by G. A. Henty
CHAPTER XIV: A CHRISTIAN TOWN
"My share ob de business was to make my way down south and settle in deswamps ob Carolina. I war to be taken down by trading schooner, to belanded on de coast, and to make my way to a place in de center ob a bigswamp whar an ole nigger, named Joe, had been carrying on de work forfour years. He had sent to say dat he war bery ill wid de swamp feverand like to die, dat he should not leabe de work as long as he libed,but hoped dat dey would send anoder man out to take on his work afterhis death.
"Well, sar, I was landed, and I made my way to de place. It war no easymatter. De niggers all say dey know no such person, but I found de nextpost, and dere de man guided me to de path which led into de swamp. Deytold me dey thought de ole man dead, for dat no one had come along todem from him for nigh two month. Well, sar, as I 'spected I found himdead, and I buried him, and took up my place in de hut. Soon it becameknown through de plantations round dat de hut was occupied again, anddey began to come to me to ask for assistance. My 'structions war datonly to enable a husband to join his wife, or a wife her husband, or incases where de masters were uncommon cruel, dat I was to send 'em alongby de underground railway. De risks was too great to be run often. Ifwe had tried to help ebery one to 'scape we should mighty soon hab beenhunted down.
"Well, sar, I libed dere for three year. It was a lonesome life. Iplanted a few yams round de hut, and de plantation hands would bring metings dat dey got hold of. It was my duty when I found dat a case was obde proper description to arrange for de flight, de man or de woman wouldcome to my hut, and I would guide dem through de swamps, twenty-fivemile away, to de house ob a clergyman, which was de next station. Iwould jus' knock in a 'ticular way at de door, and when dis was openleab de party dere and go straight away back to de swamp. More dan oncede planters got up hunts and searched de swamp through and through forme wid dogs, and my hut was twice burnt to de ground, but de slabesalways brought me notice in time, and I went away into de tickest partob de swamp and lay dar till dey had gone away.
"Well, sar, one time come, I bery busy, passed tree men away in twoweek. One night me hear barking of dogs, and jump up jus' in time to seeparty ob men coming out from de little path towards de hut. I ran for deswamp. Dey fire at me and one ball hit me. Den I ran in to de swamp,de dogs dey follow, but I get farder and farder away, and de swamp getdeeper, and me tink dey lose me altogether. I sit quiet on 'tump when Ihear someting splashing in swamp, and all of a sudden a big hound sprangon me, and fix him teeth in my shoulder. I had no arms, for in de hurryI had not time to catch dem up. De beast he growl and bite, and holdon like death. I saw dere only one ting to do. I tumble forward into deswamp wid de dog underneath me, and dere I lay, wid my mouf sometimesabove de water sometimes below, till de dog was drowned.
"Den I start for de next station. I was hit in de hip, and it took metree days to crawl dat twenty-five miles. On de tird ebening I knock atde door ob de house, and when it was open I tumble down in faint inside.It war a long time before I come to myself, two weeks dey tell me,and den I tink I dream, for sitting by de side of de bed war dat womanSally. Till she spoke, me couldn't believe dat it war true, but she toldme dat it war her, sure enuf, and dat I war to ask no questions but togo off to sleep.
"Next day she told me all about it. She had stopped a year atPhiladelphy. Den she heard ob de underground railway, and was tole data clergyman, who war just going down south to work a station, wanteda black nurse for his children, who would help in de work. Sally shevolunteer, and dar she had been libing eber since, hoping all detime eider dat I should pass through dere or dat she should hear fromPhiladelphy dat I had got dere. She used to act as de guide ob derunaways to de next station, and ebery man who came along she askedif they knew me; but, law bless you, sar, de poor woman knew nufing obplaces, or she would hab known dat she war hundreds ob miles south ofVirginia, and though she allowed she had heard I had gone to Missouri,she s'posed dat de way from der might be by de sea coast. I habobserved, sar, dat de gography ob women am bery defective.
"I stopped thar till I was cured. The clergyman knew someting ofsurgery, and he managed to substract the ball from my hip. When I warquite well Sally and me started for the norf, whar we had helped so manyoders to go, and, bress de Lord, we arribed dere safe. Den I told Sallydat I should like to libe under de British flag, so we went up to Canadaand dere we libed bery comfortable for ten years together. Sally washedand I kep' a barber's shop, and we made plenty ob money. Den she die,sar, de tought come into my mind dat I would come back to Africa andteach dose poor niggers here de ways ob de white men, and sar," and hepointed to a Bible standing on the chest, "de ways ob de Lord. So I cameacross the Atlantic, and stopped a little while on de coast, for I hadpretty nigh forgotten de language ob de country. When I got it backagain I started up for dis place, wid plenty ob goods and presents.
