Samba: A Story of the Rubber Slaves of the Congo

by Herbert Strang

  CHAPTER XXXI

  Summons and Surrender

  Two days after, on a strip of open ground half-way between Ilombekabasiand Elbel's ruined camp, a group of six negroes were assembled. Threeof them were in the uniform of the State troops; the other three wereLepoko, Imbono, and Mboyo. All were unarmed. In the midst of thegroup were two rough chairs such as were used by native chiefs. Thesouthern wall of Ilombekabasi was thronged with men, women, andchildren eagerly surveying the scene; lower down the hill the Statetroops, in a rude encampment hastily constructed on the previous day,were drawn up in orderly ranks, and gazed north with equal intentness.

  All at once a great cry of "Lokolobolo!" rent the air, and floated downthe hill from the fort to the camp. No answering shout met it. But anofficer in white left the camp and walked slowly up the slope. At thesame time a tall figure in tattered garments of European cut limped outof the fort, and moved downwards. The group of negroes fell apart asthe white men arrived. The latter touched their helmets in militarysalute; and the younger of the two smilingly motioned to the elder toseat himself on one of the chairs, he himself taking the other. Theysat facing each other, and the negroes moved a few paces back on eachside.

  The two men formed a strange contrast: the one, a tall slim youngfellow not yet nineteen, his bronzed face clean shaved, showing firmwell-cut lips and an obstinate kind of chin; his nose prominent, hisbrown eyes large and searching, his hair black as night and somewhatunruly; not a handsome face, but a strong one, worth looking at twiceand not easily forgotten: the other nearly as tall, but much broaderand more stiffly built; some ten years older; lips and chin concealedby thick brown moustache and beard, blue irritable eyes blinkingthrough big spectacles under fierce and shaggy brows.

  "Instead of replying to your summons to surrender, Monsieur Jennaert,"said Jack slowly in his best French, "I thought it better to meet you,so that we might clearly understand each other. I am obliged to youfor so readily agreeing to my proposal."

  The Belgian bowed.

  "Yours, monsieur, is the third or fourth summons of the same kind.Monsieur Elbel summoned us----"

  "Where is Monsieur Elbel, monsieur?"

  "Monsieur Elbel, monsieur, is dead." Lieutenant Jennaert started.

  "Dead, monsieur?"

  "Yes, he was pursued into the forest by a man whose son he hadthrashed, whose relatives his men had maimed and butchered, whosevillage he had burned. The man killed him. Well, as I was about tosay, Monsieur Elbel summoned us more than once. At first he was muchstronger than we were, both in arms and men. But when he began to backhis summons by force of arms he failed,--more than once. As you know,four days ago we captured his camp for the second time and dispersedhis troops, largely with the aid of rifles which had once been his."

  "Yes, I know that," said Lieutenant Jennaert somewhat impatiently."But Monsieur Elbel was not a trained soldier, and his men were onlyforest guards. I did not come to hear of your exploits, monsieur, butto receive your surrender. I am a soldier; my men are State troops;the case is different."

  "Quite so, monsieur. I appreciate the difference between his men andyours. But you will pardon my pointing out that you are in a far morecritical position than Monsieur Elbel before his camp was stormed."

  "You think so, monsieur?" said the officer with an amused smile."Would it be indiscreet to ask your reasons?"

  "Not at all. I wish to be entirely frank. It is to the interest of usboth."

  "Assuredly, monsieur."

  Lieutenant Jennaert's smile was now quite indulgent. He was at firstinclined to be peremptory with this young man, who appeared to presumeon the victories he had obtained over a Company's official, and acaptain taken at a disadvantage, and never particularly competent, inhis subordinate's opinion. But the young fellow was certainly verypolite; why not humour him by letting him talk? So Jennaert smiledagain. The other continued--

  "Well, monsieur, what is the position? Take mine first. You seebefore you a fortified camp, difficult of approach, as Monsieur Elbelcould have told you, and as you can judge for yourself; wellprovisioned, and with a good water supply; garrisoned by four hundredor more well-armed men--all now provided with Albinis or Mausers, and amachine gun."

  The officer started.

  "A machine gun?"

  "Yes--a machine gun."

