CHAPTER EIGHT.
THE ESCAPE.
Denis and Percy, taking advantage of the excitement which the arrival ofHendricks and his party caused among the Zulu warriors, rushed out fromtheir midst, and before any one could stop them, they darted away in thedirection their friends were coming. Lionel, who was among the first tosee them, uttering a shout of joy, galloped forward, followed byCrawford.
"Jump up behind me," he cried to Denis, stretching out his hand. "Wepossibly may have to run for it, if Hendricks and Umbulazi don't agree."
Percy at the same moment sprang up behind Crawford, while Hendricks,ordering his party to halt, rode forward alone towards the prince,keeping however his horse well in hand, and his rifle ready for instantuse.
"I come to salute you, Umbulazi, and to ask you why you detained myyoung companions; but as they have been restored to me I will not enterinto that subject," he said, drawing up at such a distance that hemight, without difficulty extricate himself should it be necessary.
"Do you come as a friend or a foe?" asked the prince.
"I come as a friend, for such I am to all the Zulu people," answeredHendricks.
"Well, as a friend I invite you to dismount and partake of a feast whichwill speedily be prepared to do you honour," said the prince.
"I cannot at present delay my journey," answered Hendricks, who, hiskeen eye having observed the expression on the countenances of severalof the chiefs, greatly doubted the sincerity of the prince. He alsorecollected the treacherous way in which a large body of boers had beenmassacred a few years before by a relative of this very man, having beenbeguiled by a similar invitation.
Again, however, the prince pressed him, assuming so courteous an air,that he was almost persuaded to yield, when the old prophetess,disappointed at not seeing the boys put to death, came whirling up,shaking her rattle and waving her wand, and crying out to hercountrymen, "Beware of the strangers! Beware of the people with palefaces! They are no friends of the Zulus. Now you have them in yourpower, kill them! kill them all!"
Mangaleesu on hearing this cried out to Umbulazi, "Be not deceived byher. The white men wish to be friends with the Zulus. Harm them not.If injury is done them, the Zulus will be the sufferers."
Hendricks, who of course understood all that was said, saw that it wouldbe the height of folly to put himself in the power of Umbulazi and hisfollowers, and therefore, thanking Mangaleesu, whom he now recognised,for his good intentions, replied to the prince's invitation, that hismission being accomplished, he and his party must take their departure.
He was anxious for another reason to get clear of them as soon aspossible; for, knowing the jealousy which existed between Umbulazi andCetchwayo, he felt convinced that the former was about to make war onhis more favoured brother, and would very likely try to detain him andhis people for the purpose of compelling them to fight on his side. Hetherefore, uttering an "Usaleke," the usual Kaffir salutation atleaving, turned his horse's head and rode back to his companions.
"Keep ready for a start," he said; "for although we have one friendamong them, I cannot depend upon the rest. Show no hurry until I givethe word."
They rode on slowly, Hendricks ordering the rest of the party to go onahead, while he brought up the rear. He had got to a short distancewhen Mangaleesu was heard shouting--
"Go on, go on! they try kill! No time lose!"
These words, spoken in English, were mixed up with Kaffir expressions,hurling abuse at their heads, evidently for the purpose of deceiving hiscountrymen.
Hendricks inwardly thanked Mangaleesu for the warning he had given;still he knew that it was important not to exhibit the slightest alarm,as by so doing he should only the more speedily tempt the Kaffirs tofollow. The old witch, now finding that her intended victims werelikely to escape her, or rather, that her traitorous plan for committingUmbulazi with the English--for such there can be no doubt sheentertained--was a failure, shrieked out to the warriors--
"What! are you going to let the dogs escape? Come on! come on! we shallbe even now in time to overtake them. Never mind what Umbulazi says.He will thank you for destroying his enemies."
At this time she was some distance from the prince, so that her remarkswere not heard by him, and no one would have ventured to repeat them.Several of the chiefs had already been influenced by her, and a largenumber of the men, excited by her denunciations against the hunter andhis party, uttering loud shouts, rushed forward with their assegaisquivering in their hands, bent on their destruction.
Hendricks, who had been carefully noting what was occurring among thepeople, even before they made an onward movement, knew what was about tohappen. He now saw that not a moment was to be lost.
