TheSettler&TheSavage

ByR.M.Ballantyne

TheSettlerAndTheSavage

ChapterOneTheWildKarroo

Asolitaryhorseman—ayouthinearlymanhood—ridingatasnail’spaceoverthegreatplains,orkarroo,ofSouthAfrica.Hischinonhisbreast;hishandsinthepocketsofanoldshooting-coat;hislegsinraggedtrousers,andhisfeetinworn-outboots.Regardlessofstirrups,thelastaredangling.Thereinshangontheneckofhissteed,whoseheadmaybesaidtodanglefromitsshoulders,sonearlydoes itsnoseapproachtheground.Afelthatcovers theyouth’scurlyblackhead,andadouble-barrelledgunisslungacrosshisbroadshoulders.Wepresentthispicturetothereaderasasubjectofcontemplation.Itwas in the firstquarterof thepresent century that theyouth referred to—CharlieConsidinebyname—rode thusmeditativelyover thatSouthAfricankarroo.His depressionwas evidently not due to lack of spirit, for,when hesuddenlyawokefromhisreverie,drewhimselfupandshookbackhishair,hisdark eyes openedwith something like a flash. They lost some of their fire,however, as he gazed roundon the hot plainwhichundulated like the greatoceantothehorizon,wherealineofblueindicatedmountains.ThetruthisthatCharlieConsidinewaslost—utterlylostonthekarroo!Thathis horsewas in the same lost condition became apparent from its stoppingwithoutordersandlookingroundlanguidlywithasigh.“Come, Rob Roy,” said the youth, gathering up the reins and patting thesteed’s neck, “this will never do. You and I must not give in to our first

misfortune.Nodoubt thewantofwater for twodays ishard tobear,butwearestrongandyoungbothofus.Come,let’stryatleastforashelteringbushtosleepunder,beforethesungoesdown.”Animated by the cheering voice, if not by thewords, of its rider, the horserespondedtotheexhortationbybreakingintoashufflingcanter.Aftera short time theyouthcame in sightofwhatappeared tobeaherdofcattle in thefardistance. Ineagerexpectationhegalloped towards themandfoundthathisconjectureswerecorrect.Theywerecattleinchargeofoneofthatlowestofthehumanrace,aBushman.Thediminutive,black-skinned,andmonkey-faced creaturewas nearly naked.He carried a sheepskin kaross, orblanket, on his left shoulder, and a knobbed stick, or “kerrie,” in his righthand.“CanyouspeakEnglish?”askedConsidineasherodeup.TheBushmanlookedvacantandmadenoreply.“Whereisyourmaster’shouse?”askedtheyouth.Astarewastheonlyanswer.“Can’tyouspeak,youdried-upessenceofstupidity!”exclaimedCharliewithimpatience.At this the Bushman uttered something with so many klicks, klucks, andgurgles in it thathis interrogator at once relinquished theuseof the tongue,andtooktosigns,butwithnobettersuccess,hiseffortshavingonlytheeffectofcausingthemouthoftheBushmantoexpandfromeartoear.Utteringafewmore klicks and gurgles, he pointed in the direction of the setting sun. AsConsidine could elicit no fuller information he bade him a contemptuousfarewellandrodeawayinthedirectionindicated.Hehadnotgonefarwhenadarkspeckbecamevisibleonthehorizondirectlyinfront.“Ho!Rob,”heexclaimed,“thatlookslikesomething—abush,isit?Ifso,wemayfindwaterthere,whoknows—eh?No,itcan’tbeabush,foritmoves,”headdedinatoneofdisappointment.“Why,Idobelieveit’sanostrich!Well,ifwecan’tfindanythingtodrink,I’lltrytogetsomethingtoeat.”Urging his jaded steed into a gallop, the youth soon drew near enough todiscoverthattheobjectwasneitherbushnorostrich,butahorseman.Thetimesofwhichwewritewereunsettled.Considine,although“lost,”was

sufficientlyawareofhiswhereaboutstounderstandthathewasnearthenorth-eastern frontierofCapeColony.Hedeemed itprudent, therefore, tounslinghisgun.OndrawingnearerhebecameconvincedfromtheappearanceofthestrangerthathecouldnotbeaKafir.Whencloseenoughtoperceivethathewasawhiteman,mountedandarmedmuchlikehimself,here-slunghisgun,waved his cap in token of friendship, and galloped forward with theconfidenceofyouth.The stranger proved to be a youngmanof about his ownage—a little overtwenty—butmuchtallerandmoremassiveinframe.Hewas,indeed,ayounggiant, andbestrodeahorse suitable tohisweight.Hewasclad in the roughwoollenandleatherngarmentswornbythefrontierfarmers,orboers,ofthatperiod,andcarriedoneofthoselongheavyflint-lockguns,or“roers,”whichthe Dutch-African colonist then deemed the most effective weapon in theuniverse.“Wellmet!”exclaimedConsidineheartily,asherodeup.“Humph! that depends onwhether wemeet as friends or foes,” replied thestranger,witha smileonhis cheerful countenance that accorded illwith thecautionofhiswords.“Wellmet,Isayagain,whetherwebefriendsorfoes,”returnedConsidinestillmoreheartily,“forifwebefriendsweshallfraternise;ifwebefoesweshallfight,andIwouldratherfightyouforlove,hate,orfun,thandieofstarvationinthekarroo.”“Whatisyourname,andwheredoyoucomefrom?”demandedthestranger.“One question at a time, if you please,” answered the youth. “My name isCharlesConsidine.Whatisyours?”“HansMarais.”“Well,MrMarais, I come from England, which is my native home. In thecomingImanagedtogetwreckedinTableBay,landedatCapetown,joinedafrontierfarmer,andcameuphere—alongandroughishjourney,asprobablyyouknow,andasmygarmentstestify.OnthewayIlostmycomrades,andintryingtofindthemlostmyself.Fortwodaysnothingintheshapeofmeatordrinkhaspassedmylips,andmypoorhorsehasfaredlittlebetterinthewayofdrink,thoughthekarroo-bushhasfurnishedhimwithfoodenoughtokeephisbonestogether.Sonow,youhavemybiographyinbrief,andifyoubeamanpossessedofanypowersofsympathy,youwillknowwhattodo.”TheyoungDutchmanheldouthishugehand,whichConsidinegraspedand

shookwarmly.“Come,”hesaid,whileaslightsmileplayedonhisbronzedcountenance;“Ihavenothingheretogiveyou,butifyouwillcomewithmetoyonkoppieyoushallhavebothmeatanddrink.”Thekoppietowhichhereferredwasascarcediscernibleknollonthehorizon.HansMarais seemed to be amanof fewwords, for he turned andgallopedaway,withoutforsometimeutteringanothersyllabletohiscompanion.AsforConsidine, the thoughtofoncemore feastingonany sort ofmeat anddrinkwas so fascinating, in his then ravenous condition, that he cared for noughtelse,andfollowedhisguideinsilence.Soontheherbageontheplainbecamemoreluxuriant,andinhalfanhourthetwo horsemen found themselves riding among scattered groups of mimosabushes, the thornsofwhichwere from three to five inches long,while theirsweetfragrancescentedthewholeatmosphere.Onreachingtheridgeofoneoftheundulationsoftheplain,HansMaraisdrewrein and gazed intently towards the distant horizon. At the same timeConsidine’s horse pricked up its ears, pawed the ground, and exhibitedunwontedsignsofadesiretoadvance.“Hallo,Rob!”exclaimeditsmaster,“what’swrongwithyou?”“YourhorsehasbeengiftedbyhisMakerwithapower,”saidHans,“whichhasbeendeniedtoman.Hescentswater.Butbeforeheshalltasteithemusthelpmetoprocurefreshmeat.Doyouseetheboksonthatkoppie?”“Doyoumeanthosewhitespeckslikeostricheggsonthehillocktotherightofthebigbush?”“Thesame.Thesearespringboks.Rideawaydownbythathollowtillyougetsomewhatintheirrear,andthendrivetheminthedirectionofthatclumpofbushesonourleft,justunderthesun.”Without waiting for a reply Hans rode off at a gallop, and Considineproceededtoobeyorders.Afewminutessufficedtobringhimclosetothespringboks,whichbeautifulantelopesnosoonerobservedhimthan,afteronebriefgazeofsurprise, theybounded away in the direction of the bushes indicated byHans,—consciousapparentlyof their superior fleetness, for they seemed innogreat haste, butleapedaboutasifhalfinplay,oneandanothertakinganoccasionalspringofsix feet or more into the air. As they passed the bushes towards which

Considinedrovethem,awhitepuffwasseentoburstfromthem,andthehugeroerofHansMaraissentforthitsbellowingreport.Itseemedasiftheentireflockofbokshadreceivedanelectricshock,sohighdidtheyspringintotheair.Thentheydashedoffatfullspeed,leavingoneoftheirnumberdeadupontheplain.WhenConsidinecameuphefoundthatHanshadalreadydisembowelledthespringbok,andwasintheactoffasteningthecarcaseonhishorsebehindthesaddle.Remountingimmediately,thehuntergallopedtowardsamound,onthetopofwhichthebushesformedadensebrake.Skirtingthistillhereachedtheotherside,hepulledup,exclaiming—“There,you’llfindgoodwaterinthehollow;godrink,whileIpreparesupperonthekoppie.”Considinewentoffatonce.Indeed,hecouldnothavedoneotherwise,forhisimpatienthorsetookthebitinitsmouthandgallopedtowardsasmallpoolofwater,whichwassoyellowwithmudthatitresembledthinpea-soup.Thirsty thoughhewas, theyouth couldnot help smiling at his new friend’sideaof“good”water,buthewasnotinaconditiontobefastidious.Jumpingoutof thesaddle,he laydownonhisbreast,dippedhis lips into themuddyliquid,anddrankwithasmuchenjoymentasifthebeveragehadbeennectar—orBass.RobRoyalsostood,inastateofperfectbliss,inthemiddleofthepool, sucking thewater inwith unwearied vigour. It seemed as ifman andhorse had laid a wager as to who should drink most. At last, the point ofutmost capacity in both was reached, and they retired with a sigh ofcontentment,RobRoytobrowseontheplain,andhismastertobetakehimselfto the encampment on the knoll, where HansMarais quickly supplied himwithglorioussteaksofspringbokvenison.“Isn’t it an enjoyable thing to eatwhenone is hungry, eh?” saidConsidine,afterhalfanhour’ssilentdevotiontothedutyinhand.—“Why,wheregotyouthat?”Hereferredtoanostricheggwhichhiscompanionhadtakenfromasaddle-bag,andinoneendofwhichhewasbusyboringahole.“Foundit in thesandjustbeforeIfoundyou,”saidHans.“Didyouevereatone?”“No,never.”“Wellthen,youshalldosonow,andI’llshowyouhowtheniggersheremakeanomelet.”

He planted the huge egg in the hot ashes as he spoke, and kept stirring itscontentswithapieceofstickuntilsufficientlycooked.“Notbad,—eh?”“Glorious!”exclaimedConsidine,smackinghislips.Bothyouthscontinued tosmack their lipsover theegguntil itwasfinished,afterwhichCharliepronounceditnotonlyagloriousbutasatisfyingmorsel.Thiswasdoubtlesstrue,foranostricheggisconsideredequaltotwenty-fourhen’seggs.Returningtothespringboksteaks,thehalf-starvedyouthcontinuedhisrepast,whileHansMarais,havingfinished,extendedhishugeframebesidethecamp-fire,leaneduponhissaddle,andsmokedhispipeinbenignantcontemplationofhiscompanion.“Thisispleasant!”saidCharlie,pausing,withasigh,andlookingup.“Ja,itispleasant,”repliedHans.“Ja!” repeated Charlie, quoting the Dutch “Yes” of the other; “are you aDutchman?”“Iam;atleastIamaCapecolonistdescendedfromDutchmen.Whyareyousurprised?”“Because,” repliedhis companion,while heprepared another steakover theembers,“youspeakEnglishsowellthatIcouldnothaveknownit.Howcameyoutolearnthelanguagesoperfectly?”“Myfather,beingwiserthansomeofhisfriendsandneighbours,”saidHans,“sentmetoCapetowntobeeducated.Isupposethatisthereason.Wedweltinthewesternpartofthecolonythen,andIwastheeldestofthefamily.WhenanumberofusDutchmenleftthatpartofthecountry—beingdisgustedwiththeGovernment,—andcameuphere,mybrothersandsisterhadtobetakenfromschool.Thiswasapity,foreducationtaughtmetoknowthateducationisaninestimableblessing—thewantofitaheavymisfortune.”“True,”remarkedConsidine.Butbeingstilltoobusywiththesteakstopursuethesubjecthemerelyadded—“Doesyourfatherlivenearthis?”“About sevenhours’ ride,which, as Idaresayyouknow, is forty-twomiles.Youshallgohomewithmeto-morrow.”“How many are there of you?” asked Considine, looking at the young

Dutchmanoverabone.“Excusemybeingsoimpolite,”headded,“butd’youknow,onefeelshorriblylikeatigerafteratwodays’fast.”“Don’t stand on ceremony,” said the other, with a laugh. “When you aresatisfiedwecanconverse.Thereare fifteenofus: father,mother, sister, andeleven boys besides myself. I’ll tell you about them all after supper;meanwhileI’llgofetchthehorses,fortherearelionsabout,asIdaresayyouknow,andsomeofthemarenearlyasravenousasyourself.”Hansrose,puthispipe in thebandofhisbroad-brimmedhat,andsaunteredheavilyoutofthethicket.Ina fewminuteshe returned, leading thehorses,and thenbusiedhimself insurrounding the camp with an almost impenetrable wall of mimosa-thornbranches,thespikesofwhichweresotremendousthatitseemedasifnothingsmallerthananelephantcouldforceitswaythrough.Thisdone,hesatdownandquietlyrefilledhispipe,whileConsidine,havingatlastfinishedhismeal,drew the embers of the fire together, disposed his limbs comfortably on theground,laybackonhissaddle,andpreparedtoenjoyacontemplativegazeatthecheeringblazeandaninterrogativeconversationwithhisnewfriend.“Doyousmoke?”askedHans.“No.”“Why?”“Becauseitmakesmesick,andIdon’tlikeit.”Hanslookedsurprised.Thiswasanewideatohim,andhesatforsometimepondering it; indeed, we may say with truth that he “smoked it” In a fewminuteshelookedearnestlyattheyouth,andaskedwhyhecametotheCape.“Tomakemyfortune,”answeredConsidine.“Fortunesarenoteasilymadeat theCape,”was thegravereply.“Myfatherhasbeenmakinghisfortuneforthelastquarterofacentury,andit’snotmadeyet.—WhydidyouchoosetheCape?”“Ididn’tchooseit.”“No?”saidtheDutchman,withalookofsurprise.“No,” responded the Englishman; “my coming here was not a matter ofchoice:itwasnecessity.Come,Iwillmakeaconfidantofyouandrelatemyhistory.Don’tbealarmed,Iwon’tkeepyouupallnightwithprosydetails.My

life,asyoumaysee,hasnotyetbeenalongone,anduntilthisyearithasbeencomparativelyuneventful.”He paused a few moments as if to recall the past, while his companion,pickinghispipewithamimosathorn,settledhimselftolisten.“Father, mother, brothers, and sisters I have none,” began Considine as hewhittledastick—apastime,bytheway,whichiserroneouslysupposedtobean exclusively American privilege. “Neither have I grandfathers,grandmothers, aunts, nephews, nieces, or anything else of the sort. They alldiedeitherbeforeorsoonafterIwasborn.Myonlylivingrelationisanuncle,whowasmyguardian.Heisasea-captain,andagoodman,buttough.Ibearhimnoill-will.Iwouldnotspeakdisrespectfullyofhim;butheistough,and,I incline to think, no better than he should be. Infancy and boyhood withsqualling and schooling I pass over.My uncle orderedme to study for themedicalprofession,andIobeyed.Wishingtoseea littleof theworldbeforefinishingmycourse, I sailed in avesselbound forAustralia.We touchedatTableBay inpassing.Obtaining leave, IwentashoreatCapetown.Theshipalsowentashore—without leave—incompanywithsixotherships,duringaterrificgalewhich sprangup in thenight.Ourvesselbecamea totalwreck.The crew were saved, but my effects went with the cargo to the bottom.Fortunately,however,IhadcarriedashorewithmethelittlecashIpossessed.”“I found theCapetownpeopleverykind.Oneof them tookmeby thehandandofferedmeemployment,butIpreferredtoproceedintotheinteriorwithatraderandworkorshootmyway,inordertosavemymoney.Notraderbeingabouttostartatthattime,Iwasobligedtoaccepttheofferofafrontierfarmer,who, for a small sum, agreed to allow me to accompany his waggons, onconditionthatIshouldmakemyselfgenerallyuseful.Igrudgedthecash,butclosedwiththeoffer,andnextdaystartedonourjourneyofsixhundredmiles—such being the distance we had to go, according to my employer orcomrade,JanSmit.”“Who?”exclaimedHans,withsuddenenergy.“JanSmit,”repeatedConsidine.“Doyouknowhim?”“Ja—butgoon,”saidHans,withanodandasmile.“Well,IsoonfoundthatmyDutchcomrade—”“He’s only half Dutch,” interrupted Hans. “His mother was Dutch, but hisfatherisEnglish.”“Well,DutchorEnglish,heisthemostunmitigatedscoundrelIevermet.”

“Ja,”mutteredHans,“heis.”“AndIsoonfoundthatmytripofpleasurebecameatripoftorment.Itistrueweshotplentyofgame—lionsamongtherest—butincampthemanwassounbearablethatdisgustcounterbalancedallthepleasureofthetrip.Itriedhardtogetthebetterofhimbygood-humourandjollity,buthebecamesoinsolentatlastthatIcouldnotstandit.ThreedaysagowhenIaskedhimhowfarwewerefromhisfarm,hegrowledthatitwasn’tfaroffnow;whereuponIcouldnotrefrainfromsayingthatIwasgladtohearit,asweshouldsoonhavethepleasureofpartingcompany.Thisputhiminarage.Hekickedover thepotcontainingpartofourbreakfast,andtoldmeImightpartcompanythenandthereifIpleased.Mytemperdoesnoteasilygo,butitwentatlast.Ijumpedup, saddled my horse, mounted, and rode away. Of course I lost myselfimmediately, and for two days have been trying to find myself, withoutsuccess,mourningovermyfateandfolly,andfastingfromnecessity.Butformyopportunemeetingwithyou,MrMarais,itmighthavegonehardwithmeandmypoorhorse,forthewantofwaterhadwell-nighflooredusboth.”“You’llnevermakeyourfortunebydoctoringonthefrontier,”saidHans,afterafewminutes’silence.“Nobodygetsillinthissplendidclimate—besides,wecouldn’tafford towaste timein thatway.Peoplehereusually live toagreatage,andthengooffwithouttheassistanceofadoctor.Whatelsecanyouturnyourhandto?”“Anything,”repliedConsidine,withtheoverweeningconfidenceofyouth.“Whichmeansnothing,Isuspect,”saidtheDutchman,“forJack-of-all-tradesisproverbiallymasterofnone.”“It may be so,” retorted the other, “nevertheless, without boasting, I mayventure to assert—because I can prove it—that I am able to make tables,chairs, chests, and such-like things, besides knowing something of theblacksmith’strade.Inregardtodoctoring,Iamnotentitledtopractiseforfees,notyetbeingfull-fledged—onlyathird-yearstudent—butImaydoalittleinthat way for love, you know. If you have a leg, for instance, that wantsamputating,Icanmanageitforyouwithagoodcarving-knifeandacross-cutsaw. Or, should a grinder give you annoyance, any sort of pincers, smallenoughtoenteryourmouth,willenablemetorelieveyou.”AtthisHanssmiledanddisplayedasetofbrilliant“grinders,”whichdidnotappearlikelytogivehimannoyanceforsometimetocome.“Can you shoot?” askedHans, laying his hand on his companion’s double-barrelled gun, which lay on the ground between them, and which, with its

delicate proportions and percussion-locks, formed a striking contrast to thebattered,heavy,flint-lockweaponoftheDutchman.“Ay,tosomeextent,asthelions’skinsinJanSmit’swaggoncantestify.—Bytheway,” addedConsidinequickly, “you said that youknewSmit.Canyoutellmewherehelives?becauseIstillowehimthehalfofthemoneypromisedforpermission toaccompanyhimon this trip,andshouldnot like to remainhisdebtor.”“Ja,Iknowwherehelives.He’sabadspecimenofaDutchfarmerineveryrespect,exceptastosize.Helivesquiteclosetoourfarm—more’sthepity!—andisoneofthosemenwhodotheirbesttokeepupbadfeelingbetweenthefrontier-menandtheKafirs.Theevildeedsofmensuchashearerepresentedin England, by designing or foolish persons, as being characteristic of thewholeclassoffrontierfarmers,henceweareregardedasasavageset,while,in my humble opinion, we are no worse than the people of other coloniesplaced in similar circumstances—perhapsbetter than someof them.Doyouknowanythingofourpasthistory?”“Notmuch,”repliedConsidine,throwingawaytheremnantofthestickhehadbeenwhittling,andcommencingonanotherpiece.“OfcourseIknowthattheCapewasfirstdoubledbythePortuguesecommanderBartholomewDiazin,Ithink,1486,andafterhimbyVascodeGama,andthattheDutchformedthefirst settlement on it under Van Riebeek in 1652, but beyond this myknowledgeofCapehistoryanddatesishazyandconfused.Iknow,however,thatyourforefathersmismanagedthecountryforaboutacenturyandahalf,afterwhichitfinallycameintopossessionoftheBritishin1806.”“Humph!”ejaculatedHans,whileashadeofdispleasureflittedforamomentacrosshisbroadvisage.“’Tisapityyourreadinghadnotextendedfarther,forthenyouwouldhavelearnedthatfrom1806thecolonyhasbeenmismanagedby your countrymen, and the last fruit of their mismanagement has been abloodywarwith theKafirs,which has only just been concluded. Peace hasbeenmadeonlythisyear,andthefrontierisnowatrest.Butwhowillrebuildtheburnedhomesteadsofthisdesolatedland?whowillreimbursetheruinedfarmers?aboveall,whowillrestorethelostlives?”TheyoungDutchman’seyeskindled,andhissternfaceflushedashespoke,foralthoughhisownhomesteadhadescapedtheruthlesssavage,friendsandkindredhad suffereddeeply in the irruption referred to,which tookplace in1819,andoneortwoofhisintimatecomradeshadfoundearlygravesinthewildkarroo.Considine,sympathisingwithhiscompanion’sfeelings,said,“Idoubtnotthat

you have much to complain of, for there is no colony under the sun thatescapes from the evil acts of occasional bador incompetentGovernors.Butpraydonotextendyourindignationtomeortomycountrymenatlarge,forfewofusknowthetruemeritsofyourcase.Andtellme,whatwastheoriginofthewarwhichhasjustended?”Theyoungfarmer’sangerhadpassedawayasquicklyasitcame.Lettinghisbulkyframesinkbackintotherecliningpositionfromwhichhehadpartiallyrisen,hereplied—“Just the old story—self-will and stupidity. That domineering fellow LordCharlesSomerset,intendingtochecktheplunderingofthecolonybyKafirs,chose to enter into treaties with Gaika as paramount chief of Kafirland,althoughGaikahimselftoldhimplainlythathewasnotparamountchief.Ofcoursetheotherchiefswereindignant,andrefusedtorecognisesuchtreaties.Theydidmore:theymadewaronGaika,andbeathim,whereuponSomerset,instead of leaving the niggers to fight their own battles,must needs send agreat commando ofmilitary and burghers to ‘restore’Gaika to his so-calledsupremacy.Thiswasdone.ThechiefT’slambiwasdrivenfromhisvillages,andnofewerthan11,000headofcattlewerehandedovertoGaika.Whilethiswas going on at the eastern frontier, theKafirs invaded the colony at otherpoints, drove in the smallmilitary posts, ravaged thewhole land, and evenattacked the military headquarters at Grahamstown, where, however, theyweredefeatedwithgreat slaughter.After thisa large forcewassent todrivethemoutoftheirgreatstronghold,theFishRiverbush.Thiswassuccessfullyaccomplished,and then,at last, the right thingwasdone.TheGovernormetthe Kafir chiefs, when it was agreed that they should evacuate the countrybetween theGreat Fish River and theKeiskamma, and that the territory soevacuatedshouldformneutralground.Somattersstandatpresent,butIhavenofaithinKafirs.Itistheirpridetolie,theirbusinesstomakewar,andtheirdelighttoplunder.”“Butisitnotthesamewithallsavages?”askedConsidine.“Doubtlessitis,thereforenosavagesoughttobetrusted,ascivilisedmenaretrusted,tilltheyceasetobesavages.Wetrustthemtoomuch.Timewillshow.—Bytheway,Ihearthatanewmoveisabouttobeattempted.Rumoursaysthat your Government is going to send out a strong party of emigrants tocolonisetheeasternfrontier.Isthistrue?”“Itis,”repliedConsidine;“Iwonderthatyouhavenotheardallaboutitbeforenow.”“Goodreasonsforthat.Foronething,Ihavejustreturnedfromalongtripinto

thenorth-westerndistricts,andIhavenotbeeninthewayofhearingnewsforsometime.Besides,wehavenonewspapersinthecolony.Everythingcomestousbywordofmouth,andthatslowly.Tellmeaboutthismatter.”“There is little to tell,” returnedConsidine, replenishing thefirewitha thickbranch, which sent up a magnificent display of sparks and scared away ahyenaandtwojackalsthathadbeenprowlingroundthecamp-fence.“Thefactis that there is agreatdealofdistress inEngland justnow,anda redundantpopulationofidlers,owingtothecessationofcontinentalwars.Thisseemstohaveputitintotheheadsofsomepeopleinpowertoencourageemigrationtotheeasternpartofthiscolony.IntheHouseofCommons50,000poundshavebeenvoted in aidof theplan, and it seems thatwhen theproposalwas firstmade public, no fewer than 90,000would-be emigrants applied for leave tocomeouthere.OftheseIbelieve4000havebeenselected,andtwenty-threevessels chartered to convey them out. This is all I could learn before I leftEngland, but I suppose we shall have more light on the subject ere manymonthshavegoneby.”“A good plan,” said the Dutchman, with a grim smile, “but I pity theemigrants!”As Considine’s head drooped at this point, and his eyes winked with thatowlish lookwhich indicates the approach of irresistible sleep, HansMaraisrose,and,spreadinga largekarossorblanketof leopardskinon theground,invited his companion to lie down thereon. The youth willingly complied,stretchedhimselfbesidetheDutchman,andalmostinstantlyfellsoundasleep.Hans spread a lighter covering over himself and his comrade, and,with hisheadon his saddle, lay for a long timegazing tranquilly at the stars,whichshone with an intensity of lustre peculiar to that region of the southernhemisphere, while the yelling cries of jackals and the funereal moaning ofspottedhyenas,withanoccasionaldistantroarfromthekingofbeasts,formedanappropriatelullaby.

ChapterTwoIntroduces aCapeDutchman and his Family, andShows theUncertainty ofHumanPlans.ThebreakofdayfoundCharlieConsidineandHansMaraisgallopinglightlyoverthekarrootowardsarangeofmountainswhich,onthepreviousevening,hadappearedlikeafaintlineofblueonthehorizon.The sun was just rising in a blaze of splendour, giving promise of anoppressive day, when the horsemen topped a ridge beyond which lay the

primitivebuildingsofafrontierfarm.Considine uttered an exclamation of surprise, and looked inquiringly at hiscompanion.“Myfather’sfarm,”saidHans,drawingreinandadvancingatafoot-pace.“A lovely spot,” returned his companion, “but I cannot say much for thebuildings.”“They are well suited to their purpose nevertheless,” said Hans; “besides,woulditbewisetobuildfinehousesforKafirstoburn?”“Is being burnt by Kafirs the necessary end of all frontier farms?” askedConsidine,withasmile.“Notthenecessary,buttheprobableend.Manyaonehasbeenburntintimesgoneby,andmanyaonewillbeburntagain,iftheGovernmentandpeopleinEngland do not recognise and admit the two great facts, that the interest aswellasthemaindesireofthefrontiersettlerispeace,whilethechiefdelightas well as business of the Kafir is war. But I suppose that you, being anEnglishman, will not believe that until conviction is forced on you byexperience.—Come, I will introduce you to one of those colonists who aresupposed to be such discontented fire-eaters; I think he will receive youhospitably.”Theyoungfarmerputspurs tohishorseashespoke,anddashedawayovertheplain,closelyfollowedbyhisnewfriend,whowasnotsorry todroptheconversation, being almost entirely ignorant of the merits of the questionraised.ThestyleofthegroupofbuildingstowhichtheydrewnearwasnotentirelyunfamiliartoConsidine,forhehadpassedoneortwosimilarfarms,belongingtoCapeDutchmen,onhis trip fromthesea-coast to the interior.Therewereaboutthisfarm,however,afewprominentpointsofdifference.Thecottages,beingbuiltofsun-driedbricks,werelittlebetterthanmud-huts,butthereweremoreof themthanConsidinehadhithertoseenonsuchfarms,and thechiefdwelling, in particular, displayed some touches of taste which betokenedsuperior refinement in the inhabitants. The group lay in a hollow on themarginofaninsignificantstream,whosecoursethroughtheplainwasmarkedby a thick belt of beautiful mimosa-bushes. Close to the houses, thesemimosas, large enough tomerit the title of trees, formed a green setting inwhich thefarmappeared tonestleas ifdesirousofescaping thesunshine.Afew cactus shrubs and aloes were scattered about in rear of the principaldwelling, in themidst ofwhich stood severalmud-huts resembling gigantic

bee-hives.InthesedweltsomeoftheHottentotandotherservantsofthefarm,while,alittletotherightofthem,onahighmound,weresituatedthekraalsorenclosures forcattleandsheep.About fiftyyards fartheroff,aclumpof talltreesindicatedthepositionofagarden,whosefruit-treeswereladenwiththeblossomsorbeginningsofa richcropofpeaches, lemons,oranges,apricots,figs, pears, plums, apples, pomegranates, and many other fruits andvegetables. This bright and fruitful gem, in the midst of the brown andapparentlybarrenkarroo,waschieflyduetotheexistenceofalargeenclosureor damwhich the thrifty farmer had constructed about half amile from thehomestead, and the clear waters of which shimmered in the centre of thepicture,evenwhenprolongeddroughthadquitedriedupthebedofitsparentstream. The peaceful beauty of the scene was completed by its grandbackgroundofbluemountains.Atall,powerful,middle-agedman, inacoarseclothjacket, leatherntrousersor “crackers,” and a broad-brimmed home-made hat, issued from the chiefdwelling-houseas thehorsemengallopedupanddrew rein.The sonsof thefamilyandanumberofbarkingdogsalsogreetedthem.HansandConsidinesprangtotheground,whiletwoorthreeoftheelevenbrothers,ofvariousages—alsoinleatherncrackers,butwithoutcoatsorhats—cameforward,kickedthedogs,andledthehorsesaway.“Letmeintroduceastranger,father,whomIhavefound—lostinthekarroo,”saidHans.“WelcometoEden!Comein,comein,”saidMynheerConradMaraisheartily,asheshookhisvisitorbythehand.Considine suitably acknowledged the hospitable greeting and followed hishostintotheprincipalroomofhisresidence.Therewasnohallorpassagetothehouse.Thevisitorwalkedstraightofftheveldt,orplain,intothedrawing-room—ifwemaysostyleit.Thehousedoorwas also the drawing-room door, and it was divided transversely into twohalves,wherebyanopenwindowcouldatanymomentbeformedbyshuttingthelowerhalfofthedoor.Therewasnoceilingtotheroom.Youcouldseetheridge-poleandraftersbylookingupbetweenthebeams,ononeofwhichlatteraswallow—takingadvantageoftheeveropendoorandthegeneralhospitalityof the family—had built its nest. The six-foot sons almost touched the saidnestwiththeirheads;astothesmalleryouthsitwasbeyondthereachofmostofthem,buthaditbeenotherwisenoonewouldhavedisturbedthelivelylittleintruder.The floor of the apartment was made of hard earth, without carpet. The

whitewashedwallsweregracedwithvariousgarments,aswellasimplementsandtrophiesofthechase.Fromthebeamshungjointsofmeat,massesofdriedflesh,andvariouskindsof game, large whips—termed sjamboks (pronounced shamboks)—made ofrhinoceros or hippopotamus hide, leopard and lion skins, ostrich eggs andfeathers,driedfruit,stringsofonions,andothermiscellaneousobjects;onthefloorstooda largedeal table,andchairsof thesamedescription—allhome-made,—twowaggon chests, a giant churn, a large iron pot, severalwoodenpitchers hooped with brass, and a side-table on which were a large brass-claspedDutchBible, a set ofDutch tea-cups, an urn, and a brass tea-kettleheatedlikeachafing-dish.Onthewallsandincornerswereseveralflint-lockguns,andoneortwooftheshortlightjavelinsusedbytheKafirsforthrowinginbattle,namedassagais.Threesmalldoorsledintothreeinnerrooms,inwhichtheentirefamilyslept.Therewerenootherapartments,thekitchenbeinganouthouse.Onthecentretablewasspreadasubstantialbreakfast, fromwhich thevariousmembersofthefamilyhadrisenonthearrivalofthehorsemen.ConsidinewasintroducedtoMynheerMarais’vrouw,agood-looking,fat,andmotherlywomanvergingonforty,—andhisdaughterBertha,aprettylittlegirlofeightornine.“WhatisMynheer’sname?”wasthematron’sfirstquestion.MynheerrepliedthatitwasCharlesConsidine.“WasMynheerEnglish?”“Yes,”Mynheerwasproudtoacknowledgethefact.MrsMarais followedup thesequestionswith a host of others—such as, theageandprofessionofMynheer,thenumberofhisrelatives,andtheobjectofhisvisittoSouthAfrica.MynheerMaraishimself,aftergettingabriefoutlineofhisson’smeetingwith theEnglishman,backed theattackofhispleasant-faced vrouw by putting a number of questions as to the political state ofEurope then existing, and the chances of the British Government seriouslytakingintoconsiderationtheunsatisfactoryconditionoftheCapefrontieranditsrelationswiththeKafirs.Toall of these and amultitudeof other questionsCharlieConsidine repliedwithgreatreadinessandgood-humour,asfarashisknowledgeenabledhim,for he began quickly to appreciate the fact that these isolated farmers,whoalmostneversawanewspaperwerethirstingforinformationastotheworldin

generalaswellaswithregardtohimselfinparticular.Duringthisbombardmentofqueriesthehostandhostesswerenotforgetfultosupply their young guest with the viands under which the substantial tablegroaned,while several of the youngermembers of the family, including theprettyBertha,stoodbehindtherestandwaitedonthem.Withtheexceptionofthehostandhostess,noneofthehouseholdspokeduringthemeal,allbeingfullyoccupiedinlisteningeagerlyandeatingheartily.When the Dutch fire began to slacken for want of ammunition, ConsidineretaliatedbyopeningaBritishbattery, and soon learned thatMaraisandhiswifebothclaimed,andwerenotalittleproudof,afewdropsofFrenchblood.Theirprogenitorsonthemother’sside,theysaid,weredescendedfromoneoftheFrenchHuguenotfamilieswhichsettledinthecolonyaftertherevocationoftheEdictofNantes.“You see,” said Mynheer Marais, with a quiet smile of satisfaction, as heapplied a boiled cob of mealies or Indian corn to his powerful teeth, “ourfamilymaybesaidtobeabouttwo-thirdsDutchandone-thirdFrench.Infact,we have also a little English blood in our veins, formy great-grandfather’smotherwasEnglishon thefather’ssideandDutchon themother’s.Perhapsthis accounts to some extent for my tendency to adopt some English andAmericanideasintheimprovementofmyfarm,whichisnotacharacteristicofmyCape-Dutchbrethren.”“SoIhavebeentold,andtosomeextenthaveseen,”saidConsidine,withaslyglance;“infacttheyappeartoberatherlazythanotherwise.”“Not lazy,youngsir,” returnedMaraiswithsomeemphasis.“Theyareeasy-goingandeasilysatisfied,andnotsolicitoustoaddtotheirmaterialcomfortsbeyondacertainpoint—inshort,contentedwithlittle,likeFrenchmen,whichis a praiseworthy condition of mind, commended in Holy Writ, and notdisposedtomakehastetoberich,likeyouEnglish.”“Ah,Isee,”rejoinedConsidine,whoobservedatwinkleintheeyesofsomeofMynheer’sstalwartsons.“Yes,”pursuedthefarmer,butteringanothermealie-cob,andcommencingtoeatitwithinfinitegusto,“yousee,theCapeDutchmen,althoughasfineasetofmenaseverlived,arejustalittletoocontentedandslow;ontheotherhand,youngsir,youEnglisharemuchtoorecklessandfast—”“Justso,” interruptedConsidine,bowinghis thanks to thehostessfora thirdvenison-steakwhichshehadputonhisplate;“theDutchtooslow,theEnglishtoofast, so that threepartsDutch, twopartsFrench,andonepartEnglish—

likeadashofseasoning—is,itseems,theperfectMaraismixture.”This remarkproduceda suddenandunintentionalburstof laughter from theyoungMaraises,notsomuchonaccountoftheexcessofhumourcontainedinit, as from the fact that never before had they heard a jest of any kindfabricatedattheexpenseoftheirfather,ofwhomtheystoodmuchinawe,andforwhomtheyhadaprofoundrespect.Conrad Marais, however, could take a joke, although not much given tomakingone.Hesmiledblandlyovertheedgeofhismealie-cob.“You’re right, sir,—right; themixture is not a bad one. TheDutch elementgives steadiness, the English vigour, and the French spirit.—By the way,Arend,”hecontinued, turning tooneofhis stoutolive-branches, “talkingofspiritremindsmethatyouwillhavetogotoworkatthatleakinthedamwithmorespiritthanusual,forwecan’taffordtolosewaterinthisdryweather.Itisnotfinished,Ithink?”“No,father,butwehopetogetitdonethisafternoon.”“That’swell.Howmanyofyouareatit?”“DavidandI,withsixTotties.OldSamis ill,andnoneof theotherscanbesparedto-day.”“Can’tsomeofyourbrothershelp?”askedthefarmer.“Losingwaterisasbadalmostaslosinggold.”“Josephmeant to come, but he started at six thismorning to look after thecattle.WehearthattheKafirscarriedoffsomeofJanSmit’ssheepyesterday.”“Theblackscoundrels!”exclaimedConradMarais,withagrowlandafrown,“theyareneveratrest,eitherintimesofpeaceorofwar.”Thefrownpassedasquicklyas itcame,and thegenialsmilehabitual to thefarmerresumeditsplaceonhiscountenanceasheranhisfingersthroughthethickmassesofhisiron-greyhair,androsefromthetable.“Come,MrConsidine,” he said, putting on his hat, “are you disposed for aride?Itakealookroundthefarmeverymorningtoseethatthingsaregoingstraight.Willyoujoinme?”Of course Considine gladly assented, and Hans said he would accompanythem,whiletheothersons—exceptofcoursetheyoungerones,andthebabywhowasBertha’sspecialcharge—wentouttotheirvariousavocations.

Afewminuteslaterthethreehorsemenwerecanteringovertheplain.During the ride, Considine was again questioned closely as to his futureintentionsandprospects,butwithoutanythingverysatisfactorybeingevolved.At lastConradMaraispulledup,aftera longpause in theconversation,andwhile theyadvancedatawalk,said—“Well, I’vebeenthinking,andhere istheoutcome.Youwantwork,MrConsidine,andIwantaworkman.You’vehadagoodeducation,whichIcountapricelessadvantage.Someofmysonshavehada little,but since Icamehere theyoungoneshavehadnoneatallworthmentioning.Whatsayyoutobecomeaschoolmaster?Youstopwithmeandgivetheyoungstersasmuchasyouthinkfitofwhateveryouknow,andI’llgiveyouhouse-roomandfood,withasmallsalaryandaheartywelcome.Youneednotbindyourself.Ifyoudon’tlikeit,youcanleaveit.Ifyoudolikeit, you arewelcome to stay as long as you please, and you’ll thus have anopportunity of looking about and deciding on your future plans. What sayyou?”Considinereceivedtheopeningsentencesofthisproposalwithasmile,butasthe farmerwentonhebecamegrave, andat length seriouslyentertained theidea.Afterhavingsleptanightoverithefinallyresolvedtoaccepttheoffer,and next daywas fairly installed as dominie and amember of the farmer’sfamily. School-bookswere ferreted out from the bottom of family chests; aHottentot’s(orTottie’s)mud-hutwasconvertedintoaschoolroom;sixofthefarmer’s sons—beginning almost at the foot of the scale—formed a class.Reading,writing,andarithmeticwereunfoldedtoyouthfulandnotunwillingminds,evenLatinwasbroachedbytheeldestofthesix,and,duringaseparatehourintheevening,FrenchwastaughttoBertha.Everything,inshort,wasputintrain,and,asConsidineexpressedit,“theMaraisAcademywasgoingfullswing,”whenaneventoccurredwhichinstantlysentFrenchandLatintotheright-aboutandscatteredthethreeR’stothefourwinds.ThiswasnothinglessthananorderfromtheColonialGovernmenttotheFieldCornetson thefrontier toengagewaggonsandoxenfromthefarmers, tobesent to Algoa Bay for the purpose of conveying the British immigrants—expectedinafewweeks—fromthecoasttothevariouslocationsdestinedfortheirreception.Amongothers,ConradMaraiswas tosend twowaggonsandspansofoxen,each span consistingof eighteen animals.HansMaraiswas togo in charge,andHansresolvedtohaveConsidineasacompanion,forthejourneydowntothe coast was long—about 160 miles,—and the two youths had formed sostrong an attachment during their short acquaintance that Considine was asanxioustogoashisfriendcoulddesire.

Conrad Marais, having no objection to this arrangement, the oxen were“inspanned,”andthedayfollowingthatonwhichtheorderwasreceivedtheysetofftowardstheshoresoftheIndianOcean.Having to pass the residence of Jan Smit on theway, Considine seized theopportunitytovisithisformercross-grainedcompanionandpayhisdebt.Jan Smit was in a more savage humour than usual when the young manwalked up to his dwelling. The farmer’s back was towards him as heapproached.Hestoodnervouslyswitchingasjambokinhisrighthand,whilehestormedinDutchat threeofhisunfortunatepeople,orratherslaves.Onewas a sturdy Hottentot named Ruyter, one aMalay named Abdul Jemalee,bothofwhomhadtravelledwithConsidineontheupjourney.ThethirdwastheBushmanwhomhe had encounteredwhen lost on the karroo, andwho,owingtohisinveteratestupidity,hadbeennamedBooby.They had all been implicated in the recent loss of cattle suffered by theirsavagemaster,whohadalready flogged theBushmanwith the sjambokandwas furiously interrogating theHottentot.At last hegavehima tremendouscutacrosstheshoulders,whichimmediatelyraisedadarkredbarthereon.Ruyter’sblack eyes flashed.Hedidnotwince, but drewhimself quicklyuplikeamanabout to retaliate.JanSmitobservingandresenting theaction,atonceknockedhimdown.RuyterslowlyroseandstaggeredawayjustasConsidinecameup.Theyouthcouldnotresisttheinclinationtoexclaim“Shame!”“Who dares—” cried Jan Smit, turning fiercely round. He paused in mutesurpriseatsightofhisformercompanion.“Idare!”saidConsidinesternly;“manyatimethewordhasbeenonmylipsbefore,andnowthatithaspassedthemitmaygo.Icamenothere,however,tobully,orbebullied,buttopaymydebttoyou.”Hedrewoutaleathernpurseashespoke,andtheDutchman,whosespiritwasquelledbothbythemannerandthematterofhisvisitor’sremark,ledthewaytohisdomicile.The house resembled that of Conrad Marais in form, but in nothing else.Everythinginandarounditwasdirtyandmoreorlessdilapidated.Therewasnodam,nogarden,—nothing, inshort,butthemiserabledwellingandafewsurroundinghuts,withthecattlekraal.Havingpaidhisdebt,Considinedidnotvouchsafeanotherword,butreturned

atoncetothewaggons.OnthewayheovertookRuyter.“My poor fellow,” he said, “have you no means of redress? Can you notcomplaintosomeone—somemagistrate?”“Complain!”exclaimedtheHottentotfiercely,“whatdeuseofcomplain?Noonecare.Nobodylisten—boh!nousecomplain.”ThemanhadlearntasmatteringofEnglish.Hewasashortbutverypowerfulfellow,andwithamoreintellectualheadandcountenancethaniscommontohisrace.“Whereareyougoingjustnow,Ruyter?”askedConsidine,feelingthatitwasbesttochangethesubjectjustthen.“Goforinspandewaggin.OrdereddowntoAlgoaBayforbringupdewhitemen.”“Thenweshallprobablymeetontheroad,”saidConsidine,“forIamgoingtothesameplace.”Ashespoke,theycametoapointwheretheroadforked.TheHottentot, with a sulky “Good-day,” took that path which led towards JanSmit’s cattle kraal, while Considine followed the other and rejoined hiswaggons.Thetwofriendsmountedtheirhorses,thedriverssettheox-teamsinmotion,and thehugewaggons lumberedslowlyover thekarroo towards therisingsun.

ChapterThree

DescribesthesomewhatCuriousBeginningofSettler-LifeinSouthAfricaLeapingovertimeandspacewiththathilariousmentalboundwhichissoeasyandenjoyabletowritersandreaders,letusfoldourwingsatearlymorninthemonthofMay,anddropdownontheheightsinthevicinityofAlgoaBay.Thegeneral aspect of thebay is sandy and sterile.On its bluewatersmanylarge vessels lie at anchor. Some of them are trim, with furled sails andsquaredyards,asiftheyhadbeenthereforaconsiderabletime.Othershavesails and spars loose andawry, as if theyhad just arrived.From these lattermanyanemigranteyeis turnedwistfullyontheshore.Therisinggroundonwhichwestandiscrownedbyalittlefortress,orfortifiedbarrack,styledFortFrederick,aroundwhicharethemarqueesoftheofficersofthe72ndregiment.Below, on the range of sandhills which fringe the beach, are pitched amultitude of canvas tents, and among these upwards of a thousand men,women, and children are in busymotion. There are only one or two smallwoodenhousesvisible,andthreethatchedcottages.Downatthewater’sedge,

anddeepinthesurf,crowdsofsoldiers,civilians,andhalf-nakednativesarebusyhaulingontheropesattachedtothelargesurfboats,whicharecoveredtooverflowingwithhumanbeings.Thoseintheboats,aswellasthoseinthesurfand on the beach, are in a state of high excitement, and more or lessdemonstrative, while the seamen from a neighbouring sloop of war, whomanage the boats, shout to the people at the ropes.The replies of these aredrowned,everandanon,bytheroaroffalling“rollers.”Theserollers,orgreatwaves,calmthoughthemorningbe,comeinwithgiantforcefromthemightysea.Theyarethemereterminationoftheocean-swell.Reader, the scene before you marks an epoch of vast importance in SouthAfricanhistory.Itisthe“landingoftheBritishSettlers”intheyear1820.Thespot is that on which now stands the flourishing commercial town of PortElizabeth, styled, not inappropriately, by its inhabitants, the “Liverpool ofSouthAfrica.”Standingnearthesternofoneofthesurf-boats,hisstrongrighthandgraspingthe gunwale, and his grave eyes fixed on the shore, one of the exiles fromScotlandliftedhisvoicethatdayandsaid—“Hech, sirs! it’s but a puir, ill-faur’d, outlandish sort o’ country. Iwad fainhope the hieland hills of our location inland are mair pleasant-lookin’ thanthis.”“Keepupyourspirits,SandyBlack,”observedasturdyHighlanderwhostoodat his side; “those who know the country best say that our location is asplendidone—equaltoScotlanditself,ifnotsuperior.”“Itmaybeso,MrMcTavish,”repliedSandy, inadoubtful toneofvoice,“itmaybeso.”“Hallo!” suddenly and loudly exclaimed a dapper little man, whose voicebetokenedhimEnglish.“Whatis’t,Jerry?”demandedSandyBlack,turninghiseyesseaward,inwhichdirectionJerrywasgazing.Thequestionneedednoreply,forSandy,andindeedallthevariouspeopleinthebargewhostoodhighenoughonitssidesorladingtobeabletolookoverthe gunwale, observed amightywave coming up behind them like a greenwall.“Haulhard!”roaredtheseamenincharge.“Ay,ay,”shoutedthesoldiersonshore.

