all over with them. + +Neither of the baboons had heard them, but they had got the scent of the +other hunters, and looked up sniffing the air suspiciously. + +In a moment the male baboon saw his foes, and scrambled upright, fixing +his wicked and ferocious eyes upon them. With a roar that eclipsed the +thunder of the waterfall and echoed horribly in their ears, he opened +his jaws, and grinned on them, showing all his teeth. + +A tremor passed over them, and for a moment unnerved them--he was so +horribly like an exaggerated Kruger as he stood there glaring at them. + +He gallantly waddled in front of his wife and child, covering them with +his ponderous body, while she sat still and waited. This action on his +part the young men could not but admire. + +With another fierce roar he stopped, and beat upon his stomach with both +hands until it sounded like a big drum. He was getting ready for the +fight, and bidding defiance to them. + +Three more paces did he advance, then he once more stood still, and made +the forest resound with his cries and drum-beating; then he threw his +arms out, and crouched ready for the spring. He was about two yards' +distance from them by this time. + +"Fire!" shouted Cocoeni. + +Two rifles belched out at the same moment. Ned and Fred had fired off, +while Cocoeni and Clarence stood ready. + +The monster flung up its arms and fell on his face without a moan. He +had been pierced through the heart and lungs. + +The mother, when she saw what had befallen her mate, did not attempt to +escape. She looked at the prostrate body stupidly for a moment; then, +as if suddenly realising the disaster, she placed her baby on the +ground, and rose, as the male had done, to her feet with a barking roar. + +Ned and Fred meanwhile had fallen back a pace, and put another cartridge +into their weapons. They were cool now that they had succeeded in their +first shot. + +She repeated the tactics of the male, only moved more actively, not +giving them so much time to aim. + +But their shots told all the same, even if she did not die so rapidly. +With a shriek she fell forward, after she was shot, on to the body of +her mate, and there she lay moaning and gasping piteously. + +Our heroes were transfixed with horror at this death-struggle. It +almost felt as if they had committed murder. With her life-blood +streaming out, the mother made a frantic endeavour to cover and protect +her little one, who had run whimpering over to her. She half turned, +and got one hairy arm round it, hiding it on her bosom, all the while +those human-like moans and gasps broke from her. + +But the struggle was short. Even while Ned was aiming to finish her +off, Cocoeni gripped his arm. + +"No use wasting bullets, baas. She is dead." + +Yes; the arm suddenly relaxed its maternal hold, while the moans and +groaning ceased. Only the baby remained. Ned would fain have spared +the little one, but the hunters were round it by this time, and it was +fighting tooth and nail to resist them. Before our heroes were able to +reach it, one of the men had plunged his spear ruthlessly through its +body, and pinned it to the ground. With a series of shrill and +plaintive cries, it writhed for a moment, then closed its little eyes, +and was suddenly still. + +"I don't care much for baboon-hunting," said Ned, with a shudder, as he +turned away, feeling sickish. "I hope we don't meet any more." + +"So do I," echoed Fred and Clarence, hoarsely. + +"If we had missed that fellow, you would have seen nothing more in this +world," answered Cocoeni, deeply and sarcastically. + +"Let us get on," commanded Ned, shortly. + +Then, taking up their loads, they resumed their upward course. + +It was some hours before they could feel comfortable in their minds +after that battue--that is, our heroes. The Kaffirs felt and showed no +emotion whatever. Our heroes, however, walked silently and thoughtfully +through the greater portion of that day, and when they camped that +night, their prayers somehow did not give them the usual satisfaction. +They felt as if they had assisted at a needless and cowardly massacre, +and as if they merited punishment for committing an unworthy crime. +They would have liked to have asked forgiveness for this action. + +Yet these were merely beasts who must have disputed their passage, +soulless monstrosities, for whom it seemed ridiculous to feel pity. The +first and second they had killed in self-defence. + +But the baby--ah, that was what lay so heavy on their consciences! + +"I don't mind the old man one bit," murmured Ned, as he tossed about. +"He was too much like President Kruger for me to let him live, when I +saw my chance to wipe him off. He may have had some virtues--as Kruger +may have. They both appear to be fond of their own, and willing to +fight for them; but that wretched pup--I wish I could forget it." + +Events shortly banished this painful episode from the minds of these +brave adventurers, and the jackals would soon remove the traces from the +earth. Like the leaves of the forest, the lives of men and animals are +trifles of no more consideration than the shadow that crosses a sundial +and marks the hour. + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +THE THUNDERSTORM. + +Ned sternly put his veto on any more monkey-hunting, big or small, as a +cruel and useless expenditure of ammunition. They were harmless if left +alone, as they were not carnivorous, and totally unfitted for food, +unless for starving men, which this party was not by any means. + +Therefore, while passing through this baboon land, the company, after +this one experience, avoided these open avenues as much as possible. +When, however, they were forced to use any of the paths, they made +plenty of noise, which warned these creatures of their coming, and +frightened them away. It was small honour to the hunter, who possessed +a sure eye, steady nerve, and a good rifle to destroy one of these +missing links of man, who so bravely and foolishly stood still and made +targets of themselves before they made the attack. + +There were leopards and other beasts of prey to be encountered, whom to +bring down caused no after reflections. These were treacherous and +murderous, and, as they lived by violence, so they deserved their doom. + +On the next forenoon after this adventure, they emerged from the +forest--at least, they reached an altitude where the trees were wider +apart and not so densely interlaced. Then they had glimpses of the blue +sky and golden patches of sunlight across their path. This, with the +fresher air, braced them all up wonderfully. + +They were still ascending, and were now fully four thousand feet above +the sea, so that the tsetse flies were left behind them. + +About midday they arrived at the base of some lofty cliffs, which reared +above the tree-tops some fifty or sixty feet. The torrent was still on +their left, and had come to be looked upon as an old friend. It flowed +through a chasm or split in these cliffs, and fell into another abyss +far below their feet. They could see it dropping like a dark blue band +between the branches, while their faces were bathed with the cool vapour +which rose up from the pool into which it leapt. A couple of rainbows +arched this blue ribbon as the sun-rays glistened prismatically amongst +the vapour. + +These cliffs in front of them rose into the most fantastic shapes and +pinnacles. They were of all shapes and sizes, some exactly like ruins +of castles, some like pyramids and obelisks. To our heroes, as they +looked up, they appeared like a range of deserted keeps and +fortifications set there to guard the borders of a strange domain. + +Trees jutted out of each crevice, while gigantic creepers swung like +rope-ladders over the front of these strangely heaped-up boulders. The +long and twisted lines reached from the top to where they stood, some of +them as thick as a man's thigh and others no thicker than a finger. + +It was not at all difficult to climb the cliffs with those tough +tendrils to hang on by, and our adventurers, without a pause, began the +ascent. At length they stood on the crest of one of these castle-like +broken walls, and found that they were entirely the work of freakish +nature. They were rewarded, however, for their exertions by the +magnificent prospect that spread all round them. + +Under them they could see the forest which they had traversed, sloping +downwards and reaching away until it became a blur of blue haze in the +distance. The fierce African sun was pouring down its rays and heat on +this vast mass of vegetation, from which rose a film of unwholesome gas, +that softened the tops of the trees until they seemed like a great ocean +of blended tones. A mighty silence seemed to brood over this vast sea +of quivering colours--the pulsing silence of sleeping life. + +Above them stretched that wide vault of atmosphere, the glad sight of +which they had so long been denied. One and all spread out their arms +as if to embrace the welcome light and pure air. Like the +sun-worshippers, they experienced a kind of adoration for the glowing +orb which was so softly sinking towards the west. + +In front of them extended a flat prairie land dotted here and there with +mounds and kopjes and devoid of trees, excepting near the banks of the +stream, which they could trace as it flowed across the plateau from a +far-distant range of mountains. These mountains were so faintly +outlined against the sky that they might almost be mistaken for a +low-lying bank of clouds. Only their peaks showed them to be land and +not vapour. + +Not a sign of human life could they perceive, either on the plain or on +the banks of the river. No kraals, no huts showed up even, although Ned +looked most carefully through his field-glasses. + +"Have we discovered a new tract of country, I wonder," he said, "as yet +uninhabited? I see not the slightest signs of cultivation, although it +looks as good as Rhodesia or the Transvaal." + +"It appears like it," answered Fred. "Only I wish we had our horses." + +"Yes, that would be fine, for this seems to be a happy hunting-ground. +Look yonder at the peaceful herds of giraffes and zebras. I bet no +white man has been here, this generation at least, with his gun," cried +Clarence, who had now quite recovered his spirits. + +The Kaffirs leaned on their weapons, and looked round them with +glittering eyes. Here, indeed, seemed a country worth trekking to. + +"By George! I do verily believe we are the first discoverers. Let us +christen it at once. What shall it be?" asked Ned, turning to his +companions. + +"Jameson Land, if anything," cried Fred. "He risked his life to rescue +us from prison. He deserves this at least from us." + +"So be it. Welcome to Jameson Land, boys; and let yonder range of hills +be called the Cecil Mountains and this stream the Rhodes River." + +They pitched their camp where they were for the night, and soon +afterwards were busy discussing tea, roasted antelopes, and fresh-made +cake, which the Kaffirs baked from the flour they carried. + +A young moon showed in the sky that night like a silver sickle, and the +stars came out gloriously. As our heroes lay and looked at these +sparkling worlds, they thought they had never seen anything more +beautiful than that overarching spangled vault of heaven. God had been +very good to them to guide them safely so far upon their way. Not a man +had been lost. They were as they had started, all except the horses, +which was, of course, a universal regret. Yet they were grateful, and +did not forget to express it before they went to sleep. + +From the cries that resounded over the prairie as well as in the forest +beneath them, all through the earlier portion of the night, they knew +that there was plenty of sport before them. + +During the night a most tremendous thunderstorm burst over their heads +with a perfect tornado of wind. Fortunately, they were protected from +the full force by those granite cliffs that surrounded them like Titanic +walls. They had chosen for their camp a grassy mound, round which those +strange-shaped rocks upreared. + +The tempest came on, with hardly any warning, just after the young moon +had set. They could hear it sweeping over the forest before it reached +up to them with a most terrific shrieking. They had only time to drag +their loads under the waterproof tent and secure that more firmly, when +all the three elements--fire, wind, and rain--were upon them in full +force. + +What a spectacle this was to those who cared to look! Our heroes crept +to a split in the rocks, and looked out upon the fierce bombardment with +feelings of awe and admiration. + +Over the forest hung the electricity-charged cloud, like a great +war-balloon that had been dropped from the bulging heavens. From this +ruddy and smoke-tinted mass issued a perpetual discharge of forked +lightning. These vivid streaks darted from all sides into that ocean of +rank leafage. It was a magnificent display of fireworks. It needed but +a moderate imagination to transform this driving cloud into a great +demoniac air-vessel armed on all sides with Maxim and Gatling-like +batteries of the deadly flame. + +Without intermission the lurid flashes darted downwards and disappeared +amongst the foliage, each shaft doubtless working havoc with those giant +trunks. From the point our heroes looked, however, they could only +watch the forked streaks of brightness disappear amongst that yielding +blackness. + +High above the rolling clouds reflected this vivid discharge with a +ghostly pallor, while the avalanche of driving rain in the distance +seemed a swirling curtain of blue and silver gauze. + +Loud and quick thunderclaps resounded, one peal after another, like the +rolling of a hundred batteries of artillery. For fully half an hour the +flames and the loud rattle of thunder went on without a break. + +They were above this aerial fire-ship, and could overlook its dark upper +side from which no flashes came. Over it spread a mighty shadow, moving +as it sailed like a black opening in the sky. + +It was driving rapidly towards them, and looked as if it soon must +strike against the cliffs. As yet no wind or rain had reached them; yet +they could see the tempest coming, although there was perfect stillness +around them. They held on to the rocks, and watched the approach of +this death-dealing cloud with fascinated eyes. + +All at once it took an upward sweep, as if drawn suddenly from above. +As it did so, the firing seemed to slacken and become irregular. Now it +was passing over their heads and driving along with the speed of an +express train. At it flew by, it dropped a fire-ball into a large tree +that grew a short distance from where they stood. Like a reed, the +gigantic trunk bent over the edge, and disappeared with a sound like a +shuddering sob. When the next flash came, they saw a great blank where +the tree had stood, with a rift in the rocks as if a ton of dynamite had +exploded there. + +Now the rain and the wind were on them with terrific fury. The +thunder-cloud was miles away, pouring desultory and wanton shots on to +the plateau, as it raced towards the far-off mountains. + +In an instant of time they were drenched, while the tornado shrieked +through the rock-rifts like a thousand vengeful furies. + +The Kaffirs pitched themselves face downwards, and clutched to the +jutting stones, for nothing mortal could have stood upright before that +blast in its first force. Our heroes crouched under the shelter of a +buttress-like boulder and watched, still fascinated, that disappearing +fire-cloud. + +In a few minutes, from the little mound ran a hundred streams and tiny +cascades into the hollows. These speedily became like filled moats, +which swelled upwards until the mound became an island. + +Then the wind and the rain left them as suddenly as they had come. The +sky once more cleared and the stars burnt with increased lustre. + +But their fire had been put out, and for that night, at least, could not +be relighted. + +Luckily, day was not far off, therefore they formed a square outside +their packages, and stood at attention while they waited for the dawn. + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +ON THE PLATEAU. + +Existence, for the next five days, was the most enjoyable that our +heroes had ever experienced. + +They were in a perfect hunter's paradise; in fact, so plentiful and +varied were the specimens they saw, that the prairie appeared like a +well-stocked preserve. The game was so trusting and fearless also, that +they had about as little trouble to bring it down as sportsmen at home +have over pheasant-shooting. + +It was glorious, but it seemed too good to last long. When a man gets +everything his own way for a time, he is apt to begin foreboding evil to +come. This is an instinct which is planted in man to warn him against +improvidence. Life is made up of changes, and neither success nor +misfortune can last for ever. + +Our heroes had been trusting entirely to chance so far. What they +killed they had partaken as much as they wanted for the day, leaving the +remainder to be devoured by the beasts who came after them, and the +morrow to provide for itself. + +But now Ned began to think it wise to prepare a stock of food to carry +with them, in case the present supply failed. + +With this object in view, he made easy marches, and devoted a portion of +each day to more deliberate hunting, turning into "biltong" what they +did not at present require. These were pleasant occupations to the +whole company, and they went along with cheerful hearts. + +As far as they had proceeded the land appeared to be ownerless, or in +the undisputed possession of the grass-feeding and flesh-devouring +fauna. There were no pathways, no signs that any other human feet had +ever trod over these plains prior to their own advent. This was +encouraging, but it also made them wonder. + +To reach it they had come through a pestilential belt, which might have +hitherto deterred humanity on that side. But what prevented them from +reaching it from other directions? + +This made Ned and his companions thoughtful when they discussed and +speculated upon the yet unknown problem. Was it surrounded by +impassable forests, or worse? + +This they were resolved to discover, but the surmise of what might be +made them take every necessary precaution, so as to be prepared for +whatever chanced. + +Meantime they revelled in the gifts which were within their reach. They +were possessed of everything that was needful to make adventurous men +happy--excepting, perhaps, notepaper, and that luxury they had learnt by +this time to get along very contentedly without. The weather was simply +perfect. Hot sunshine during the day, with pretty nearly always a fair +breeze. Cool dry nights, when they could enjoy their camp-fires and +their fur coverings. + +They clung to the banks of the stream that still coursed along +unfailingly. + +It was of lesser volume now, however, as they had crossed several +smaller tributaries that fed it, so that it was about half the width it +had been in the forest. But it was still of passable size and depth, +considering they were in the midst of the dry season. It flowed +smoothly now, yet with considerable current, and with few windings. + +At parts the banks widened out and became nearly level. In these parts +it lost its depth, and was a series of swampy and shallow marshes with a +narrow winding brook in the centre. These ponds, being thickly covered +with rushes and jungle, were densely filled with feathered game: +koorhaan, francolins, quail, and snipe, also flamingoes, storks, and +ibis birds. Once or twice they started some Koro bustards, and dined +sumptuously on the delicate dainty. + +They could always tell when they were approaching one of these marshy +stretches from the dwindled state of the stream; however, after these +were passed the beds became fuller again, as it was constantly being fed +by tributaries, and appeared to be one of the principal watersheds. +Round the base of kopjes it wound, rippling clear and unceasingly over +its rocky and clay beds; growing smaller as they advanced, yet with +pools deep enough to furnish their daily bath, and fringed with +brushwood enough to feed their fires. + +Every hour they got within range of large herds of African game of some +description or other. Zebra, quagga, and giraffes crossed their path +frequently; antelopes of every variety were met and shot constantly. +Droves of eland, koodoo, hartebeest, reed-buck, and other kinds, +evidently throve here, in spite of their natural enemies, that were also +plentiful. + +They had several encounters with lions during the day, and never a night +passed without their presence being announced by their loud roaring. As +the moon increased, they were able to see these majestic beasts prowling +outside their camp, with their numerous hangers-on, the wolves, hyenas, +and jackals, all helping to render night hideous. Several times, also, +they roused a cheetah, and seldom failed to bring the tiger of Africa to +book when seen. + +As yet, however, they had not met either buffaloes or elephants on this +plain. + +Ned kept strictly to his programme, and led his company straight across +the plateau, only turning a little out of the straight course when +stalking down some special prey. He always returned, however, to his +bee-line as soon as the sport was run to earth. + +The distant mountains were his landmark. Each day they were getting +nearer and more sharply outlined against the limpid sky. The stream +trended directly towards them. + +They had taken matters easy during these five days, seldom covering more +than ten or twelve miles each day of straight travelling. Some days +they had not covered half that distance. On Sundays they always rested; +and as a Sunday had been spent on the plateau, they reckoned that they +had put in about thirty-eight to forty miles since leaving the forest. + +The mountains still lay, as nearly as they were able to calculate, about +thirty miles away. These had been rising gradually on their view, until +now they loomed a considerable height over the horizon. + +As far as our heroes could judge of the ranges, they appeared sterile, +rocky, and uninviting; rugged in outline, with upstarting and fantastic +peaks, that broke against the sky like great tors. + +When the sun shone upon them, the adventurers could see patches of tawny +light, with serrated edges and ragged shadows of violet. There were +also long zigzag lines of deeper purple, that looked like chasms and +steep precipices. Nothing like vegetation appeared to line those bleak +and rugged ridges. + +"If we are in the land of plenty now, yonder appears to be the land of +desolation," observed Clarence. + +"Yes; I fancy we shall see something different over there from what we +have hitherto experienced," answered Ned, cheerfully. "Fortunately, our +friend `Rhodes River' still is with us." + +"It is also growing, like the game, beautifully less as we advance," +remarked Fred. + +It was true. The stream was only a rivulet now, hardly six feet wide, +and not above the ankle in depth. The game they were leaving behind, +and a wave of hot wind seemed to spread from those rocky mountains. + +They made longer marches now, covering on the first day twenty miles, +and bringing up at sundown to where they could see the details of the +mountains very distinctly. + +During that day they had seen, in the extreme distance, a herd of +quaggas bounding away to their rear, and later on had been able to bring +down four white-tailed gnus. These were enough for their supper, and +they had plenty of dried meat. + +They camped by the side of the brook, now less than a yard wide. They +had crossed no feeders for the past two days. + +The soil round them was more stony and bare than it had been, yet close +to the stream the banks were fertile. Before them the ground spread +like a desert. + +The mountain range in front was forbidding in the extreme. The nearer +lap rose abruptly from the plain like a rocky coast. Huge wall-like +precipices, that looked impassable, except where great rents yawned +darkly at places. + +Ned examined these chasms long and silently. The others looked at him +expectantly. + +"Well, Ned, old fellow, what do you think of those gateways?" asked +Clarence. + +"Not much--except as gateways," answered Ned, quietly. + +"Then you mean to go on?" + +"I should like to see where they lead to--yes, we must see where they +lead to," he added, in a more determined voice. "It would never do to +go back and say we were checked by a few rocks. As long as the road +lies open and our supplies last, I'll go on, if you will back me up." + +"Right you are. We won't leave you to go forward by yourself," replied +both Fred and Clarence, while Cocoeni and the Kaffirs nodded grimly +their willingness to go also wherever they were led. + +For the first time since leaving Rhodesia the sense of his +responsibility pressed heavily upon Ned. As he lay that night and +looked over towards the shadowy outlines of those barren rocks, he felt +his resolution waver somewhat. He had many lives under his charge, men +who were prepared to follow him wherever he chose to go. Where was he +about to lead them now? + +Death by thirst and want seemed to lurk within those desolate craigs, +which revealed no speck of gnus upon their tawny and red breasts, and +only the arid shelter of shadow within their stony flanks. + +He curiously began to think what must have been the feelings of Moses +when he looked at the naked peaks of Attika, after he had seen the +pursuing hosts of Pharaoh overwhelmed. These rocks in front of him +could not be more inhospitable than were the red mountains of Attika. +Yet they had been the entrances to the promised land. + +The rank forest had not appalled him as those stern, dry cliffs now did. +Yet the forest held as many dangers--indeed, it hid more varied forms +of horrors than these chasms could: death in the shape of fever, and +submerging in loathsome and treacherous morasses; from venomous +snake-bites, and crocodiles, lions, tigers, and the poisoned arrows of +lurking savages. There was nearly every kind of peril to be encountered +in the forest except one, and here it waited for them--at least, so it +seemed to Ned and his companions--the peril of thirst, the most dreaded +of dooms, next to fire, which humanity shrinks back from encountering. +Would he go on with those dauntless fellows, and dare that terrible +risk, or turn back before it was too late? + +The half-moon silvered the ground with cool lustre. A little way off he +saw several soft-footed, slouching forms prowling about, with swinging +tails and luminous, emerald-green eyes, that betrayed them. While he +watched their restless motions, and the rolling heave of their lean +hips, he became conscious of the musical ripple of that ever-flowing, if +diminished, brooklet. + +"It comes from those sterile mountains," he murmured. "And while it +still flows, we are in no danger of perishing from thirst." + +Braced up with this comforting solace, his momentary timidity and +irresolution passed away, and he felt once more cheerful. Moses and +Aaron had faith. So had the other explorers, both in Africa and on the +frightful waterless deserts of Australia, and many of these daring, +purposeful heroes had endured all and returned to tell the tale. With +manly pride he crushed out all recollections of those who had never +returned, and dwelt only on the lives of those who had come back. + +"Nothing venture, nothing win. If I bring down that nearest lion with +the first shot, I'll take that as a sign that we will be successful." + +The beast in question was squatting at that moment on its haunches, like +a great dog, with its face full towards him, and its phosphorescent eyes +shining like lamps. + +It was less than thirty yards away, and seemed to be glaring full at +him. Doubtless it was waiting and hoping that the dreaded camp-fire +would presently burn out, so that it might get one of those tempting +figures which were stretched round it. About a dozen of its companions +were sitting or moving about, inspired by the same idea that now +engrossed its leonine fancy. + +It was a splendid target, for it sat as motionless as if it had been one +of the boulders that were scattered round. Ned smiled broadly as he +brought his twelve-bore double Metford rifle to his shoulder, and took