"On, on, my lads!" he shouted; "keep straight ahead up the hill."
Crawford, who had gone ahead, with Denis behind him, dug his spurs intohis horse's flanks. Lionel and Percy followed close to him. The restof the party were not far behind. Hendricks brought up the rear,keeping his rifle ready to shoot down any warrior with a fast pair ofheels who should come near enough to hurl his assegai. When once he hadgot a good start, he had no doubt about keeping well ahead. But thehill had to be surmounted, when the men on foot would have the advantageof the horses. He turned for a moment to take a glance at his pursuers.Excited to fury by the howls and shrieks of the old hag, they wereexerting every muscle of their lithe bodies to spring over the ground,and were coming on at a rapid rate. The well-trained steeds bravelypressed up the hill, as if they were perfectly aware of the threateneddanger. Several of the Zulus had already got up to within fifty yardsof the fugitives. A couple of assegais came whistling through the air,but they fell short of Hendricks, who now urging on his horse, made theanimal spring ahead. The rest of the party were by this time almost onlevel ground. A few more bounds, and they were on the brow. There wasnow no probability that the Zulus would overtake them. Hendricks mighthave punished their pursuers by shooting down one or more, but he had nodesire to kill any one, and the extreme danger passed he rode on to thehead of his party. Still he could not venture to slacken his speed, forbefore them was another valley with a good deal of rough ground, andsome of the more active Zulus might even now approach near enough tohurl their assegais. The desire he felt to avoid bloodshed made himstill more anxious to keep ahead; for he and his companions mightotherwise, by halting, have received their pursuers with a fire whichwould effectually have stopped their career. It was satisfactory toknow that the Zulus had no horses, for none had been observed in orabout the camp, so that when once they had got well ahead there was norisk of being overtaken.
What all this time had become of Gozo? Denis and Percy had not seen himduring the morning, nor had he made his appearance after Hendricks'arrival at the camp. It was hoped therefore that he had escaped,although it was too possible that he had been put to death by the Zulus.
As the party gained the brow of the slope which led down to the nextvalley, they saw below a herd of cattle, among which were several horsesfeeding, attended by a few Zulus.
"The chances are our horses are among them," cried Denis, as they rodedown the slope; "yes, yes, I see them! I am sure they are ours; and,hurrah, there too is old Gozo safe and sound. He has caught sight ofus, and, depend on it, is planning how he can best get clear of thosefellows near him."
"You are right," said Hendricks, and he shouted his follower's name.
The herdsmen, thinking the strangers were about to make a raid on theircattle, began to drive them off, on which Gozo, throwing himself on theback of one of the horses, caught the two others, and galloped on tojoin his friends. Some of the herdsmen, seeing what he was doing,hurled their assegais at him; but, experienced hunter as he was, heavoided them by bending down over the neck of his horse, and escaped.He was quickly up to his friends.
"Hurrah! here he comes," said Denis. "I will relieve you, Crawford, andmount my animal."
"But he has no saddle," said Crawford.
"Oh, n
ever mind that; I've ridden many a mile without one; and yourhorse will go all the faster for not having my weight on his back,"answered Denis, as he threw himself off and quickly mounted one of thehorses Gozo brought up.
No time was lost in asking Gozo questions. Lionel, who was as wellaccustomed to ride without a saddle as was Denis, at once climbed up onthe back of his own horse.
Again the party set off, allowing the herdsmen to escape with theircattle; and looking back, they saw the Zulus in considerable numbers onthe top of the hill they had just crossed; but the slope on the oppositeside was not very steep, and pushing on they gained the summit beforetheir pursuers had reached the bottom of the valley. Waving an ironicalfarewell, they galloped forward. Still it was prudent not to pull reinas yet, and on they went at a rate which soon carried them far out ofreach of their enemies.
"I wish that Mangaleesu had not joined Umbulazi; for though the princefancies he will succeed, there is every probability that he will bedefeated, as, besides being supported by the king, Cetchwayo has by farthe larger number of people with him," said Hendricks, addressingCrawford. "Had I found an opportunity, I would have spoken toMangaleesu on the subject, and urged him to retreat while there wastime."