"I had hard work at fust to get de people to know me. It war nigh fortyyear since I had gone away, but at last some ob de ole people rememberme, dat I was de son ob de chief. As I had plenty goods, and dey did notlike de man dat was here, dey made me chief in my fader's place. I tolddem dat I no accept de place unless dey promise to behave bery well, tomind what I said to dem, and to listen to my words; but dat if they dodat I gibe dem plenty goods, I make dem comfortable and happy, and Iteach dem de way ob de Lord. Dey agree to all dis.
"I find de slave trade now all at an end, and dat de people not fightoften now. Still, de twenty muskets dat I bring make de people of odervillages respec' us very much. Dey come ober to see de village. Dey seedat de houses are comfortable, dat de gardens are bery well cultivated,dat de people are well dressed, not like common nigger, dat dey arehappy and contented. Dey see dat dey no believe in fetish any more, butdat ebery ebening when de work is ober, dey gadder under de big tree andlisten for half an hour while I read to dem and den sing a hymn. Oncea year I send down to de coast and get up plenty cloth, and hoes forde gardens, and eberyting dey want. When I land here ten year ago I habeight hundred pound. I got five hundred ob him left here still. Dat moredan enuf to last Sam if he libe to be bery, bery ole man. Dar are somegood men in de village who, when I am gone, will carry on de work ob deLord and dat's all, sar, dat I hab to tell you about Sam, and I am suredat you must be very tired and want to go to bed."
The hour was, indeed, for Africa, extremely late, but the time hadpassed unheeded, so interested were the listeners in the narrative ofthe fine old negro. They remained at the village for a week, and weregreatly pleased with the industrious habits and happy appearance of thepeople, and with the earnestness and fervor in which every evening, andtwice on Sunday, they joined in devotions under the great tree. At theend of that time they said goodbye to their kind host, giving him alarge amount of cloth for distribution among his people. He was unableto furnish them with bearers, as a considerable tract of uninhabitedcountry extended beyond his village, and the people on the other sidewere on bad terms with his villagers, on account of an outstanding feudwhich had existed long before his return from America, and which hehad in vain attempted to settle since he assumed the headship of thevillage.
On approaching the Niger they again came upon an inhabited country, butthe tribes here being accustomed to trade with the coast werefriendly, and at the first large village they came to no difficulty wasexperienced in obtaining a fresh relay of bearers. This was a matter ofgreat satisfaction, for the Fans were regarded with extreme antipathy bythe natives. As soon as arrangements had been made to supply their placethe Fans were paid the four months' wages which they had earned. A large"dash" of beads and other presents were bestowed upon them, three of theremaining sacks of rice were given to them, and, greatly rejoicing, theystarted for their own country, which, by making long marches, they wouldregain in a fortnight's time. Although it was not probable that theywould meet with any enemies, six trade muskets, with a supply of powderand ball, were given to them, as, although they would not be able todo much execution with these weapons, their possession would exercise apowerful in
fluence over any natives they might meet.
In crossing the country to the Niger the white men were the objects oflively curiosity, and the exhibition of the magic lantern, the chemicalexperiments, and conjuring tricks created an effect equal to that whichthey had produced among the Fans. On reaching the Niger a canoe washired with a crew of rowers. In this all the cases, filled with theobjects they had collected, were placed, the whole being put in chargeof the Houssas, Moses and King John, who had been seized with a fitof homesickness. These were to deliver the cases to the charge of anEnglish agent at Lagos or Bonny, to both of whom Mr. Goodenough wroterequesting him to pay the sum agreed to the boatmen on the safe arrivalof the cases, and also to pay the Houssas, who preferred taking theirwages there, as it was not considered advisable to tempt the cupidity ofany of the native princes along the river. Should they be overhauledthe Houssas were told to open the cases and show that these containednothing but birds' skins and insects, which would be absolutelyvalueless in the eyes of a native.