a +careful aim at the dark space between those glowing lamps. It seemed +trying for a sign with a pretty certain conclusion. Yet if he chanced +to miss, then, indeed, he might well take this as a bad omen. + +With a report that startled the sleepers, the rifle exploded, and made +them all leap to their feet. But before the sound came, Ned had the +satisfaction of beholding the lion bound into the air and roll over on +its side, with those green lamps extinguished for ever. + +"What's up now, Ned?" cried Clarence and Fred, rubbing their eyes. + +"Only a bit of an experiment I was trying," answered Ned, laughing, as +he watched the other prowlers scurrying off with their tails between +their legs like frightened curs. "That old fellow was sitting a little +bit too near my rifle for his health." + +"Was that your experiment?" asked the boys, as they looked sulkily at +the dead lion. "You needn't have woke the whole camp for that easy +practice." + +"I wanted to see if I could possibly miss him, for I had made it the +condition whether we should go on or turn back." + +"As if any one could miss such a mark! Your ordeal of signs is like +what the testing of witches used to be--pretty safe to turn out as you +wished it." + +"I might have missed, you know; aiming in the moonlight has always some +degree of uncertainty about it," said Ned, modestly. + +"Some few of the reputed witches must also have escaped drowning, but +precious few did so, I have read," answered Clarence, sarcastically. +"Then, I suppose, since you must have blown the brains out of that +carcase, the sign is, `Go on and--risk it'?" + +"Yes; that is the result," replied Ned. "Go on and--succeed." + +"That is the consummation devoutly to be wished. Now, don't waste any +more bullets on signs in the shape of lions--until our watch below is +over, at any rate. Be sure, Sir Oracle. We are off again to the arms +of Morpheus." + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +THE BASHIKONAY. + +It was not by any means a dull camp since the diaries and note-books +were destroyed. + +Before this fatal accident matters had been slightly monotonous for +Cocoeni and the other young sporting Basuto and Matabele braves. Since +that irreparable loss, however--to use Cocoeni's slangy English--"things +were humming, instead of being humdrum." + +They were merry boys, all of them, and could not have been more wisely +assorted for such an uncertain enterprise. Regardless of danger and +privation, and well-nigh impervious to fatigue, they took their troubles +laughing. + +They made sport of their work, and, unless silence was necessary, turned +their daily march into a Christy Minstrel serenade. Repartee, song, and +jest were the orders of the hours, and never had Ned seen a moody brow +about him since Cocoeni brought the sorrowful tidings back from the +rapids about the saurian and the valise. + +Splendid-looking fellows the natives were, also; the flower and chivalry +of their tribes. Deep brown eyes that could melt with emotion, flash +with courage, and sparkle with fun; lips full, and ever on the ripple +with appreciation of a joke; teeth even and white as the purest ivory +could be; limbs muscular, shapely, and supple, with epidermis smooth, +sleek, and sheeny as satin. Whether they were lying, standing, +wrestling, or running, they were bronze models of grace and symmetry to +draw the eye artistic upon them with admiration and delight. + +Ned put them through their facings morning and evening for half an hour +each time, before they commenced and after they had ended their day's +march. They took to this military exercise most congenially, and as +they were quick to learn, very soon became splendidly drilled soldiers. +He and his chums had cause to be proud of these glorious young warriors, +as with lightning speed they obeyed orders, forming squares, scattering +out into skirmishing order, marching steady as Romans, and pitching +themselves flat on the ground to the word of command. With what they +had learnt of British war tactics, added to their own native training, +Ned had charge of as fine a body of men as captain or centurion could +have desired. + +Our heroes had not been so long from school to forget or forego the +delights of outdoor games and athletic exercises, and these they taught +their followers, much to their delight. + +Cecil Rhodes, with that profound knowledge of men which has made him +such a success, had not omitted cricket-bats, wickets, and balls, with +the more necessary items of their equipment. These furnished them with +constant amusement at such times as they might otherwise have felt +wearied when game was not in their vicinity. + +Football was an unfailing source of amusement with these stalwart dusky +athletes. Ned was referee on these occasions, and Clarence and Fred the +touch-judges. Rugby was their favourite game, and as it was played on +those level veldts, it was a pretty and exhilarating game. + +Cricket also they enjoyed hugely. They usually fixed Saturdays for +their big matches, but some practised all the week. Cocoeni became a +crack bowler, and much of the evenings were spent in discussing the +qualities of the different players. + +They had also racing contests and jumping matches. The steeplechases +would have been eye-openers to some British experts, for these fellows +could leap like kangaroos and run like racehorses. + +They had wild tugs of war, and putting and throwing the weights; also +wrestling, lifting, and club exercise. In all these feats the Matabeles +contested with the Basutos, yet never lost their temper once. + +It was the general good temper and fine control displayed by those hardy +young warriors, as well as their expertness, quickness, obedience, and +strength, that made them such valuable allies. Ned felt that his +hundred and twenty-five trained heroes were equal to a thousand or more +irresponsible savages, if they were forced to fight for their lives. +With these at his back, he was hardly afraid of any odds now that they +knew and could depend upon each other. + +Our heroes were well-trained and religious young men, and while paying +such strict attention to their physical exercises, you may depend upon +it, did not neglect their spiritual devotions. On Sundays they +conducted Church service twice regularly, each of them taking turns to +deliver a discourse suitable to their audience and their own abilities. +They explained the Scripture as they read it, and did their best to +demonstrate how good and beautiful, as well as knightly, were the +qualities of mercy, purity, truth, and faith. + +They showed their heroic and simple listeners that fearlessness, +endurance, courage, and strength were only the common attributes shared +alike by beast and man; that where the man proved his heroism and +superiority over the beast was in his generosity and chivalry towards +his weaker or viler enemy, and also in his humility, trust, and +obedience to the higher and Divine laws of God. When they told of that +great and perfect Example and Sacrifice to humanity, those emotional +Africans sobbed their sympathy for His sufferings for them. He was the +true and perfect Knight who faced and endured ignominy and death that +they might live eternally. + +They pointed out the living example of King Khama, who had proved that a +Christian could also be a brave and great warrior. They told about that +other hero, Gordon of Khartoum, who did not lose his faith or courage +even although so basely betrayed by those from whom he expected help. +The Matabeles and Basutos quickly comprehended and appreciated these +specimens of fidelity and heroism. They remembered, also, during the +week what they had listened to on Sunday. + +"You will be brave in the hour of danger, for that is your nature, I +know," said Ned on one of these occasions. "Be brave enough, also, to +stay your hand in the hot moment of triumph, for that is the moment of +greatest peril to the hero. You can endure privations, I have seen; you +must also learn to resist temptations. The perfect warrior is temperate +in all things, true to his brothers, and true also to his pledge even +when given to a foe. His shield is meant to protect his own body, and +his body is given to him to aid and protect the weak, raise the fallen, +comfort the afflicted, and keep it holy and clean." + +These were boyish orations, but they went straight to the hearts of +those child-like hearers. The ideals were those of uncontaminated youth +appealing to unsophisticated and malleable Nature. Our heroes had no +scoffers amongst their congregation, but only young men devoted to them, +who were as easy to lead upwards or downwards as children. Ned and his +two chums led them upwards as far as they could; and made them to see +how much better virtue was than vice, how much happier faith made one +than did doubt. Each had their departments to debate upon. Ned showed +the greatness of the Creator by botanical illustrations. Fred brought +in his chemistry, and filled them with wonder at the marvels he +revealed. Clarence explained the stars, and entertained them with the +fairy-like tales of astronomy. Thus their days and nights were fully +occupied. + +They began and ended each day with prayer. As they walked along they +felt that they were environed with unseen protection. This inspired +them constantly with renewed and lofty courage. So long as man can rely +on prayer, he need fear no enemy, for his buckler is impregnable. + +On the next morning after Ned had killed the lion, they started at +daybreak towards the mountain. + +They had not gone half the distance, however, when the sun, which had +risen brightly, suddenly became overcast with what appeared to be a +dense, dark cloud, which completely blotted out the light, and threw a +dismal shadow over the landscape. + +Our heroes looked at the dark cloud which was so swiftly rising out of +the east and overspreading the blue sky. It was like nothing they had +ever seen before, of a violet blackness, with copper-coloured upper +edges that glistened metallically. A strange rustling sound came from +it, growing louder as it advanced. + +Myriads of birds circled above this cloud, diving in and darting out +from it perpetually. As it came on with incredible rapidity, they could +see it trailing along and covering the ground like a black pall. + +The Kaffirs flung down their loads, and stood watching it with +glittering eyes, while Cocoeni stretched out his arm and explained the +startling phenomenon with one word, "Locusts!" + +One of the plagues of Moses was coming. Even while Cocoeni still +pointed, the swarming insects with their violet wings were upon them in +countless hosts. + +They filled miles of space with such a palpable mass that only a dim +twilight prevailed. They covered the earth like a fall of snow six +inches deep with no intervening space. All the air was reverberating +with their loud chirping, the rustling of their crisp wings, and the +shrieking cries of the birds who devoured them wholesale, yet without +apparently diminishing their bulk. + +Our heroes were appalled at this numberless host, and dazed with the +darkness and noise. They staggered about trying vainly to shake the +pests off, that dropped so thickly and incessantly upon them. They slid +and squashed thousands under their feet; while they felt sick as they +watched their followers greedily imitating the ravenous birds, and +devouring handfuls of them, as fast as they could chew and swallow. + +For an hour this went on, as the rustling, whistling, shrieking, and +living cloud of darkness swept over them. Then gradually the air +cleared, and the fierce sun poured down upon that glistening and +writhing plain. + +Not a blade of grass or leaf of herbage was left. Around them spread a +barren desert; even the river-bed was choked up with a moving compact +mass of blackness. + +They resumed their march, watching the cloud as it swept westward, and +slipping about as if treading amongst slushy ice, over the ankles. It +was horrible. It was sickeningly disgusting. + +The Kaffirs, however, showed no disgust. After gorging themselves, they +filled their bags with these insects, and trudged along singing merrily. + +"Are they good to eat, Cocoeni?" asked Ned. + +"You bet they are, baas, bully fine. You eat one, and then you will +find out." + +"No, thanks; I'll take your word for it, old man. They ought to be good +for something, since they have used up the country." + +"Oh, next rains will make that all right." + +"Meantime, I suppose there will be starvation amongst the game?" + +"No; they will eat these as we do; after that they will move off to +other parts." + +In another couple of hours the company arrived at the cliffs. The +ground was still covered with locusts, which had been unable to rise, +and the stream-bed was completely filled, so that no water could be +seen. + +In front of them yawned a chasm of about a hundred yards wide. +Wall-like precipices rose on either side and stretched upward for five +thousand feet with hardly a break. A few fissures and cracks were +discernible here and there, but no ledge which could afford a foot or +handgrip for even the most expert climber. + +The ground was hard and stony, yet even here, as far as they could look +into the cavity, it was overspread with locusts. + +The stream penetrated this barren gully, and also continued as far as +they could see. Eastward and west these same smooth precipices +extended, like a coastline until merged in distance. Serrated on the +ridges, at long intervals they presented similar openings to the one +they now stood before. Possibly these were water-sheds in the rainy +seasons, but at present there were no signs of streams flowing. After a +careful survey east and westward, Ned decided that the Rhodes river +opening was the most promising route to follow. + +Without any more hesitation, he strode into the shadow of the cliffs and +out of the sun glare, crushing his hundreds of locusts each step he +took. The rest followed him obediently, still singing as they went +along. + +A crowd of aasvogels had come down from their lofty watching-posts, and +were busy glutting themselves with the locusts. These vultures merely +lifted their ugly bald heads and bare necks and looked at the invaders +as they passed, and then continued their feasting, hardly budging out of +the way. + +After penetrating for about a mile of this shadow-land they crossed the +belt of locusts, and found that the ground was ascending. + +It was paved with water-worn smooth rocks between patches of yellow +sand, and rose in a series of steppes. In the centre of this channel, +the brook still ran purling and clear over its stony bed, with here and +there small fringes of vegetation at its edges. All else, however, +round and above them was sterile in the extreme. A deep silence brooded +over this rocky valley, which, although at present in shadow, was +intensely hot and airless. The sun glared on the upper half of one +side, but the rocks in the bed still retained the heat where it had +lately shone. As they walked, our heroes felt as if enclosed in a +bakehouse. + +They were winding round a corner, when suddenly Cocoeni and the other +Kaffirs uttered cries of affright and rushed into the middle of the +running stream, where they stood in a line, trembling. Ned and his +chums at once promptly followed their example; then they asked-- + +"What is it, Cocoeni, that frightens you?" + +"Look, baas, the bashikonay is coming!" + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +IN THE DEFILE. + +"The bashikonay?" echoed Ned in astonishment. "What in the name of this +wonderful country is that?" + +"Ants," replied Cocoeni, hoarsely, while he shivered with unmistakable +fear. "The bashikonay ants eat up every living thing in their way, and +yonder they come in force; they have smelt out the locusts." + +Our heroes looked when Cocoeni pointed with his trembling finger, and +saw marching down the valley a vast army of ants, each insect about half +an inch long. + +They were in close order, and had divided themselves into two lines, one +on each side of the stream. So dense were they that they completely +filled the valley, until no ground could be seen under them. They also +extended in a solid phalanx until the winding hid their tail. They were +coming along in perfect soldier-like order, and running rapidly, with +their officers and scouts directing their movements. + +"Are they so very vicious, then?" asked Ned, as he watched their fine +uniform motions with admiration. + +"I tell you what, baas, if they see us they will eat us up in no time, +and leave our bones clean picked. No man nor beast can meet them and +live. They are terrible, and cannot be fought with." + +"Then are we quite safe here?" + +"I think so--I hope so. They do not like to cross water; besides, the +locusts are what they are after now, therefore, so that we don't stand +in their path, they may pass on. If the front rank passes on, the rest +will follow." + +It was an anxious moment, for our heroes had no desire to test the +eating qualities of those small monsters. It is not nice to think of +being reduced to a skeleton so rapidly; besides, the agony of those +myriad nippers at work in and outside every organ, disintegrating +humanity, was frightful to contemplate. + +Ned thought about the tortures of the iron boot with the boiling oil +poured in, the rack, and red-hot pincers, etc.; but even the imagination +of these failed to come up to the vague horror of being demolished in +this infinitesimal fashion. + +Ages seemed to drag by before the front ranks were on a line with where +he stood. He watched the ruthless little monsters of fate, fascinated, +and thought with horror on the myriads of ogreish, sharp eyes that might +be watching these helpless victims in the tiny stream. + +Onwards, however, they rushed past the human food, without turning to +the right or left; down they wound their course towards the open plain. + +For three and a half hours they filed along, until the sun had almost +set. + +Our heroes and their followers stood meanwhile with their feet in the +water, and their eyes fixed anxiously on that moving mass that had +hitherto left them alone. + +Ned saw a large black snake drop from a crevice in the rock amongst +them. They at once closed upon it, and passed over it. A ripple-like +movement took place amongst the compact multitude where the snake had +dropped. This motion only lasted for a few seconds, then it ceased, and +the army scurried on with methodical and ruthless order. + +At last they saw the end of this frightful army. Ned had attempted a +futile joke about the Jubilee Procession, but no one had laughed. These +little beasts were not suitable subjects to jest about--at least, not +while they were on the war-path. + +They had come in one straight valley-filling line in the van, and they +terminated at the rear in the same rigid form, with no stragglers +dragging up behind. As the last rank filed slowly past, all uttered a +glad cry of relief. + +Cocoeni pointed silently to the trail which this army had left, and our +heroes no longer dared to doubt his assertion. + +Where the black snake had been was a gleaming necklace of white +vertebrae, and a flat grinning skull, and shining fangs. Scattered over +the ground were specks of varied sizes and shades. These were the +excavated and polished shells of insects and reptiles that had not been +so prudent and lucky as were Ned and his followers. The devastating +bashikonay had passed along that way, and, like the Grand Army of +France, had cleaned out thoroughly their line of march. + +It was some time after the last of these resistless conquerors had +disappeared before any of Ned's band dared to venture out of their +sanctuary. These might only be the advance guard; the main body might +be coming on behind. + +Therefore, uncomfortable as it was to have to stand passive for hours in +the centre of a stream of running water, this was infinitely to be +preferred to being caught between two such formidable hosts. + +At length, even Cocoeni appeared satisfied that there were no more of +the bashikonay hosts coming down this particular glen on that occasion. +He therefore suggested that they might once more venture on terra firma, +and place some decent space between themselves and the common enemy. + +This prudent advice they hastily acted upon. Each man grasped his load +firmly, and set off as fast as he could travel up the gorge, without +standing upon the order of his going. + +Traces of these awful ants were seen at every turn of the way. +Beautifully polished and bran-new skeletons, large and small, were +scattered about in every contorted attitude of the most excruciating +agony. + +Serpents with the tail-ends of their vertebrae in their jaws firmly +clenched; centipedes, scorpions, and other creeping and venomous things +exquisitely manipulated and polished of every fragment of corruptible +matter lay about, perfectly cleaned, yet undisturbed, and not a joint +out of place. Splendid museum specimens these were, going to waste. + +Ned, even in his haste, could not help stooping and picking up a few of +these as he ran along. He was astonished at the deadly dexterity and +skill of those voracious workers. Not the most minute fragment of +flesh, marrow, or sinew remained on any of those highly burnished bones. +It was amazing and blood curdling. They had done all this without +disturbing the order of their march. Each insect had snatched his bit +in the passing, masticating it as he rushed onwards, while those +following after had finished the gruesome task. It was numbers, with a +fixed unity of purpose, which made the work compatible with speed. This +was, as Ned said, the biggest co-operative concern that he had ever seen +or read about. + +"I hope these insect fiends are cannibalistic also in their habits, and +that the whole tribe have gone on this locust expedition. It is +something decidedly unpleasant to think that we may have to encounter +them on our return." + +Nothing that they had experienced in the forest had been at all equal to +the horror of those half-inch adversaries. As they passed those +numerous and ghastly tokens of this most terrible foe, Ned and his chums +mentally vowed that it would be better to push ahead, rather than +retreat down that way too quickly again. + +No animal that lived seemed too formidable to be able to resist them. + +Before night came upon them and forced them to stop, they passed a group +of skeletons terribly suggestive. They were those of a lion, a lioness, +and two cubs. They had evidently been overtaken while sleeping in a +little cavity, and devoured before they could move far away from each +other. They lay in a circle, with the gravel torn up round them, in +their impotent and maddening agony. The skeleton of the lion was on his +back, completely curled up, with his thigh bone in his mouth. The +lioness was sprawling with legs far apart, and the cubs in different +positions, each indicative of torture. + +That night they had to do without any fire, as there was no fuel to be +found. Scarcely one of them slept, so unnerved had these sights made +them. However, the darkness passed without any disturbance. Indeed, +the silence of that long night was weird, for it seemed the silence of a +universal death. Nothing broke it. No sigh of wind, no chirp of +insect, not even the rustle of a night adder--only a deep and awful +stillness that kept them awake with horrified expectancy. + +Morning at last arrived, and they went on following the stream and the +whitened trail of those demon ants. + +The gorge was gradually becoming narrower, yet without any diminishing +of those stupendous sides. It was not more than half the width it had +been, and as they looked up, the sky appeared like a ribbon of blue very +far above their heads. They were closed in now with rocks on all sides, +as the chasm was getting more abrupt in its windings. + +All at once they came to the head of the stream, while beyond them +appeared only a dry and stony bed. At this sight the hearts of all sank +and felt like lumps of lead. + +The stream rose and bubbled out of a little fountain, while round it +spread a patch of bright green grass. It was a delicious little patch +of moisture and verdure in the midst of this surrounding vastness of +shadow and sterility. As they flung down their burdens and rested +beside them, they felt as if bidding farewell to their only friend. + +It had been a good and trusty friend to them for many days, becoming +more dearly prized the frailer it grew. It had saved their lives even +at its last stretch, and now it was all they had to depend upon in the +most uncertain future. + +Some brushwood was found on the banks, and with this they made a fire +and cooked breakfast. Then they sat down to consider matters. + +After a long silence, Ned spoke. "Boys, we must see the top of this +defile, and carry what water we require with us for the rest of the way. +I reckon that we are more than halfway through it, and we have +water-bags enough to last us a fortnight with care, and provisions for +double that time." + +"Yes," answered Fred and Clarence, steadily. + +"I don't savy going back yet, with those precious bashikonay behind us," +added Fred. + +"Then let us unpack our waterproof bags and fill them here. We can keep +on for a few days, and if nothing promising turns up, we can easily come +back." + +No one having any objection to offer, this order was obeyed. The +water-bags were unpacked, filled, and the stoppers firmly screwed down. +Then, after a refreshing wash and a big drink, they said good-bye to the +crystal fount, and began their arid journey. + +As the pass became narrower, it also became more steep and winding. +Sometimes the cliffs overhung so much that they lost sight altogether of +the sky, and seemed to be walking through a vast fiery tunnel. + +It was hot and thirst-producing--this climbing over those parched rocks. +The light never left them altogether by day, even within those +closed-in portions. Sometimes they almost wished it had, to shut from +their unwilling eyes some shuddering sights they at times beheld. + +They disturbed ugly-looking and venomous snakes, scorpions, and +yellow-spotted great spiders, with other strange specimens of the +reptile and insect world. + +It was, as Ned had remarked, a wonderful land, this Africa, with its +strange curiosities of animal and insect life. They had seen already +much more than they had anticipated seeing, in the forest and on the +veldt. + +Yet this long and weary passage through the mountains seemed to give +them every hour some new experience of the weird and horrible. As they +struggled on, their hearts beat with expectancy of what was next to be +revealed. + +The gorge was longer than they had expected; three days and nights had +dragged along since they left the spring, and still they did not seem +nearly at a termination. They were going in an undulating, yet on the +whole pretty straight, course north-east, and they were ascending +gradually. + +Already they had risen to an altitude of over six thousand feet above +the plain, yet the cliffs, instead of diminishing in height, seemed to +tower more loftily above their heads. + +It was an arduous climb, and felt prison-like and spirit-crushing in its +narrow limits, yet, since it led them so straight, they could not but +think it must soon end. They reckoned that these most lofty cliffs must +be the centre peaks of the high inner mountains which they had seen from +the distance. + +When the sun was above their heads at noon for a short time, it poured +its rays down pitilessly upon them, and heated the chasm almost to +suffocation point. Then loathsome insects and reptiles crept from the +crevices and frolicked in the furnace-like glow. + +But at night, when the dew fell, it was piercingly cold and damp, even +under their skin wraps and tent. Only once had they been able to find +wood enough to raise a fire since leaving the fountain. Then the effect +on the bulging and smooth cliffs had been like some of the Inferno +conceptions of Gustave Dore. + +"Two more days, lads," said Ned to his dutiful and unquestioning +followers. "If we see no way out of this lane by that time, I shall +turn back." + +They were, however, lured on by the windings and the perceptible +drawing-in of the gorge. At the rate it was narrowing it must terminate +either