While the two elders of the party were conversing as they rode ontogether, the three boys were galloping alongside each other andexchanging remarks in somewhat disjointed sentences, as people are wontto do when going at a fast rate on horseback, especially if their steedsare without saddles, as was the case in the present instance with two ofthe lads.
"I cannot tell you how glad I was to see you come back with Hendricks,for I was much afraid that you had been caught by the Zulus and killed,"said Percy, turning to Lionel. "How did you manage to escape?"
"It was not so difficult as you might have supposed," answered Lionel."When I got out of the hut, I crept along, keeping as much as possibleunder the shadow of bushes and rocks. If I heard the slightest sound, Istopped and lay flat on the ground, just as the Zulus do whenapproaching an enemy or trying to escape. The guards were off guard,supposing, I fancy, that none of Cetchwayo's people were near enough toreach the camp. I saw two or three in the distance, but none came in myway. My chief fear was that I might fall in with a prowling lion orleopard, or encounter a snake of some sort crawling along. I did not,however, allow myself to be troubled about such matters, I only thoughthow I had best act should I meet with either of them. On and on I went;but it was somewhat fatiguing work, as I could never venture to standupright, and had generally to make my way on all-fours, althoughsometimes I ran on my feet, bending low down; but even in that positionI could not run fast. I at last reached the side of the hill up which Ihad to climb. There were several open parts, where, had the Zulus beenkeeping a bright look-out, I must have been seen, although they mighthave taken me for a jackal or a lion. I crawled along as fast as Icould, not stopping even to look behind me, until I reached the brow ofthe hill. On getting to the other side I saw a number of cattle, withseveral horses among them, cropping the grass. Before I could ventureon I had to try and ascertain whereabouts the men herding the cattle hadposted themselves. I was pretty sure that they would be under sheltersomewhere, and as the night wind was chilly, they would be either seatedbeneath the rocks, or would have built themselves huts of boughs. Ifeared that if by chance I should creep near one of them, I might beseen, when the fellow would to a certainty hurl his assegai at me, as hewould take me for a wild beast of some sort. At last, unable todiscover any one, I crawled down the hill, prepared at any moment totake to my heels, should I be discovered. No sound reached my ears, andI at length found myself close to several horses. As they were notalarmed, I guessed that they were our own, which the Zulus had takenfrom us. I knew that my beast would come to me, as I had taught him todo, could I venture to call him. I whistled low. I saw one of thehorses lift his head. I could just distinguish him against the sky. AsI lay on the ground, I whistled again, and he began to move towards me.The third time I whistled louder than the first, when, to my infinitesatisfaction, he trotted up. He had the rope bridle still round hisneck. Slipping it into his mouth, so as to be able to guide him, Igrasped his mane and leapt upon his back. Just as I reached it andfound myself firmly seated, I heard a shout, and looking round, caughtsight of a Zulu rushing out from beneath a thick bush, where he hadensconced himself. I did not stop to inquire what he wanted, but urgingon my animal with my voice and heels, I galloped off across the country.I was breasting the opposite hill when several other Zulus joined thefirst. Whether, even then, they had made out that there was anybody onthe back of the horse, I was not certain. I think they did not; for, asI bent low down, they might have supposed that the animal had beensuddenly seized with a desire to return to its former companions, andthat the others would probably follow, which of course they wished toprevent them from doing. When once I was on the top of the hill, I knewthat there was little chance of the Zulus overtaking me. I gallopedforward, soon getting beyond the sound of their voices, while I knewthat they could not distinguish even the clatter of my horse's hoofs atthe distance I was already from them. I had a long ride before me; butas my horse was fresh, and had had a good feed, I had no doubt that Icould accomplish it. I guessed, more or less, the direction of ourcamp, and hoped that I was steering a straight course by the stars,which shone brightly. My steed fortunately could see his way betterthan I could, or I should often have been greatly puzzled. At last themoon rose. Although it dimmed the stars, it afforded more light, andenabled me to see the outline of the hills, by which I knew that I wasgoing right. I was galloping along, when my horse started and began totremble. Presently a loud roar saluted my ears. Looking ahead, I saw,to my dismay, a lion just emerging from a thicket. Had I had my rifle,I would have tried to shoot the