Astheyspokethebillowliftedtheboatasifithadbeenacork,fellunderitwithadeafeningroarandboreitshorewardinatumultofseethingfoam.Nextmomentthewaveletitdownwithacrashandretired,leavingitstill,however,intwoorthreefeetofwater.“Eh,man,but thatwasadunt!”exclaimedSandy, tighteninghisholdonthegunwale,whileseveralofhis lesscautiousor lesspowerfulneighboursweresent sprawling into the bottom of the boat among terrified women andchildren.All was now bustle and tenfold excitement, for the soldiers on the beachhurriedwaist-deep into theseafor thepurposeofcarrying thefuturesettlersonshore.ThomasPringle, the leaderof theScotchparty, andwhoafterwardsbecameknownasthe“SouthAfricanpoet”hadpreviouslylandedinagig.Hegaveanopportunehint,inbroadScotch,toatallcorporalofthe72ndHighlanderstobecarefulofhiscountrymen.“Scotch folk, are they?” exclaimed the corporal, with a look of surprise atPringle.“Neverfear,sir,butwesalbecarefu’o’them.”Thecorporalwasasgoodashisword,forheandhiscomradescarriednearlythewholepartyashore in safety.But therewereothers therewhoownednoallegiancetothecorporal.Oneofthese—abigsallowHottentot—chancedtoget Jerry, surnamedGoldboy, on his shoulders, and, either bymischance ordesign,stumbledandfell,pitchingJerryoverhishead,justasanotherbillowfrom the IndianOceanwas rushing to the terminationof its grand career. ItcaughtJerryupinalovingembraceasherose,andpitchedhimwithanoisywelcomeontheshore.“Weeldone,Jerry!”criedSandyBlack,whohadjustbeenoverturnedbythesamewave from the shoulders of a burly Englishman—a previously landedsettler—“youan’me’smadeanimpressivelandin’.Come,let’sgitooto’thebustle.”SosayingthestoutLowlanderseizedhislittleEnglishfriendbythearmanddraggedhimtowardsthetownofcanvaswhichhadwithinafewweekssprunguplikemushroomsamongthesandhills.Although wet from head to foot, each forgot his condition in the interestawakened by the strange sights and sounds around him. Their immediateneighbourhoodonthebeachwascrowdedwithemigrants,aspartyafterpartywas carried ashore shoulder-high by the soldiers,who seemed to regard thewholeaffairasahugepracticaljoke.

The noise was indescribable, because compound. There was the boisteroushilarityofpeoplewhofelt theirfeetoncemoreonsolidground,aftera longandwearyvoyage; theshoutingofsailorsandbargemenintheboats,andofsoldiersandnativesonthebeach;thetalkingandlaughingofmenandwomenwhohadstruckupsuddenfriendshipsonlanding,aswellasofthosewhohadcrossedtheseatogether;thegambollingandtheshriekingdelightofchildrenfreed from the restraints of shipboard; the shouts of indignant Governmentofficialswhocouldnotgettheirordersattendedto;thequerulousdemandsofpeoplewhoseluggagehadgoneastrayinprocessofdebarkation;thebawlingofcolonialDutchbygiganticDutch-Africanfarmers, inbroad-brimmedhatsandleatherncrackers,withbigtobacco-pipesintheirmouths;thebellowingofoxen in reply to the pistol-shot cuts applied to their flanks by half-nakedHottentotsandBushmen,whosewhipswerebamboosoftwentyfeetorsoinlength,withlashestwiceaslong;thecreakingofCape-waggons,thebarkingof dogs, and, as a measured accompaniment to all, the solemn regularboomingoftherestlesssea.Disengaging themselves from the crowded beach, Sandy Black and JerryGoldboyproceeded towards the townof tents among the sandhills.On theirway they passed several large tarpaulin-covered depots of agriculturalimplements, carpenter’s and blacksmith’s tools, and ironware of alldescriptions, which had been provided by Government to be sold to thesettlersatprimecost—forthisgrandeffortatcolonisationwasoriginatedandfosteredbytheBritishGovernment.“Weel,weel,didever’eeseethelikeo’that,noo?”observedSandyBlack,ashe passed some sandhills coveredwith aloes and cactuses and rare exotics,suchasonemightexpecttofindinEnglishgreenhouses.“Well,yes,”repliedJerryGoldboy,“themarehoddlookin’wegitables.Ican’tsaythatI’vemuchknowledgeofsuch-likemyself,’avin’binbornan’bredinLondon, as I’ve often told you, but they do seempecooliar, even tome.—Isay,look’ere;Ithoughtallthepeople’erewassettlers.”Sandy,whowasagravemanoffewwords,thoughnotwithoutatouchofslyhumour,replied,“Weel,sotheyare—an’whatthan?”“Why,w’at are them there?” demanded Jerry, pointing to severalmarqueespitchedapartamongsomeevergreenbushes.“H’m! ’eemay ask that,” replied the Scot; but as he did not addmore, hiscompanionwascontenttoregardhiswordsasaconfessionofignorance,andpassedonwiththeremark,“haristocrats.”

Jerrywassofarright.Themarqueesreferredtobelongedtothehigherclassofsettlers, who had resolved to forsake their native land and introducerefinement into the South African wilds. The position chosen by them onwhichtopitchtheirtents,andtheneatnessofeverythingaround,evincedtheirtaste, while one or two handsome carriages standing close by betokenedwealth.Someoftheoccupants,elegantlydressed,wereseatedincamp-chairs,withbooksintheirhands,whileotherswereramblingamongtheshrubberyonthelittleeminencesandlookingdownonthebustlingbeachandbay.Thetentsof these, however, formed an insignificant proportion of the canvas town inwhichSandyBlackandhisfriendsoonfoundthemselvesinvolved.“Settlers’Camp,”asitwascalled,consistedofseveralhundredtents,pitchedinparallelrowsorstreets,andwasoccupiedbythemiddleandlowerclassofsettlers—a motley crew, truly. There were jolly farmers and pale-visagedtradesmen from various parts of England, watermen from the Thames,fishermen from the seaports, artisans from town and country, agriculturallabourers from everywhere, and ne’er-do-weels from nowhere in particular.England,Scotland,Ireland,wererepresented—insomecasesmisrepresented,—and,ascharacterwasvaried,theexpressionofitproducedinfinitevariety.Although the British Government had professedly favoured a select fourthousandoutofthelucklessninetythousandwhohadofferedthemselvesforemigration, it is to be feared that either the selectionhadnot been carefullymade,ordrunkennessandriotousconducthadbeensurprisinglydevelopedonthe voyage out. Charity, however, requires us to hope that much of theexcitementdisplayedwasduetotheprospectofbeingspeedilyplantedinruralfelicityinthewildsofAfrica.Conversation,atallevents,ranlargelyonthistheme, as ourwanderers could easily distinguish—for people talked loudly,andalltent-doorswerewideopen.Afterwanderingforsometime,SandyBlackpaused,andlookingdownathislittlefriendwithwhatmaybecalledagravesmile,gaveitashisopinionthattheyhadgotlost“inSettlers’-toon.”“Idobelievewe’ave,”assentedJerry.“What’stobedone?”“Gangtothebesthotel,”suggestedSandy.“Butwhereisthebest’otel?”“H’m!’eemayaskthat.”A burst of noisy laughter just behind them caused the lost ones to turnabruptly, when they observed four tall young men of gentlemanly aspectsitting in a small military tent, and much amused apparently at their moistcondition.

“Why, where did you two fellows come from?” asked one of the youths,issuingfromthetent.“FromEnglandandScotland,”repliedJerryGoldboypromptly.“From the sea, I should say,” returned the youth, “to judge from your wetgarments.”“Ay,we’vebeendrookit,”saidSandyBlack.“Bring’emin,Jack,”shoutedoneoftheotheryouthsinthetent.“Come inside,” said hewhowas styled Jack, “and have a glass of whisky.There’snothinglikewhiskytodryawetskin,isthere,Scotty?”TothisfamiliarappealSandyreplied,“m–h’m,”whichword,wemayaddfortheinformationofforeigners,istheScotchfor“Yes.”“Sitdownthereontheblankets,”saidthehospitableJack,“wehaven’tgotourarm-chairsortablesmadeyet.Allowmetointroducemytwobrothers,JamesandRobertSkyd;myownnameisthelesscommononeofJohn.Thisyoungmanof six feet two,withnomoneyand lessbrain, isnotabrother—onlyachum—named Frank Dobson. Come, fill up and drink, else you’ll catch acold,oraSouthAfricanfever,ifthereissuchathing.WhomshallIpledge?”“MynameisJerryGoldboy,”saidtheEnglishman;“yourhealth,gentlemen.”“’AmSandyBlack,”saidtheScot;“here’st’ee.”“Well,MrBlackandMrColdboy”—Goldboy,interposedJerry—“IspeakformybrothersandfriendwhenIwishyouallsuccessinthenewland.”“Do talk less, Jack,” saidRobert Skyd, the youngest brother, “and give ourfriendsachanceofspeaking—Haveyoucomeashorelately!”“Justarrived,”answeredJerry.“I thoughtso.Youbelong to theScotchparty thatgoes toBaviaansRiver, Isuppose?”askedFrankDobson.Thisquestionledatlengthtoafullandfreeaccountofthecircumstancesanddestinationofeachparty,withwhichhoweverwewillnottroublethereaderindetail.“D’ee ken onything aboot Baviaans River?” inquired Sandy Black, after avarietyofsubjectshadbeendiscussed.

“Nothingwhatever,” answered John Skyd, “save that it is between one andtwohundredmiles—moreor less—inlandamong themountains,and that itsname,whichisDutch,meanstheRiverofBaboons,itsfastnessesbeingfilledwiththesegentry.”“Ay,I’veheardasmuchmysel’,”returnedSandy,“an’theysaythecratersaregeyfierce.Arethereonyo’thebigpuggiesintheAlbanydistrict?”“No,none.Albanyistoolevelforthem.Itliesalongthesea-coast,andissaidtobeasplendidcountry,thoughuncomfortablyneartheKafirs.”“TheKawfirs.Ay.H’m!” saidSandy, leaving his hearers to form their ownjudgmentastothemeaningofhiswords.“An’whatmayyourtredbe,sir?”headded,lookingatJohnSkyd.Thethreebrotherslaughed,andJohnreplied—“Trade? we have no trade. Our profession is that of clerks—knights of thequill;atleastsuchwasourprofessionintheoldcountry.Inthisnewland,mybrotherBob’s profession is fun, Jim’s is jollity, andmine is a compound ofboth, called joviality.As toour chumDobson,hisprofessionmaybe styledremonstrance,forheisperpetuallycheckingourlevity,ashecalls it;alwayskeepingusinorderandsnubbingus,neverthelesswecouldn’tdowithouthim.Infact,wemaybelikenedtoasocialclock,ofwhichJimisthemainspring,Bob theweight, I the strikingpart of theworks, andDobson thependulum.Butwearenotparticular,wearereadyforanything.”“Ay, an’ fit for nothin’,” observed Sandy, with a peculiar smile and shrug,meanttoindicatethathisjestwasmorethanhalfearnest.The three brothers laughed again at this, and their friend Dobson smiled.Dobson’ssmilewaspeculiar.Thecornersofhismouthturneddowninsteadofup,therebygivinghisgravecountenanceanunusuallyarchexpression.“Why, what do you mean, you cynical Scot!” demanded John Skyd. “Ourshouldersarebroadenough,aretheynot?nearlyasbroadasyourown.”“Oo’ay,yershoothersareweelaneugh,butIwadnagiemuchforyerheedsorhaunds.”Replytothiswasinterruptedbytheappearance,intheopeningofthetent,ofamanwhosesolemnbutkindlyfacecheckedtheflowofflippantconversation.“Youlookserious,Orpin;hasanythinggonewrong?”askedFrankDobson.

“Ourfriendisdying,”repliedtheman,sadly.“Hewillsoonmeethisopponentin the land where all is light and where all disputes shall be ended inagreement.”Orpin referred to two of the settlers whose careers in South Africa weredestined to be cut short on the threshold. The twomen had been earnestlyreligious,but, likeall the restofAdam’s fallen race,were troubledwith theeffectsoforiginalsin.Theyhaddisputedhotly,andhadultimatelyquarrelled,onreligioussubjectson thevoyageout.Oneof themdiedbeforehe landed;theotherwasthemanofwhomOrpinnowspoke.Thesuddenchangeinthedemeanour of the brothers Skyd surprised aswell as gratified SandyBlack.Thatsedate,andliterallyaswellasfiguratively, long-headedScot,hadfeltagrowingdistastetotheflippantyoungEnglishers,ashestyledthem,butwhenhesawthemthrowofftheirlightcharacter,asonemightthrowoffagarment,andriseeagerlyandsadlytoquestionOrpinaboutthedyingman,hefelt,asmankindisoftenforcedtofeel,thatafirst,andespeciallyahasty,judgmentisoftenincorrect.Stephen Orpin was a mechanic and a Wesleyan, in virtue of which latterconnection,andaChristianspirit,hehadbeenmadealocalpreacher.Hewasonhiswaytoofferhisservicesasawatcherbythebedsideofthedyingman.Thisman and his opponentwere not the only emigrantswho finished theircourse thus abruptly. Dr Cotton, the “Head” of the “Nottingham party,” DrCaldecottandsomeothers,merelycame,asitwerelikeMoses,insightofthepromised land, and then ended their earthly career.Yet some of these left avaluablecontribution,intheirchildren,tothefuturecolony.WhileBlackandhisfriendJerrywereobservingOrpin,asheconversedwiththebrothersSkyd,thetallburlyEnglishmanfromwhoseshoulderstheformerhadbeenhurledintothesea,chancedtopass,andquietlygraspedtheScotbythearm.“Here you are at last!Why,man, I’ve been lookin’ for you ever since thatunluckyaccident,toofferyouachangeofclothesandafeedinmytent—orIshouldsayour tent, forIbelongtoa‘party,’ likeeveryoneelsehere.Comealong.”“Thank ’ee kindly,” answered Sandy, “but what between haverin’ wi’ thaeEnglishers an’ drinkin’ their whusky, my freen’ Jerry an’ me’s dry aneughalready.”The Englishman, however, would not listen to any excuse. He was one ofthose hearty men, with superabundant animal spirits—to say nothing ofphysique—who are not easily persuaded to let others follow their own

inclinations, andwhoare sogood-natured that it isdifficult to feeloffendedwith their kindly roughness. He introduced himself by the name of GeorgeDally, and insisted on Black accompanying him to his tent. Sandy being asociable, although a quiet man, offered little resistance, and Jerry, being aworshipperofSandy,followedwithgaynonchalance.

ChapterFourFurtherParticularsof“Settlers’Town,”andaStartmadeforthe

PromisedLandThreading his way among the streets of “Settlers’ Town,” and pushingvigorouslythroughthecrowdsofexcitedbeingswhopeopledit,GeorgeDallyledhisnewacquaintances toa tent in theoutskirtsof thecamp—asuburbantent,asitwere.Entering it, and ushering in his companions, he introduced them as thegentlemenwhohadbeencapsizedintotheseaonlanding,atwhichoperationhehadhadthehonourtoassist.There were four individuals in the tent. A huge German labourer namedScholtz,andhiswife.MrsScholtzwasasubstantialwomanofforty.Shewasalsoanurse,and,insoul,body,andspirit,wastotallyabsorbedinababyboy,whosewildcareerhadbegunfourmonthsbeforeinafuriousgaleintheBayof Biscay. As that infant “lay, on that day, in the Bay of Biscay O!” theelementalstrifeoutsideappearedtohavefoundalodgmentinhissoul,forheburst upon the astonishedpassengerswith a squallwhich lasted longer thanthe gale, andwas ultimately pronounced theworst that had visited the shipsince she left England. Born in a storm, the infant was baptised in a stiffbreezebyaWesleyanminister,onandafterwhichoccasionhewasunderstoodtobeJabezBrook;butoneofthesailorshappeningtocallhimJunkieontheseconddayofhis existence, his nurse,MrsScholtz, leapedat the endearingname like a hungry trout at a gay fly, and “Junkie” he remained during thewholetermofchildhood.Junkie’s main characteristic was strength of lungs, and his chief delight tomake that fact known. Six passengers changed their berths for theworse inorder to avoid him. One who could not change became nearly derangedtowards the end of the voyage, and one,whowas sea-sick all theway out,seriously thought of suicide, but incapacity for any physical effortwhateverhappilysavedhim.Inshort,Junkiewastheinnocentcauseofmanydreadfulthoughtsandmuchimproperlanguageontheunstablesceneofhisnativity.Besidesthesethree, therewasinthetentapretty,dark-eyed,refined-lookinggirl of about twelve. ShewasGertrudeBrook, sister and idolater of Junkie.

Herfather,EdwinBrook,andhermother,dweltinatentcloseby.Brookwasagentlemanofsmallmeans,butMrsBrookwasavery rich lady—rich in thepossessionof ahappy temper, a lovingdisposition, apretty face and figure,andareligioussoul.ThusEdwinBrook,thoughpoor,maybedescribedasamanofinexhaustiblewealth.GertrudehadcomeintoDally’stenttofetchJunkietoherfatherwhenSandyBlackandhisfriendsentered,butJunkiehadjusttouchedthehotteapot,withthecontentsofwhichMrsScholtzwasregalingherselfandhusband,andwasnotinanamiablehumour.Hisoutcriesweredeafening.“Now do hold its dear little tongue, and go to its popsy,” saidMrs Scholtztenderly.(MrsScholtzwasanEnglishwoman.)WeneednotsaythatJunkiedeclinedobedience,neitherwouldhelistentothesilveryblandishmentsofGertie.“Zeechilevasbornshrieking,anthevilldieshrieking,”growledScholtz,whodislikedJunkie.The entrance of the strangers, however, unexpectedly stopped the shrieking,andbeforeJunkiecouldrecoverhisprevioustrainofthoughtGertieborehimoffintriumph,leavingthehospitableDallyandMrsScholtztoentertaintheirvisitorstosmalltalkandtea.Whileseated thus theybecameawareofasuddenincreaseof thedin,whip-cracking,andox-bellowingwithwhichthecampofthesettlersresounded.“They seem fond o’ noise here,” observedSandyBlack, handing his cup toMrsScholtztoberefilled.“I never ’eard such an ’owling before,” said Jerry Goldboy; “what is it allabout?”“Newarrivalsfromzeeinterior,”answeredScholtz;“derebealwaysvagginscomin’antgoin’.”“The camp is a changin’ one,” saidDally, sipping his teawith the air of aconnoisseur. “Whenyou’vebeenhere as long aswehaveyou’ll understandhow it never increasesmuch, for although ship after ship arrives with newswarmsofemigrantsfromtheoldcountry,waggonafterwaggoncomesfromIdon’t know where—somewheres inland anyhow—and every now an’ thenlongtrainsoftheseareseenleavingcamp,loadedwithgoodsandwomenandchildren, enough to sink a small schooner, and followed by crowds ofmentrampingawaytotheirnewhomesinthewilderness—thoughwhatthesesame

newhomesorwildernessarelikeismorethanIcantell.”“Zee noise is great,” growled Scholtz, as another burst of whip-musketry,human roars, and bovine bellows broke on their ears, “ant zee confusion isindesgraibable.”“Thegentlemenwhosebusiness it is tokeepordermusthaveahardtimeofit,”saidMrsScholtz;“Ican’teverunderstandhowtheydoesit,whatbetweenlanding parties and locating ’em, and feeding, supplying, advising, anddespatchingof’em,tosaynothingofscoldingandsnubbing,inthemidstofall this Babel of bubbledom, quite surpasses my understanding. Do youunderstandit,MrBlack?”“Ay,” replied Sandy, clearing his throat and speaking somewhat oracularly.“’Ee must know, Mrs Scholtz, that it’s the result of organisation andgineralship. A serjeant or corporal can kick or drive a few men in onydirectionthat’swanted,butittakesagineraltomoveanarmy.If’eewastosetacorporaltoleadtwuntythoosandmen,he’dgiethemordersthatwadthrawthemintoadeedlock,an’thannaethin’shorto’amiraclecouldgitthemooto’t.Monyabattle’sbeenlostbybravementhroughbadgineralship,an’monya battle’s beenwon by puir enough bodies o’men because of their leader’sadministrativeabeelity,MrsScholtz.”“Very true,MrBlack,” repliedMrs Scholtz,with the assurance of onewhothoroughlyunderstandswhatshehears.“Noo,” continued Sandy, with increased gravity, “if thae Kawfir bodies wehear aboot only had chiefs wi’ powers of organisation, an’ was a’ unitedthegither,theywaddrivethehaulo’thiscolonyintothesealikechaffbeforethe wind. But they’ll niver do it; for, ’ee see, they want mind—an’ bodywithootmindisbutapuirthingaftera’,MrsScholtz.”“I’m not so shure of zat,” put in Scholtz, stretching his huge frame andregarding it complacently; “it vould please me better to have body vidoutmint,zanmintvidoutbody.”“H’m!’ee’vereasontobepleasedthen,”mutteredBlack,drily.ThiscomplimentwaseithernotappreciatedbyScholtz,orhewaspreventedfromacknowledgingitbyaninterruptionfromwithout;forjustatthemomenta voicewasheard asking a passer-by if he could tellwhere the tents of theScotchpartywerepitched.Those in the tent roseatonce, andSandyBlack,issuingoutfoundthatthequestionerwasahandsomeyoungEnglishman,whowould have appeared,what he reallywas, both stout and tall, if he had notbeen dwarfed by his companion, a Cape-Dutchman of unusually gigantic

proportions.“WeareinsearchoftheScottishparty,”saidtheyouth,turningtoSandywithapolitebow;“canyoudirectustoitswhereabouts?”“I’mno’surethatIcan,sir, thoughI’mwano’theScotchpairtymysel’,formean’myfreenhaelostoorsels,butdoobtlessMisterDallyherecanhelpus.MayIaskwhat’eewantwi’us?”“Certainly,”repliedtheEnglishman,withasmile.“MrMaraisandIhavebeencommissionedtotransportyoutoBaviaansriverinbullock-waggons,andwewishtoseeMrPringle, theheadofyourparty, tomakearrangements.—Canyouguideus,MrDally?”“Haveyoubeentothedeputy-quartermaster-general’soffice?”askedDally.“Yes,andtheydirectedustoaspotsaidtobesurroundedbyevergreenbushesnearthisquarterofthecamp.”“I know it—just outside the ridge between the camp and the Governmentoffices.—Comealong,sir,”saidDally;“I’llshowyoutheway.”InafewminutesDallyledthepartytoagroupofsevenoreighttentswhichwere surrounded by Scotch ploughs, cart-wheels, harrows, cooking utensilsfire-arms,andvariousimplementsofhusbandryandironware.“Here come the lost ones!” exclaimed Kenneth McTavish, who, with hisactivewife and sprightlydaughter Jessie,wasbusyarranging the interiorofhistent,“andbringingstrangerswiththemtoo!”While Sandy Black and his friend Jerry were explaining the cause of theirabsence to some of the Scotch party, the young Englishman introduced hisfriendandhimself asCharlesConsidineandHansMarais, to the leader,MrPringle, a gentleman who, besides being a good poet, afterwards took aprominent part in the first acts of that great drama—the colonisation of theeasternfrontierofSouthAfrica.Itisunnecessarytotroublethereaderwithallthatwassaidanddone.Sufficeittosaythatarrangementsweresoonmade.TheactingGovernor,SirRufaneDonkin,arrivedonthe6thofJunefromavisittoAlbany,thedistrictneartheseaonwhichalargenumberofthesettlerswereafterwardslocated,andfromhimMr Pringle learned that the whole of the Scotch emigrants were to belocatedinthemountainouscountrywateredbysomeof theeasternbranchesof the Great Fish River, close to the Kafir frontier. The upper part of theBaviaans,orBaboons,Riverhadbeenfixedforthereceptionofhisparticular

section. It was also intended by Government that a piece of unoccupiedterritory still farther to the eastward should be settled by a party of fivehundredHighlanders,who,itwasconjectured,wouldprovethemosteffectivebuffer available tomeet the first shockof invasion, should the savages everattemptanotherinroad.MrPringle laid this proposed arrangement before a council of the heads offamilies under his charge; itwas heartily agreed to, and preparations for anearlystartwereactivelybegun.On the dayof his arrival SirRufaneDonkin laid the foundation of the firsthouseofthenowwealthyandflourishing,thoughnotveryimposing,townofPortElizabeth,sonamedafterhisdeceasedwife,towhosememoryanobeliskwassubsequentlyerectedontheadjacentheights.Aweek later, a trainof sevenwaggons stoodwith theoxen“inspanned,”oryoked, ready to leave the camp, from which many similar trains hadpreviouslysetout.Thelengthofsuchatrainmaybeconceivedwhenitistoldthateachwaggonwasdrawnbytwelveorsixteenoxen.Thesewerefastenedinpairstoasingletraceor“trektow”oftwistedthongsofbullockorbuffalohide, strong enough for a ship’s cable. Eachwaggon had a canvas cover or“till”toprotectitsgoodsandoccupantsfromthesunandrain,andeachwasdrivenbyatallDutchman,whocarriedabamboowhiplikeasalmonfishing-rodwithalashofthirtyfeetormore.Aslave,HottentotorBushman,ledthetwofrontoxenofeachspan.Likepistol-shotstheformidablewhipswentoff;theoxenpulled,tossedtheirunwieldyhorns,andbellowed; theDutchmengrowledandshouted; thehalf-naked “Totties” and Bushmen flung their arms and legs about, glared andgasped like demons; the monstrous waggons moved; “Settlers’ Town” wasslowlyleftbehind,andouradventurers,headingforthethornyjunglesoftheZwartkops River, began their toilsome journey into the land of hope andpromise.“It’saqueerbeginning!”remarkedSandyBlack,ashetrudgedbetweenHansMaraisandCharlieConsidine.“Ihopeitwillhaveagoodending,”saidConsidine.Whetherthathopewasfulfilledthereadershallfindoutinthesequel.MeanwhilesomeoftheEnglishpartiestooktheirdeparturebythesameroute,andjourneyedincompanytillpointsofdivergencewerereached,wheremanytemporaryfriendshipswerebroughttoaclose,thoughsometherewerewhich,althoughveryrecentlyformed,withstoodfirmlythedamagingeffectsoftime,

trial,sorrow,andseparation.

ChapterFiveAdventuresandIncidentsoftheFirstNightinthe“Bush”

ANight-Bivouacunderthemimosa-bushesoftheZwartkopsRiver.TheCape-waggonsaredrawnupinvariouscomfortablenooks;theoxenareturnedlooseto graze; camp-fires are kindled. Round these men and women groupthemselves very much as they do in ordinary society. Classes keep bythemselves, not because one class wishes to exclude the other, but becausehabits, sympathies, interests, andcircumstancesdraw like to like.The ruddyglare of the camp-fires contrasts pleasantlywith the cold light of themoon,whichcastsintodeepestshadowthewildrecessesofbushandbrake,inducingmanyafurtiveglancefromthemoretimidofthesettlers,whoseeanelephant,a buffalo, or a Cape “tiger” in every bank and stump and stone. Theirsuspicionsarenotsowildasonemightsuppose,fortheneighbouringjungle,calledtheAddoBush,swarmswiththeseandotherwildanimals.Thedistance travelledon thisfirstdaywasnotgreat; the travellerswerenotmuch fatigued, but were greatly excited by novelty, which rendered themwakeful. If one had gone round to the numerous fires and playedeavesdropper,what eager discussion on the new land hewould have heard;what anxious speculations; what sanguine hopes; what noble plans; whatridiculous ideas; what mad anticipations—for all were hopeful andenthusiastic.Round one of these fires was assembled the family and retainers of ourHighland farmer, Kenneth McTavish, among whom were Sandy Black andJerryGoldboy.They had been joined byCharlieConsidine,who felt drawnsomewhattoSandy.Quiteclosetothese,roundanotherfire,weregroupedthethree bachelor brothers Skyd, with their friend Dobson. At another, withinearshot of these, were Edwin Brook and his wife, his daughter Gertrude,Scholtz and his wife, Junkie, George Dally, and Stephen Orpin, with bluffHansMarais,whohad somehowgot acquaintedwith theBrook family, andseemedtoprefertheirsocietytothatofanyother.Downinahollowunderathickspreadingmimosabushwasthenoisiestfireofall,fortherewereassembledsomeofthenativesbelongingtothewaggonsofHansandJanSmit.Thesecarriedonanuproariousdiscussionofsomesort,appealing frequently toour friendRuyter theHottentot,whoappeared toberegarded by them as an umpire or an oracle. The Hottentot race is a veryinferior one, both mentally and physically, but there are among themindividualswhorisemuchabovetheordinarylevel.Ruyterwasoneofthese.

He had indeed the sallow visage, high cheek-bones, and dots of curlywoolscattered thinly over his head, peculiar to his race, but his countenancewasunusually intelligent, his frame well made and very powerful, and hisexpression good.He entered heartily into the fun of attempting to teach theHottentotklicktosomeoftheyoungermenamongtheemigrants,whowereattractedtohisfirebytheshoutsoflaughterinwhichtheswarthyslavesandothers indulged.Abdul Jemalee, theMalay slave,was there; alsoBooby theBushman—the former grave and silent, almost sad; the latter conductinghimself like a monkey—to which animal he seemed closely related—andevoking shouts of laughter from a few youths, forwhose special benefit hekeptinthebackgroundandmimickedeveryoneelse.“Whatanoisyset theyareover there!”observedEdwinBrook,whohadforsome time been quietly contemplating the energetic George Dally, as heperformedthedutiesofcookandwaitertohisparty.“Theyare,sir,”repliedDally,“likeniggersingeneral,fondofshowingtheirwhiteteeth.”“Come,Gertie, yourmother can spare you now; let’s go over and listen tothem.”Gertiecompliedwithalacrity,andtookherfather’sarm.“Oh!”sheexclaimed,withalittlescream,asathornfullfiveincheslonggaveherawickedprobeontheleftshoulder.HansMaraissprangupandgallantlyraisedthebranchwhichhadtouchedher.“ItisonlyKafirswhocanrunagainstmimosathornswithimpunity,”saidthehandsomeyoungDutchman.Gertie laughed, remarked thatmimosa thorns, likeSouthAfricangentlemen,wereunusuallylongandsharp,andpassedon.Hanssatdownontheground,filledhislargepipe,andgazeddreamilyintothefire,withsomethingofthesensationofahunterwhenhemakesabadshot.“Nowthen,Goliath,”saidtheeverbusyGeorgeDally;“moveyourlonglegsouto’that.Don’tyouseethepot’sabouttobileover?”Hansquietlyobeyed.“If I chanced to be alongside o’ that Tottie over there just now,” continuedGeorge,“I’dbeinclinedtostophisnoisewitharaponhisspottedpate.”

“You’dhavetomakeitaheavyrap,then,toproduceanyeffect,”saidHans,takingalongdrawathispipe,“forhebelongstoahard-headedrace.”Thetruthoftheyoungfarmer’swordswasverifiedjusttheninawaythatwasalarmingaswellasunexpected.Oneoftheheavywaggons,whichhadbeendelayedbehindtheothersbysometriflingaccident,camelumberingupjustasHansspoke.Therewasasoftishsandyspotinadvanceofit, intowhichoneofthefrontwheelsplunged.Thetilt caught on part of the waggon to which Ruyter belonged. To preventdamage theactiveHottentotsprangforward. Indoingsohe trippedandfell.At the same instant a tremendouscrackof thewhipanda shoutproducedawrenchatthewaggon,thehindwheelofwhichwentoverRuyter’sheadandcrusheditintotheground!A roar of consternation followed, and several eager hands carefully dug outthe poor man’s head. To the surprise of all, the five-ton waggon had notflattenedit!Thesandwassosoftthatithadnotbeensqueezedatall—atleasttoanydamagingextent,—aroundstonehavingopportunelytakenmuchofthepressureonitself,sothattheHottentotsoonrevived,and,beyondaheadache,waslittletheworseoftheaccident.Hereturnedtohisplaceatthefire,butdidnot resume his part in the discussions, which were continued as noisily asbefore.InstrongcontrastwiththeothergroupswerethoseoftheDutch-AfricanboerswhohadbroughtthewaggonstotheBay.Mostofthemweremenofcolossalstature. They sat apart, smoking their huge pipes in silent complacency andcomfort, amused a little at the scenesgoingon around them,but apparentlydisinclinedtotroublethemselvesaboutanythinginparticular.Supper produced a lull in the general hum of conversation, butwhen pipeswerelitthestormrevivedandcontinuedfarintothenight.Atlastsymptomsofwearinessappeared,andpeoplebegan tomakearrangements forgoing torest.Thesearrangementswereasvariedasthecharactersoftheemigrants.Charlie Considine and Hans Marais, now become inseparable comrades,cleared and levelled the ground under a mimosa-bush, and, spreading theirkaross thereon, lay down to sleep. George Dally, being an adaptable man,looked at the old campaigners for a few minutes, and then imitated theirexample.LittleJerryGoldboy,beingnaturallyanervouscreature,andhavinghis imagination filledwithsnakes, scorpions, tarantulas,etcetera,would fainhave slept in one of the waggons above the baggage—as did many of thewomenandchildren—ifhehadnotbeen laughedoutofhisdesirebyDally,

andinducedtospreadhiscouchmanfullyonthebareground.Itmust not be supposed, however, that Jerry, although timid,was cowardly.On thecontrary,hewasboldasa lion.Hecouldnotcontrolhis sensitively-strungnervoussystem,but insteadofrunningaway, like thecoward,hewaspronetorushfuriouslyatwhateverstartledhim,andgrapplewithit.Somefamiliespitchedtheir tents,others,deemingcurtainsaneedless luxuryin such magnificent weather, contented themselves with the shelter of thebushes.Meanwhile the Hottentot attendants replenished the fires, while the boersunslung their huge guns and placed them so as to be handy; for, althoughelephantsandlionswerenotnearlysonumerousastheyoncehadbeeninthatparticular locality, there was still sufficient possibility of their presence, aswell as of other nocturnal wanderers in the African wilds, to render suchprecautionnecessary.Thewhole scenewasmost romantic, especially in theeyesofthosewhothusbivouackedforthefirsttimeinthewilderness.Tothemthe great waggons; the gigantic Cape-oxen—which appeared to have beencreated expressly to match the waggons as well as to carry their ownponderous horns; the wild-looking Hottentots and Bushmen; the bigphlegmatic Dutchmen; the bristling thorns of themimosas, cropping out ofcomparativedarkness;thevariedgroupsofemigrants;theweirdformsoftheclumps of cactus, aloes, euphorbias, and other strange plants, lit up by thefitful glare of the camp-fires, and canopied by the star-spangled depths of asouthernsky—allseemedtothemtheunbelievablecreationsofawildvision.PoorJerryGoldboy,however,hadsufficientfaithintherealityofthevisiontoincreasehisnervousconditionconsiderably,andheresolvedtoliedownwithhis “arms handy.” These arms consisted of a flint-lock blunderbuss, anheirloominhisfather’sfamily,andabowie-knife,whichhadbeenpresentedtohimbyanAmericancousinonhisleavingEngland.Twiceduringthatday’smarchhadtheblunderbussexplodedowingtoitsowner’sinexperienceinfire-arms.Fortunatelynoharmhadbeendone,themuzzleoneachoccasionhavingbeenpointed to thesky,but the ireof theDutchdriver in frontof Jerryhadbeen aroused, and he was forbidden to reload the piece. Now, however,observingthepreparationsabovereferredto,hefeltittobehisdutytopreparefor the worst, and quietly loaded his bell-mouthed weapon with a heavychargeofbuckshot.“What’s thatyou’reafter,boy?”askedGeorgeDally,whowasmakingsomefinalarrangementsatthefire,beforelyingdownforthenight.“Oh, nothing,” replied Jerry, with a start, for he had thought himself

unobserved,“onlyseein’tomygunbeforeturnin’in.”“That’s right,” said George. “Double-load it. Nothin’ like bein’ ready forwhatevermay turnup in awild country like this.Why, I onceknewamannamedSnipwhosaidhehadbeenattackedonenightinSouthAmericabyasarpintfullfortyfeetlong,andwhosavedhislifebymeansofablunderbuss,thoughhedidn’tfireatthereptileatall.”“Indeed,howwasthat?”askedJerry.“Why, just because his weapon was bell-mouthed an’ loaded a’most to themuzzle.Yousee,thepoorfellowwasawokeoutofadeepsleepandcouldn’twellsee,sothatinsteado’firin’atthebrute,hefiredhisblunderbussabouttenyards to one side of it, but the shot scattered so powerfully that one o’ theoutsidebulletshitastone,glancedoff,andcaughtthesarpintintheeye,andthoughitfailedtokillthebruteonthespot,thewoundgaveitsuchpainthatitstooduponitstailandwriggledinagonyforfullfiveminutes,sendingbrokentwigs and dry leaves flying about like a whirlwind, so Snip he jumped up,dropped hisweapon, an’ bolted.He never returned to the encampment, andneversawthebigsnakeorhisblunderbussagain.”“What a pity! then he lost it?” said Jerry, looking with some anxiety at adecayedbranch,towhichtheflickeringflamegaveapparentmotion.“Yes,he lost theblunderbuss,buthesavedhis life,”repliedDally,ashe laydownnearhis little friendanddrewhisblanketoverhim.“You’dbetterputthegunbetweenus,myboy,tobehandytoboth—an’ifanythingcomes,theoneofusthatwakesfirstcanlayholdofitandfire.”Therewas,weneedscarcelyobserve,astrongspiceofwickednessinGeorge.If he had suggested a lion, or even an elephant, there would have beensomething definite for poor Jerry’s anxious mind to lay hold of and try toreasondownanddefy,butthatdreadful“anything”thatmightcome,gavehimnothing to hold by. It threw thewhole zoological ferocities of SouthAfricaopentohisunanchoredimagination,andforalongtimebanishedsleepfromhiseyes.Heallowedtheblunderbusstoremainashisfriendhadplacedit,andhuggedthe naked bowie-knife to his breast. In addition to these weapons he hadprovidedhimselfwithaheavypieceofwood,somethingliketheexaggeratedtruncheonofapoliceman,forthepurposeofkillingsnakes,shouldanysuchventurenearhiscouch.The wild shrieks of laughter at the neighbouring Hottentot fire helped toincrease Jerry’s wakefulness, andwhen this at last lulled, the irritationwas

kept up by the squalling ofMaster Junkie,whose tentwas about three feetdistantfromJerry’spillow,andwhokeptupaviciouspipingjustinproportiontotheearnestnessofMrsScholtz’sattemptstocalmhim.At last, however, the child’s lamentations ceased, and there broke upon thenightairasweetsoundwhichstilledthemerrimentofthenatives.ItwasthemellowvoiceofStephenOrpin singingahymnofpraise,with anumberoflike-minded emigrants, before retiring to rest.Doubtless someof thosewhohad already retired, and lay, perchance, watching the stars and thinkingdreamilyofhome,werelednaturallybythesweethymntothinkofthehomeinthe“betterland,”whichmightpossiblybenearertosomeofthemthantheoldhometheyhadleftforever—ay,eventhanthenew“locations”towhichtheywerebound.But,whatever the thoughts suggested, thewholecampsoonafterwards sankintorepose.Tent-doorsweredrawnandcurtainsofwaggon-tiltsletdown.Theboers, sticking their big pipes in their hatbands, wrapped themselves ingreatcoats, and, regardlessof snakeor scorpion, stretched their limbson thebare ground,whileHottentots, negroes, andBushmen, rolling themselves insheepskin karosses, lay coiled up like ballswith their feet to the fire.Onlyoncewasthecampalittledisturbed,duringtheearlypartofthenight,bythemournful howl of a distant hyena. It was the first that the newcomers hadheard,andmostofthosewhowereawakeraisedthemselvesontheirelbowseagerlytolisten.Jerrywasjustdroppingintoslumberatthetime.Hesatboltuprightonhearingthecry,andwhenitwasrepeatedhemadeawildgraspattheblunderbuss,butDallywasbeforehand.Hecaughtuptheweapon,andthisprobablysavedanexplosion.“Come,liedown,youimp!”hesaid,somewhatsternly.Jerryobeyed,andhisnosesoontoldthathehadreachedthelandofdreams.Dally thenquietly drew the chargeof shot, but left the powder and laid thepiece in its formerposition.Turningoverwith the sighofonewhoseactivedutiesforthedayhavebeencompleted,hethenwenttosleep.Gradually the firesburned low,andgaveout such flickeringuncertain light,whenanoccasionalflameleapedupeverandanon,thattounaccustomedeyesitmighthaveseemedas thoughsnakeswerecrawlingeverywhere,andJerryGoldboy, had he been awake, would have beheld a complete menagerie inimagination.ButJerrywasnowinblessedoblivion.Whenthingswereinthiscondition,thatincomprehensiblesubtlety,thebrain

ofJunkieBrook—orsomethingelse—soactedastocausetheurchintogiveventtoastentorianyell.Strongthoughitwas,itdidnotpenetratefarthroughthecanvastent,butbeing,aswehavesaid,withinafewfeetofJerry’sear,itsoundedtothatunhappymanliketheunited,andasyetunknown,shriekofalltheelephantsandbuffaloesinKafirland.Startingupwithasharpcryhestretchedouthishandtowardstheblunderbuss,butdrewitbackwithathrillofhorror.Ahugeblacksnakelayinitsplace!Toseizehistruncheonwastheactofamoment.Thenext,downitcamewithstunning violence on the snake. The reptile instantly exploded with abellowingroarofsmokeandflame,whichrousedthewholecamp.“Blockhead!whatd’youmeanbythat?”growledGeorgeDally,turningroundsleepily, but without rising, for he was well aware of the cause of theconfusion.Jerryshrankwithinhimself likeaguiltythingcaughtintheact,andglanceduneasilyroundtoascertainhowmuchofdeathanddestructionhadbeendealtout. Relieved somewhat to see no one writhing in blood, he arose, and, inmuchconfusion,repliedtothenumerouseagerqueriesastowhathehadfiredat.Whenthetruestateofaffairsbecamemanifest,mostoftheDutchmen,whohadbeenactiveenoughwhenarousedbysupposeddanger,saunteredbacktotheircoucheswithagood-naturedchuckle;thesettlerswhohad“turnedout”growledorchaffed,accordingtotemperament,astheyfollowedsuit,andthenatives spent half an hour in uproarious merriment over Booby’s dramaticrepresentationofthewholeincident,whichheperformedwithgraphicpowerandmuchembellishment.Thereafter the camp sank once more into repose, and rested in peace tillmorning.

ChapterSixSpreadingovertheLand

Withthedawnnextmorningtheemigrantswereupandaway.Theinterestofthe journey increasedwith every novel experience and each new discovery,whilepreconceivednotionsanddepressionsweredissipatedbytheimprovedappearanceofthecountry.AboutthesametimethattheScotch“party”lefttheBay,severaloftheotherpartiessetout,somelargeandsomesmall,eachunderitsappointedleader,tocolonisetheundulatingplainsoftheZuurveld.

Soon the pilgrims became accustomed to the nightly serenade of hyena andjackal—also to breakneck steeps, and crashing jolts, and ugly tumbles. Buttheywere all hopeful, andmost of themwere young, and all, or nearly all,weredisposedtomakelightofdifficulties.Thecountry theywereabout tocolonisehadbeenrecentlyoverrunbyKafirhordes.Thesehadbeenclearedout,anddrivenacrosstheGreatFishRiverbyBritishandColonialtroops,leavingthelandawilderness,withnonetodisputepossessionsave thewildbeasts. It extended fiftymilesalong thecoast fromtheBushman’sRivertotheGreatFishRiver,andwasbackedbyanirregularlineofmountainsatanaveragedistanceofsixtymilesfromthesea.Leaving the Zwartkops River, not only the Scottish party, but all the otherparties,filedsuccessivelyawayinlongtrainsacrosstheSundaysRiver,overtheAddoHillandtheQuaggaFlatsandtheBushman’sRiverheights,untilthevarious points of divergence were reached, when the column broke intodivisions,whichturnedofftotheirseverallocationsandoverspreadtheland.Therewas“Baillie’sparty,”whichcrossedLowerAlbanytothemouthoftheGreatFishRiver,andonthewaywerecharmedwiththeaspectofthecountry,which was at that time enriched and rendered verdant by recent rains, andenlivened by the presence of hartebeests, quaggas, springboks, and anoccasionalostrich.Therewas, however, a “wash”of shadow laidonpart ofthe pleasant picture, to counteract the idea that the Elysian plains had beenreached, in the shapeof twoor threeblackenedand ruined farmsof theoldDutchcolonists—sad remainsof the recentKafirwar—solemn remindersoftheuncertaintiesandpossibilitiesofthefuture.Thentherewasthe“Nottinghamparty.”Theytookpossessionofalovelyvale,whichtheynamedClumber,inhonouroftheDukeofNewcastle,theirpatron.“Sefton’sparty”settledontheAssegaiBushRiverandfoundedthevillageofSalem,afterwardsnotedastheheadquartersoftheReverendWilliamShaw,aWesleyan,andoneof themostableandusefulofSouthAfrica’smissionarypioneers.Wilson’spartysettledbetweentheWaay-plaatsandtheKowieBush,acrossthepathoftheelephants,whichcreaturessomeoftheparty,itissaid,attemptedtoshootwithfowling-pieces.Ofthesmallerparties,thoseofCock,Thornhill,Smith(whatseriesofadventurouspartieseverwentforthwithouta“Smith’s party”?), Osler, and Richardson, located themselves behind thethicket-cladsandhillsoftheKowieandGreenFountain.Butspaceforbidsusreferring,eveninbriefdetail,tothepartiesofJamesandHymanandDyson,andHolder,Mouncey,Hayhurst, Bradshaw, Southey; and of Scott,with theIrishparty, and that ofMahony,which at the “ClayPits,” had afterwards tomeet the first shockofeveryKafir invasionofLowerAlbany.Among theseand other parties there weremen of power, who left a lastingmark on the

colony,andmanyofthemleftnumerousdescendantstoperpetuatetheirnames—such asDobson, Bowker, Campbell, Ayliffe, Phillips, Piggott, Greathead,Roberts,Stanley,andotherstoonumeroustomention.But with all these we have nothing to do just now. Our present duty is tofollowthosesectionsofthegreatimmigrantbandwiththefortunesofwhichourtalehasmoreparticularlytodo.Atthepointsofseparation,wherethelongcolumnbrokeup,ahaltwasmade,whilemanyfarewellsandgoodwishesweresaid.“Soyou’regauntosettlethereawa’?”saidSandyBlacktoJohnSkydandhisbrothersastheystoodonaneminencecommandingamagnificentviewoftherichplainsandwoodlandsoftheZuurveld.“Evenso,friendBlack,”repliedJohn,“andsorryamIthatourlotisnottobecasttogether.However,let’shopethatwemaymeetagainerelongsomewhereorotherinournewland.”“Itisquiteromantic,”observedJamesSkyd,“tolookoverthisvastregionandcall it our own,—at least, with the right to pick and choose where we feelinclined.Isn’tit,Bob?”TothisBobrepliedthatitwas,andthathefeltquitelikethechildrenofIsraelwhentheyfirstcameinsightofthepromisedland.“I hopewewon’t have to fight as hard for it as they did,” remarked FrankDobson.“It’smyopeenion,”saidSandyBlack,“that ifwehaenatofightfor it,we’llhaetofightabittokeepit.”“Perhapswemay,”returnedJohnSkyd,“andifso,fightingwillbemoretomytaste than farming—not that I’m constitutionally pugnacious, but I fear thatmybrothersandIshallturnouttoberatherignorantcultivatorsofthesoil.”HonestSandyBlackadmittedthatheheldthesameopinion.“Well,weshalltryourbest,”saidtheelderSkyd,withalaugh;“I’veagreatbeliefinthatword‘try’.—Goodbye,Sandy.”Heheldouthishand.TheScotshookitwarmly,andthefree-and-easybrothers,afterbiddingadieutotherestoftheScotchparty,whoovertookthemthere,divergedtotherightwith their friend Frank Dobson, and walked smartly after their waggons,whichhadgoneoninadvance.

“Stootchieldstheyare,an’pleesant,”mutteredSandy,leaningbothhandsonathickcudgelwhichhehadcutforhimselfoutofthebush,“butwofu’ignoranto’farmin’.”“They’ll make their mark on the colony for all that,” said a quiet voice atSandy’selbow.Turningandlookingup,aswellasround,heencounteredthehazeleyesandopencountenanceofHansMarais.“Naedoot,naedoot,they’llmak’theirmark,butit’llno’bewi’thepleugh,orI’msairmista’en.Wullmairo’thesettlersbepairtin’fraeushere?”Hans,althoughignorantofthedialectinwhichhewasaddressed,understoodenoughtomakeoutitsdrift.“Yes,”hereplied,“severalpartiesleaveusatthispoint,andherecomesoneofthem.”As he spoke, the cracking of whips announced the approach of a team. Amomentlater,andasmallHottentotcame,roundabendintheroad,followedby the leading pair of oxen. It was the train of Edwin Brook, who soonappeared,ridingasmallhorse.GeorgeDallywalkedbesidehim.Scholtz,theGerman,followed,conversingwiththeownerof thewaggon.InthewaggonitselfMrsBrook,MrsScholtz,andJunkiefoundasomewhatuneasyresting-place, for, being new to the style of travel, they had not learned toaccommodate themselves to jolts and crashes. Gertie preferred to walk, thepacenotbeingmorethanthreemilesanhour.“Oh, father!” said Gertie, running up to the side of her sire, with girlishvivacity, “there is the tall Dutchman who was so polite to me when I wasprickedbythethornbush.”“True,Gertie,andtherealsoistheScotwhowassofreeandeasyingivinghisopinionastothefarmingpowersofthebrothersSkyd.”“Yourroaddivergeshere,sir,”saidHans,asBrookrodeup;“IfellbehindmypartytobidyouGod-speed,andtoexpressahopethatwemaymeetagain.”“Thanks, friend, thanks,” saidBrook, extendinghis hand. “I amobliged forthe aid youhave renderedme, and the advice given,which latter I shall nodoubtfindvaluable.—Youareboundforthehighlands,ofcourse,”headded,turning to Sandy Black. “We of the Albany lowlands must have a friendlyrivalrywith you of the highlands, and seewho shall subdue thewildernessmostquickly.”

