CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUED.
Overcome by fatigue, both the young hunters fell fast asleep. Watchedover by a merciful Providence, no savage animals came near them. Not agrowl or bark did Raff utter during the night; and when morning broke,Denis, who was the first to awake, was somewhat dismayed to find thatthe fire had completely gone out. He was not long in scraping the ashestogether, and with the remainder of the sticks he had gathered relightedit and put on some venison steaks to cook.
When sufficiently done, he roused up Percy, who was greatly astonishedto find that night had passed away. They did not fail to return thanksto God, who had taken care of them during the hours of darkness; forthey felt, as any persons with the least sense of religion in them musthave done, how utterly helpless they were under such circumstances."Oh, how I wish I had some water!" poor Percy kept saying, as he triedto get down the meat. They neither of them could eat much, and Raffcame in for a larger share than he would otherwise have obtained.
The clouds had cleared away, a bright sun was shining. According totheir calculation, they had hitherto succeeded in keeping the coursethey had intended. The country to the east, however, looked so barrenand uninviting, that they agreed to travel northward, where thereappeared to be a better prospect of obtaining water, without which theycould not hope to get on. As the sun rose in the sky, the heat becamemore and more excessive. Not a breath of wind cooled the atmosphere,and they consequently suffered more than ever from thirst. As before,poor Raff crawled along at their heels, with his tongue hanging from hismouth. In vain they looked out for trees of sufficient height to affordthem shade.
"It won't do to stop here," said Denis, whom no suffering could daunt;"the faster we move, the better chance we shall have of finding water."
Percy agreed with him, and did his best to push on. The same rockyground, with shrubs growing amidst it, appeared ahead. At last they sawbefore them a clump of mimosa bushes.
"Oh, do let us rest there for a short time," exclaimed Percy. "I thinkI shall then be able to get on better. I am keeping you back, I know,but I cannot help it."
"Don't let that trouble you. I feel pretty tired myself," answeredDenis; and they directed their course towards the bushes.
Their meat was rather high by this time, but they had no inclination toeat, and were too tired to collect wood for a fire. Percy threw himselfon the ground in the shade, where Raff had already lain down. Denisseated himself by his side. He had scarcely been there a moment, whenhe started up, whispering--
"I hear some animal moving on the other side of the wood. It may be adeer, and I must not lose the chance of killing it."
He stole cautiously among the bushes, endeavouring to discover theanimal he fancied he had heard. He had got a hundred and fifty yards orso from his friend, when what was his horror to see rushing towards hima huge black rhinoceros! The creature did not see him, and perhapswould not have observed Percy, had not Raff started up and begun barkingfuriously. This aroused Percy, who, getting on his feet, thus exposedhimself to the view of the rhinoceros. He would have been more prudenthad he remained perfectly quiet. The rhinoceros looked at him savagely,when Percy levelled his rifle, but instead of waiting till the animalhad got near him, fired; the bullet grazing the creature's head, excitedits rage, and on it rushed, with its horn lowered, directly towards thehapless lad. In another instant that fearful weapon would have beenplunged into his body. Denis trembled for the safety of his friend; forhe knew, should he fire, that his bullet was more likely to wound himthan the rhinoceros. Percy's death seemed certain, when at that moment,bursting through the wood, a young Zulu warrior appeared, with rifle inhand, shouting and shrieking to attract the animal's attention. Thishad the effect of making the savage brute turn its eyes towards him. Hefired. The rhinoceros was still rushing on, when its knees bent, itshead sank down, and its horn ploughed along the ground. In anotherinstant it would have been up to Percy, had not the Zulu, boundingforward, seized him in his arms, and carried him a few paces from thespot where he had been lying, which the rhinoceros reaching, it fellover on its side, and lay motionless.
"Thank you, whoever you are," said Percy. "You have saved my life; forthe animal's horn would have run me through, had you not come to myassistance."
Though the Zulu might not have understood what Percy said, hecomprehended by the tone of his voice that he was expressing hisgratitude.