in a cul-de-sac or an opening soon. + +At last their hopes were realised, and they had palpable evidence that +they must have reached the other slope of the range. + +The ridges were getting lower, or rather they were rising to their +level. + +Daylight became stronger, while the chasm became once more a valley, and +fresher air poured in upon them. + +About midday they were hemmed in by only about fifty feet high of walls +that dipped until they became level with the ground. + +In front of them spread an almost flat ledge, and on it what looked to +be the ruins of a citadel. + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +IN THE DESERTED CITADEL. + +The crumbling walls and earthquake-rent towers which stood between them +and the deeply blue sky attracted all eyes upwards. + +Then an exclamation from Clarence, who had stumbled over something and +fallen on his face, drew their looks once more down to the ground, and +all stood still for some moments, transfixed with consternation. +Between them and the buildings lay heaped a perfect Golgotha of human +bones. It was like the valley in the vision of Ezekiel. + +The ground took a slight dip at this juncture, then rose abruptly up for +about seventy or eighty feet like an acutely slanting roof. Upon the +crest of this slope were built the outer walls and watch-towers of these +ancient ruins. + +In this moat, or depression, were heaped and scattered mounds of +grinning skulls, gaping ribs, detached arm and leg bones, +shoulder-blades, and the smaller phalanges, which proved at the first +glance that these dry frames were human remains. They were lying singly +at places, in other parts heaped confusedly together in piles, just as +they must have fallen. From the space they occupied there must have +been thousands left here to rot, or to be devoured by birds, beasts, and +insects. + +It was an ominous and an awful sight, which might well have made the +bravest shrink back from those grim and crumbling walls. A large and +solitary vulture sat on one of the upper keeps, and seemed to be the +only watcher left in this deserted fort. He perched motionless and +sharply silhouetted against the rarefied space, like an embodiment of +spent disaster. + +Ned was the first to recover his presence of mind. Stooping down, he +picked up a skull and looked at it critically. It was dry and powdery, +with the combined effects of sun-bleaching and time. Holding it up in +his hands, he said-- + +"The fellow who owned this, once upon a time, has forgotten his pains +and troubles for many years--perhaps centuries. He must have been a big +fellow when he carried it, with a solid brain-pan, although it has now +grown thin and brittle as the finest porcelain." + +"A big fight has taken place here," remarked Cocoeni, holding out the +rusty head of a broken spear which he had picked up, and looking at its +shape curiously. + +The splintered shaft was like tinder, and crumbled between his finger +and thumb like powder; the design of the iron was ancient and strange. + +"That vulture appears to be the only resident at present inside the +fort," said Fred. "Suppose we have a shot at him, and try the effect, +eh?" + +"No," replied Ned. "Keep your ammunition for worthier foes; we may need +all our cartridges by-and-by. Meantime let us try to achieve what these +fellows have evidently failed to do--get over the walls as quietly as +possible, and discover what is behind. Keep your weapons ready for +instant use, and your eyes and ears open, boys. Now, forward, in your +best scaling order." + +They ran swiftly through the crunching bones, and up the steep sides of +the cliffs. A rugged kind of hewn stairway led them up to a massive +square-shaped portal, which was gateless and more than half demolished. +The huge stones of the posts were bulging out, and the top bending over. +As they dashed inside, the vulture rose with a hoarse scream and sailed +lazily away. + +Inside they discovered a large courtyard, heaped with fallen masonry. +Great blocks of ten and twenty feet long lay in every direction, with +gaps in the walls above them, from which they had been dislodged. + +"By George, but they built for time here, when they were at it!" cried +Clarence, looking round him with admiration. + +"Yes," replied Ned. "The builders of this place knew something about +the pyramids." + +It was all of the massive, square, and Egyptian style of architecture: +walls with heavy abutments at the bases; oblong narrow slits for windows +and embrasures; wide spaces which had originally been covered with +paintings, now only showing in undecipherable patches; massive upright +slabs for pillars, with enormous flat lintels. + +At intervals on the tops of the outer walls which enclosed this court +were placed watch-towers, of forty and sixty feet in height. The +thickness of the portal through which they had passed was twenty feet at +the base and about ten at the top, as nearly as they were able to +calculate from below. + +An open gateway within the most massive of the buildings attracted their +attention, but before venturing to explore its dark cavity, Ned formed +his company into a close square; then, bidding them wait and watch, he +ran over to the wall on the other side, and, climbing it by some steps, +he stood on the esplanade with about five feet of wall in front of him. + +Then as he looked over he uttered a cry that quickly brought Fred, +Clarence, and Cocoeni to his side. + +They were overlooking a vast desert that spread far as the eye could +take in, as bare and tawny as the great Sahara. + +This wall had been built upon a giddy precipice, without a break or a +ledge. As they stretched over they could have dropped a stone without +striking anything until it reached the bottom, four thousand feet at +least from where they stood. + +The air was bracing, and would have been cool, only for the intense +waves of heat that were wafted up from the burning sands. + +"Here terminates our journey, I expect, Ned?" said Fred, in mildly +interrogative tones. + +Ned had pulled out his field-glass, and was scanning the far-distant +horizon through it, therefore he did not answer at once. It was a +splendid instrument, and of exceptionally far-reaching power of lens. + +"Tell me, Fred and Clarence, what you see over there?" he asked, handing +the glass to his companions. "Look carefully before you speak, and let +Cocoeni have a peep as well first, before you open your mouths." + +When Fred had looked through it for some moments he handed the glass to +Clarence, who in his turn gave it to Cocoeni in silence. Then the three +friends glanced at each other dubiously. + +"Well, Cocoeni, you say first what you saw." + +"What white man calls mirage, and black man calls devil-land," replied +Cocoeni, grimly. + +"Well, but describe this mirage." + +"I saw trees and water and big houses same as this here, all shimmering +in the air." + +"Yes; but they were only in one part of the horizon--to east and west +there was nothing but sand." + +"That is so, baas." + +"And what did you see, Clarence?" + +"Oh, something the same as Cocoeni. There appeared to be a large lake +in one part, with trees and houses on its margin." + +"And you, Fred?" + +"Oh, I saw the lake, or sea, with the other deceptions," replied Fred. +"But I have seen the same sort of thing in Australia." + +"I bet you didn't, Fred, see exactly the same sort of thing out there!" +cried Ned, excitedly. "Now, you know, the nature of mirages is that +they will show up on all sides when they show at all. Look again, and +see if that lake has altered its position, or if it is repeated anywhere +else than in the one direction." + +After another careful survey, the boys owned, somewhat regretfully, that +their leader was right. The mirage--if it was a mirage--was stationary, +and localised to one part only. + +"It is no deceptive phenomenon," said Ned, decidedly, as he replaced his +glass in its case. "That is a real lake, and those are substantial +buildings, and bona fide trees, or I am a Boer, which is about the last +kind of beast I'd like to be." + +"Then, I suppose, that means you intend to risk the desert?" answered +Clarence. + +"Yes; if we can get down to it. I reckon we can cross that strip of +sand in two or three days at most, and we have water enough to carry us +over it." + +"But, supposing it is a real lake, that doesn't say it is a fresh-water +one," replied Fred. + +"The buildings and trees are vouchers for that. Now let us examine this +present hill. Before we do so, however, we'll climb one of those +towers, and find out what is to be seen from there." + +Ned crossed the court, where his followers were still standing in +square, and entered the doorway of the centre tower on the other wall. + +The stairs were still standing, and firm underfoot; therefore they were +soon on the upper platform or roof. + +Here they could see down the pass which they had come, also two other +approaches or chasms in the mountain. They had likewise glimpses of +high bare centre peaks that reached above the lower ridges. It was a +sterile prospect. Not a tree broke the hard outlines of the ruddy +rocks. They lay baking and bald under the bright, hot rays of the +tropical sun. + +A large flat-roofed building filled out the centre of this +fortification. It was smaller at the top than the bottom, for the sides +sloped outwards as they descended; yet a broad parapet surmounted the +top for several feet, projecting from its sides. The roof was +completely covered over, while the walls were pierced with windows and +loopholes. On the farther side of this building they were able to see +other walls and towers stretching along to a considerable distance. + +"This has been a stronghold to keep invaders from the inhabitants of +yonder lake-watered land; and as far as I can see, the necessity for +keeping it garrisoned has passed away. That heap of bones we saw must +be the remains of some demolished race of invaders. I think we may +venture with all safety inside this building. There does not seem to be +even a jackal about." + +Saying these words, Ned led the way down, and, marshalling his force in +double line, he advanced with revolvers in his hands towards the portal. + +The walls were of immense thickness, and made quite a long passage, +through which they passed silently. + +Before them opened an apartment, so spacious that the entire company, +with their luggage, only occupied an isolated portion of it. It had +accommodation space for at least five thousand people. + +Above their heads the roof rose, misty and indistinct in the feeble +light that pervaded this vast hall. The atmosphere felt cold after the +heat outside, so that it chilled them and made them shiver. Lighted +only by those narrow windows and slits, which were placed high up the +thick walls, a mystic shadow, like the forest gloom, added to the +vastness. They seemed within a mammoth cavern. + +The floor was slabbed with stones, and destitute of furniture, while a +thick layer of dust and fine sand deadened the sounds of their +footsteps. For a time no one dare utter a word, so profoundly had that +gloomy vastness and deathly silence impressed them. + +At last Ned spoke, and at the hollow sound of his voice they all +started; it seemed as if the words had been instantly carried away, to +be repeated faintly in the roof. + +"I wonder what they used this place for? Look at those figures on the +walls." + +The walls, which they could now see more plainly than at first, were +covered with strange designs of figures and animals--men, with the heads +of birds and beasts; warriors in chariots, on horseback, and on foot; +captives being driven along. All the pastimes and pursuits of the +builders were here portrayed in colours, in which black, red, yellow, +and blue predominated. These were faded with age, yet, with but few +exceptions, in perfect condition as far as the outlines were concerned. + +There were no openings along the entire sides, nor, with the exception +of the passage by which they had entered, were there any other portals. +But at the far end they could see daylight shining through a number of +dislodged slabs, which partly blocked up what appeared to be a much +longer passage than that behind them. + +As they grew accustomed to the faint light they were able to make out +two smaller doorways on each side of the centre passage. Ned strode +boldly, followed by his comrades, to the aperture nearest him. + +Inside they found a small chamber; at least, it looked so after the +hall. Yet it was twenty feet wide by nearly thirty long. + +It was lighted from the outer side, and at the end was a small doorway, +on entering which they found themselves at the foot of a staircase, +which led upwards, as they naturally supposed, to other chambers and to +the roof. For the present they deferred the further investigation of +this stair, and tried the other door of the hall. + +A similar apartment waited them here, with a ceiling of the same height, +namely, about eighteen feet. + +But at the end they found themselves confronted by a flight of steps +leading downwards. It was wide enough for four men to walk abreast, and +in good condition. Also, although darker than the hall, yet it was +fairly well lighted by slits in the wall. + +"Ah, this is the road I want to take!" said Ned. "Come along with your +traps, boys." + +They were very soon below the surface of the ground, and traversing +broadly cut steps that led them at a downward angle straight towards the +face of the precipice overlooking the desert. + +They knew when they had reached within six feet from the rock front, +from the turn they took, also by the increased light. This, with +sufficient fresh air to keep the tunnel sweet, had been made by +perforating loop-holes in the solid rocks. + +Ninety-eight steps they counted, as they went downward, of a foot and a +half each in depth. Then suddenly the stairs terminated, while the +passage widened out until it formed another great hall underground, of +about two-thirds the size of the apartment over their heads. + +They stood and looked about them with increased astonishment. + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +IN THE PALACE OF THE DEAD. + +The labour of hewing this immense underground chamber from the solid +rock must have been prodigious, unless originally the excavators had +found natural caverns here. + +But this was not what astonished our heroes, so much as the artistic +ingenuity and care which had been expended here. + +In the hall above, the severely plain walls had been frescoed by the +painter's art. Here the sculptor had displayed his mystic and religious +skill with bold as well as intricate designs. + +From floor to ceiling, all along, the walls were carved. There were +also outstanding rose-tinted and white granite massive pillars of +colossean and upright figures, with elaborate ornamental capitals on +their heads, representing head-dresses of flowers, fruit, and grain, or +coiled snakes. At the feet of these huge figures were other symbols to +serve as bases. As these pillars were carved in almost full relief, +they formed deep niches between each, which were shelved up from floor +to ceiling with thick ledges, also cut from the rock. + +The edges of these shelves were most intricate in their symbolic +sculptures. The ceiling, likewise, was closely covered with designs of +a sacred character in bold relief, while even the floor was a mass of +smooth and polished carving. + +The effect of all this subtle and bold work was extraordinarily rich in +the subdued light that filtered in from the one side, making deep and +rich shadows. + +Never had our heroes looked upon anything so profusely beautiful and +mysterious. + +Yet it was not the carving only that made them gasp with admiring +wonder. All over the sculptures gleamed sparkles of gold, chased and +burnished. These glittered in all parts, sometimes in broad veins and +clusters, in other places in star-like specks or thready lines. Going +over to one of these clusters, Ned discovered that they had not been +inlaid, as he at first supposed, but were natural veins of virgin ore, +utilised as they occurred, by the cunning artificers. + +They were in the centre of what was probably the richest gold quartz +mine in the world. The excavators, satisfied with the wealth which had +been already extracted, had carved this monument on the still-teeming +mine, thinking to consecrate it probably in this fashion from covetous +hands. + +There were hundreds of shelves, and the greater number of them were +occupied by sarcophagi, also carved elaborately. + +Whatever the upper chamber had been used for, the meaning of this place +was at once apparent to our heroes. They had not only discovered a +gold-mine, but also a hall of the dead. + +In front of them, in the upper end of the apartment, were placed, or +rather cut out, like the column, two great statues in a sitting posture, +and between them a broad table of polished quartz. One of these had the +body of a woman, with the head covered. In her right hand was held a +pair of scales. The other was shaped like a man, with the head of a +bird, which was turned in her direction. + +"This beats all I ever saw," said Ned, in an awestruck whisper. "We +must come here again. Meantime, we must try to find our way down +further." + +None of them suggested food, although it had been hours since last they +dined. They were too greatly excited over this strange discovery. + +Round the chamber they paced, seeking for an outlet without success. +The only opening they could see was the one down which they had come. + +At length Clarence saw, at one side of the table, and close to the feet +of the woman statue, a large bronze ring that had been covered over with +dust. + +"Hallo, boys, here seems something made to lift! Bear a hand, and see +if we can hoist this particular slab." + +Several of the Kaffirs leapt forward and pulled at the ring individually +without success. + +Finding that not even the strongest among them could make the slightest +impression, Ned ordered the rope used for the "tug-of-war" to be +produced and inserted into the ring. This was done, and twenty-four of +the men took each end of it--twelve to a side--and ranged themselves +down the hall. + +"Now, steady, lads, and all together--pull." + +This was effective at the second pull. Those watching had the +satisfaction of seeing a large slab slowly lift up from the floor until +it rose on end, and fell backward with a loud crash. + +But their satisfaction was short-lived, for hardly had the echo of the +crash ceased, than, with loud yells, the entire company were flying +pell-mell towards the stairs in a panic. From the cavity emerged, with +loud hisses and gaping jaws, a number of the largest pythons ever seen +out of a drunkard's delirium. + +Gorgeous-tinted and shining, they reared out one after the other, +trailing their long bodies over the carved floor, until there were at +least fifty of them, twenty to fifty feet in length, and with girth +enough to have swallowed a buffalo easily. + +That they were hungry, and thought feeding-time had arrived, was evident +from their motions. They were losing no time, after their preliminary +stretch, in making for the staircase where Ned and his followers were +crushing together. + +Cocoeni and several of the Kaffirs recovered their presence of mind +first. Instantly facing round, they discharged their weapons at those +nearest, while the others followed suit, their courage returning at the +sound of the shots. + +Blatter went rifles and revolvers into that advancing mass, turning them +into a wriggling confusion, and filling the hall with smoke and +startling echoes. + +It was a horrible and blood-curdling sight to see those monstrous +serpents interlacing on the floor, and dyeing it with their loathsome +gore, after some of the smoke cleared. The effluvium, also, which +exhaled from them was most noxious and sickening. Many were slain, +although their bodies still writhed and twisted about with horrible +contortions. But more were issuing from that rashly opened aperture. + +"That slab must be closed somehow, or we shall never be done with this +beastly work," shouted Ned. "All the pythons in Africa seem to have +been preserved in that vault. Who is game to help me to shut down that +trap?" + +He made a desperate spring forward as he uttered the words, and ran, +followed by the rest, right amongst the horrible mass. + +Revolvers, spears, and axes did the rest of the battle. + +They were not difficult to disable, although loathsome to feel and +smell. And now that the men had got over their first surprised panic, +they tackled the enemy with quick eyes and deft strokes. + +Ned, Cocoeni, and two other Matabeles reached the stone, and managed to +raise it and drop it once more into its place with a bang, cutting +through the middle a couple of out-coming snakes. While they did so, +the rest hewed, stabbed, and shot for all they were worth. In five more +minutes the last of the sibilant hisses were silenced, and only the +sound of lashing bodies could be heard. + +Then, while they reloaded their weapons, they paused, waiting for the +smoke to evaporate, while they cleared, with their rifle-butts and +spears, the wriggling abominations from their vicinity. + +Before this could be done, however, many a shiver passed over them as +they felt a slimy tail convulsively grip round their legs. A slash with +their knives relieved them of these unpleasant embraces, but the +sensation was decidedly nauseous and creepy. + +Slowly the gunpowder smoke grew thinner, as it escaped through the +air-hole slits and up the staircase. It still, however, hung too +closely around them to see the opposite walls. + +All at once, as they listened for fresh hisses, a sound like coughing, +outside their circle, struck upon their ears. + +Snakes do not cough, although they can make a noise. Some human beings, +with lungs less used to saltpetre fumes than theirs were, must be in the +hall at the far end, as yet unseen. Strangers here meant probable +enemies. Instantly and instinctively they drew together and formed a +square, with their rifles up to their shoulders. + +As they bent forward, peering into the sulphur-charged mist, those +facing east and west beheld a mass of indistinct forms clustered before +them. Those facing north and south saw hazy figures gliding from pillar +to pillar. + +Three more minutes, and the vapour had cleared sufficiently for them to +grasp that they were surrounded completely, by a foe clothed in some +kind of scaly armour. They waited in grim silence for the fumes to +clear thoroughly, so that they might know what force they had to +encounter. + +At last they could see the four corners of the walls, also the open +passages by which the crowd had entered so noiselessly. + +Two of the pillars at each end had been rolled aside, leaving gaping +cavities where they had stood. + +Facing them, and leaning on their spears, stood a double row of upright +figures, with metal helmets on their heads and chain armour on their +bodies, arms, and legs. Round the waist of each was a short kilt of +leopard-skin, which reached to the knees. + +They were well-formed warriors, nearly all of them as tall as the +Kaffirs. Their skins were of a warm copper tint, with dark eyes and +long flowing tresses. + +Not a beard was amongst them, while their features were fine and +pronounced, with straight noses, full lips, and oval faces. They were +determined-looking and fierce, yet unmistakably youthful and handsome. + +Ned glanced from their faces to their breast-plates, and then he +shouted-- + +"Boys, after the snakes we have a regiment of amazons to face. Oh, +come, this is hard lines! We cannot fire on women, even though they are +amazons. We must manage them in some softer way, or else capitulate +with our best grace." + +His words broke the spell of silence that had been upon them. Clarence +and Fred burst out laughing, while the Matabeles and Basutos grinned +broadly and displayed their ivories. + +They did not drop their weapons, however, for the amazons had advanced a +step closer with their spears ready for charging, and they did not look +at all amiable. + +Still Ned thought he discerned upon their faces more of wonderment, +blended with some admiration, than anger, as they scanned the splendid +semi-nude figures of his men. He gave the order to ground arms and +stand easy. + +For himself, he handed his rifle to the one standing next to him, and, +pushing his revolver back into his belt, he stepped from the ranks, and +held out his open hands to show that he was unarmed. For a moment he +paused there, the women watching his smiling face suspiciously; then, at +a word, they lowered their spears. + +He took another step away from his men. As he did this, a young and +extremely handsome woman advanced towards him, also with open hands. + +She was more richly armoured than the others, from which he concluded +that she must be an officer. + +She did not answer his smile, although she had laid aside her weapon, +but came forward, with flashing eyes and curling lip, until she stood +opposite him; then she scanned him over so critically until he flushed +to the temples. + +The other amazons stood watching, evidently with keen interest. + +For what? Ned was thinking. Was she about to embrace him? It looked +as if she were, for she began to crouch like a cat getting ready for a +spring, her elbows close to her side, and her palm held upwards. + +Then, just in time, her intention flashed upon him. She had taken his +attitude as a challenge to a single duel of wrestling, and had accepted +the invitation. + +He had only time to utter an exclamation and step backwards, when she +made the leap and closed in. + +She was an adept at the game, as Ned could feel by the way she tried to +slip her arms under his, but so was he. Quick as lightning he got one +arm under, while she managed to do the same with him, and then the trial +of strength and agility began. + +They were equal as far as grip was concerned, but the chivalry of our +hero placed him at a disadvantage. He could not forget her sex, and +dreaded crushing her if he put out his full strength. + +All the same, he wished she had been a man, for she was a most worthy +adversary; also, if he spared her, she had no such feelings for him. He +felt she was in deadly earnest, and was striving her utmost to break his +back or neck. As he said afterwards, Pylea was a vicious cat at +wrestling. + +He might have thrown her, or tripped her up, had he liked, for he was as +hard as iron, and had the advantage of weight, although she was no mean +weight herself. + +But he preferred the waiting and eluding game, so together they strode +backwards and forwards for full five minutes without either of them +losing their feet or grip. + +Then gradually, as her hot and panting breath struck down his neck, he +worked his hand down the links, until he had her round the small of the +waist. + +Next instant, by a quick jerk, she was off the ground and in his power. +Had she been only a man, he would have thrown her without compunction +over his back, but as it was, he placed her gently on the ground, and +pinned down her arms. + +It is sad to relate, yet as he did this with all the gentleness +possible, under the circumstances, she showed her sex by making her +white teeth meet in the fleshy part of his arm. She had wrestled fairly +up to this moment of defeat, and Ned was too much of a man to resent +that last touch of vanquished ire. He looked at her reproachfully as he +rose to his feet. As he did this, the tears rushed into her eyes, while +she covered her face with her hands, as if ashamed as well as beaten. + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +THE AMAZONS. + +"Wrestling must be a favourite pastime with these warlike ladies," +murmured Ned, as he wiped his streaming face on his handkerchief. +"Pouf! that was a hot bout, and no mistake." + +For a moment after he had released the amazon, silence reigned over the +spectators, then a loud cry of admiration rose from the ranks to which +the conquered one belonged. This proved at least that they might be +fierce, but they were at least generous foes; also that they had +witnessed what evidently was a novelty to them. + +"What sort of men are raised in their nation, I wonder?" muttered Ned, +looking anything but pleased at this demonstration. "The women are all +right, and a little more so, like our gymnastic girls; but they are +evidently not used to muscular men, or perhaps these are so big that +they are astonished to see the like of me doing this slight trick." + +While he still mopped his face and his followers stood waiting on the +next development, sixty of the women ran out of the ranks from different +sides, unarmed, and with animated gestures and a torrent of scornful +words, challenged the square to a similar contest. + +The language sounded strange yet musical in their ears, but the bright +flashing eyes, curling red lips, and defiant actions made their meaning +clear. + +With a burst of guttural laughter, Cocoeni and fifty more of his +companions stripped themselves of all but their waist-bands, and stood +forth to gratify the wrestling-loving viragoes. + +"Deal softly with them, lads, yet beat them," cried Ned, seeing what was +about to take place. + +He had an instinctive feeling that it was necessary for their future +safety that these amazons should be taught a lesson, yet he did not wish +any of them hurt, and these Kaffirs were mighty fellows. + +"Never fear, baas," answered Cocoeni, laughing softly. "We shall not +lose our tempers, but we will show these girls that they have the arms +of men round them." + +The challengers looked at the satin skins and muscular forms of those +sable heroes with renewed cries of admiration, which mightily pleased +their masculine vanity. There was no timidity or fear, however, in the +regard of the amazons. They were evidently only delighted at meeting +with such antagonists. + +As the Matabeles and Basutos also examined the opponents opposite to +them, their eyes began to sparkle with feelings more ardent than +rivalry. Here stood women worth fighting with or for. + +They had no longer any dread of treachery, for the others had laid down +their weapons and shields, and were busy discarding all superfluous +encumbrances, such as helmets, shoulder-coverings, and ornaments. They +were also rolling and tying up their loose tresses. It was evident that +they intended having a turn also after the present bout was over. + +As far as numbers were concerned the amazons counted about two to one of +Ned's force, therefore he saw that he would be likely to have another +engagement presently. Thinking on the possibility of this, he stripped +himself of his jacket, hat, and bandolier, tightened his waist-belt, and +began to roll up his shirt-sleeves. His example was followed by Fred +and Clarence. + +As he was thus engaged near the girl he had conquered, who still +crouched at his feet with bent and covered face, one of the amazons came +over to him with a spear in her hand. This weapon she held out to him, +pointing at the same time to the prostrate figure, with a significant +gesture, which said plainly-- + +"She is yours by right of conquest; kill her." + +Ned recoiled horrified at this savage suggestion. Refusing the spear, +with a motion of disgust, he stooped and gently lifted the fallen one to +her feet, patting her at the same time kindly on the shoulder. She +appeared dazed for a moment at this unexpected clemency, then suddenly +she seized his hand and kissed it passionately. + +Ned laughed awkwardly and blushed scarlet; then, to cover his confusion, +he turned to watch the combatants. + +For the next two hours that richly carved hall of the dead was the field +of as tough yet bloodless a contest as ever had been waged anywhere. +All had observed the incident, and understood the meaning of that spear +offer. These amazons were as brave and generous as chivalrous soldiers +could be, but mercy to the vanquished was clearly not one of their +virtues. They neither would spare nor expect to be spared. + +This being the condition of defeat, every one exerted themselves to the +utmost, and finished the conflict as quickly as possible. + +The amazons were strong, lithe, and full of tricks, but the men acted +warily, and gave them no advantage. The result was that sex conditions +told, and the women, without exception, were put hors de combat. + +By the time it was over, however, Ned and his followers felt that they +had done hard enough work for that day at least. They were hot, hungry, +furiously thirsty, and completely fagged out. + +So were the women, but not so much as they were, since they had taken +double turns. They flung themselves down on the cool stones, steaming +and panting, while a number of the amazons who had rested left the +chamber. + +The mangled snakes still jerked about their severed links at the other +end, for the conflict had been carried on at the lower end of the +chamber. + +While they sprawled about in all sorts of free and unstudied attitudes, +the amazons, who had recovered their breath, watched the brawny +proportions of their rivals with undisguised admiration and respect. +Many of them had received heavy bruises and falls, but this they did not +seem to care much for. They were considerably dishevelled also, but +woman-like, they at once started tidying and redecorating themselves, +while they watched with friendly eyes their rough conquerors. + +Presently those who had left the chamber returned, accompanied by about +a dozen of degraded-looking, ugly black dwarfs, who carried heavy jars +and dishes laden with food. At the smell of the roasted meat and boiled +pulse, our heroes and their followers at once sat up and prepared +themselves for the welcome feast. + +The girls now clustered round them, a couple to each man, and waited +upon them assiduously, with the most hospitable smiles and gestures. +The conquered were particular in selecting those who had mastered them +to serve. They kneeled on each side, and while one proffered water in +large cups of curiously shaped and carved metal, the other picked out +the choicest pieces from the platters, and fed them from their fingers +like young birds. + +They were all friendly now, chattering away in that unknown liquid +language with wonderful volubility, and showing their white teeth in the +most bewitching smiles. They seemed to be delighted with their new +masters, for they showed that they recognised them now as such. Ned and +his followers also were more than satisfied with their present position. + +Yet these amazons displayed by many signs that they had a purpose in +view, and no desire to linger or leave their new friends in this +sculptured hall. With a few words of stern and terse command, the +leader, who was Ned's first antagonist, pointed shudderingly to the +mutilated snakes. At these orders the repulsive-looking dwarfs went +over, and lifting up the quivering masses, removed them by the upper +end, and afterwards brought sand and covered up the blood. + +As soon also as our heroes had satisfied their hunger and thirst, they +all rose, and dividing the packages amongst them, led the way towards +the two apertures in the lower end. Ned and his men had no objection to +these new attendants carrying the loads, since they were forced to trust +them now. But they stuck tenaciously to their weapons and ammunition. + +They entered a narrow passage outside the column, and after pacing along +it towards the cliff face, they began once more to descend. + +Fifty steps in one direction along the punctured inner side of the +cliffs, brought them to a flight of steps at the opposite angle. When +that other fifty was reached, another flight at the first angle met +them, and so on, until they had descended three thousand of these steps. + +It was a fatiguing journey after their heavy exertions, for the amazons +hurried them along without a pause. They were either in great haste, or +else did not wish any more investigations to be made of this underground +region. + +The light was growing fainter also, as it was nearing sunset, yet our +heroes were able to see, at each turn of the stairs, passages leading +into other chambers. From several of these, as they got near the +bottom, they heard a clanking sound, as if miners were at work. + +"I say, boys," said Ned, "do you hear? They are still working this +gold-mine. What about the mirage now?" + +Since meeting these female warriors our heroes had no longer any thought +of turning back. There seemed no danger of perishing from want or +thirst. As for other dangers, they were quite ready to encounter these. + +"This is an adventure and no mistake. I guess we are bound to see some +strange things before long," answered Fred, excitedly. + +It was nearly dark before they crossed the last step and found +themselves once more on level ground. + +Before them spread a wide and long apartment with a huge fire burning in +the centre. A strong menagerie-like perfume greeted their nostrils +along with the more pleasant odours of cooking. As they entered, a wild +chorus of savage yells echoed through the vault. + +A number of slender and undersized figures moved about. Some were clad +in white robes, others with only waist-bands round their waists. + +From a square, wide, and high portal halfway down, and on the same side +by which they had descended, the last orange glow from the setting sun +fell in a long slanting line upon the sand floor. They had, at length, +come down to the desert. + +Ned and his followers looked round them curiously, while the friendly +amazons placed their packages all together. + +There were bold and somewhat rude carvings on some portions of the wall, +but otherwise it was left rough hewn. It was, however, quite as roomy, +although not so lofty, as the upper hall which they had first seen. +There were rugs and skins flung down at different parts on the sands, +with armour, weapons, and other articles of use. This was evidently the +present barracks of these amazons. + +The lower parts of the inner walls were lined with recesses strongly +barred. In these were caged a number of leopards. These leopards were +separated from each other by intervening partitions. Apparently it was +their feeding-time, as these half-nude figures were moving about from +cage to cage with huge junks of flesh, which they pushed into the cages. + +The amazons went round the cages, inserting their hands between the bars +and stroking the animals. As they did so, the wild roaring which had +greeted their appearance sank into gratified and loud purrs. + +Pointing to the spread skins, the women signed for the adventurers to +rest. Gladly our tired heroes availed themselves of the permission. +Here, stretched out at their ease, they could observe their +surroundings. They saw the amazon leader, with a few of the others, go +over to the white-robed figures, and then began an earnest conversation. +A little explanation was evidently given to account for the presence of +the strangers; but, as far as Ned could make out, the warriors were +mistresses, and confined themselves mostly to giving orders, which the +others listened to meekly, and bowed their heads obediently. + +In a little while the half-naked figures approached the fire and lighted +some torches at it, which they stuck into clamps round the wall. This +threw more light on the scene. + +The sun had now gone down, and darkness was beginning to hide the +desert, which Ned could see through the open portal from where he lay. +The semi-nude figures now approached, and, kneeling down, began to take +off the boots of him and his comrades; after this they washed their feet +and covered them again. + +It was all most delightful and pleasant, and Ned was glad that the +amazons did not attempt this task. They apparently were engaged making +their own toilets during this time. + +While allowing the slaves to manipulate, he looked at the white-robed +forms. They were engaged in various departments of duty. Some were +baking bread-cakes, others cooking various dishes, and several were hard +at work plaiting and dressing the tresses of the amazons. They were +meek visaged, and had their heads shaved, yet, somehow, although so +small and spiritless, they seemed to belong to the male sex. + +Another feed was under way of a more substantial description than the +last. As the savoury fumes stole into their nostrils, they once more +began to find themselves prepared for it. + +Presently it was ready, and this time the ladies shared it with them. +While they were eating and drinking, four of the white-robed figures sat +near and played on harps. + +It was a plain supper of roasted and stewed game garnished with garlic, +boiled rice, with maize and lentil cakes. For vegetables they had leeks +and yams, while bananas, figs, and grapes served for dessert. + +A delicious, light-tasted, but rather heady wine was given to them along +with the water, which was pure and sweet. This they took sparingly of, +yet it quickly sent them all off to sleep. + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +A CHARIOT DRIVE. + +Ned woke soon after sunrise the next morning, and before his companions. +Fred, Clarence, Cocoeni, and the other Kaffirs were doing their best to +eclipse the howling of the caged leopards with their snoring. + +The slaves were there, also the bakers, cooks, hairdressers, and general +all-round men. But the amazons were absent. + +The general practitioners of the comb and harp were filling in their +spare time by whipping the slaves with cruel-looking thongs, as they +went about their drudgery. + +The faces of those clean-shaven, undersized, and lean, white-robed men +still looked as expressionless and meek as long-imprisoned convicts +usually do. They had likewise the same unwholesome waxiness of +complexion; buff-coloured wax their thin cheeks and narrow foreheads +were, with purply close-set lips, and long, deep-placed, lustreless +blue-black eyes. + +But, although they did not smile nor sneer, nor ever lose their sad +gentleness of expression, they cut pitilessly into those naked black +shoulders with their hard flagellators, and often out of ruthless +wantonness. The slaves were a square, dwarfish, and repulsive set of +bestial wretches, yet Ned began to view these placid and soulless +tormentors with greater repugnance and loathing; they were like +venomous, icy, and cowardly yellow snakes. Their features, however, +were sharp and fine, and of a sameness in profile if cast from one +mould. He had seen those calm, bird-like, relentless profiles in prints +of the Egyptian sculptures and paintings, with long, straight noses, +protruding and short upper lips, and receding small chins,--the true +signs of a used-up decadent race. + +Sick with watching these methodical and pitiless strokes, he walked +through the portal and out a few yards into the yielding sand, then he +looked back and up the precipice. + +He could see the broken walls at the top, over which he had peered +yesterday. The rising sun was shining upon them, and they gleamed +whitely against the soft azure. The precipice also glistened with its +variegated blush and yellow rose-leaf tints, with the darker veins of +grey and ochre. It was smooth and ridgeless, while the loopholes were +too narrow to be seen from where he stood. + +The flat lintel and obelisk-like sides of the doorway had been cut a few +feet into the rock, so that the precipice protruded. The intaglio slabs +were covered with hieroglyphics and figures. + +His eyes wandered to the sides, and here he met a surprise,--a long line +of gaily painted and anciently shaped chariots stood ranged, like +bathing-machines, against the base of the cliff. He had never seen a +chariot outside of pictures before, therefore these interested him +vastly, with their carving, gilding, and bright colours. + +After looking minutely over one of them, he turned round to scan the +desert. Away in the distance rolled a low cloud of dust, through which +the sun shone upon glittering metal. It was approaching rapidly, and as +he watched resolved itself into the two hundred mail-clad amazons, who +were coming in at a swift run and in a straight line. + +Very soon they were within a hundred yards of him, with flushed faces +and heaving breasts. There they stopped suddenly, and, forming rapidly +into eight deep, marched steadily towards where he stood. + +He learned afterwards that they had been out for the past four hours, +doing their customary morning exercise of running, which was twenty +miles before breakfast. This was to keep them in good condition, and +one of their obligations as warriors. With friendly smiles they marched +past him and entered through the doorway without other recognition. +Following them slowly, he saw them pass through and into a door which he +had not observed the previous night. + +He found his followers awake when he got in, and busy washing their +faces in basins, which the slaves were holding for them. As this was +exactly what he would have asked for, could he have made his desires +known, he straightway proceeded to follow their example. + +"I expect they have tanks, or some way of catching and keeping the rains +from above," said Ned, seeing that they were so lavish with the precious +fluid. + +A distant sound of splashing, accompanied by female voices, from behind +that curtained door answered his surmises. + +Very soon afterwards the amazons appeared once more, accoutred, and with +fresh-coloured faces and damp flowing tresses. Breakfast was ready, and +without ceremony they fell to, and hastily did full justice to it. + +The next operation which our heroes watched, but could not help with, +was the liberating and harnessing of the fierce leopards to the +chariots. Each amazon led out her own trained animals, like dogs in +leash, and strapped two to each chariot. + +The fair leader now split her regiment, leaving half behind to mount +guard over this mine, while the other hundred and twenty distributed the +packages of our heroes amongst the chariots. They were ready to start. +Ned, the leader, chose to share her chariot, and the others picked out +their conquerors and beckoned them to enter. + +With a swift, cat-like bound the leopards went off, while from the broad +wheels the sand flew up, and left behind a trail of yellow clouds that +quickly blotted out those left behind. + +The passengers, not being used to chariot-riding, kneeled on the +packages, and hung on to the side-rails frantically. + +But the drivers stood, like rocks, on their feet, with the reins round +their waists, held there by a ring, and their arms and hands free to use +their whips or weapons. Over each shoulder was slung a strap filled +with long shafts and a black palm bow. + +They never slackened speed, for the leopards seemed tireless. They ran +softly yet swiftly, hour after hour, while the sun rolled overhead with +scorching force. The burning glare from the hot sand was blinding, and +the helmets and chains must have been almost unbearable, yet the hardy +drivers did not appear to feel them. They leaned forward with flashing +eyes and streaming tresses, and still urged their willing animals on. + +Once during that day they roused a pack of fine lions, who bounded after +them. Ned saw one of these fierce beasts nearing the chariot, and +shouted to his driver to warn her of the danger. His rifle was between +his knees, loaded, but it was of no more use to him than a stick. He +dare not relax his grip of the side at the rate they were going, or he +would have fallen out. + +The dauntless girl looked back, at his cry, with a merry laugh. Then, +gripping her whip with her teeth, she slipped off her bow, and +tightening the string, took out one of her shafts, and fitted it. + +Swiftly turning half round, she bent the bow until the arrow-head was +touching it, then the string smote the bow with a twang like a loud +harp-note. + +Ned watched the shaft, as it sped with a whistle through the air. +Straight it flew towards the lion, and buried itself in his flaming eye. +It was a splendid and deadly, though it looked a careless aim. With +one leap upwards the lion rolled over and over, half burying himself in +the loose sand in his death-throes. + +When Ned looked from the lion to his slayer he saw her standing, with +her bow once more in its place and the whip in her hand, standing and +looking forward, while she drove for all she was worth. + +The other lions were treated in the same fashion by the rest of the +drivers. Evidently they had nothing to learn in the ancient craft of +archery. + +That afternoon, however, as they rested for an hour, Ned found an +opportunity of showing what his rifle could do. Yet, after her archery +feat, he did not feel too conceited over his most modern of +death-dealing implements. + +The desert appeared infested with lions of the fiercest order. Hardly +were they seated when one appeared at a little distance. It was within +shooting distance, but too far off for her shaft, so, while she was +leisurely tightening her bow-string, he took a steady aim and fired. At +the report she started up with unfeigned alarm, but, quickly recovering +herself, she sat down again with stoical composure. + +It was a long shot, but he did not need to repeat it. The lion was done +for. + +When she saw this, she displayed the most lively and childish interest +about his rifle. Pointing to a great vulture in the sky, she signed him +to shoot it. + +While he was taking aim, she put her fingers into her ears; then, when +she saw the bird drop headlong, she cried with wonder. He had raised +her admiration in a new direction. + +All through that night and the best part of the next day they raced. +They only took three or four half-hours' rest during this time, while +they ate a few dates and drank a mouthful of water. + +As for the leopards, they got nothing except a few small cakes during +those short breathing spaces. Our heroes were forced to own that for +swiftness and endurance the trained leopard beats both horse and +dromedary for desert travel. + +At midday the distant city and lake appeared on the horizon, and by four +o'clock they had passed between the first of the palm trees, and left +the desert behind. + +Ned, Fred, and Clarence had by this time become somewhat used to their +uncommon and ancient surroundings. The biblical and archaeological +chariots, armour, costumes, and features had startled them when first +seen. Now they were only driving toward, what they expected to find, a +specimen page of prehistoric illustrations, preserved in the heart of +that Africa from which those decayed nations had sprung. + +Luxury and corruption caused the fall of Rome, Carthage, Greece, +Assyria, Egypt, and the countless races that preceded these chronicled +nations. When Melchizedek walked the earth, and Lot pleaded with the +angels, mankind was old and worn out with self-indulgences. When Noah +vainly preached to the sons of men, they had become dilettante, idle, +cynical, and luxurious; refined in art, cruelty, and callous vice; +enervated to the last degree, and barren of all impulse. This has +always been and always must be the results of ultra-civilisation. The +second step from utter barbarism which deals with conquest and cruelty, +is but the beginning of the end of all nations, ancient and modern. The +implacable order of nature is to grow and decline. Matter must change, +although its constituents are immortal. + +The road from the desert to the city was broad and straight. Fifty +chariots could drive abreast through the centre, leaving the side-paths +for the pedestrians. + +A double line of huge palm trees fringed this wide highway, and cast +violet shadows on the side-walks. Between the trunks they could see +rich and carefully irrigated fields of grain and vegetables--maize, +rice, manioc, wheat, pulse, yams, and pine-apples, melons, leeks, +onions, and garlic, with shady groves of sugar cane and bananas at the +corners, and hedges all around of vines. + +The glistening of water in the regularly cut canals and lotus-covered +ponds, with the fringes of papyrus reeds and varied-tinted blossoms and +flowers, made a delicious picture of rural prosperity and radiance. +Regular symmetry and mathematical order were the predominant features of +these fertile plains, with their straight canals and square ponds. Not +a foot of soil was wasted nor left to run wild. It was all under +cultivation, like a carefully tended garden. + +Dark-skinned and semi-nude slaves of both sexes crowded these fields and +plantations, while the same class of white-clad, yellow-skinned, and +diminutive overseers walked about and plied the whip remorselessly, yet +without excitement. + +Our heroes longed to ask questions, for they were bursting with +curiosity, and they inwardly resolved to learn the language as soon as +possible, if they were permitted to live here long enough. Already they +had mastered the native terms for water, wine, food, chariots, leopards, +lions, spears, helmets, and armour. This was a fair beginning. As for +Cocoeni and his fellow-Kaffirs, they were devoting themselves most +assiduously to the pursuit of their conquests, and, as they showed by +their ardent glances, conquerors also. They appeared to be progressing +fairly well, considering that looks were their only means of +communication at present. + +As they drove along, eight abreast, they noticed that they were causing +a considerable stir amongst the pedestrians and other natives whom they +met, overtook, or passed. They were also watching with great interest +these inhabitants. + +They could distinguish the men by their small stature and general +spiritless condition. Woman seemed in this land to be the superior +animal, both in stature, deportment, and position. + +Armed amazons, on high-spirited horses, cantered or dashed past them, +bestriding their beasts man-fashion. They were all splendidly costumed, +and many of them very beautiful. Some drove chariots with trained lions +and leopards as well as zebras and horses. It was a dazzling and +picturesque sight that impressed our heroes deeply. + +Elephants also paced the roads with their laden howdahs gaily +caparisoned; others, again, drew heavy waggons. Oxen trailed along +strange-looking carts and waggons, while the footpaths teemed with life. + +The men alone wore white robes. Numbers of these were about, carrying +or leading children as mothers do in other countries. Some had slaves +to do this for them, and when they were so far blest, they carried the +invariable whip, which they used unsparingly. + +The chariots had now passed the fields and farm buildings, and were +approaching the city. + +Massive buildings and walls began to appear, with exquisite gardens and +artificial terraces, from which wide steps led down to shady walks and +fairy ponds. Vine tendrils hung over the walls, and formed delicious +avenues. Ornamental trees and obelisks reared out of the under herbage. +Mighty baobabs showed centuries of growth. Monkeys swung from branch +to branch. Ibises, pelicans, and flamingoes were everywhere. + +Between the spaces of those gardens and mansions, they had glimpses of +the great lake that supplied the fertility of this highly cultivated +region. On its surface they could see barges floating or moored to the +embankment. Here were quays, with pillars and steps, also crowded with +humanity and animal life. + +Before them reared a many-columned arch, with battlemented walls on +either side, and an avenue of sphinxes leading up to it. + +They rolled through these, and then they were within the city, with its +huge buildings, pillars, obelisks, stairs, fountains, awnings, arches, +crowded side streets, and varied bazaars and shops. Our heroes felt +abashed before these sublime, living tokens of a civilisation supposed +to have been for ages extinct. + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +IN THE CITY OF RA-BYDUS. + +The rain-season had come and gone, which meant that seven months had +elapsed since our heroes were driven into the city of Ra-bydus. + +They understood a good deal, by this time, about the people and language +of Karnadama, for so the land was named, as the city was called +Ra-bydus. + +During these months they had been treated as honoured visitors; yet it +was plainly intimated to them that they would not be permitted to depart +until her majesty Isori had seen them. No one else could treat with +them, or decide what course to pursue respecting them, during the great +queen's absence; therefore they were held in a kind of honourable +captivity. + +They were lodged in princely quarters and all together. The regiment of +young amazons who had discovered them were placed in charge of them--to +attend upon them, escort them when they