ThisremarksenttheScotintoaratherlearneddisquisitionastothemeritsandprobable prospects of a hill as compared with a low-lying region, duringwhichHansMaraisturnedtoGertie.Beingsoverytall,hehadtostoopaswellas to lookdownatherprettyface, thoughGertiewasbynomeansshort forherage.Indeed,shewasastallasaveragewomen,but,beingonlytwelve,wasslenderandgirlish.“How very tall you are, Mr Marais!” she exclaimed, with a laugh, as shelookedup.“True,Gertie,”saidHans,usingtheonlynamewhichhehadyetheardappliedtothegirl;“true,weCape-Dutchmenarebigfellowsasarace,andIhappentobesomewhat longer thanmy fellows. Ihopeyoudon’tobject tomeon thataccount?”“Object?ohno!Butitissofunnytohavetolookupsohigh.It’slikespeakingtofatherwhenhe’sonhorseback.”“Well, Gertie, extra height has its advantages and its inconveniences.Doubtlessitwasgiventomeforsomegoodend,justasaprettylittlefaceandfigureweregiventoyou.”“Youareveryimpudent,MrHans.”“AmI?ThenImustaskyourpardon.Buttellme,Gertie,whatdoyouthinkofthenewlifethatisbeforeyou?”“Howstupidyouare,Hans!IfthenewlifewerebehindmeImightbeabletoanswer,buthowcanItellhowIshalllikewhatIdon’tknowanythingabout?”“Nay, but you know something of the beginning of it,” returned the youngDutchman,withanamusedsmile,“andyouhaveheardmuchofwhatisyettocome.Whatdoyouthinkoftheprospectbeforeyou?”“Thinkoftheprospect?”repeatedGertie,knittingherbrowsandlookingdownwith a pretended air of profound thought; “letme see: the prospect as I’veheardfathersaytomother,—whichwasjustarepetitionofwhatIhadheardhim previously say to these queer brothers Skyd—is a life in the bush—bywhichIsupposehemeansthebushes—inwhichweshallhavetocutdownthetrees, plough up the new soil, build our cottages, rear our sheep and cattle,milkourcows,makeourbutter,growourfood,andsometimeshuntit,fashionourclothing,andprotectourhomes.Isthatright?”“Well,that’sjustaboutit,”wastheanswer;“howdoyoulikethatprospect?”“Idelightinit,”criedthegirl,withaflashinherbrilliantblackeyes,whileshe

half laughed at her own sudden burst of enthusiasm. “Only fancy! mothermilking the cows, andmemaking butter, and Scholtz ploughing, andDallyplanting, and nurse tending Junkie andmaking all sorts of garments, whilefathergoesoutwithhisguntoshootfoodandprotectusfromtheKafirs.”“’Tisapleasantpicture,”returnedHans,withablandsmile,“andIhopemaybesoonrealised—Imustbidyougoodbyenow,Gertie,weseparatehere.”“Doyougofaraway?”askedthegirl,withatouchofsadness,assheputherlittlehandintothatoftheyounggiant.“Agoodishbit.Somesixoreightdays’journeyfromhere,—accordingtotheweather.”“You’llcomeandseeussomeday,won’tyou,Hans?”“Ja—Iwill,”repliedHans,withemphasis.Thewhipscrackedagain, theoxenstrained, the lumberingwaggonsgroanedas theymovedaway,andwhile theScotchbandpassedover theZuurbergenrangeandheadedinthedirectionoftheWinterbergmountains, theirEnglishfriendsspreadthemselvesoverthefertileplainsofAlbany.Afewdaysof slowbutpleasant journeyingand romanticnight-bivouackingbroughtthelattertotheirlocationsontheKowieandGreatFishRiver.On the way, the party to which Edwin Brook belonged passed the groundalreadyoccupiedby the largebandof settlersknownas “Chapman’sparty,”whichhadleftAlgoaBayafewweeksbeforetheminanimposingprocessionofninety-sixwaggons.Theyhadbeenaccompaniedtotheirfuturehomebyasmalldetachmentof theCapeCorps, theofficer incommandofwhichgavethem the suggestive advice, on bidding them goodbye, never to leave theirguns behind themwhen theywent out to plough!Although so short a timelocated,thispartyhadproducedamarvellouschangeintheappearanceofthewilderness,andgavethesettlerswhopassedfarthereastward,anideaofwhatlay before themselves. Fields had already been marked out; the virgin soilbrokenup;timbercut,andbushcleared;whilefragilecottagesandhutswerespringing up here and there to supplant the tents which had given the firstencampmentsasomewhatmilitaryaspect.Grotesquedwellingsthese,manyofthem, with mats and rugs for doors, and white calico or empty space forwindows.Itwasinteresting,inthesefirstlocations,tomarkthedevelopmentofcharacteramongthesettlers.Thosewhowerepracticalexaminedthe“lie”of the land and the nature of the soil,with a view to their future residence.Timidsoulschosetheirsiteswithreferencetodefence.Menofsentimenthadregard to the picturesque, and careless fellows “squatted” in the first

convenientspot thatpresented itself.Ofcourseerrorsof judgmenthad tobecorrected afterwards on all hands, but the power to choose and changewashappilygreatatfirst,aswellaseasy.AsBrook’spartyadvanced,portionsofitdroppedofforturnedaside,untilatlastEdwinfoundhimselfreducedtoonefamilybesideshisown.Eventhishepartedfromonaridgeoflandwhichoverlookedhisown“location,”andaboutnoonofthesamedayhiswaggonscametoahaltonagrassymound,whichwas just sufficiently elevated to command a magnificent view of thesurroundingcountry.“Yourlocation,”saidhisDutchwaggon-driver,withacurioussmile,asthoughheshouldsay,“Iwonderwhatyou’lldowithyourselves.”But the Dutchman made no further remark. He was one of the taciturnspecimensofhisclass,andbeganatoncetounloadthewaggon.Withtheableassistance of Brook and his men, and the feeble aid of the “Tottie,” orHottentot leader of the “span” of oxen, the boxes, ploughs, barrels, bags,cases,etcetera,whichconstitutedtheworldlywealthofthesettlers,weresoonplaced on the green sward. Then the Dutchman said “goeden-dag,” orfarewell,shookhandsallround,crackedhislongwhip,andwentoffintotheunknownwilderness,leavingtheBrookfamilytoitsreflections.

ChapterSevenThe“Location”

Inthemidstoftheconfusedheapoftheirproperty,EdwinBrooksatdownonalargechestbesidehiswifeanddaughter,andgazedforsometimeinsilenceonhisnewestateandhome.To say truth, itwas inmany respects apleasant prospect.Abrightblue skyoverhead,averdanteartharound.Grassyhillsandundulationsofrichpasture-land swept away from their feet like a green sea, until stopped in the fardistance by the great blue sea itself. These were dotted everywhere withcopses of the yellow-floweredmimosa-bush, through openings inwhich theglitter of a stream could be seen, while to the left and behind lay the darkmassesof a dense jungle filledwith arboreous and succulent plants, acaciasand evergreens, wild-looking aloes, tall euphorbias, quaint cactuses, and agreat variety of flowering shrubs—filled also, aswas very soon discovered,withantelopes,snakes,jackals,hyenas,leopards,andotherwildcreatures.Theonlyfamiliarobjectswhichbrokethewildbeautyofthescenewerethedistantwhitespeckswhichtheyknewtobethetentsjustputupbythosesettlerswhochancedtobetheir“nextneighbours.”

“MayGodprotectandblessusinournewhome!”saidEdwinBrook,breakingthesilence,andreverentlytakingoffhiscap.Aheartfelt “Amen”wasmurmuredbyMrsBrookandGertie,but a strange,though not unpleasant, feeling of loneliness had crept over their spirits,inducing them to relapse into silence, for they could not avoid realisingstronglythatatlasttheywerefairlyleftalonetofightthegreatbattleoflife.Edwin Brook in particular, on seeing the long team of the Dutch driverdisappearoveradistantridge,wasforthefirsttimedeeplyimpressedwith,asitwere,theforsakenconditionofhimselfandhisfamily.Itwasplainthathemust take root there andgrow—ordie.Therewasnoneighbouring townorvillagefromwhichhelpcouldbeobtainedinanycaseofemergency;nocartorothermeansofconveyancetoremovetheirgoodsfromthespotonwhichtheyhadbeenleft;nodoctorincaseofsickness;noministerincaseseitherofjoyorsorrow—exceptindeed(anditwasablessedexception)Himwhocametoourworld“nottobeministeredunto,buttominister.”Strong in the comfort that this assurance gave, Edwin Brook shook off thelethargy that had been stealing over him, and set about the duties of thepresenthour.Thetenthadtobepitched,thetrunksandboxesconveyedintoit,afirekindled,thekettleboiled,thegoodsandchattelspiledandsecuredfromtheweather,firewoodcuttoprepareforthenight-bivouac,etcetera.Muchofthisworkwasalreadyinprogress,forGeorgeDally,—withthatreadyresource and quiet capacity of adaptation to circumstances which he haddisplayedonthevoyageoutandonthejourneytothelocation,—hadalreadykindled a fire, sent Scholtz to cut firewood, andwas busy erecting the tentwhenBrookjoinedhim.“That’sright,George,”hesaid,seizingatent-pegandmallet;“wehaveplentytodohere,andnotimetowaste.”“Verytrue,sir,”repliedGeorge,touchinghiscap,forGeorgewasaninnatelyrespectfulman—respectfultoall,thoughwithastrongtendencytohumorousimpudence; “very true, sir; that’s just what I thought when I see you a-meditatin’,soIwenttoworkatoncewithoutwastin’anytime.”“Is zat enough?” asked Scholtz, staggering up at themoment with a heavyloadoffirewood,whichhethrewontheground.The question was put to George, for whom the big German had a specialregard,andwhoseordersheconsequentlyobeyedwithunquestioningalacrity,althoughGeorgehadnospecialrighttocommand.“Enough!”exclaimedGeorge,withalookofsurprise,“why,zatisnotenough

toscareaweaselwith,muchlessaelephantora—aplatzicumroggijoo.”George was ignorant of South African zoology, and possessed inventivepowers.“Bringtentimesasmuch,”headded;“weshallhavetokeepablazin’bonfireagoin’allnight.”Scholtzre-shoulderedhisaxe,andwentofftothejunglewithabroadgrinonhisbroadercountenance.Hewasamanwhodidnotsparehimself,yetofatemperamentthatkickedatuselesslabour,andofasizethatforbadetheideaofcompulsion,butGeorgeDallycouldhaveledhimwithapackthreadtodoanything.Beforehehadreachedthejungle,andwhilethesmilewasyetonhisvisage,hisbloodwascurdledandhisfaceelongatedbyamostappallingyell!Itwasnotexactlyawar-whoop,norwasitacryofpain,thoughitpartookofboth,andfilledtheentirefamilywithhorrorastheyrushedtothetentonthemoundfromwhichthecryhadissued.The yell had been given by Junkie, who had been bitten or stung bysomething, and who, under the combined influence of surprise, agony, andwrath, had out-Junkied himself in the fervour and ferocity of his indignantprotest.Thepoorchildwasnotonlyhorrified,but inconsolable.Hewriggledlikeaneel, and delivered a prolonged howlwith intermittent bursts for full half anhour,whilehisdistractednurseandmother almost tore thegarmentsoffhisbackintheirhastetodiscoverthebiteorthebrutethathaddoneit.“Itmusthavebinaserpent!”criedthenurse,agonisingoveraknottedstring.“Perhaps a tarantula,” suggested Gertie, who only clasped her hands andlookedhorrified.“Quick!”exclaimedMrsBrook,breakingtheunmanageabletape.“Zechileisgrowingblackandvillbust!”murmuredScholtzinrealalarm.Itdidseemasifthereweresomelikelihoodofsuchacatastrophe,forJunkie’spassionandstruggleshadrenderedhimblueintheface;butitwesfoundthatthebiteorsting,whicheveritwas,haddonelittleapparentdamage,andasthechild cried himself out and sobbed himself to sleep in half an hourwithouteither blackening or bursting, the various members of the family wererelieved,andresumedtheirsuspendedlabours.

Theshadesofeveninghadfallen,and,amongotherorbsofnight,thestarsofthatmuch toohighlycomplimentedconstellation, the“SouthernCross,”hadforsometimeilluminedtheskybeforetheselabourswerecompleted,andthewearied Brook family and household retired to rest, withweapons ready athand and fires blazing.Wild beasts—towhose cries theywere by that timeaccustomed—soonbegantheirnightlyserenadeandcarrieditontillmorning,buttheywerenotwildenoughtodisturbthenewcomerswithanythingmoreformidablethansound.Nextmorningearly,GeorgeDallywasthefirsttobestirhimself.Ontakingageneralviewofsurroundingnatureheobservedathincolumnofsmokerisingabove the tree-tops in thedirectionof thestreamor river towhichreferencehasalreadybeenmade.“Perhapsit’sKafirs,”thoughtGeorge.Followingupthatthoughthereturnedtowhatwemaystylehislair—theplacewherehehadspentthenight—underamimosa-bush,andtheregirdedhimselfwithabeltcontainingalongknife.Hefurtherarmedhimselfwithafowling-piece.Thusaccoutredhesalliedforthwiththenonchalantairofasportsmantaking his pleasure. Going down to the stream, and following its courseupwards,hequicklycameinsightofthecamp-firewhosesmokehadattractedhisattention.Atallmanindishabillewasbendingoverit,coaxingtheflametokindlesomerathergreenwoodoverwhichalargeironpothungfromatripod.Thefirewasinfrontofalarge,butnotdeep,cavern,intherecessesofwhichthreeslumberingfigureswerevisible.Drawing cautiously nearer, George discovered that the man at the fire wasJohnSkyd,andofcoursejumpedtotheconclusionthatthethreeslumberingfigureswerehis brothers and friend.These enterprisingknights of thequill,havingfoundwhattheydeemedasuitablespot,hadselectedacavefortheirresidence,asbeingatoncereadyandeconomical.Now, George Dally, being gifted with a reckless as well as humorousdisposition, suddenly conceived the idea of perpetrating a practical joke.PerhapsJunkie’sperformancesonthepreviouseveningsuggestedit.Flinginghiscapontheground,heranhisfingersthroughhisthickhairuntilitstoodupinwildconfusion,andthen,deliberatelyutteringahideousandquiteoriginalwar-whoop,herushedfuriouslytowardsthecave.ThebrothersSkydandcompanyprovedthemselvesequaltotheoccasion,forthey received him at the cavern mouth with the muzzles of four double-barrelledguns,andasternordertohalt!

Nextmomentthemuzzleswerethrownupastheyexclaimedinsurprise—“Why,Dally,isityou?”“Didn’t you hear it?” gaspedGeorge, supporting himself on the side of thecavern.“Hearwhat?”“Thewar-whoop!”“Ofcoursewedid—atleastweheardamostunearthlyyell.Whatwasit?”“We’dbestgooutandsee,”criedGeorge,cockinghisgun;“if itwasKafirsthesoonerwefollowthemupthebetter.”“Notso,friendGeorge,”saidFrankDobson,inaslightlysarcastictone.“IfitwasKafirs they are far beyond our reach by this time, and if theymean usharmwearesaferinourfortresshere.Myopinionisthatweshouldhaveourbreakfastwithoutdelay,andthenweshallbeinafitstatetofaceourfoes—whethertheybemenorbeasts.”Actingonthissuggestion,withalaugh,thebrothersleanedtheirgunsagainstthe wall of the cavern and set about the preparation of breakfast in goodearnest.MeanwhileGeorgegravelyassented to thewisdomof theirdecision,andsatdown to his morning pipe, while he questioned the brothers as to theirintentions.They pointed out to him the spot where they thought of commencingagriculturaloperationsandthesiteoftheirfuturedwelling—close,theysaid,tothecave,becausethatwouldbeconvenientlyneartheriver,whichwouldbehandyforbothwashing,drinking,andboilingpurposes.“That’strue—werytrue,”saidGeorge,“butitseemstomeyourunariskofbein’washed away, house and all, if you fix the site so low down, for I’veheardsaytherearefloodsinthesepartsnowandagain.”“Oh, no fear of that!” said Robert Skyd, whowas the quietest of the threebrothers;“don’tyouseethefoundationofourfuturehouseisatleasttenfeetabovethehighestpointtowhichtheriverseemstohaverisenintimespast?”“Ah,justso,”respondedGeorge,withtheairofamannotconvinced.“Besides,” added John Skyd, lifting the iron pot off the fire and setting itdown, “I suppose that floods are not frequent, so we don’t need to trouble

ourselvesabout’em.—Come,Dally,you’lljoinus?”“No,thank’ee.Muchobleegedallthesame,butI’vegottopreparebreakfastforourownparty.—Goin’tobeginplantin’soon?”“Assoonaseverwecangetthesoilbrokenup,”repliedDobson.“Studiedfarmin’?”inquiredGeorge.“Notmuch, butwe flatter ourselves thatwhatwedoknowwill be of someservicetous,”saidJohn.Dallymadenoreply,buthegreatlydoubtedinhisownmindthecapacityofthebrothersforthelineoflifetheyhadchosen.His judgment in this respectwas proved correct aweek later,when he andEdwin Brook had occasion to visit the brothers, whom they found hard atworkploughingandsowing.“Come,thislooksbusiness-like!”exclaimedBrookheartily,asheshookhandswiththebrothers;“you’veevidentlynotbeenidle.Ihavejustcometoaskafavourofyou,gentlemen.”“Weshallgrantitwithpleasure,ifwithinourpowers,”saidRobertSkyd,wholeanedonaspadewithwhichhehadbeenfillinginatrenchofabouttwofeetdeep.“Itis,thatyouwilldomeandMrsBrookthepleasureofcomingovertoourlocationthisafternoontodinner.ItisourGertie’sbirthday.Sheisthirteento-day. Ina rashmomentwepromisedhera treator surpriseof somesort,butreally the only surprise I can think of in such an out-of-the-way place is tohaveadinner-partyinherhonour.Willyoucome?”The brothers at once agreed to do so, remarking, however, that they mustcompletethesowingoftheircarrot-seedbeforedinnerifpossible.“Whatdidyousayyouweresowing?”askedBrook,withapeculiarsmile.“Carrot-seed,”answeredRobertSkyd.“Ifyourcarrot-seedissownthere,”saidGeorgeDally,pointingwithabroadgrin to the trench, “it’s very likely to comeup inEngland about the time itdoeshere,—bysendin’itsrootsrightthroughtheworld!”“How?whatdoyoumean?”“Thetruthis,mydearsir,”saidBrookgood-humouredly,“thatyou’vemadea

slightmistakeinthismatter.Carrot-seedisusuallysownintrencheslessthananinchdeep.You’dbetterleaveoffworkjustnowandcomeovertomyplaceatonce.I’llgiveyousomeusefulhintsaswewalkalong.”Theknightsofthequilllaughedattheirmistake,andatoncethrewdowntheirimplements of husbandry. But on going over their farm, Brook found itnecessary to correct a fewmoremistakes, for he discovered that the activebrothers had already planted a large quantity of Indian corn, or “mealies,”entire,withoutknockingitoffthecobs,and,inanotherspotofground,alotofyoungonionswereplantedwiththerootsupwards!“Yousee,MissGertie,”saidJohnSkyd,whencommentingmodestlyonthesemistakesatdinnertime,“mybrothersandIhaveallourliveshadmoretodowith the planting of ‘houses’ and the growth of commercial enterprise thanwith agricultural products, but we are sanguine that, with experience andperseverance, we shall overcome all our difficulties. Have you foundmanydifficultiestoovercome!”Gertie was not sure; she thought she had found a few, but none worthmentioning.Beingsomewhatputoutbythequestion,shepickedupapebble—for the dinner was a species of picnic, served on the turf in front ofMrBrook’stent—andexamineditwithalmostgeologicalcare.“Mydaughter does not like to admit the existence of difficulties,” saidMrsBrook, coming to the rescue, “and to say truth is seldom overcome byanything.”“Oh,ma,howcanyou?”saidGertie,blushingdeeply.“That’s not true,” cried Mr Brook; “excuse me, my dear, for so flat acontradiction, but I have seen Gertie frequently overcome by things,—byJunkie’sobstinacyforinstance,whichIverilybelievetobeaninsurmountabledifficulty,andI’veseenherthoroughlyovercome,nightafternight,bysleep.—Isn’tthattrue,lass?”“Isupposeitis,father,sinceyousayso,butofcourseIcannottell.”“Sleep!”continuedBrook,withalaugh,“why,wouldyoubelieveit,MrSkyd,Iwentintowhatwecallthenursery-tentonemorninglastweek,totrytostopthehowlingofmylittleboy,andIfoundhimlyingwithhisopenmouthclosetoGertie’scheek,pouringthefloodofhiswrathstraightintoherear,andshesound asleep all the time!My nurse,Mrs Scholtz, toldme she had been assound as that all night, despite several heavy squalls, andnotwithstanding achorus of hyenas and jackals outside that might almost have awakened thedead.—By the way, that reminds me: just as I was talking with nurse that

morningweheardamostunearthlyshriekatsomedistanceoff.Itwasnottheleast like thecryof anywildanimal Ihaveyetheard, and for the first timesince our arrival the idea of Kafirs flashed into my mind. Did any of yougentlemenhappentohearit?”The brothers looked at each other, and at their friend Dobson, and thenunitedly turned their eyes onGeorgeDally,who—performing the combineddutiesofcookandwaiter,atafireontheground,notfifteenfeettoleewardofthedinner-party—couldheareverywordoftheconversation.“Why,yes,”saidJohnSkyd,“wedidhearit,andsodidyourmanDally.Wehadthought—”“The truth is, sir,” said George, advancing with a miniature pitchfork or“tormentor” in his hand; “pardon my interrupting you, sir,—I did hear thescreech,butasIcouldn’tsayexactlyforcertain,youknow,thatitwasaKafir,nothavin’seenone,Ithoughtitbestnottoalarmyou,sir,an’sosaidnothingaboutit.”“Youlookedasifyouhadseenone,”observedFrankDobson,drawingdownthecornersofhismouthwithhispeculiarsmile.“Did I, sir!” said George, with a simple look; “very likely I did, for I’mtimersomebynaturean’easilyfrightened.”“Youdidnotactwithyourwontedwisdom,George,inconcealingthis,”saidEdwinBrookgravely.“I’mafraidIdidn’tsir,”returnedGeorgemeekly.“Infuture,besuretoletmeknoweverysymptomofdangeryoumaydiscover,nomatterhowtrifling,”saidBrook.“Yes,sir.”“Itwasaverytremendousyell,wasn’tit,Dally?”askedJohnSkydslily,asthewaiter-cookwasturningtoresumehisdutiesatthefire.“Wery,sir.”“Andalarmedusalldreadfully,didn’tit?”“Oh!dreadfully,sir—’speciallyme;thoughImustindootysaythatyoufourgentleman was as bold as brass. It quite relieved me when I saw your tallfigurs standin’ at the mouth o’ your cavern, an’ the muzzles o’ your fourdouble-guns—that’s eight shots—with your glaring eyes an’ pale cheeks

behindthem!”“Ha!”exclaimed JohnSkyd,withagrimsmile—“but after all itmightonlyhavebeentheshriekofababoon.”“Ithinknot,sir,”repliedGeorge,withasmileofintelligence.“Perhapsthenitwasthecryofazebraorquagga,”returnedJohnSkyd,“oraSouthAfricanassofsomesort.”“Wery likely, sir,” retortedGeorge. “I shouldn’twonder if itwas—which iswery consolin’ tomy feelin’s, for I’d sooner be terrified out o’mywits byasses of any kind than fall in with these long-legged savages that dwell incaves.”WithanappearanceofgreathumilityGeorgereturnedtohisworkatthefire.Itwaseitherowingtoasortofrighteousretribution,oratouchofthatfortunewhich favours the brave, that George Dally was in reality the first, of thisparticular party of settlers, to encounter the black and naked inhabitant ofSouthAfricainhisnativejungle.Itwasonthiswise.Georgewasfondofsport,whennotdetainedathomebytheclaimsofduty.But theseclaimswere soconstant thathe found it impossible to indulgehistaste,save,ashewaswonttosay,“intheearlymornandlateateve.”One morning about daybreak, shouldering his gun and buckling on hishunting-knife,hemarchedintothejungleinquestofanantelope.Experiencehadtaughthimthat thebestplanwas toseathimselfatacertainopeningorpasswhichlayontheroutetoapoolofwater,andtherebidehistime.Seating himself on amoss-covered stone, he put his gun in position on hisknee, with the forefinger on the trigger, and remained for some time somotionless that a North American Indian might have envied his powers ofself-restraint. Suddenly a twigwas heard to snap in the thicket before him.Nextmoment the striped black and yellow skin of a leopard, orCape tiger,appearedintheopeningwherehehadexpectedtobeholdadeer.Dally’sgunflew tohis shoulder.At the same instant the leopard skinwas thrownback,andtherightarmofatallathleticKafirwasbared.Thehandgraspedalightassagai,ordartingspear.Bothmenweretakenbysurprise,andforoneinstanttheyglaredateachother.Theinstancebetweenthemwassoshortthatdeathtoeachseemedimminent,forthewhiteman’sweaponwasadeadlyone,andthecastofthelithesavagewoulddoubtlesshavebeenswiftandsure.Inthatinstantofuncertaintythewhiteman’sinnatespiritofforbearanceacted

almostinvoluntarily.Dallyhadhithertobeenamanofpeace.Thethoughtofsheddinghumanbloodwasintenselyrepulsivetohim.Heloweredthebuttofhisgun,andhelduphisrighthandintokenofamity.Thesavagepossessedapparentlysomeofthegoodqualitiesofthewhiteman,forhealsoatonceletthebuttofhisassegaidroptotheground,althoughheknew, what Dally was not aware of, that considering the nature of theirweapons,heplacedhimselfatatremendousdisadvantageindoingso—theactofthrowingforwardanddischargingthedeadlyfire-armbeingmuchquickerthanthatofpoisingandhurlinganassagai.Withoutamoment’shesitationGeorgeDallyadvancedandheldouthisrighthandwithablandsmile.AlthoughunfamiliarwithKafircustoms,hehadheardenoughfromtheDutchfarmerswhodrovetheox-teamstoknowthatonlychiefswereentitledtoweartheleopardskinasarobe.Thetall formanddignifiedbearingof thesavagealsoconvincedhimthathehadencounterednoordinarysavage.Healsoknewthattheexhibitionofatrustfulspiritgoesalongwaytocreategood-will.ThathisjudgmentwascorrectappearedfromthefactoftheKafirholdingouthishandandallowingGeorgetograspandshakeit.But what to do next was a question that puzzled the white man sorely,although he maintained on his good-natured countenance an expression ofeasynonchalance.Of course hemade a vain attempt at conversation in English, to which theKafir chief replied,with dignified condescension, by a brief sentence in hisowntongue.AsGeorgeDallylookedinhisblackface,thoughtsflashedthroughhisbrainwith the speed of light. Should he kill him outright? Thatwould be simplemurder, in the circumstances, and George objected tomurder, on principle.Shouldhesuddenlyseizeandthrowhimdown?Hefeltquitestrongenoughtodo so, but after such a display of friendship it would be mean. Should hequietly bid him good morning and walk away? This, he felt, would beridiculous.Atthatmomenttobaccooccurredtohismind.Hequietlyrestedhisgunagainstatree,anddrewforthasmallrolloftobacco,fromwhichhecutatleastafootandhandedittothechief.Thedignityofthesavageatoncegavewaybeforethebelovedweed.Hesmiled—thatis,hegrinnedinaghastlyway,forhis face, besidesbeingblack,was streakedwith linesof redochre—andgraciouslyacceptedthegift.ThenGeorgemadeanelaboratespeechindumb-showwithhands,fingers,arms,andeyes,totheeffectthathedesiredtheKafirto accompany him to his location, but the chief gravely shook his head,

pointedinanotherdirectionandtothesun,asthoughtosaythattimewasonthewing;then,throwinghisleopard-skinrobeoverhisrightshoulderwiththeairofaSpanishgrandee,heturnedasideandstrodeintothejungle.George,gladtobethuseasilyridofhim,alsoturnedandhurriedhome.This timehewasnot slow to lethis employerknow thathehadmetwithanative.“It behoves us to keep a sharp look-out, George,” said Brook. “I heardyesterdayfromyoungMertonthatsomeofthesettlersnotfarfromhisplacehavehadavisitfromtheblackfellows,whocameinthenight,andwhiletheysleptcarriedoff someof thesheep theyhad recentlypurchased fromanup-countrycountyDutchman.Wewillwatchfora fewnightswhile rumoursofthiskindareafloat.Whenallseemsquietwecantakeiteasy.LetScholtztakethefirstwatch.Youwillsucceedhim,andIwillmountguardfromthesmallhoursonward.”Forsomedaysthisprecautionwascontinued,butasnothingmorewasheardofblackmarauderstheBrookfamilygraduallyceasedtofeelanxious,andthenightlywatchwasgivenup.

ChapterEightShowsthePleasures,Pains,andPenaltiesofHousekeepingintheBush

“Don’tyouthinkthisacharminglife?”askedMrsBrookofMrsMerton,whohadbeenherguestforaweek.Mrs Merton was about thirty years of age, and opinionated, if not strong-minded,alsoratherpretty.Shehadmarriedyoung,andhereldestson,aladoftwelve, had brought her from her husband’s farm, some threemiles distantfromthatofEdwinBrook.“No,MrsBrook,Idon’tlikeitatall,”wasMrsMerton’semphaticreply.“Indeed!”saidMrsBrook,insomesurprise.Shesaidnothingmoreafterthisforsometime,butcontinuedtoplyherneedlebusily,whileMrsScholtz,whobysomepieceofunusualgoodfortunehadgotJunkietosleep,pliedherscissorsincuttingoutandshapingrawmaterial.The twodames,with thenurseandGertie,hadagreed tounite theirpowersthatdayinaresoluteefforttoovertakethehouseholdrepairs.Theywereinacottage now, of the style familiarly known as “wattle and dab,” whichwasratherpicturesque thanpermanent, andsuggestiveof simplicity.Theysaton

rude chairs, made by Scholtz, round a rough table by the same artist. MrsBrook was busy with the rends in a blue pilot-cloth jacket, a dilapidatedremnantofthe“oldEngland”wardrobe.Thenursewasformingasheepskininto a pair of those unmentionables which were known among the Cape-colonistsofthatperiodbythenameof“crackers.”MrsMertonwasbusywitha pair of the same, the knees ofwhich had passed into a state of nonentity,whileotherpartswereapproachingthesamecondition.Gertiewasengagedonapairof socks,whoseoriginal formationwasoverlaidbyandnearly lost insubsequentdeposits.“Whydoyoulikethissortoflife,MrsBrook?”askedMrsMertonsuddenly.“Because it is so new, so busy, so healthy, so thoroughly practical. Such aconstant necessity for doing something useful, and a constant supply ofsomethinguseful todo,and thensuchapleasant feelingof restwhenat lastyoudogetyourheadonapillow.”“Oh!it’sdelightful!”interpolatedGertieinalowvoice.“Well,now,thatisstrange.Everythingdependsonhowonelooksatthings.—Whatdoyouthink,MrsScholtz?”askedMrsMerton.“I’ve got no time to think, ma’am,” replied the nurse, giving the embryocrackers a slice that bespoke the bold fearless touch of a thorough artist.“WhenJunkie’snotasleephekeepsbodyandbrainfullyemployed,andwhenheisasleepI’mgladtoletbodyandbrainalone.”“What isyourobjection to this life,MrsMerton?”askedMrsBrook,withasmile.“Oh!I’venospecialobjection,onlyIhateitaltogether.Howisitpossibletolike living in awilderness,with no conveniences around one, no society tochatwith,nobooks to read, and, aboveall,no shops togo to,whereone isobligedtodrudgeatmenialworkfrommorningtillnight,andone’sboysandgirlsget intoragsand tatters,andone’shusbandbecomes littlebetter thananavvy,tosaynothingofsnakesandscorpionsinone’sbedandboots,andthehowling of wild beasts all night? I declare, one might as well live in amenagerie.”“But you must remember that things are in a transition state just now,”rejoinedMrsBrook.“Aswespreadandmultiplyovertheland,thingswillfallmoreintoshape.Weshallhavetailorsanddressmakerstotaketheheavypartofourworkinthisway,andthewildbeastswillretirebeforetherifleandtheploughofcivilisedman;nodoubt,also,shopswillcomeinduecourse.”

“AndwhatoftheKafirs?”criedMrsMertonsternly.“Doyouflatteryourselfthateithertheploughortheriflewillstoptheirthievishpropensities?Havewenotlearned,whentoolate—forhereweare,andherewemustbide,—thattheblackwretcheshavebeenat loggerheadswith thewhitemenever since thiswas a colony, and is it not clear that gentle treatment and harsh have alikefailedtoimprovethem?”“Wisetreatmenthasyettobetried,”saidMrsBrook.“Fiddlesticks!” returned Mrs Merton impatiently. “What do you call wisetreatment?”“Gospeltreatment,”repliedMrsBrook.“Oh! come now, you know that that has also been tried, and has signallyfailed.Havewenotheardhowmanyhundredsofso-calledblackconvertsinthisandinothercoloniesarearranthypocrites,oratalleventsgivewaybeforethesimplesttemptations?”“I have also heard,” returned Mrs Brook, “of many hundreds of so-calledwhiteChristians,whose lives prove them to be the enemies of our Saviour,andwhodonotevencondescend tohypocrisy, for theywillplainly tellyouthat they ‘make no pretence to be religious,’ though they call themselvesChristians. But that does not prove gospel treatment among the English tohave been a failure. You have heard, I daresay, of the Hottentot robberAfricaner,whowaslongtheterrorandscourgeofthedistrictwherehelived,butwho,undertheteachingofourmissionaryMrMoffat,orrather,Ishouldsay, under the influence ofGod’sHolySpirit, has led a righteous, peaceful,Christianlifeformanyyears.HeisalivestilltoprovethetruthofwhatIsay.”“I’ll believe it when I see it,” returned Mrs Merton, with a decisivecompressionofherlips.“Well,manypeoplehavetestifiedtothetruthofthis,andsomeofthesepeoplehaveseenAfricanerandhavebelieved.”“Humph!”returnedMrsMerton.Thisbeinganunanswerableargument,MrsBrooksmiledbywayofreply,andturnedasleeve insideout, thebetter togetat itsdilapidations.Changing thesubject, she desiredGertie to go and prepare dinner, as it was approachingnoon.“WhatshallIprepare,mother?”askedGertie,layingdownherwork.“You’dbettermakeahashoftheremainsofyesterday’slegofmutton,dear;it

willbemorequicklydonethantheroastingofanotherleg,andwecan’tsparetimeoncookeryto-day.IdaresayMrsMertonwillexcuse—”“Mrs Brook,” interrupted Mrs Merton, with that Spartan-like self-denial towhichshe frequently laidclaim,without,however, theslightest shadowofatitle,“Icaneatanythingonaemergency.Havethehashbyallmeans.”“And I’mafraid,MrsMerton,”continuedMrsBrook, inanapologetic tone,“thatweshallhavetodinewithoutbreadto-day—wehaverunshortofflour.MyhusbandhavingheardthattheThomaseshaverecentlygotalargesupply,hasgonetotheirfarmtoprocuresome,buttheirplaceistwelvemilesoff,sohecan’tbebacktillnight.Youwon’tmind,Itrust?”MrsMertonvowedthatshedidn’tmind,becamemoreandmoreSpartanicinherexpressionandsentiments,andpliedherneedlewithincreaseddecision.JustthenGertiere-enteredthecottagewithafaceexpressiveofconcern.“Mother,there’snomeatinthelarder.”“No meat, child? You must be mistaken. We ate only a small part ofyesterday’sleg.”“Oh! ma’am,” exclaimed the nurse, dropping the scissors suddenly, andlookingsomewhatguilty,“Iquiteforgot,ma’am,tosaythatmaster,beforeheleftthismorning,andwhileyouwasasleep,ma’am,orderedmetogiveallthemeatwehadinthehousetoScholtz,ashewastobeawayfourorfivedays,andwould require it all, so I gave him the leg that was hanging up in thelarder,andmasterhimselftooktheremainsofyesterday’sleg,biddingmebesuretotellGeorgetokillasheepandhavemeatreadyfordinner.”“Oh,well, it doesn’tmatter,” saidMrsBrook; “we shall just have towait alittlelonger.”Nurselookedstrangelyremorseful.“But,ma’am—”shesaid,andpaused.“Well,nurse!”“Iforgot,ma’am—indeedIdid—totellGeorgetokillasheep.”MrsBrook’shandsandworkfellonherlap,andshelookedfromMrsScholtztohervisitor,andfromhertotheanxiousGertie,withoutspeaking.“Why,what’sthematter?”askedMrsMerton.

“Mydear,”repliedMrsBrook,withatouchofsolemnity,“GeorgeDally,ourman,askedmethismorningifhemightgointothebushtocutraftersforthenewkitchen,andIgavehimleave,knowingnothingofwhatarrangementshadbeenmadebefore—and—and—inshort,there’snotamanontheplace,and—there’snothingtoeat.”Thefourfemales lookedateachother inblanksilenceforafewseconds,asthefullsignificanceoftheircircumstancesbecamequitecleartothem.MrsMertonwasthefirsttorecover.“Now,” said she, while the Spartanic elements of her nature becameintensified, “wemust rise to this occasion like truewomen;wemust proveourselvestobenotaltogetherdependentonman;wemustfacethedifficulty,sinkthenaturaltendernessofoursex,and—and—killasheep!”Shelaiddownthecrackersonthetablewithanairofresolution,androsetoputherfellintentinexecution.Butthecarryingoutofherplanwasnotsoeasyasthegoodladyhad,atthefirst blush of the thing, imagined it would be. In the first place, like otherheroesandheroines,sheexperiencedtheenervatingeffectsofoppositionandvacillatingpurposeinothers.“Youmustallhelpme,”shesaid,withtheairofacommander-in-chief.“Helpyoutokillasheep,ma’am?”saidMrsScholtz,withashudder,“I’lldiefirst!Icouldn’tdoit,andIwouldn’t,formyweightingold.”Notwithstanding the vehemence of her protestation, the nurse stood by andlistened while the other conspirators talked in subdued tones, and withhorrifiedlooks,ofthedetailsofthecontemplatedmurder.“Ineverevensawthedreadfuldeeddone,”saidMrsBrook,becomingpaleasshethoughtofit.“Oh, mamma! much better go without meat; we could dine on cakes,”suggestedGertie.“Butmylove,thereisnotacakeoranounceofflourinthehouse.”“Women!”exclaimedMrsMerton severely, “wemust rise to theoccasion. Iamhungrynow,anditisnotyetnoon;whatwillbeourconditionifwewaittillnightforourdinner?”This was a home-thrust. The conspirators shuddered and agreed to do the

deed.Gertie,invirtueofheryouth,wasexemptedfromtakinganyactivepart,butanunaccountablefascinationconstrainedhertofollowandbeawitness—inshort,anaccomplice.“Doyouknowwhere—where—theknifeiskept?”askedMrsMerton.MrsScholtzknew,andbroughtitfromthekitchen.It was a keen serviceable knife, with a viciously sharp point. Mrs Mertonreceived it, coughed, and hurried out to the sheep-fold, followed by heraccomplices.Tocatchasheepwasnotdifficult,fortheanimalswereallmoreorlesstameand accustomed to gentle treatment by the females, but to hold itwas quiteanotherthing.MrsMertonsecureditbythehead,MrsScholtzlaidholdofthetail,andMrsBrookfastenedherfingersinthewoolofitsback.Eachfemaleindividuallywasincapableofholdingtheanimal,thoughaverysmallonehadbeenpurposelyselected,butcollectivelytheyweremorethanamatchforit.After a short struggle it was laid on its side, and its feet were somewhatimperfectlysecuredwithapocket-handkerchief.“Now,ma’am,” criedMrsScholtz, holding tight to the tail and shutting hereyes,“dobequick.”MrsMerton,alsoshuttinghereyes,struckfeeblywith theknife.Theothers,having likewise shut their eyes, waited a few seconds in a state ofindescribablehorror,andthenopenedthemtofind that theSpartan ladyhadmissedhermark,andplantedherweaponintheground!Sofeeble,however,hadbeenthestrokethatithadbarelypenetratedaninchofthesoil.“Oh,MrsMerton!”exclaimedMrsBrookremonstratively.Mrs Merton tried again more carefully, and hit the mark, but still withoutsuccess.“Itwon’tgoin!”shegasped,as,onopeninghereyesasecondtime,shefoundonlyafewdropsofbloodtricklingfromamerescratchinthesheep’sneck;“I—Ican’tdoit!”At that moment the unfortunate animal suddenly freed its head from theSpartanmatron’sgrasp.Asharpwrigglefreeditstailandfeet,andinanothermomentitburstawayfromitscaptorsandmadeforashallowpondformedbyEdwinBrookforacolonyofhouseholdducks.Roused to excessive indignation by the weakness and boastfulness of MrsMerton,Mrs Scholtz sprang to her feet and gave chase. The others joined.

Hunger,shame,determination,disappointment,combinedtogivethemenergyofpurpose.Thesheeprushedintothepond.MrsScholtzrecklesslyfollowed—uptotheknees—caughtitbythehorns,anddraggeditforth.“Givemetheknife!”sheshouted.Mrs Merton hurriedly obeyed, and the nurse, shutting her eyes, plunged itdownwardswithawildhystericalshriek.Therewasnomistake this time.Letting theanimalgo,shefled, red-handed,intotheinnermostrecessofthecottage,followedbyherhorrifiedfriends.“Oh!whathaveIdone?”groanedMrsScholtz;buryingherfaceinherhands.Mrs Brook and the others—all shuddering—sought to soothe her, and in ashort time they regained sufficient composure topermitof their returning tothevictim,whichtheyfoundlyingdeadupontheground.Havingthusgotovertheterriblefirststep,theladieshardenedthemselvestothesubsequentprocesses,and these theyalso foundmoredifficult than theyhad anticipated. The skinning of a sheep they did not understand. Of thecuttingup theywere equally ignorant, and a terriblemess theymadeof thepoor carcass in their varied efforts. In despairMrsBrook suggested toMrsScholtz, who was now the chief and acknowledged operator, that they hadbettercutitupwithoutskinning,andsingeoffthewoolandskintogether;butonattempting thisMrsScholtz found that shecouldnot find the joints,and,beingpossessedofnosaw,couldnotcut thebones;whereuponMrsMertonsuggestedthatsheshouldcutoutfourslicesfromanypartthatwouldadmitofbeingpenetratedbyaknife,andleavetherestoftheoperationtobeperformedbyDallyonhis return.Thisproposalwasactedon.Four fat sliceswerecutfrom the flanks and carried byGertie to the kitchen,where theywere dulycooked,andafterwardseatenwithmorerelishthanmighthavebeenexpected,consideringthepreliminariestothefeast.Thiswasoneof thosedifficulties thatdidnotoccur to themagain. Itwasapreventabledifficulty, tobeavoidedinfuturebytheexerciseofforethought;butthereweredifficultiesandtroublesinstoreagainstwhichforethoughtwasoflittleavail.Whiletheywereyetintheenjoymentofthechopswhichhadcausedthemsomuch mental and physical pain, they were alarmed by a sudden cry fromJunkie.Lookingroundtheysawthaturchinonhiskneesholdingontothesideofhishome-madecrib,andgazinginblankamazementattheholeinthewallwhichservedforawindow.Andwellmighthegaze, forhesawthepaintedfaceofablacksavagelookinginatthatwindow!

On beholding him Mrs Merton uttered a scream and Mrs Brook anexclamation.MrsScholtzandGertieseemedbereftofpowertomoveorcry.PerhapstheKafir tookthisfortheBritishmodeofwelcomingastranger.Atallevents,heleftthewindowandenteredbythedoor.Beingquitenaked,withthe exception of the partial covering afforded by a leopard-skin robe, hisappearancewas naturally alarming to femaleswho had never before seen anative of South Africa in his war-paint. They remained perfectly still,however, and quite silent, while he went through the cottage appropriatingwhatever things took his fancy. He was the native whom we have alreadyintroducedashavingbeenmetbyGeorgeDally, thoughofcoursetheBrookhouseholdwerenotawareofthis.Afewothersavagesenteredthecottagesoonafter,andwereabouttofollowtheexampleoftheirchiefandhelpthemselves,buthesternlyorderedthemtoquit,andtheysubmissivelyobeyed.When he had gone out, without having condescended to notice any of thehousehold,Master Junkie gave vent to a long-suspended howl, and claimedtheundividedattentionofMrsScholtz,whosetouchingblandishmentsutterlyfailedinquietinghim.Thegoodnursewasunexpectedlyaided,however,bythesavagechief,whoonrepassingthewindow,lookedinandmadehisblackface supernaturally hideous by glaring at the refractory child. Junkie waspetrified on the spot, and remained “good” till forgetfulness and sleepoverpoweredhim.MeanwhileMrsMertonswoonedintoachair—orappearedtodoso—andMrsBrook,recoveringfromherfirstalarm,wentoutwithGertie toseewhat theblackmarauderswereabout.Theywere just in time to see the last tail of their small flockof sheep, andtheirstillsmallerherdofcattle,disappearintothejungle,drivenbyapparentlyascoreofblack,lithe,andnakeddevils,souglyandunearthlydidtheKafirsseemonthistheirfirstvisittotheunfortunatesettlers.ItwasapeculiarlybittertrialtotheBrooks,fortheherdandflockjustreferredtohadbeenacquired,aftermuchbargaining,fromaDutchfarmeronlyafewdaysbefore,andEdwinBrookwasratherproudofhisacquisition,seeingthatfewifanyof thesettlershadat that timebecomepossessorsof livestocktoanygreatextent.Itwas,however,asalutarylesson,andthemasterofMountHope—so he had named his location—never again left hiswife and familyunguardedforasinglehourduringthesefirstyearsoftheinfantcolony.