Denis in the meantime, dreadfully alarmed, was hurrying on, scarcelyexpecting to be in time to save Percy, when the Zulu made hisappearance. At first he was unable to tell whether he came as a friendor a foe, until he saw him fire, and knock over the rhinoceros.
"Thank heaven, he is safe! But who can that be? What, Mangaleesu!" heexclaimed. "Thank you, my friend, thank you! You have indeed come atthe right moment. We feared that you were among those slaughtered byCetchwayo and his followers."
This was said partly in Zulu, and partly in such English as the youngchief understood. Denis had grasped his hand, and pressed it warmly toexpress his gratitude.
"I had a narrow escape; but I slew six of my pursuers, and got offfree," answered Mangaleesu. "I could not, however, make my way directlyinto Natal, as I had left my wife, when I joined Umbulazi, in a kraal,with some of her relatives in this direction. On reaching it, I hurriedher away, for I knew that ere long our enemies would attack it.Scarcely had we concealed ourselves in the woods overlooking the kraal,when a party of Cetchwayo's forces appeared, and burnt it to the ground,destroying all who remained within. We have since been journeying on,but have been compelled to proceed cautiously, for fear of beingdiscovered; for, being known as opposed to Cetchwayo, I might have beencaptured, and delivered up to him."
"And where is your wife?" asked Denis.
"She is in a cave at no great distance, where I placed her while I cameout to hunt; for, as game has been scarce in the country through whichwe travelled, we have been sorely pressed for food; but now we have thisrhinoceros meat, we will at once return to her, as she will befrightened at my long absence."
Saying this, the chief, who had just placed Percy on the ground,commenced cutting through the tough hide of the rhinoceros, and wasabout to slice off some of the flesh, when, observing how ill Percylooked, he inquired what was the matter with him.
"We want water," answered Denis; "and he will die, I fear, if it cannotsoon be obtained."
"I will at once fetch some for him then," said Mangaleesu; and takingthe two empty bottles, he started away in the direction of some rocksseen in the distance.
Percy continued murmuring, "Water, water!"
"It will come soon, and you'll be all right, old fellow," said Denis,sitting by his side, and supporting his head while he fanned his face.
Raff was, in the meantime, smelling round and round the rhinoceros, andwould evidently have liked to get at the meat, but the tough hideresisted his efforts.
With deep thankfulness Denis observed Mangaleesu returning, this timeaccompanied by another person, whom he recognised, when they got nearer,as Kalinda. She seemed much concerned at seeing the condition in whichpoor Percy lay, and placing herself by his side, she fanned his face,while Denis poured the water down his throat. She continued tending himwhile he went to help Mangaleesu cut into the rhinoceros. A supply ofmeat was soon obtained, and Denis proposed to light a fire and cook it.To this, however, Mangaleesu objected.
"In this open spot we may be seen, for we cannot tell what enemies theremay be in the neighbourhood," he observed. "Let us at once move on tothe place where I concealed Kalinda. It will hold us all, and we shallthere be safer than we are here, while there is water at hand, and wecan light a fire in a hollow, without risk of its being seen in thedistance."
It was very evident, however, that poor Percy, although somewhatrevived, was utterly unable to walk. "Kalinda and I will carry himthen," said Mangaleesu, "while you take his gun."
"But I cannot impose that task on you, f
or I ought to assist in carryinghim myself," said Denis.
"No, no, you are not strong enough; we will easily manage it."
Mangaleesu and his wife set to work to construct a litter, which theyquickly formed with some poles, and fastened together by creepers. Theythen placed Percy on it, and set off, stepping along at a brisk rate,showing that they considered him alight burden. Denis carried his gun;and Raff, to whom he had given some water, as well as an ample supply ofmeat, trotted after them perfectly revived. Reaching the rocks, theypassed through a narrow defile, into which another smaller one opened,and at its farther extremity they came to some thick bushes, whichMangaleesu pulling aside, the mouth of a cavern was discovered.
"Here no one is likely to find us, and if they do we can defendourselves against greatly superior numbers," said Mangaleesu. "Yourfriend therefore can remain in safety until he has recovered and is ableto proceed on his journey."