went abroad, and were made +responsible for their safety and presence. + +No one interfered with their actions so far. They were free to walk, +drive, or ride about the extensive city, provided some of their +bodyguard went with them. They could go out hunting, with the same +escort, sail on the lake, and view the land as far as it could be viewed +between sunrise and sunset. But they were expected to be within the +city walls when the gates were closed. Only in this sense were they +treated as captives. + +Ned and his followers did not find the life they led at all irksome. It +might become so in time, but they had no intention of staying here much +longer. The queen was on her way home to her capital; when she returned +they would either get permission to go, or else take French leave. + +Meantime they were having pretty much the same kind of time as +blue-jackets have when they get ashore in a foreign port. They were the +heroes of the hour, and were made welcome everywhere, except to the +temple. From that sacred portal they were most rigidly excluded. + +Tutors were provided to teach them the language of the higher classes, +so that they might be able to converse with her majesty when she +arrived. She had heard about their advent, and these were her orders, +sent by special messengers. Like President Kruger, no other language +but her own people's was permitted at court. Our heroes made rapid +progress in their studies. While the country was swamped, and the hot +rains made the cool interiors of these the most pleasant places to pass +the time, they had spent their spare time with the teachers, listening +to their explanations, and mastering the meaning and sounds of their +vocabulary. The Matabeles and Basutos, also, were apt pupils in the +oral part of the instructions. As soon as they could make themselves +understood, however, they discarded the male teachers, and took the rest +of their instructions from their amazon guards. Ned, Fred, and Clarence +went further. They practised the letter-writing, which was like +shorthand, to the ordinary hieroglyphic carvings on the walls, and only +practised by the educated class. They also asked many questions +respecting the history, myths, and habits of the people they were +amongst. In this way, and by keeping their eyes and ears open, they +acquired a vast amount of knowledge in a short space of time. + +The Karnadamains were a remnant of the older race, who had fled from +Egypt at the time of the invasion of the Shepherd Kings. Like the +Israelites, they had wandered far and encountered many vicissitudes +before settling down on this remote and central portion of Africa. The +history of their wanderings and early rulers was comprised largely, like +that of the Greeks, of legend and myth. + +They still retained the principal features of their ancient religions-- +that of animal-worship. The serpent, the crocodile, the cat, ibis, and +other animals of certain kinds were considered sacred, and rigidly +protected. To kill one of these marked animals, either wantonly or +accidentally, was a sacrilege, the punishment for which was death. When +our heroes learnt this, and remembered their indiscriminate slaughter of +the pythons, they felt themselves in a mighty perilous position should +any of their friends, the amazons, betray them. Ned took an early +opportunity of sounding Captain Pylea on the subject. She, however, +laughingly reassured him, and told him to be under no apprehension. Her +subordinates were soldiers, not informers; while, as for the slaves who +had removed the carcases, they had been slaughtered to a man, so that +they might not speak of what they had seen. + +"It was a terrible crime you committed," she added, with a shudder; "for +these were of the most sacred order, who are fed with slaves. But +enough were left to swallow up the remains of their brethren and those +who might have spoken about it, and we did not see you do the unholy +deed." + +Ned shuddered to hear the calmness with which she told this atrocity, +grateful although he was for her and her comrades' kindness to them. +She was a frank, generous, and courageous young woman, but she had not +much womanly mercy in her composition. + +"What would you have done, Pylea, if you had been attacked by those +sacred--monsters?" he enquired. + +She looked at him with a humorous twinkle in her dark eyes, and touched +her bow and spear. + +"Afterwards we'd have, as I advise you to do, forgotten all about it." + +"Then you don't pin your faith too closely to this venerable creed of +yours, Pylea?" + +"We expect our fathers, husbands, and brothers to venerate the gods, and +attend to their religious, with their other domestic duties, while we do +the thinking and the fighting," she answered significantly. + +"Do you know, Pylea, you belong to the emancipated sex. In my land the +order is reversed." + +"Ah, so it might be in mine, if our men were like you and your +followers. But look at ours. Could any of them bend my bow or handle +my spear? No; they are too fond of their couches, their pipes, their +dinners, and their wines. They like to spend their time gossiping and +making pretty things. All the exercise they care for is flogging the +slaves, so we leave them to what they like best--to look after the +children, make poetry, pictures, and pretty carvings, and discuss new +dishes, while they fill their empty heads with smoke and strong drink." + +"A great number of our men also are fond of the vices you charge yours +with, Pylea," answered Ned, laughing at her indulgent contempt of the +lords of creation. "They also drink, smoke, and spend a good deal of +time discussing fine dishes and works of art and literature. When they +can paint or carve they get mighty conceited about it; but, as a rule, +they don't practise the domestic virtues you speak about." + +"Who does this, when there are no slaves?" + +"Our women." + +"And who does the thinking?" + +"Also a good many of our women." + +"And the fighting?" asked Pylea, wonderingly. + +"Oh, the men are expected to do that." + +"I cannot understand it. Once on a time, as our men are fond of singing +and boasting about in their cups, they say our men could fight. But we +who know them do not believe that, or they would never have fled from +the land they ruled over then, according to the legends which they have +invented. No," she continued thoughtfully; "they must always have been +as they are, poor, treacherous, mean-spirited cowards, who dare not face +a woman, but find a pleasure in tormenting slaves. They must always +have been fond of lying upon litters and couches, of wine and tasty +dishes. They never could have been trusted out of sight--not our men, +who are good for nothing honourable, true, or brave." + +"Yet you marry them," observed Ned. + +"Oh yes; that is the custom. When we feel ourselves getting too stiff +to fight or run, we take a man to keep our house and look after us and +our children. We are always strong enough to make them obedient, and we +never expect too much from them. They are poor things, who do not know +what honour and truth are; only a little more to be tolerated than the +slaves. They like to babble about their paltry pastimes, which they +call work." + +Here were the new woman's ideas and aspirations put into a nutshell, +with man the despised placed on his proper footing. + +"Once on a time, as our men sing, when they get together and we are out +of hearing, their forefathers owned quite a number of wives, as we now +own slaves. But they are never so far gone as to whisper that lie when +they return home. They dip their bald heads in the fountains on the way +back before they face us. This is about the only wisdom which I think +they have," said Pylea, softly, as she laughingly left Ned with a +military salute. + +From what Ned had seen of the amazons, there was not much to fear +respecting the python incident, unless Cocoeni and his comrades raised +their jealousy. He resolved to warn them to be careful, and confine +themselves strictly to brotherly attentions only. It would not be wise +for them to play at love with those tigresses. + +What Pylea had said about the male Karnadamains was all true, as he +found out for himself. They were a cringing, lying, vicious-minded set +of self-indulgent sots. When they could, they slunk off in company, and +boasted about their mean vices as if they were actions to be proud of. +A very little of their converse went a long way to sicken and disgust +him. They spoke gently, and were choice in their expressions, for they +were critical and refined over details, and artistic in their tastes. +But the details were nauseating, depraved, and loathsome as slimy +snakes. They were vile objects, without one redeeming virtue and with +as much human emotion as lizards. + +As artists, artificers, and musicians, however, he was forced to give +them their meed of praise. They followed fixed and long-established +rules with undeviating and unoriginal fidelity, and never attempted to +break from their bonds. + +During these months, the queen had been engaged on a warlike expedition +with her army, raiding some of the neighbouring tribes to the north. It +was from there that the slaves were procured. + +While she was absent, the king, Sotu, who was also her brother, was left +at home to look after the royal palace. + +Although king, this royal object had no voice in the affairs of the +state, or any rule, except over his male subjects, who were, like +himself, rigidly excluded from all offices of dignity or authority. + +The high officials of the temple were priestesses; likewise all the +other positions of dignity were filled by women. + +Sotu was king of the minstrels, poets, painters, musicians, sculptors, +and cooks. He was considered to be a great authority on works of art, +literature, and the science of the table. He was a profound gourmand, a +most princely drunkard, and a superb judge of tobacco. He was also +considered one of the best chess-players in the kingdom. + +Our heroes and their followers had been entertained at the best houses. +They also had spent one evening with the king and a select number of +aristocrats whose wives were at the wars. + +They had here the opportunity of witnessing the prodigality of an +ancient feast with its curious customs. They also saw evidences of the +vast profusion of wealth this nation was possessed of. + +The feast was held in a magnificent hall, where stood a throne made of +solid gold, covered with fine carving, and encrusted with diamonds. All +round were richly carved and painted pillars. The walls and ceiling +likewise were a mass of painting and plated gilding. The polished and +tessellated floor was covered, ankle deep, with flowers. The stools +were of ivory and gold; the cups, vases, and dishes were also of the +same material, and like the throne, sparkling with diamonds. King Sotu +came to the feast garlanded, as were his subjects. Candles burned in +golden candlesticks, and the whole air was filled with perfume. + +It was a bachelors' feast, for none of the women would condescend to +attend such revels; only slaves, single men, and married ones, who had +stolen from their homes, were present, besides our heroes and their +followers. + +About a dozen of the temple male servants were in attendance to begin +the feast with religious ceremonies, and to drag round the mummy-case +before the drinking began. + +The viands were multitudinous and exquisitely cooked, and while they +ate, professional musicians played on various instruments. It was +nearly the last night of liberty for the king and his subjects, and they +had made up their minds to enjoy themselves. + +Ned and his followers joined in lustily at the eating part of the +ceremony, which caused the dull-eyed, yellow-visaged, and purple-nosed +royal host almost to forgive them for their excessive strength and +stature. + +But they completely lost his favour when the serious part came on--the +drinking. Ned sat for a short time, but rose gravely at the close of +one of Sotu's favourite stories, and sternly ordered his followers to +follow him. + +King Sotu was too mean-spirited to resent their going, but after they +had departed, and he had swallowed many cupfuls of fragrant wine, he +shouted loudly-- + +"These cannot be men, for they can neither drink nor enjoy a good joke. +We must get rid of them, or we shall not have the life of slaves when +our wives return." + +Poor King Sotu! he felt at this moment brave enough to poison Ned and +his followers. + +But when morning dawned and he tremblingly seized the goblet of wine +which his slaves brought him, he quaked in his sandals as he remembered +what he had uttered in his festive mood. A hundred traitor ears had +heard the rash words, and he felt sure they would be repeated to their +wives. + +"Oh, Osiris!" he moaned. "If Isori hears of this, I am undone." + +After several goblets, he called for his pipe and his whip, and spent +the forenoon exercising himself on the backs of his slaves. + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +THE QUEEN ISORI. + +Queen Isori had come, and, with her army, was in possession of her royal +capital of Karnadama. + +She had taken away fifty-six thousand foot and mounted soldiers. She +brought home forty-eight thousand six hundred and twenty able-bodied +amazons. Seven thousand three hundred and eighty dauntless females had +found the death they coveted, and over a thousand disconsolate widowers +bewailed their fate loudly in the temple courtyards. It was the custom +for those bereaved widowers to mourn in public for their departed +spouses, while they prayed that their sins might be overbalanced by +their good deeds, in the scales of the gods. + +The men of Karnadama were unquestioning slaves to custom, therefore they +covered their smooth heads with ashes, wailed, howled, and prayed during +the hours appointed for mourning. Afterwards they met together in those +vaults and shades where the wine was kept cool in great clay-baked jars, +and drowned their sorrows as deeply as possible. + +Bands of them reeled past the garden walls, over which Ned and his +companions leaned, watching the bustling midnight streets in the +moonlight. Some of them were trying to sing, others laughed +hysterically, while a few of the morbid class, remembering the fine +women they had lost, wept feebly while they recounted the departed one's +charms. Ned almost pitied those ownerless and most degenerate goats. + +Now that they had seen the great queen, Ned had only one desire left; +that was, to lead his men safely from this city, and back to Rhodesia as +quickly as possible. + +He had passed through every street and alley until he knew each mart and +building by heart. He and his companions had sailed on the lake and +along the canals that intersected the city, hundreds of times. They had +watched the men in their open shops: the working jewellers and +enamellers, the carvers, sculptors, and painters; the armourers and +blacksmiths; the confectioners, bakers, hairdressers, and loom-workers. +These were all quaint and interesting for a time, but they had now grown +stale. They abhorred the men, and did not feel over comfortable with +those bold-eyed, combative women, beautiful although most of them were. + +The day when Isori returned at the head of her victorious cohorts was +the climax to all the brilliant sights they had witnessed; after that +procession with the audience which followed were over, Ned began to feel +that he could not get too quickly away. + +The citizens had been preparing for days to give their queen a right +royal welcome. For the past week advance messengers had arrived every +hour, announcing the progress of the army as it approached. The roads +and streets had been crowded with people flocking in, and every house of +entertainment was filled. + +In answer to his enquiries about the country, he was told that the lake +was a hundred miles long by fifty broad. A wide river flowed from the +eastern end of it, and, after a considerable distance, became a boiling +cataract that rushed through deep gorges into low marsh and forest +lands. To the north lay a range of lofty mountains, precipitous and +densely wooded, where dwelt the dwarfs, who were hunted, captured, and +used as slaves. In their wild state those dwarfs were rather +troublesome neighbours, being very numerous and fierce, also using +poisoned arrows, the slightest prick of which was fatal. They were also +cannibals of the most repulsive type, torturing their victims +mercilessly when they could trap them. To the west, as in the south, +spread vast deserts. + +The climate of Karnadama was all that could be desired: our heroes and +their followers had never had a day of sickness, even during the long +and wet season. At present the weather was simply delightful. + +Diamonds were found in great numbers about half-way between Ra-bydus and +the mountains; and, as Ned had seen for himself, their gold-mine yielded +them so plentiful a supply that the most ordinary utensils were +fashioned from it. On the plains, which were well watered, dense herds +of game roamed about. + +Ra-bydus was the only city of importance, although there were several +villages scattered over the country. + +Queen Isori could call out an army of over a hundred thousand trained +amazons. This, however, comprised the bulk of the female population; on +ordinary occasions only the young warriors were kept constantly in arms. +These seldom exceeded ten thousand, who were spread throughout the +country in regiments. + +The training of these young amazons was exceedingly hard. From their +birth they were constantly exercised like Spartans, until they reached +the age of sixteen. From that age to twenty-five they were constantly +in harness, and kept single. After this age they were allowed to marry +and settle down. + +Pylea and her regiment were about the same age, having been enrolled +together four years previously. They were then nineteen years of age, +and had six years still before them of active service and enforced +celibacy. + +Ned asked how the population had been kept within limits all these +centuries, and was horrified at the reply. + +All decrepit and sickly children of both sexes were destroyed at birth. +Every five years a census was taken, and judges sent round to weed out +the surplus population. The victims were selected by the judges +appointed, and ruthlessly destroyed by accompanying executioners. These +executioners were appointed from the men, who found their opportunity +then of indulging in their natural instinct of cruelty. Old age, on the +male side, was no more respected than childhood, although the women were +exempted from this wholesale massacre. + +When the husbands became shattered with their vices, they were +strangled. When they grew too obnoxious to live with any longer, they +were at once made into mummies. The women were the judges and sole +arbitresses of their fate. There were no divorces in this wise and +loveless community. If a woman wished to be released from one husband, +she made herself a widow, and picked out a younger mate. As Pylea had +remarked, they did not expect too much from the poor things, so +completely at their discretion. They persuaded them to drink, eat, and +smoke as they liked, until they were tired of them, then they gave the +final wrench to their rope, and ended that domestic worry. + +It was a paradise for the fair sex, according to the modern ideas of the +new womanhood. Also the ceremony of the mummy-case being drawn round +the feasting halls was no empty or obsolete sign to the men. "Eat, +drink, and enjoy yourselves, for tomorrow you die," was grimly +significant to these degraded wretches. + +When Ned explained these lop-sided laws and customs to his sable +followers, they showed the whites of their eyes, and decided that +prudence was the better part of valour when dealing with those +fascinating amazons. All vowed that they would respect the obligations +of the service, and not tempt the girls to break their military +engagements for their sakes. + +"Let us get out of this, baas, before it is too late," said Cocoeni, +gloomily, as he recalled some pleasant evenings he had spent under the +trees, while trying to master the language with one of the fair guards. + +"Yes, we must," added Clarence, almost as seriously--"Even the forest +will be healthier for us than this atmosphere." + +"As soon as her majesty turns up, I'll make the move," answered Ned. + +Our heroes were accommodated with horses on the morning of the arrival, +while Cocoeni and his comrades walked. They were all in fine condition, +and looked like giants behind the undersized bystanders. + +Pylea and her regiment used their leopard-chariots, and drew up in line +along the streets close to the palace to keep the sightseers back. Ned +and his company occupied the post nearest the gates. Close to his side +Pylea stood in her chariot, splendidly attired and looking her best. + +"Isori is a great warrior, and the tallest woman of our race, as her +mother was before her," she remarked while they waited. + +"How old is she?" asked Ned. + +"Thirty-three, but she has not lost her swiftness, agility, or +strength." + +The blare of instruments announced that the conquerors were coming, and +soon afterwards the first of the procession appeared. + +A thousand richly caparisoned elephants came first, laden with mail-clad +warriors. Behind these came the miserable captives, chained to bars of +wood, and drawn along by women on horseback, who cracked their whips +over them constantly. Four thousand of these hideous dwarfs of both +sexes had been brought alive from their native haunts. Following the +elephants, they passed the palace walls, while the people looked at them +silently. + +A large troop of horsewomen came next, and then, at the head of her +charioteers, appeared the victorious queen. + +Our heroes looked at her as she stood upright in her golden chariot, +resting on her massive spear, and they were dazzled at her majesty and +the light that blazed from her. + +Over six feet in height she stood in her jewelled sandals. Round her +brows wound the royal serpent with uplifted crest, while from behind +fell a fringe of blue, red, white, and yellow, barred with gold and +crusted with precious stones. Her breasts and limbs were covered with +golden links, while from her shoulders fluttered a rich light cloak, +that trailed over the back of the chariot. Three young lions dragged +the car. She was an imperial woman, with a pale face regularly +featured, and great dark eyes that looked out coldly yet steadily as the +car slowly glided forward. + +Beautiful she was, in the full pride of power and matured strength, with +a figure that was matchless. But it was a face to shudder before. It +was so pitiless, and so icily composed. + +No cry of welcome greeted her approach, but a great hush fell over the +multitude, that was more impressive. She was in their eyes a goddess as +well as a queen, and all bent their heads and covered their eyes. Ned +and his followers felt decidedly uncomfortable. + +As she passed the split lines of Matabeles and Basutos, she shot side +glances over their stalwart figures without turning her head. Then she +came to a dead stop opposite Ned, and fixed upon him her steady great +black eyes. He bent his head under that passionless but strangely +disquieting stare. + +While she stood, from the palace gates came her brother consort, mounted +on a white horse, and clad in royal robes that were also blazing with +precious stones. He was taller than the male attendants who accompanied +him, but, in spite of his tiara and rich robes, looked the trembling +wreck that he was. + +Isori looked at her bibulous-faced and purple-nosed consort with a +mocking yet indulgent curl of her proud lip, as he bent humbly before +her. Then she said, in a rich, clear voice-- + +"Hast thou composed many couplets during our absence, Sotu? I can +perceive that thou hast partaken of many cups." + +"Immortal one, I have not been idle," answered the poor king, fumbling +nervously in the breast of his robe, and wisely ignoring the latter +portion of this wifely greeting. He produced a roll of papyrus. "I +have here a powerful epic to read to you, which I composed in honour of +your victory, O brave Isori." + +"Ah! that is sweet. Keep it till after supper, when thou wilt be in thy +best form." + +"But, gracious and great one, I hoped to read it here, before our +people." + +"Ride thou at my side, Sotu, King of Karnadama, and give that roll to +one of the servants," she said, with chilling coldness. + +Sotu sighed deeply, but yielded, and together the badly assorted pair +went between the sphinxes. + +About two hours later Ned and his followers were commanded to appear in +the presence. It was a trying ordeal, but our heroes braced up their +courage, and stalked through the crowd of courtiers and warriors with +erect heads and bulging chests. They were no slavish male Karnadamains, +and they meant to show what men ought to look like; what Britishers are +in every land under the sun, except the Transvaal. + +It was a much more extensive reception-hall than the dining chamber, +vast although that was. + +Four lines of columns with lotus capitals supported the flat roof. The +walls were richly covered with varied coloured enamels and plated gold; +the floor was of highly polished marble or granite of different tints +wrought in subtle patterns of mosaic. It was a noble throne-room, the +vast proportions of which dwarfed the humanity that it was meant to +hold. + +Five thousand amazonian captains, officers, and female grandees were +assembled, besides the priestesses and other civic dignitaries. There +were also the obsequious husbands, in dutiful attendance upon these +their imperious mistresses. These, with the waiting slaves and court +musicians, brought up the number present to considerably over twelve +thousand. Yet there were wide spaces between the pillars, and our +heroes with their followers were by no means crowded. + +The queen and king sat on two thrones, side by side, only her throne was +elevated several steps above his, and of a much more gorgeous +description. + +Fifty broad but shallow steps led from the hall up to the platform on +which the thrones were placed. At each corner of the steps crouched +sphinxes, as large as full grown lions, made from beaten gold. The +throne of the queen, with its canopy and dais, were composed entirely of +exquisitely carved ivory, encrusted with diamonds. That of the king was +of gold, and, beyond the back, had no canopy. + +Queen Isori had been bathed, perfumed, and re-costumed since our heroes +had last seen her. She now appeared more like the conventional woman, +and less like the paladin. + +Her jet black hair was plaited, and hung down over her shoulders in two +thick links, being placed also low on her broad forehead. Above this +sat her serpent tiara. + +Her superb arms were naked to the shoulders, except for the jewelled +bracelets and wristlets that she wore. One breast was also bare, the +other being covered with golden scales. Large ear-rings rested against +her cheeks, and a wide necklet of diamonds and a Scarabaeus made of +emerald, as a pendant, encircled her smooth neck. From the snake zone +round her waist, to her jewelled sandals, fell a robe of diaphanous and +changing silk in numerous folds, which, closely plaited as these were, +still exhibited her limbs beneath. In her right hand she held a sceptre +of ivory, gold, and jewels, while at her sides kneeled eight slaves +fanning her with large peacock feathers. In front of them crouched two +living lions and four leopards. + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +KING SOTU TO THE RESCUE. + +This was the gorgeous spectacle that greeted our adventurers as they +were led by Pylea and her young warriors through the staring crowd of +Karnadamains. + +They paused at the bottom of the steps to make their best bow, yet they +did not attempt to kneel as the amazons were doing. + +The queen looked them over leisurely for a full minute, then she slowly +extended her arm and lowered her sceptre towards them; as she raised it +again, Pylea and her followers stood up. + +"You are welcome, strangers, to our court," she said, in that clear, +penetrating voice, so distinct yet so coldly smooth. "Approach, young +chief," she added, pointing to Ned, who slowly went up the steps