ChapterNineOfftotheHighlandsandBlackSnakesintheBush

Whilethesettlersofthissectionwerethusscatteringfarandwide,inmoreorless numerous groups, over the fertile plains of Lower Albany, the Scotchpartywasslowly, laboriously, toilingonoverhillanddale, jungleandplain,towardsthehighlandsoftheinterior.Thecountrythroughwhichthelonglineofwaggonspassedwasasvariedascanwellbeimagined,beingoneofthewildestandleastinhabitedtractsofthefrontierdistricts.Thefeaturesofthelandscapechangedcontinuallyfromdarkjungle to rich park-like scenery, embellished with graceful clumps ofevergreens,andfromthatagaintothesterilityofsavagemountainsorparchedanddesertplains.Sometimestheyploddedwearilyoverthekarroofortwentymilesormoreatastretchwithoutseeingadropofwater.Atothertimestheycame to awretchedmudhovel, the farm-houseof a boer, near a permanentspring of water. Again, they were entangled among the rugged, roadlessgorges and precipices of a mountain range, through which no vehicle ofEuropeanconstructioncouldhavepassedwithoutabsolutedemolition,anduppartsofwhichtheCape-waggonsweresometimescompelledtogobymeansoftwoteams,—thatis,fromtwentytothirtyormoreoxen,—beingattachedtoeach.Atothertimestheyhadtodescendandre-ascendtheprecipitousbanksof rivers whose beds were sometimes quite dry and paved with mightyboulders.“It’sanunco’roughcountry,”observedSandyBlacktoCharlieConsidine,astheystoodwatchingtheeffortsofadoubleteamtohauloneoftheirwaggonsup a slope so rugged and steep that the mere attempt appeared absolutemadnessintheireyes.Considineassented,butwastoomuchinterestedin theprocess to indulgeinfurtherremark.“Gin theropebrek,”continuedSandy,“Iwadnagiemuckle for thewaggon.It’llcomerowin’an’stottin’doonthehilllikeabairn’sba’.”“Nofearoftherope,”saidHansMarais,ashepassedatthemomenttorenderassistancetoRuyter,Jemalee,Booby,andsomeothers,whowereshoutingatthe pitch of their voices, and plying the long waggon-whips, or the shortsjamboks,withunmercifulvigour.Hanswas right. The powerful “trektow” stood the enormous strain, and theequally powerfulwaggon groaned and jolted up the stony steep until it hadnearlygainedthetop,whenanunfortunatedropoftherightfrontwheelintoadeephollow,combinedwithanunluckyandsimultaneouselevationoftheleft

backwheel by a stone, turned the vehicle completely over on its side. Thehoops of the tilt were broken, and much of the lading was deposited in ahollowbeside thewaggon,butafewof the lighterandsmallerarticleswenthopping, or, according to SandyBlack, “stottin’” down the slope, andweresmashedtoatomsatthebottom.Ruyter, Booby, and Jemalee turned towards Hans Marais with a shrinkingaction,asiftheyexpectedtofeelthesjambokontheirshoulders,fortheirowncruelmasterwaswontonoccasionsofmischancesuchasthistovisithismenwithsummarypunishment;butHanswasagoodspecimenofanother,and,webelieve,muchmorenumerous classofCape-Dutchmen.After the first shortfrownofannoyancehadpassed,hewentactivelytowork,tosettheexampleofunloadingthewaggonandrepairingthedamage,administeringatthesametime,however,aprettysharprebuketothedriversfortheircarelessnessinnottakingbetternoteoftheformoftheground.ThatnightintalkingovertheincidentwithRuyter,Considineventuredagaintocommenton thewrongswhich the formerendured, and thepossibilityofredressbeingobtainedfromtheproperauthorities.“For I am told,” he said, “that the laws of the colony do not now permitmasterstolashandmaltreattheirslavesastheyoncedid.”Ruyter,thoughbynatureagood-humoured,easy-goingfellow,waspossessedofanunusuallyhighspirit foroneofhis race,andcouldnever listen toanyreferencetothewrongsoftheHottentotswithoutadarkfrownofindignation.In general he avoided the subject, but on the night in question either hiswontedreticencehadfled,orhefeltdisposedtoconfideinthekindlyyouth,fromwhomonthepreviousjourneyfromCapetownhehadexperiencedmanymarksofsympathyandgood-will.“Therebenowaytomake tingsbetter,”herepliedfiercely.“Iknowsnoting’boutyour laws.Onlyknowsdeydon’twork somehow.Allersde samewidmeanyhow,kickandcuffandlashw’enI’swrong—sometimesw’enI’sright—andnebbergittanksfornoting.”“But that is because your master is an unusually bad fellow,” repliedConsidine. “Few Cape farmers are so bad as he. You have yourself hadexperienceofHansMarais,now,whoiskindtoeveryone.”“Ja,heisgoodmaster—an’so’shim’sfadder,an’allhim’speepil—butwhatgooddatdoostome!”returnedtheHottentotgloomily.“Itistrueyourlawsdonotallowustobeboughtandsoldlikedeslaves,butdatverytingmakesdemastershateusandhurtusmoredandeslaves.”

This was to some extent true. At the time we write of, slavery, being stillpermitted in the British colonies, the Dutch, and other Cape colonists,possessedgreat numbersofnegro slaves,whom itwas their interest to treatwell,asbeingvaluable“property,”andwhommostofthemprobablydidtreatwell,asamanwilltreatausefulhorseorox,thoughofcoursetherewere—asthere always must be in the circumstances—many instances of cruelty, bypassionate and brutal owners. But the Hottentots, or original natives of theSouth African soil, having been declared unsaleable, and therefore not“property,” were in many cases treated with greater degradation by theirmastersthantheslaves,weremadetoworklikethem,butnotcaredfororfedlike them,becausenot sovaluable.At the same time, althoughnot absoluteslaves, the Hottentots were practically in a state of servitude, in which thefreedomaccordedtothembyGovernmenthad,byonesubterfugeoranother,beenrenderedinoperative.NotlongbeforethisperiodthecolonistspossessedabsolutepowerovertheHottentots,andalthoughrecenteffortshadbeenmadeto legislate in their favour, their wrongs had only been mitigated,—by nomeansredressed.Masterswere,itistrue,heldaccountablebythelawforthetreatment of their Hottentots, but were rarely called to account; and theHottentots knew too well, from sad experience, that to make a complaintwouldbeinmanycasesworsethanuseless,asitwouldonlyrousetheireoftheirmastersandmakethemdoublysevere.“YousaydeHottentotsarenotslaves,butyoutreatusalldesameasslaves—anyhow,JanSmitdoes.”“ThatisthesinofJanSmit,notoftheBritishlaw,”repliedConsidine.Ruyter’sfacegrewdarkerasherejoinedfiercely,“Whatdeuseofyourlawsifdeywon’twork?Besides,whatrighthabdewhitescoundriltomakeslaveatall—whetheryoucallhimslaveornocallhimslave.LookatJemalee!”TheHottentotpointedwithviolentactiontotheMalay,who,withacalmandsadbutdignifiedmien, stood listening to the small-talkofBooby,while thelightofthecamp-fireplayedfitfullyontheirswarthyfeatures.“Well,whatofJemalee!”askedConsidine.“Youknowdathim’saslave—arealslave?”“Yes,Iknowthat,poorfellow.”“Youneverhearhowhimwasbroughtuphere?”“No,never—tellmeaboutit.”

HereupontheHottentotrelatedthefollowingbriefstory.AbdulJemalee,ayearortwobefore,hadlivedinCapetown,wherehisownerwasamanofsomesubstance.Jemaleehadawifeandseveralchildren,whowerealsothepropertyofhisowner.Beinganexpertwaggon-driver,theMalaywasavaluablepieceofhumangoods.OnoneoccasionJanSmithappenedtobe in Capetown, and, hearing of theMalay’s qualities, offered hismaster ahighpriceforhim.Theofferwasaccepted,butinordertoavoidascene,thebargain was kept secret from the piece of property, and he was given tounderstandthathewasgoingupcountryonhisoldmaster’sbusiness.WhenpoorJemaleebadehisprettywifeandlittleonesgoodbye,hecomfortedthemwith the assurance that he should be back in a fewmonths. On arriving atSmit’s place, however, the truth was told, and he found that he had beenseparated for ever from thosehemost lovedonearth.For some timeAbdulJemalee gaveway to sullen despair, and took every sort of abuse and crueltreatmentwithapparentindifference,but,astimewenton,achangecameoverhim.Hebecamemorelikehisformerself,anddidhisworksowell,thateventhe savage Jan Smit seldom had any excuse for finding fault. On his lastjourneytotheCape,SmittooktheMalaywithhimonlypartoftheway.Heleft him in charge of a friend, who agreed to look well after him until hisreturn.EventhiscrushingofJemalee’shopethathemightmeethiswifeandchildrenoncemoredidnotappeartooppresshimmuch,andwhenhismasterreturnedfromCapetownhe resumedchargeofoneof thewaggons,andwentquietlybacktohishomeinthekarroo.“Andcanyoutellwhatbroughtaboutthischange?”askedConsidine.“Oh ja, I knows,” replied Ruyter, with a decided nod and a deep chuckle;“Jemalee him’s got a powerful glitter in him’s eye now and den—berypowerfulan’strange!”“Andwhatmaythathavetodowithit?”askedConsidine.Ruyter’s visage changed from a look of deep cunning to one of childlikesimplicityashereplied—“Can’tgofortosaywhatdeglitterofhim’seyegottodowidit.Snakes’eyesglittersometimes—s’pose’causehecan’thelpit,orhe’swickedp’raps.”Considine smiled, but, seeing that the Hottentot did not choose to becommunicativeonthepoint,heforborefurtherquestion.“Whata funnymanJerryGoldboy is!”saidJessieMcTavish,asshesat thatsameeveningsippingapannikinofteainherfather’stent.

Fromtheopeningofthetentthefirewasvisible.Jerry was busy preparing his supper, while he kept up an incessant run ofsmall-chat with Booby and Jemalee. The latter replied to him chiefly withgravesmiles,theformerwithshoutsofappreciativelaughter.“He is funny,” assertedMrsMcTavish, “and uncommonly noisy. I doubt ifthereismuchgoodinhim.”“Morethanyouthink,Mopsy,”saidKenneth(bythisirreverentnamedidtheHighlander call his better-half); “JerryGoldboy is a small package, but he’smadeofgood stuff, dependupon it.Nodoubthe’s a littlenervous,but I’veobservedthathisnervesaretriedmorebythesuddennesswithwhichhemaybe surprised than by the actual danger hemay chance to encounter.On ourfirst night out, when he roused the camp and smashed the stock of hisblunderbuss,nodoubtIaswellasothersthoughtheshowedthewhitefeather,buttherewasnolackofcourageinhimwhenhewentlastweekstraightunderthetreewherethetigerwasgrowling,andshotitsodeadthatwhenitfell itwasnotfarfromhisfeet.”“I heard some of the men, papa,” observed Jessie, “say that it was Dutchcouragethatmadehimdothat.WhatdidtheymeanbyDutchcourage?”Jessie,beinglittlemorethaneight,wasignorantofmuchoftheworld’sslang.“Cape-smoke,mydear,”answeredherfather,withalaugh.“Cape-smoke?”exclaimedJessie,“whatisthat?”“Brandy,child,peach-brandy,muchlovedbysomeoftheboers,I’mtold,andstillmore soby theHottentots; but therewasnomoreCape-smoke in Jerrythatdaythaninyou.ItwastrueEnglishpluck.Nodoubthecouldhardlyfailtomakeadeadshotatsoclosearange,withsuchanawfulweapon,loaded,asitusuallyis,withhandfulsofslugs,buckshot,andgravel;butitwasnonetheless plucky for all that. The old flint-lock might have missed fire, or hemightn’thavekilledthebruteoutright,andineithercaseheknewwellenoughitwouldhavebeenallupwithJerryGoldboy.”“Who’sthat takingmynameinvain?”saidJerryhimself,passingthetentatthemoment,incompanywithSandyBlack.“Wewereonlypraisingyou,Jerry,”criedJessie,withalaugh,“forthewayinwhichyoushotthattigertheotherday.”“It wasn’t a teeger, Miss Jessie,” interposed Sandy Black, “it was only a

leopard—aneo’thaeweespottitbeaststhatthey’resaeproodo’inthiscountryastoca’themteegers.”“Come,Sandy,”criedJerryGoldboy,“don’trobmeofthehonourthatismydue.Thehanimalwasbigenoughto’avetornyoulimbfromlimbif’e’dgot’oldofyou.”“It may be sae, but he wasna a teeger for a’ that,” retorted Black.—“D’eeknow,sir,”hecontinued,turningtoMcTavish,“thatMrPringle’sbeenaskin’for’ee?”“No,Sandy,butnowthatyou’vetoldmeI’llgotohistent.”SosayingtheHighlanderroseandwentout,toattendacouncilof“headsoffamilies.”Hitherto we have directed the reader’s attention chiefly to one or twoindividuals of the Scotch party, but there were in that party a number offamilieswhohadappointedMrPringletheir“head”andrepresentative.Inthiscapacityofchief-head,orleader,MrPringlewasinthehabitofconveningameeting of subordinate “heads” when matters of importance had to bediscussed.While the elders of the partywere thus engaged in conclave at the door oftheirleader’stent,andwhiletherestwerebusyroundtheirseveralfires,amanwithabodymuchblackerthanthenightwassecretlyglidingaboutthecamplikeahugesnake,nowcrouchingashepassedquickly,butwithoutnoise,inrearofthethickbushes;nowcreepingonhandsandkneesamongthewaggonsandoxen,andanonglidingalmostflatonhisbreastuptotheveryvergeofthelight thrownby the camp-fires.Atone andanotherof the fireshe remainedmotionless like the blackened trunk of a dead tree, with his glittering eyesfixedonthesettlers,asiflisteningintentlytotheirconversation.Whatevermight be theultimatedesignsof theKafir—for suchhewas—hisintentions at the time being were evidently peaceful, for he carried neitherweaponnor shield.He touchednothingbelonging to thewhitemen, thoughguns and blankets and other tempting objects were more than once withinreachofhishand.NeitherdidheattempttostealthatwhichtotheKafiristhemost coveted prize of all—a fat ox. Gradually he melted away into thedarkness fromwhich he had emerged.No eye in all the emigrant band sawhimcomeorgoinhissnake-likeglidings,yethispresencewasknowntooneoftheparty—toRuytertheHottentot.Soon after the Kafir had taken his departure, Ruyter left his camp-fire andsaunteredinto thebushas if tomeditatebefore lyingdownfor thenight.As

soon as hewas beyond observation he quickened his pace andwalked in astraightline,likeonewhohasadefiniteendinview.TheHottentot fancied that he hadgot awayunperceived, but in this hewasmistaken. Hans Marais, having heard Considine’s account of his talk withRuyter about Jemalee, had been troubled with suspicions about the former,which led to his payingmore than usual attention to him. These suspicionswere increased when he observed that the Hottentot went frequently anduneasily into the bushes, and looked altogether like a man expectingsomethingwhichdoesnothappenorappear.When,therefore,henoticedthatafter supper, Ruyter’s anxious look disappeared, and that, after lookingcarefullyroundathiscomrades,hesaunteredintothebushwithanoverdoneairofnonchalance,hequietlytookuphisheavygunandfollowedhim.The youth had been trained to observe from earliest childhood, and, havingbeen born and bred on the karroo, he was as well skilled in tracking thefootprints of animals and men as any red savage of the North Americanwilderness. He took care to keep theHottentot in sight, however, the nightbeing too dark to see footprints. Lithe and agile as a panther, he found nodifficultyindoingso.In a fewminutes he reached an open space, in which he observed that theHottentot had met with a Kafir, and was engaged with him in earnestconversation.MuchhoweverofwhattheysaidwaslostbyHans,ashefounditdifficulttogetwithinear-shotunobserved.“Andwhy?”heatlengthheardthesavagedemand,“whyshouldIsparethemforanhour?”HespokeintheKafirtongue,inwhichtheHottentotreplied,andwithwhichyoungMaraiswaspartiallyacquainted.“Because,Hintza,”saidRuyter,namingtheparamountchiefofKafirland,“thetimehasnotyetcome.Onewhoseopinionyouvaluebademetellyouso.”“WhatifIchoosetopaynoregardtotheopinionofanyone?”demandedthechiefhaughtily.Ruyter quietly told the savage that he would then have to take theconsequences, andurged, inaddition, that itwas folly to suppose theKafirswere inaconditiontomakewaronthewhitemenjust then.ItwasbarelyayearsincetheyhadbeentotallyroutedanddrivenacrosstheGreatFishRiverwith great slaughter.Nowarrior of common sensewould think of renewinghostilities at such a time—their youngmen slain, their resources exhausted.Hintzahadbetterbidehistime.Inthemeanwhilehecouldgratifyhisrevenge

without much risk to himself or his young braves, by stealing in a quietsystematic way from the white men as their herds and flocks increased.Besidesthis,Ruyter,assumingaboldlookandtonewhichwasunusualinoneofhisdegradedrace,toldHintzafirmlythathehadreasonsofhisownfornotwishing the Scotch emigrants to be attacked at that time, and that if hepersisted in his designs hewouldwarn them of their danger, inwhich casethey would certainly prove themselves men enough to beat any number ofwarriorsHintzacouldbringagainstthem.Lying flat on the ground, with head raised and motionless, Hans Maraislistened to these sentiments withmuch surprise, for he had up to that timeregardedtheHottentotasameekandlong-sufferingman,butnow,thoughhislong-suffering in thepastcouldnotbequestioned,hismeeknessappeared tohavetotallydeparted.TheKafirchiefwouldprobablyhavetreatedthelatterpartofRuyter’sspeechwith scorn, hadnothis remarks about sly and systematicplunder chimed inwith his own sentiments, for Hintza was pre-eminently false-hearted, evenamonga racewithwhomsuccessful lying isdeemedavirtue, though,whenfound out, it is considered a sin. He pondered the Hottentot’s advice, andapparentlyassentedtoit.Afterafewmoments’consideration,heturnedonhisheel,andre-enteredthethickjungle.Wellwasit forHansMarais thathehadconcealedhimselfamongtallgrass,forHintzachancedtopasswithintwoyardsofthespotwherehelay.Thekafirchiefhadresumedtheweaponswhich,forconvenience,hehadleftbehindinthebushwhileprowlingroundthewhiteman’scamp,andnowstalkedalongin all the panoply of a savagewarrior-chief;with ox-hide shield, bundle ofshort sharp assagais, leopard-skin robe, and feathers. For one instant theDutchman, supposing it impossible to escape detection,was on the point ofspringing on the savage, but on second thoughts he resolved to take hischance.EvenifHintzadiddiscoverhim,hefeltsureofbeingabletoleapupintimetowardoffhisfirststab.Fortunately theKafirwas toomuch engrossedwithhis thoughts.Hepassedhiswhiteenemy,anddisappearedinthejungle.Meanwhile the Hottentot returned to the camp—assuming an easy-goingsaunterasheapproacheditsfires—and,soonafter,HansMaraisre-entereditfrom an opposite direction. Resolving to keep his own counsel in themeantime,hementionedtheincidenttonoone,butaftercarefullyinspectingthesurroundingbushes,andstirringupthewatch-fires,hesatdowninfrontofhisleader’stentwiththeintentionofkeepingguardduringthefirstpartofthenight.

ChapterTenTheLocationontheRiverofBaboons

TheScotchimmigrantsatlastfoundthemselvesinthewildmountain-regionsof the interior, after a weary but deeply interesting march of nearly twohundredmiles.TheyhadnowarrivedatthemouthoftheBaboonsorBaviaansriver,oneoftheaffluentsof theGreatFishRiver,andhadalreadyseenmanyof thewildinhabitantsofitsruggedglen.Their particular location was a beautiful well-watered region among themountainswhichhadbeenforfeitedbysomeofthefrontierboersatthetimeoftheirinsurrectionagainsttheEnglishGovernmentsomeyearsbefore.Theyhad now crossed the Great Fish River, and, though still within the oldboundary of the colony, were upon its utmost eastern verge. The countrybeyond,aswearetoldbyPringle,inhisgraphicaccountoftheexpedition,1)“foradistanceof seventymiles, to thenewfrontierat theChumiandKeisirivers, had been, the preceding year, forcibly depeopled of its nativeinhabitants, the Kafirs and Ghonaquas, and now lay waste and void, ‘ahowlingwilderness,’occupiedonlybywildbeasts,andhauntedoccasionallyby wandering banditti of the Bushman race (Bosjesmen), who wererepresentedasbeingevenmorewildandsavagethanthebeastsofpreywithwhomtheysharedthedominionofthedesert.”Justbefore their arrival at thispoint, theoldwaggons,with thedriverswhohadaccompaniedthemfromAlgoaBay,wereexchangedforfreshteamsandmen,andhereRuyter,Jemalee,andBoobyleftthem,toproceedoveraspurofoneofthemountainrangestoJanSmit’sfarmonthekarroo.ButHansMarais,havingtakenafancytosomeoftheScotchmen,determinedtoproceedwiththemuntilhehadseenthemfairlyestablishedintheirnewhomes.OfcourseCharlieConsidineaccompaniedHans.In a wild spot among the mountains they were hospitably received at thesolitaryabodeofafield-cornetnamedOpperman,whosaidthathehadordersto assist themwith an escort of armed boers over the remaining portion oftheir journey, and to place them in safety on their allotted ground. Thisremaining portion, he told them, was up the Baviaans River glen, and,althoughlittlemorethantwenty-fivemiles,wouldprovetobeharderthananypartofthejourneytheyhadyetencountered.Rememberingsomeof thebreakneckgorgesof theZuurberg,JerryGoldboysaidthathedidn’tbelieveitpossibleforanyroutetobeworsethanthatover

whichtheyhadalreadypassed,towhichSandyBlackrepliedwitha“humph!”andanopinionthat“thefield-corneto’thedistric’waslikelytoknowwhathewasspeakin’aboot.”ButJerryneverhadbeen,andofcoursenevercouldbe,convincedbyreason.“Nothing,”hecandidlyadmitted,“buthardfactshadtheleastweightwithhim.”“’Ee’ve got hard fac’s noo, Jerry,” said Sandy, about noon of the followingday,ashethrewdowntheaxewithwhichhehadbeenhewingthejungle,andpulledoffhishat,fromthecrownofwhichhetookaredcottonhandkerchiefwherewithtowipehisthickly-beadedbrow.Jerrycouldnotdenythetruthofthis,forhealsohadbeenengagedsinceearlymorningwithaSouthAfricanaxenearlyaslargeashimself,inassistingtooutapassageuptheglen.Notonlywastherenoroadupthismountaingorge,butinsomepartsitwasscarcelypossibletomakeone,soruggedwastheground,sodensethejungle.Butthepreliminarydifficultieswereasnothingcomparedtothosewhichmetthemfurtherup;yet itwasobservable that theDutchwaggoners faced themwiththequietresolutionofmenaccustomedtotheovercomingofobstacles.“You’dgoupaprecipice,Hans,Idobelieve, if therewasnowayroundit,”saidConsidine,ashegazed inadmiringwonderathis tall frienddrivinghisoxenupanacclivitythatthreateneddestructiontowaggon,beasts,andmen.“Atonyratehe’dtry,”remarkedSandyBlack,withoneofhisgravesmiles.Hanswastoobusytoheedtheseremarks,ifheheardthem,fortheoxen,beingrestive, claimedhisundividedattention, and thewieldingof the twenty-footwhiptaxedbothhisarms,muscularthoughtheywere.When the long line of emigrants had slowly defiled through the poort, ornarrow gorge, of the mountains fromwhich Baviaans River issues into themore open valley where it joins the Great Fish River, they came suddenlyuponaverysingularscene,andastillmoresingularman.Inthemiddleofthepoort they found a small farm, where tremendous precipices of naked rocktowered all round, so as to leave barely sufficient space on the bank of theriverforthehousesandcattle-folds,withawell-stockedgardenandorchard.Therewasalsoasmallplotofcorn-landonthemarginofthestream.“’Tis a little paradise!” exclaimed KennethMcTavish, as he and Considinejoined a knot ofmenon a knoll,whence theyhad a goodviewof the littlefarm.“It’s an unco’ rocky paradise,” observed Sandy Black, “an’ the angelic

appendageso’wingswadnabeunsuitabletoitsinhabitants,foritseemseasiertofleeooto’towertheprecipicesthantoscrambleintil’towertherocksan’rootentrees.Iwonderwhaitbelangsto.”HansMarais, who came up at themoment, explained that it belonged to aDutch boer named Prinsolo,who had been a leader some years before in arebellion, but had been pardoned and allowed to retain his lands. “You’vesometimessaidyouthoughtmeabigfellow,Considine,”remarkedHans,“andIcan’tgainsayyou,butyoushall seeamuchbigger fellow ifPrinsolo isathome, for he’s a giant even among Cape Dutchmen. We call him GrootWillem(BigWilliam),forheisburlyandbroadaswellastall—perhapsheistakinghisnoonnap,” addedHans,moving forward. “He seldom lets evenasinglewaggoncomesonearwithout—ah!Ithoughtso.”Ashespokeapeculiarlydeepbassyawnwasheardinsidetheprincipalhouseof thefarmtowhich thepartynowdrewnear.Nextmomentaheavy thumpsounded,asifonthefloor,andimmediatelyafterthereissuedfromtheopendoor a veritable giant in his shirt-sleeves.GrootWillemwas rough, shaggy,andrugged,asagiantoughttobe.Hewasalsosluggishinhismotions,good-humoured, and beaming, as many of the Dutch giants are. Appropriatelyenough, on beholding the settlers, he uttered a deep bass halloo,whichwasechoed solemnly by themighty cliffs at his back. It was neither a shout ofalarmnorsurprise,forhehadlongbeenawarethatthisvisitwaspending,buta hasty summons to his household to turn out and witness the stirring andunwontedsight.Itmighthavebeensupposedthatagiant,whosekindredhadbeendeprivedoftheirlandsbytheBritishGovernment,andsomeofwhomhadbeenexecutedfor high treason, would have regarded the British immigrants with nofavourableeye,butGrootWillemappeared tohavea largeheart inhishugebody,forhereceivedtheadvance-guardofthepartywithgenuinehospitality.Perhapshewasofanunusually forgivingspirit;or itmaybe thathis innatesenseofjusticeledhimtorecognisethedemeritofhimselfandhiskindred;orperchancehewastouchedbytheleniencyextendedtohimself;but,whateverthecause,heshookthenewcomersheartilybythehand,saidheregardedthemasnextdoor-neighbours,startedtheechoesoftheprecipices—whichhestyledKrantzes—andhorrified the nearest baboonswith shouts of bass laughter ateveryword from himself or otherswhich bore the remotest semblance to ajoke,andinsistedonasmanyofthestrangersascouldbegotintohishouse,drinkingtotheirbetteracquaintanceinhome-madebrandy.Thesamedeadlybeverage was liberally distributed to the men outside, and Groot Willemwounduphishospitalitiesbyloadingthepartywithvegetables,pomegranates,lemons, and other fruits from his garden as he sent them on their way

rejoicing.Soonafterwardshefollowedthem,toaidinforcingapassageupthevalley.In return, as a slight acknowledgment of gratitude, Hans supplied the giantwith a little powder and lead, andMr Pringle gave his family a fewDutchtractsandhymn-books.“Wonders’llnivercease in this land!”saidSandyBlack toJerryGoldboyastheyleftthefarm.“That’strue,Sandy;it’sahoutrageouscountry.”“Tothink,”continuedtheScot,“thatweshouldforegatherwi’Goliathamangtheheelandhills o’Afriky; an’ him fondo’ his dram tae—Hech,man! lookthere—atthepuggies.”Hepointedashe spoke toapartof theprecipicewhereagroupofbaboonswerecollected,gazingindignantlyandchatteringfuriouslyattheintrudersontheirdomain.The ursine baboon is not naturally pugnacious, but neither is he timid ordestitute of themeans of defence.On the contrary, he is armedwith canineteethnearlyaninchlong,andwhendriventoextremitieswilldefendhimselfagainst thefiercestwolf-hound.Heusuallygrappleshisenemyby the throatwithhisforeandhindpaws—takesafirmbitewithhisformidabletusks,andtearsandtugstillhesometimespullsawaythemouthful.Manyastoutbaboonhasinthismannerkilledseveraldogsbeforebeingoverpowered.Itissaidthateventheleopardissometimesattackedandworriedbybaboons,butitisonlycollectivelyandinlargebandsthattheycanopposethispowerfulenemy,andbaboonsarenevertheaggressors.Itisonlyindefenceoftheiryoungthattheywillassailhim.Thestrongattachmentofthesecreaturestotheiryoungisafinetraitintheircharacter.This quality has been shownonmanyoccasions, especiallywhenthecreatureshavebeenengagedinorchard-robbing,—fortheyareexcessivelyfondoffruitandremarkablydestituteofconscience.Onsuchoccasions,whenhunted back to the mountains with dogs, the females, when separatedaccidentally from their young, have been seen to return to search for themthroughtheverymidstoftheirpursuers,beingutterlyregardlessoftheirownsafety.ThegrouptowhichBlacknowdirectedattentionconsistedofseveralfemaleswith a number of young ones. They were all huddled in a cleft of theprecipice, looking down in apparent surprise at the strangers. On aneighbouringheightsatabigoldsatyr-likemale,whohadbeenplacedthere

as a sentinel. Baboons arewise creatures, and invariably place sentinels onpoints of vantage when the females and their young are feeding on thenutritious bulbs and roots that grow in the valleys. The old gentleman inquestionhaddonehisdutyonthefirstappearanceofthehumanintruders.Hehadgivenaroarofwarning;thefortyorfiftybaboonsthatweredownneartheriver had scampered off precipitately, dashed through the stream, or leapedover it where narrow, hobbled awkwardly on all-fours over the little bit oflevelground,andclamberedwithmarvellousagilityupthecliffs,tilltheyhadgainedtheledgefromwhichtheynowgazedandchattered,feelingconfidentinthesafetyoftheirposition.“Didiver’eeseethelike?They’realmosthuman!”saidSandy.“Justlookatthatbiggrandmotherwiththebluefaceandthelittlebabyon’erback!”exclaimedJerry.“Howd’youknowshe’sagrandmother?”askedConsidine.“W’y,becauseshe’smuchfonderofthebabythanitsownmothercouldbe.”As he spoke, one of the party below them fired, and the echoes sprang inconflictfromthesurroundingheights,asabulletwhizzedovertheirheadsandhittherocks,sendingashowerofharmlesschipsanddustamongthebaboons.Withashriekofconsternationtheyscatteredandfleduptheheightsatracingspeed.Aburstoflaughterfromthesettlers,—allthemoreheartythatnodamagehadbeendone,—increasedtheterrorinspiredbytheshot,andseemedtoinvesttheanimalswithinvisiblewings.“Tally-ho!”shoutedConsidineinexcitement.“Theblackaneforever!”criedSandy.“I’llbackthegreyonewiththeshorttail,”saidKennethMcTavish,comingupatthemoment,“althoughshehastwolittleonesclingingtoher.”“Ten to one,” cried Jerry, bending eagerly forward, “on the blue-nosedgrandmotherwi’thebabyonherback!”It did indeed seem as if Jerry’s favouritewas going to reach the top of thecragsbeforeanyoftheotherhorrifiedcreatures,forshewaspowerfulaswellas large, and her burden was particularly small. The infant required noassistance,butclungtoitsdamwithitstwolittlehandslikealimpet,sothatshe could use her limbs freely. But an unusually long and vigorous bound

chanced to loosen the little one’sgrasp. It fell offwith apitiful shriek, and,withanimploringupwardlookonitsmiserablecountenance,claspeditslittlehandsinmutedespair.Grannyormamma,—weknownotwhich,—withthequickintuitionofagreatgeneral, took in the whole position like a flash of light. She turned on theledgeshehadgainedanddroppedher tail.Babyseizeditandclamberedup.Thenawayshewentlikearocket,andbeforethelittleonehadwellregaineditsformerpositionshehadtoppedtheridgefulltwoyardsaheadofthewholetroop!“Welldone!”criedMcTavish.“Huzza!”shoutedJerry.“Brute!” exclaimed Considine, striking up the muzzle of a gun which waspointedatthegrandmotherandchildbyapantingyoungidiotwhorushedupatthemoment,“wouldyoucommitmurder?”The gun exploded and sent its ball straight to the newmoon, which, earlythoughitwas,hadbeguntodisplaythewashed-outhornsofitsfirstquarterinthesky.“Confoundyou!”criedtheso-calledBrute,whowasbynomeansacoward,throwingdownhisgunandhittingConsidineaheavyblowonthechest.Charlie“returned”ontheforeheadandsenttheBruteheadoverheelsontheturf,buthesprangupinstantly,andtherewouldcertainlyhavebeenabattle-royal ifGrootWillem,whoopportunely appeared,hadnot seizedConsidineby thearm,whileHansMaraisgrasped theBruteby theneck,and renderedfurther action impossible. A moment sufficed to cool the youths, for the“Brute” was young, and they both shook hands with a laugh and amutualapology.Soon after leaving the giant’s farm the travellers reached a pointwhere themain stream was joined by a subsidiary rivulet. Its corresponding valleybranchedofftotheright,abouteightmilesinlength,containingfinepasturageandrichalluvialsoil. Itextendedeastwardbehindthebackof theKahaberg,wherethesettlersobservedtheskirtsofthemagnificenttimberforestswhichcoverthesouthernfrontsofthatrange,stretchingoverthesummitsofthehillsat theheadof theglen.To thisvalley,and thewoodedhillswhichbound it,wasgiventhenameofEttrickForest,whilethemainvalleyitselfwasnamedGlenLynden.Notfarfromthispointtheapologyforawaggontrackendedaltogether,and

thenceforththesettlersfoundtheroutedifficultanddangeroustoadegreefarexceeding their previous experiences or their wildest conceptions. JerryGoldboy had now “facts” enough to overturn all his unbelief. The axe,crowbar,pick,andsledge-hammerwereincessantlyatwork.Theyhadliterallytohewtheirpaththroughjunglesandgullies,andbedsoftorrentsandrockyacclivities,whichformedaseriesofobstructionsthattestedthepowerofthewholeparty,—GrootWillemandthealliesincluded,—totheuttermost.Ofcourse thedifficultiesvariedwith the scenery.Here thevalewasnarrowand gorge-like, with just sufficient room for the stream to pass, whileprecipicesofnakedrockroseabruptlylikerampartwallstoaheightofmanyhundredfeet.These insomeplacesseemedactually tooverhang thesavage-looking pass, or “poort,” throughwhich thewaggons had to struggle in theverybedof the stream.Elsewhere itwidenedout sufficiently to leave spacealongtheriver-bankforfertilemeadows,whichwerepicturesquelysprinkledwithmimosatreesandevergreenshrubs,andclothedwithluxuriantpasturageup to thegirths of thehorses.Everywhere themountains rose around, steepandgrand,thelowerdeclivitiescoveredwithgoodpasturage,thecliffsabove,offreestoneandtrap, frowninginwildformslikeembattledrampartswhosepicturesquesidesweresprinkledwithvariousspeciesofsucculentplantsandfloweringaloes.For five days did they struggle up this short glen; two of these days beingoccupiedintraversingonlythreemilesofaruggeddefile,towhichtheygavethenameofEildonCleugh.But “nothing isdenied towell-directed labour.”They smashed twowaggons, damaged all the others, half-killed their oxen,skinnedalltheirknuckles,black-and-bluedalltheirshins,andnearlybrokealltheir hearts, till at length they passed through the last poort of the glen andgainedthesummitofanelevatedridgewhichcommandedamagnificentviewtotheextremityofthevale.“Andnow,Mynheer,”saidthefield-cornetinchargeoftheirescort,“thereliesyourcountry.”“At last!—thank God,” said the leader of the band, looking round on theirbeautiful though savage homewith feelings of deep gratitude for the happyterminationoftheirlongandwearytravels.The toil of journeyingwas now succeeded by the bustle and excitement ofsettlingdown.Theirnewhomewasalovelyvaleofaboutsixorsevenmilesinlength,andvaryingfromonetotwoinbreadth,likeavastbasinsurroundedonallsidesby steep and sterilemountains,which rose in sharpwedge-like ridges,with

snow-cladsummits that towered toanestimatedheightoffive thousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea.Thecontrastbetweenthewarmpeacefulvalleyandthe rugged amphitheatre of mountains was very great. The latter, dark andforbidding—yet home-like and gladdening to the eyes of Scotsmen—suggestedtoilandtrouble,whiletheformer,withitsmeanderingriver,verdantmeadows, groves of sweet-scented mimosa-trees, and herds of antelopes,quaggas,andotheranimalspasturinginundisturbedquietude,filledthemindwithvisionsofpeaceandplenty.PerchanceGodspoketotheminsuggestiveprophecy,forthecontrastwastypicaloftheirfuturechequeredcareerinthesealmostunknownwildsofSouthAfrica.Leftbytheirescortonthefollowingday—astheirEnglishbrethrenhadbeenleftintheZuurveldofLowerAlbany—totakerootandgrowthereorperish,theheadsoffamiliesassembled,andtheirleaderaddressedthem.“Here,at last,”saidhe,“ourweary travelsbyseaand landhavecometoanend.Exactlysixmonthsago, toaday,weleft theshoresofbonnyScotland.Sincethenwehavebeenwanderers,withoutanyotherhomethanthecrowdedcabinatseaandthenarrowtentonshore.Nowwehave,throughGod’sgreatgoodness andmercy, reached the ‘PromisedLand’which is tobeour futurehome,ourplaceofrest.Wehavepitchedourtentsamongthemimosa-treesontheriver’smargin,andourkindDutchfriendswiththearmedescorthaveleftus.Wearefinally left toourownresources; itbehovesus therefore,kindredandcomrades, toproceedsystematicallytoexamineourdomain,andfixourseverallocations.ForthispurposeIproposethatanarmedpartyshouldsallyforth to explore,while the rest shall remain to take care of thewomen andchildren,andguardthecamp.”Acting on this advice, an exploration party was at once organised, and setforthon foot, as theyhadat that timenohorsesor live stockofanykind—saveonedog,whichhadbeenpurchasedbythe“Brute”(whosepropername,bytheway,wasAndrewRivers)fromGrootWillemonthewayup.They found the regionmost desirable in all respects. Open grassy pastureswereinterspersedeverywherewithclumpsandgrovesofmimosa-trees,whilethe river, a gurgling mountain-brook, meandered musically through themeadows.Fromgroveandthicketsprangthehartebeestandduiker.Fromtheirlairsamongthereedsandsedgesoftheriverrushedthereitbokandwildhog;whiletroopsofquaggasappearedtrottingonthelowerdeclivitiesofthehills.“Amagnificent region truly!” remarkedKennethMcTavish as they returnedhomeatnight.“’Eavenuponearth!”saidJerryGoldboy,withquietenthusiasm.

“What splendid scenery!” exclaimedCharlieConsidine,—whowas addictedtothepencil.“Whatglorioussport!”criedhisformerantagonist,Rivers,—whowasfondoftherodandgun.“AndwhataboottheKawfirsandBushmen?”askedSandyBlack,who,tousehisownlanguage,“couldayeobjec’.”“Timeenoughtothinkofthemwhentheyappear,”saidRivers.“Idon’tbelievethey’rehalfsobadaspeoplesay,”criedGoldboystoutly.“Maybeno,”rejoinedBlack.“Theplaceisparadiseto-day,asyousagaciouslyremarked,Jerry,but if theKawfirscomeit’llbepandemoniumto-morry.It’smyopinionthatweshouldgetoursel’sintoadefensiblecampassoonaswecan,an’ thangaeabootourwarkwi’easyminds.YemindwhatGoliathandHansMaraissaidbeforetheyleftus,abootkeepin’asharplook-oot.”Asnoone replied to this, theScot changed the subjectbyaskingConsidinewhenhemeanttoleave.“NottillHansMaraiscomesoverthehillstofetchme,”wasthereply.“Hehastakenuponhimselftogivemeextendedleaveofabsence.Youknow,Sandy,thatIfilltheofficeofProfessorinhisfather’shouse,andofcoursetheMaraissproutsarelanguishingforwantofwaterwhiletheschoolmasterisabroad,soIcouldnottakeitonmyselftoremainlongeraway,ifHanshadnotpromisedto take the blame on his own shoulders. Besides, rain in Africa is soinfrequent, that thesproutswon’tsuffermuchfromaweek,moreor less,ofdrought.Yourleaderwishesmetostayforafewdays,andIamanxioustoseehowyougeton.I’llbeabletohelpabit,andtakepartinthenight-watches,whichIheardMrPringlesayheintendstoinstituteimmediately.”On the day following a sitewas fixed for the commencement of the infantcolony,andthetents,etcetera,wereremovedtoit.ThedayafterbeingSunday,itwasunanimouslyagreedto“rest”fromlabour,andto“keepitholy.”Itwasan interestingandnoteworthyoccasion, theassemblingof theScotchemigrants on that Sabbath day to worship God for the first time in GlenLynden.Theirchurchwasundertheshadeofavenerableacacia-tree,closetothemarginof thestream,whichmurmuredround thecamp.Ononesidesatthe patriarch of the partywith silvery locks, theBible on his knee, and hisfamilyseatedroundhim,—thetypeofagraveScottishhusbandman.Neartohimsatawidow,whohad“seenbetterdays,”withfourstalwartsonstowork

forandguardher.Besidetheseweredelicatefemalesofgentleblood,neartowhom sat the younger brother of a Scotch laird, who wisely preferredindependence in the southern wilds of Africa to dependence “at home.”Besides these there were youths and maidens, of rougher though not lesshonest mould—some grave, others gay, but all at that time orderly andattentive,whiletheirleadergaveforththebeautifulhymnwhichbegins:“OGodofBethel!bywhosehandThypeoplestillarefed,”and followed it with a selection of prayers from the English Liturgy, and adiscoursefromavolumeofsermons.While they were singing the last Psalm a beautiful antelope, which hadwandereddownthevalley,—allignorantofthemightychangethathadtakenplace in theprospectsof itsmountainhome,—camesuddenly insightof theparty, and stood on the opposite side of the river gazing at them in blankamazement.AndrewRivers,whosatmeeklysingingafinebass,chancedtoraisehisheadatthetime.Immediatelyhiseyesopenedtotheirfullextent,andthefinebassstoppedshort,thoughthemouthdidnotclose.Withtheirresistibleimpulseofatruesportsmanhehalfrose,butSandyBlack,whosatnear,caughthimbythecoat-tailsandforcedhimfirmlythoughsoftlydown.“Whist,man;keepacalmsough!”The youngman, becoming instantly aware of the impropriety of his action,resignedhimself to fateandSandy, and recovered self-possession in time toclose the interrupted linewith two or three of the deepest notes in the bassclef.The innocent antelope continued to listen and gaze its fill, and was finallypermittedtoretireunmolestedintoitsnativejungle.

ChapterElevenExplorationsandHuntingExperiences

Oh,theywerehappytimes, thesefirstdaysof theinfantcolony,wheneverymanfelthimselftobearealRobinsonCrusoe,—withthetriflingdifferenceofbeingcastonheightsofthemainland,insteadofanisletofthesea,andwiththepleasantadditionofkindredcompany!So rich and lovely was their domain that some of the facetious spirits, inlookingaboutforsitesforfuturedwellings,affectedarollickingindifference

tosituationsthatwouldhavebeenprizedbyanynoblemaninmakingchoiceofaspotforashooting-box.“Come now, McTavish,” said Considine, on one of their exploringexpeditions,“youaretooparticular.Yonderisaspotthatseemstohavebeenmadeonpurposeforyou—agreenmeadowforthecattleandsheep,whenyouget’em;stonesscatteredhereandthere,ofashapethatwillsuitadmirablyforbuildingpurposeswithoutquarryingordressing;aclumpofmimosa-treestoshelteryourcottagefromwindsthatmayblowdownthevalley,andagentlegreenslopetobreakthosethatblowup;asuperbacaciastandingbyitselfonaready-madelawnwhereyourfrontdoorwillbe,underwhichyoumayhavearustic seat and table to retire to at eventide withMrsMcTavish and lovelyyoungJessie,tosmokeyourpipeandsipyourtea.”“Ortoddy,”suggestedSandyBlack.“Ortoddy,”assentedConsidine.“Besidesall this,youhavetherivermakingagracefulbendinfrontofyourfuturedrawing-roomwindows,andavistaofthevalleyawaytotheleft,witharockyeminenceontheright,whencebaboonscandescendtorobyourfutureorchardatnight,andsitchucklingatyouinsafetyduringtheday,withagrandbackgroundofwoodedgorges,—orcorries,asyouScotchhave it,orkloofs,according to the boers—and a noble range of snow-clad mountains tocompletethepicture!”“Not a bad description for so young aman,” saidMcTavish, surveying thespotwith a critical eye; “quite in our poetical leader’s style.You should gooveritagaininhishearing,andaskhimtothrowitintoverse.”“No; I cannot afford to give away the valuable produce ofmy brain. Iwillkeepandsell it someday inEngland.Butour leaderhasalready forestalledme, I fear.He read tomesomething lastnightwhichhehas just composed,andwhichbearssomeresemblancetoit.Listen:—“‘NowweraisetheeyetorangeO’erprospectwild,grotesque,andstrange;Sterilemountains,roughandsteep,Thatboundabruptthevalleydeep,HeavingtotheclearblueskyTheirribsofgranitebareanddry.

Andridges,bythetorrentsworn,Thinlystreakedwithscraggythorn,WhichfringesNature’ssavagedress,Yetscarcerelieveshernakedness.ButwheretheValewindsdeepbelow,ThelandscapehathawarmerglowTherethespekboomspreadsitsbowersOflightgreenleavesandlilacflowers;Andthealoerearshercrimsoncrest,LikestatelyqueenforgaladrestAndthebright-blossomedbean-treeshakesItscoraltuftsabovethebrakes,BrilliantastheglancingplumesOfsugar-birdsamongitsblooms,Withthedeep-greenverdureblendingInthestreamoflightdescending.’“Somethingorotherfollows,Iforgetwhat,andthen:—“‘Withshatteredrocksbesprinkledo’er,Behindascendsthemountainhoar,Wherethegrinsatyr-facedbaboonSitsgibberingtotherisingmoon,OrchideswithhoarseorangrycryTh’intruderashewandersby.’“There—Ican’t remember the restof it,” saidConsidine,“and I’mnoteven

sure that what I’ve quoted is correct, but you see Mr Pringle’s mind hasjumpedbeforemine,—andhigher.”“Man, it’s no’ that bad,” observed Black, with emphasis. “Depend on’t—thoughImak’naepretencetothegifto’prophecy—he’llcomeootasabardyet—the bard o’GlenLyndenmaybe, or SoothAfriky.—Hech, sirs!” addedSandy,pointingwithalookofsurprisetoatree,manyofthependentbranchesof which had peculiar round-shaped birds’-nests attached to them, “what’sgoin’onthere,think’ee?”ThetreetowhichtheScotdirectedattentionoverhungthestream,anddownoneofitsbranchesasnakewasseentwiningitselfwithcaution.Itevidentlymeant to rob one of the nests, for the little owner, with some of itscompanions, was shrieking and fluttering round the would-be robber. Thiskind of bird has been gifted with special wisdom to guard its home fromsnakes. It forms theentrance to itspendentnestat thebottominsteadof thetop,andhangs thenest itselfat theextremepointof thefinest twigs,so thatthesnakeiscompelledtowriggledownwardsperpendicularly,andatlasthasto extend part of its body past the nest, in order to be able to turn its headupwardsintothehole.Great,unquestionably,isasnake’scapacitytoholdonbyitstail,butthisholdingonasitweretonext-to-nothingisusuallytoomuchfor it.While theexplorerswerewatching, thesnaketurneditsheadupwardsfor thefinaldiveintothenest,but itscoilsslipped,anditfell intothewateramid triumphantshrieks fromthe littlebirds.Nothingdaunted,however, thesnakeswamashoreandmadeanotherattempt—withthesameresult.Againitmadethetrial;athirdtimeitfailed,andthen,inevidentdisgust,wentofftoattacksomeeasierprey.WhileConsidineandhiscompanionswerethusoutinsearchofgoodlocalitieson which to plant future homesteads, the greater part of the settlers wereengaged,ataspotwhichtheyhadnamedClifton, inerectingtemporaryhutsof the wattle-and-dab order.Mr Pringle himself, with a bold fellow namedRennie,remainedtoguardthecamp,astheyhadreasontofearasurprisefromBushmenmarauders, known at that time to be roaming the neighbourhood.More than once the sentinels were tempted to fire into a band of baboons,whomtheynotunnaturallymistookforBushmen!Otherpartiesweresentouttocutwoodandreeds,whichtheyhadtocarryintocamp, sometimes two or three miles, on their shoulders, while some weredespatched into the kloofs to hunt, provisions having by that time grownscarce.Notbeingasportsmanhimself,andnotfeelingsureofthepowerofhismen,whowereatthattimeunaccustomedtothegun,MrPringlewiselysenttwoof theparty to theneareststation—about fortymilesdistant—to inquireaboutasupplyofprovisionsandafewhorses,whichwereexpectedfromthe

Government-farmofSomerset.The first hunting party sent out was not a select one, the people generallybeingtooeageraboutexamininganddeterminingtheirimmediatelocationstocareaboutsport.ItconsistedofyoungRiversandJerryGoldboy.Theformerwas appointed, or rather allowed, to go, more because of his sportingenthusiasmthanbecauseofanyevidencehehadyetgivenofhispowers,andthe latter merely because he desired to go. For the same reason he waspermittedtoarmhimselfwithhisblunderbuss.Riverscarriedaheavydouble-barrelled fowling-piece.Hewas a stout active impulsiveyoung fellow,withthelookofacapableNimrod.“You’d have been better with a fowling-piece, or even a Dutch roer,” saidRivers,castingadoubtful lookat theblunderbussas theyentered the jungleandbegantoascendoneofthenearestsubsidiaryglensorkloofs.“Wellnow,sir,”saidJerryrespectfully,“Idon’tagreewithyou.Amanwhogoes a-shootin’with a fowlin’-pieceor aDutchgunmust ’ave some sort o’capacityforshootin’—mustn’t’e,sir?”“Well,Isupposehemust.”“W’ereas,” continued Jerry, “amanwhogoes a-shootin’with a blunderbussdon’trequirenosuchqualification—that’sw’ereitis,sir.”“D’you mean to say that you can’t shoot?” asked Rivers, with a look ofsurprise.“Nomore,sir,”repliedJerrywithemphasis,“thantheweathercockofaDutchReformedChurch.Ofcourse Iknow’ow to load—powder first,ballorshotarterwards; it’s usually gravel with me, that bein’, so to speak, ’andy andcheap.An’Iknowsw’ichendo’thepiecetoputttomyshoulder,likewise’owtopullthetrigger,butofmorethanthatI’mhinnocentasthebabeunborn.Ah!youmaylaugh,sir,butafterallI’maprettysureshot.IndeedIseldommiss,becauseIputt insucha’eavycharge,andthe’bussscatterssofearfullythatit’sallbutimpossibletomiss—unlessyoufairlyturnyourbackonthegameandfiresintheoppositedirection.”“You’re a pleasant hunting companion!” said Rivers. “Do you know theimportance of always keeping the muzzle of your gun away from theunfortunatefellowyouchancetobeshootingwith?”“Ho,yes,sir.Thedangerousnatur’ofmyweaponissogreatthatI’veadoptedthe plan of always walking, as you see, with what the milingtary call‘shouldered arms,’ which endangers nothin’ but the sky—includin’ the

planetory system—exceptw’en I ’appens to fall,w’en, of course, it’s everyman lookout for hisself. But there’s one consolation for you, sir,—myblunderbussdon’tgooffeasy.Ittakestwopullsofthetrigger,mostly,tobringfireouto’theflint,andasIoftenforgettoprime—there’sathirdsafeguardinthat,sotospeak.”Furtherconversewasinterruptedbythesuddenburstingofaduiker,orlargeantelope, from a thicket close beside them. Both sportsmen levelled theirpieces, but, the jungle there being dense, the animal vanished before eithercouldfire.Withtheeagerhasteoftyros,however,theyranstumblingafterituntiltheycametoanopenstretchofgroundwhichledthemtotheedgeofasmall plain. Here they simultaneously discovered that no duiker was to beseen, though they observed a troop of quaggas far out of range, and ahartebeestinthedistance.Theformer,observingthem,kickeduptheirheels,anddashedawayintothemountains.Thelatter,ahandsomecreature,thesizeofanaverageponyandfleetasastag,boundedintothejungle.“Nousegoingafterthese,”saidRivers,withawistfulgaze.“No,sir,—nonew’atever.”“Betterkeeptothejungleandbereadynexttime,”saidtheyoungsportsman.“Wemustn’ttalk,Jerry.”“No,sir;mum’stheword.But’owifweshouldmeetwithalion?”“Shootitofcourse.Butthereisnosuchluckinstoreforus.”Afterthisthehuntersproceededwithgreatercaution.Astheykeptinthethickbush, they frequently startled animals, which they heard leaping up andburstingthroughtheunderwood,butseldomgotaglimpse,andneverashot.“Tantalising,ain’tit,sir?”“Hush!”They issued on another open space at this point, and, seeing a thick bed ofsedgesnearthemarginofastream,proceededtowardsit,separatingfromeachotherafewyardsinordertocovertheground.Therewasasuddenandviolentshakinginthesedgesontheirapproach,asifsomelargeanimalhadbeenarousedfromsleep,butthetallreedspreventeditsbeingseen.“Lookout,Jerry,andkeepmoreontheotherside—there—Hallo!”