The cavern was dry and of considerable height, so that a fire could havebeen lighted within; but as the smoke would have been annoying, Denissuggested that they should light it outside, as the neighbouring bushesafforded plenty of fuel. This was soon done, and the rhinoceros meatput on to cook.
Mangaleesu and his wife, not being very particular as to its being welldone, were soon able to commence supper. Denis preferred waiting alittle longer, when he took some in to Percy, who was by this time wellable to eat it. They pronounced it rather tough, but remarkably wellflavoured; indeed, the rhinoceros being an herbivorous animal, its fleshis not to be despised.
As soon as the meat was cooked, the fire was put out. "We need not keepup one during the night," observed Mangaleesu, "for no wild beast canmake its way through the bushes which I will draw in front of the cave,and should any one come near, your dog will give us ample notice."
Among the first inquiries Denis made of Mangaleesu was whether he hadseen the waggon, or could in any way calculate how far they were fromit. Mangaleesu replied that he had not seen it or fallen in with anytracks to show that it had passed in that direction. On learning whencethey had started, he led Denis to suspect that he and Percy had wanderedmuch farther to the north-west than they had supposed, and that theywere not likely for several days to meet with the waggon, supposing ithad moved on.
"There is, however," he observed, "a white family living on the borders,the only one for many miles round, not more than two days' journey fromthis. As soon as your friend has recovered his strength, if you startat daybreak, and walk on briskly, you may reach it on the evening of thesecond day. Kalinda and I will accompany you, and we will then go intoNatal, and bid farewell for ever to Zululand."
On telling Percy of the account given by Mangaleesu, he exclaimed, "Whythat must be Falls Farm, where my father lives. I thought we were stilla long way from it. How delightful! I wish that I could get up and setoff immediately. I am sure by to-morrow morning I shall be strongenough."
Denis was as anxious as his friend to start; for Percy had often spokento him about Falls Farm and its inmates, and he thought that it would bevery pleasant to spend a day or two with them. Hendricks, if he hadrecovered the oxen, was very likely to be there, or would arriveshortly.
Denis and Percy were thankful to be able to rest securely without therisk of being carried off by a lion or leopard, or trampled upon by anelephant or rhinoceros. A hunter in Africa has no easy time of it,either by night or by day. He has treacherous human foes and savagewild animals to contend with.
Although night had not commenced, Denis was glad to lie down by the sideof his friend, so as to obtain a longer rest than he had enjoyed formany a night. Next morning Percy declared that he felt better, after hehad had another meal off rhinoceros flesh and water. Still Denis sawthat he was not at all able to walk far, and certainly not fit toattempt making a long journey. He persuaded him therefore to remainquiet, at all events for another day.
"I wish that we had something better than this rhinoceros meat," saidDenis to Mangaleesu.
"You shall have it," was the answer; "but I must be cautious in goingout, lest I fall in with any of my enemies. If I am killed, I willtrust you to look after my wife. Let her accompany you to the farm,where I am sure the good white chief will take care of her, as he iskind, I am told, to all the people round."
"I promise to do as you desire; but if there is any danger, it would bebetter not to go out," said Denis. "We can rough it on the rhinocerosmeat."
Mangaleesu, however, observing that there would not be enough meat tolast them another day, insisted on going out to find a deer or antelope.
Having closed the mouth of the cavern, and charged his companions not toventure forth, he set out. Denis and Percy passed their time mostly insleep, to make up, as Denis said, "for their want of rest for so manydays." Kalinda sat watching them, having nothing else to do. Aconsiderable part of the day had passed, and they began to grow anxiousat Mangaleesu's not returning.
Kalinda waited patiently, but she now frequently got up and went closeto the mouth of the cavern, where she stood in the attitude oflistening. Poor creature, she had long been accustomed to that state ofanxiety, but now she had begun to hope that they would soon get acrossthe border. They had taken into the cave a supply of water, and hadcooked the remainder of the rhinoceros meat. As Mangaleesu did notreturn, the pangs of hunger compelled them to eat a portion, althoughthey kept some in case he should come back without having succeeded inobtaining any game.
The day was drawing on when Kalinda, who was standing at the entrance,started and said in a low voice to Denis--
"He is coming!"