until +he was a few feet from the lions and leopards; then he prudently paused. + +"We have not beheld a man like you before. You are young and strong +and, we hear, can fight. We are pleased with you." + +Ned bowed and blushed deeply. + +"You have a request to make to us. Reveal it without delay." + +Ned cleared his throat, and, in the most flowing terms at his command, +said that, having seen her greatness and been blinded by her glory and +majesty, he was more than satisfied, and would fain take his departure, +with his followers. + +Her majesty frowned as she listened to this request, and when it was +finished, she said in the some even tones-- + +"That may be, stranger. But many of my warriors require husbands, as +they will be widows presently." + +She looked round the hall with a slight smile, embracing Sotu in that +sweeping glance before she stared once more at Ned. Poor Sotu shrank on +his throne, while the male portion of the audience shook visibly. + +"We hear you do not spend your leisure hours composing poetry and +drinking wine, but that you run and wrestle as our women do. This is a +new experience to us, of mankind, and we desire to see more of it." + +Like Napoleon the First, and some other great people, Queen Isori was +accustomed to utter her thoughts and wishes without the slightest regard +for her audience. She continued, as clearly and smoothly as before-- + +"This is our pleasure. Tomorrow we shall hold a tournament of racing +and wrestling. We choose you as our antagonist, and those of our +warriors who have had enough of their present husbands shall select a +man from your followers. If you prevail over us, then we shall be your +servants; but if we prevail over you, then you shall be our servants to +do with as we please. I have spoken. You may kiss my hand." + +Yes; she had spoken, Ned thought, as he bent over the shapely +ring-covered fingers extended to him, and touched them with his lips. +She had spoken, and placed him in about as bad a fix as Paul Kruger had +done. + +He glanced at Sotu as he hastily retreated from the vicinity of Isori +and her wild beasts. The king sat in a limp state of collapse most +pitiful to see. His under jaw had fallen, his black eyes showed a +bloodshot rim right round them, his saffron cheeks were bleached, and +his sharp nose was blue. Already he felt the fatal noose closing round +his thirsty throat. + +"King Sotu gives a feast tonight, and we have promised then to listen to +his powerful epic. Those warriors who intend competing tomorrow will be +excused from this evening's revel." + +Calm and smooth as ever was that dismissal uttered. Ned and his chums +quitted that glorious hall in desperation. + +Pylea went with them, with her company. They were all very silent and +grave as they passed along the streets; nor did they utter a word until +they were inside the garden walls. Then Ned could contain his feelings +no longer. + +"See here, Pylea; I cannot stand this sort of arrangement. Poor images +as King Sotu and the other objects are; this is playing it too rough on +them, and on us also. The stakes are too heavy. As a good chum, give +us your advice." + +"Her majesty has snared you, my friends," replied Pylea, sadly. +"Whether you win or lose, she will keep to her purpose; for she never +changes. If you conquer her tomorrow, it will be all the same as if she +conquered you, for she has promised nothing. The king is doomed." + +"Then we must escape at once. Will you help us?" Pylea sat silent for +a long time, looking at her comrades, then she said-- + +"The queen is immovable, but King Sotu is crafty, and may help us for +his own sake. I dare not aid you by day, and no one can leave the city +at night without an order from the queen, backed by her signet ring. +Now, Sotu is his wife's secretary, and he alone dare approach her when +she sleeps. Perhaps he will write this order and steal the ring. I +shall go and see him while the queen is resting after her journey." + +"Good. Meantime see that your chariots are ready and your leopards well +fed, and we will pack up!" cried Ned. + +"Do not stir from here till I come. If I can, I shall bring the king +with me." + +They had to wait a weary time before Pylea returned with her +terror-stricken and dejected male monarch. As soon as Ned saw him he +trailed him inside the hall and poured out a flagon of wine for him. +This the king swallowed at a gulp, then he sank on a couch with a hollow +groan. + +"Pluck up, your majesty! If you help us to clear out tonight you'll +live to compose many epics, odes, roundelays, and couplets yet. It only +wants an effort, and a little wit." + +"It requires more than all these to outwit Isori. I can write out the +order--nay, it is here. I may also steal the ring while she sleeps if I +can only keep sober enough. But 'tis of this I fear; how can I keep so, +having to give a feast? Why did you come here to trouble me? Oh, that +fatal epic! It has been my ruin." + +"You must resist the amber and ruby for this once if you wish to have +many more bowls. Let me tie this rope round your neck, and it will +remind you of your doom if you swallow one cup too much." + +"No, thanks!" cried Sotu, shrinking back. + +"I shall go to the feast," said Pylea, quietly, "and guard you as much +as I can. The queen will retire early. You must leave the feast +immediately she goes; for a time, then I shall walk you about in the +gardens till you are quite sober. After you get me the ring you may +return to the table and enjoy yourself." + +"And what about tomorrow?" asked the king, fearfully. + +"If you do not get the ring tonight, sire, tomorrow you will be dead," +answered Pylea, impressively. + +"But who will take the blame?" + +"I shall," answered Ned. "I shall write a letter to the queen, and +return the ring after I have used it; she will then think that I have +taken it. Only get it first, and then make yourself dead drunk +afterwards. That will remove her suspicion, if she has any respecting +you." + +"I'll keep sober and do it," cried the king, almost resolutely. +"Afterwards, perchance, I may empty a few goblets to avert suspicion. +Pour me out another cup of wine." + +"No more at present," said Pylea. "Remember what you have to do." + +His majesty was used to being controlled by his female subjects, +therefore did not repeat his request. He did not stay long, however, +after the arrangements were completed. + +The gods had gifted him, as they generally do limited and feeble minds, +with an amazing amount of vanity and self-complacency. He possessed all +the composure, easy assurance, and superciliousness of a tenth-rate +actor, weak author, singer, or juvenile critic. He was like the rest of +his class, utterly depraved in his habits and instincts; cruel, selfish, +crafty, and cold by nature, as well as timid and treacherous. But he +was a most highly educated dilettante, and a proficient in those small +imitative arts and sciences which his warlike spouse so openly despised; +he could paint well, cook well, and play well, according to the stiff, +faulty, and formal laws of a limited past. Every art, science, and +tradition in this country stood still. Nothing had progressed during +the centuries in this land except the women. In fact, he patronised and +dabbled in most of the refined branches of that effete civilisation. He +had no sense of humour. Shallow-minded and conceited people never are +witty, nor can they appreciate a subtile jest. He affected cynicism, +but it was of the feeble and tasteless order. In matters of tradition +and custom he was a dogged believer and slave. Strength and authority +he cringed abjectly under. Insult passed over him like water from the +back of a duck. When not under the immediate influence of fear, he was +as impervious to all other emotions as consuming vanity could make him. +He considered himself as the super-refined salt of the earth, and his +wife as a superb animal, who pleased his artistic senses with her +matchless charms, and protected him with her strength. He was supremely +satisfied with himself, and also with her, and delighted to speak about +and extol her superior points. + +As for the other little drawbacks of his self-indulgent existence, his +ignoble place and loss of dignity, he did not feel any more shame in the +servitude than a flunkey can; while regarding his eventual destiny, as +long as he did not feel the noose at his neck, he was as happily +oblivious to it as the contented pig is amongst the acorns. + +"Death comes to all alike, in some form or other," he would say +cynically, when he saw the mummy-case sent round, "and we must pay some +price for our pleasant lives." + +He had entered the presence of Ned and his followers the most woebegone +and shivering wretch that ever stood on the gallows. But the sight of +their stalwart forms and resolute faces restored his confidence. It was +like a reprieve to the condemned felon, a week's engagement to the needy +and improvident actor. From abject terror he bounded into the regions +of insufferable assurance, like an inflated air-ball. + +He insisted on reciting his epic before he took his departure, and dwelt +lingeringly over its choice language and far-fetched imagery. +Fortunately it was brief, for he was one of these poets whose muse is +gaspy in her leaps, as well as obscure in her metaphor and phrases. +Like a small phial, his mind could not carry or give much at a time, but +he fondly believed that what he gave was quintessence. His thoughts +were aged, stale, and feeble, but he dressed them well, and considered, +as so many of our moderns do, that the dressing was all that need be +considered or admitted. Our heroes bore the infliction meekly, for they +remembered their own lost and adored diary; but Pylea and her +companions, and also the Kaffirs, yawned most rudely. + +Ned, thinking to please this royal poet, further presented to him a +spare compass which he had, also a revolver and a rifle, with some +ammunition. Sotu accepted the compass with effusive thanks, but he +shuddered and recoiled before the other gifts. + +"Send these to the queen; she will appreciate them, and they may soften +her wrath, after you are gone. Meantime I must go, as I have to +superintend my cooks. There is a new dish which I am introducing +tonight from an ancient formula, and I find wonderful amusement in +preparing it." + +"Indeed," answered Ned, politely. "What is it?" + +"The forgotten art of cooking quails. We pluck and partly boil them +alive in oil before stuffing and roasting them. The natural juices are +thus retained, and the flesh is tenderer than by keeping them until +stale." + +"Ah!" murmured Ned, trusting in his heart that this refined cook might +also have a little slow boiling in oil before he was too stale. + +"I have invented some pots, with lids specially contrived to keep the +birds' heads outside. We plunge their bodies in the cold oil, and bring +it very gradually to the boiling-point. We are able to tell in this way +when they are sufficiently done, and that is the instant they expire. +It is a pleasant sight to watch their heads during the process." + +"Is it, sire? For the watcher, or for the birds?" + +"The watcher, of course," replied the king, smiling, as he caught what +he thought was the joke. "We remove them then, stuff them with garlic, +pine-apple, and bananas, and slightly roast them within tamarisk leaves. +I shall send you a dish of them tonight. They are most delicate in +flavour and rarely succulent." + +Ned bowed. He felt like kicking this callous and cowardly fiend, but +policy forced him to dissemble. + +"It will be also strictly necessary for you to take with you some royal +gifts, so as to give colour to your leaving. I have control of the +queen's treasure-house, and I shall attend to this, and send you some of +our artwork in gold, with a few good stones. I shall also give you, as +a parting gift from myself, some dainties of my own preparing to partake +of on your journey." + +Sotu smiled gently as he said these words, and took his departure. + +"Have nothing to do with the king's quails and dainties. He is an adept +at poisoning, and he only smiles like that when he meditates torture and +death," said Pylea, earnestly, as soon as the royal wretch had gone. + +"He is a genial gentleman," replied Ned, lightly. "I wonder he hasn't +long since poisoned his wife." + +"He dare not, for his own sake. When she dies his daughter will reign, +and her first act will be to strangle her father." + +"Blessed King Sotu!--happy land!" said our heroes. + +By sundown they were all prepared to leave. In the dusk several mutes +brought the promised gifts from the treasury. Some time afterwards the +dainties arrived in golden vessels. + +Our heroes emptied the eatables out on a shrub-covered part of the +garden, but the dishes they packed up with the other articles of virtu. +There were a water bag full of large diamonds, and over three +hundredweight of cups, vases, and images of gods made from the purest +gold. The hearts of our adventurers beat lightly as they distributed +this precious weight amongst their packages. + +Six hours after this they paced the ground and watched the illuminated +palaces from the walls of their garden, in a fever of unrest and +anxiety. Their hopes were all depending upon the self-restraint of this +hopeless drunkard, and Pylea. Would she succeed? + +The full moon shone over the city, so beautiful and stately, with its +carved and painted walls, delicious gardens, deep canals, arches, and +wide steps; on its monuments, obelisks, sphinxes, and mighty temples; on +its crowded, broad avenued streets and gleaming lake beyond, where +floated the sloping-prowed barges, with their awnings and gilded +saloons. + +Would Pylea succeed and secure the ring? The chariots were standing +laden inside the garden walls, ready for the leopards to be harnessed to +them. The young amazons were fondling the fed and tamed beasts in their +cages within the stables, or walking beside their sable friends in the +side avenues. They were bidding the handsome Kaffirs, whom they could +not keep, farewell. Womanlike, they would rather see them go than see +them owned by more powerful rivals. But they were grave and melancholy +at the coming sacrifice, and did not resent the dark manly arms that +were round their armoured waists. Doubtless they were listening to +words that they would not soon forget. + +Gradually the streets emptied, and chariots rolled from the palace +gates, drawn by the amazons who had been guests of the queen and king. +Only the husbands were left behind with Sotu. The queen had retired. +Another hour of fearful suspense passed, and then Pylea appeared with +the signet-ring. King Sotu had kept his word for once in his aimless +life. + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +THE ESCAPE. + +Swiftly and silently the leopards were harnessed to the chariots. Then +each amazon took the reins, and, with her particular friend beside her, +drove through the gates and into the almost deserted streets. + +It was two hours past midnight now, and the citizens, with the exception +of the guards and the male revellers, were long since asleep. + +A lovely night for a drive, for young people particularly. Only the +roaring of the confined beasts, with the calling of the frogs in the +papyrus reeds, could be heard. Serene and mellow the moon looked down +from a cloudless sky upon the restful city, the empty wharfs and stairs, +and the fringe-lined lake, where also slept their god-ships, the +crocodiles. It was a splendid country for women, cats, crocodiles, +serpents, and other sacred and venerated things, but not so favourable +to men. Our adventurers were leaving it gladly. + +At the outer gate they had a little trouble, as Pylea had expected. + +The commandress chanced to be one of the ladies who had decided to +compete in the lists on the morrow. She had fixed her discriminating +eyes upon Cocoeni, and when roused up by a subordinate, regarded the +exodus with gloomy suspicion. + +The order, however, was so definite, and the signet-ring beyond dispute; +yet she wanted some particulars. + +"It is the written command of Queen Isori, that these strangers pass +through without delay. They go to offer sacrifice to their gods in the +desert before the contest," added Pylea, with a dig of her heel at Ned, +who crouched behind. + +"Yes, dauntless captain," said Ned. "Your gods are not our gods, nor +your customs ours." + +"Are these the sacrifices you take with you?" asked the stately amazon, +pointing to the packages. + +"Yes," answered Ned, brazenly, "our offerings are all there." + +"It is strange, for I was with the queen before supper, and she said +nothing of this. Let me send a messenger to her." + +"By no means. See, it is written here that she is not to be disturbed +this night on pain of death. She is weary with her journey, and wishes +to prepare also against the morning." + +"Humph! it is my duty; pass on." + +Ned waited with Pylea to see the other chariots go through. As they did +so, the native amazon looked at each one keenly. + +"Stop!" she cried, as Cocoeni was passing; "this is the man I have +chosen to fight with. Step forth and let me look at you." + +"Get out and satisfy the captain, Cocoeni," said Ned. "Show your +muscles, and be quick about it." + +Cocoeni rose, nothing loth, and stalked up to the side of the amazon. +She turned him round, feeling his biceps critically, as an intending +purchaser might examine a horse. Standing side by side, their heads +were on a level, a splendid pair as to height and breadth of shoulders. +But the woman had seen more than thirty summers, whereas Cocoeni was her +junior by many years. + +"You are a fine fellow, yet I think I can throw you," she said, while +her black eyes sparkled with admiration. "Will you try once with me +now?" + +"Shall I, baas?" + +"Yes," answered Ned. "Get her on the other side of the gate, over by +the green bank, while we all pass through. Then, don't waste any time, +grip her quick and pitch her into the lake, if you can. It will create +a diversion." + +He gave these instructions, in English; then, turning to the warlike +dame, he said mildly in her language-- + +"The lord Cocoeni will take up your offer, brave lady; but as I have no +desire to see either of you hurt on the hard stones, and so spoil our +sport when the day comes, I fix upon yonder soft sward as the ground. +One throw only." + +"So let it be." + +The dame retired for a moment to prepare herself and do up her hair. +She had been standing up to now in her night costume. + +While she was absent, Pylea whispered something to one of her band. The +girl nodded, and, turning her chariot, darted back the way they came. + +"Where is she going?" asked Ned. + +"To keep watch in the shadows," whispered Pylea. "This woman is my +aunt, therefore I know her well. She will send a messenger to the +palace while she delays us, and that messenger must be stopped." + +"Oh! Cannot we make a bolt for it while she is inside?" + +"Two hundred bows would be bent if we did so. One bow will be quite +sufficient," answered Pylea, calmly. + +She was a plucky girl, quick and prompt in her actions, and had proved a +first-rate chum all through to Ned and his friends, but she had no weak +sentimentalism about her. She could remove a human impediment with the +some utter indifference that country ladies kill pullets. As a friend, +however, she was sans reproche. Ned felt that the present occasion was +one in which he must not be too fastidious, yet he shuddered to think of +the luckless messenger. + +As the last of the chariots, except that one which had turned back, +passed beneath the lintel of the archway, Ned saw a white-robed, +bald-headed little man steal out of a side-window, and glide rapidly +across the moonlight to the shadow side of the road. As he did so, +Pylea again touched Ned with her foot. + +"My aunt will be a widow sooner than she intended," she whispered. +"There goes my uncle to meet his death." + +Almost immediately afterwards the amazonian aunt came out of the +guard-house door, clad in light chain armour, and with only a scarf tied +tightly round her waist. She was barefooted, so that she might not slip +easy. She looked a formidable figure as she strode over to where +Cocoeni was waiting for her. A crowd of the guard was gathered round, +leaving the gate open and unprotected. + +"Wait one instant," said Pylea. "Ah, here they come." + +The young amazon who had been sent back, drove her chariot and her +Kaffir passenger almost noiselessly. She nodded slightly as she drew +up, and murmured softly-- + +"He lies in the shadow, thirty yards distant. I removed the arrow from +his heart as we passed him." + +"Good," answered Pylea; then together they passed through the gate and +drew up at the other side. + +Pylea, having ordered her followers to drive on out of arrow-shot, +remained behind with Ned and Cocoeni's driver to watch the contest. + +The combatants stood face to face watching each other keenly, and +looking out for a chance to spring in. The newly made widow was a wily +old bird, and up to every feint. She was in no haste to close, as she +wished to linger the game. Several times she pretended to be about to +take the leap, always to draw back. + +"Quick, Cocoeni; trust to your strength and finish it," cried Ned, who +was chaffing at the delay. + +"All right, baas." + +Cocoeni walked slowly towards the amazon, who now began to retreat, but +towards the edge of the water. Seeing this, she suddenly sprang to one +side and attempted to pass him. + +It was a fatal move; for Cocoeni, quick as lightning, leapt upon her, +and gripped her sideways, slipping both arms under hers as she twisted +round. + +There was no question of chivalry or gentle treatment now. The woman +felt, as those muscular long arms closed round her, as if she was in the +embrace of a python. It was such a hug as she had never before +received. Her ribs felt cracking, and her lungs compressed so that she +could not breathe or use her arms. She was taken at a disadvantage and +completely at his mercy. + +Cocoeni had his back towards the lake, which was three yards distant. +With a hoarse, savage laugh, he imprinted a loud kiss on the open mouth +so close to him, and the next instant sent her flying over his head +three feet clear of the bank. With a shrill cry and a loud splash, she +disappeared into the water. + +"There, baas, she will not forget the throw of Cocoeni," he shouted, as +he clambered into his chariot. + +Away they dashed at full speed--getting a parting glimpse of the +drenched dame as she scrambled drippingly ashore; past the suburban +villas and fields and out to the arid desert. + +"My aunt Culpatra will not be content with one messenger," cried Pylea, +as they rushed along. "We shall be pursued by the queen and her army. +Fortunately, we have an hour's start, and these animals are the best in +Karnadama." + +"But extra loaded," answered Ned. + +"Yes; yet you can shoot with your guns further than they can with their +arrows." + +"I hope we shall not have to do this." + +Twice before daybreak did Pylea and her companions stop their leopards +to feed them with those little cakes. After the animals had eaten these +they went on with renewed speed. + +"What is that you give them, Pylea?" + +"Something to keep them fresh. A little does them good and removes +fatigue. Too much will kill them, yet they will run with unabated speed +until they drop dead. I fear most of these will be dead when we reach +the mountain, for we must not spare them this journey." + +Day came and almost passed, without any signs of pursuit. The only +stops they made were those when more of the cakes were given to the +animals. Then they went on again at full speed, seemingly as fresh as +ever. + +The sun was just dipping below the desert line when Ned saw a long low +cloud appear. He did not need to call the attention of Pylea to ask its +meaning. The pursuers were coming. + +All that night the leopards ran at their swiftest, being fed often. +When morning broke the gold mountain was distinctly visible; but so also +were their followers. A long line of moving dust rolled in the rear, +spreading miles wide. Queen Isori had brought half her army with her, +and they were driving lightly. She was resolved to stop the fugitives +if she could. + +Onwards! The pursuers are gaining ground, but they are still as far off +as the mountain, and it is stationary. + +The leopards are fed recklessly, and rush along madly as if they were +free. With long bounds they cover yards of ground at a time. Their +eyes blaze fearfully, and bloody froth flies from their gaping jaws. +They want no driving now; they are possessed with the most savage fury. + +"They will reach the mountain. We dare feed them no longer; they are +mad," cried Pylea, looking only at the cliffs. + +Ned was looking behind. How rapidly the pursuers were gaining! Already +he could distinguish individuals where before he had only seen a +confused mass. Their arrows were gleaming in the bright sunbeams. + +At last! The chariot jolted suddenly and overturned, sending Ned and +his bundle sprawling. Pylea had leaped lightly out and was helping him +up. + +The leopards lay gasping their last breath. All along the line the +others lay in the same condition. Some had fallen exhausted, others the +amazons had slain with their arrows, to prevent the maddened beasts from +dashing against the rocks. + +The drivers and passengers were running full speed for the archway, +carrying their loads with them. From the desert came a hoarse roar like +the sound of waves breaking on shingle. + +It was the army of Karnadama urging on their lions and leopards. + +"Quick!" panted Pylea, no longer calm. + +Ned got up and ran, as he had never done before, through the hall, and +up the long stairway that led to freedom. + +"Run on for your lives, and look not back; we will follow," cried Pylea, +as she ranged her warriors in front of the stairs. + +Up they went, one after the other, as fast as they could scramble, those +thousands of steps. Exhausted at last, they reached the chamber of the +pythons. + +Here they sank down breathless to wait on Pylea and her regiment. + +Not a sound could be heard from below. Had the brave girls remained +there to face their infuriated queen? For the second time in their +lives our heroes felt themselves to be mean cowards. The first time had +been when they killed the baby gorilla. + +"We can never leave these brave girls in the lurch like this, lads. We +must return and save them, or die with them," cried Ned, in sharp tones +of agony. + +Gripping his revolver, and followed by his men, he rushed with frantic +steps down the stairs. + +At the fourth landing he stopped suddenly. There before him leaned +against the wall the friend of Cocoeni, with the blood dripping through +her fingers as she pressed her hand against her side. + +"Come no further," she gasped faintly. "I only am left alive." + +"What!" cried Ned, starting back in dismay. "Are they all slain? Is +Pylea also dead?" + +Cocoeni by this time had reached forward, and was holding the dying girl +in his arms, the hot tears running down his cheeks. + +"All," replied the girl. "I was sent forward to close the wall at the +first stair. Before I reached it they were cut down. I saw Pylea fall +even as I received this wound, but I had strength enough to close the +stone door and creep up the stairs thus far." + +Her head sank as she uttered the last words against the breast of +Cocoeni. + +"Bring her up to the hall, Cocoeni," said Ned, brokenly. + +Not a dry eye was amongst them. + +Cocoeni carried her up as gently as he could, but before they reached +the sculptured hall, she was almost gone. + +As he laid her down, she opened her eyes and smiled wanly. Then she +whispered so faintly that they had to bend close to hear the feeble +accents. + +"They cannot open the door I closed, for hours. You have time to +escape. Destroy the stairs at the top and you are safe." + +Her military trained mind was still planning, even although the +life-blood was nearly drained from her heart. Another long pause, and +then she opened her lips and her eyes for the last time. + +"Cocoeni, you are only a man, after all, for you are weeping just as +ours do when they are hurt. Kiss me, as you did two nights ago in the +garden, for which I rebuked you then, but I am now as weak and foolish +as you