The Mission

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER XIII.

  At daylight the following morning, there was a large concourse ofCaffres in the camp, all waiting till our travelers were ready for thesport. Having made a hasty breakfast, they, by the advice of theCaffres, did not mount their horses, but started on foot, as the Caffresstated that the elephants were on the side of the hill. Ascending by anelephant-path, in less than half an hour they arrived at the top of thehill, when a grand and magnificent panorama was spread before them. Fromthe crown of the hill they looked down upon a valley studded with clumpsof trees, which divided the cleared ground, and the whole face of thevalley was covered with elephants. There could not have been less thannine hundred at one time within the scope of their vision.

  Every height, every green knoll, was dotted with groups of six or seven,some of their vast bodies partly concealed by the trees upon which theywere browsing, others walking in the open plain, bearing in their trunksa long branch of a tree, with which they evidently protected themselvesfrom the flies. The huge bodies of the animals, with the correspondingmagnitude of the large timber-trees which surrounded them, gave an ideaof nature on her grandest scale.

  After a few minutes' survey, they turned to the party who werecollected behind them, and gave notice that they were to commenceimmediately. The head men of the Caffres gave their orders, and thebands of natives moved silently away in every direction, checking anynoise from the dogs, which they had brought with them in numerous packs.Our travelers were to leeward of the herd on the hill where they stood,and as it was the intention of the natives to drive the animals towardthem, the Caffre warriors as well as the Hottentots all took uppositions on the hill ready to attack the animals as they were driventhat way.

  About an hour passed away, when the signal was given by some of thenative Caffres, who had gained the side of the valley to westward of theelephants. Perched up at various high spots, they shouted withstentorian lungs, and their shouts were answered by the rest of theCaffres on every side of the valley, so that the elephants foundthemselves encompassed on all sides, except on that where the hill rosefrom the valley. As the Caffres closed in, their shouts reverberatingfrom the rocks, and mixed up with the savage howlings of the dogs,became tremendous; and the elephants, alarmed, started first to one sideof the valley, then to the other, hastily retreating from the clamorimmediately raised as they approached, shaking their long ears andtrumpeting loudly, as with uplifted trunks they trotted to and fro.

  At last, finding no other avenue of escape, the herd commenced theascent of the hill, cracking the branches and boughs, and rolling theloose stones down into the valleys, as they made their ascent, and nowadding their own horrid shrieks to the din which had been previouslycreated. On they came, bearing every thing down before them, carryinghavoc in their rage to such an extent, that the forest appeared to bowdown before them; while large masses of loose rock leaped and boundedand thundered down into the valley, raising clouds of dust in theirpassage.

  "This is tremendously grand," whispered Alexander to the Major.

  "It is most awfully so; I would not have missed the sight for anything; but here they come--look at that tall tree borne down by theweight of the whole mass."

  "See the great bull leader," said Swinton; "let us all fire uponhim--what a monster!"

  "Look out," said the Major, whose rifle was discharged as he spoke, andwas quickly followed by those of Alexander and Swinton.

  "He's down; be quick and load again. Omrah, give me the other rifle."

  "Take care! take care!" was how cried on all sides, for the fall of theleading elephant and the volleys of musketry from the Hottentots had sofrightened the herd, that they had begun to separate and break off twoor three together, or singly in every direction. The shrieks andtrumpetings, and the crashing of the boughs so near to them, were nowdeafening; and the danger was equally great. The Major had but justleveled his other rifle when the dense foliage close to him opened as ifby magic, and the head of a large female presented itself within fouryards of him.

  Fortunately, the Major was a man of great nerve, and his rifle broughther down at his feet, when so near to him that he was compelled to leapaway out of the reach of her trunk, for she was not yet dead. Anothersmaller elephant followed so close, that it tumbled over the carcass ofthe first, and was shot by Alexander as it was recovering its legs.

  "Back, sirs, or you will be killed," cried Bremen, running to them;"this way--the whole herd is coming right upon you." They ran for theirlives, following the Hottentot, who brought them to a high rock whichthe elephants could not climb, and where they were safe.

  They had hardly gained it when the mass came forward in a cloud of dust,and with a noise almost inconceivable, scrambling and rolling to and froas they passed on in a close-wedged body. Many were wounded andtottering, and as they were left behind, the Caffres, naked, with theirassaguays in their hands, leaping forward and hiding, as required,running with the greatest activity close up to the rear of the animals,either pierced them with their assaguays, or hamstrung them with theirsharp-cutting weapons, crying out in their own tongue to the elephants,"Great captain! don't kill us--don't tread upon us, mightychief!"--supplicating, strangely enough, the mercy of those to whom theywere showing none. As it was almost impossible to fire without a chanceof hitting a Caffre, our travelers contented themselves with looking on,till the whole herd had passed by, and had disappeared in the junglebelow.

