CHAPTER TWELVE.
IN SEARCH OF WATER.
After the fatigue and anxiety they had gone through, it was not longbefore Denis and Percy began to feel excessively drowsy.
"Take care you don't fall off, Percy," said Denis; "or let your gun dropeither. I've fastened mine to my neckerchief, and I'd advise you to dothe same."
"I have jammed myself and my gun between two branches, so that there isno chance of falling," answered Percy; "but I'll make fast my ostricheggs, for I would not lose them on any account, lest we should have tobreakfast off that horrible snake."
"Little chance of that," murmured Denis. "By to-morrow morning therewon't be a scrap of it left."
Denis said this in a very drowsy tone. His eyes were fixed on the fire,which seemed to him sometimes to flare up with unusual brightness, thento flit about, then totally to disappear, for the best of reasons, hiseyes were closed. Percy was also just going off, when his ears wereassailed by a hideous uproar of shrieks and howls and barks.
Looking out from his leafy covert, he could see a number of creaturesmoving about in the direction of the spot to which the body of the snakehad been dragged. He guessed what they were, and was very thankful thathe and his companion were safe up the tree.
"Do you hear those brutes, Denis?" he asked; but there was no answer.He could see the place where he supposed his friend lay, but could notreach him. At first the dreadful idea occurred that he might havefallen off, and he was about to crawl along the branch to feel for him,when the light from the fire flickered on one of his arms, and he knewthat he must be fast asleep. He had not the cruelty to awaken him, andindeed after he got accustomed to the hideous chorus raised by thehyenas and jackals, his own eyes began to close. He could just make outFangs by the light of the fire, crouching down close to the trunk, andevery now and then giving vent by a low growl to his anger as he watchedthe savage creatures devouring the snake on which he had intended tobreakfast.
Percy had scarcely shut his eyes, when he was startled by hearing aterrific roar, and looking towards where the hyenas and jackals had beenholding their revels, he saw them scampering away in every direction,while the glare of the fire fell on the head and shoulders of anenormous lion. The king of brutes, however, looked disappointed atfinding only a few scraps of a mangled snake, instead of the repast heexpected, and not deigning to touch the leavings of the jackals, headvanced a short distance towards the tree. Afraid to approach nearerthe fire, he stopped and began to roar loudly.
"Roar away, old fellow," cried Percy. "You'll not get hold of us."
That was true enough so far as he and Denis and Raff were concerned, butthe case was very different with regard to poor Fangs. Between him andthe lion there was only a small fire, which the latter might spring overat a single bound. He prudently neither barked nor growled, but shrankcloser and closer to the trunk, while the lion stood within a dozenyards of him, every now and then uttering a terrific roar.
To Percy's surprise, Denis slept on in spite of the roaring. He wasprobably dreaming about it, but it had not the effect of awakening him.Percy thought of shooting the lion and trying to save Fangs, but foundthat he could not fire without changing his position, and he was afraid,in attempting to do so, that he might fall to the ground, he thereforecontented himself with watching the lion. The animal evidentlysuspected that there was something up the tree, and having roared forsome minutes, he began to circle round it, keeping, however, at arespectful distance. Would Fangs escape his scrutiny? Percy could nolonger see the dog, for the fire was getting low, and he was concealedby the roots. Presently there was the sound of a rush, of a heavy blowstruck, but not a growl nor a cry was heard, and then the lion boundedoff with something in his mouth.
No sooner had he gone, than the hyenas and jackals came back, but theytoo in a short time, having probably finished the snake, also took theirdeparture. Percy had too much reason to fear that poor Fangs had becomethe prey of the lion; but his thoughts began to wander, and overcome byfatigue, he was soon fast asleep.
The night passed quietly by. Denis was the first to open his eyes. Itwas broad daylight. On looking up through the branches, he observedthat the sky was completely obscured.
"Hallo! we must have had a long snooze," he exclaimed. "Are you allright, Percy?"
"Somewhat stiff and sore, but I shall feel better when I have stretchedmy legs, I daresay," answered Percy. "Dear me! the fire has gone out."
"Then the sooner we get down and light it the better," said Denis.
They descended from their roosting places, Denis carefully handing downthe guns to Percy, who went first. They then helped Raff to reach theground.
"Take care! I saw a lion close to the tree, just before I went tosleep, and he may perhaps be in the neighbourhood," observed Percy.