are." + +Cocoeni pressed his warm lips to her cold ones. When he removed them +her lips remained apart. She was dead. + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +THE RETURN. + +"It is a wonderful story, boys. With those stones and bric-a-brac to +support it, I am the last man in the world to cast doubts upon its +veracity. I wish, however, that you had brought with you that quarter +cohort of young amazons; we could do with them now in Rhodesia. +However, go on and finish your yarn. What did you do with this poor +girl?" + +Dr Jim had received our heroes at Bulawayo. + +At present they were on their way from the capital of Rhodesia to +Mafeking with a train-load of native allies. Other laden trains were +following in their track. + +Much had happened during their absence from the field of progress, as +their captain informed them. The Transvaal Government only, like the +kingdom of Karnadama, stood still. + +The suzerainty dispute had swallowed up many mouths, while Kruger, with +his usual policy of aggressive arrogance and false professions, had lain +like a great tortoise in the way, pushing its head out, and drawing it +back again before it could be chopped off. + +He was making a move at last. Emboldened by the quiet deportment of +Britain, he considered that the hour had arrived when he could show his +head plainly, and walk on as he wanted. + +Crafty and timid although he was, Kruger had not been idle inside his +shell. He had watched the political troubles that threatened his enemy, +until now he considered their hands too full with outside affairs to be +able to send much help to South Africa. + +It was a fixed belief with Kruger and his countrymen that England was in +the same position that the Roman Empire had been when her legions were +recalled from Albion. He knew how her power was envied by the other +great nations, and how isolated she stood facing the world. He had +intrigued with those ill-wishers until he considered himself sure of +support. + +Only blind hatred moved him now. To break the power of this abhorred +race, he was prepared to sacrifice the Republic and make his countrymen +serfs, so that he might be allowed to have a life-post as governor, and +see the Uitlanders crushed. + +"You have just come in time to take a hand in clearing the board, if you +are not afraid to venture once more into Krugerland," Dr Jim had told +them when he met them. + +"We have sure intelligence that he intends to abrogate the Convention of +London, and declare the absolute independence of the South African +Republic on the tenth of this month. We have a copy of his intended +ultimatum. He will allow the Uitlanders only twenty-four hours to +decide whether they will declare themselves as enemies to their native +land, or else be driven from the country, or imprisoned, with their +property confiscated. A general massacre is clearly intended of all who +dare resist. + +"It is now the third of October, so that we have seven days before us to +prepare for the old murderer. We have not been idle any more than +Kruger has, and this time we have played his own game, the hiding one. +From Fourteen Streams to the Portuguese border on the north we have the +Transvaal environed and practically hemmed in; from Fourteen Streams to +Usuta they are also isolated, although they do not know it; the natives +of Swazi and Gaza lands are ready to rise at the signal, and pour across +the border; a fleet of warships protects Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and +Durban, so that the tactics of Mr Schreiner are so far defeated. + +"We have hundreds of volunteers on their way from Canada, Australia, and +New Zealand. They are bringing arms and ammunition enough for all +purposes. They will land at Durban and Cape Town in a few weeks at +latest. Yes; I think we are nearly ready this time for the tortoise +when he puts out his head, without having to trouble our mother for too +much help, except those who man her fleet." + +"And what can we do?" asked our heroes. "Command us, for we are ready." + +"Well, I want you, Romer, to take a message into Johannesburg, and wait +there till the fun begins." + +"Yes," replied Ned. + +"You must have some kind of disguise. I see you have grown a crop of +down on your cheeks. I think you might sacrifice that, and you'll make +as smashing a young woman as one of your amazons." + +Ned laughed, and said he was willing to change his sex for the time. + +"All right," replied the doctor. "We'll put the dressmaker of Mafeking +on to you and your chums, and send you in to cajole the Boers. You, +Raybold, must go to Pretoria. And you, Weldon, to Bloemfontein. I +shall want Cocoeni and his fellows along with me. + +"There must be no hesitation this time amongst the Uitlanders. On the +midnight of the eleventh they must rise to a man, and hold the different +towns until the outside forces join you. If all goes well, as I cannot +see how it can miss, take possession of the trains and telegraph +offices, so as to let no message go out or enter the land. Our part of +the game must be finished before the world can hear about its opening, +and this rotten Republic will then be a thing of the past. We intend to +hold the kopjes this campaign, and force these skunks into the open; +also to avoid bloodshed as much as possible, only the victory must be on +our side--and complete." + +Dr Jim gave our heroes a great many other details and instructions on +the journey down. He had been training and moving men to different +parts for the past seven months in anticipation of this event, as +settlers and their servants, as unostentatiously as he could manage it. +While Kruger had been busy coquetting with foreign powers, and buying +the latest improvement in weapons, Cecil Rhodes had been quietly +stocking and populating the lands adjacent to the Transvaal. + +"By the way, Romer, I have some personal news for you, which might have +interested you more deeply than it is likely to do now that you have +made your own fortune." + +"Yes?" asked Ned, curiously. + +"Mr Rhodes has been home, and looking into your affairs. He always +finds time to attend to the interests of those he takes in hand, with +all his other big concerns." + +"And what has he discovered about me?" + +"That your father first, and afterwards you, trusted as scoundrelly a +thief as was ever transported, to manage your fortune." + +"Ah!" + +"Yes; this Jabez Raymond, the solicitor, has robbed your late father and +you systematically for many years, forging papers and creating mortgages +wholesale. Mr Rhodes knew your father and the position he held during +his life, so he set ruthlessly to work and unveiled the sanctimonious +scoundrel. He is at present doing a seven years' stretch at Dartmoor +for his delinquencies, while your property is being looked after by a +respectable agent. You are at present the possessor of a comfortable +fifteen hundred per annum and a fine estate in Devon, free of all +incumbrances. This, however, is a flea-bite to what you will have when +these stones are sold." + +"Do you think they will realise much?" + +"Two or three hundred thousand pounds at the least, I should say." + +"But by rights they belong to our employer, Mr Cecil Rhodes." + +"He will be content with a share in the mine you have discovered, if it +ever gets into the market. These were presents given to you, therefore +they are undoubtedly your own property," said the doctor. + +"And our followers." + +"Nonsense! These Kaffirs were your servants. Besides, so much money +would ruin them. Divide the stones between you three, for they are +undoubtedly your property. As for the idols and cups, you can lend a +few of them for our Salisbury Museum. Now finish your yarn." + +Dr Jim leaned back on the cushion, smoking his pipe, while Ned resumed +his story. As he told the tale, the train ran smoothly over that +country which so lately had been an unexplored wilderness. + +"We had no time to mourn long over the poor young amazon who had fallen +a victim to friendship. We knew that our pursuers would spare no +efforts to reach us as soon as they could do so. + +"Therefore, satisfied that she, Rhae, was no more, we opened one of the +mummy-cases, and, taking out the original lodger, we placed her inside +instead. We wrapped her up in the outer linen of the mummy, after +reading the service over her, and replaced the lid of the sarcophagus. +Properly, I suppose, she should have been embalmed, for, according to +her religion, her soul was in jeopardy by her being entombed in this +fashion. But I dare say she'll find her body again at the resurrection +day quite as easily as any of her countrywomen will find their more +carefully preserved earthly shells. + +"This done we started up the stairs, carrying the mummy with us. We did +this so as not to horrify the Karnadamains too much with our sacrilege. +We reached the top all right; then, remembering the dying advice of Rhae +about breaking down the steps, I took back with me a good charge of +gunpowder and dynamite, and, placing this in a wide crevice about a +couple of dozen steps from the top, I ran up a train of gunpowder to the +hall above. + +"I had hardly finished this operation when we heard them coming. We +could hear their shouts and the clashing of their armour as they filled +the chamber below and crowded up the stairs. At once I fired the train, +and bolted as hard as I could spin to the outer door of the hall. + +"I had only taken about a dozen leaps when the explosion took place. +Into the vast hall the smoke and dust flew from the smaller room, +accompanied by the crushing and tumbling of the blasted slabs. + +"As soon as the sounds ceased and the smoke cleared, we ventured back to +look at the damage done. We had demolished not only the stairs, but +torn great masses out of the walls of the room as well. Where the +entrance to the stairs had been now lay several tons of broken masonry; +the passage was completely blocked up. + +"We listened, but heard no sounds from below; then, satisfied that we +were at last safe, we left the large painted hall. + +"Outside we went on the walls and looked over. There a vast crowd of +chariots were standing, with a number of amazon guards. They saw us, +and several bent their bows, but we could afford to laugh at this +display, as the arrows only reached a short distance up the cliffs. + +"We at once hurried away, however, for suddenly a thought occurred to me +that there might be some other way up, and we had no desire to be +captured. + +"Another thing made us not linger in that deserted citadel. We had +plenty of ammunition and wealth, etc., but we had very little +provisions, and only about one bag full of water. + +"Fortunately we were going down the hill, and knew exactly how long we +should take before we reached the Rhodes fountain. But for all that, we +were nearly dead from thirst before we reached it. + +"Those awful bashikonay ants were in our minds also, all down that hot +and parching defile. If we should meet them here, there was no hope for +us. Luckily we did not, nor did we see any of them again. + +"The stream was still running as clearly as ever. We felt happy when we +reached it, even although we had not half a meal each left out of our +scanty stock. + +"Nor did we taste anything after that until we were a full day's journey +from the mountain. Then we killed a couple of lions, and had to satisfy +our appetites on them until we got once more amongst the game. + +"Here we were all right. We stayed three weeks on the plains, hunting +and drying meat, and otherwise preparing ourselves for the dismal +forest. We had not lost a man since starting, and for this we all +rejoiced; but in the return through the forest we were not quite so +fortunate, and I am sorry to have to report the loss of ten, whom we had +to bury there. + +"One day we ran right into a camp of those active little nomads, who +surrounded us and gave us battle. How many they were we could not tell, +as they dodged us amongst the trees and brushwood. + +"There must have been thousands, for although we shot about fifty of +them and kept the rest at bay, yet we suffered from them night and day +afterwards. Not until we were clear of the forest were we able to shake +them off. + +"They were dreadful and revengeful pests; nor were we ever sure when we +might be pierced with one of their poisoned arrows. + +"Three of our boys went down during the first conflict, and after that +the rest of the ten died from the effects of the poison, one after the +other. They had been touched in vital parts, or else neglected to look +after their wounds at the time. + +"I got one arrow in the ankle, but my boot so far protected me, that my +wound was better in a week. Cocoeni was wounded in the arm, and +suffered dreadfully for three weeks. The others who were hit managed to +suck the poison out quickly and wash the wounds with disinfectants, so +that they managed to escape. + +"None of us had fever, however, coming back. The constant excitement we +were kept in by these dwarfish, light-coloured savages, with the quick +marches we took, must have saved us from that evil. + +"After the forest was over, the rest of our journey was only a matter of +time. You may judge of our astonishment, however, when one day we saw +the corrugated iron roof of a railway station where some months before +we had passed through a country peopled only by natives. You cannot, +however, realise our delight when amongst those who came to welcome us +we beheld you--the hero of South Africa." + +"I was as delighted to see you, my lads, and so will Mr Rhodes, when he +lands in Cape Town and gets my telegram announcing your safe return. +Let me congratulate you on your remarkable success. You have more than +answered our expectations, and I am proud of your achievements." + +"That repays us tenfold for all we have gone through," answered our +heroes, with beaming faces and exultant hearts. + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +"TO YOUR TENTS, O ISRAEL!" + +At Mafeking our heroes received their final instructions, and were +metamorphosed into three large-boned, amazonian young women, more +awe-inspiring than beautiful to look upon. They were costumed in a +homely fashion, as they were acting the character of domestic servants. +Under this disguise they passed scrutiny and were not suspected by their +fellow-passengers. Tall women are by no means a novelty nowadays, nor +are awkward and masculine women, since bicycles and feminine athletics +are the vogue. Indeed, to find a gentle, soft-voiced, graceful, and +retiring lady traveller is now the exception rather than the rule. + +Therefore, when our heroes forgot their acting and took big leaps in and +out of carriage doors, or crossed their legs and their arms, it did not +strike any one as peculiar behaviour. Women of this generation do all +that men were at one time only privileged to do. They raise their +dresses and plant their feet on the cushioned seats opposite them, and +do all sorts of things that were at one time supposed to be most +indelicate. Our heroes, being well-bred, gentlemanly young fellows, +conducted themselves a great deal more decorously than the majority of +nineteenth-century ladies would have behaved. Indeed, their native +politeness made them appear singularly superior servant-girls. + +They left their treasures with Dr Jim to bank for them at Mafeking, and +went on together as far as Bloemfontein, in the Orange Free State. + +They had changed trains at De Aar, and again at Tuur Berg for the Boer +line. + +At Bloemfontein the first of their partings took place, where Fred went +off. + +Ned and Clarence felt a bit melancholy when they said good-bye to their +faithful and long-tried chum. They reckoned that some fighting had to +be done before they were re-united, if ever they were. If it could have +been managed they would have liked to do the fighting in company, yet as +it could not be so, they bore the parting bravely. + +As the pair crossed the border at Viljoen's Drift, and saw the train +boarded by the hateful Boers, they felt the old rage again possess them, +which had so long been almost forgotten. These arrogant, uncouth +bullies, who treated male and female with the same rough brutality, made +them clench their teeth and draw their brows together until they looked +very forbidding females indeed. + +But the officials were wonderfully pleasant towards them, considering +their unfriendly demeanour. They admired muscle and bone like theirs, +and said audibly that they would be fine vrows some day, when they got +fatter. They were passed on much more easily than they expected. Once +Ned had to correct an impertinent German, who tried to make himself +agreeable in the fashion some cads have with unprotected females. Ned +promptly knocked the ruffian down and kicked him under the seat. Then +he leaned back calmly and gazed out of the window, until he suddenly +recollected that he should have called the guard instead. He did this +at once as soon as he remembered his sex, and had the man removed in a +very dejected and dilapidated condition. + +This German did not recover his presence of mind until he reached +Johannesburg. Then, when he saw Ned on the platform, he ran +panic-stricken out of the station, vowing that these Englishwomen were +demons, and that it would be a long time before he wasted his attentions +on another of this ungrateful nation. + +"Good-bye, Clara," said Ned, as he stood with his bonnet-box and bag on +the platform. "Take care of yourself, dear, and don't go falling in +love with a Boer." + +"Don't be afraid, Edwina darling. I'll go for the cruel wretches if +they try to persecute me, as you did with that nasty German." + +"Dort's all right, meme leetle pigeon," shouted a bearded burgher, +showing his big face near. "You just wait till you are asked, then you +vil be von fine old woman." + +"Don't mind the rude fellow, Clara," cried Ned, warningly. But Clarence +was too quick; with a back-handed slap he sent the Boer staggering +backwards a dozen paces. + +"Couldn't hold my hand back, Eddy dear. Englishwomen aren't used to +these compliments, you know." + +"Be careful," said Ned. "Remember our positions." The burgher took his +blow, however, without resentment. Several of his countrymen were +laughing at him, therefore he slunk away quietly. + +"Good-bye, and trusting we may meet soon." + +Ned watched the train start with watering eyes, then he stalked out of +the station and straight to the Three Ace Club. + +As he passed through the streets he noticed that things appeared much +quieter than when he was there before. The police did not interfere so +much with the citizens, nor were the armed Boers so aggressive. It +seemed as if a more tolerant spirit was ruling their behaviour. + +Knowing what he did, Ned was not at all deceived by these false signs of +amiability. When the Boer is meditating some extra treachery he is +always the most amiable. It is only part of his crafty and deceitful +nature. He likes to lull his victim into a trusting condition, so that +he may have him at a disadvantage. He likes to play like a cat with his +prey, and surprise him suddenly. + +Ned knew that Kruger had given orders for this extra tolerance, so that +the citizens might be lulled into security, and that his thunderbolt +might fall the more startlingly upon their devoted heads. This was only +in keeping with his malicious, torture-loving, and savage nature. These +smiling, hard-faced men who looked so grimly indulgent on the unarmed +citizens whom they were deluding, were inwardly thinking gloatingly on +the coming massacre. + +He saw them clinking glasses in the bars with their unconscious victims, +and laughing loudly at their jokes, while their revolvers stuck out +behind--the revolvers that they intended using shortly on the jokers. +Knowing what he did, Ned hated those double-faced wretches with more +intensity. They were less tolerable in their sullen and insulting state +than in their surly humour. + +Once he almost betrayed himself by the start he gave. He had passed +Stephanus Groblaar with his broken nose, standing with some exchange men +at the door of a hotel. + +Stephanus saw him also, and winked leeringly at him as he passed. +Stephanus was a modern city-bred Boer, therefore of the advanced school, +who laughed at religion and morality. With these added vices he +retained all the other evil instincts of his race, so that he was +utterly graceless. + +Ned passed him swiftly with eyes cast down. He glanced over his +shoulder after he had got a little distance, and gave a sigh of relief, +when he saw Stephanus leering on a couple of ladies who were passing. +The supposed servant had only attracted him momentarily. He had failed +to recognise his nose-breaker. + +Ned felt savagely glad that this vindictive foe was in the city. He +trusted he would stay in Johannesburg till the night of the tenth, for +he wanted to have it out with him. + +When he reached the club it was almost empty, but the manager recognised +him and took him upstairs to a bedroom. Here he had a wash, and some +lunch brought to him. Then he lay down and rested for a few hours. + +He was wakened by some one shaking him, and when he opened his eyes he +saw his old friend, Philip Martin, by the bedside. Ned started up and +shook hands. + +"Well, my fine young woman, so you have got back." + +Ned laughed, and told his message, which the other listened to with +sparkling eyes. + +"We have been ready and waiting for this message for months past. So +Kruger is going to make the grand move at last? He will get a mighty +surprise, instead of giving us one, as he intends." + +He rubbed his hands gleefully. + +"I for one am heart-sick of all this long suspense and inaction. I +shall welcome the hour with the greatest delight. Only there will be +some bloodletting before the affair is settled." + +"I don't mind that," answered Ned. "Before I arrived in Johannesburg I +did not know what hatred or revenge meant. It was Kruger and his Boers +who planted these passions in my heart on my first visit. During my +absence the plants did not thrive much. Now that I have returned, +however, the Transvaal air seems to have revived them suddenly." + +"Yes," said Philip Martin. "Hatred, envy, deceit, revenge, greed, and +gracelessness are plants that grow well and quickly in the South African +Republican garden. They are fine Dutch bulbs, and take kindly to the +Transvaal air. Since you have given me the news of this crowning scheme +of perfidy on the part of the crafty and senseless tyrant Kruger, I also +feel as if I don't mind shedding some gore if I can only help to put him +in his proper place--the felon's cell. Lately he has been playing one +of his favourite games with us, which to those in the `know' means +`spoof' eventually. He has been acting the part of `Codlin' as the only +real friend of the Uitlander--the kindly old humourist of Pretoria, the +simple-minded farmer chief." + +"Yes; he tried to make traitors and spies of us in that way," remarked +Ned. + +"Just so. He has been talking about conciliation and the blessedness of +unity amongst brethren. Every Sunday of late he has occupied the Dopper +pulpit, and his orations have been noted for their breadth and mildness. +The police wink at small offenders where before they pounced upon them +rigidly. A general tide of indulgence and generosity appears to be +setting in towards us in every direction. There are rumours that the +franchise and full burgher rights will be proclaimed on the tenth. This +the Volksraad have already formally passed, with certain conditions +which are to be told us by the president himself on that momentous day." + +"Yes," replied Ned, grimly; "the conditions you might have suspected all +along, knowing Kruger's tactics of old. He seems to be an animal of +instinct and habit. Like the dog, he always turns round the regulation +number of times. He never varies in his movements, and never changes." + +"You are right, Romer; he does not. He will humour us up to the last +moment, and then give us our option--to become traitor burghers and +rebels to our queen, or else be shot down ruthlessly. There will be no +mistake about the shooting if we decline, therefore we must take time by +the forelock, and anticipate the kindly intentions of Oom Paul. What +are you going to do meanwhile?" + +"I shall stick to my present disguise, and live most of my time in the +kitchen," continued Ned. "I can also do any little messages you may +want about the city." + +"Yes, that will be best. I'll tell you how you may also serve us, if +you can play your part safely." + +"In what way?" + +"Get a sweetheart in the barracks if you can, and we may, with your +help, be able to surprise them on the eventful night, without having to +dynamite them. It may be a great saving of life on both sides." + +"It is a low game you ask me to play, Philip; but, as the Jesuits say, +`the end justifies the means.' I'll try it on." + +For the next few days all went quietly in Johannesburg. Those outsiders +who were not in the secret were happy that their trouble had blown over, +and that better times were now approaching. The three-ace club-men went +about their business, and pretended to be satisfied, as the ignorant +were. The armed Boers behaved like brothers. + +The past sins of Oom Paul appeared to be condoned. Every one praised +him now as the kindly old patriarch of Pretoria, who was at present hard +at work growing a pair of angel's wings. + +Ned had succeeded in fascinating a big German Zarp, and spent a portion +of each day in his company. Ned took the Teuton in preference to a +Dutchman, as he had not any repugnance to this nation, yet it was a +sacrifice to be amiable even to him. + +On the ninth of the month he had two letters, one from Fred, who called +himself Fanny, and the other from Clarence. They had arranged on terms +by which they would be understood by each other, that might be read +without suspicion by any one. + +Fred wrote-- + +"Dear Edwina,-- + +"When I reached my situation I found that my place was already filled +up, and that I was not wanted. I intend, therefore, to come to +Johannesburg, and be near you and Clara. I'd like to see the shops of +Pretoria, as I hear they are grand affairs. Crowds are going from here, +so I expect there will be a city full presently. + +"Your loving cousin,-- + +"Fanny." + +Between the lines Ned read-- + +"The Orange Free State will join with the Transvaal in the coming +struggle. The Uitlanders here are all prepared, and have efficient +leaders. Volunteers are coming in to help you in great numbers. I am +also coming to take a hand." + +Clarence wrote-- + +"Dear Edwina,-- + +"This is such a pretty place, and I am most comfortable in my situation. +I trust you are the same, I have found a sweetheart, after all, amongst +the Boers, such a nice, useful, frank fellow. He took me to the Dopper +Kirk on Sunday to hear the president preach. What a noble old gentleman +he is, to be sure! So full of Christian charity and fatherly sentiment. +I fairly fell in love with him, as you will, I am sure, when you see +him. My sweetheart is his footman, so that I have been introduced to +the household, and can find my way about. I have a plan how to manage +something, and have already quite a host of friends here and am doing +well. Are you coming up to see me when Fanny comes? Do so if you can, +and I'll get Johann to show us over the private garden of the dear old +president. A lady friend of mine is writing this for me, as I have hurt +my right hand. + +"Your loving friend,-- + +"Clara." + +Ned interpreted this note as follows:-- + +"Game all right. Have got the old humbug Kruger under my eye, and have +a plan how to make him my prisoner when the time comes. Friends here +ready for emergencies. If you can come up and help, do so." + +That same afternoon Fred arrived, and the two took the night train to +Pretoria, having forwarded a wire for "Clara" to meet them. + +Once more our heroes entered the abode of Kruger, ushered this time by a +back entrance under the guidance of the friendly footman Johann. + +They spent the night together and studied their plans. When Clarence +revealed his scheme they admitted that it might be done. If he could +capture Kruger, it would be a big feather in his cap. + +"Oom Paul is not the man to be taken by force alone," said Clarence. +"He is game enough to put a pistol to