As he spoke, a creature called by the Dutch colonists a reit-vark, or reed-swine, whose quick starts and sharp stoppages betrayed its indecision, atlengthmade up itsmind and rushed out of the reeds inwild alarm close toRivers,who,althoughready,wasincapableofrestraininghimself,andfiredinhaste.Theballneverthelessslightlygrazedtheanimal’sside.Withashriekof intenseagony,suchasonlyabruteof theporcine tribecanutter, the reit-vark swerved aside and ran straight, thoughunintentionally, atJerryGoldboy.Self-control not being Jerry’s forte, he uttered a great cry, presented theblunderbusswith both hands, shut his eyes, and fired.The butt of his piececamebackonhischestandflooredhim,andthehalf-poundofgravelchargewent into the forehead of the reit-vark, which dropped with a final groan,whoseclearimportwas—“noearthlyuseinstrugglingafterthat!”Recoveringhimself,Jerrywasjubilantoverhissuccess.Riverswasalmostenvious.Theyproceeded,butkillednothingmoreafterwards, though theysawmuch.Amongother things, theysawafootprint in thesandwhichfilledthemwithinterestandawe.Itwasthatofalion!Duringthejourneyupfromthecoasttheyhadseenmuchgame, large and small, of every kind, except theCape “tiger” and the lion.Theyhadindeed,onceortwice,heardthepeculiargrowlorgurroftheformer,butuntilthisdaynoneofthepartyhadseeneventhefootprintofthekingofbeasts. Of course the interest and excitement was proportional. Of course,also, when the subject was discussed round the camp-fires that night, therewasagooddealof“chaffing”amongtheyoungermenabouttheprobabilityofamistakeastothenatureofthefootprintsbysuchunaccustomedsportsmen;butRiverswassoconfidentinhisstatements,andJerrywassocontemptuousin his manner of demanding whether there was any difference between thepaw of a cat and a lion, except in size, and whether he was not perfectlyfamiliarwithacat’spaw,thatnoroomforscepticismremained.Ithadbeena threateningday.Muttered thunderhadbeenheardat intervals,andoccasionalshowers,—thefirstthathadassailedthemsincetheirarrivalintheglen.Thenightbecametempestuous,cold,andverydark,sothatsoonallweregladtoseektheshelterofthetentsorofthehalf-finishedwattle-and-dabhuts, except the sentinels. Of these, two were appointed for every watch.Masters and servants shared this disagreeable duty equally. Particularlydisagreeableitwasthatnight,fortheraincamedowninsuchtorrentsthatitwasdifficulttokeepthefiresalightdespiteagoodsupplyoffirewood.Aboutmidnightthesleepingcampwasarousedbytheroarofalioncloseto

the tents. It was so loud and so tremendous that some of the sleepy-headsthoughtforamomentathunderstormhadburstuponthem.Everyonewasupin a second—themenwith guns, pistols, swords, and knives.Therewas nomistakingtheexpressionoftheroar—thevoiceoffuryaswellasofpower.“Whereaboots is the brute?” cried Sandy Black, who, roused to unwontedexcitement by the royal voice, issued from his tent in a red nightcap anddrawers,withaguninonehandandacarving-knifeintheother.“Here!”“There!”“In thisdirection!”“No, it isn’t!”“Isay it is!”andsimilarexclamations,burstfromeveryone.Theuncertaintywasprobablyoccasionedpartlybythemodetheanimalhasofsometimesputtinghismouthclosetothegroundwhenheroars,sothatthevoicerollsalonglikeabillow;partlyalsobytheecho fromamountain-rockwhich roseabruptlyon theoppositebankofthe river.Finding it impossible todecide thequestionofdirection, thepartyfiredvolleysandthrewfirebrandsinalldirections,andthistheydidwithsuchvigourthathiskingshipretiredwithoututteringanothersound.Itwasagrand,aroyal,almostahumorousmodeofbreakingaspell—thespellof unbelief in lions,—which some of the party had been under up to thatmoment.Theyremainedunderitnolonger!As if to confirmand fix the impression thusmade, this lion,—oranother,—gave some of the party a daylight interview. George Rennie, McTavish,Considine,Black,andothers,hadgoneuptherivertocutreedsinthebedofthe stream. While they were busily engaged with their sickles, up rose amajesticlionintheirverymidst!“Preserveusa’!”exclaimedBlack,whowasnearesttohim.JerryGoldboyturnedtoseizehisblunderbuss.Thelionleapeduponthebankoftheriver,turnedroundandgazeduponthemen.“Letgo!”exclaimedJerryinahoarsewhisper,endeavouringtoshakeoffthevice-likegripthatBlackhadlaidonhisarm.“Keepquiet,man,”growledBlacksternly.The rest of the partywerewise enough not to interferewith the lion. Theywere at that time inexperienced.Tohavewoundedhimwould havebroughtdisaster, perhaps death, on some of them. George Rennie (who afterwardsbecame a celebrated lion-hunter) was emphatic in advising caution. Aftergazing in quiet surprise on the intruders for a minute or so, he turned andretired;firstslowly,andthen,aftergettingsomedistanceoff,atagoodroundtrot.

Thiswas the first sight they had of the royal beast. Afterwards, during thewinterandspring,theyhadfrequentvisitsfromlions,butdidnotsufferactualdamagefromthem.Theyalso,incourseoftime,daredto“beardthelioninhisden,”—butofthatmoreanon.Thelabourofthesettlersatthistime—beforeoxenandhorseswereprocured—wasverysevere.Ofcoursethishadtheeffectofweedingthelittlecompanyofsomeofitschaffintheshapeoflazyanddiscontentedmen.Onesaidthathe “had not been engaged to work by day, and watch by night, as well asliving in constant fear of being scalped by savages or devoured by wildbeasts.” The observation being true and unanswerable, he was “graciouslypermitted to retire from the service,”and returned toAlgoaBay.Buton thewhole there was little murmuring, and no rebellion. By degrees difficultieswere smoothed down.A squatter on one of the forfeited farms, about eightmilesoff,whowithhisfamilylivedsolelyonfleshandmilk,wasengagedtolendahandwithhiswaggonandoxen to “flit” the families to theirvariouslocations.Healsosoldthesettlersafewsheep.Intime,moresheepandoxenwerepurchasedfromtheDutchfarmersontheTarka,ariverontheothersideof themountains.Hottentots came fromSomersetwith flour. Thatched hutsreplaced the tents. A few horses were obtained. Gardens were cleared andenclosed.Trenchesforirrigationwerecut.Treeswererootedout,andploughswere set towork.Ten armedHottentotswere sent by themagistrates of thedistrict towhich theybelonged, toguardand relieve themofnight-watches,andwiththesecamethenewsthat tenof theirfriendOpperman’scattle,andseven belonging to their neighbour the squatter, had been carried off byBushmen.At this point Sandy Black aroused the admiration of the ten Hottentots bysettingtoworkonemorninginSeptember—thebeginningofspringinSouthAfrica—with a Scotch plough, which was guided entirely by himself anddrawnbyonlytwooxen.Hisdark-skinnedadmirershadneverseenanyotherploughthantheenormousunwieldyimplementtheninuseamongtheDutch,whichhadonly onehandle, no coulter,was usually drawnby tenor twelveoxen,andmanagedbythreeorfourmenandboys.BydegreesthoseofthepartywhoweregoodlinguistsbegantopickupDutch.MrPringle,especially,soonbecamefamiliarenoughwithittobeabletoholdaDutchserviceonSundays,inadditiontotheEnglish,forthebenefitoftheHottentotguards.Healsoaddedaslightknowledgeofmedicine tohisotherqualifications,andwasthusenabledtoministertothewantsofbodyandsoul,atatimewhenthepeoplehadnoregularphysicianorprofessionalministeroftheGospel.

Thearrivalofhorsesgavethesettlersopportunitiesofmakingmoreextendedandmorethoroughexplorationsoftheirowndomain,andthedailyroutineoflife was varied and enlivened by an occasional visit from the Tarka boers,whom they found good-natured and hospitable—also very shrewd at abargain!Thustheytookrootandbegantogrow.But before many of these things occurred Hans Marais came over themountains, according topromise, and“Professor”Considinewas fain tobidtheScotch settlers farewell,promising,however, to returnandvisit themonsomefutureday.

ChapterTwelveGivessomeAccountofaGreatLion-Hunt

Although the lion’s roar had been frequently heard by the settlers of GlenLynden, somemonthselapsedbefore theycame intoactualconflictwithhismajesty.By that time the little colony had taken firm root. It had also beenstrengthenedbyafewfamiliesofhalf-castesormulattos.Onemorningitwasdiscoveredthatahorsehadbeencarriedoffbyalion,andashistrackwasclearlytraceableintoaneighbouringkloof,theboldestmenofthesettlement,aswellassomeDutchmenwhochancedtobethereatthetime,werespeedilyassembledforaregularhuntaftertheaudaciousthief.Itwasagreatoccasion,andsomeofthemenwhobecamenotedforprowessinafteryearsbegan theircareeron thatday.GeorgeRennie,whoultimatelyacquired the title of the Lion-hunter, came to the rendezvous with a largeelephant-gun on his shoulder; also his brother John, fearless and daring ashimself. Then followed the brothers Diederik and ChristianMuller,—frank,free, generous-hearted Dutchmen, who were already known as among themostintrepidlion-huntersofSouthAfrica;andArendCoetzerofEland’s-drift;andLucasVanDyk, a tall darkmuscularmanof about six feet two,with abushyblackbeard,andaneyelikeaneagle’s,carryingagunalmostas longand unwieldy as himself; and Slinger, Allie, and Dikkop, their sturdyHottentot servants,withDugal,ahalf-tamedBushman, thespecialchargeofMrPringle.Theseandseveralotherswereallarmedwithgunandspearandknife.Soon our friend Sandy Black, who had been summoned from work in hisgarden,joinedthemwitharustyoldflint-lockgun.HewasfollowedbyyoungRivers,with a double-barrelled percussion of large calibre, and byKennethMcTavish,accompaniedbyhiswifeandJessie,bothimploringhimearnestly,

“nottoberash,andtokeepwelloutofdanger!”“Oh! Kenneth,” entreated Mrs M, “do be careful. A lion is such a fearfulthing!”“Mydear,it’snota‘thing’,it’sananimal,”growledKenneth,tryingtoinducehiswifetogohome.“Yes,butitissodangerous,andonlythink,ifitshouldgetholdofyou—andIknowyourheadstrongcouragewillmakeyoudosomethingfoolhardy—whatistobecomeofmeandJessie?”Itwas evident from the toneofMcTavish’s reply thathedidnot caremuchwhatshouldbecomeofeitherwifeordaughter just then, forhesawthathismale friendswere laughing at him, but hewas fortunately relievedby JerryGoldboycomingupat themoment—withtheblunderbussonhisshoulder—andinformingMrsMcTavishthather“pet,”alambwhichhadbeenrecentlypurchasedfromoneoftheTarkaboers,wasatlarge,withtwoorthreehungrydogslookingearnestlyatit!Thegood ladyatonce forsook theoldgoat, and ranbackwith Jessie to therescueofthepetlamb.“Whathave’eeputti’the’buss?”askedSandyBlackofJerry,withaslylook,asthelatterjoinedthegroupofhunters.“Well,d’youknow,Iain’tquitesure,”repliedJerryinsomeconfusion;“I—IwascalledoutsosuddenlythatI’adscarcetimetothink.”“Think!” repeatedBlack; “itdoesna tak’muckle time to thinkhoo to loadagun,buttobesureyourgunisapecooliarane.”“Well,yousee,”returnedJerry,withthetroubledlookstillonhiscountenance,“itdoesrequirealittleconsideration,becauseitwouldbeuselesstoloadwithmyordinarychargeofgravelfora lion.ThenIfearedtoput inlargestones,lesttheyshouldjaminthebarrelan’bu’sttheholdthing.SoIcollectedalotofholdbuttonsandafewnails,besidestwoorthreethimbles,but—”“Weel,”saidBlack,ashis friendpaused,“thaesorto’slugswullat leastgiethelionapepperysorto’feeling,ifnaethin’waur.”“Yes, but, d’you see,” continued Jerry, “therewas a silver tea-spoon on thetablewhenImadethecollectionofthings,andafterIhadloadedIIcouldn’tfindthetea-spoon,andIfear—”JustatthatmomentGrootWillemgallopeduponthesceneandwasreceived

withaheartycheer.TheHottentotswerenowsentoninadvancetotraceoutthe“spoor”—inotherwords,thetrackofthelion.On thewayoneof theDutchmenentertained thoseof the settlerswhowereinexperienced with an account of the mode in which lion-hunts should beconducted.Therightwaytogotowork,hesaid,wastosetthedogsintothecoveranddrivethelionintotheopen,whenthewholebandofhuntersshouldmarchforwardtogetherandfireeithersinglyorinvolleys.Ifhedidnotfall,but should grow furious and advance upon his assailants, then they shouldstand close in a circle and turn their horses with their heads from the foe,horsesbeingusuallymuchfrightenedatthesightofalion.Someshouldholdthebridles,whileothersshouldkneelandtakecarefulaimattheapproachingenemy,whichwouldcrouchnowand thenas if tomeasurehisdistanceandcalculate the power of his spring.When he crouched, that was the time toshoothimfairinthehead.Iftheyshouldmiss,whichwasnotunlikely,oronlywoundthelion,andthehorsesshouldgetfranticwithtenorathisroars,andbreakloose,therewasreasontofearthatseriousmischiefmightfollow.NoRedIndianofthebackwoodseverfollowedthe“trail”ofbeastorfoemoreunerringly than these Hottentots and mulattos tracked that lion throughbrushwood and brake, over grass and gravel, where in many places, to anunskilled eye, there was no visible mark at all. Their perseverance wasrewarded: theycameupontheenemysooner thanhadbeenexpected.At thedistance of about a mile from the spot where he had killed the horse theyfoundhiminastragglingthicket.Fromthispointofvantagehewouldbynomeanscomeout.Thedogsweresentin,andtheybarkedfuriouslyenough,butthelionwouldnotcondescendtoshowfight.Aftersomehoursspent in thusvainlyheatingabout thebush,GeorgeRenniebecame impatientand resolved to“storm” thestronghold! IncompanywithhisbrotherJohn,andanothermannamedEkron,hepreparedtoenter the thicket where the lion was concealed, and persuaded three of themulattos to follow in rear, and be ready to fire if their assault should proveabortive.ItwasofnousethatLucas,VanDyk,andtheMullers,andotherexperiencedDutchmen,triedtodissuadethemfromtheirenterprisebyassuringthemthatitwas a ridiculous as well as reckless mode of attack, and would be almostcertainly attended with fatal consequences. The brothers Rennie, as yetinexperienced,wereobstinate.Theywerebentonattackingthelioninhisden.While this arrangement was beingmade the soul of Jerry Goldboy became

unfortunately inflatedwith a desire to distinguish himself. Spiritually brave,thoughphysicallynervous,hemadeasuddenresolvetoshootthatlionordieintheattempt!Withoututteringawordhecockedhisblunderbuss,and,beforeanyonecouldpreventhim,madeabolddashintothejungleatapointwherethehoundswereclamouringloudest.“Save us a’, the body’s gane gyte!” exclaimed Sandy Black, promptlyfollowing.“Comeon,freen’s,orhe’sadeedman.”Sandy’simpulsewassuddenlyarrestedbyaroarfromthelionsotremendousthat it appeared to shake the solid earth.Nextmoment Jerry beheld a largeanimalboundwithacrashthroughthebrakestraightathim.Hisheartleapedintohismouth, but he retained sufficient vitality topresent and fire.Awildyellfollowed,astheanimalfelldeadathisfeet,andJerryfoundthathehadlodgedthewholecollectionofbuttons,nails,andmiscellaneousarticles,alongwiththe tea-spoon, in theheadof thebesthound,whichhadbeenscaredbythemonarch’sappallingroar!Itisdifficulttosaywhetherlaughterorindignantgrowlswereloudestontheoccurrenceofthis,butitiscertainthatthebrothersRennieenteredthethicketimmediately after, despite the almost angry remonstrances of the moreknowingmen, advanced towithin about fifteen paces of the spotwhere thelionlaycrouchedamongthegnarledrootsofanevergreenbushwithasmallspaceofopengroundononesideofit.“Now then, boys,” said George Rennie, casting a hasty glance over hisshoulderatthemulattosupports,“steady,andtakegoodaimafterwefire.”Heputtheelephantguntohisshoulderashespoke,hisbrotherandcomradedid thesame;a triple report followed,and the threeheavyballs,aimedwithdeadlyprecision,struckagreatblockofredstonebehindwhichthelionwaslying.Withafuriousgrowlheshotfromhislairliketheboltfromacross-bow.Themulattos instinctively turned and fled without firing a shot. The threechampions,withemptyguns,tumbledovereachotherineagerhastetoescapethedreadedclaws—butinvain,forwithonestrokehedashedJohnRennietotheground,puthispawonhim,and looked roundwith thatdignifiedairofgrandeurwhichhasdoubtlessearnedforhisracetheroyaltitle.Thescenewasat oncemagnificent, thrilling, and ludicrous. Itwas impossible for theotherhunters to fire, becausewhile onemanwas under the lion’s paw the otherswerescramblingtowardstheminsuchawayastorenderanaimimpossible.After gazing at them steadily for a few seconds the lion turned as if insovereign contempt, scattered the hounds like a pack of rats, and, with a

majesticboundoverbushesupwardsoftwelvefeethigh,re-enteredthejungle.Withafeelingofindignationatsuchcontemptuoustreatment,GeorgeRenniere-chargedhisguninhaste,vowingvengeanceagainstthewholefelinerace—a vow which he fully redeemed in after years. His brother John, who wasinjuredtotheextentofascratchonthebackandaseverebruiseontheribsbytheroughtreatmenthehadreceived,aroseandslowlyfollowedhisexample,andGrootWillem,growlinginatonethatwouldhavedonecredittothelionhimself, and losing for themoment the usualwisdom of his countrymen insuchencounters,strodesavagelyintothejungle,followedbySandyBlackandJerry,thelatterofwhomappearedtolabourunderasortoffrenziedcouragewhich urged him on to deeds of desperate valour. At all events he hadrecharged his piece of ordnance to the very muzzle with a miscellaneouscompoundofsand,stones,andsticks—anything,inshort,thatwouldgodownitscapaciousthroat,—and,pushingwildlypastGrootWillem,tookthelead.Itwasperhapswellforthesestrangely-assortedhuntersthatthelionhadmadeup his mind to quit the jungle. A fewminutes later he was seen retreatingtowards the mountains, and the chase was renewed, with hounds andHottentotsinfullcry.Theycameupwithhiminashort timeatbayunderamimosa-treebythesideofastreamlet.Helashedhistailandgrowledfiercelyasheglaredatthedogs,whichbarkedandyelpedroundhim,thoughtheytookgoodcaretokeepoutofreachofhisclaws.Whiletheystirreduphiswrathtotheboilingpoint,theyatthesametimedistractedhisattention,sothatapartyofHottentots,gettingbetweenhimandthemountainside,tookupapositiononaprecipicewhichoverlookedthespotwherehestoodatbay.Suddenlythelionappearedtochangehismind.Turningasbefore,andclearingallobstaclesat a bound, he took refuge in a dense thicket, into which a heavy fire waspouredwithoutanyeffect.AgainGeorgeRennielostpatience.Hedescendedfrom the height accompanied by a favourite little dog, and threw two largestones into the thicket. His challenge was accepted on the spot. The lionleapedoutwitharoar,andwasonthepointofmakinganotherbound,whichwouldcertainlyhavebeenfataltothehunter,butthelittledogranboldlyupandbarkedinhisface.ThemomentaryinterruptionsavedRennie,wholeapedbackward,butthedogwasinstantlykilledwithaflashingpatfromtheroyalpaw. At the same moment a volley was fired by the Hottentots from theheights.Unfortunately the position ofRennie rendered it impossible for theMullersoranyoftheotherexpertshotstofire.Whetherthevolleyhadtakeneffectwasuncertain,butitatalleventsturnedthelionfromhispurpose.Hewheeledround,and,abandoningthebush,tooktoapieceofopenground,acrosswhichthehuntersanddogsfollowedhimuphotly.

Thelionnowtookrefugeinasmallcopseonaslighteminence.DiederikandChristianMullerwereinadvance,GrootWillemonhismightychargercamenext.VanDykwasrunningneckandneckwithJerryGoldboy,whoflourishedtheblunderbussoverhisheadandyelled like averydemon. Itwasobviousthat hewasmad for the time being. The rest came up in a confused body,manyofthemenonfoothavingkeptupwiththehorsemen.The Rennies, having by that time become wiser, gave up their recklessproceedings,andallowedChristianMuller,whowastacitlyacknowledgedtheleaderof theparty, todirect.Hegave the signal todismountwhenwithin ashortdistanceof thecopse,andordered thehorses tobe tied togetheras thedifferentriderscameup.Thiswasquicklydone,andofcourseallpossibilityof retreatwas thuscutoff.Theplanwas toadvance inabodyup theslope,leavingthehorsesinchargeoftheHottentots.Thepreparationsdidnot take long,butbefore theywerecompletedagrowlwasheard,thenaterrificroar,andthelion,whohadmadeuphismindtoacton the offensive, burst from the thicket and bore down on the party, hiseyeballsglaringwithrage.Beingthustakenbysurprisetheywereunprepared.Hismotionwas so rapid that no one could take aim—except, indeed, Jerry,whodischargedhispieceat thesky,and,losinghisbalance,fellbackwithawild halloo. Selecting one of the horses, the lion darted furiously at it. Theaffrighted animal sprang forward, and, in so doing, wheeled all the otherhorsesviolentlyround.Thelionmissedhisaim,butfacedaboutandcrouchedat adistanceofonly tenyards for another spring. Itwasa terriblemoment!Whilethemonsterwasmeditatingonwhichvictimheshouldleap,ChristianMullerwastakingquickbutdeadlyaim.Ifheshouldmerelywoundthebrute,certain death to some one of the party would have been the instantaneousresult.Mostofthemknewthiswell.Knowing also thatMuller was cool and sure, they breathlessly awaited theresult.Only threeorfoursecondswerespent inaiming,but instantsbecomeminutesinsuchacase.Someofthemenalmostgaspedwithanxiety.Anothermoment, andChristian fired. The under jaw of the lion dropped, and bloodgushed fronthismouth.He turned roundwithaview toescape,butGeorgeRennieshothimthroughthespine.Turningagainwithalookofvengeance,heattemptedtospring,buttheoncepowerfulhind-legswerenowparalysed.Atthesamemoment,GrootWillem,VanDyk,SandyBlack,andMcTavishputballsintodifferentpartsofhisbody,andamannamedStephanusputanendtohisexistencebyshootinghimthroughthebrain.Itwasafuriouscombatwhileitlasted,andanobleenemyhadbeensubdued,forthislion,besidesbeingmagnificentofaspectevenindeath,measuredfulltwelvefeetfromthepointofhisnosetothetipofhistail.

ChapterThirteenAdventurewithanOstrich

Timepassedrapidly,andthesettlers,bothhighlandandlowland,strucktheirrootsdeeperanddeeperintothesoiloftheiradoption—watchedandcriticisedmore or less amiably by their predecessors, the few Dutch-African farmerswhouptothattimehadstruggledonthefrontierallalone.OnedayHansMaraiswasridingwithCharlieConsidineonthekarroo,notfarfrom the farm-house. They had been conversing on the condition andprospects of the land, and the trials and difficulties of the British settlers.Suddenly theycameonanostrichsittingon itseggsunderabush.Thebirdroseandranonseeingthehorsemen.“Idaresaythecock-birdisnotfaroff,”observedHans,ridinguptothenest,whichwasmerelyaslighthollowscraped in thesandysoil,andcontainedadozeneggs.“Heisagallantbird;guardshiswifemostfaithfully,andsharesherduties.”“I’vesometimesthought,”saidConsidinemusingly,“thattheostrichmightbetamedandbredonyourfarms.Withsuchvaluablefeathersitwouldbeworthwhiletotry.”“You are not the firstwhohas suggested that,Charlie.Myownmother hasmorethanoncespokenofit.”“Stayaminute,”saidConsidine;“Ishalltakeoneoftheeggshometoher.”“Notfittoeat.Probablyhalfhatched,”saidHans.“Nomatter,”returnedtheother,dismounting.“Well,I’llridetotheridgeandseeifthepapaiswithinhail.”Hansdid but bare justice to the cockostrichwhenhe said hewas a gallantbird.It iswithinthemarktosaythatheisnotonlyapatternhusband,butamost exemplary father, for, besides guarding his wife and her nest mostjealouslybyday,herelievesheratnight,andsitshimselfonthenest,whilehisbetter-halftakesfoodandrelaxation.WhileHansrodeforwardafewhundredyards,thecock,whichchancedtobeout feeding on the plain, observed his wife running excitedly among thebushes,andatthesamemomentcaughtaglimpseoftheDutchman.Seven-leaguebootscouldnothaveaidedthatostrich!Withmightystridesand

outstretched wings the giant bird rushed in furious rage to defend its nest.Hanssawit,and,instantlyputtingspurstohishorse,alsomadeforthenest,buttheostrichbeathim.“Lookout,Charlie!”shoutedHans.Charliedidlookout,somewhatanxiouslytoo,turninghisheadnervouslyfromside to side, for while the thunder of hoofs and the warning cry of Hansassailedhimononeside,arushingandhissingsoundwasheardontheother.Thesuspensedidnotlastlong.Afewsecondslater,andtheostrichappeared,bearingdownonhimwithrailwayspeed.Heraisedhisgunandfired,butinthe haste of themomentmissed. The cap of the second barrel snapped.Heclubbedhisgun,but,beforehecouldraiseit, theferociousbirdwasonhim.Toweringhighoverhishead,itmusthavebeenbetweeneightandninefeetinheight.Onekickofitsgreattwo-toedfootsufficed.Theostrichkicksforward,asamanmightwhenhewishestoburstinadoorwithhisfoot,andnoprize-fightercanhitoutwithgreatercelerity,nohorsecankickwithgreaterforce.Iftheblowhadtakenfulleffectitwouldprobablyhavebeenfatal,butConsidineleapedback. It reachedhim,however—on thechest,—andknockedhimflatonthenest,wherehelaystunnedamidawreckofeggs.Theviciousbirdwasabouttofollowupitsvictorybydancingonitsprostratefoe,whenHansgallopedup.Thebirdturnedonhimatonce,withahissandafuriousrush.TheterrifiedhorserearedandwheeledroundwithsuchforceasalmosttothrowHans,whodroppedhisgunintryingtokeephisseat.Jumpingintotheair,andbringingitsfootdownwitharesoundingsmack,thebirdsentitstwoformidablenailsdeepintothesteed’sflank,fromwhichbloodflowedcopiously.Thehorsetookthebitinitsteeth,andran.HansMaraiswasverystrong,butfearwasstronger.Thehorsefairlyranoff,andtheostrichpursued.Beingfleeterthanthehorse,itnotonlykeptupwithease, butmanaged ever and anon to give it another kick on flank, sides, orlimbs.Hansvainlytriedtograsphisassailantbytheneck.Ifhesucceededinthisheknewthathecouldeasilyhavechokedit,fortheostrich’sweakpointisits longslenderneck—itsstrongpointbeing its tremendous leg, the thighofwhich, blue-black, and destitute of feathers, resembles a leg of mutton inshapeandsize.AtlastHansbethoughthimofhisstirrup.Unbuckling it,heswungitby theleatherroundhishead,andsucceeded,afteroneortwoattempts,inhittinghisenemyontheheadwiththeiron.Theostrichdroppedatonceandneverroseagain.Returningtothenestwithhisvanquishedfoestrappedtohissaddle,hefound

Considine sitting somewhat confused among the egg-débris,much ofwhichconsistedof flattenedyoungones, for theeggswere inanadvancedstateofincubation.“Why, Charlie, are you going to try your hand at hatching?” cried Hans,laughinginspiteofhimself.Considinesmiledratherruefully.“Ibelievemybreast-boneisknockedin.Justhelpmetoexamine;butfirstcatchmyhorse,likeagoodfellow.”Itwas foundonexamination thatnoboneswerebroken, and that,beyondabruise,Considinewasnonetheworseofhisadventure.Oneeggwasfoundtohavesurvivedthegeneraldestruction.Thiswastakentothe farm and handed to Mrs Marais, and that amiable lady adopted andhatched it! We do not mean to assert that she sat upon it, but havingdiscovered,frommysterioussoundsinside,thattheyoungostrichcontainedinit was still alive, and, being a woman of an experimental tendency, sheresolved to become amother to it. She prepared a box, by lining it with awarm feather pillow, above which she spread several skin karosses orblankets,andintothissheputtheegg.Everymorningandeveryeveningshevisitedthenest,felttheeggtoascertainitstemperature,andaddedorremovedablanketaccordingtocircumstances.Howthegoodwomanknewthepropertemperatureisamysterywhichnoonecouldexplain,butcertainitisthatshesucceeded,forinafewdaysthelittleonebecamesolivelyinitsprisonastosuggesttheideathatitwantedout.MrsMaraisthenlistenedattentivelytothesounds,and,havingcometoadecisionastowhichendoftheeggcontainedtheheadofthebird,shecrackedtheshellat thatpointandreturnedit tothenest.Thusaided,theinfantostrich,whoseheadandfeetlayinjuxtaposition,beganlife most appropriately with its strongest point—put its best foot foremost;droveouttheendofitsprisonwithakick,andlookedastonished.Oneortwomore kicks and it was out. Next time its foster-mother visited the nest shefound the littleone free,—but subdued,as if itknew ithadbeennaughty,—and with that “well—what—next?” expression of countenance which ispeculiartoveryyoungbirdsingeneral.Whenborn,thislittlecreaturewasaboutthesizeofasmallbarn-doorhen,butit was exceeding weak as well as long in the legs, and its first efforts atwalkingwereamereburlesque.Thefeedingofthisfoundlingwasinkeepingwithitsantecedents.MrsMaraiswasathoroughgoingbutincomprehensiblewoman.Onewouldhavethoughtthatboiledsheep’sliver,choppedfine,andhens’eggsboiledhard,wereabout

themostviolentlyopposedtoprobabilityinthewayoffoodforanostrich,oldoryoung.Yetthatisthefoodwhichshegavethisbaby.Themannerofgivingit,too,wasinaccordancewiththegift.Sittingdownonalowstool,sheplacedthepatient—sotospeak—onitsback,betweenherknees,andhelditfast;thensherammedtheliverandeggdownitsthroatwithherfingersasfarastheywouldreach,afterwhichshesetitonitslegsandleftitforafewminutestocontemplation.Hitchingitsuddenlyonitsbackagain,sherepeatedtheoperationuntilithadhadenough.Inregardtoquantity, she regulatedherself by feeling its stomach. In thematter of drinkshewasmorepronouncedthanateetotaler,forshegaveitnoneatall.Thus she continued perseveringly to act until the young ostrich was oldenough to go out in charge of a little Hottentot girl named Hreikie, whobecameaverysister to it,andwhoselife thence-forwardwasspenteither ingoingtosleepunderbushes,ontheunderstandingthatshewastakingcareofbaby,orinlaughingatthesingularwayinwhichherchargewaltzedwheninafacetiousmood.Thereisnodoubtthatthisostrichwouldhavereachedahealthymaturityifitscareerhadnotbeencutshortbyahyena.Not until many years after this did “ostrich-farming” and feather-exportingbecome, as it still continues, one of the most important branches ofcommercial enterprise in the Cape Colony; but we cannot avoid theconclusion, that,asWattgave the first impulse to thesteam-enginewhenhesatandwatchedtheboilingkettle,soMrsMaraisopenedthedoortoagreatcolonial industry when she held that infant ostrich between her knees, andstuffeditwithmincedeggsandliver.

ChapterFourteenTheBergenaars

“So you like the study of French?” said Charlie Considine, as he sat onemorningbesideBerthaMaraisintheporchofherfather’sdwelling.“Yes, very much,” answered the girl. She said no more, but she thought,“EspeciallywhenIamtaughtitbysuchakind,painstakingteacherasyou.”“Andyouliketoliveinthewildkarroo?”askedtheyouth.“OfcourseIdo,”wasthereply,withalookofsurprise.“Ofcourse.Itwasastupidquestion,Bertha;Ididnotthinkatthemomentthatit ishome toyou,and thatyouhaveknownnoother sinceyouwerea little

child.Buttomyminditwouldbeadullsortoflifetoliveherealways.”“Doyoufinditsodull?”askedBertha,withasadlook.“No,notintheleast,”repliedtheyouth,quickly.“HowcouldI,livingasIdowithsuchpleasantpeople,likeoneoftheirownkithandkin,huntingwiththesonsandteachingthedaughters—tosaynothingofscoldingthemandplayingchess,andsingingandriding.Ohno!I’manythingbutdull,butIwastalkinggenerallyoflifeinthekarroo.IfIlivedalone,forinstance,likepoorHorley,orwithadisagreeablefamilylikethatofJanSmit—bytheway,thatremindsme that we have heard news of the three runaways, Ruyter, Jemalee, andBooby.”“Oh! I’m so glad,” criedBertha, her fair face brightening upwith pleasure,“forIamveryfondofRuyter.Hewassokind tomethat timehefoundmelyingnearSmit’shouse,whenmyponyranawayandthrewme,andIfeltsomiserablewhen Iheard thathismasterwascruel andoftenbeathimwith asjambok.Oftenandoftensinceheranaway—anditmustbenearlyayearnow—I have prayed God that he might come back, and that Jan Smit mightbecomegoodtohim—Whathaveyouheard?”Considine’sfaceworeatroubledlook.“Ifear,”hesaid,“thenewswilldistressyou, for what I heard was that the threemen, driven to desperation by theharshtreatmentreceivedfromtheirmaster,havejoinedoneofthefiercestofthese gangs of robbers, called the Bergenaars—the gang led, I believe, byDragoener.ItwasLucasVanDyk,thehunter,whotoldme,andheissaidtobegenerallycorrectinhisstatements.”Bertha’s nether lip quivered, and she hid her face in her hands for a fewmomentsinsilence.“Oh! I’m so sorry—so sorry,” she said at length, looking up. “He was sogentle, so kind. I can’t imagine Ruyter becoming one of those dreadfulBergenaars,aboutwhoseferociouscrueltywehearsomuch—hisnaturewassodifferent.Ican’tbelieveit.”“I fear,” rejoinedConsidine gently, “that it is true.You know it is said thatoppressionwilldriveevenawisemanmad,andamanwill taketoanythingwhenheismad.”“ItcouldnotdriveaChristian tosucha life,”returned thegirlsadly.“Oh!Iwish he had become a Christianwhen StephenOrpin spoke to him, but hewouldn’t.”“WhendidOrpinspeaktohim,andwhatdidhesay?”askedConsidine,whose

ownideasastoChristianitywerebynomeansfixedorclear.“Itwasjustafterthattime,”rejoinedBertha,“whenJanSmithadhadhimtiedtoacart-wheel,andfloggedsoterriblythathecouldnotwalkforsomedays.Orpinhappenedtoarriveatthetimewithhiswaggon—youknowhehastakentogoingaboutasatrader,—andhespokeagreatdealtoRuyterabouthissoul,andabout Jesuscoming tosavemen fromsin,andenabling them to forgivetheirenemies;butwhenRuyterheardaboutforgivinghisenemieshewouldn’tlistenanymore.Pointingtohiswounds,hesaid,‘DoyouthinkIcanforgiveJanSmit?’”“I don’t wonder,” said Considine; “it is toomuch to expect a black fellowsmarting under the sjambok to forgive the man who applies it—especiallywhenitisappliedunjustly,andwithsavagecruelty.”Berthawas not giftedwith an argumentative spirit. She looked anxiously inthe faceof her companion, andmurmured somebroken sentences about theLord’s Prayer and the Golden Rule, and wound up by saying hesitatingly,“Howcanweaskforgivenessifwedonotforgive?”“Youareright,Bertha,”wasConsidine’srejoinder,utteredgravely;“but,truly,amanmustbemorethanamantoactonsuchprinciples.Think,nowofthestateofthingsatthepresenttimewithregardtothesettlers.The‘rust,’astheycallthatstrangediseasewhichhastotallyruinedthefirstyear’scropofwheat,hasthrownthemostofthemintodifficulties,andinthemidstofthisalmostoverwhelmingcalamitydowncametheKafirsontheAlbanyDistrict,andtheBergenaars, of whom we have just been speaking, not, like men, to fightopenly—that were endurable,—but like sly thieves in the dead of night, tocarryoffsheepandcattlefrommanyofthefarms—insomecasesevenkillingtheherdsmen.Now,whatthinkyoumustbethefeelingsofthesettlerstowardstheseKafirsandrunawayrobbers?—cantheyforgive?”Berthadidn’tknow.Shethoughttheirfeelingsmustbeveryharsh.Divergingfromthequestion,however,shereturnedtothefirstregret—namely,thatherfriendRuyterhadjoinedtheBergenaars.“Hallo!Considine, hi!where are you?” came the sonorous voice ofConradMaraisinthedistance,interruptingtheconversation.Nextmomenttheheartycountenanceofthefarmerfollowedhisvoiceroundthecornerofthehouse.“Come,getyourgun,myboy!”hecriedinsomeexcitement.“Thesevillainshavebeendownlastnightandcarriedofftwospansofmybestoxen,besideskillinganddevouringseveralsheep.”Considinestartedupatonce.

“We shall be off in half an hour,” continued the farmer; “Hans is awaygatheringoneortwoneighbours,andthepeoplearealmostready.”“Doyouaccompanythem?”askedConsidine.“OfcourseIdo.Comealong.”Theyouthrequirednourging.Inafewminuteshewasarmedandmounted,gallopingincompanywithascoreofhorsemen—black,brown,andwhite—towards the cattle-kraals. Here was already assembled by Hans a troop ofmountedmen,amongwhomwereJanSmitandhisthreesons,David,Jacob,andHendrik,alsothehunterVanDyk.Afterabriefconsultation,inwhichVanDyktookaprominentpart,theyrodeoffatasmartgallop.We change the scene now to a large and dark cavern up among the wildheightsoftheWinterbergmountains.Itwasevening,butthesunhadstillaconsiderabledistancetodescendbeforefindingitsbedonthewesternhorizon.Afaintgleamofdayenteredthecave,whichwas further illuminated by three fires, overwhich a band of savage-looking dark-skinned men were roasting chops and marrow-bones. AbdulJemaleetheMalayslaveandBoobytheBushmanwerethere,assistingatthefeast.At the inner end of the cave, seated beside twomen,wasRuyter theHottentot.Hewasagooddealchangedfromtheroughbutcarelessandjollyfellowwhomwefirst introducedtothereader.Therewasasternseverityonhis countenance, coupledwith a touchof sadnesswhen in repose,butwhencalled intoaction,orevenwhenconversing, thesofter feelingvanished,andnothing remainedbut the lines indicativeofa stern settledpurpose.Mostoftherobbersaroundhimhadlikehimselffledfromharshmasters,andbecomehardened in a career of crime. The expression of almost every countenancewas vindictive, sensual, coarse. Ruyter’s was not so. Unyielding sternnessalone marked his features, which, we have elsewhere remarked, wereunusuallygoodforaHottentot.Beingamanofsuperiorpowerhehadbecometheleaderofthisrobber-band.Itwasonlyoneofmanythatexistedatthattimeamong the almost inaccessible heights of themountain-ranges bordering onthecolony.Hiscompanionsrecognisedthedifferencebetweenthemselvesandtheircaptain,anddidnot lovehimfor it, though theyfearedhim.Theyalsofelt thathewas irrevocablyoneof themselves,having imbruedhishands inwhiteman’sbloodmorethanonce,andalreadymadehisnameterribleonthatpartofthefrontier.“Theyshouldbeherebythistime,”saidRuyter,inDutch,tooneofthemenathisside.“WhydidyousendthemoffbeforeIreturned?”

He said this with a look of annoyance. The man replied that he had actedaccordingtothebestofhisjudgmentandhadbeenparticularinimpressingtheleaderof theparty thathewasnot to touch the flocksofoldMarais, but todevotehimselfentirelytothoseofJanSmit.TothisRuyterobservedwithagrowlthatitwasnotlikelytheywouldattendtosuchordersifMarais’herdschancedtobehandy,buttherobbertowhomhe spoke only replied with a sly smile, showing that he was of the sameopinion.Justthenamanrushedintothecaveannouncingthefactthattheircomradeswerereturningwithplentycattleandsheep,butthattheywerepursued.Instantly the chops and marrow-bones were flung aside, and the robbers,hastilyarming,mountedtheirhorsesanddescendedtotherescue.ThebandofwhichRuyterhadbecomeleaderhadexistedsometimebeforehejoined. It was a detachment from a larger bandwho acknowledged as theirchiefadesperadonamedDragoener.ThisBushmanhadbeenintheserviceofDiederikMuller,but,onbeingseverelyfloggedbyahot-temperedkinsmanofhis master, had fled to the mountains, vowing vengeance against all whitemen.Itisthusthatonewhitescoundrelcansometimesnotonlyturnawholetribe of savages into bitter foes of the whitemen in general, but can bringdiscreditonhisfellowsintheeyesofChristianpeopleatadistance,whohavenotthemeansofknowingthetruestateofthecase.Bethisasitmay,however,Dragoenerwithhisbandittisoontookamplerevengeonthecolonistsforthesjambokinghehadreceived.NotlongprevioustotheperiodofwhichwewritehehadbeenreinforcedbyRuyter,Jemalee,Booby,andseveralotherrunawayslaves,besidessome“wildBushmen,”—men who had never been in service, and were so called todistinguishthemfrommenwhohadbeencaught, likeourfriendBooby,and“tamed.”AfewdesertersfromtheCapeCorps,whopossessedfire-arms,hadalsojoinedhim.Thusreinforced,Dragoenerandhislieutenanthadbecomebolderthaneverintheirdepredations.OneofhisbandshadrecentlycarriedoffalargenumberofcattleandhorsesfromtheTarkaboers,whohadcalledoutacommandoandgoneinpursuit.Drivenintoaforestravine,andfindingitimpossibletoretainpossession of their booty, the robbers had cut the throats of all the animals,and,scatteringintothejungle,madetheirescape.AnotherbandhadfrequentlyannoyedtheScotsmenatBaviaansRiver.WhenthereforethebandunderRuyterheardoftheapproachoftheircomrades

withbooty,andofthepursuitbycolonists,theywenttotherescue,somewhatemboldened by recent successes. On meeting their comrades, who weredrivingthecattleandhorsesbeforetheminfrantichaste, theyweretoldthatthepursuerswere in strong force, andnumberedamong themseveralof theboldestmenandbestshotsonthefrontier.Therewas no time for holding a council ofwar.Ruyter at once dividedhismen into two bands.With the larger, well armed, and having two or threedeserters with muskets, he crept into the woods to lay an ambush for theenemy.Theotherbandwasorderedtocontinuedrivingthecattlewithutmostspeed, and, in the event of being overtaken, to cut the animals’ throats andeachmanlookoutforhimself.IfRuyter’smenhadbeenasboldandcoolashimselftheymighthavecheckedthepursuit,butwhenthehunterVanDyk,whoknewtheirways,advancedinfront of his comrades by a path known to himself, discovered their ambushand sent a bullet through the head of one of their number, they awaited nofurther orders but rose enmasse, fled through the jungle, andmade for themountains.VanDyk,reloadinginhothaste,followedswiftly,buthehadnottakenthreesteps when Charlie Considine was at his heels. He had dismounted andfollowedVanDyk.Theotherpursuersmadeadétouronhorsebacktocutofftherobbersastheypassedoversomeopengroundinadvance.Inattemptingthistheycameonaspotwherethegroundwasstrewnwiththedeadordyingcattle.Withayellofragetheypushedon,bututterlyfailed,forthebanditshadheadedinanotherdirectionandgainedthecliffs,wherepursuitonhorsebackwasimpossible.Knowingthatitwouldhavebeenequallyfruitlesstocontinuethechaseonfoot,theyreturnedtothepointwhereVanDykandConsidinehadentered the jungle, fullyexpecting to find themthere,as itwouldhavebeenmadness,theythought,fortwounsupportedmentofollowuptheflyingband.Totheirsurprisetheyfoundnoonethere.“We must follow their spoor, boys,” said Conrad Marais, with an anxiouslook;“theycannotbefaroff,butwemustnotleavethemunsupportedinthejunglewithsuchalotofblackvillainsflyingabout.”Actionwasatoncetaken.Themostexperiencedmendismountedandtracedthe spoor,with theunerringcertaintyofbloodhounds.But they shoutedandsearchedinvaintillnightcompelledthemtodesist.MeanwhileVanDykandConsidinehadbeencapturedbytheBergenaars.WhenCharlieovertookthehunter,asalreadydescribed,hisardentspiritandstrongsupple limbsenabledhimtooutrunhismoremassive thoughnot less

enthusiasticcompanion.Ashortrunsoonconvincedthehunterthattherewasnochanceofaclothedwhitemanovertakingamorethanhalf-nakednativeinathornyjungle.Indeed,hewasalreadywellconvincedbyformerexperienceof this fact, and had intended to engage in pursuit for only a short time, inorder ifpossible toobtainaflyingshotatoneor twoof therobbers,buthisyoung comrade’s resolute continuance of the chase forced him to hold onlongerthanhedesired.“Stop! stop, young fellow,” he shouted with stentorian voice; “stop, I say!You’llonlywasteyourbreathfornogood,”heshouted.ButConsidineheardhimnot.Hehadcaughtsightofoneofthebanditswhoseemedtobelosingstrength,and,beinghimselfsoundinwindandlimb,herecklesslydeterminedtopushon.“I’llleaveyoutoyourfate,”roaredVanDyk,“ifyoudon’tstop.”Hemightaswellhaveroaredtoamadbuffalo.Considineheededorheardnot.“Itwon’tdo,”growledthehunterinasternsoliloquyashestoppedamomenttotightenhisbelt.“Well,well,Ilittlethought,VanDyk,thatyou’dbebroughttosuchamiserablefixasthis,insuchastupidwaytoo.Buthemustn’tbelefttotheBushmen’stendermercies.”Thehunter’sswartcountenancegrewdarkerashespoke,forhewellknewtheextremityofdangerintowhichtherecklessyouthwascompellinghimtorun,buthedidnothesitate.Instead,however,offollowinginthestepsofonewhowasfleeteroffootthanhimself,hemadeadétourtotheright.Inanhourhereachedacliffunderwhich,heknew,fromtheformofthevalleyupwhichthepursuithadbeenconducted,hisyoungcompanionmustneedspass.Theroutehehad takenwasashortcut.HehadheadedConsidineandsawhim,a fewminuteslater,inthegorgebelow,infullpursuitoftherobber.“H’m!”gruntedVanDyk,ashesatdownonarockandexaminedtheprimingof his great elephant-gun, “I thought as much! The black scoundrel is justplayingwithhim—decoyingtheyoungidiotontillhegetshimsurroundedbyhis comrades; but I’ll spoil hisgame, though it’s like tobe the last shot I’lleverfire.”A low quiet sigh escaped from the hunter as he watched the twomen andawaitedthepropermoment.Hewasevidently right inhisconjecture, for,as theydrewnear thecliff, theblackmanlookedoverhisshoulderonceortwiceandslackenedhispace.Thenext moment he gave a shout which proved to be a signal, for two of the

robbers sprang out from the bushes and seizedConsidine, almost before hehadseen them.Vigorouslyhestruggled,andwouldperhapshave thrownoffboth,hadnotthemanhehadbeenchasingturnedandruntoaidtheothers.Quickly but steadily Van Dyk raised his gun and covered this man. Nextmomentthemuzzlewasstruckaside,theballflewharmlesslyintothejungle,andthehunterwaspinioned,overthrown,andrenderedhelplessbyfouroftherobbers,whohadbeenwatchinghismotionsallthetime.Van Dyk was not taken much by surprise. He knew that such danger wasprobable,andhaddonehisbesttoavoidit.Withthatself-commandwhichalife of constant danger in the woods had taught him, he bowed to theinevitable,andquietlysubmittedtobeboundandledaway.MeanwhileRuyter, for itwashewhohadbeenchased, cameup in time toassistinsecuringhisvictim.“What,Ruyter,isityou?”exclaimedConsidineinamazement.Whentherobber-chiefbecameawarewhohehadcaptured,anexpressionofdeep annoyanceor regret crossedhis face, but it quicklypassed intooneofstern almost sulky determination, as he ordered the two men, in Dutch, tomakethebondssecure.Hedeignednoreplytotheprisoner’squestion.Hedidnotevenappeartorecognisehim,butstrodeoninfront,whilethetworobbersdrovetheyouthupintotherockyfastnessesofthemountains.ThatnightourherofoundhimselfseatedinthedeepestrecessesofacavernbythesideofhiscomradeVanDyk.Thearmsofbothwerefirmlyboundbehindtheirbacks,buttheirlegswerefree,theircaptorsknowingwellthatascrambleamong such giddy and rugged heights without the use of the hands wasimpossible. In thecentreof thecavern sat the robbers rounda small fireonwhichsomeofthemwerecookingafewscrapsofmeat.“A pretty mess you’ve led yourself and me into, young fellow!” said thehuntersternly.“IndeedIhave,”repliedConsidine,withaverypenitentair,“andIwouldgiveordoanythingtoundothemischief.”“Ja—alwaysthesamewithwild-capslikeyou,”returnedtheother,—“readytogive anything when you’ve got nothing, and to do anything when you’rehelpless.Howmucheasieritwouldhavebeentohavegivenalittleheedandshownalittlecommonsensewhenyouhadthechance!”Therewasatouchofbitterness,almostfierceness,inthehunter’stone,which,

knowingtheman’skindlynature,Considinecouldnotquiteunderstand.“Doyouknowwhatthemreptilestherearesaying?”continuedVanDykafterabriefpause.“No,theirlanguageismeregibberishtome.”“They’re discussin’ the bestmethodof puttin’ us out of existence,” said thehunter,withagrimsmile.“Someof’emwant tocutour throatsatonceandhavedonewithit;somewouldliketotortureusfirst;othersareinfavourofhangin’, but all agree that we must be killed to prevent our tellin’ thewhereaboutsoftheirhiding-placeuphere,—allexceptone,theoneyougavechase to thisafternoon.Headvises ’em to letusgo,buthedon’t seemveryearnestaboutit.”“IthinkIknowthereasonofhisfavouringus,”saidConsidine,withalookofhope.“Indeed?”“Yes;heoncejourneyedwithmefromCapetowntothekarroo,andprobablyhefeelsatouchofregardforhisoldtravellingcompanion.”“H’m!Iwouldn’tgivemuchforhisregard,”growledVanDyk.“Thereedisslender,but it’s theonlyonewehavetoleanonnow.However,we’vegotareprieve, for Iheard ’emsay justnow that they’lldelayexecutingus till to-morrow,afterreachingoneoftheirotherandsaferretreatsinthemountains.”Theprisonerswereputintoasmallercave,closetothelargeone,thatnight.Their bondsweremademore secure, and, as an additional precaution, theirlegswere tied.Twomenwere also appointed to guard the entrance of theirprison.Aboutmidnight thecampwasperfectlystill,and theonlysounds thatbrokethe silence were the tinkling of a neighbouring rill and the footfall of thesentinels.VanDykandConsidinewerelyinguneasilyonthebareground,andthinking of the tragic fate that awaited them on the morrow, when theyobservedthedimfigureofamanapproachingfromtheinnermostendofthecavernwithadrawnknifeinhisrighthand.Bothstartedupandleantontheirelbows;morethanthistheycouldnotdo.Theyfeltsomealarm,itistrue,butbothcametothesameconclusion—thatitisfoolishtocryoutbeforeyouarehurt.The figure bent overVanDyk, andwhispered in his ear. Nextmoment thehunterstoodonhisfeetwithhislimbsfree.