brute. To gallop either to the one sideor the other would have been madness, as the lion would have been up tome in a few bounds; for, heavy as the creature looks, he can, I assureyou, move for a short distance faster than the fleetest horse. Could Ihave induced my steed to move forward, I would have ridden at the lion,taking care, you may be sure, not to get within range of his paws; butthe poor animal, trembling with fear, stood stock still. At first I wasnot quite certain that the lion was looking at me. Presently, however,he roared again. In return I shouted at the top of my voice. Thisseemed to encourage my horse, and patting him on the neck, I tried tosoothe him and get him to advance a few paces. I was in a verydangerous predicament, I knew, but I did not despair. Presently I saw apack of jackals run by, with a lioness at their heels, when the lionturned and joined her. From this I knew that he must have killed adeer, or some other large animal, and had been calling to his mate, andthat his roaring was to keep the jackals away. People often declarethat the jackals are the lion's providers; but such is all nonsense. Idid not stop, you may be sure, to see how either the lions or jackalswere employed, but rode on as fast as I could out of their way. I wasnot certain of the distance I had gone, and was very doubtful whether Ishould hit the camp. I was afraid that I had passed it, and shouldsuddenly find myself in front of some kraal, whose inhabitants might notbe amiably disposed. Still it would not do to stand still. It at lastappeared to me that my horse had a strong inclination to move to theright, and on reaching the summit of a hill I caught sight of two firesin the distance. I rode towards them, feeling sure that they were atour camp. As I approached, I shouted at the top of my voice. In aninstant all the dogs came out barking, followed immediately, to my greatsatisfaction, by Hendricks himself on horseback.
"`I was just setting off to look for you boys, for I feared someaccident had happened,' he exclaimed. `Where are the rest?'
"I told him.
"`You must have some food while I make arrangements for our expedition,'he observed.
"Very glad I was, I can tell you, to get something to eat. Meantime hesent for Umgolo, and directed him to order as many men as could bespared to get ready. He wanted me to stay behind, but I begged
toaccompany him, though I asked for a fresh horse, which was likely tocarry me better than my own after his hard gallop."
By the time Lionel had finished his account, the party had come in sightof the camp, where they were welcomed by the men in charge, who, havingheard reports of the approach of Umbulazi's forces to attack Cetchwayo,feared that they might have been detained if not cut off. The fireswere made up, and the remainder of a buffalo killed in the morning wasquickly cooked to satisfy the hunger of the party Hendricks had takenwith him, as they had had nothing to eat since they left the camp in themorning. They had, unfortunately, no other meat; and it was necessary,before they could proceed to any distance, to obtain a further supply.Still Hendricks was anxious, as quickly as possible, to get out frombetween the two contending forces, one of which was on his right handand the other on his left.
As soon as the meal was over, sentries being placed round the camp, andcareful watches, to keep a look-out on the oxen, the rest of the partylay down with their arms by their sides, ready to start in the morning,as soon as there was sufficient daylight to enable them to see their wayclearly. Scarcely had Lionel, with his young companions, placed theirheads on the saddles or rolls of cloth which served them as pillows,than they were fast asleep, dreaming of the antics they had seen playedby Umbulazi's dusky warriors on the previous day. Even the howls of thehyenas and jackals failed to disturb them, nor did the roaring of alion, which came up close to the camp, and made most of the Kaffirservants start to their feet.
Before daylight, Hendricks, whom no exertion could fatigue, was on foot,when he quickly aroused his followers. Being in a hurry to set off, hedid not wait for breakfast, but ordered the horses to be saddled and theoxen to be inspanned, and the men taking their accustomed places on eachside of the waggon, the journey was commenced, just as the first streaksof day appeared over the distant hills. The road was well known, or itwould have been difficult to find it in the gloom of morning; but assoon as the sun rose, there was light enough and to spare, as well asmore heat than was pleasant, especially in the opinion of the youngEnglish travellers. Moving on for some miles, they came to the edge ofthe plateau, or rather to a broad valley which ran across it. As theygazed down from their elevated position, it appeared sprinkled withclumps of mimosa of various sizes, springing up from a sward of softgreen grass.
"That will be delightful for a gallop!" exclaimed Crawford, as theyhalted for a short time to secure the drags to the waggon wheels.