his own head rather than yield. +Now that Fred is here, my plan is that one of us shall offer to change +clothes with him when he is hemmed in, and take him unawares somehow. +We'll trust to chance for the how, when the time comes." + +Then it was all duly arranged, and they prepared themselves for the +morrow. + +It was a hot day in Pretoria, and the town was crammed with visitors. +Church Square was blocked with people, and every other street was filled +almost to suffocation. + +At the hour appointed the president and his wife drove up, surrounded by +a close line of guards. He took his place on the platform that had been +raised above the crowd outside the Government buildings. He was greeted +by thunders of applause and a salvo from the forts; then, as he rose, +breathless silence succeeded the noise. + +He began by reading over the resolutions and decrees of the Volksraad +with respect to the Uitlanders. The reforms were granted even more +completely than the Uitlanders had hoped. There were clauses, however, +to each of these generous concessions which, to those who knew what the +termination would be, crippled and nullified the most important. But +the general audience was not in a critical mood. It roared itself +hoarse with wild applause. + +While this shouting was going on, the burly president stood grinning +upon the crowd like an amiable gorilla. Then, when silence was once +more restored, his expression suddenly altered. His cheeks became +puffed, and his eyes sunk back beneath his heavy brows, while his big +ears stood out. Then with a thunderous growl, like an angry beast, he +read the declaration of independence first, and the defiance to England, +and finished his oration in his harshest accent. + +"To your tents, and consider whether you will be with us or against us +in this holy struggle for independence. My ultimatum is already on its +way to this verdomde government, that would deprive us of our rights. +In twenty hours from this, every subject of England will be our enemy, +be imprisoned, and shot if we think fit, or expelled from our country +and their property confiscated. To your tents and consider, for your +fate is in your own hands." + +These words the grim president thundered out to the dismayed Uitlanders; +then he turned abruptly and left the scene as he had come, protected by +his armed guard. + +For a moment stupefaction held the crowd silent, then a deep growl went +up from the masses who were being dispersed by the Zarps. + +At this instant Ned Romer felt a touch on his arm, and, looking round, +he saw Philip Martin at his side. + +"This ultimatum has changed our plans," he whispered, as he drew the +three friends out of the crowd. "The English Government will now decide +the question, and we must do nothing inside the Transvaal to disturb +their plans. Our orders are now to clear out before this ultimatum +expires, and give Oom Paul no excuse for his next step." + +Philip Martin was gloomy, and the faces of our heroes also fell +considerably. + +"And are we to do nothing, Philip, after all our preparations?" asked +Ned, in a disappointed tone. + +"Nothing inside the Transvaal. Our work will be outside, and there will +be lots to do there, you take my word. We must follow the example of +the Jews, and skedaddle if we can, before the lines are closed. +Johannesburg must be left for the present, until we can come back with +the British army. Tomorrow Natal and Cape Colony will be invaded, and +then England can no longer hold back. I am off to join Baden-Powell, at +Mafeking. Dr Jim has gone to Ladysmith, and you three fellows are to +proceed to Kimberley, where you will find Mr Cecil Rhodes. It is a bit +disappointing, I will allow; but this is going to be a bigger and a more +complete affair than we could have accomplished, therefore we must be +content to leave it to the proper hands to clear the board." + +Philip Martin shook hands with them, and walked quickly away to warn +others of his own party, while our heroes prepared for their exodus. + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +THE RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY. + +This most inhuman and bloody-minded Kruger, who misquoted Scripture, as +he so often did, considered himself safe to order his victims to their +empty tents. He had stripped them, as he fondly thought, of all means +of protecting their wives and children. As he imagined, they had only +their naked fists to support their manhood against his armed hordes; +therefore he could be as bold as a bushranger who has bailed up a +household. He had them, or, as he impiously remarked, "The Lord of the +Boer hosts has put them into our hands, even as He gave the Amalekites +up to the vengeance of Israel." + +To those who were not in the "know," the Jew dealers and other aliens, +who had no patriotic interest in the land, this ultimatum fell like the +first ashes of Vesuvius upon Pompeii. It was definite, clear, and +curtailed. They had either to join in and fight with the Boers, or else +be treated with those who stood for English authority. + +There was no equivocation, or holding aloof. Johannesburg, with its +riches, must be abandoned, and at once, i.e. within the next twenty +hours at latest. Those who remained in that city would be forced to +take up arms by the Boers, when the time of grace was over. They were +driven like sheep into the pen, where they were to be slaughtered if +they did not declare themselves enemies of England, and "bind" +themselves to the masters of this Boer rebellion. + +Poor, miserable, and terror-stricken wretches--these gold and diamond +traffickers, who had come here only to make money, and who were without +a single molecule of courage in their composition,--they were placed +between two fires, and knew not where to turn for safety. They were +likely to be shot or hanged whatever side they decided to take. + +They drove home in their flash traps, or in the saloon cars, with +bloodless, flabby lips and staring eyes. Inside their swell houses they +collapsed, and found the champagne and brandy of no more aid to them +than coloured water. + +Their wives, however,--the painted, illiterate, dyed-haired, and +outrageously dressed and be-diamonded ex-shop girls, ex-barmaids, and +ex-variety actresses,--were not going to let the twenty hours pass +before making up their minds what to do. The Boers were at their doors, +and at present bosses of the show. Like Simon, Lord Lovat, they +believed in serving the customer who was in possession. + +By six o'clock that night thousands of these mercenaries had signed the +papers of allegiance to the Republic, and left Johannesburg in +detachments, escorted by their masters, while their women were driven +out of the country to become paupers at Durban and Cape Town. + +After a frightful and never-to-be-forgotten train journey, our disguised +heroes at last found themselves on British soil, with hearts burning +with rage and hatred at the vile treatment they had received in the +trains. + +The rush for trains by that panic-thralled crowd of refugees resembled a +stampede of wild cattle. Delicate women and children struggled +frantically for places with rough, strong men, and were glad to find +themselves packed in open trucks. Order was at an end, and gallantry +rarely displayed by that pushing, shouting, and sweltering crowd, while +the Boer officials only mocked at their despair. + +By reason of their personal strength, however, and taking advantage of +their disguises, our heroes managed to secure good places for +themselves; and also to protect a number of ladies, who would otherwise +have fared badly. During the journey, also, the burghers had reason to +regret insulting and trying to frighten these three strapping young +females. + +When they reached Cape Colony they learned much more than they had been +aware of before. + +Paul Kruger and his burghers were in a better condition for warfare than +had been suspected. The loyal colonists had also been trifled with and +hoodwinked by the Honourable Mr Schreiner and his traitor gang. In +fact, the British forces were so scanty and ill-provided, while on the +enemy's side were so many spies and rebels, that the young men no longer +wondered at the courage of the Transvaal chief. + +Already war had been declared, and Cape Colony and Natal invaded in +force. If the rebels had only proper leaders, the English possessions +were in extreme danger. + +England also seemed bristling with renegades and pro-Boers, whose +yelpings disturbed the loyal colonists greatly. + +But the lion was rousing up for action, and the nation shouted out for +punishment to be meted out to those insolent rebels. From every part of +our mighty Empire came the offer of help to the mother country. The +Boers, by their invasions, had united Englishmen as one people. When +our heroes heard this news, they saw the wisdom of letting the Federals +have the first blow. + +They were now going to join the man they adored, and take a hand in the +great coming struggle. + +It was November 3rd before our heroes managed to pass the rebel lines +and get into Kimberley. Here they found the town in a state of siege, +but well prepared. Cecil Rhodes was calm and cheerful, with no doubts +as to the results of the war. + +He welcomed the adventurers warmly, and heard the account of their +travels with pleasure. The news they brought him also from the outside +gave him great satisfaction. + +"There is nothing else to be done now but to make ourselves as +comfortable as possible here, and defend ourselves until we are +relieved. We shall all have enough work to keep us from being dull." + +He was right, as our heroes found as the weeks rolled past. General +Cronje and his army kept them in a constant state of attention and +excitement. + +Thanks to the personal magnetism of Cecil Rhodes, with his unfailing +serenity and constant exertions to amuse the besieged townspeople, the +first two months, although nerve-trying, were not unpleasant from a +social point of view. + +Balls, concerts, and parties filled up the intervals of bombarding and +repelling the enemy. The town had been well provisioned, and the great +empire maker had taken previous precautions to outwit his rival, W.P. +Schreiner, as far as could be done. Had the loyal colonists trusted +implicitly in the Cape Premier, Kimberley, as well as Mafeking, must +have succumbed in a month. This Bond leader had played his cards well +to serve his friends the Boers at the expense of his fellow-subjects; +but Cecil Rhodes, like Baden-Powell, found himself equal to the +occasion. + +Inadequately garrisoned as it was and imperfectly armed, the mines which +they were protecting proved of invaluable service to them. From the +debris they formed perfect forts and trenches, and soon made the place +impregnable. They had a splendid mayor, a commander of infinite +resources, and a garrison of undaunted heroes. The result was that they +kept Cronje with his hosts and Long Toms at bay, and went on eating, +drinking, fighting, and enjoying themselves in spite of the deadly +dangers that environed them. Yet it was nerve-trying, and added grey +hairs to every head in that beleaguered town, young and old. Out of +bravado they might speak of those bursting shells and those numerous +attacks as subjects for joking, but all the same, the sport was grim and +heart-corroding. + +Every hour had its casualties, with wounded and killed. No one knew the +moment their own hour might come. + +As time went on and they became more isolated from the world, it took a +lot of pluck to keep a bold front to the relentless, treacherous, and +dastardly foe. If they had not occasionally received news of the +outside world by special runners, they must have lost heart long before +their provisions became short. + +But they did get reliable news now and again, and that kept them up to +concert pitch. The brave fellows knew that the world was watching their +heroic efforts, and that the Empire had risen and was pouring out its +best sons to help and rescue them. They heard what Canada, Australia, +and New Zealand were doing. They knew that the home Government was now +working with might and main to repair its former errors of undue trust +and confidence. They would not be deserted, nor would England neglect +her duty now. The iniquitous and false Boer would be crushed, even +although it cost England her best and bravest. This braced them up and +enabled them to endure all that they were called to endure. + +They knew that the enemies of England--those wretched traitors, +traducers, and fratricides--were repudiated by their countrymen as +obnoxious vermin. They knew that the gold which Kruger and his hireling +Leyds had scattered broadcast, had failed to influence the people. The +people of England were not to be biased by paid demagogues. They +demanded that right should be done, and the Government obeyed the +universal voice. The defenders of Kimberley were holding this post for +the Empire, and they did so bravely, now that the Empire appreciated +their efforts. While a man was left, and an ounce of food remained, +Cronje might bark his loudest, they would never cave in. + +This was the kind of spirit which moved the whole camp. When food began +to fall short and they had to buckle their belts tighter round their +waists, they did so with a jest, for they knew that the end must be +victory. + +They heard the news about Ladysmith, and all about the British +disasters. But they also heard that, instead of sixty thousand men +being sent out to help them, England was packing off two hundred +thousand of her best soldiers, and ready to send at the back of that six +or eight hundred thousand, if wanted, to clear the board. That +assurance braced them up. The Lion and his cubs were in earnest now, +and the inflated rebels were doomed. The Boer had thrown off the mask +too completely ever to be trusted with a rifle again. He must be +disarmed and kept so until he was civilised. The master villains, Paul +Kruger and his weak-minded catspaw, Steyn, would be arraigned for their +crimes against civilisation and quashed. This Cronje, the vile and +brutal murderer, would yet be tried for his atrocities, and punished as +he deserved. Schreiner and his brother traitors would have to give +account of their stewardship and be properly rewarded, and the land +would be free for honest colonists to cultivate. + +Not a man in this beleaguered garrison but rested assured that those +Irish Nationalists, those paid Boer agents and home-bred renegades, as +well as the treacherous Cape Afrikanders, would yet get the just reward +of their atrocious treason; and this braced them up to endure half and +quarter rations, and to stand to their guns while famine, fever, and +shells thinned their ranks day after day. They trusted in their country +to do her duty when the hour of retribution arrived, and to punish those +dastards who used explosive bullets, fired on hospitals and the women's +quarters; who used the sacred white flag for murder, wantonly +slaughtered the wounded and their benefactors in spite of the red cross +flag; who ravenously destroyed and looted farms, and did in a hundred +ways what savages would have been ashamed of. They trusted that all +these dastardly actions would be sifted and punished, in individuals as +well as in masses, therefore they kept up their spirits and held to +their posts without a thought of surrender. Let England remember the +lacerations and wounds of her brave and dauntless sons when the hour +comes for dealing with this most unworthy and despicable foe. + +They have fought well, but so do many of the most atrocious murderers, +pirates, and bushrangers, when driven into a corner, yet all the same +the pirates are hanged when caught. A rat, a snake, or a scorpion will +also face up under such circumstances, yet these vermin are crushed all +the same. Desperation and brute viciousness is not heroism, any more +than tolerated treason is a token of nobility. + +Ned Romer and his comrades did their part like brave men during this +prolonged siege. It was a magnificent education to them as sons of the +Empire. + +Fortunately they escaped so far woundless, and also kept off the +sick-list; yet during those four and a half months they had plenty to +do, and, like the rest of the defenders, had little time to rest. + +And while they were holding their own they heard how gallant +Baden-Powell was guarding little Mafeking, and how Sir George White was +keeping the enemy at arm's length in Ladysmith. Never a thought of +surrender troubled any soul at either of those places. All the world +was watching them, and they meant to come out right. + +It did not trouble them too much that Sir Redvers Buller was stopped on +the Tugela, or Lord Methuen at the Modder River. They knew what men and +cavalry these generals had at their command, and how impossible the task +was, before proper reinforcements came, so they were content to wait and +trust. + +Then came the glorious news that Lords Roberts and Kitchener were on +their way with all the men and armament required. + +"Now for the clearing of the board!" cried Cecil Rhodes, exultantly. +"We shall soon be on full rations again." + +Many thought the news too good to be true, but their fears were +groundless. In a few weeks more the bombardment suddenly ceased. On a +happy day General French rode in, after a message, "French coming to +relief of Kimberley," and their woes were over. + +Cronje was in full flight, and the first decisive blow had been struck +at the rebels. Then there was rejoicing in Kimberley, and our heroes +were at liberty to follow the rest of the war. + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +CLEARING THE BOARD. + +After their long confinement in Kimberley, our heroes were rejoiced to +get the chance of a gallop over the veldt with the hunters of Cronje and +his flying army. They therefore joined General French, who with his +cavalry hastened from Kimberley to cut off one line of retreat. On +Sunday, February 18th, the Boers were brought to bay at Klip Drift, and +a most desperate rearguard action was fought and won. Outflanked and +surrounded on all sides, General Cronje took his last stand in the bed +of the river, and prepared himself for his fate. + +How many men he had on that Sunday will probably never be known, yet ten +thousand was the estimated number. When he at last surrendered, only +four thousand men were left to lay down their arms. + +It was a terrific massacre, which lasted for ten days, as Cronje, with +the desperation of a doomed pirate, sullenly refused to give in even +after hope was extinguished, preferring to see his men and women +slaughtered like rats in a trap, rather than own that he was conquered. + +Doubtless his past atrocities and treacheries made him consider himself +a doomed man if taken alive by the people whom he had hated so +malignantly and treated so mercilessly. After the first few days, when +he saw division after division come up and occupy the surrounding kopjes +in grim and overwhelming numbers, this must have made him abandon hope +of any outside aid. He was trapped, and in a position that was +impossible to hold for long. As the guns poured their deadly fire over +his laager, blowing up his ammunition carts and provision waggons, and +destroying both men and cattle wholesale, he must have felt that just +retribution had at last overtaken his blood-stained soul. Thinking +possibly that, if taken, the only fate he could expect was the rope, he +settled down sullenly to die at his post. With his customary callous +indifference to the fate of others, he allowed no thought of his +countrymen and their wives to influence him now. As he had ever been, +he remained in this last tragedy the incarnation of ferocious obstinacy. +He was Piet Cronje, the master criminal of the Transvaal. + +It was not a pleasant task for the British or their leaders to continue +this pitiless, yet necessary slaughter. During these ten days Cronje +was given repeated chances to surrender, but he sullenly refused, even +when he knew that the Boers had been driven off on all sides, who had +come to break the environment of death. Trapped on the banks of that +river in which they had burrowed like rabbits, he still continued +fighting desperately, with the alternatives of death from lyddite, death +from starvation, or death from drowning when the river became flooded. + +This insensate and wasteful courage, while it filled the world with +horror, yet won a certain admiration also. Had he and his men been only +there, he might have been admired as a hero. But when he sacrificed +women and children as well, it was utterly revolting. The heroes of +Ladysmith, Mafeking, and Kimberley took every precaution to protect +their women, but Cronje could not where he was placed. Therefore, as a +brave man, he ought to have yielded. To hold out as he did was the act +of a savage monster, not a man. While his character must for ever make +him an object of loathing, as we loathe the memory of those +black-hearted ruffians of the Spanish Main, his stubborn courage during +those ten hellish days can only merit qualified respect. + +It was like the last stand of Dan Morgan, the bloody Australian +bushranger, and Morgan was as game as Cronje, with fewer crimes on his +conscience. + +While the artillery filled the sky with hurtling death, the captive +balloon floated above and indicated the targets. It is not surprising +if six thousand Boers perished during those ten days. The wonder is +that four thousand escaped death. It also speaks significantly for +Cronje's discretion, that, when he surrendered, he was unwounded. + +Our heroes saw a good deal of action during this time, as they were with +those who had the duty to keep back the relieving forces. But they were +trained soldiers now, and the constant movement and fighting made them +happy. Meantime Lords Roberts and Kitchener watched keenly the progress +of the siege, and let no chance escape for bringing it to a close with +the least possible loss to their soldiers. Day after day the cordon +drew closer round that death-trap, until the Imperialists were almost +within speaking distance of the rebels. + +At last the Canadians brought their trenches to within four hundred +yards of the enemy; then the Boers would fight no longer. The thought +of the next stage, cold steel, cowed them completely. Thus the sullen +Cronje submitted, and placed himself and his followers at the discretion +of his chivalrous conquerors. The shame of England, and the everlasting +disgrace of those who placed this stain on our flag, was avenged. On +the anniversary of Majuba Hill, February 27th, its blot was wiped out. + +In his gracious reception of Cronje, Lord Roberts proved to posterity +how impossible it is for a Briton to cherish revenge for private wrongs. +He had lost his son at Colenso. His heart must have been bleeding for +that loss, yet this gave no tinge of bitterness to his kindly and +flattering welcome to his captive. He granted freely all that Cronje +asked, and treated him with the same consideration that an honourable +enemy might have expected. This is one of the greatest acts in a life +covered with glory. + +Now began the triumphant march to Bloemfontein, with the joyful tidings +of the relief of Ladysmith. In every direction victory favoured our +British armies. The Boers fled panic-stricken before them. Their day +was over, and it was all in vain that the ogre of Pretoria, Oom Paul +Kruger, hurried to the front, with his accomplice Steyn. They could not +stop the run. + +Oom Paul shed tears, for he was an adept at this kind of thing. He +threatened to throw up his post as president, if they did not show +fight. But as even, to the most ignorant of his burghers, that post was +already over, this threat was poured into deaf ears. The Lord of +battles had been appealed to, and He had decided with justice and +humanity against murder and oppression. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Two of our heroes, however, were fated to stop their battle career +outside of Bloemfontein. Ned Romer and his friend Clarence Raybold each +received wounds in the same charge as they approached the town, and were +carried to the rear. Fortunately the bullets were neither explosive nor +coated with verdigris, so that no amputation was necessary. + +But the wounds were serious enough to incapacitate them from further +fighting that campaign. The young men were therefore taken down to Cape +Town, leaving Fred Weldon to represent them on the triumphant march to +Pretoria. It was a sorrowful parting between the three heroes, but +neither anticipated it would be long before they were together again. + +"We can only pray that you may be in at the wind-up of our old enemy, +Oom Paul, Fred," they said on parting. "Also that you may escape any of +these Mauser button-holes in your carcase, that we have to carry with +us." + +"Cheer up, boys," cried Fred. "I guess you'll both be up again at the +front before we reach Pretoria. I want you to help me to capture +Paulus--that is our ambition, you know." + +Bloemfontein had been taken two days before they were permitted to leave +with the other wounded, and the doctor assured the two invalids that, if +they took care, they would be ready for the saddle again in a week or +two. Ned had a puncture through his sword-arm, and Clarence was wounded +in the thigh, but the wounds were clean, and already showed signs of +mending. + +Among the wounded who were brought in before they left were several +Boers, who had been abandoned by their countrymen. In one of these Fred +recognised Stephanus Groblaar. He had died a couple of hours after his +admittance to the hospital. When this news was communicated to Ned, he +murmured-- + +"I am glad he did not owe his death to me. It is better to miss than to +accomplish a private revenge. `Bobs' has set us all a splendid example +in forbearance." + +"Yes; that noble action of Lord Roberts represents the feelings of the +British army from commander to private. To think only of one's duty to +the Empire, to fight only for right, to subdue all private feelings and +sink animosity,--this is the code of honour of all true empire makers." + +------------------------------------------------------------------------ + +Necessarily our story cannot end at present, since our three heroes have +been so busy seeking after adventure that they have not yet had time to +fall in love, and no story can be quite complete without a wedding. + +Therefore, while two of our heroes are recovering from their wounds, and +the other is riding under the orders of the gallant General French, we +may safely prognosticate the future of the rotten Transvaal Republic +with that of its foolish victim, the Orange Free States. + +Universal law and order for South Africa, with equal rights for Boer and +Briton under the Flag that means equality and freedom for every human +being, white-skinned or black. Blue for truth, red for love, and white +for purity,--these are the signs of the Union Jack, and the combination +means freedom, equality, and fraternity, while Justice holds it in her +grasp. Where it waves, oppression and slavery cease to exist. + +As for the rebels and traitors. Forgiveness towards the misguided, +after they have paid their fines for their sins. To the traitors, +punishment and contempt. To the hoary sinner, who has led these two +nations astray and destroyed them, the same punishment which he meted +out to the reformers--imprisonment; until he has disgorged his +ill-gotten and secreted wealth. After that, watchful surveillance, such +as ticket-of-leave convicts are placed under, so that during the scanty +remnant of his blood-grimed life he may do no further harm to humanity. +He has been the plague-spot of Africa. Let him be placed where he may +propitiate his Maker, if he can. Years after this the Boers, as they +become educated and civilised, will marvel at their stupendous folly, +and curse the hated name of Kruger; therefore, like Attila and other +historic monsters, his memory is not an enviable one. No human +punishment can meet his case. He must be left to God. + +Our heroes have won riches, therefore it is not impossible that they may +also obtain happiness. + +The End. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Empire Makers, by Hume Nesbit + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40838 *** |