"You dreamed about one probably, as I did," said Denis, "and a fearfulroaring I fancied he made."
Percy assured him that he had seen a real lion, and described it sominutely, and the visit of the jackals and hyenas, that Denis was almostconvinced. He was thoroughly so when, on looking towards the spot wherethe snake had been, he saw that not a particle of it remained.
"Hallo! what has become of Fangs?" he exclaimed.
"The lion, I fear, has carried him off," answered Percy.
Of this there could be no doubt, for no trace of the poor dog could bediscovered, except a few drops of blood close to the base of the treewhere he had been lying down.
"The chances are, the lion has gone to a distance, and won't come backat all events until we have lighted a fire," observed Denis, as they setto work to collect fuel, when without loss of time they cooked anotherostrich egg for breakfast. They then started on their tramp, fancyingthat, although there was no sun to guide them, they could easily maketheir way by continuing the same course as they had followed on theprevious day.
After going a short distance, still unsuccessful in their search forwater, Percy again suggested that they should keep to the right, so asto fall in with the waggon. To this Denis agreed, and they accordinglyturned, as they supposed, to the east. As, however, there was no wind,they could not be certain that they were keeping in a direct line. Hadthere been any prominent objects by which they could steer, their mindswould have been more comfortable on the subject. After going somedistance, Percy declared that he thought they must be up to the coursethe waggon was to take. Seeing a tall tree a little distance ahead,they made towards it, and agreed to climb into the topmost branches,that they might take a look-out, hoping that they should see the waggoncoming along. Percy, who was well accustomed to climbing, offered tomount the tree, while Denis took charge of his gun and one of theremaining ostrich eggs which he had carried. The tree was moredifficult to get up than he had supposed, but he managed at length toreach a high bough, from whence he could obtain a wide view around.
"I can see nothing of the waggon," he shouted. "The country lookseverywhere equally arid and barren, except to the northward, and there Isee some trees, which from their bright green hue must grow near water."
"Well, then, come down, and we will make towards them," said Denis; andas soon as Percy had descended, they set off in the direction he hadindicated.
They were getting very thirsty. Had the sun been shining, they wouldhave suffered even more than they did; but as it was, their throats wereparched and dry, and they eagerly pressed forward, in the hope ofspeedily obtaining water.
Their disappointment was proportionally great when, arriving at thetrees towards which they had been directing their course, no stream orpool could be found.
Percy, who had hitherto kept up bravely, threw himself on the ground,almost in despair.
"Oh, I am so thirsty! What shall we do?" he cried.
"I'll tell you what we must do--get up and push along," answered Denis."I fancy that I see some more trees, much greener than any we have yetpassed, and the chances are we shall find water near them."
Percy, thus encouraged
, got up. He had no wish to give in as poor Gozohad done. It was very trying, but the lads had stout hearts, and keptup bravely. They reached the trees at last, once more to bedisappointed. Accompanied by Raff, who was suffering as much as theywere, they ran here and there, attracted by a shrub looking fresher thanusual, then by a depression in the ground.
Percy, who had gone some distance, shouted, "Hurrah! here are signs ofwater."
Denis hurried to the spot. The ground sloped down to where Percy wasstanding, looking into a deep basin or hollow. The bottom was moist.They both jumped down, digging away with their hands. Though the sandwas wet, no actual water could they see. They somewhat allayed theirburning thirst by putting the moist sand to their mouths. Theappearance of the moisture encouraged them to hope that they might getto good water at last. Still they dug and dug with the same result asbefore. At length Denis stopped.
"The sand is getting drier instead of moister, and I am very much afraidthat this is merely a hole once full of rain, which being low down andsheltered has not been dried up by the sun."
Percy agreed with him, and all they could do was to suck some of thestill moist sand, and to place it on the back of their necks, which gavethem temporary relief. It was very evident that all their labour hadbeen in vain.
"It cannot be helped," cried Denis. "Forward is the word, and on wemust go. Perhaps before long we shall find another hole with water atthe bottom, or some more roots, though unless some baboons help us, Idon't know how we shall discover them."
"I wish that we could feel a little more certain we are going in theright direction," observed Percy. "If the sun would but come out, Ishould be more happy in my mind on that score."
The clouds, however, hung as thickly as before from the sky. Had theysent down their contents, the wanderers would have been relieved fromthe burning thirst from which they were again suffering.
