Into the Unknown: A Romance of South Africa

by Lawrence Fletcher

  CHAPTER TWENTY.

  THE LAST OF THE MORMONS.

  On the following morning Grenville was admitted to an Indaba (council)with the chiefs of the Undi, and learned that Amaxosa had induced themto come through the "great black hole" by promising them endlessplunder; and they now waited, they said, for their "great white father"to lead them to the Mormon town.

  At this juncture our friend had fearful evidence of the difficulty ofcontrolling the savage instincts of these wild natives. Their onedesire was to put all that remained alive of the Mormons--man, woman,and child--to a cruel death; but this Grenville would not hear of, andthe discussion waxed so hot that it was only with infinite difficulty herestrained their lust for slaughter, and obtained a promise from thechiefs that if a wholesale and unconditional surrender and capitulationwas made they would spare every soul now left alive in East Utah; butthe Mormons must leave the country within two days, and should receivesafe conduct through the Undi territory. Of their goods and chattelsthey might take whatever Grenville saw fit to let them have, but thecountry should be the property of the Zulus, under "their Mother, theGreat White Queen; and in it their father, the great and wise whitechief, the renowned and invincible warrior, would ever find a home inthe hearts of his faithful children, and hands ready and willing to helphim in his battles with the cunning witch-finders, or other low peopleagainst whom he might wish to make war."

  The end of all this was that Grenville and Amaxosa, accompanied by ascore of active Zulus, went down to the Mormon town next day--theintervening time being occupied in burying the dead, to prevent theplace from becoming plague-stricken, an idea abhorrent to the Europeanswhen they remembered that in a peaceful corner close by their dearones--Winfield and Rose--slept their eternal sleep under the protectingshadow of the great trees, where the little brook, which yesterday ranred with rivers of human blood, now sang its peaceful lullaby, andthreaded its sinuous course through the forest and out into the rollingveldt, looking like a tiny riband of moving glistening silver.

  On arriving within eye-shot of the town, Grenville was surprised tonotice an unusual quiet about the place; and on hailing the place tosurrender, received no reply.

  Apprehensive of a surprise, the band gradually approached and cautiouslyentered the town, only to find it untenanted by a living soul.

  The Mormons had evidently taken flight hurriedly, fearing the vengeanceof Grenville and his Zulu allies, for the streets were strewed withtheir household goods in every direction; and on further examination itproved that the whole community had crossed the river by the centralbridge, which they had closed against pursuers, and had betakenthemselves to the great stairway with multitudinous ladders.

  On discovering this voluntary capitulation, Grenville gave a sigh ofrelief, for he had feared lest some overt act of imprudence on the partof the Mormons should draw down upon them prompt and unsparing vengeanceon the part of his bloodthirsty allies, when he well knew that man,woman, and child would have gone down "in one red slaughter blent."

  The main body was soon called up, and that night, for the first time formany months, our friends slept with a genuine roof over their heads.

  The Zulus, under the direction of Amaxosa, sacked the town, taking allthey wanted, but bringing to Grenville all the gold they came across,which was to be the share of his party--and a very fair quantity theyfound, too--and as there was still some little time before the settingin of the rains, Grenville and his cousin visited the river near theirold Table Rock, and going higher up the stream found it, as poorWinfield had predicted, a veritable El Dorado.

  "You see, Alf," said Grenville, "you're going back to England, and youmean to be married; and take my word for it, old chap, you'll get adusting from your governor for getting spliced without his consent. Notthat I would advise you otherwise; you've got a sweet little woman for awife, and may God bless you both; but remember that every thousandpounds you can take home with you will lessen the old man's wrath, sotake my advice and carry in a decent `pile.'"

  For ten days the cousins toiled, whilst Dora Winfield resided with themin their old quarters at the rock; and when the time came for them tosay farewell to East Utah, they had amassed an enormous quantity of theprecious metal, for which their friend Amaxosa gladly provided bearers.

  Grenville said a last farewell to the grave of the girl who had lovedhim so well, and turned away with an aching void in his breast. Thegrand self-sacrifice of this poor young creature had stirred his noblenature to its very depths, and had he a hundred lives he would willinglyhave relinquished them all to bring her back again to her place, which,alas! would henceforth know her no more. As he moved dejectedly ontowards the western bridge, a hand was laid upon his arm, and the voiceof Amaxosa softly said, "Will my father turn aside and do the finalhonours to him who loved him, and who died for him?"

  Without a word Grenville turned and followed the chief, only to find, inthe very centre of the Mormon town, the body of Myzukulwa--or, rather,what was left of it--placed upon a funeral pyre, surrounded by a hundredof the chiefs and headmen of his tribe.

  Seeing he was expected to say something, Grenville stepped forward, andlaying his hand upon the cold brow of the dead warrior, he said--

  "Amaxosa, my brother, children of the ancient race of Undi, my faithfulsons, here you behold all that remains of him who was the bravest man ina nation where all are warriors and mighty men of renown. As he lived,so he died, with his face to the foe, and his victorious foot upon theirstricken necks. My brothers, let us live as he lived, so that when ourtime comes we may die even as he died--ever faithful to the death--Myzukulwa, the son of Isanusi, the son of Undi."

  Not another word was spoken; the warriors filed slowly past the corpse,and the last man lighted the funeral pyre as all left the town, leavingit in lonesome possession of the ashes of the mighty and unforgottendead; but looking back some time later, Grenville saw that Zulu artificehad evidently set fire to the town in several quarters at once, for EastUtah lay behind him one mass of smoke and flame, forming a gloriousmonument to the memory of the departed chief whom such a fiery couch forhis final sleep befitted to a degree.

  The descent into the bed of the river was accomplished with difficulty,but once down, the party--Dora mounted on the quagga--pushed steadilyforward and reached the outer world just before the sun set, all heavinga sincere sigh of relief on finding East Utah at lost shut out fromview, and belonging only to the memories of the bitter past and theshadows of the hereafter.

  Grenville that night asked Amaxosa how he accounted for the herds ofgame going through the water and all along the dark tunnel. For replythe chief signed to our friend to follow him. Gliding to theriver-brink, they sought cover, and soon Grenville by the light of themoon saw several head of game enter the water and apparently commence_to browse there_, and he at once realised what was going on as theanimals, feeding on the mosslike weeds which floated on the surface,gradually entered the tunnel and disappeared from view.

  In this way they were undoubtedly led through the mountain, and onarriving at the further side, with their appetites satisfied by theluscious moss, did not care to face the tunnel, but took the first waythat presented itself up to the daylight. How Amaxosa's rhinoceros hadever got through was a marvel to all, but he had probably accomplishedthe journey during an abnormally low state of the river.

  Next morning Grenville and his friends set out for Natal, taking withthem their bearers, and bidding an affectionate good-bye to Amaxosa.

  The chief was too much affected to speak; and when Dora Winfield claspeda gold bracelet of her own round his sinewy wrist as a keepsake, hefairly broke down, and with a final wave of his hand turned dejectedlyaway, following the last of his men back into the tunnel.

  Little did the cowardly Mormons imagine that this wild and savagespirit, which for years had brooked their blows, their curses, and theirignominious service, would one day rise and crush them out ofremembrance, and hold undisputed sway in their own kingdom, which w
ouldhenceforth know them no more.