Presently the bushes were drawn aside, and Mangaleesu appeared, carryinga small antelope on his back. He looked tired and excited; and throwingthe animal down, he hurriedly again closed the bushes, and sankexhausted to the ground.
"We must speak low, lest any one outside may hear us," he whispered. "Ihave been seen and pursued, but eluded my enemies. They may notdiscover this retreat, for I pretended to go off in an oppositedirection. As I came along I resolved that you, my young friends,should escape as soon as you can. If found with me, you may be killed;but if you are alone, should you be overtaken, and will explain whereyou are going, you will not be molested." Such, at all events, was themeaning of what Mangaleesu said. "I would advise you to set off beforedaylight to-morrow morning," he continued. "Make your way to the farm.With the directions I will give you, you will easily find it. You mayvery likely be seen and pursued: be not alarmed; invite these whoovertake you to escort you to the farm."
"But what will you and your wife do?" asked Denis.
"We will remain here in concealment until our enemies have grown wearyof searching for us. I will watch them until I see them go away, andthen we will set out and get across the border as fast as possible. Thecountry is thinly peopled, so that we shall have no difficulty inescaping notice."
Denis expressed his regret at having to go without his friends, butagreed that the plan would be the best to adopt.
Mangaleesu, before it grew dark, showed them the spring, and thedirection they were to follow, and minutely described several points, sothat they would run no risk of losing their way. The antelope meat wascut up, and a portion cooked at a fire kindled in the cave, which,though it created more smoke than was pleasant, was easily borne inconsideration of the advantage obtained.
Mangaleesu and Kalinda, with the two white lads, sat round the fire,eating their supper of venison, washed down with cold water, and talkingover in low voices plans for that future which it was very possible noneof them might live to see. Raff, who formed one of the circle, watchedthem with the greatest gravity, as if he fully understood all that wassaid. They then lay down to seek the rest the two young travellers atall events so greatly needed.
The night passed quietly; and when they awoke, Percy declared that hewas sufficiently strong to undertake a two days' march, and havingbreakfasted, they set off, followed by Raff, a short time beforedaybreak.
> Mangaleesu accompanied them some distance, to put them in the right way.They felt rather anxious about his getting back in safety to the cave.
"No fear," he answered: "a Zulu can creep unseen where a white man wouldcertainly be observed. Even if my enemies were near, they would notdiscover me; but they are some way from this, and you will, I hope, be agood distance on your road before they find you, so that they will notguess whence you set out."
They shook the chief warmly by the hand, and again thanked him for theassistance he had rendered them. Scarcely had he left them a minute,when, as they looked round, they could nowhere see him.
They trudged on as fast as they could venture to go in the gloom ofmorning. When daylight broke, they increased their speed. Percy keptup bravely, and Denis declared that he had never felt in better trim fora long march. As they fell in with no hostile Zulus, they more thanever regretted that Mangaleesu and Kalinda had not accompanied them.From the rate they went they felt sure that they had accomplished halfthe distance. Having a supply of cooked meat, they agreed that it wouldbe wiser to spend the night in a tree. As darkness approached, theylooked about and found one with wide-spreading branches; into this theyclimbed.
"But I say, we must not run the risk of letting Raff be carried off aspoor Fangs was; we must get him with us," said Denis. "I cannot reachhim as I did before with my pocket-handkerchief, but we'll fasten ourrifle slings together, and he'll easily make his way up."
This was done. Raff caught hold of one end; they hauled away, and he,helping himself up with his claws, was soon seated near them on theforks of a tree.
"But what if a leopard should think of coming up here, like the one wesaw the other day!" said Percy.
"Raff will give us due notice," answered Denis. "We'll keep our riflesready, and send him back again with a shot through his skull."
Their beds were not very comfortable, but notwithstanding, knowing thatRaff was keeping watch, they slept soundly till the next morning.Descending the tree, they breakfasted on the remains of their venison,and pushed forward, feeling in as good trim as they had when theystarted on the previous day.
Hendricks the Hunter; Or, The Border Farm: A Tale of Zululand Page 13