  "They have gone right in the direction of the wagons," said Swinton.

  "Yes, sir," replied the Hottentot, Bremen; "but we must not interferewith them any more; they are now so scattered in the jungle, that itwould be dangerous. We must let them go away as fast as they can."

  They remained for a few minutes more, till every elephant and Caffre haddisappeared, and then went back cautiously to the spot from whence theyhad first fired, and where they had such a fine prospect of the valley.Not an elephant was to be seen in it; nothing but the ravages which theherd had committed upon the trees, many of which, of a very large size,had been borne to the ground by the enormous strength of these animals.They then proceeded to the spot where the great bull elephant had fallenby the rifle of Major Henderson.

  They found that the ball had entered just under the eye. It was amonster that must have stood sixteen feet high by Bremen's calculation,and it had two very fine tusks. While they were standing by the carcassof the animal, the armed Hottentots returned from the pursuit, andstated that seven elephants had been dispatched, and others were sowounded that they could not live. They now set to work to take the teethout of the animal, and were very busy, when a Hottentot came running up,and reported that the herd of elephants in their retreat had dashedthrough the camp, and done a good deal of mischief; that a male elephanthad charged the wagon of Major Henderson, and had forced his tuskthrough the side; that the tusk had pierced one of the casks of liquor,which was running out, although not very fast, and that the wagon mustbe unloaded to get out the cask and save the rest of the liquor.

  Several Hottentots immediately hurried back with him to help inunloading the wagon, and by degrees they all slipped away except Bremen,Swanevelt, who was cutting out the tusks, and Omrah, who remainedperched upon the huge carcass of the animal, imitating the trumpetingand motions of the elephant, and playing all sorts of antics. A party ofCaffres soon afterward came up and commenced cutting up the carcass, andthen our travelers walked away in the direction of the camp, toascertain what mischief had been done.

  On their return, which, as they stopped occasionally to examine theother animals that had fallen, must have taken an hour, they found thatthe Hottentots had not commenced unloading the wagon; although they hadput tubs to catch the running liquor, of which they had taken so large aquantity that some were staggering about, and the rest lying down in astate of senseless intoxication.

  "I thought they were very officious in going back to assist," observedthe Major; "a pretty mess we should be in, if we were in an enemy'scountry, and without our Caffre guard."<
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  "Yes, indeed," replied Alexander, turning over the tub of liquor, andspilling it on the ground, much to the sorrow of the Hottentots who werenot yet insensible: "however, we will now let the cask run out, andwatch that they get no more."

  As the Caffres were busy with the carcasses of the elephants, and mostof the Hottentots dead drunk, it was useless to think of proceedinguntil the following day. Indeed, the oxen and horses were all scatteredin every direction by the elephants breaking into the caravan, and itwould be necessary to collect them, which would require some time. Ourtravelers, therefore, gave up the idea of proceeding further that day,and taking their guns, walked on to the forest, in the direction wheremost of the elephants killed had fallen. They passed by three carcasses,upon which the Caffres were busily employed, and then they came to afourth, when a sight presented itself which quite moved their sympathy.It was the carcass of a full-grown female, and close to it was anelephant calf, about three feet and a half high, standing by the side ofits dead mother.

  The poor little animal ran round and round the body with everydemonstration of grief, piping sorrowfully, and trying in vain to raiseit up with its tiny trunk. When our travelers arrived, it ran up tothem, entwining its little proboscis round their legs, and showing itsdelight at finding somebody. On the trees round the carcass were percheda number of vultures, waiting to make a meal of the remains, as soon asthe hunters had cut it up, for their beaks could not penetrate the toughhide. Our travelers remained there for more than an hour, watching themotions and playing with the young elephant, which made several attemptsto induce its prostrate mother to take notice of it. Finding, however,that all its efforts were ineffectual, when our travelers quitted thespot to go back, it voluntarily followed them to the caravans, where itremained, probably quite as much astonished to find all the Hottentotslying about as insensible as its mother.

  It may be as well here to observe, that the little animal did not livebeyond a very few days after, from want of its necessary food.

  In the evening, Bremen and Swanevelt returned with tusks of the bullelephant, which were very large, and the Caffre warriors also came in;the other Caffres belonging to the country were too busy eating for thepresent. The chief of the Caffre warriors brought in the tufts of theother elephant's tails and the teeth, and the men were loaded with theflesh. As soon as the Caffres found that the oxen and horses had beenfrightened away, and perceived that the Hottentots were not in asituation to go after them, they threw down their meat and went inpursuit. Before dark the cattle were all brought back; the fires werelighted, and the Caffres did not give over their repast until nearmidnight.