Although there was no sun, the air was hot and oppressive, and theybegan to feel much fatigued from their long tramp. Still they felt thatit would be folly to halt while they had strength left to go on. Sothey pushed forward mile after mile. Denis declared that he was certainthey were going in a north-westerly direction, from the appearance ofthe bark on the trees, which on that side was dry and perfectly freefrom moisture, while on the other, whence the rain generally came, hereand there a few fungi and a little moss could occasionally bediscovered. Percy did not like to express doubt about the correctnessof his friend's opinion, but he was not convinced that he was right.
Another night was approaching. Percy, less inured to fatigue than hiscompanion, felt that unless he could obtain water and rest, he couldscarcely hope to live through it. Still he struggled on, Denis doinghis best to encourage him.
"Lean on my shoulder, and let me carry your gun," he said; "you'll geton better then; and when we camp, and you have had another ostrich egg,you'll find your strength restored."
"If I can manage to eat it," murmured Percy, "but I much doubt whether Ican get even that down my throat."
"Never fear; I see some thick bushes, and I fancy some rocks beyond.We'll camp there, if you find yourself unable to go farther; and weshall have plenty of fuel for our fire, and who knows but that we mayfind water?"
Denis said this in a no very confident tone, for he was almost beginningto despair of discovering what they were so eagerly in search of. Stillhe hoped that rest and food, and the cooler air of night, might restorePercy, and that they might push on for another day, at all events.
Raff continued creeping after them, the very picture of misery, histongue hanging out, and his head down. Every now and then he would lookup to their faces in the most piteous manner, as if to ask when theywere going to find water. The poor dog was suffering from hunger aswell as thirst; for although he had licked the ostrich egg shells clean,he had got but little nourishment out of them. At last the bushes seenin the distance were reached, and Percy, sinking on the ground, declaredthat he could go no farther.
"Well then, we will camp here," said Denis; "and while you rest, I'llcollect some wood for our fire."
Raff crouched down by the side of Percy, though his eyes followed hismaster while he was employed as he proposed. He was not long incollecting a sufficient supply of sticks to commence a fire.
"I'll get more while the egg is cooking," he said, throwing down thebundle. The fire was soon burning up brightly, and an egg was put on.Percy had just strength enough to watch it, while Denis collected somemore sticks. He then came and sat down by the side of Percy, to whom hekept talking, while he stirred the egg. "I think it must be done now,"he said. "Come, eat away, old fellow, and you'll soon be yourselfagain."
"It's water I want! it's water I want!" murmured Percy.
"But as we haven't water, the egg is the next best thing you can take,"said Denis, helping him.
But poor Percy could scarcely gulp it down. All the time Raff waslooking up as much as to say, "I wish you'd give me some of that; I'deat it fast enough." Denis could not resist the imploring looks of thepoor dog, and gave him a portion of his own share.
The usual noises of the African wilds were absent,--not even the note ofa bird was heard. Suddenly Denis lifted his head in the attitude oflistening.
"Hark, Percy!" he said. "I heard a peculiar murmur. Yes, I am nearlycertain it is the sound of falling water. Do you listen."
"I pray Heaven that you are right. I think so," said Percy.
"Well, then, do you stay here by the fire, and I'll go and look for italone, if you are not able to come with me," said Denis. "Keep your gunon the cock, and your eye about you, in case any brute of a lion orleopard should come near, though I don't suppose there's much chance ofthat."
Percy tried to rise, but declared his inability to move farther, soDenis set off. The moment Raff saw him going, he crawled after him.Denis had taken both his own and Percy's water bottle. No sooner had hegot round the clump of bushes than he saw before him some rocks, beyondwhich the ground rose, covered with shrubs, extending away to aconsiderable distance; but no signs of water could he perceive. Hestopped and listened. The same sound as before reached his ears. Hecould not be mistaken. He went on, until, to his unspeakable joy, hesaw a spring of bright sparkling water rushing out of the cliff, fallingfrom rock to rock, but instead of forming a rivulet, it was almostimmediately lost in the sand, of which the bottom of the gully wascomposed. There was one part, however, which he could reach by climbingwithout much difficulty. Poor Raff, who had followed him thus far, wasunable to get up to it, and looked wistfully at him, evidentlyentreating to have some given him without delay. Denis, having quenchedhis own thirst, filled the water bottles, and then, looking down at poorRaff, he filled his hat also, and brought that to the dog, who quicklylapped up the contents. Losing as little time as possible, he hastenedback to Percy.