“Youwereright,youngsir,”hesaidtoConsidineashestoopedoverhimandcuthisbonds;“thereisatouchofhumanityintherascallyHottentotafterall.Come; he bids us follow him. Knows a secret passage out o’ the cave, nodoubt.”Theblack-beardedhuntsmanturnedashespoke,andfollowedthedimfigure,whichmelted into the depths of the cavern as if it had been a spirit.A fewminutes’glidingthroughdarknesstangible,andtheyfoundthemselvesintheopen air among thick bushes. Though the night was very dark there wassufficientlighttoenableConsidinetoseetheglitteringofwhiteteethclosetohis face, as a voice whispered in broken English—“You’s better tink twicewhenyoutryfortochasesTottienexttime!Go;VanDyk,him’soldhandindebush,willguideyousafe.”BeforemorningConsidinewas back inConradMarais’ parlour, relating hisadventuresamongtheBergenaarswithahalf-beliefthatthewholeaffairwasnothingmorethanaromanticdream.

ChapterFifteenTreatsoftheZuurveldagain,andoneortwoSurprisingIncidents

Seatedoneeveningatthedooroftheirdug-outhutorcavernonthebanksofthe river, the three brothers Skyd discussed the affairs of the colony andsmokedtheirpipes.“Neverknewsuchacountry,”saidJohnSkyd,“never!”“Abominable!”observedJames.“Detestable!”remarkedRobert.“Whydon’tyouSkyd-addlethen?”criedFrankDobson.“IfIthoughtitasbadasyoudo,I’dleaveitatonce.Butyouareunjust.”“Unjust!” echoed John Skyd; “thatwere impossible.What could beworse?Herehavewebeenforthreeyears,diggingandploughing,rakingandhoeing,carting andmilking, churning and—and—andwhat the better are we now?Barelyable tokeepbodyandsoul together,with the rust ruiningourwheat,andanoccasionalKafirraiddeprivingusofourcattle,whileweliveinaholeon the river’s bank like rabbits; with this disadvantage over these facetiouscreatures,thatwehavemorenumerouswantsandfewersupplies.”“That’sso,”saidBob;“ifwecouldonlycontentourselveswithafewbulbousrootsandgrassallwouldbewell,but,Frank,wesometimeswanta little teaand sugar; occasionallywe run short of tobacco; now and thenwe long for

literature; coffee sometimes recurs to memory; at rare intervals, especiallywhendomesticaffairsgowrong,thethoughtofwoman,asofalong-forgottenbeingofangelicmould,willcomeoverus.Ah!Frank, it isallverywell foryou to smile, you who have been away enjoying yourself for months pasthuntingelephantsandothersmallgameintheinterior,butyouhavenonotionhow severely our failures are telling on our spirits.Why, Jim there tried tomakeajoketheotherday,anditwassobadthatJackimmediatelywenttobedwithasick-headache.”“True,”saidJacksolemnly,“quitetrue,andIcouldn’tcurethatheadacheforawhole day, though I took a good deal ofCape-smoke before it came on, aswellasafterwards.”“But,mydearchums,”remonstratedDobson,“isitnot—”“Nowdon’task,‘Isitnotyourownfault?’withthatwiseacrelookofyours,”saidJohnSkyd,testilytappingthebowlofhispipeonastonepreparatorytorefillingit.“Wearequiteawarethatwearenotfaultless;thatweonceortwicehave planted things upside down, or a yard too deep, besides other littleeccentricitiesofignorance;butsucherrorsarethingsofthepast,andthoughwe now drive our drills as straight as once, heigho! we ruled our account-books,thingsdon’tandwon’timprove.”“Ifyouhadnotinterruptedme,Jack,youmighthavesparedmuchbreathandfeeling.Iwasabouttosay,Is itnotafact thatmanyoftheothersettlersarebeginningtoovercometheirdifficultiesthoughyouarenot?True,ithasnowbeenfoundthatthewheatcrops,onwhichweatfirstexpectedalmostentirelytodepend,have for three seasonsprovedanentire failure, andsheepdonotthriveonoursourgrasspasturage,thoughtheyseemtohavedoneadmirablywiththeScotchatBaviaansRiver;buthavenotmanyofthosearoundusbeensuccessful in raising rye, barley, oats, and Indian corn? have they notmanyherds of healthy cattle? are not pumpkins and potatoes thriving prettywell,andgardensbeginningtoflourish?Ourroastedbarleymakesveryfaircoffee,andhoneyisnotabadsubstituteforsugar.”“Youhavemadeasuccessfulbagthistrip,Isee,byyourtakingsuchahealthyviewofourcircumstances,”saidBob.“Yes,I’vedoneverywell,”returnedDobson;“andIfindthehunter’s lifesocongenial,andwithalsoprofitable,thatI’mreallythinkingofadoptingitasaprofession.Andthatbringsmetotheobjectofmyvisithereto-night.Thefactis,mydear fellows, thatmenofyourgeniusarenot fit for farmers. It takesquiet-goingmenofsensetocultivatethesoil.IfyouthreeweretoliveanddigtotheageofMethuselahyou’dnevermakealivingoutofit.”

“That’splainspeaking,”saidJohn,withanod,“andIagreewithyouentirely.”“Imeantospeakplainly,”rejoinedDobson,“andnowwhatIproposeis,thatyoushouldgive itupand joinmein the ivorybusiness. Itwillpay, Iassureyou.”Here their friend entered into a minute and elaborate account of his recenthuntingexpedition,andimpartedtoJohnSkydsomeofhisownenthusiasm,but James and Robert shook their heads. Leaving them to think over hisproposal,theirfriendwenttomakeacallontheBrooksofMountHope.“Dratthatboy!he’sescapedagain,andaftermischiefI’llbebound!”wasthefirst sound that saluted him as he walked towards the house. It was MrsScholtz’s voice, on the other side of the hedge with which the garden wassurrounded.Theremarkwasimmediatelyfollowedbyapiercingshriekfromthenurse,whorepeateditagainandagain.Dobsoncouldseeherthroughanopening in the branches, standing helpless, with her hands clasped andeyeballsglaring.Thoroughlyalarmed,hedashedtowardsthegate.Atthesamemomentthevoiceofachildwasheard:—“Oh,look!—look’ere,nuss,ain’tIcotchedaprittyting—suchaprittyting!”Springing through thegate,DobsonbeheldMaster Junkie, staggeringup thetrack like a drunkenman,withonehand clasped tight round the throat of asnakewhosebodyandtailweretwiningroundthechubbyarmofitscaptorinavaineffortatfreedom,whileitsforkedtonguedartedoutviciously.Itwasatoncerecognisedasoneofthemostdeadlysnakesinthecountry.“Ain’titabooty?”criedJunkie,confrontingDobson,andholdinguphisprizeliketheinfantHercules,whomheverymuchresembledinallrespects.Dobson, seizing the child’s hand in his own left, compressed it still tighter,drewhishunting-knife,andslicedoffthereptile’shead,justasEdwinBrookwith hiswife and daughter, attracted by the nurse’s outcry, rushed from thecottage to the rescue. Scholtz and George Dally at the same time ran outrespectivelyfromstableandkitchen.MrsScholtzhadgoneintoahystericalfitofpersistentshriekingandlaughter,whichshemaintaineduntilshesawthatherdarlingwassaved;then,finishingoffwithaprolongedwail,shefellflatonthegrassinadeadfaint.Junkieatthesamemoment,asitwere,tookupthecry.Tobethusrobbedofhis new-found pet would have tried a better temper than his. Without amoment’shesitationherushedatFrankDobsonandcommencedviolentlytokickhisshins,whilehesoundlybelabouredhiskneeswiththestillwriggling

tailofthepoorsnake.“Whatablessing!”exclaimedMrsBrook,graspingDobsongratefullybythehand.“Whatamercy!”murmuredGertie,catchinguptheinfantHerculesandtakinghimofftothecottage.“Whatarumpus!”growledDally,takinghimselfofftothekitchen.Scholtz gave no immediate expression to his feelings, but, lifting his betterhalffromthegrass,hetuckedherunderoneofhisgreatarms,and,withthemutteredcommentary,“zheshrieckzlikevonmadzow,”carriedherofftohisown apartment, where he deluged her with cold water and abuse till sherecovered.“Yourarrivalhascreatedquiteasensation,Dobson,”saidEdwinBrook,withasmile,astheywalkeduptothehouse.“Say,rather,itwasopportune,”saidMrsBrook;“butforyourpromptwayofusing the knife our darling might have been bitten. Oh! I do dread thesesnakes,theygoaboutinsuchasneakingway,andaresoverydeadly.Ioftenwonderthataccidentsarenotmorefrequent,consideringthenumbersofthemthatareabout.”“SodoI,MrsBrook,”returnedDobson;“butIsupposeitisowingtothefactthatsnakesarealwaysmostanxioustokeepoutofman’sway,andfewmenareasboldasyourJunkie.Ineverheardofonebeingcollaredbefore,thoughafriendofminewhomImetonmylastvisittothekarroousedsometimestocatchholdofasnakebythetail,whirl it roundhishead,anddashitsbrainsoutagainstatree.”“You’llstaywithusto-day,Dobson!”saidBrook.Frank,involuntarilycastingaglanceattheprettyfaceofGertie—whohadbythattimeattainedtothegraceofearlywomanhood,—acceptedtheinvitation,and that day at dinner entertained the family with graphic accounts of hisexperiencesamongthewildbeastsoftheGreatFishRiverjungles,anddilatedonhisprospectsofmakingafortunebytradinginivory.“Ifthatfoolishlaw,”he said, “had not been made by our Governor, prohibiting traffic with theKafirs, I could get waggon-loads of elephants’ tusks from them for an oldsong.As it is, Imustknockover theelephantsformyself—at leastuntil thelawsinquestionarerescinded.”“TheGovernorseemstohaveaspecialaptitude,”saidBrook,withaclouded

brow,“notonlyforframingfoolishlaws,butforabrogatinggoodones.”TheGovernorreferredtowasLordCharlesSomerset,whodidmoretoretardtheprogressofthenewsettlementsonthefrontiersofKafirlandthananywhohave succeeded him. Having complicated the relations of the colonists andKafirs, and confused aswell asdisgusted, not to say astonished, thenativesduringhisfirsttermofoffice,hewenttoEnglandonleaveofabsence,leavingSirRufaneShawDonkintoactasGovernorinhisplace.LordCharlesseemstohavebeenaresentfulaswellasanincapableman,forimmediatelyafterhisreturntothecolonyin1821heoverturnedthepolicyofthe acting Governor, simply because he and Sir Rufane were at personalenmity. The colony at that time, and the Home Government afterwards,approved of the wise measures of the latter. He had arranged the militaryforces on the frontier so as to afford the new settlers the greatest possibleamount of protection; the Cape corps men had been partly placed at theirdisposal,both toassist anddefend; thosewho found their allotted farms toosmall,hadthemincreasedtotheextentofthefarmsoftheirDutchneighbours;acceptablepublicofficerswereappointed;provisionsweresuppliedoncredit,and everything, in short, had been done to cheer and encourage the settlersduring the period of gloom which followed their first great calamity, thefailure of thewheat-crops.All thiswas upset on the return ofLordCharlesSomerset.Withadegreeof tyrannyandwantof judgmentworthyofamere“Jack-in-office,”he immediatelyremovedfromthemagistracyof theBritishSettlementofAlbanyafavouriteandableman, tomakeroomforoneofhisown protégés and supporters. He withdrew troops from one of the mostimportant frontier villages (in a strategic point of view), and stopped theformation of a road to it, thus compelling the settlers to desert it and leavetheirstandingcropstothesurprisedbutpleasedKafirs,whowereperplexedaswellasemboldenedbythevacillatingpolicyofwhiteGovernors!InadditiontothishegavepermissiontothesavagechiefMacomotooccupythelandsovacated, thus paving theway for futurewars. Instead of encouraging trafficwiththeKafirsherendereditillegal.Heissuedaproclamationforbiddingallpublic meetings for political purposes; he thwarted the philanthropic andliteraryPringle andFairbairn in their attempts to establish anewspaper, anddrove the former from the colony. But why proceed? We cite these factsmerelytoaccountforthecloudonEdwinBrook’sbrow,andforthefactthatatthis time many of the British settlers, who would gallantly have faced the“rust”andothertroublesanddifficultiessenttothembyProvidence,couldnotbear the oppression which “driveth a wise manmad,” but, throwing up alltheirhopesandprivilegesassettlers,scattered themselves farandwideoverthecolony.This,asithappened,wasmuchtotheadvantageofthemselvesandtheoldDutchsettlerswithwhomtheymingled.Thoseofthemwhoremained

behind, however, continued to fight the battle against oppression andcircumstancesmostmanfully.LongandpatientlydidMrsBrooklistentohervisitorandhusbandwhiletheyindignantlydiscussedthesesubjects.“But why,” said she, at last giving vent to her feelings, “why does theGovernmentathomenotremovesuchanincapableandwickedGovernorandgiveusabetter?”“Because,mydear,”repliedEdwin,withasmile,“the incapableandwickedGovernorhappens topossessalmostdespoticpower,andcangain theearofmeninhighplacesathome,sothattheyaredeceivedbyhim,whileallwhoventure to approach them, except through this Governor, are regarded withsuspicion, being described as malcontents. And yet,” continued Brook,growingwarmatthethoughtofhiswrongs,“wedonotcomplainofthoseathome,orof thenaturaldisadvantagesof thecountry towhichwehavebeensent.Wesettlersareactuatedbyoneundividedfeelingofrespectandgratitudeto theBritishGovernment,which future reverseswill never efface; but it ispeculiarlyhardtohavebeensenttothisremoteandinaccessiblecorneroftheglobe,andtobelefttothecontrolofoneindividual,whomisrepresentsusanddebarsustherighttoexpressourcollectivesentiments.Why,wemightaswellbe living under the dominion of the Turk. But a word in your ear, FrankDobson;meetingshavebeenheld,privateones,whileyouwereaway in thebush, and our case has been properly represented at last, and a RoyalCommissionofInquiryistobesentouttoputthingsright.Sothere’shopeforusyet!Thecloudswhichhavebeensolonglowering,are,Ithink,beginningtoclearaway.”Whilethesanguinesettlerwasthusreferringtothecloudsofadversitywhichhad formore than twoyears hoveredover theyoung settlement, thenaturalcloudswereaccumulatingoverheadinanunusuallythreateningmanner.Longperiods of drought are frequently followed in South Africa by terriblethunderstorms.Oneofthemseemedtobebrewingjustthen.“IfearHansandConsidinewillgetwetjacketsbeforetheyarrive,”saidFrankDobson,risingandgoingtothewindow.“HansandConsidine!”exclaimedGertie,withaflush;“aretheyhere?”“Ay,theycamewithmeasfarasGrahamstownonbusinessofsomesort.—Bytheway,whatabigplacethatisbecoming,quiteatown!Whenwesawitfirst,youremember,itwasamerehamlet,theheadquartersofthetroops.”“Itwillbeacitysomeday,”prophesiedBrookasheputonanoldovercoat

thathadhithertosurvivedtheravagesoftime;“youseeallourcomradeswhohavediscovered that farming isnot theirvocationarehivingoff into it, andmany of them, being first-rate mechanics, they have taken to their trades,whilethosewithmercantiletendencieshaveopenedstores.Youshallseethatthingswill shake into their proper places, and right themselves in time, andthiswillbecomeaflourishingcolony,forthemostofusareyoungandfullofBritishpluck,whiletheclimate,despiteafewtriflingdisadvantages,isreallysplendid.”EdwinBrook spokeheartily, as he clappedhis hat firmlyon, preparatory togoingouttomakethingssecureagainsttheexpectedstorm.AtthesamemomenttheSouthAfricanstorm-fiend(anunusuallylargethoughnotfrequentlyobtrusiveone)laughedinavoiceofthunderandnearlydashedinthewindowswithatempestofwindandrain!Asifhisvoicehadcalledupspiritsfromthe“vastydeep,”twohorsemensuddenlyappearedapproachingatfullspeed.Oneofthemwasofunusualsize.“Here they come just in time!” exclaimed Gertie, clapping her hands inexcitement.Thegirlspokeandactedthere.Thensheblushedforthewomaninterfered!HansMaraisreachedthequincehedgefirstandsprangoffhissteed.CharlieConsidine came second.With awildwhoophe caused his steed to leap thegardengateanddismountedatthecottagedoor.Thentherewasaheartywelcomingandinquiring,andshakingofbands,whilethetravellerswerecongratulatedonhavingjustescapedthestorm.WhilethiswasgoingonatMountHope,theSkydswereactivelyengagedingathering in their rattle and otherwisemaking their place secure. They hadmorethanoncebeenwarnedthattheirpositionwasoneofdanger,butbeingyoung, athletic, and rollicking, they had not cared hitherto to remove theirhumble dwelling. It was time enough to do that, they said, when “lovelywoman” should come on the scene and render improvement in domicilenecessary. Bob Skyd had more than once attempted to induce a “lovelywoman” to invade the land and enlighten the cave, but somehow withoutsuccess!“We shall have it stiff,” said John, as the three brothers approached theirburrow.“Andheavy,”addedBob.

Jamesmadenoremark,butopenedthedoor.Itwasgrowingdarkatthetimeandinsidetheircavernonlyadimlightprevailed.“Why—what’s—hallo!Isay—”Jimleapedbackwitha lookofalarm.Thebrothersgazedinandsaw, in theregionoftheirbed(whichheldthreeeasily),apairofglaringeyeballs.Thebrothers,althoughnotsuperstitious,werebynomeansfreefromhumanweakness. At the same time they were gifted with a large share of animalcourage. With beating heart John struck a light, and held up a flamingbrimstone match. This caused the eyes to glare with fearful intensity, andrevealed a distinct pair of horns.At thatmoment thematchwent out.Withanxioustrepidationanotherlightwasstruck,andthenitwasdiscoveredthatarecentlypurchasedgoathad,under awrong impression, takenpossessionofthefamilybed.Laughing at this, they lit a tallow candle, which was stuck into that mostconvenientofcandlesticks—anemptybottle.Thebrothers,althoughnotproficients,weremechanicalintheirway.Onehadsetupthehouseholdbed;anotherhadconstructedatable,whichhadbrokendownonlysixtimessincetheirarrival;andthethirdhadcontrivedasofa.Thislast was Jim’s work. It was a masterpiece in its way, of simplicity, andconsistedof tworoughplankslaidontwomoundsofearth, thewholebeingcoveredwithapieceofchintzwhichfellinacurtaintothefloor.Thiscurtain,likelove,coveredamultitudeofimproprieties,intheshapeofoldboots,dirtylinen,miscellaneousarticles,andasea-chest.Sitting downon the sofa, JohnSkyd laughed long and heartily at the scenewiththegoat.Hislaughsuddenlyceased,andwasreplacedbyanexclamationand a look of anxious surprise. “Something” had moved under the sofa!Snakes occurred to their minds at once, and the deadly character of SouthAfricansnakeswaswellknown.“Lookout,boys,”criedJohn,leapingonthesofa,andseizingaswordwhichhungonapegjustaboveit.—“Fetchthelight.”Bobquicklyobeyedandrevealedthetailofalargecobradisappearingamongthe improprieties. Jim ran toa rudecupboardwherepistols andammunitionwerekept,andbegantoloadwithsmallshot.“ThiswayIholditcloser to thewall,”saidJohn, inanearnestvoice;“Iseeoneofhiscoilsatthebackofthesofa.Nowthen,steady—there!”

Hemadeadeadlythrustashespokeandpinnedthesnaketotheground,butevidentlybythewrongcoil,forinamomentitsangryheadwasseentwininguptowardsthehandleofthesword.“Quick,Jim—thepistol!”Jimwas ready and Bob raised the curtain of the sofa, while John stood inreadinesstoletgotheswordandboltifthereptileshouldprovetobecapableofreachinghishand.“Fire,Jim,fire!looksharp!”criedJohnSkyd.Jimtookaimandfired.Thecandlewasputoutbytheconcussion.In the dark John could risk the danger no longer. He let go the sword andsprangwitha shoutupon thebed.Boband Jimmade for the sameplaceofrefuge, and, tumbling over each other, broke the pint bottle and the candle.Securinga fragmentof the latter theyproceededoncemore tostrikea light,withquakinghearts,whileahorriblehissingandlashingwasheardunderthesofa.At last lightwasagain thrownon the scene,andwhen thecurtainwascautiously raised the cobra was seen to be writhing in its death-agonies—riddledwithshot,andstillpinnedwiththesword.This scene closed most appropriately with a flash of lightning and atremendousclapofthunder,—followed,immediately,bycataractsofrain.

ChapterSixteenTheGreatFloodsof1823

All that night and all next day rain came down on the land in continuousfloods.Thesettlershadpreviouslybeenvisitedwithoccasionalstorms,whichhadrousedsomealarmamongthetimidanddonealittledamage,butnothinglikethishadyetbefallenthem.Thewaterappearedtodescendinsheets,andnot only did the great riverswax alarmingly, but every rill andwatercoursebecameabrawlingriver.TheSkyds,andoneortwootherswho,likethemselves,hadbuilttooneartheedgeofstreams,werethefirsttosuffer.“Thiswon’tdo,”saidJohnSkyd,ontheeveningofthesecondday,asheandhisbrotherssatinfrontoftheircaverngazingattheturbidriver,which,thickandyellowaspea-soup,washurryingtrees,bushes,andwrackinformidablemassestothesea.“Wemustshiftourabode.Comealong.”Withoutawordmore thebrothersentered theircave,andbegantocarryout

their goods and chattels. They were strong and active, but they hadmiscalculated the rapidity of the flood. Fortunately most of their valuableswere removed tohigherground in time,butbeforeallwasgotoutasuddenincreaseintherushingriversentahugewavecurlingroundtheentirepieceofground onwhich their farm lay. It came onwith devastating force, bearingproduce,fences,fruit-trees,piggeries,andeverymovablethingonitsfoamingcrest.Thebrothersdroppedtheirloadsandran.Nextmomentthecavernwashollowedouttotwiceitsformersize,andthesofa,therudecupboard,thesea-chest, and family bed were seen, with all the miscellaneous improprieties,careeringmadlydowntheyellowflood.Intheir trousersandshirt-sleeves—fortheyhadthrownofftheircoats,asallactivemendoinanemergency—thebrotherswatchedthedemolitionoftheirpossessionsandhopesinsolemnsilence.“I think,” said John at length, with a sigh, “I’vemade upmymind to joinFrankDobsonnow.”BobandJimsmiledgrimly,butsaidneveraword.MeanwhilethesettlersofMountHopefarmwerenotidle.Althoughnotfullyalivetothedangerofthestorm,theysawenoughtoinduceacourseofrapidaction. Goods and cattle were removed from low-lying buildings to higherground, but the dwelling-house, being on the highest point in theneighbourhood—with the exception of the hills themselves—was deemedsafe.In these arrangements the family were ably assisted by the unexpectedaccession of their friends.Hans,Considine, andDobson taxed their activityandstrengthtotheutmost,sothatthingsweresoonputinastateofsecurity.Dobsondid, indeed, thinkonceor twiceofhisoldchumsontheriver,butafeelingofgallantrypreventedhisdesertingtheladies in themidstofdanger,andbesides,heargued,theSkydsarewellabletolookafterthemselves.Justas this thoughtpassedthroughhismindthechumsinquestionappearedupon the scene, announcing the fact that their entire farm had been sweptaway,andthatthewaterwasstillrising.“Well,itcan’trisemuchhighernow,”saidEdwinBrook,aftercondolingwithhisyoungfriendsontheirmisfortunes,“andthemomentitbeginstoabateweshallgodowntosaveallwecanofyourproperty.Youknow,mypoorfellows,thatIshallbeonlytoogladtohelpyoutotheutmostofmypowerinsuchasadextremityasthis.”The brothers thanked their neighbour, and meanwhile aided the others in

removingthefarm-produceandimplementstohigherground.Nightat lengthsettleddownon thescene,and theweariedparty returned tothecottageforfoodandrest.“Doyouthink,MrMarais,”saidGertie, lookinguptimidlyat thehandsomeyoungDutchman,“thattheworstofitisover?”Hans,whofeltsomewhatsurprisedandchilledbythe“Mister,”repliedthathehopeditwas.But Hans was wrong. Late that night, after they had all lain down to rest,EdwinBrook,feelingsleeplessanduneasy,rosetolookoutatthewindow.Allwas comparatively still, and very dark. There was something grey on theground,hethought,butjudgedittobemist.Thenoiseofthestorm,withtheexceptionofrushingstreams,hadgonedown,andthoughitstillrainedtherewas nothing very unusual to cause alarm. He lay down again and tried tosleep,butinvain.Thenhethoughtheheardthesoundoftheriverlouderthanbefore.Atthesametimetherewasanoisethatresembledthelappingofwaterroundtheframeofthehouse.Jumpingup,heran tohisdoor,openedit,discovered that thesupposedmistwaswater,andthathisdwellingwasanislandinagreatsea.Toshoutandrousethehouseholdwastheworkofaninstant.Hisguestsweremen of promptitude. They had merely thrown themselves down in theirclothes,andappearedinaninstant.MrsBrookandGertiewerealsoready,butMrs Scholtz, being fond of comfort, had partially undressed, and wasdistractedbetweenawildefforttofastencertaingarments,andrestrainJunkie,who,startledbytheshout,wasroaringlustily.“Notamomenttolose!”saidBrook,runninghastilyintotheroom,whereallwerenowassembled.“Everythingislost.Wemustthinkonlyoflife.Lendahelpinghandtothewomen,friends—mindtheboy.—Come,wife.”Brookwassharp,cool,anddecisiveinhismanner.Seizinghiswiferoundthewaist,hehurriedheroutintothedarknight,stepping,ashedidso,abovetheanklesinrisingwater.Dobson, Considine, and the three brothers turned with a mutual impulsetowards Gertie, but HansMarais had already taken possession of her, and,almostcarryingherinhispowerfularms,followedherfather.“Come, my howlin’ toolip,” said George Dally, “you’re my special andpreciouscharge.Shutup,willyou!”

Heseized the child andborehimawaywith suchviolence that thehowlingwas abruptly checked; while Scholtz, quietly gathering his still half-cladspouseunderanarm,followedwithheavystride.The others, each seizing the object that in his eyes appeared to be mostvaluable—suchasadeskorworkbox,—sprangafterthehouseholdandleftthehousetoitsfate.Theyfirstmadeforthecattle-kraals,butthesewerealreadyfloodedandthecattlegone.Thentheytriedabarnwhichstoodalittlehigher,but itwasevidentlynoplaceof refuge, for thestreamjust therewasstrong,andbrokeagainstitwithviolence.“Tothehills,”shoutedHans,liftingGertieoffthegroundaltogether,asifshehadbeenalittlechild.There was no time for ceremony. Edwin Brook lifted his wife in the samemanner, for the water was deepening at every step, and the currentstrengthening. The darkness, which had appeared dense at first, seemed tolighten as they became accustomed to it, and soon a terrible state of thingsbecame apparent. Turbid water was surging among the trees and busheseverywhere,andrushinglikeamill-raceinhollows.Onesuchhollowhadtobecrossedbefore the safetyof thehills couldbegained.Thewater reachedEdwin’s waist as he waded through. To prevent accident, John Skyd andConsidine waded alongside and supported him. James Skyd performed thesame office forHans, andBobwaded just below Scholtz and his burden—which latter, in a paroxysm of alarm, still tried frantically to complete hertoilet.Thehillswerereachedatlast,andthewholepartywassafe—asfar,atleast,asthefloodwasconcerned—butaterribleprospectlaybeforethem.ThefarmofMountHopewasbythattimeaseaoftumultuouswater,whichseemedinthedarknessof thenight tobesweepingawayand tearingup trees,bushes,andhouses. Behind and around them were the hills, whose every crevice andhollow was converted into a wild watercourse. Above was the black sky,pouringdowntorrentsofrainincessantly,sothattheverygroundseemedtobeturningintomud,andslippingawayfrombeneaththeirfeet.Fortunatelytherewasnowind.“Tospendthenightherewillbedeathto thewomenandchild,”saidEdwinBrook, as they gathered under a thick bush which formed only a partialshelter;“yetIseenowayofescape.Soakedastheyare,acavern,evenifwecanfindone,willnotbeofmuchservice,forourmatchesarehopelesslywet.”“Wemust try to reachWidowMerton’s farm,” said John Skyd. “It is onlythreemilesoffandstandsonhighishground.”

“It’s a bad enough roadbydaylight in fineweather,” saidGeorgeDally, onwhosebroadshoulderJunkiehadfallensoundasleep,quiteregardlessofdampordanger,“but inadarknight,withauniversalflood, itseemstomethat itwouldbetoomuchfortheladies.Iknowacave,now,uponthehill-side,notfaroff,whichisdeep,an’liketobedryish—”“Never do,” interrupted Hans Marais, to whose arm Gertie clung with afeelingthatitwasheronlyhope;“they’ddieofcoldbeforemorning.Wemustkeepmoving.”“Yes,letustrytoreachthewidow’sfarm,”saidpoorMrsBrookanxiously,“Ifeelstronger,Ithink;Icanwalknow.”“Zeevidowisouronlychanze.—Holdup,meinvrow,”saidScholtz,takingafirmergraspofhiswife,who,havingleisuretothinkandlookabouthernow,felt herheart begin to fail. “I knowzee roadvell,” continuedScholtz. “It isbad,butIhavezeenvurse.Vemustcarryzeevimen.Zeycouldnotvalk.”Asthewomenmadenoobjection,thosewhohadcarriedthemfromthehouseagain raised them in their arms—Mrs Scholtz insisting, however, on beingtreatedalittlelesslikeasackofoldclothes—andthemarchalongthehill-sidewasbegun.George Dally, knowing the way best, was set in advance to take theresponsibilityofguideaswellastheriskofbeingsweptawaywhilefordingthe torrents. The brothers Skyd, being free from precious burdens,marchednext,tobereadytosupporttheguideincaseofaccident,andtowatchaswellasguard thepassageofdangerousplacesby those in rear.Then followed insuccessionMrBrookwithhiswife,CharlieConsidine,HanswithGertie,andScholtzwithhisvrow,theprocessionclosingwithFrankDobsonandJunkie,thelatterhavingbeentransferredtoFrankwhenDallytookthelead.Itwasaslowaswellasdangerousmarchonthatdrearynight,becauseeverystephadtobetakenwithcare,andtherivulets,whitethoughtheywerewithfoam,couldscarcelybeseeninthethickdarkness.Manyafalldidtheyget,too, and many a bruise, though fortunately no bones were broken. OnceGeorge Dally, miscalculating the depth of a savage little stream, steppedboldlyinandwassweptawaylikeaflashoflight.JackSkydmadeagraspathim, lost his balance and followed. For a moment the others stopped inconsternation,buttheywereinstantlyrelievedbyhearingalaughfromGeorgea few yards down the stream as he assisted Skyd to land. At another timeScholtzwasnotcarefulenoughtofollowexactlyinthefootstepsofHans,and,whilecrossingatorrent,heputhisfootinadeepholeandwentdowntothearmpits, thereby immersinghisvrowup toherneck.Awildshriek fromthe

ladywasfollowedby“Zounds!holdmeop!”fromtheman.Hansturnedshortround,stretchedouthislongrightarm—theleftbeingquitesufficient to support Gertie,—and, seizing theGerman’s shaggy hair with amightygrip,heldontilloneoftheSkydsreturnedtotherescue.Itwasalsoamelancholymarchon thatdismalnight, forpoorEdwinBrookwas well aware, and fully alive to the fact, that he was a ruinedman. Hislabour for the previous three years was totally lost, and his property sweptentirelyaway.Onlylifewasspared,—butforthathefeltsothankfulastofeelhislossesslightlyatthetime.ThebrothersSkydwerealsopainfullyalivetothe fact that theywere ruined, and as they staggered and stumbled along, asinkingofheartunusualtotheirgayandcheerfulnaturesseemedtohavetheeffectofsinkingtheirstepsdeeperinthesoftmirethroughwhichtheywaded.Only two of the party were in any degree cheerful. Gertie, althoughoverwhelmed by the sudden calamity, which she had yet very imperfectlyrealised,feltadegreeofcomfort—asortofunder-currentofpeace—atbeingbornesosafelyalonginsuchpowerfularms;andHansMarais,hugeanddeep-chested thoughhewas, feltastrangeandmysterioussensation thathishearthadgrowntoolargeforhisbodythatnight.Itperplexedhimmuchatthetime,andseemedquiteunaccountable!The storm had revelled furiously round thewidowMerton’swattle-and-dabcottage,andthewaterhadrisentowithinafewfeetofitsfoundations,buttheeffectonhermindwasasnothingcomparedwiththatproducedbythesuddenstormingofherstrongholdbytheMountHopefamilyinthedeadofnight,orratherinthesmallhoursofmorning.Thewidowwashospitable.Sheandhersonsatoncesetaboutmakingtheunfortunatesascomfortableastheextentoftheirhabitationandthestateoftheirlarderwouldadmit.ButthewidowMertonwasnottheonlyoneoftheAlbanysettlerswhohadtooffer hospitality during the continuance of that terrible catastrophe of 1823,andEdwinBrook’swasnottheonlyfamilythatwasforcedtoacceptit.Allover the land thedevastatingfloodpassed like thebesomofdestruction.Hundredsofthosewhohadstruggledmanfullyagainsttheblightofthewheatcrops,andKafir thefts,andbandit raids,andoppressionon thepartof thosewho ought to have afforded aid and protection, were sunk to the zero ofmisfortuneanddespairbythisoverwhelmingcalamity,forinmanycasestheruin was total and apparently irremediable. Everywhere standing crops,implements of husbandry, and even dwellings,were swept away, andwholefamiliesfoundthemselvessuddenlyinastateofutterdestitution.Theevilwastoo wide-spread to admit of the few who were fortunate enough to escape

rendering effectual assistance to themany sufferers, for it was obvious thathundredsofpoundswouldnotbesufficienttosuccourtheinfantcolony.InthisextremityGod’sopportunitywasfound.Theheartsofmenandwomenfaraway,atCapetown,inIndia,andinEngland,weretouchedbythestoryofdistress;generositywasawakenedandpurseswereopened.MensuchasHERutherfoordofCapetown,theReverendDoctorPhilip,theReverendWShaw,and others like-minded, entered heartily into the work of charity, andeventuallysometenthousandpoundsweredistributedamongthosewhohadsuffered.Tomanythiswasaslifefromthedead.Somewhowouldneverhaverecoveredtheblowtookheartagain,bracedtheirenergiesanew,anderelongthewattle-and-dabcottageswererebuilt,thegardensreplanted,andthelandscultivatedasbefore.The existence of the settlement was saved, but its prosperity was not yetsecured. The battle had gone sorely against the valiant band of immigrants,and very nearly had they been routed, but the reinforcements had enabledthemtorallyandrenewthefight.Still,itwasafight,andmuchtimehadyettocomeandgobeforetheycouldsitdowninthesunshineofcomparativepeaceandenjoythefruitsoftheirindustry.MeanwhiletheoppressionsandmismanagementsoftheColonialGovernmentwentonasbefore. Itwereuseless in a tale like this to inflict detailsonourreaders.Suffice it tosay that in thedistributionof lands, in treatieswith theKafirs,intheformationoflawsfortheprotectionofHottentotsandslaves,inthetreatmentofthesettlers,astateofthingswasbroughtaboutwhichmaybedescribed as confusion worse confounded, and the oppressed people at lastdemanded redress with so loud a voice that it sounded in England, andproduced the Royal Commission of Investigation already referred to in apreviouschapter.Thearrival of thegentlemencomposing thisCommission followedcloseonthe Floods of 1823. The event, long looked for and anxiously desired, washailedwithadegreeofeagerdelightscarcelytobeunderstoodexceptbythosewhohadgonethroughthepreviousyearsofhigh-handedoppression,ofwearywranglingandappeal,andofthathopedeferredwhichmakeththeheartsick.Expectationwas raised to the highest pitch, andwhen itwas heard that theCommissioners had reached Capetown preparations were made inGrahamstowntogivethemawarmreception.

ChapterSeventeenTreatsofHopes,Fears,andProspects,besidesdescribingaPeculiar

Battle

Mounted on a pair of sturdy ponies Hans Marais and Charlie ConsidinegallopedovertheplainsoftheZuurveldinthedirectionofGrahamstown.ThebrothersSkydhadprecededthem,EdwinBrookwastofollow.Itwasagloriousday,thoughthiswasnothingunusualinthatsunnyclime,andthe spirits of the young men were high. Excitement has a tendency toreproduce itself. Hans and his friend did not feel particularly or personallyinterested in the arrival of the Royal Commissioners, but they weresympathetic, and could not resist surrounding influences. Everywhere theyovertookorpassed,orsomehowmetwith,cavaliersontheroad—middle-agedandyoung—foroldmenwerenotnumerousthereatthattime—allhasteningtothesamegoal,the“cityofthesettlers,”andallhadthesametaletotell,thesame hopes to express. “Things are going to be put right now. TheCommissionershavefullpowerstoinquireandtoact.Wecourtinvestigation.Theskyisbrighteningat last; thesunofprosperitywillrise inthe‘east’erelong!”InGrahamstownitselfthebustleandexcitementculminated.Friendsfromthecountry were naturally stirred by meeting each other there, besides beingadditionally affected by the object of the meeting. Crowds gathered in thechiefplacesof the fast rising town todiscussgrievances,and friendsmet inthehousesoffriendstodothesameanddrawuppetitions.AtlasttheCommissionersarrivedandwerewelcomedbythepeoplewithwildenthusiasm.AbelSlingsby,animpulsiveyouth,andafriendofHansMarais,whohadjustbeen married to a pretty neighbour of Hans in the karroo, and was inGrahamstownonhishoneymoon,declaredthathewould,withoutamoment’shesitation, throw up his farm and emigrate toBrazil, if thingswere not putrightwithoutdelay.“No,youwouldn’t,”saidhisprettybride,withanarchlook;“you’dtaketimetothinkwelloveritandconsultwithmefirst.”“Right,Lizzie,right;soIwould,”criedSlingsby,withalaugh.“Butyoumustadmit that we have had, and still have, great provocation. Just think,” headded,withreturningindignation,“offree-bornBritishsubjectsbeingallowedno newspaper to read except one that is first revised by a jealous, despoticGovernor,andofourbeingobligedtoprocurea‘pass’toentitleustogoaboutthe country, as if we were Kafirs or Hottentots—to say nothing of theinsolenceoftheJacks-in-officewhograntsuch‘passes,’ortheridiculouslawsregardingthenatives—bah!Ihavenopatiencetorecountourwrongs—Come,Hans,let’sgooutandseewhat’sdoing;anddon’tforget,Liz,tohavecandles

readyfortheillumination,andtelltheTottietocleanmygun.Imustbereadytodothemhonour,likeotherloyalsubjects.”The young men sallied forth and found that the Commissioners had beenreceivedbytheauthoritieswithsullencourtesy.“Aclear sign that theauthoritiesknow themselves tobe in thewrong,” saidConsidine,“forhonestmenalwayscourtopeninvestigation.”“ThisattitudelookslikerebellionagainsttheBritishGovernmentonthepartofthecolonialauthorities,”saidHans.“Ishouldn’twonderifweweretogetasurprisefromthemwhileinsuchamood.”Evening drew on apace, and crowds of peoplemoved about to witness theillumination and other evidences of rejoicing, while some of the moreenthusiastic sought to express their sentiments by firing a volleywith smallarms.Accordingtoaneye-witness,1)thesignalwastakenupatonce,and,theexamplespreading likewildfire, thehills soonresoundedonall sideswithanoisethatmighthavebeenmistakenforthestormingofthetown.Thiswasademonstration the authorities could not brook. The necessary orders weregiven and soon the bugles of the garrison sounded the assembly at Scott’sBarracks, while the trumpets of the Mounted Rifles at Fort England sentsquadrons of horse thundering up Bathurst Street to assist in the terribleemergencycausedbyblankcartridgesandjoyoushurrahs!Partiesofinfantrypatrolled the streets, making prisoners in all directions, and the peopleassembled in Church Square to see the illuminations were surrounded bytroops.The leadingmenthere, foreseeing theadvantage thatwouldresultsotheircausebysuchastyleofrepressingpublicopinion,advisedthosearoundthemtokeepquietandbetruetotheirprinciples.HansMaraisandhisfriendshappenedtobeinChurchSquareatthetime,andat once fell inwith and acted on the peaceful advice, though the impulsiveSlingsbyfounditdifficulttorestrainhisBritishspirit.“See,” he said, pointing to a gentleman who approached, “there goes theReverendMrGeary.Doyouknowhim,Hans?He’samanofthetruesort.LetmetellyouinyourearthatIheardhehasgotintobadodourinhighquartersforrefusingtohaveanythingtodowitha‘proscriptionlist’furnishedbytheGovernor,which contains the names of personswho are to be shunned andnarrowlywatched—someofthesepersonsbeingthebestandmostloyalinthecolony.”As he spoke the clergyman referred to was stopped by a friend, and theyoverheardhimexpressmuchgratificationatthearrivaloftheCommissioners,andahopethatabuseswouldsoonbereformed,at thesametimestatinghis

determinationnottobeapartyman.UnfortunatelyfortheclergymantherewereminionsoftheGovernmentwithinearshotatthetime.Hiswordswerereported,and,shortlyafterwards,hewassummarilyremoved.JustthensomeoftheCapeCorpsmenchargedpartofthecrowdandscatteredit. At the same time various persons were arrested. Among these was theindignantSlingsby.Unabletorestrainhisirehecalledout“Shame!”andwasinstantly pounced upon by a serjeant and party of infantry. Immediatelybecomingsensibleofhisfolly,afteramomentarystrugglehesufferedhimselftobeledquietlyaway,butlookedoverhisshoulderashewasmarchedofftothe“tronk,”andsaidhurriedly—“ConsoleLizzie,Hans!”Withalookofsympathy,Hansassuredhisfriendthathewoulddoso,withoutfail,andthen,withConsidine,proceededtothehousewherepoorLizziehadalreadylitupthewindowsandgottheguninreadiness.“Theydarenotkeephimlong,”saidHans,inhisvainattemptstocomforttheweeping bride, “and depend upon it that the conduct of the authorities thiseveningwillgoalongwaytodamagetheirowncauseandadvancethatofthesettlers.”Hans was right. Slingsby was liberated the following morning. TheCommissioners turnedout tobeablemen,whowerenot tobehoodwinked.True, a considerable period elapsed before the “report” afterwardsmade bythemtookeffect,andforsometimethesettlerscontinuedtosuffer;butinthefollowing year the fruits of the visit began to appear. Among otherimprovementswasthecreationofaCounciltoadviseandassisttheGovernor—consisting of seven members, including himself,—whereby a wholesomecheckwasputuponhisarbitrarypower.Trialbyjurywasalsointroduced,andthe power of magistrates was modified. These and other more or lessbeneficialchangestookplace,sothattherewasreasontobelieveatimeofrealprosperityhadatlengthdawned.Butthesettlerswerenotyetoutofthefurnace.Providencesawfittosendothertroublestotrythembesidesunjustandfoolishmeninpower.Therewasstillanotherplagueinstore.OnedayCharlieConsidinerodetowardsthefarmwhichhadnowforseveralyearsbeenhishome.