"Wait until we get down to it," observed Hendricks, laughing. "We shallfind that seeming sward a tangled network of long coarse grass, as highas our waists."
Such indeed was proved to be the case, although the oxen managed totramp through it.
"Look out for snakes!" cried Denis. "I saw a big fellow wrigglingthrough the grass just now. He seemed more afraid of us than we need beof him; only remember, Crawford, that you don't step upon one, if youcan help it."
No accident, however, happened, and the waggon in a short time wasascending the opposite height. Some further distance had to betraversed before water was reached, when the travellers outspanned fortheir morning meal, as also to afford the oxen rest after the toils theyhad gone through.
The travellers had but meagre fare, as no meat had as yet been obtained,but mealy cakes and bowls of tea were sufficient to satisfy their hungerfor the present. Scarcely had they begun breakfast, however, whenUmgolo, who had gone to the top of a slight elevation in theneighbourhood, came hurrying back with the report that he had seen inthe far distance a herd of buffaloes, and he proposed setting outimmediately to shoot some. The meal was therefore hurried over, andHendricks and Umgolo, with two other Kaffir hunters, accompanied byCrawford and the three lads, set off on foot, hoping to bring back asufficient supply of meat, not only for present consumption, but to turninto beltong. The party first made for the hill, that they might take alook over the country, and observe the direction in which the buffaloeswere moving, as also the quarter from whence the wind was blowing, so asto approach the herd on the lee side, and thus avoid being discovered bythe keen-scented animals.
Far off to the right was a wood, towards which the herd was travellingfor shade and rest; but as the wind blew from where the hunters thenwere towards the wood, it was necessary to make a long circuit beforethey could approach from the desired quarter. So bright and pure wasthe atmosphere, that distances seemed almost as nothing. The buffaloes,which were in reality miles away, appeared so near that Crawford andPercy, who were less accustomed to the country than the rest of theparty, fancied that they should be up to them in a quarter of an hour orless. As it was, they had a weary tramp, the sun beating down on theirheads with intense force until they reached a wooded part of thecountry, where they enjoyed some shade; but owing to the tangled rootsand creepers, they were compelled to make even slower progress thanbefore.
"Silence now, lads," said Hendricks, "no talking: we must creep up, andnot let our footfalls be heard. I bring you for the sake of giving youa lesson. Remember, none of you are to fire until Umgolo and I havebrought down a beast, but then you can exercise your skill."
Saying this, he and Umgolo set off, followed by the rest of the party,who imitated their example, stepping cautiously, and stooping down whenthey had to cross an open space where they were exposed to view. Theycould catch glimpses of the buffaloes moving slowly along, cropping thegrass as they went, an old bull acting as their leader and guardian. Atlength a spot which afforded shelter and concealment was reached insidethe wood. Hendricks and Umgolo searched round carefully, lest it shouldprove that a lion or some other savage animal had made its lairthereabouts, and might spring out upon them.
Satisfied on that point, directed by Hendricks, they took up theirpositions, and then commenced creeping forward as noiselessly as mice.Presently Hendricks pointed in front, and made a signal to prepare forinstant action. By moving aside some of the boughs with the greatestcaution, the whole herd was seen, magnificent-looking fellows, somestanding, others lying down, and several snoring away, enjoying theirnoonday siesta. The old bull, the leader of the herd, stood, however,looking out, as if suspecting danger, yet perhaps not sufficientlysatisfied that it was near to warn his companions. Hendricks had gotwithin ten or a dozen yards of him; Umgolo had crept up to about thesame distance from another fine-looking brute. The younger hunters hadeach selected an animal, but, obeying orders, refrained from firing.Presently Hendricks, who was kneeling, raised his rifle, and a loudreport was heard. Almost at the same instant Umgolo fired, when therest of the party, deeming themselves at liberty to act as they thoughtfit, discharged their rifles. As soon as the smoke had cleared away,three fine animals were seen on the ground, while the rest of the herdwere scampering off in full flight across the plain. One fell beforethey had got far, showing that two of the younger hunters had fired witheffect; but which had been the successful shot, neither of them could bevery certain, though each claimed the honour.