"Hurrah!" he exclaimed, as he came in sight of the fire, "I've got somewater. You'll soon be all to rights, Percy."
But Percy did not reply; his heart sank. Could anything have happened?He rushed forward. Percy lay gasping on the ground. He lost not amoment in lifting his friend's head, in moistening his lips, and thenpouring some water down his throat.
Percy at length opened his eyes, and said, "Thank you, thank you; oh,how delicious!"
Denis gave him another draught of water. "There, now I think you caneat some more egg," he observed. "I propose that we cook the last one.We are sure to fall in with game. If we take plenty of food now, weshall the better be able to go in chase of it."
At last Percy sat up and managed to eat the remainder of the first eggcooked, and some of the other; then he took another draught of water.He felt that he could drink any quantity of that. It was now too lateto continue their journey; indeed, Denis had only time to collect afurther supply of sticks before darkness came on. They made up the firein a semi-circle, and lay down as close to it as they could venture todo without risk of burning themselves, hoping thus to be secure from theattacks of
wild beasts, while Raff took a post near them, to act assentinel.
Poor Percy was soon fast asleep. Denis did his utmost to keep watch;but he also, having made up the fire, soon dropped off. He had beenasleep some time when he was aroused by hearing Raff growl and bark. Hestarted up and looked about him, but could see nothing. Indeed, thefire had burned so low, that its embers cast but a faint light to ashort distance. Fortunately, he had reserved some sticks, which heimmediately threw on the fire. As they burned up, he took another lookround, when he saw the dim outline of some animal passing by. Whether alion, leopard, or hyena, he could not make out. Percy was sleeping sosoundly, that he did not like to awaken him; but he determined not to goto sleep himself again if he could help it.
Raff had ceased growling, so he concluded that the animal, frightened bythe flames, had gone off. He hoped that it would not return. Had henot been aroused at the moment by his faithful dog, he and his companionmight have lost their lives, and he felt grateful for theirpreservation. He husbanded the remaining sticks with care, for he wasafraid that they might not hold out until the morning, and he employedhimself by stirring up the embers when they grew dim, and raking themtogether. At length the sticks were exhausted. He dared not move fromthe camp to collect more; indeed, he would have had to go to somedistance, as he had already picked up all those near at hand.
The fire grew dimmer and dimmer, until at last but a faint semi-circleof embers remained. Shortly afterwards, however, he became aware byseeing shrubs and rocks, which he had been hitherto unable todistinguish, that the light of day was returning, but the clouds stillhung so densely around the horizon, that he was unable to ascertain thedirection of the east. This he had hoped to do, that they might withgreater certainty direct their course. At last the light becamesufficient to enable them to proceed. He called Percy, who at once gotup, saying that he was greatly refreshed and ready to go on as well asever, though he wished they had another ostrich egg on which tobreakfast.
"We can't eat our loaf and have it too," answered Denis, "but I hope weshall have something as good."
They first made their way to the fountain, where they refreshedthemselves with a draught of pure water, and having given as much toRaff as he could drink, they filled their water bottles, washed theirfaces and heads, and then pushed on, their spirits cheered with the hopeof soon obtaining some game, and of falling in with the waggon beforethe day was over.
They trudged on, and although they saw some animals in the distance,they could not get near enough to distinguish what they were. It showedthem, however, that there must be water in the neighbourhood, and theyhoped therefore before long to come upon it. Percy had for some timebeen walking with much less elasticity than when they first started. Atlast he proposed that they should stop and eat the remainder of thebiscuit they carried in their pouches. Having a good supply of water,they could now swallow it, which they could not have done on theprevious day. They made towards a tree which would afford them shade,and on reaching it sat down and took their frugal breakfast, but poorRaff had to go without any, as Denis knew that it would be folly to givehim any of the biscuit, which would not have satisfied his hunger.Again they went on, looking out anxiously for the tracks of the waggonwheels, or other signs which might indicate that their friends had beenthat way. Denis at last had to confess that he felt somewhat anxious.The day wore on, and though very thirsty, they husbanded their water forfear of not finding any before night.
They were almost in despair of falling in with game, when they caughtsight, issuing from behind a wood in the distance, of a troop of pallahscoming in their direction. Looking about eagerly for some cover behindwhich they could conceal themselves, until the pallahs came near, theyobserved a thick bush a short distance ahead; they made for it, and gotunder cover, they hoped, without having been seen. The animals movedslowly along, feeding as they came. When within a hundred yards of thebush, they turned aside, to the bitter disappointment of the younghunters.