Theyoungmembersof theMaraisfamilyhadgrownlearnedunderhiscare,and he was now regarded as a son by old Marais and his wife, while thechildrenlookedonhimasanelderbrother.Charliehadnotintendedtostaysolong, and sometimes his conscience reproved him for having given up hisprofession ofmedicine, but the longer he stayedwith those sweet-temperedDutch-African farmers with whom his lot had been cast the more he likedthem,andthemoretheylikedhim.Whatmorenaturalthenthatheshouldstayonfromdaytoday,untilhebecamealmostoneofthemselves?Whenpeoplearehappytheydesirenochange.Butitmustnotbesupposedthattheyouth’sofficewasasinecure.TheyoungMaraiswerenumerous,andsomeofthemwerestupid,—thoughamiable.Thetrouble caused by these, however, was more than compensated by thebrightnessofothers, thefriendshipofHans,andthesunshineofBertha.Thelast by the way, had now, like Gertrude Brook, sprung into a woman, andthoughneithersogracefulnorsosprightlyastheprettyEnglishgirl,shewaspre-eminentlysweetandlovable.Well,oneday,aswehavesaid,CharlieConsidinerodetowardsthefarm.Hehadbeenouthuntingalone,andaspringboktiedacrossthehorsebehindhimshowedthathehadbeensuccessful.Rousinghimselffromareverie,hesuddenlyfoundhimself in themidstofasceneof surpassingbeauty. In front lay a quiet pond,whose surfacewas sostill that it might have been a sheet of clear glass. On his left the familiarmountain-rangebeyondthefarmappearedbluerandnearerthanusual,owingto the intense heat. To the right the undulating karroo, covered with wild-flowers,anddottedwithclumpsofmimosa-bush,terminatedabruptlyinalakewhich stretched away, in some places like a sea, to the horizon. Islandsinnumerablestuddedthesmoothsurfaceofthislake,andwerereflectedinitscrystal depths.Not a breath of air riffled its surface, and therewas awarmsunny brightness, a stillness, a deep quietude, about thewhole scenewhichwerepowerfullysuggestiveofheavenlypeaceandrest.“Glorious!” exclaimed Considine, reining up to a walking pace. “Howdeliciouswhileitlasts,andyethowevanescent!Doesitnotresemblemylifehere?Thatcannotlast.”Charliewas not given tomoralising, but somehowhe could not help it thatday.Withanunusuallyprofoundsighheshookthereinsandcanteredtowardsthelake.Itwasnotthefirsttimehehadseenit,andheknewfullwellthatitwouldnotbarhisprogress.Evenashegaveventtothesightheglassywaterstrembled,undulated,retreated,and,undertheinfluenceofapuffofair,slowlymeltedaway,leavingthewaterlesskarrooinitsplace.

TrulyitisnowonderthatthirstytravellersinAfricandesertshave,fromtimeimmemorial,rushedtowardsthesephantomwatersofthewell-knownmirage,tomeetwithbitterdisappointment!Theresemblanceissoperfectthatanyonemightbedeceivedifunacquaintedwiththephenomenon.On coming within sight of the farm, Considine observed columns of thicksmoke rising from various parts of the homestead.With a vague feeling ofalarmheputspurstohishorse.Drawingquicklynearerheperceivedthatthesmokearosefromthegarden,andthatthepeopleseemedtobebustlingaboutina stateofviolentactivity.Stretchingoutat full speed,hewas soonat thegardengate,andfoundthatallthebustle,energising,andshoutingwentonattheendfarthestfromthegate.Ashethrewthereinsoverapostandspranginhecouldseethroughthetreesthateveryoneintheestablishmentwasengagedinawildfranticfight, inwhichsticksandstones,bushesandblankets,wereusedindiscriminately.Thesmokethatrosearoundsuggestedfireontheplains,andheraninhastetorenderassistance.Itwasagoodlygardenthathepassedthrough.Fruit-treesofeverykindwereso ladenwithgolden treasures thatmanyof thebranches,unable tobear thestrain, had given way and the superabundance trailed upon the earth.Vegetables of all kinds covered the borderswith luscious-looking bulbs anddelicious green leaves, while grapes, currants, figs, etcetera, half smotheredtheirrespectivebushes.ThroughthisrichdisplayofplentyConsidinedashed,and, on reaching thewall at the further end, foundConradMaraiswith hiswifeanddaughter,sons,servants,andslaves,engagedinfuriousconflictwith—locusts!Theenemyhadcomeon themsuddenlyand in force.Thegroundwasalivewith them. Armies, legions, were there—not full-grown flying locusts, butyoungones,styledfoot-gangers,inotherwords,crawlers,walkers,orhoppers,—andeverysoulintheestablishmenthadturnedouttofight.EventhemodestBerthawasthere,defendingabreachinthegardenwallwithabigshawl,dishevelledindressandhair,flushedinface,boldandresoluteinaspect, laying about her with the vigour of an Amazon. The usuallyphlegmatic Conrad defended another weak point, while his at other timesamiablespousestoodnearhimmakingfearfulandfrequentraidsuponthefoewith the branch of of a thorn-tree. Hans, likeGulliver among the Lilliputs,guarded a gate in company with four of his brothers, and they toiled andmoiled like heroes, while perspiration rolled in streams from their blazingfaces.Elsewheremenandwomen,boysandgirls—black,brown,andyellow—exertedthemselvestotheuttermost.

Never was fortress more gallantly defended, never were ramparts morecourageously assailed. Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, were slainunder that gardenwall—hundreds of thousands,millions, hopped over theircomrades’ backs and continued the assault with unconquerable pluck. TheheroesofancientGreeceandRomewerenothingtothem.Horses,cattle,andsheepweredriveninamongthemandmadetoprancewildly,notinthehopeofdestroyingthefoe—aswellmightyouhaveattemptedtoblotoutthemilkyway,—butforthepurposeofstemmingthetorrentandturning,ifpossible,theleading battalions aside from the garden. They would not turn aside. “On,hoppers,on—straighton!”wastheirwatchword.“Deathorvictory”musthavebeentheirmotto!At one spot was a hollow trench or dry ditch leading towards an outhousewhichintervenedbetweenthelocustsandthegarden.Nostormingpartywasdetailed to carry thepoint.Where thenumberswere sovast as to cover thewholecountry,thatwasneedless.Theymarchedincolumns,andthecolumnsthatchancedtocomeuptothepointvoluntarilyandpromptlyundertooktheduty. They swarmed into the ditch. Considine and a small Hottentot boyobserved themove, andwith admirable skill kept the advancing column incheckuntila firewaskindled in theditch. Itwasroused toapitchof fierceheatthatwouldhavesatisfiedNebuchadnezzarhimself,andwasthenleft,forotherpointsofdanger in thewallsclaimedmorevigorousattention.Onwardhoppedand crawled the enemyand stormed the fire.The leading fileswereroastedalive,thosefollowingtumbledovertheirdeadbodiesintotheflames.Hadtherestwishedtotakewarningbythefateoftheircomrades—whichtheydid not—they would have found it impossible to escape, for those behindpushedthemon.Thefirewasfilledwiththedead,overwhelmedbythedying,fairlyputoutbyboth,andthevictoriousarmymarchedoverintriumph.Thentheouthousemet them,but they scorned to turnaside, although therewasafourfootwall,whichonemighthavesupposedmorepracticable.Theywalkedstraight up the outhouse and over it, andwere triumphantly descending theother side inmyriads before theywere discovered andmet,with shrieks ofvengeance,byMrsMarais.“It’s of no use, lads,” gasped oldMarais, pausing for amoment to recoverbreath;“theplaceisdoomed.”“Don’t say so, father,” criedHans.—“Comeon,boys!we’venearly stoppedthematthisgate.”Nearly,—butnotquite!A fewminutes later and the strengthof thegarrisonbegantofail.“Howlong—hasthis—lasted?”askedConsidine,pausingforamomentbeside

Bertha,andpantingviolently.“Since—breakfast,”gaspedtheexhaustedgirl;“we—dis—coveredthem—justafteryou—leftus.—See!theycome!”“Hallo! this way, Hans! bring the flags!” shouted Considine, observing thetremendous body of reserves which were following up the success of thestormersofthefire.It isacuriousfact that thewavingofflagshadbeenfoundofmoreavailonthatoccasion thanmostothermeans.Thebeatingof theenemywithbushesandblanketswasnodoubtveryeffective,butitkilled,scattered,andconfusedthem,sothattheypressed,asitwereblindly,ontheirfate,whereastheflag-wavingappearedtotouchacordofintelligence.Theysawit,wereobviouslyaffected thoughnotkilledby it,andshoweda tendency to turnaside. Itwashoweveronlyatendency;soontheadvancewasresumedinforce.Thehumangiantswerebeaten—fairlyoverwhelmed.Thewallwasscaledandthegardenfinally entered by countless myriads of this truly formidable thoughindividuallycontemptibleenemy.Thusarethestrongattimesconfoundedbythingsthatareweak!Hadthesebeenflyinginsteadofpedestrianlocuststheymight,perhaps,havebeenturnedasidebyfires,forthisissometimesdone.Whenafarmerseesacloudofthemcoming—acloud,itmaybe,ofthreemilesinlengthbyhalfamileinbreadthormore—hekindlesfiresroundhisgardenandfields,raisesadense smoke, andmay sometimes, though not often, succeed in preventingthem from alighting. But the younger or jumping locusts, strong in thestupidityofyouth,cannotbeturnedasidethus.Nothing,indeed,butarushingstream will stop them; even a mighty river, if not rapid, is insufficient.Stagnantpoolstheycrossbydrowningtheleadingmultitudes,untilabridge—not“ofsighs,”but—ofdeathisformed,ofsizesufficienttocarrythemover.TheyevencrossthegreatOrangeRiverthusinplaceswhereitsflowiscalm.InAfricatheypassinsuchcountlessswarms,bothwingedandwingless,thattheirapproach isviewedwithdismay, forwhere theyrest theydevoureverygreenthing,andflocksandherdsareleftutterlydestitute,sothatstarvationorchange of ground is unavoidable. They usually begin theirmarch, or flight,after sunrise, and encamp at sunset—andwoe betide the luckless farmer onwhoselandstheychancetofixtheirtemporaryabode.Locust-swarms are followed by a little bird—named springkaan-vogel orlocust-bird—which comes in such dense flocks as almost to darken the air.These locust-birds are about the size of a swallow,with numerous speckleslike a starling. They live exclusively on locusts—follow them, build their

nests,reartheiryounginthemidstofthem,anddevourthem.Butthisisbynomeansthelocust’sonlyenemy.Everyanimal,domesticandwild,destroysandeats him. Cattle, sheep, horses, fowls, dogs, antelopes—all may be seendevouringhimwithgreediness.Heeveneatshimself,thecannibal!forifanyofhiscomradesgethurtormeetwithaccidentsintravelling,astheyoftendo,thenearest fellow-travellers fallon,killanddevour theunfortunateswithoutdelay.The only human beings who rejoice at sight of the terrible locusts are theBushmen.Thesehaveneitherherds,flocksnorcropstolose,andthoughthewild animals on which they subsist are by these insects driven away, theBushmencarelittle,fortheydelightinfreshlocusts,followthemup,feedonthem,andpreservequantitiesbydryingthemforfutureuse.BeforemorningthesplendidgardenofConradMaraiswasaleafless,fruitlesswilderness. Not a scrap of green or goldwas left. And his casewas by nomeanssingular.Thewholecolonywasmoreor lessvisitedbythisplagueatthattime,andthustherevivingspiritsofthesettlerswereonceagainknockeddownbyacrushingblow.

ChapterEighteenFairs,Fights,Free-Trade,Factions,andotherMatters

In theheartof thewildmountainsceneryof the frontieragrim-looking forthadbeenbuilttokeeptheKafirsincheck.ItwasnamedFortWilshire,andatrulywarlikeplaceitwas,withitshighwallsandcannon,itsredtroopsoftheline,greenrifles,andblueartillery.Lyingremotefromcivilisedmen,itwasadrearyenoughplacetothetroopsstationedthere,though,withthatreadyspiritof adaptation to circumstances which characterises the British soldier, thegarrisondispelledsomeofitsennuibyhunting.At one period of the year, however, the little frontier fortress thoroughlychanged its silentandsolitarycharacter.TheGovernment,yieldingat last toearnest entreaties and strong representations, had agreed to permit, undercertain restrictions, the opening of tradewith theKafirs.A periodical “fair”wasestablishedandappointedtobeheldunderthegunsofFortWilshire.Thecolonialtraders,fullofenergyandthirstingforopportunity,tookadvantageofthe “fair,” and assembled in hundreds, while the Kafirs, in a species ofunbelievingsurprise,mettheminthousandstoexchangewares.Itwasanewideatomanyoftheseblacksonsanddaughtersofnudity,thatthehornswhichtheyusedtothrowawayasuselesswereinrealityvaluablemerchandise,andthat thegum,whichwastobehadfor thegathering,couldprocurefor thembeadsandbuttons,andbrass-wireandcotton,withmanyotherdesirablethings

thatcausedtheirredmouthstowater.Onthedayinwhichweintroducethescenetothereadersomeofthecolonialtradershadalreadyarrivedatthefair.Thesewerenotallofthesamecalibre.Some,ofsmallmeans,hadcommencedmodestlywithashoulder-bundleandwentthroughthenewland,aspeddlersandpackmeninolderlandshaddonebeforethem.Others,withmoremeans,hadsetupthehorse-pack,orthecart,andallaspired,whilesomehadattained, tothewaggon.Thesepenetratedtoevery part of the frontier, supplying the Dutch boers with luxuries hithertoundreamedof,which,erelong,becamenecessities,obtainingfromthemsheepandcattleinexchange,withafairproportionoftheirhoardedrix-daalers.Thetraders thenreturnedtothetowns,soldtheirstock,purchasedfreshsupplies,andwent back to the interior. Thuswas laid the foundation of a commercewhichwasdestinedinfutureyearstobecomeofgreatimportancenotonlytothecolonybuttotheworld.TheopeningoftradewiththeKafirshadaddedmateriallytotheprosperityofthetraders,andthoseassembledatFortWilshirerepresentedallthedifferentclasses.Among the crowds who encamped under the fort guns, Stephen Orpin, theWesleyan, represented thosewho stood on the first round of themercantileladder.Orpinwasstoutoflimb,broadofshoulder,strongofheart,andemptyof pocket; he therefore carried a pack in which were to be found not onlygloves,neckerchiefs,andtrinketsforthewomen,aswellasgaudywaistcoats,etcetera,forthemen,butNewTestaments,tracts,andlittlebooksintheDutchlanguagewherewithStephenhopedtodogoodtothesoulsofhiscustomers.Orpin had come to the “fair” with the double view of trading and holdingintercourseonspiritualthingswiththeKafirs.HelongedtopreachChrist,thecrucifiedSaviour,totheheathen.Ofsuchmen,thankGod,therealwayshavebeen, andwe believe alwayswill be,many in theworld—men in regard towhombigotsareapttosay,“Lord,forbidhim,forhefollowethnotwithus,”butofwhomtheLordsaid,“Forbidhimnot,forhethatisnotagainstusisonourpart.”Among thosewho had attained to the enviable ox-waggonwere our friendsJohnSkydandFrankDobson.Possessingaremnantoftheirmeanswhentheygaveup farming, twoof thebrothers, JamesandRobert, establisheda smallgeneral store inGrahamstown,while John andFrank set up a jointwaggonand took to hunting and trading on a large scale.Of course they bought alltheirsuppliesofbrass-wire,beadsandbuttons,powderandshotetcetera,fromtheSkydstore,andsold their ivory,etcetera,at thesameplace,withmutualbenefit.

Itwas a strange and stirring sight to behold the long files ofKafirwomen,straight and graceful as Venus in body, ugly almost as baboons in visage,coming to the fair from all parts of the land with enormous loads on theirheads of ox-hides, horns, gum, and elephants’ tusks. Threading the narrowbush-pathsinlongsinglefiles,theycamefromhillsideandthickettowardsthegreat centre of attraction. Gradually the crowd thickened. Kafir chiefs withleopard-skinsthrownovertheirotherwisenakedbodiesstalkedaboutwithanassumptionofquietdignitywhichtheyfounditdifficulttomaintainamidtheexcitement and temptationsof the fair.Swarthygroups found shelter amongthetreesthatfringedtheKeiskammabelowthepost—thewomenrestingafterhavinggladly laiddown theirburdens; their lords sittingon theirheelswithknob-kerrieinhand,jealouslyguardingtheirproperty.Thegreatchiefhimselfwasthere,layingseignorialtaxationonhispeople,andevencondescendingtobegforthewhiteman’sbrandy.“Comewithme,” saidOrpin to a newlymadeDutch friend; “I’m told youunderstandKafir,andIwantyoutointerpretforme.Willyou?”TheDutchman said “Ja,” andwent, for Orpin had a persuasive tongue andpleasantmannerwhichinducedallsortsofmentoaidhim.Andsotheytwowentdownintothebushamongthedark-skinnedcrew,andStephenpreachedin their wondering ears the “old, old story” of the Cross—a storywhich isnevertoldentirelyinvain,thoughmanyatimeitdoesseemasiftheeffectofitwerewoefullydisproportionedtotheeffortsofthosewhogoforthbearingthepreciousseed.MeanwhileSkydandDobsonweredrivinglucrativebargains inanotherpartof the field, speakingwonderfulKafir in themidstof aBabelofDutchandEnglishthatwaseminentlysuggestiveoftheancient“tower”itself.Besides the difficulties of language therewere troubles also in reference totrade,forKafirs,althoughsavage,arefastidious.Themenwereasparticularabout theirnecklacesasanybeaucouldbeabout thecutofhiscoatand thewomenwereat timesveryhard toplease in thematterof turban-coversandkaross back-stripes.But aftermuchhaggling the contendingparties came toterms,totheirmutualbenefitandsatisfaction.In another part of themarket there seemed to be a tendency to riot. Eitherbargaining was more hotly carried on there, or spirits of a pugnacioustendencywerecongregated.AmongthemwasatallpowerfulKafir,whohadbeenevidentlytreatedtoaglassofsomethingstrongerthanwater.Hewasnottipsy,hewasonlyelevated,buttheelevationrousedhisiretosuchanextentthathebegan toboast loudly thathecould fightanyone,and flourishedhissticksorkerriesinadefiantmanner.Kafirsalwaysfightwithtwosticks,one

tohitwith,theothertoguard.A trader from theGreen Isle chanced topass thisman, and tobe jostledbyhim. Every one knows of the world’s opinion of the Irishman’s love forfighting.Patbecamenettled.“Arrah!” says he, “yermighty fond o’ swagger, but I’ll tache youmanners,youblackbaste!Comeon!”ThebigKafircameonatonce,andmadeablowatPat’sheadwithhisknob-kerrie thatwouldhaveended the fight atonce if it had takeneffect, but theIrishman,welltrainedintheart,guardeditneatly,andreturnedwithablowsoswift andvigorous that it fell on thepateof the savage like a flail.AswellmightPathavehitarock.Ifthereisastrongpointaboutablackman,itishishead.TheIrishmanknewthis,buthadforgottenitinthefirstflushofcombat.Hebecamewiser.MeanwhileacrowdofexcitedtradersandKafirsgatheredroundthecombatantsandbackedthem.TheKafirmade anotherwild swoop at his enemy’s skull, but the blowwaseasilyturnedaside.Patreturnedwithafeintathisfoe’shead,butcamedownwithterribleforceontheinsideofhisrightknee.TheKafirdroppedhissticks,seizedhiskneewithbothhands,stoodononeleg,andhowledinagony.Scorningtostrikeadefencelessfoe,Paddygavehimadabontheendofhisalready flat nose, byway of reminding him that hewas off his guard. TheKafir tookthehint,caughtuphissticksandsprangathisopponentwith theyellofahyena,whirlingaloftboth sticksatonce.The Irishmanhad to leapaside,and,ashedidso,drewfromtheKafirashriekofpainbyhittinghimsharplyontheleftshin,addingtotheeffectimmediatelybyawhackundertheright eye that might have finished an average ox. The Kafir fell, more,however,becauseofthepainofthedoubleblow,thanbecauseofitsforce,forhe rolledaboutbellowing fora fewseconds.Then, jumpingup,he renewedthefight.Thereisnosayinghowlongitmighthavelastedhadnotapartyoftroopschancedtopassjustthen,whoseparatedthecombatantsanddispersedthecrowd.The “fair,” however, wasmade use of not only as an occasion for trading,preaching,andfighting,butforplotting.Chiefsmetthereinpeace,whomightotherwise have failed to meet except in battle, and these, with chiefs ofbandittifromthemountains,andmalcontentsfromallquarters,concoctedandhatched designs against the well-being of individuals and of the public atlarge.At this time the colonists, besides being troubled by savage thieves, werethreatened with disturbance from the inter-tribal feuds of the savages

themselves. One tremendous Zulu monster of the name of Chaka—whoexcelledNerohimselfincruelty—wasdrivingothertribesofKafirsdownintothe colony, and designing chiefs were beginning to think or hope that theopportunity had arrived for carrying out their favourite idea of driving thewhitemanintothesea.Inadarkforestglade,not far fromthefort,andwithinhearingof itsbugle-calls,StephenOrpinwalkedupanddownwithoneofthemalcontents.“Itellyou,Ruyter,itisinvaintojoinwiththeKafirs,”saidOrpin.“IfalltheHottentotsinAfricaweretounitewiththem,youwouldnotbestrongenoughtocrushthewhiteman.”“Why not?” demanded theHottentot angrily, in his brokenEnglish; “we bestrongasyou,andbrave.”“Butyouarenotsowellarmed,”saidOrpin.“Fact,”returnedthefreebooter,“buttimevillmakedatallsquaar.Smugglersbringgunstowe,an’pooder.Ver’soonbeallright.”“Listen,Ruyter,youarelikeachild.Youknownothing.ThelandfromwhichthewhitemancomeswillneversufferhimtobedrivenoutofAfrica.Englandis rich in everything, andwill sendmen to fill theplacesof thosewho fall.Besides,IthinkGodisonthewhiteman’sside,becausethewhitemaninthemainintendsandtriestodogood.Justthinkofthe‘fair.’Theblackmanwantsbeadsandbrasswireandcotton,andmanyotherthings—thewhitemanbringsthesethingsfromoverthesea.Ontheotherhandthewhitemanwantshides,horns,ivory—theblackmancansupplythesethings.Theymeettoexchange,goodisdonebyeachtotheother.Whyshouldtheyfight?”“Forrevenge,”saidRuyterdarkly.“Nodoubtrevengeissweettoyou,butitissinful,”returnedOrpin.“Besides,thesweetnessdoesnotlastlong;andwillit,letmeask,maketheblackmanhappierorthewhitemanmoresorrowfulinthelong-run?Youshouldthinkofothers,notonlyofyourself,Ruyter.”“DoesJanSmitevertinkofoders—ofanybodybuthisself?”“Perhaps not, but Conrad Marais does, and so do many other men of likemind.God,theFatherofallmen,isaGodofpeace,anddoesnotpermitHischildren togratify feelingsof revenge.Jesus, theSaviourof lostman, is thePrinceofpeace;Hewillnotdeliverthosewhowilfullygivewaytorevenge.”“Inowantdeliverance,”saidtherobberchiefsternly.

“Iknowthat,”repliedOrpin,“anditwastodeliveryoufromthatstateofmindthatJesuscame.Think,Ruyter,think—”Hewas interruptedat thispointby thesoundofanapproachingox-waggon.Ruyter,beingawell-knownoutlaw,didnotdare toshowhimselfat the fair,althoughnot awhitworse in any respect thanmost of theKafir chiefswhowalked openly there unchallenged. He shrank back into the shelter of thejunglewhilethetraderawaitedthecomingupofthewaggon.“Aha, here you are, Orpin—not kept you waiting long, I hope?” said JohnSkydashefollowedhiswaggonintotheglade.“Notlong,”answeredthetrader;“butwemustmakethemostofourtimenow,forthedayisfarspent.”“Itis,butIcouldnotmanagetogetawaysooner.Wehadtolayinasupplyofpowderandleadforthehunt,besidesmanyotherthings.Dobsonwillbeherewith the otherwaggon immediately—he’s not fifty yards behind,—and thenweshallstartfairfortheelephant-ground.You’requitesurethatyouknowtheway,Isuppose?”“IwouldnotundertaketoguideyouifIwerenotsure.”In a fewminutesDobson came upwith the secondwaggon, and thewholepartysetforthonahuntingexpeditionintotheinterior,undertheguidanceofStephenOrpin,whohadalreadywanderedsomuchaboutthecolonythathewasbeginning tobeprettywellacquaintedwithagreatextentof theborderline.About the same time thatSkyd andDobsonwent off to the interior anotherparty of hunters and explorers set out on an expedition from the ScottishsettlementofGlenLynden.Butbeforetouchingonthis,wewillturnasidetorelate an incident which affected the movements of both parties, and hasreferencetoasmallthoughnotunimportantpersonageofourstory.

ChapterNineteenDescribesaSeriesofEarlyRisings

One finemorning early, high up among the krantzes and dark jungles of akloot or mountain gorge, which branched off from Glen Lynden, a noblespecimenof anAfrican savage awoke fromhis night’s repose and stretchedhimself.He had spent the night among the lower branches of a mimosa-bush, the

opening into which was so small that it was a wonder how his large bodycouldhavesqueezedthroughit. Indeed, itwouldhavebeenquite impossibleforhimtohavegainedtheshelterofthatdarkretreatifhehadnotpossessedalithesuppleframeandfourpowerfullegsfurnishedwithtremendousclaws.Weshouldhavementioned,perhaps,thatournoblesavagewasamagnificentleopard—orCape“tiger.”Ashestretchedhimselfhelaidbackhishead,shuthiseyes,andyawned,bywhichacthedisplayedatremendouscollectionofcaninesandgrinders,withapinkthroatofgreatcapacity.Theyawnendedinagasp,andthenheraisedhisheadandlookedquietlyabouthim,gentlypattingthegroundwithhistail,asamanmightpathisbedclotheswhileconsideringwhat todonext.Notunlikeman,helaydownatfulllengthandtriedtogotosleepagain,butitwouldnotdo.Hehadevidentlyhadhisfullallowance,andthereforegotupandstretchedhimselfagaininastandingposition.Inthisact,bendinghisdeepchesttotheground,heuttereda lowgurrof savage satisfaction, sankhis claws into thesoil, and gently tore a number of tough roots into shreds. Sundry littlecreatures of various kinds in the neighbourhood, hearing the gurr, presentedtheirtailstotheskyanddivedintotheirlittleholeswithincrediblerapidity.The leopardnow shookoff dull sloth, and, lashinghis sides in a penitentialmannerwithhistail,glidedthroughtheopeninginthemimosa-bush,boundedintothebranchesofaneighbouringtree,rannimblyouttotheendofoneofthem,andleapingwithamagnificentspringoveragully,alightedsoftlyontheturfattheotherside.Trottingcalmlyintoanopenspace,hestoppedtotakeasurveyofsurroundingnature.Breakfastnownaturallysuggesteditself.Atleastwemaysupposesofromacertain eager look which suddenly kindled in the leopard’s eye, and awrinklingofhisnoseasabirdflittedcloseoverhishead.At thatmomentaspecies of rabbit, or cony, chanced to hop round the corner of a rock. Thelightning-flash is not quicker than the spring with which the Cape-tigertraversedthetwentyfeetbetweenhimselfandhisprey.Theresultwasveryeffectualasregardedthecony,butitwasnotmuchtogurrabout in the way of breakfast. It was a mere whet to the appetite, whichincreasedthedesireformore.Advancing down the kloofwith that stealthy glidingmotion peculiar to thefeline race, the leopard soon came in sight of a fine bushbok, whose sleeksidesdrewfromhimanirrepressiblesnickerofdelight.Butthebushbokwasnotwithinspring-range.Hewasatthefootofalowprecipice.Creepingtothetopofthiswithgreatcautiontheleopardlookedoverwithaviewtoestimate

distance.Itwasyettoofarforaspring,soheturnedatoncetoseekabetterwayofapproach.Indoingsohetouchedasmallstone,whichrolledoverthekrantz, bounded from crag to cliff, and, carrying several other stones largerthan itselfalongwith it,dashed itselfat thevery feetof thebushbok,whichwiselytooktoitsheelsandwentofflikethewind.Sulkybeyondallconception,theleopardcontinuedtodescendthekloofuntilhereachedanarrowpassfromwhichwerevisible,notfaroff,theabodesofmen.Herehepausedandcouchedinquietcontemplation.Nowtherewasanotherearlywakingonthatfinemorning,thoughnotquitesoearlyastheonejustdescribed.MasterJunkieBrook,lyinginapacking-box,which served as an extempore crib, in the cottage of Kenneth McTavish,opened his large round eyes and rubbed them.Getting up, he observed thatMrs Scholtz was sound asleep, and quietly dressed himself. He was aprecociouschild,andhadlearnedtodresswithoutassistance.Thelessonwasmoreeasilylearnedthanbeingslivingincivilisedlandsmightsuppose,owingtothefactthathehadonlytwogarments—alargeleatherjacketandapairofleather trousers,onehugebutton in front, andonebehind,holding the lattersecurelytotheformer.ApairofveltschoenandafurcapcompletedacostumewhichhadbeenmanufacturedbythejointeffortsofhismotherandsisterandMrsScholtz.Thehusbandofthelast,onseeingitforthefirsttime,remarkedthatit“vasmorelikemegarbofamanofdirtyzanaboyofdree.”Thegarbhadbeenmadeofsuchtoughmaterialthatitseemedimpossibletowearitout,andofsuchanextremelyeasyfit thatalthoughthechildhadnowlivedin itupwardsoftwoyearstherewerenotmorethansixpatchesonitanywhere.HowJunkiegot to theBaviaansRivermayperhapsperplex the reader. It iseasilyexplained.Hanshadinvitedalloranyof theBrookfamilytovisithisfather’s farm on the karroo. Gertie catching a cold, or in some other waybecomingfeeble,wantedachangeofair.Her father, recalling the invitation,andhappeningtoknowthatHanswasinGrahamstownatthetime,droveheroverwithMrsScholtzandJunkietomakethethingproper,andofferedavisitofallthree.YoumaybesureHansdidnotrefusetotakethemtohishomeinhisnewcart.AfterspendingsometimethereMrsScholtztookafancythatshewouldliketogowithHansononeofhisfrequentexcursionstoGlenLynden,but shewouldnot leave Junkiebehind.Hansobjected to Junkie at first, butfinallygavein,andthusthelittleherofoundhiswaytotheRiverofBaboons.Whendressed—whichwassoondone,asheomittedwashing—Junkiebegantoconsiderwhathehadbestdo.Mischief,ofcourse,butofwhatsort?Thatwasthequestion.Hisroomwasonthegroundfloor,andhadalatticewindowwhichopenedlike

a door into the back premises. He pushed the window and found that itopened.What a chance!MrsScholtzwas still asleep, and snoring.Absencewithoutleavewashischiefdelight.Intwominuteshewasdeepinthejungle,panting.Knowing from longandbitterexperience thathewouldbepursuedbytheinveterateMrsScholtz,theurchinranupthekloof,bentonplacingthegreatest possible space between him and his natural enemy in the shortestpossible time. In thiswayhewas not longof drawingnear to the leopard’spointofobservation.Nodoubtthatkeen-sightedanimalwouldquicklyhaveobservedthechild, ifits attention had not at the moment been attracted by other and equallymischievous game. A troop of baboons came down the kloof to pilfer thewhiteman’sfruitandvegetables.Theyhadevidentlyrisenlateforbreakfast,and were in a hurry to reach their breakfast parlour before the white manshouldawake.Therewereadozenorsooffemales,severalhugemales,andquiteacrowdofchildrenofvariousages,besidesoneortwoinfantsclingingtotheirmothers’waists.Itwaspitifultoseethesadanxiousfacesoftheseinfants.Perhapstheyknewtheirparents’errandanddisapprovedofit.Moreprobablytheyfelttheirownweakness of frame, and dreaded the shocks sustained when their heedlessmothers bounded from rock or stump like balls of india-rubber. They wereextremelycarelessmothers.EvenJunkie,ashestoodparalysedwithterrorandsurprise,couldnotavoidseeingthat.Thetroopwasledbyagreatblue-facedold-manbaboonwitharemarkablysaturnineexpression.Onreachingthetopoftherockwhichtheleopardhadjustvacated,theoldmancalledahalt.Theotherscametumblingawkwardlytowardshimonall-fours,withtheexceptionofseveraloftheyoungsters,wholoiteredbehindtoplay.Oneofthese,averysmall bad little boy-baboon, deliberately turned aside to exploreonhis ownaccount.He came down near to the foot of the rockwhere the leopard hadconcealedhimself.Catchingsightofhisglaringenemy,thebadboyutteredaterrifiedsquawk.Instantlyallthemales,headedbytheoldman,rushedtotherescue.Powerful thoughhewas, the leopardwas cowardly at heart.A largetroop of baboons had some time ago made mince-meat of his owngrandmother. Remembering this, he sloped under a bank, glided round acornerofthecliff,boundedoverabush,andsoughtrefugeinathicket.Itwas at thismoment,while in the act of bounding, that he caught sight ofJunkie,butbeingconfusedatthemoment,andashamedofhavingbeentwicefoiled, he slunk away with his tail between his legs and concealed himselfamongthebranchesofanoldgnarledandfavouritetree.Thebadboy-baboonwastheonlyonewhohadseentheleopard;theoldmalestherefore had to content themselves with a few fierce looks round in all

directions, and several defiant roars. Born and bred in themidst of alarms,however, they were soon composed enough to resume their descent on thewhiteman’sstores—tothegreatreliefofthepetrifiedJunkie,ofwhomintheiralarmtheytooknonotice,regardinghim,possibly,asabadlyexecutedstatueofababoon.Junkiequicklyrecoveredhimself,and,seeingthebaboonsdescendthekloof,thoughtitsafer,aswellasmoreinaccordwithhisoriginalplans,toascend.Gladly,hopefully,didtheleopardobservehisdecisionandwatchhisprogress.Tohimthetideoffortuneseemedtohavetakenafavourableturn,forJunkie,intheinnocenceofhisheart,madestraightforthegnarledtree.Butoneofthemanyslipssooftenquotedwithreferencetocupsandlipswasatthistimeimpendingovertheunfortunateleopard.There was yet one other early riser that morning—namely Booby theBushman.Inpursuanceofhiscalling, that ill-usedandmisguidedsonof thesoilaroseaboutdaybreakwithmuchofhisnativesoilstickingtohisperson,and, with a few other desperadoes like himself, made a descent on GlenLynden—not, by any means, the first that his fraternity had made. Not sobloodthirsty as the leopard, quite asmischievous as Junkie, andmuchmorecunning than the baboons, Booby chanced to arrive at the gorge alreadymentionedjustatthetimewhenJunkiewasapproachingit.Therewas,ifyouwill, somewhat of a coincidence here in regard to time, but there was nocoincidence in the fact of such characters selecting the same route, becausewhoeverpassedupordownthatkloofmustneedsgobythegorge.SlowlyJunkiepickedhiswayuptheraggedpathtowardsthegnarledtree.Theleopard, scarcely believing in his good luck, licked his lips. Rapidly theBushmanandhismendescendedthesamepath.Theyrodeonhorses—stolenhorses,ofcourse.Theleopardheardtheclatterofhoofs and looked back. Junkie drew nearer to the gnarled tree; the leopardlookedforward.Neverwassavagebeastmorethoroughlyperplexed.Anxietyglaredinhiseyes;exasperationgrinnedinhisteeth;indecisionquiveredinthemusclesofhistail.JustatthatmomentBoobycaughtsightofhisspottedskin.Hadtheleopardbeenlessperturbedhewouldhavebeentoowisetoallowhiscarcass to appear.Apoisoned arrow instantly quivered in his flank. It actedlikeaspur;withanangrygrowlandaclearboundofnooneknowshowmanyfeet,here-enteredthejungleandfledtothemountains.Petrifiedagain,JunkieremainedmotionlesstilltheBushmenrobbersrodeup.Boobyknewthathisleopardwassafe,forapoisonedarrowissuretokillintime,sohedidnotcaretohastenafteritjustthen,butpreferredtocontinuehis

approachtothewhiteman’shabitations.Great,then,washisamazementwhenheallbutrodeoverJunkie.Amazement was quickly succeeded by alarm. His knowledge of the whiteman’swaysandhabitstoldhimatoncethestateofaffairs.TheappearanceofJunkie in the company of “tigers” and baboons,was, he knewwell, amerejuvenile indiscretion.He alsoknew that parental instincts amongwhitemenwere keen, and thence concluded that discovery and pursuit would beimmediate.Hisownplanswerethereforenotonlydefeated,buthisownsafetymuch endangered, as his presence was sure to be discovered by his tracks.“Let’sbeoff instanter,”was thesubstanceofBooby’scommunication tohisbrethren. The brethren agreed, but Booby had lived amongwhitemen, andalthoughhis ownparticularmasterwas a scoundrel, therewere thoseof hishousehold—especiallyamongthefemales—whohadtaughthimsomethingofChristian pity. He could not leave the child to the tender mercies of wildbeasts. He did not dare to convey him back to the cottage of KennethMcTavish.Whatwashetodo?Delaymightbedeath!Inthesecircumstanceshe seized thehorrified Junkieby thearm, swunghimon thepommelofhissaddle, and galloped away up the kloof and over the mountains into thedeepestrecessesofKafirland.When Mrs Scholtz awoke that morning, rubbed her eyes, looked up anddiscovered that Junkie’scribwasempty, shesprang fromherbed,perceivedthe open lattice, and gave vent to an awful scream. In barbarous times andregions a shriek is never uttered in vain. The McTavish household wasinstantlyintheroom,someofthemindeshabille—somearmed—allalarmed.“Ohmy!—ohme!”criedMrsScholtz,leapingbackintobedwithunfemininehaste,“he’sgone!”“Who’sgone?”askedMcTavish.“Junkie!”“What!where?when?how?why?”saidMrsMcTavish,Jessie,andothers.MrsScholtzgaspedandpointedtothelattice;atthesametimeshegraspedhergarmentsasabroadhinttothemen.Theytookithastily.“Come,boys,searchabout,andoneofyousaddleup.Go,callGrootWillem,”wasthemaster’spromptorderasheturnedandlefttheroom.Six Hottentots, a Bushman, and a Bechuana boy obeyed, but those whosearched sought in vain. Yet not altogether in vain—they found Junkie’s“spoor,” and traced it into the jungle. While two followed it, the others

returnedand“saddledup”thehorses.GrootWillemchancedtobeonavisittotheHighlandersatthetime.“Whatapity,”hesaid,comingoutofhisroomandstretchinghimself(itwasquiteanimpressivesighttoseesuchagiantstretchhimself!)“thatthehuntersareoff.Theymighthavehelpedus.”Thegiantspokewithgood-humouredsarcasm,believingthattheurchinwouldassuredly be found somewhere about the premises, and he referred to thedepartureofanexploringandhuntingpartyunderGeorgeRennie,whichhadleftGlenLyndenthepreviousdayfortheinterior.ButwhenGrootWillemwithhiscompanionshadriddenaconsiderablewayup the kloof, and found Junkie’s spoor mingling with that of baboons, hebecameearnest.WhenhecametothegnarledtreeanddiscoveredthatitwasjoinedbythatofhorsesandCapetigers,hebecamealarmed.Adiligentexaminationwasmade.Dropsofbloodwerefoundontheground.Theleopard itselfwasultimatelydiscoveredstonedead ina thicketwith thepoisonedarrowin itsside, thehorse-spoorwasfollowedupa longway,andthenitwasprettyclearlyseenthatthechildhadbeencarriedoffbymaraudersofsomesort.Ofcourseathoroughsearchwasmadeandpursuitwasimmediatelyinstituted.GrootWillemandMcTavishpushedonpromptly to follow the spoor,whilemenweresentbacktotheglenforasupplyofammunition,etcetera,incaseofaprolongedsearchbecomingnecessary.Thesearchwasablyplannedandvigorouslycarriedout;butallinvain.Junkiehaddepartedthatlifeasthoroughlyasifhehadneverbeen,andMrsScholtzremainedatGlenLyndentheverypersonificationofdespair.WeshallnowturntotheexploringpartywhichhadlefttheBaviaansRiveronthepreviousday.Aboutthistimetherumoursofwaramongthenativesofthevastandalmostunknown interior of the land had become unusually alarming.AwanderingandwarlikehordenamedtheFetcanihadbeen,forsometimepast,drivingallthe other tribes before them, and were said at last to be approaching theWinterbergfrontierofthecolony.Inordertoascertainwhatfoundationtherewas for these reports, aswell as toexplore the land, thepartyunderRenniewas sent out. Among thosewho formed this party were Charlie Considine,HansMarais, Sandy Black and his satellite Jerry Goldboy, Andrew Rivers,Diederik andChristianMuller, and the tall black-bearded hunter LucasVanDyk,besidesSlinger,Dikkop,andotherHottentotsandBushmen.

“This iswhat I call real enjoyment,” saidConsidine, as he rodewithHans,somewhat in advance of the cavalcade;—“splendid weather, magnificentscenery, lots of game big and little, good health and freedom. What morecouldamanwish?”“Ja,”saidHansquietly;“youhavereasontobethankful—yetthereismoretowishfor.”“Whatmore?”askedConsidine.“Thatthewholeworldwereashappyasyourself,”saidHans,lookingfullathisfriendwithablandsmile.“AndsoIdowishthat,”returnedConsidinewithenthusiasm.“Doyou?”askedHans,withalookofsurprise.“Of course I do;why do you doubt it?” asked his friend,with a perplexedlook.Hansdidnotreply,butcontinuedtogazeatthemountain-rangetowardswhichthepartywasriding.And, truly, it was a prospect which might well absorb the attention andadmirationofmenlesscapableofbeingaffectedbythebeautiesofnaturethanHansMarais.Theywerepassingthroughaverdantglenatthefootofthemountains,theairofwhichwasperfumedwithwildflowers,andfilledwiththegarrulousmusicofparoquetsandmonkeys.InfrontlaythegrandrangeoftheWinterberg,withits coronet of rocks, its frowning steeps, its grassy slopes, and its skirtsfeatheredoverwithstragglingforest,—allbathedintherichwarmglowofanAfricansunset.“Youhavenotansweredme,Hans,”saidConsidine,afterapause.“WhydoyouthinkIamindifferenttotheworld’shappiness?”“Because,” replied the other, with an expression unusually serious on hiscountenance, “I do not see that you make any effort—beyond being good-naturedandamiable,whichyoucannothelp—tomaketheworldbetter.”Considinelookedathisfriendwithsurprise,andreplied,withalaugh—“Why,Hans, you are displaying a new phase of character. Your remark isundoubtedlytrue—sotrueindeedthat,althoughIobjecttothatcommonplaceretort,—‘You’reanother,’—Icannothelppointingoutthatitappliesequallyto

yourself.”“ItisjustbecauseitappliesequablytomyselfthatImakeit,”rejoinedHans,withunalteredgravity.“YouandIprofesstobeChristians,weboththinkthatweareguidedbyChristianprinciples—anddoubtless,tosomeextent,weare,butwhathavewedoneforthecausethatwecall‘good,’thatisgood?Ispeakformyselfatallevents—Ihavehithertodonenothing,absolutelynothing.”“Mydearfellow,”saidConsidine,withasuddenburstofcandour,“Ibelieveyou are right, and I plead guilty; but then what can we do? We are notclergymen.”“StephenOrpinisnotaclergyman,yetseewhathedoes.Itwasseeingwhatthatmandoes,andhowhelives,thatfirstsetmea-thinkingonthissubject.Heattends tohisordinarycallingquiteaswellasanymanofmyacquaintance,and,I’llbebound,makesagoodthingofit,butanymanwithhalfaneyecansee that he makes it subservient to the great work of serving the Saviour,whomyouandIprofesstolove.Ihaveseenhimsufferlossratherthanworkon the Lord’s day.More than once I’ve seen him gain discredit for his so-called fanaticism. He is an earnest man, eagerly seeking an end which isoutsidehimself,thereforeheisahappyman.Tobeeagerinpursuit,istobeinagreatdegreehappy,evenwhen thepursuit isa triflingone; if itbeagreatandgoodone,theresultmustbegreaterhappiness;ifthepursuithasreferenceto things beyond this life, and ultimate success is hoped for in the next, itseems tome that lasting aswell as highest happinessmay thus be attained.Loveofself,Charlie,isnotabadmotive,assomefolkwouldfalselyteachus.The Almighty put love of self within us. It is only when love of self is asuperlativeaffection that it is sinful,because idolatrous.When it is said that‘loveisthefulfillingofthelaw,’itisnotlovetoGodmerelythatismeant,Ithink, but love to Him supremely, and to all created things as well, selfincluded,becauseifyoucanconceiveofthispassionbeingourmotivepower,and fairly balanced in our breasts—God and all created beings and thingsoccupyingtheirrightrelativepositions,—self,althoughdethroned,wouldnotbeignored.Dependonit,Charlie,thereissomethingwronghere.”TheyoungDutchmansmotehimselfheavilyonhisbroadchest,andlookedathisfriendforareply.What that replywaswe need not pause to say. These two youngmen eversince their first acquaintance had regarded each other with feelings akin tothoseofDavidandJonathan,buttheyhadnotuptothistimeopenedtoeachother those innerchambersof thesoul,where thesecret springsof lifekeepworking continually in the dark, whether we regard them or not—workingoftentimesharshlyforwantoftheoilofhumanintercourseandsympathy.The

floodgateswerenowopened,andthetwofriendsbegantodiscourseonthingspertaining to the soul and theSaviourand theworld tocome,whereby theyfoundthattheirappreciationandenjoymentofthegoodthingsevenofthislifewas increasedconsiderably.Subsequently theydiscovered theexplanationofthis increased power of enjoyment, in thatWord which throws light on allthings,whereitiswrittenthat“godlinessisprofitableforthelifethatnowis,aswellasthatwhichistocome.”

ChapterTwentyTreatsoftheDelights,Dangers,andDistressesoftheWilderness

“Afar in the desert,”—far beyond the frontier settlements of the colony, farfrom the influences of civilisation, in the home of the wild beast and thesavage,theexplorersnowrideundertheblazeofthenoontidesun.Theyhadpassedovermountainanddaleintotheburningplainsofthekarroo,andformanyhourshadtravelledwithoutwaterorshelterfromthescorchingheat.LucasVanDyk,whoguidedthem,saidheknewwherewaterwastobegot, but there was no possibility of reaching it before evening. Thisannouncementwasreceivedinsilence,fornotadropof thelife-givingfluidhadpassed the lipsofmanorbeastsinceanearlyhouron thepreviousday,and their powers of endurancewere being tried severely. The insupportableheatnotonlyincreasedthethirst,butrenderedthehunterslessabletobearit.Allroundthemtheairquiveredwiththeradiationfromtheglaringsand,andoccasionallythemirageappearedwithitsdeliciousprospectsofrelief,butasthe Dutchmen knew the ground well, none were deceived by it, though allweretantalised.Compressingtheirlips,andurgingtheirweariedcattletotheutmost,theypushedsteadilyon,nosoundbreakingthestillnessofthedesertsavethecreakofawaggon-wheelorthegroanofanexhaustedanimal.AtlastCharlieConsidinesoughttorelievehisfeelingsbyconversation.“ThisisoneoftheunpleasantexperiencesofAfricantravel.”HansMarais, towhom the remarkwasmade, replied “Ja,” but as he addednothingmore,andlookedstern,Charlierelapsedintosilence.Ere longoneof theweakeroxenfell.Thepartyhalteda fewminutes,whilethe Hottentot drivers plied their cruel whips unmercifully, but in vain. Onemore merciful than the drivers was there—death came to release the pooranimal. Immediately, as if by magic, vultures appeared in the burning sky.From the far-off horizon they came sailing by twos and threes, as if someinvisiblemessenger, likedeathhimself,hadgonewithlightning-speedtotellthatabanquetawaitedthem.