Umgolo, followed by the other Kaffirs, sprang forward, eager to cut upthe carcases. Hendricks had ordered two of the men left in camp tobring up the horses by a direct path to carry back the meat. They soonarrived, and the animals being loaded with the more valuable portions ofthe slain buffaloes, the whole party set off to return in triumph withthe spoils of the chase. They were scarcely out of the wood, whensuddenly, from behind the bushes and tall grass, a hundred Kaffirs, withassegais in hand, which they shook as if about to hurl them at thehunters, sprang up, and almost completely surrounded them.
"We're in a fearful predicament," exclaimed Percy, as looking round hesaw no means of escape. "Good-bye, Lionel, good-bye, Denis. I supposethese black fellows will run us through with their ugly-looking spearsbefore many minutes are over."
"Sure, I hope they'll not be after doing anything of the sort," saidDenis; "they're only quivering them just now to frighten us."
"I don't like their looks," said Lionel; "but I hope, as many of themknow Hendricks, they don't intend t
o kill us."
"What means this?" exclaimed Hendricks, advancing towards the nearest."We are friends of the Zulus, and desire to traverse their country inpeace. You know me; I have often been among you."
"Yes, we know you well," said a chief, stepping forward.
"We have no desire to injure you or your companions; but you mustaccompany us to our Prince Cetchwayo, who desires to see you. It isknown that you have been at the camp of Umbulazi, and he wishes to knowthe object which took you there."
"I went there from necessity, to rescue some of my followers who hadbeen made prisoners. I succeeded, and carried them off, tarrying not amoment longer with Umbulazi than I was compelled to do."
"The prince will hear what you have to say, and will act according tohis judgment," said the chief. "Yield yourselves as prisoners."
"If you insist on our going, we have no choice in the matter," saidHendricks, looking round at the large band of savage warriors which hadsurprised them. "But perhaps the assurance I give, that we are friendsto Cetchwayo, and are simply travelling through his country, willsatisfy him."
"The prince wishes to see the great hunter face to face," answered thechief; "and he and his followers, with his waggon and cattle, willaccompany us forthwith. The word has been spoken. The order must beobeyed."
"We must submit to these fellows," said Hendricks, turning to hisEnglish companions. "But load your rifles, and be prepared to act as Imay direct you, though there is, I fear, but little chance of making ourescape."
The Zulus had now gathered closely round their prisoners, whom, however,they did not ill-treat, but allowed them to walk as they liked.
"I fear that my people in the camp, when they see you coming, will taketo flight," said Hendricks to the chief. "Let me go on first, and Iwill tell them that you come as friends. Will you trust me?"
The chief looked at him. "Yes," he said, "I know that I can trust theword of a white chief, and you may go forward."
"Halt here, then, for a few minutes, to give me time to get ahead ofyou," said Hendricks, "and I will trust you also with my people, thatyou will not injure them."
The chief, on this, ordered his followers to halt, while Hendricks wenton with rapid strides towards the camp. On his arrival, he found hispeople in a state of great consternation, they having just caught sightof the Zulus, and they confessed that in another minute they would havefled, believing that he and those with him had been killed.
He managed, however, to quell their fears by the assurance thatCetchwayo would not injure them, though he might delay their journey.This was of greater consequence to him than to them. In a short timethe Zulus were seen advancing. On their arrival, the chief toldHendricks that he must at once inspan and proceed towards Cetchwayo'scamp, which was much nearer than had been supposed. On Hendricks,however, representing to him that he and his people had been withoutmeat the whole day, the chief consented to their waiting until some hadbeen cooked, observing that he would take charge of the remainder. Hedid so, by dividing it among his followers, who forthwith lightedseveral fires, and cooking it after their barbarous fashion, quickly atethe whole of it up, scarcely leaving a few scraps for the hungry dogs.This was not a little provoking to the hunters, but it allowed them sometime to rest and recover from the fatigue they all felt.
As soon as the feast was over, Hendricks gave the word to inspan. Thechief somewhat demurred on seeing his prisoners preparing to mount theirhorses, naturally fearing that they would try to make their escape, buton Hendricks assuring him that they would accompany him to Cetchwayo'scamp, he consented to their riding, though he took good care so to placehis people on either side, that they would have found it a difficultmatter to get off, even had they been so disposed.
Hendricks the Hunter; Or, The Border Farm: A Tale of Zululand Page 8