When the precious freight had fairly started, the party crossed theNiger in a canoe, arrangements having already been made with thepotentate of a village on the opposite side for a fresh relay ofcarriers, twenty men being now sufficient, owing to the gaps which hadbeen made in the provisions in the goods, by the payment of the carriersand presents, and, in the cases, by the despatch of eight of the largestof these to the coast. They had still, however, ample space for thecollections they might still make. The cases of goods and provisionswere utilized for this purpose as they were emptied.
For another two months they journeyed on, halting frequently and addingcontinually to their stores. The country was fairly populated, and therewas no difficulty in buying plantains and fruit and in obtaining freshsets of carriers through the territories of each petty chief. They werenow approaching the Volta, when one day a native, covered with dust andbathed in perspiration, came up to their camp, and throwing himself onthe ground before Mr. Goodenough poured out a stream of words.
"What does he say, Ostik?"
"Me not know, sar. P'r'aps Ugly Tom know. He been down near Voltacountry."
Ugly Tom was called, and after a conversation with the native, told Mr.Goodenough that he was a messenger from Abeokuta, that the people therewere threatened by an attack by the King of Dahomey, and that theyimplored the white men, who they heard were in the neighborhood, to cometo their aid.
"What do you say, Frank?" Mr. Goodenough asked.
"I don't know anything about it, sir," Frank said. "I have heard ofDahomey, of course, and its horrible customs, but I don't know anythingabout Abeokuta."
"Abeokuta is a very singular town," Mr. Goodenough said. "Its peoplewere christianized many years ago, and have faithfully retained thereligion. The town lies not very far from Dahomey, and this power, whichhas conquered and enslaved all its other neighbors, has been unable toconquer Abeokuta, although it has several times besieged it. The Dahomeypeople have every advantage, being supplied with firearms, and evencannon, by the rascally white traders at Whydah, the port of Dahomey.Nevertheless, the Abeokuta people have opposed an heroic resistance, andso far successfully. Of course they know that every soul would be put todeath did they fall into the hands of the King of Dahomey; but negroesdo not always fight well, even under such circumstances, and everycredit must be given to the people of Abeokuta. What do you say? Itwill be a perilous business, mind, for if Abeokuta is taken we shallassuredly be put to death with the rest of the defenders."
"I think we ought to help them, sir," Frank said. "They must be a noblepeople, and with our guns and the four Houssas we might really be ofmaterial assistance. Of course there is a risk in it, but we have riskedour lives from fever, and in other ways, every day since we've been inthe country."
"Very well, my lad. I am glad that is your decision. Tell him, Ugly Tom,that we will at once move towards Abeokuta with all speed, and that theyhad better send out a party of carriers to meet us, as you may be surethat these men will not go far when they hear that the Dahomey peopleare on the warpath. Learn from him exactly the road we must move by, asif our carriers desert us we shall be detained till his people come up.How far is it to Abeokuta?"
Ugly Tom learned from the native that it was about forty-five miles.
"Very well," Mr. Goodenough said, "we shall march twenty this afternoon.Where we halt they will most likely have heard the rumors of the war,and I expect the carriers will go no farther, so they must send out tothat point."
The Houssa translated the message, and the native, saying, "I shall beat Abeokuta tonight," kissed the hands of the white men and started at atrot.
"Wonderful stamina some of these men have," Mr. Goodenough said. "Thatman has come forty-five miles at full speed, and is now going off againas fresh as when he started."
"What speed will he go at?" Frank asked.
"About six miles an hour. Of course he goes faster when he is running,but he will sometimes break into a walk. Five miles an hour may betaken as the ordinary pace of a native runner, but in cases which theyconsider of importance, like the present, you may calculate on six."
The camp was at once broken up, the carriers loaded, and they started ontheir way. It was late in the evening when they reached a village abouttwenty miles from their starting place. They found the inhabitants in agreat state of alarm. The news had come that a great army was marchingto attack Abeokuta, and that the King of Dahomey had sworn on hisfather's skull that this time the place should be captured, and not ahouse or a wall left remaining. As Abeokuta was certain to make a strongresistance, and to hold out for some time, the villagers feared that theDahomey people would be sending out parties to plunder and carry awaycaptives all over the surrounding country. The panic at once extendedto the bearers, who declared that they would not go a foot farther. Astheir fears were natural, and Mr. Goodenough was expecting a fresh relayfrom Abeokuta on the following evening, he consented to their demandto be allowed to leave immediately, and paying them their wages due, heallowed them to depart at once on the return journey. The tent wassoon pitched and supper prepared, of fried plantains, rice, a tin ofsardines, and tea. Later on they had a cup of chocolate, and turned infor the night.