  "Monsieur Elbel made no mention of a machine gun."

  "No, it is a new acquisition. But if you would like to assure yourselfon the point I can convince you."

  The officer hesitated. Jack turned to Lepoko.

  "Run up and tell Mr. Barney to show the big gun on the blockhouse."

  Lepoko ran away.

  "It is very hot, monsieur," said Jack pleasantly. "The rains, I amtold by my friends the chiefs here, are long overdue. I am afraid youwould have found your journey rather more difficult if it had been alittle later, with the river in flood.--Ah! there it is!"

  A number of men had hoisted the gun on to the edge of the parapet, infull view of the group below.

  "You see, monsieur, we are well provided. A machine gun, you willadmit, is even more useful within walls than without. Now as to yourposition. You have under your command some three hundred mentrained--more or less. Whether as a military force they are betterthan our men can only be decided if unfortunately you determine to putthe matter to the test. But consider your risks. Two days ago wecaptured your stores."--The officer jumped.--"Your rearguard is in ourhands, and that was your machine gun."--The officer stared.--"You areat least three weeks from your base, with perhaps two days' provisionsin hand, no reserve of ammunition, and, as I said, the rains overdue.Yonder country, during the rains, is a swamp."

  Lieutenant Jennaert turned pale. His messengers sent back to hurry onthe dilatory convoy had strangely failed to return. But recoveringhimself, with a feeble attempt to smile he said--

  "You are joking, monsieur. You permit yourself a ruse. Ah! ah! I amnot to be entrapped in that way."

  "Pardon me, monsieur. You shall have the fullest assurance as to thetruth of what I am saying. Lepoko, ask Mr. Barney to send out thewhite officer."

  The Belgian was now looking very uncomfortable. This was a strangeturning of the tables; his summons to surrender had been completelyforgotten. Jack had no need to kill time by keeping up theconversation, for in a minute or two the lieutenant captured in theriver left the fort under an armed guard and walked quickly down.

  "Beuzemaker!" exclaimed Lieutenant Jennaert under his breath.

  "Yes, monsieur--Monsieur Beuzemaker."

  Lieutenant Beuzemaker smiled ruefully as he joined the group. He gavea rapid narrative of the capture of the convoy.

  "It only remains, therefore," said Jack, "for you to decide upon yourcourse, monsieur. May I make you a proposal? You shall surrender yourarms and ammunition except a dozen rifles. I will supply you withcanoes to take your men down the river, and provisions for a fortnight.Within ten days you should enter a district where more food can beobtained. As you know, the country hereabouts has been made almost adesert by your people."

  But this was too much. Was it he, Lieutenant Jennaert, who was beingcalled upon to surrender? He rose in a fury.

  "Never! The thing is absurd! Monsieur, I take my leave.Beuzemaker!----"

  He stopped, biting his lips.

  "Monsieur Beuzemaker is my prisoner," said Jack suavely, rising. "Hewill accompany me back to my camp. Of course, if you accept our terms,we will release all the prisoners."

  The Belgian turned away in a rage. The meeting broke up; the twoparties went their several ways. Jack, as he walked back to the fort,hoped that on thinking the matter over the officer would see the wisdomof compliance. The alternative was starvation. He must see that itwould be no easy matter to storm the fort, and that Jack had only tosit tight for a few days. The State troops, none too well disciplinedat the best, would soon be clamouring for food. With a starvingsoldiery, an active well-fed enemy on his rear, and
a swarm of scoutscutting off his foraging parties, he must see the impossibility ofmaking his way back through several hundred miles of country inhabitedby tribes only waiting an opportunity to rise against their oppressors.So that when Barney met him as he re-entered the fort, and askedeagerly, "Well, sorr, and did the patient swallow the pill?" he smiledas he shook his head, saying--

  "Not yet, Barney. But he _will_ swallow it, bitter as it is."

  "Or his men will swallow him, bedad!"

  And a few hours later a negro soldier marched up the hill with a whiteflag. Lieutenant Jennaert's note was very brief.

  MONSIEUR,--

  J'agree vos conditions.

  JENNAERT, _Lieutenant dans l'armee de l'Etat du Congo_.