"We must be after them," said Denis; "and if we can still find cover, wemay get near enough to have a shot. Come, let us put our best feetforward. Stoop down as low as you can. Heel, Raff, heel!" he whisperedto his dog, who was too well-trained to disobey him, and kept closebehind him.
The pallahs kept moving on, sometimes slowly, at other times muchfaster. Percy felt but little able to follow, though he did his best.On and on they went. Before them they saw a grove of tall trees,towards which the pallahs were directing their course.
"The chances are there's water not far off, and if the animals go downto drink we shall have a good chance of shooting one," whispered Denis.
The pallahs reached the wood, but stopped to graze outside it. Thisenabled Denis and Percy to creep up towards it, at a part some distancefrom where they were feeding. They thus hoped, by making their waythrough the wood, to be able to get near enough to the animals to obtaina good shot. They had cautiously crept on for some way when Percystopped, and seizing his companion's arm, pointed up to the branch of atree under which they were about to pass. There, extended at its fulllength, ready for a spring, lay an enormous leopard. Its eyes wereturned away from them, watching the pallahs. They stepped cautiouslyback, having no doubt that had they attempted to pass under the bough,the leopard would have been down upon them, and probably killed both, asthey were close together. They retreated behind a tree, where theystood watching for what would next occur. Denis well knew that shouldthey wound the leopard, and not kill it, it would become a terrible foe.
The pallahs, unsuspicious of danger, at last moved towards the tree,several entering the wood almost together. One approached the fatalbough. Like a flash of lightning, the leopard sprang upon theunfortunate creature, and in an instant it lay dead, struck down by itspowerful claws.
"Now is our time," whispered Denis: "let us fire together; I'll aim atthe leopard's head; do you fire at its shoulder, and then, withoutstopping to see if we have killed it, we'll retreat behind the tree andreload."
The plan was perfectly carried out. Before the smoke cleared away theyhad sprung back to their places of concealment, and had begun rapidlyreloading. The instant Denis was ready, he cautiously stepped out frombehind the trunk.
"Hurrah!" he shouted. "We did better than I expected."
There, within twenty yards, lay the leopard and the deer, both dead.Under other circumstances they would have been eager to possessthemselves of the leopard's skin, which was of considerable value, butas it was they were far more anxious to obtain a supply of meat. Theytherefore set to work to cut off as much as they could carry from thepallah, without stopping to skin or disjoint it, while Raff enjoyed anabundant meal from the pieces which his master threw to him. The restof the pallahs had taken to flight.
"We must remember this spot; and if we find Hendricks before long, hewill be glad to send for this skin, supposing it is not torn to piecesin the meantime by the rascally hyenas and jackals."
After the excitement of the chase, they were tempted to stop and take adraught of water, which nearly exhausted their stock. Anxious to obtaina fresh supply, they made their way through the forest in the hope ofcoming across a stream, towards which they supposed the pallahs had beenbending their steps.
"There's the water!" suddenly exclaimed Denis; "I see the animalsdrinking at it."
The animals were there, but as the young hunters approached they took toflight. Having meat enough, they did not feel justified in firing ashot after them.
On reaching the spot, great was their disappointment to find thatalthough there had been a little water, the pallahs had drunk it almostdry, while the remainder had sunk through the bottom, in which theirfeet had trampled. Not a drop could they obtain.
The wood formed an oasis in the wilderness; for farther on the countryassumed the same barren, arid aspect as before.
"We must either go back to the fountain we left this morning, or pushour way over this stony ground as fast as we can," said Denis.
/> "Let us go on," answered Percy; "we may find water again before long, ormay fall in with the waggon."
"Then I vote we fortify ourselves first with some meat," said Denis; andcollecting some wood, they speedily had a fire lighted, and some of thevenison roasting before it.
Eager to prosecute their journey, after a short rest, they again setoff. Night overtook them, however, and they had only just time to reachsome bushes, which afforded but slight shelter and a scanty supply offirewood, before darkness came on.
They laboured in collecting sticks as long as the light lasted, andthen, having made up their fire, cooked and eaten their supper, anddrunk the remainder of their water, they lay down close to it, fatiguepreventing them from troubling their minds as to what might happenduring the night.
Hendricks the Hunter; Or, The Border Farm: A Tale of Zululand Page 12