In the morning they were awakened just at daybreak by great talking.
"Men come for baggage, sar," Ugly Tom said, putting his head in the tentdoor.
"They have lost no time about it, Frank," Mr. Goodenough exclaimed. "Itwas midday yesterday when the messenger left us. He had forty-five milesto run, and could not have been in till pretty nearly eight o'clock, andthese men must have started at once."
There was no time lost. While the Houssas were pulling down and packingup the tent Ostik prepared two bowls of chocolate with biscuit soakedin it. By the time that this was eaten the carriers had taken up theirloads, and two minutes later the whole party started almost at a trot.Ugly Tom soon explained the cause of the haste. The army of Dahomey was,the evening before, but eight miles from Abeokuta, and was expectedto appear before the town by midday, although, of course, it might belater, for the movements of savage troops are uncertain in the extreme,depending entirely upon the whims of their leader. So anxious were thebearers to get back to the town in time, that they frequently went at atrot. They were the better able to keep up the speed as a larger numberthan were required had been sent. Many of the cases, too, were light,consequently the men were able to shift the heavy burdens from time totime. So great was the speed, that after an hour both Mr. Goodenough andFrank, weakened by the effect of fever and climate, could no longer keepup. The various effects carried in the hammocks were hastily taken outand lifted by men unprovided with loads. The white men entered and weresoon carried along at a brisk trot by the side of the baggage. When theyrecovered from their exhaustion sufficiently to observe what was goingon, they could not help admiring the manner in which the negroes,with perspiration streaming from every pore, hurried along with theirburdens. So fast did they go, that in less than six hours they emergedfrom the fore
st into the clearing, and a shout proclaimed that Abeokutawas close at hand.
Ten minutes later the white men were carried through the gate, theirarrival being hailed with shouts of joy by the inhabitants. They werecarried in triumph to the principal building of the town, a large hutwhere the general councils of the people were held. Here they werereceived by the king and the leading inhabitants, who thanked themwarmly for coming to their assistance in the time of their peril. Thetravelers were both struck with the appearance of the people. They wereclad with far more decency and decorum than was usual among the negrotribes. Their bearing was quiet and dignified. An air of neatness andorder pervaded everything, and it was clear that they were greatlysuperior to the people around.
Mr. Goodenough expressed to the king the willingness with which hisfriend and himself took part in the struggle of a brave people againsta cruel and bloodthirsty foe, and he said, that as the four Houssas werealso armed with fast firing guns he hoped that their assistance would beof avail. He said that he would at once examine the defences of the townand see if anything could be done to strengthen them.
Accompanied by the king, Mr. Goodenough and Frank made a detour of thewalls. These were about a mile in circumference, were built of clay, andwere of considerable height and thickness, but they were not calculatedto resist an attack by artillery. As, however, it was not probablethat the Dahomey people possessed much skill in the management of theircannon, Mr. Goodenough had hopes that they should succeed in repellingthe assault. They learnt that a large store of provisions had beenbrought into the town, and that many of the women and children had beensent far away.
The spies presently came in and reported that there was no movementon the part of the enemy, and that it was improbable that they wouldadvance before the next day. Mr. Goodenough was unable to offer anysuggestions for fresh defenses until they knew upon which side the enemywould attack. He advised, however, that the whole population should beset to work throwing up an earthwork just outside each gate, in orderto shelter these as far as possible from the effect of the enemy'scannonballs. Orders were at once given to this effect, and in an hourthe whole population were at work carrying earth in baskets and pilingit in front of the gates. In order to economize labor, and to make thesides of the mounds as steep as possible, Mr. Goodenough directed withbrushwood, forming a sort of rough wattle work. Not even when night setin did the people desist from their labor, and by the following morningthe gates were protected from the effect of cannon shot, by mounds ofearth twenty feet high, which rose before them. The king had, when Mr.Goodenough first suggested these defenses, pointed out that much lessearth would be required were it piled directly against the gates.Mr. Goodenough replied, that certainly this was so, but that it wasessential to be able to open the gates to make a sortie if necessaryagainst the enemy, and although the king shook his head, as if doubtingthe ability of his people to take such a desperate step as that ofattacking the enemy outside their walls, he yielded to Mr. Goodenough'sopinion.