  Our travelers did not think it advisable, as the Hottentots were now noprotection, to go to bed; they made up a large fire, and remained by it,talking over the adventures of the day. While they were conversing,Begum, who had been sitting by her master, showed signs of uneasiness,and at last clung round the Major with an evident strong fear.

  "Why, what can be the matter with the Princess?" said the Major;"something has frightened her."

  "Yes, that is evident; perhaps there is an elephant near; shall we wakenBremen and Swanevelt, who are close to us?"

  Begum chattered, and her teeth also chattered with fear, as she clungcloser and closer. Little Omrah, who was sitting by, looked veryearnestly at the baboon, and at last touching the shoulder of Alexanderto attract his attention, he first pointed to the baboon, imitating itsfright, and then going on his hands and feet, imitated the motions andgrowl of an animal.

  "I understand," cried the Major, seizing his gun; "the lad means thatthere is a lion near, and that is what frightens the baboon."

  "Lion!" said the Major to Omrah.

  But Omrah did not understand him; but pulling out his paper and pencil,in a second almost he drew the form of a lion.

  "Clever little fellow! Wake them all, and get your guns ready," said theMajor, starting on his legs; "it can't be far off; confound the monkey,she won't let go," continued he, tearing off Begum and throwing heraway. Begum immediately scampered to the wagon and hid herself.

  They had just awakened up the two Hottentots, when a roar was given soloud and tremendous, that it appeared like thunder, and was reverberatedfrom the rocks opposite for some seconds.

  No one but those who have been in the country, and have fallen in withthis animal in its wild and savage state, can have any idea of theappalling effect of a lion's roar. What is heard in a menagerie is weak,and can give but a faint conception of it. In the darkness of the nightit is almost impossible to tell from what quarter the sound proceeds;this arises from the habit which the animal has of placing his mouthclose to the ground when he roars, so that his voice rolls over theearth, as it were like a breaker, and the sound is carried along withall its tremendous force. It is indeed a most awful note of preparation,and so thought Alexander, who had never heard one before.

  The Caffres had wakened up at the noise, and our travelers and theHottentots now fired their guns off in every direction to scare away theanimal. Repeated discharges had this effect, and in the course of halfan hour every thing was again quiet.

  "Well," observed Alexander, "this is the first time that I ever heardthe roar of a lion in its wild state; and I can assure you that I shallnever forget it as long as I live."

  "It is not the first time I have heard it," replied the Major; "but Imust say, what with the darkness and stillness of the night, and thereverberation, I never heard it so awful before. But you, Swinton, whohave traveled in the Namaqua-land, have, of course."

  "Yes, I have, but very seldom."

  "But it is rather singular that we have not heard the lion before this,is it not?" said Alexander.

  "The lion is often near without giving you notice," replied Swinton;"but I do not think that there are many lions in the country we havetraversed; it is too populous. On the other side of the mountains, if wereturn that way, we shall find them in plenty. Wherever the antelopesare in herds, wherever you find the wild horse, zebra, and giraffe, youwill as certainly find the lion, for he preys upon them."

  "I know very well, Swinton, that you are closely attentive to thepeculiar habits of animals, and that they form a portion of your study.Have you much knowledge of the lion? and if so, suppose you tell ussomething about them."

  "I have certainly studied the habits of the lion, and what I havegathered from my own observation and the information I received fromothers, I shall be most happy to communicate. The lion undoubtedly doesnot kill wantonly--of that I have had repeated instances. I recollectone which is rather remarkable, as it showed the sagacity of the noblebrute. A man who belonged to one of the Mission stations, on his returnhome from a visit to his friends, took a circuitous route to pass a poolof water, at which he hoped to kill an antelope. The sun had risen tosome height when he arrived there, and as he could not perceive anygame, he laid his gun down on a low shelving rock, the back part ofwhich was covered with some brushwood. He went down to the pool and hada hearty drink, returned to the rock, and after smoking his pipe,feeling weary, he lay down and fell fast asleep.

  "In a short time, the excessive heat reflected from the rock awoke him,and opening his eyes he perceived a large lion about a yard from hisfeet, crouched down, with his eyes glaring on his face. For some minuteshe remained motionless with fright, expecting every moment that he wouldbe in the jaws of the monster; at last he recovered his presence ofmind, and casting his eye toward his gun, moved his hand slowly towardit; upon which the lion raised up his head and gave a tremendous roarwhich induced him hastily to withdraw his hand. With this the lionappeared satisfied, and crouched with his head between his fore-paws asbefore. After a little while the man made another attempt to possesshimself of his gun. The lion raised his head and gave another roar, andthe man desisted; another and another attempt were at intervals made,but always with the same anger shown on the part of the lion."

  "Why, the lion must have known what he wanted the gun for."

  "Most certainly he did, an
d therefore would not allow the man to touchit. It is to be presumed that the sagacious creature had been fired atbefore; but you observe, that he did not wish to harm the man. Heappeared to say--You are in my power; you shall not go away: you shallnot take your musket to shoot me with, or I will tear you to pieces."

  "It certainly was very curious. Pray how did it end?"

  "Why the heat of the sun on the rock was so overpowering, that the manwas in great agony; his naked feet were so burned, that he wascompelled to keep moving them, placing one upon the other and changingthem every minute. The day passed, and the night also; the lion nevermoved from the spot. The sun rose again, and the heat became so intensethat the poor man's feet were past all feeling. At noon, on that day,the lion rose and walked to the pool, which was only a few yardsdistant, looking behind him every moment to see if the man moved; theman once more attempted to reach his gun, and the lion, perceiving it,turned in rage, and was on the point of springing upon him; the manwithdrew his hand, and the beast was pacified."

  "How very strange!"

  "The animal went to the water and drank; it then returned and lay downat the same place as before, about a yard from the man's feet. Anothernight passed away, and the lion kept at his post. The next day, in theforenoon, the animal again went to the water, and while there looked asif he heard a noise in an opposite quarter, and then disappeared in thebushes.

  "Perceiving this, the man made an effort, and seized his gun, but inattempting to rise he found it not in his power, as the strength of hisankles was gone. With his gun in his hand, he crept to the pool anddrank, and, looking at his feet, he discovered that his toes had beenquite roasted and the skin torn off as he crawled through the grass. Hesat at the pool for a few minutes expecting the lion's return, andresolved to send the contents of his gun through his head; but the liondid not return, so the poor fellow tied his gun on his back and crawledaway on his hands and knees as well as he could. He was quite exhausted,and could have proceeded no further, when providentially a person fellin with him and assisted him home; but he lost his toes, and was acripple for life."

  "What makes this story more remarkable is," observed the Major, "thatthe lion, as it is rational to suppose, must have been hungry afterwatching the man for sixty hours, even admitting that he had taken ameal but a short time before."

  "I know many other curious and well-authenticated anecdotes about thisnoble animal," observed Swinton, "which I shall be happy to give you;but I must look at my memorandum-book, or I may not be quite correct inmy story. One fact is very remarkable, and as I had it from Mr. ----, themissionary, who stated that he had several times observed it himself, Ihave no hesitation in vouching for its correctness, the more so, as Idid once perceive a similar fact myself; it is, that the fifthcommandment is observed by lions--they honor their father and mother.

  "If an old lion is in company with his children, as the natives callthem, although they are in size equal to himself, or if a number oflions meet together in quest of game, there is always one who isadmitted by them to be the oldest and ablest, and who leads. If the gameis come up with, it is this one who creeps up to it, and seizes it,while the others lie crouched upon the grass; if the old lion issuccessful, which he generally is, he retires from his victim, and liesdown to breathe himself and rest for perhaps a quarter of an hour. Theothers in the meantime draw round and lie down at a respectful distance,but never presume to go near the animal which the old lion has killed.As soon as the old lion considers himself sufficiently rested, he goesup to the prey and commences at the breast and stomach, and after eatinga considerable portion he will take a second rest, none of the otherspresuming to move.

  "Having made a second repast, he then retires; the other lions watch hismotions, and all rush to the remainder of the carcass, which is soondevoured. I said that I witnessed an instance myself in corroboration ofthis statement, which I will now mention. I was sitting on a rock aftercollecting some plants, when below me I saw a young lion seize anantelope; he had his paw upon the dead animal, when the old lion cameup,--upon which the young one immediately retired till his superior haddined first, and then came in for the remainder. Mercy on us! what isthat?"

  "I thought it was the lion again," said Alexander, "but it is thunder;we are about to have a storm."

  "Yes, and a fierce one too," said the Major; "I am afraid that we mustbreak up our party and retire under cover. We have some large drops ofrain already."

  A flash of lightning now dazzled them, and was followed by another, andan instantaneous peal of thunder.

  "There is no mistake in this," said Swinton; "and I can tell you that weshall have it upon us in less than a minute, so I am for my wagon."

  "At all events it will wash these Hottentots sober," observed the Major,as they all walked away to their separate wagons for shelter.