Notimewaswasted;abriefwordfromtheleadersufficed.Thedyingoxwasreleased from the yoke that had galled it so long, and the party proceeded.Beforetheywereamileofftheoxwasdead,itseyeswereout,itscarcasstornopen,andtheobscenebirdsweregorgingthemselves.Beforenightitwasanempty skeletoncoveredwithadriedhide!Notmanyhourswould suffice toremovethehideandleaveonlythebleachingbones.SuchremainsarefamiliarobjectsonSouthAfricanroadsides.Thatevening,accordingtotheirleader’sprophecy,waterwasreached.Itwasathick muddy pool, but it sufficed to relieve them all, and a night ofcomparativecomfortfollowedadayofsuffering.Nextmorning, just after breakfast, a herd of springbokswas observed, andseveralofthemoreeagerofthepartydashedoffinpursuit.AmongthesewasConsidine, Hans, Andrew Rivers, and Jerry Goldboy. The two last werealwaysfirstinthemadpursuitofgame,andcausedtheirplacidDutchfriendsnolittleanxietybythescrapestheyfrequentlyranthemselvesinto.“Followthem,they’llgetlost,”saidVanDyktoagroupofHottentots.Twoofthese,SlingerandDikkop,obeyedtheorder.Theantelopeswereonadistantsandhillintheplain.Thereweretwogroupsofthem.RivenandJerrymadeforoneofthese.Becomingsuddenlyimbuedwithanideaworthyofahunter,Jerrydivergedtotheright,intendingtoallowhiscompanion tostart thegame,whileheshould lie inwait for itunder theshelter of a bush.Unfortunately the game took the opposite directionwhenstarted,sothatJerrywasthrownentirelyout.Asitchanced,however,thisdidnotmattermuch,forJerry’shorse,becomingunmanageable,tooktoitsheelsanddashedawaywildlyovertheplain,followedbyDikkoptheHottentot.“Mindtheant-bearholes!”shoutedDikkop,butasheshoutedinDutchJerrydidnotunderstandhim,anddevotedhimselftovainendeavourstorestrainthehorse.Atfirsttheanimallookedafteritselfandavoidedtheholesreferredto,butasJerrykepttuggingfuriouslyatthereinsitbecamereckless,andfinallyputa fore-leg intoahole. Instantly it rolledover,and thehunter flewoff itsback,turningacompletesomersaultintheair.Alowshrubgrowsinthekarroo,calledtheill-temperedthorn.Itresemblesamassofminiatureporcupinequills,aninchortwoinlength,plantedasthicklyaspossibletogether,withtheneedle-pointsupandbristling.OnoneoftheseshrubspoorJerryalighted!“Oh! ’eavens, this is hagony!”hegroaned, jumpingup and stamping,while

Dikkopalmostfelloffhishorsewithlaughing.Tohide hismirth he bolted off in pursuit of Jerry’s charger,which he sooncaughtandbroughtback,lookingsupernaturallygrave.“Wewill rejoin the ’unters, Dikkop,” said Jerry, in the tone of amanwhoendeavourstoconcealhissufferings.“Ja,Mynheer,”saidDikkop.Whatever JerryGoldboymighthave said, thatHottentotwouldhave replied“Ja,Mynheer,”forheunderstoodnotawordofEnglish.Jerrymountedwithanill-suppressedgroanandrodebacktotheparty,leaningverymuchforwardinthesaddle,whileDikkopfollowed,showingthewhiteteethinhisdirtyblackvisagefromeartoear.Rivers soonafterwards returnedwitha springbokbehindhim,but therewasnoappearanceofConsidineorHans.As,however,thelatterwasknowntobean experienced traveller, no anxiety was felt for them, and the main partyproceededonitsway.Whennightcametheyfoundthatawell,onwhichtheyhad counted,was dried up, andwere therefore obliged to lie downwithoutwater.Severalshotswerefiredafterdarktoguidetheabsentones,butnoreplywasmade.Still, those incampfeltnoanxiety,knowing thatHanswasquiteabletotakecareofhimself.Andsohewas, truly,buthecouldnot takecareofahot-headedyouthwhowasaseagerasJerryinthechase,andmuchmoredaring.AtfirstheandConsidinerantogetherafterthespringboks;thenHansgotnearenough,dismounted,andshotone.Whilehewasbusyfasteningthecarcassonhis horse, Considine continued to pursue the others; going at full speed, hewassoonfarawayonthehorizon.StillHanswouldhavebeenabletoseehimifhehadnotgotamongsomescatteredgroupsofmimosa-bushes,whichweresufficientlylargetoconcealhim.Whenheremountedandlookedaround,hisfriendwasnot tobeseen.Hesawa fewspringboks,however, racingon thehorizon in the direction in which Considine had galloped, and concludedsomewhat hastily that they were pursued by his friend. Away he went,therefore,butsoondiscoveredthathewasmistaken.Heturnedthen,androdequickly back, blaming himself for not having followed the footprints of hisfriend’shorse.Thishenowdid,andatlastcameupwithhim,butatsolateanhour,andatsuchadistancefromthelineofmarch,thatabivouacintheplainwasinevitable.“Oh,Hans,”he said, “I’m sogladyou’ve foundme! I hadno idea that one

couldgetsoeasilylostinanopenplain.”“You’vehadenoughexperiencetoo,onewouldthink,tohaverememberedthevastnessofthekarroo,”saidHans,dismountingandmakingthefasteningsofthe springbokmore secure, “Aman soon dwindles to the size of a crow inplainslikethis,whenyougallopawayfromhim.Mennotaccustomedtothemmisjudgedistancesandsizesinawonderfulway.Irememberoncebeingouthuntingwith a fellowwhomistook awaggon for a springbok!—But come,mount;wemustrideontoabettercamping-placethanthis,andbecontenttosleepwithoutblanketsto-night.”“I hope the camping-place is not far off, for I’m parched with thirst,” saidConsidine,mountingandfollowingatasmartgallop.“I’m sorry for you,” returnedHans, “for you’ll see nowater this night. To-morrowwe’llstartearlyandgettothewaggonsbybreakfast-time.”ThiswasdepressingnewstoConsidine,fortheheatofthedayandexertionsofthechasehad,asheexpressedit,almostdriedhimup.Therewasnothingforit,however,butpatience.Aboutsunsettheycametoaplacewhereweresomeolddesertedhuts.Inoneofthesetheyresolvedtopassthenight,though,fromcertainholesintheside,itwasevidentlyusedattimesasanabodebybeastsofprey.Havingflintandsteel,theymadeafire,andwhilethusengagedwereserenadedbythedistantanddoloroushowlsofahyenaandtheinharmoniousjabberingsofajackal.“Pleasantcompany!”observedConsidineasheroastedasteakoverthefire.“Ja,” repliedHans,who,beingamoreexpertcook,wasalreadybusywitharib.Themelancholyhootofanowl seemed to indicate that theanimalkingdomagreed with the sentiment, and the young men laughed. They were not,however,disposedtotalkmuch.Afterasilentsuppertheylaydownandsleptsoundly, quite oblivious of the prowlers of the night,who came,more thanonce,neartothedoorofthehut.It was late next day when they awoke. Hans likewise missed his way, andthough he afterwards discovered his mistake, they found it impossible toregain the track of their companions before sunset. All that day they werecompelled to travel without tasting a drop of water, and their poor horsesbecameso fatiguedas tobescarcelyequal tomore thanawalkingpace.AsHansknewthatwaterwasnotfaroff,hepushedonaftersunset,soastohavetheshorterdistancetotraveltoitinthemorning.

“It isvery tantalising,”hesaid,drawingreinwhen thedarknessof thenightrenderedtravellingalmostimpossible,“toknowthatourfriendscannotbefaroff,andyetbeunabletoreachthem.”“Hadn’twebetterfireashot?”askedConsidine.“Notofmuchuse,Ifear,buttherecanbenoharmintrying.”Theshotwasfiredandwasinstantlyrepliedtobya tremendousroarfromalion,apparentlyclosetowheretheystood.Nowoodwasnearthemtomakeafire, nothingbut tufts of grass; they thereforepushedon towards a rangeofdarkmountainsasfastastheirjadedsteedswouldgo.“Haltamoment,”saidHansinalowvoice.They stopped and listened. The approach of the lion in rear was distinctlyheard.“Wecannot escape fromhim,Charlie,” saidHans, as theyagainurged theirhorsesonward,“andinthedarkwecannottakeaimathim.Ouronlychanceisto reach yonder pass or glen that looms like a black cleft in the hills, andclamberupsomeprecipice,whencewecanpelthimwithstones.”He spoke in quick, earnest tones. They soon entered the gorge and weregreetedby thegruntofababoonand thesquallingof itsyoungones,whichhelpedtoincreasethesavageaspectofthetoweringcliffsoneitherside.Theyhad not proceeded far when the lion gave another tremendous roar, which,echoingfromclifftocliff,gavethelucklesshuntersthefeelingofhavinggotinto the very heart of a lion’s den. No suitable place to scramble up beingfound,theypushedmadlyonoveratrackofsandandbushes,expectingeveryinstant to see themonsterboundupon them.But thedefilewas shorter thanHanshadsupposed.Onissuingfromittheywerecheeredbythemoonrisingbrightintheeast,andfoundthattheirenemyhadceasedtofollowthematthatpoint.Still,thoughweary,andwiththeirtonguescleavingtotheroofsoftheirmouths,theycontinuedtheirmarchforseveralhours,andlyingdownatlast,they scarcely knew how or there, they went to sleep with a prayer forprotectionanddeliveranceontheirparchedlips.The weary wanderers passed that night in a very paradise, bathing in coolstreamsandslakingtheirthirstnearly,butneverquite,tothefull.Therewasalways a peculiar desire to drink again, and, even then, to wish for more!Heavenlymusic,too,soundedintheirears,andthesweetshadeofgreentreesshelteredthem.

Itwasdaybreakwhentheywererousedfromthesedelightsbyahyena’showl,andawoke to find that theywerespeechlesswith thirst, theireyes inflamed,andtheirwholeframesburning.Saddling the horses at once, they rode forward, and in a couple of hoursreachedahillnearthetopofwhichtherewasaprojectingrock.“Don’tletmeraiseyourhopestoohigh,”saidHans,pointingtotherock,“butitisjustpossiblethatwemayfindwaterthere.”“Godgrantit!”saidConsidine.“Yourhorseisfresherthanmine,”saidHans,“andyouarelighterthanIam—gofirst.Ifthereiswater,hailme—ifnot,Iwillwaityourreturn.”Withanodofassenttheyouthpushedforward,gainedtherock,andfoundtheplacewherewaterhadoncebeen,adryhole!For a fewminuteshe stoodgazing languidlyon theplainbeyond the ridge.Despair had almost taken possession of his breast, when his eye suddenlybrightened. He observed objects moving far away on the plain.With batedbreathhestoopedandshadedhiseyeswithhishand.Yes, therecouldbenodoubtaboutit—apartyofhorsemenandbullock-waggons!Hetriedtocheer,but his dry throat refused to act. Turning quickly, he began to descend thehillside,andchancedtocoughashewentalong.Instantlyhewassurroundedby almost a hundred baboons, some of gigantic size,which came fearlesslytowards him. They grunted, grinned, and sprang from stone to stone,protruding their mouths and drawing back the skin of their foreheads,threatening an instant attack. Considine’s gunwas loaded, but he had livedlongenoughinthoseregionstobefullyawareofthedangerofwoundingoneof thesecreatures insuchcircumstances.Hadhedonesohewouldprobablyhavebeentorntopiecesinfiveminutes.Hethereforekeptthemoffwiththemuzzleofhisgunashecontinuedthedescent.Someofthemcamesonearasto touchhishatwhilepassingprojecting rocks.At lasthe reached theplain,wherethebaboonsstoppedandappearedtoholdanoisycouncilastowhethertheyshouldmakeagreatassaultornot.Heturnedandlevelledhisgun.“Come,”thoughtheatthatmoment,“don’tdoit,Charlie.Youhaveescaped.Bethankful,andleavethepoorbrutesalone.”Obeyingtheordersofhisconscience,here-shoulderedhisgunandreturnedtohis friend,whomhe foundrecliningundera lowbush,and informedhimofwhathehad seen.TheyoungDutchman jumpedupatonce, and,mounting,rode round a spur of the hill and out upon the plain. In an hour they hadovertakentheircomrades,butgreatwastheirdismayonfindingthattheyhad

long ago consumed every drop ofwater, and that theywere suffering fromthirstquiteasmuchasthemselves.“Nevermind,”saidLucasVanDyk;“letmecomfortyouwith theassurancethatweshallcertainlyreachwaterinafewhours.”The hunter was right. Some hours before sunset the oxen and horsesquickened their pace of their own accord—sure sign that they had scentedwaterfromafar.Shortlyafter,theycameinsightofastream.Theexcitementofallincreasedastheypushedforward.Theybrokeintoawildrunonnearingthestream;andthenfollowedascenewhichisalmostindescribable.Theoxenwere cast loose, the riders leaped to the ground, and thewhole party,men,oxen,andhorses,raninapromiscuousheapintothewater.“Wow,man,Jerry,haeacare;ee’llbesquizzenatweenthebeasts,”saidSandyBlack,astheactiveJerrypassedhimintherace.TheScot’swarningwasnotwithoutreason,fornextmomentJerrywasuptothekneesinthestreambetweentwooxen,who,closingoneachother,almostbursthim.Easingoff,theylethimdroponhandsandknees,andheremainedin that position drinking thankfully.Thewhole placewas quickly stirred upinto a muddy compound like pea-soup, but neither man nor beast wasparticular.Theystruggledforwardandfellontheirknees—notinappropriately—todrink.Onemanwaspusheddownbyanox,butseemedpleasedwiththerefreshing coolness of his position, and remained where he was drinking.Another in his haste tumbled over the edge of the bank and rolled down,precededby an impatient horse,whichhad trippedover him.Bothgatheredthemselves up, somehow, with their lips in the water,—and drank! YoungRivers,happening togain thestreamatapointwhereoxenandhorseswerewedgedtogethertightly,triedtoforceinbetweenthem,but,failinginthis,hestooped tocrawl inbelowthem.At thatmomentSlinger the“Tottie”gaveayell in Dutch, and said that a horse was trampling on him; whom Dikkopconsoledbysaying thathewas fast in themud—andsohewas,butnot toofast topreventdrinking.Meanwhile theDutchmenand theknowingonesofthe party restrained themselves, and sought for better positions where thewaterwasclearer.Therethey,likewise,benttheirtallheadsandsuggested—thoughtheydidnotsing—thecouplet:“OhthataDutchman’sdraughtmightbeAsdeepasthero–o–ollingZuyder-Zee!”Thelimitofdrinkingwascapacity.Eachmanandbeastdrankasmuchashe,orit,couldhold,andthenunwillinglyleftthestream,coveredwithmudand

drippingwet!Oh, itwas a delicious refreshment,which some thought fullyrepaid them for the toil and suffering they had previously undergone. Theaspectof thewholebandmaybedescribed in the languageofSandyBlack,who, beholdinghis friends after the fray, remarked that theywere all “dirtyanddrookit.”

ChapterTwentyOneTreatsofMatterstooNumerousandStirringtobebrieflyreferredto

Soon after this the explorers passed beyond the level country, and theirsufferings were for the time relieved. The region through which they thenpassedwasvaried—hilly,wooded,andbeautiful,and,tocrownall,waterwasplentiful. Large game was also abundant, and one day the footprints ofelephantswerediscovered.Tosomeofthepartythatdaywasoneofdeepestinterestandexcitement.CharlieConsidine,whowas,aswehavesaid,anadeptwiththepencil,longedtositdownandsketchthelordlyelephantinhisnativehaunts.AndrewRiversandJerryGoldboywantedtoshoothim,sodidGeorgeRennieandtheMullersandLucasVanDyk.Moremoderatesouls,likeSandyBlack,saidtheywouldbesatisfiedmerelytoseehim,whileSlingerandDikkop,withtheirbrethren,declaredthattheywantedtoeathim.At last they came in sight of him! It was a little aftermid-day. TheyweretraversingatthetimeajunglesodensethatitwouldhavebeenimpassablebutforaKafir-pathwhichhadbeenkeptopenbywildanimals.Thehuntershadalreadyseenherdsofquaggas,andbuffaloes,andsomeofthelargersortsofantelopes, also one rhinoceros, but not yet elephants.Now, to their joy, thegiant tracks of these monsters were discovered. Near the river, in swampyplaces, itwas evident that someof themhadbeen rolling luxuriously in theoozeandmud.Butitwasintheforestsandjunglesthattheyhadleftthemoststrikingmarksoftheirhabitsandmightypower,fortherethornybrakesofthemostimpenetrablecharacterhadbeentroddenflatbythem,andtreeshadbeenoverturned. In traversingsuchplaces thegreatbull-elephantalwaysmarchesinthevan,burstingthrougheverythingbysheerforceandweight,breakingoffhugelimbsofthelargertreeswithhisprobosciswhentheseobstructhispath,and overturning the smaller ones bodily, while the females and youngermembersofthefamilyfollowinhiswake.A little furtheron theycame to apieceofopengroundwhere the elephantshad tornupanumberofmimosa-treesand inverted themso that theymightthemore easily browse on the juicy roots. Itwas evident from appearancesthat the animals had used their tusks as crowbars, inserting them under the

rootstoloosentheirholdoftheearth,anditwasequallyclearthat,likeotherand higher creatures, they sometimes attempted what was beyond theirstrength,forsomeofthelargertreeshadresistedtheirutmostefforts.Asthesesignsmultipliedthehuntersproceededwithincreasedvigilanceandcaution, eachexhibiting thepeculiarityofhis character,moreor less,byhislookandactions.TheMullers,VanDyk,Rennie,Hans,andotherexperiencedmen, rodealong,calmlywatchful,yetnotsomuchabsorbedas topreventahumorous glance and a smile at the conduct of their less experiencedcomrades.ConsidineandRiversshowedthattheirspiritsweredeeplystirred,bytheflashoftheirever-rovingeyes, thetightcompressionoftheir lips, theflushontheirbrows,andthepositionofreadinessinwhichtheycarriedtheirguns—elephant-guns, by the way, lent them by their Dutch friends for theoccasion.SandyBlack rodewithacool, sober, sedateair, looking interestedandattentive,butwiththatpeculiartwinkleoftheeyesandslightlysarcasticdroopatthecornersofthemouthwhichisoftencharacteristicofthescepticalScotsman. On the other hand, Jerry Goldboy went along blazing withexcitement,while every now and then he uttered a suppressed exclamation,andclappedtheblunderbusstohisshoulderwhenanythingmoved,orseemedtomove,inthejungle.Jerry had flatly refused to exchange his artillery for any otherweapon, andhavinglearnedthatsmallshotwasuselessagainstelephants,hehadchargeditwithfiveorsixlargepebbles—suchasDavidmighthaveusedintheslayingofGoliath.Mixedwith thesewasasprinklingof largenails,andoneor twooddbuttons.Hewasasourceofconstantandjustifiablealarmtohisfriends,who usually compelled him either to ride in front, with the blunderbusspointingforward,orintherear,withitsmuzzlepointingbackward.“There go your friends at last, Jerry,” said Van Dyk, curling his blackmoustache,withasmile,asthepartyemergedfromawoodydefileintoawidevalley.“What? where? eh! in which direction? point ’em out quick!” cried Jerry,cocking the blunderbuss violently and wheeling his steed round with suchforcethathishaunchhitSandyBlack’slegprettyseverely.“Hoot,yeloupin’eedyit!”growledtheScot,somewhatnettled.Jerry subdued himself with a violent effort, while the experienced hunterspointedouttheelephants,andconsultedastothebestplanofprocedure.Therewere fiftyat leastof themagnificentanimalsscattered ingroupsoverthe bottom and sides of a valley about three miles in extent; some werebrowsing on the succulent spekboom, of which they are very fond. Others

werediggingupandfeedingamongtheyoungmimosa-thornsandevergreens.The place where the hunters stood was not suitable for an attack. It wasthereforeresolvedtomoveroundtoabetterposition.Astheyadvancedsomeof the groups of elephants camemore distinctly into view, but they seemedeithernottoobserve,ortodisregard,theintruders.“Whynotgoat’ematonce?”askedyoungRiversinanimpatientwhisper.“Becausewe don’twant to be killed,”was the laconic reply fromDiederikMuller.“Don’tyou see,” explainedVanDyk,withoneofhisquiet smiles, “that thegroundwherethenearestfellowsstandisnotsuitableforhorsemen?”“Well,Idon’tseeexactly,butI’lltakeyourwordforit.”Whiletheywerespeaking,andridingthroughameadowthicklystuddedoverwith clumps of tall evergreens, Considine observed somethingmoving overthetopofabushcloseaheadofhim.“Lookoutthere!”heexclaimed,butthoseinadvancehadalreadyturnedthecornerofabush,andfoundthemselveswithinahundredpacesofahugemaleelephant.Jerryatoncepointedtheblunderbussandshuthiseyes,andwouldinfalliblyhavepulledthetrigger,ifSandyBlack,whohadinsomemeasurebecomehiskeeper,hadnotseizedhiswristandwrenchedtheweaponfromhisgrasp.“Man,ye’llbethedeatho’somebodyyet,”hesaidinalowsterntone.Jerryatoncebecamepenitentandongivingasolemnpromisethathewouldnotfiretillheobtainedpermission,receivedhisweaponback.“Eengrootgruwzaamkarl,”whisperedoneoftheHottentots,inbrokenDutch.“Mycertie,butheisagreatgruesomecarl!”saidBlack,echoinginScotchtheDutchman’sexpressionashegazedinadmiration.“He’sfourteenfeethighifhe’saninch,”observedGeorgeRennie.Thescentandhearingoftheelephantarebothkeen,buthissightisnotverygood. As the wind chanced to blow from him to the hunters he had notperceivedthem.Thiswasfortunate,foritwouldhavebeenhighlydangerousto have attacked him in such ground. They wheeled round therefore andgalloped away towards some scattered rocks, whence they could betterapproach him on foot. Dismounting, the leaders formed a hasty plan of

operations,andimmediatelyproceededtoputitinexecution.Itmayhavebeenthattheirexplanationoftheplanwasnotlucid,orthatJerryGoldboy’sheadwasnotclear,butcertainitisthatafterhavingbeencarefullytold what to do, he dashed into the jungle after Sandy Black and did whatseemedrightinhisowneyes.BlackkeptclosetotheheelsofHansMarais,andsodidConsidine,butJerrysoon began to pant with excitement; then he stumbled and fell. Beforerecovering himself from a “wait-a-bit” thorn he had been left out of sightbehind. He pushed valiantly on however and came to a small open plain,wherehelookedanxiouslyround,buthiscomradeswerenowheretobeseen.Just thenashotwasfired, itwasfollowedquicklybyanother,and thenwasheard, above the shouting of excited Hottentots, the shrill screaming ofwounded and enraged elephants. Jerry heard the tremendous sounds for thefirsttime,andquakedinhisspinalmarrow.Observing the smoke of a shot on the opposite side of the little plain, heproceededtocrossoverhastily,buthadbarelygainedthemiddleoftheopenspacewhentheshrillscreamswererepeatedwithredoubledfury.AtthesametimeJerryheardcriesofwarning,coupledwithhisownname.Helookedrightandleftinalarm,notknowingwherethethreateneddangerwaslikelytocomefrom.Hewasnotkept long in suspense.Behindhimheheard thecracklingandcrashingofbranchescausedbyelephantsburstingthroughthewood.Thenalargefemalewiththreeyoung,butbynomeanssmall,onesissuedfromtheedgeofthejungleandmadestraightattheunfortunateman.Jerryturnedandran,buthehadnochance;theelephantsgainedonhimsofastthathefelt,withanawfulsickeningoftheheart,itwasnotpossibletoreachtherockygroundbeyond the meadow, where he might have been safe. With the courage ofdespairhefacedaboutandfiredstraightinthefaceoftheoldfemale,whichranhimdownwitha shriekof indignation.Shehadonlyone tusk,butwiththatshemadeaprodatJerrythatwouldhavequicklyendedhisdaysifithadnotmissedthemarkandgonedeepintotheground.Shethencaughthimbythemiddlewithhertrunk,threwhimbetweenherfore-feet,andattemptedtotreadhimtodeath.Thisshecertainlywouldhaveaccomplished,butthatJerrywas remarkablyagileandverysmall; thegroundbeingsoftandmuddywasalso in his favour.Once she set her foot on his chest, andhe felt the bonesbending.Ofcoursehadthecreature’sfullweightpressedit,Jerrywouldhavebeencrackedlikeawalnut,butthemonster’sfootwasroundedandwet,and,the poormanmaking a desperatewrench, it slipped into themud; then shetrodonhisarm,andsqueezed it into thegroundwithout snapping thebone.Thus stamping and wriggling for a few seconds, the two fought on forvengeanceandforlife,whileGeorgeRennie,Hans,andthetwoMullersranto

the rescue and fired a volley.This caused the animal towince and lookup.Jerry,takingadvantageofthepause,jumpedupanddivedoutfrombelowherbetween her hind-legs—alighting on his head and turning a completesomersault.Heregainedhisfeetjustassheturnedroundagaintoseizehim.AtthatcriticalmomentLucasVanDykputaballinherhead,andConsidinesentanother into the root of her trunk, which induced her to turn and join herscreamingoffspringinthebushes.Thehunterspursued,whileJerry,coveredwithmudandbruises,andscarcelyable to run,madeoff in theopposite direction.Hehad scarcely reached theshelterofsomebrokenground,whentheenormousmaleelephantwhichhadbeen previously encountered, came running past, either to the rescue of itsmate,orflyinginalarmatthefiring.ItcaughtoneoftheHottentotswhohadloiteredinrearof theattackingparty,carriedhimsomedistancein its trunk,andthen,throwinghimontheground,broughtitsfourfeettogetherandtrodandstampedonhimforaconsiderabletime.Theunfortunatemanwaskilledinstantly. It left the corpse for a little, and then returned to it, as if tomakequite sureof its deadlywork, and,kneelingdown, crushedandkneaded thebodywithitsfore-legs.Thenseizingitagainwithitstrunk,itcarrieditoffandthrewitintothejungle.This delay on the elephant’s part gave the hunters time to return from thedestructionofthefemale,andwithseveralsuccessfulshotstokillthemale.“’Tis a heavy price to pay for our sport,” saidConsidine sadly, as he stoodwithhiscompanionsgazingonthebodyoftheHottentot,whichwastroddenintoashapelessmass.“Huntersdon’tgooutformeresport,”saidLucasVanDyk,“theydoitinthewayofbusiness—forivoryandhides.Ofcoursetheymusttakethechancesofariskytrade.”This sad incident naturally cast a gloom over the party, and they remainedthereonlylongenoughtocutoutthetusksofthemaleelephantandstowthemawaywithchoicepartsofthemeatintheirwaggon.AfterquittingthevalleytheyfellinwiththepartyunderJohnSkydandFrankDobson, and led by StephenOrpin. Theyweremuch surprised to findwiththesetheirfriendsKennethMcTavishandGrootWillem,whosoonaccountedfor theirunexpectedappearance.Theyhadbeensteadilytracingthespoorofpoor Junkie,had lost and re-found it several timesand,during theirpursuit,hadcrossedthewaggon-tracksofSkydandhisparty,whomtheyfollowedup,inthefainthopethattheymighthaveheardorseensomethingtoguidethemintheirsearch.Inthistheyweredisappointed.

Afterabriefcouncilofwar itwasresolved to join their forcesandcontinuethesearchafterJunkie.Proceeding on their way, they fell in with a wounded Kafir. He lay dyingunderabush,andmadenoattempttoescape,althoughheevidentlyregardedthewhitemenasenemies.Havingbeenreassuredonthispoint,andcomfortedwithapieceoftobacco,hetoldthemthathisvillagehadbeenattackedbytheFetcani and completely destroyed,with all thewomen and children—only afew of the wounded warriors like himself having escaped, to perish in thejungle. The Fetcani he described as the most ferocious warriors ever seen.Theydidnotusetheordinaryassagaiorthrowingspear,butashortstabbingone,andinvariablyclosedatoncewiththeirfoeswithirresistibleimpetuosity.Onbeingquestionedaboutprisoners,andreferencebeingmadetowhitemen’schildren,hesaidthathehadheardofawhiteboywhowasbroughttoavillageaday’smarchormorefromwheretheythenwere,butaddedthattheFetcanihordeshadgoneofftodestroythatvillagejustafterdestroyinghisown,andthathehadnodoubtitwasbythattimereducedtoashesandallitsinhabitantsslain.On hearing this, and learning the direction of the village in question, thehunterswentoffatfullgallop,leavingthewaggonstofollowtheirspoor.Itwas nearly sunsetwhen they came to an eminence beyondwhich lay theKafir town of which they were in search. The first glance showed thatsomethingunusualwasgoingoninit—atthesametimeitrelievedtheirfearstoobservethatitwasnotyetdestroyed.Themudhovels,likehugebeehives,inwhichtheKafirsdwelt,werenotyetburnt,andtheonlysmokevisiblewasthatwhichrosefromcookingfires.Butitwasquiteplainthatthepeople,whointhedistanceseemedtoswarminandabouttheplacelikeblackants,wereinwildexcitement.“No doubt they’ve heard that the Fetcani are coming,” said GrootWillem,ridingtothehighestpointoftheridgeonwhichtheystood.“Theplaceseemspretty strong. I thinkwemightdoworse thango lend theniggers ahelpinghandtillwe’vemadeinquiriesaboutthelad.”LucasVanDyk echoed this sentiment, and so did StephenOrpin, but therewereotherswhothoughtitbesttolettheniggersfighttheirownbattles.“Well,friends,”saidKennethMcTavish,“youmayholdwhatopinionyoulikeonthatpoint,butmybusinessjustnowistogointothattownandseeifIcanfind Junkie Brook. The sooner I do so the better, so let those who choosefollowme.”

Herodeoffatabrisktrot,andwasfollowedbythewholeparty.Onreachingthetowntheyhalted,andtheprincipalchief,Eno,cameouttomeetthem.OneoftheHottentotsbeingcalledtointerpret,thehunterswereinformedthattheFetcanihadthreatenedtoattackthetown,andthattheinhabitantswerebusyputtingthemselvesinastateofdefence.Theywereglad,saidthechief,toseethewhitemen,andhopedtheywouldstaytoassisthim.To thisStephenOrpin replied through the interpreter.Stephen somehow fellnaturally into the position of spokesman and chief of the party in positionswhere tactandeloquenceordiplomacywerewanted, though in thehunting-fieldheheldaverysubordinateplace.He toldEno that thewhitemenhad come to seek for awhiteboywhohadbeenstolenfromoneofthefrontiersettlements,andthathehadheardtheboywasinhis,Eno’s,town.Thathewasgladtohearit,thoughofcoursehedidnotsupposeEnohadstolentheboy,seeingthatnoneofhispeoplehadbeenyetnear thecolony.Thatheandhisfriendsnowcametoclaimtheboy,andwouldbegladtoaidthemindefendingthetown,ifattackedwhiletheywereinit.Inreplythechiefsaidheknewnothingaboutawhiteboybeinginhistown,butwouldmakeinquires.Whilethisconferencewasgoingon,amanwasseentoapproach,runningatfullspeed.Hefellfromexhaustiononarriving,andforsomemomentscouldnot speak.Recovering, he told that hehad just escaped fromabandof twohundredFetcaniwarriors,whowereeventhenontheirwaytoattackthetown.Instantlyallwasuproarandconfusion.Thewarriors,seizingtheirshieldsandspears, sallied forth under their chief to meet the enemy—a few of theyoungestbeing leftbehind toguard thewomenandchildren.Apartyof theHottentotsunderKennethMcTavish also remained toguard the town,whiletherestsetofftoaidtheKafirs.Theywerecompelled,however,toridebackashortdistancetomeetthewaggons,andobtainasupplyofammunition.Thusalittletimewaslost,andbeforetheycouldreachthesceneofactiontheKafirshadmetwiththeFetcaniwarriors,beenthoroughlybeaten,andputtoflight.Ontheappearance,however,ofthehorsementhepursuershalted.“Now, lads,” criedGrootWillem, “a steady volley and a charge homewillsendthemtotherightabout.”“Better fireover theirheads,” saidOrpinearnestly. “Wearenot atwarwiththesemen.Letusnotkillifwecanhelpit.”

“Iagreewiththatheartily,”criedCharlieConsidine.“So do I,” said Hans. “Depend on’t the sound will suffice for men whoperhapsneversawfire-armsbefore.”“Quiteright,MaisterMarais,”saidSandyBlack,withgraveapproval,“an’ifoorchargeisonlyheededbyGrootWilleman’JerryGoldboy,tak’mywordfor’tthaeFit-cannycraters’llfleelikechaffbeforethewund.”“Verygood,”saidGrootWillem,withagrin.—“Comealong,Jerry.”Thedauntless littlemananswered the summonswithdelight, and thewholepartyapproachedthewonderingFetcaniata trot.Haltingwhenwithinabouteightyyards,theyfiredavolleyfromhorsebackovertheheadsoftheenemy.Then, throughthesmoke, theychargedatfullspeedlikethunderbolts,GrootWillem roaring like a mad buffalo-bull, Jerry Goldboy shrieking like awounded elephant, and energising fearfully with legs, arms, reins, andblunderbuss,whiletheothersshoutedorlaughedinwildexcitement.TheFetcani,asSandyBlackhadprophesied,couldnotstandit.Turningtheirbacks to the foe, they fledasonlypanic-strickenandnakedniggers can fly,andweresoonscatteredandlostinthejungle.Whilethiswasgoingonfaroutontheplain,KennethMcTavishhadmuchadotokeepthepeoplequietinthetown—sogreatwastheirdreadoffallingintothehandsoftheferociousFetcani.Butwhenthewoundedwarriorsbegantocomein,breathless,gashed,andbleeding,withthereportoftheirdisaster,hefounditimpossibletorestrainthepeople.Theyoungwarriorsignominiouslylefttheplaceandfled,whilethewomenfollowed,carryingtheirchildrenandsuchoftheirworldlygoodsastheywereloathtoleavebehind.ForsometimeMcTavishmanaged to restrain the latter, but when at last the hunters camethunderingbackafter theirbloodlessvictory, thepoorwomen,fancyingtheyweretheenemy,flungdowngoods,andevenbabies,andran.Thehorsemencalledouttoassurethemtheywerefriends,buttheirterrorwastoogreattopermitoftheircomprehending,andtheycontinuedtofly.“Come, Charlie, wemust head these poor creatures, and drive them back,”saidHans, ashe rodeovergroundwhichwas strewnwithutensils,mantles,and victuals, amongwhichmany little black and naked children were seenrunning,stumbling,tottering,orcreeping,accordingtoageandcourage.Followedbytheotherhorsemen,theyrodeaheadoftheflyingmultitude,and,cracking their whips menacingly in front, with an occasional charge, theysucceededinstayingtheflightandturningthepoorwomenback.Nosooner

didthesecomprehendhowmattersstoodthantheyturned,andcaughtuptheirlittleoneswithasmuchaffectionandthankfulnessasiftheyhadjustshownareadinesstodiefor,ratherthanforsake,them.Amongthesechildrenwasonewho,althoughasblackastheaceofspadesinbody and face, had light curly flaxen hair. He ran about in a wildunaccountablemanner,dartinghitherandthither,fromsidetoside.McTavishandtheothers,whohadbythattimedismounted,andwerestandingattheirhorses’headsamusedspectatorsofthescene,lookedatthisurchininsurprise,untiltheyobservedthathewasendeavouringtoescapefromastoutyoungwomanwhodidherbesttocatchhim.Shehadnearlysucceeded,whenhe suddenly doubled like a hare and bore straight down on the horsemen.Seeingthis,thewomangavein,and,turning,fledtothetown,whilethelittlefellowranandclaspedtheHighlanderbytheknees.“Oh!Miss’rTavish!”hecried,andlookedup.“Ah! why—it’s Junkie!” cried the Highlander, catching the child up in hisarmsandhugginghim,bywhichmeansheleftadarkimprintofhimonhisownbreastandface.ItwasindeedJunkie—nakedasonthedayofhisbirth,greasedfromheadtofoot,andcharcoaledasblackastheKingofAshantee!Althoughanobjectofthedeepestinteresttothewhitemen,poorJunkiewasnotatthatmomentpersonallyattractive.Hewas,however,unspeakablyhappyatseeingwhiteandfamiliarfacesoncemore.Hewasalsoverymuchsubdued,and had obviously profited by the rude teaching he had undergone inKafirland,forhisobediencetoorderswaspromptandunquestioning.The first important matter was to clean Junkie. This was only partiallyeffected,andwithdifficulty.Thenextwas toclothehim.Thiswasdone,onthespurof themoment,withpocket-handkerchiefs,eachhuntercontributingone till the costumewas complete.A large red cotton one formed a sort ofplaid;ablueonewithaholeinthemiddle,throughwhichhisheadwasthrust,servedasaprettygoodponchoor tippet; agreenonewithwhite spots, tiedroundtheloins,diddutyasatunicorkilt;andoneofcrimsonsilkroundtheheadformedagorgeousturban.Returningtothevillage,thehuntersfoundEnothechief,and,afterexpressingmuch satisfaction at having arrived in time to lend him effectual aid at socriticalaperiod,theypresentedhimwithgiftsofbrasswireandcottoncloth,fromthestoresinSkydandDobson’swaggons.

Thechiefexpressedhisgratitudeinglowingterms,andbeggedthehunterstostaywithhimforsometime.Butthistheywouldnotdo,asitwasimportanttoreturn to the colony, and report what they had seen without delay.Notwithstandingtheirprofessionsofgratitude,however,theserascalsstoleasmanysmallarticlesfrontthewaggonsastheycouldlayhandson,andwoulddoubtless have taken all that the hunters possessed, if they had not beenimpressedbytheirvalour,andbythedreadfulfirearmswhichtheycarried.This accidental skirmish was the first meeting of the colonists with theFetcani.ItwasnottilltwoyearslaterthattheGovernmentfeltconstrainedtotakeactivemeasuresagainstthesesavages.TheFetcani,orMantateehordes,havingbeendrivenfromtheirowncountrybythebloodthirstyZuluchiefChaka,hadbeenpreyinguponothertribesformany years, and at last, in 1827, they precipitated themselves on theTambookies, and afterwards on the Galekas, threatening to extirpate theseKafirsaltogether,ortodrivethemintothecolonyassuppliantsandbeggars.InthisextremitytheKafirchiefHintzaurgentlycravedassistance.Itwasgranted.AbodyofthecolonistssentoutbyGovernment,underMajorDundas of the Royal Artillery, defeated the warlike Fetcani, who wereafterwards utterly routed and scattered, and their dreaded power finallyannihilated,near the sourcesof theUmtata river, by abodyof troopsunderColonelSomerset.Hintza’swarriorswerepresentatthataffair,tothenumberof about twenty thousand, and they hovered about during the engagementadmiringly, thoughwithout rendering assistance. Butwhen the enemywererouted and in confused retreat, they fell upon them, and, despite theremonstrances of the white men, committed the most appalling atrocities,mutilatingthedead,andcuttingoffthearmsandlegsoftheliving,inorderthemoreeasilytoobtaintheirbrassringsandornaments.This warlike episode did not, however, affect the general condition of thefrontier.Thesettlers,havingovercomethemisfortunesofthefirstyears,beganto prosper and multiply, troubled a good deal, no doubt, by the thievishpropensitiesof theirungratefulblackneighbours, buton thewhole enjoyingthefruitoftheirlaboursincomparativepeaceforseveralyears.

ChapterTwentyTwoTellsofDarkandThreateningClouds,andWar

Theexigenciesofoursomewhatacrobatic tale require,at thispoint, thatweshouldmakeaconsiderablebound.Weshallbeg theobliging reader to leapwithusintotheyear1834.

HansMarais,moustached,bearded,bronzed, and in theprimeof life, sits atthedoorofacottagerecentlybuiltclosetothatofhisfather.Besidehimsitshis wife—formerly Miss Gertrude Brook, and now as sweet and pretty ayoungwomanasyouwould find inamonth’s ride throughacountrywheresweet prettywomenwere, and still are, very numerous in proportion to thepopulation.Whether it was that Hans was timid, or Gertie shy, we cannot tell, butsomehow it is only three months since they began their united career, andHansconsidershimselftohavemarriedrather“lateinlife.”Gertie,beingnowtwenty-six,beginstothinkherselfquiteanoldwoman.Itisevident,however,that this ancient couple wear well, and are sufficiently happy—if we maypresumetojudgefromappearances.“Gertie,”saidHans,pattingthefingerswhichhandedhimhisbigDutchpipe,“Ifearthatmyfatherisdeterminedtogo.”“Doyou think so?” saidGertie,while a sad expression chased the sunshinefromherface.“Yes,hesayshecannotstandthetreatmentweCape-Dutchmenreceivefromthe British Government, and that he means to give up his farm, take hiswaggons and goods, and treck away to the north, with the friendswho arealready preparing to go, in search of free lands in thewildernesswhere theUnionJackdoesnotfly.”“Imustbeverystupid,Hans,”returnedhiswife,withadeprecatingsmile,“foralthoughI’veheardyourfatherdiscussingthesemattersagooddealoflate,Icannotquiteunderstandthem.OfcourseIseewellenoughthatthosemenwhoapproveofslaverymustfeelverymuchaggrievedbytheabolition,butyourfather,likeyourselfandmanyothers,isnotoneofthese—whatthendoeshecomplainof?”“Of a great deal, Gertie,” replied Hans, with an amused glance at herperplexedface,“andnotonly inconnectionwithslavery,butother things. Itwouldtakehoursoftalktotellyouall.”“Butcan’tyougivemesomesortofideaofthesethingsinafewwords?”“Yes;atleastI’lltry,”saidHans.“Ineedscarcelytellyouthattherehasbeenasort of ill-will in the Cape-Dutch mind against the British Government—more’sthepity—eversincethecolonypassedintothepossessionofEngland,owingpartlytotheirnotunderstandingeachother,partlytoincompetentandtyrannicalGovernorspursuingunwisepolicy,partlytounprincipledorstupidmenmisrepresentingthetruthinEngland,andpartlytothepeopleofEngland

beingtooreadytoswallowwhatevertheyaretold.”“What! isall thefaultonthesideof theEnglish?”interruptedGertie,withalaugh.“Hear me out, wife,” returned Hans—“partly owing to foolish Dutchmenrebellingagainstauthority,andtakingthelawintotheirownhands,andpartlyto rascally Dutchmen doing deeds worthy of execration. Evil deeds aresaddled on wrong shoulders, motives are misunderstood, actions areexaggerated, judges both here and in England are sometimes incompetent,prejudiceandignorancepreventveils frombeingremoved,andsix thousandmiles of ocean, to say nothing of six hundred miles of land, intervene tocomplicatetheconfusionsurroundingrightorwrong.”“Dearme!whatanincomprehensiblestateofthings!”saidGertie,openingherblueeyesverywide.“Rather,”returnedHans,withasmile;“andyettherearesensibleEnglishmenandsensibleCape-Dutchmenwhoareprettywellagreedastothetruemeritsofthequestionsthattroubleus.Thereistheabolitionofslavery,forinstance:manyonbothsidesareconvincedastotheproprietyofthat,butnearlyallareagreedincondemningthewayinwhichitisbeinggoneabout,believingthattheconsequencestomanyoftheslaveholderswillberuinous.Butitisuselessto go into such matters now, Gertie. Right or wrong, many of the Dutchfarmersaretalkingseriouslyofgoingoutofthecolony,andmyfather,Igrievetosay,isamongthenumber.”“Andyou,Hans?”“Iwillremainontheoldhomestead—atleastforatime.Ifthingsimprovewemayinducefathertoreturn;ifnot,Iwillfollowhimintothewilderness.”“AndwhatofConsidine?”askedGertie.“Heremainstohelpmetomanagethefarm.Thereisnochanceforhiminthepresent exasperated state of my father’s mind. He unhappily extends hisindignation against England to Englishmen, and vows thatmy sisterBerthashallneverwedCharlieConsidine.”“Ishelikelytocontinueinthatmind?”“Ithinkso.”“Then there is indeed no chance for poor Charlie,” was the rejoinder, “forBerthaMarais will never marry in direct opposition to her father’s wishes.Heigho!’Tistheoldstoryaboutthecourseoftruelove.”

“Hemay change—hewill changehismind, I think,” saidHans, “but in themeantimehewillgooffintothewilderness,carryingBerthaalongwithhim.Iwould have gonewith himmyselfwithout hesitation, had it not been that Icannotbear to thinkof tearingyouaway justyet from theoldpeople,and Imayperhapsdosomegoodhereinthewayofsavingtheoldhome.”Hans looked round with a somewhat mournful gaze at the home of hischildhood,whichboreevidencesofthepreparationsthatwerebeingmadebyConradMaraistoleaveit.That evening a large party of disaffected boers arrived at the homestead ofConradMarais,withwaggons,wives,children,goods,andarms,ontheirwaytothefarnorth.Someofthesemenweresterlingfellows,goodhusbandsandfathersandmasters,butwithfieryindependentspirits,whichcouldnotbrookthe restraints laidon thembyaGovernment thathad too frequentlyarousedtheircontemptorindignation.Otherswerecruel,selfishsavageswhoscornedthe idea thatamanmightnot“wallophisownnigger,”andweremore thanhalfpleasedthattheabolitionofslaveryanditsconsequencesgavethemasortofreasonforthrowingoffallegiancetotheBritishCrown,andforsakingtheirhomes in disgust; and some there were who would have been willing toremain and suffer, but could not bear the idea of being left behind by theirkindred.NextmorningConradcompletedtheloadingofhiswaggons,placedhiswifeand children—therewas still a baby!—in them,mounted his horsewith thesonswhoyet remainedwithhim, andbade farewell to theoldhomeon thekarroo.Hewasfollowedbyalongtrainofhiscompatriots’waggons.TheyallcrossedthefrontierintoKafirlandandthenceforthdeemedthemselvesfree!Thiswasthefirstdroppingsofashower—thefirstleakofatorrent—thefirstoutbreakofthatgreatexodusoftheDutch-AfricanboerswhichwasdestinedinthefuturetoworkamightychangeintheSouthAfricancolony.HansandGertieaccompaniedthepartyforseveralhoursontheirjourney,andthen,biddingthemGod-speed,returnedtotheirdesertedhome.Butnowacloudwas loweringover the landwhichhadbeen imperceptibly,thoughsurely,gatheringonthehorizonforyearspast.Wehavesaidthathithertothecolony,despitemanyprovocations,thefts,andoccasionalmurders, had lived in a state of peacewith theKafirs—the onlytimethattheytookuparmsforabriefspacebeingintheirdefence,atHintza’srequest,againsttheFetcani.

Latterly, we have also observed, the British settlers had toiled hard andprospered. The comforts of life they had in abundance. Trade began to bedeveloped, andmissionswereestablished inKafirland.Amongother things,thefreedomofthepresshadbeengrantedthemafterahardstruggle!ThefirstCapenewspaper,theSouthAfricanCommercialAdvertiser,editedbyPringlethepoetandFairbairn,waspublishedin1824,andtheGrahamstownJournal,the firstEasternProvincenewspaper,was issuedbyMrGodlonton in 1831.Schoolswerealsoestablished.Wool-growingbegantoassumeanimportancewhich was a premonition of the future staple of the Eastern Provinces.Savings-bankswereestablished,and,inshort,everythinggavepromiseofthecolony—both east and west—becoming a vigorous, as it was obviously ahealthy,chipoftheoldblock.But amongst all this wheat there had been springing up tares. With thegrowing prosperity there were growing evils. A generous and well-meanteffort on the part ofChristians and philanthropists to give full freedom andrights to the Hottentots resulted to a large extent in vagabondism, with itsconcomitant robbery.TheKafirs, emboldenedby theweak, and exasperatedbytheincomprehensible,policyoftheColonialGovernmentatthattime,notonlycrossedthebordertoaidtheHottentotthievesintheirwork,andcarryoffsheep and cattle by the hundred, but secretly prepared for war. Behind thesceneswere theparamountchiefHintza, thechiefMacomo,andothers.Thefirst, forgetting the deliverance wrought for him by the settlers and Britishtroopsin1828,secretlystirreduptheKafirs,whilstthesecond,broodingoversupposedwrongs,fannedtheflameofdiscontentraisedamongtheHottentotsbytheproposalofaVagrancyAct.Whenallisreadyforwarittakesbutasparktokindlethetorch.TheKafirswere ready; theBritish,however,werenot.Thesettlershadbeenpeacefullyfollowingtheirvocations,manyofthetroops,whichoughttohavebeenthereto guard them, had been unwiselywithdrawn, and only a few hundredmenremained inscatteredgroupsalong the frontier.ThearmedHottentotsof theKat River—sent there as a defence—became a point of weakness, andrequired the presence of a small force to overawe them and prevent theirjoining theKafirs.At last theelectric sparkwent forth.A farmer (Nell)wasrobbedofsevenhorses,whichweretracedtothekraalofachiefontheneutralterritory. Restoration was refused. A military patrol was sent to enforcerestitution.Oppositionwasoffered,andtheofficerincommandwoundedwithan assagai. Hintza began to retreat and plunder British traders who wereresiding in his territory under his pledged protection, and at length a tradernamedPurcellwasmurderednearthechief’skraalandhisstorerobbed.ThenMacomo began hostilities by robbing and murdering some farmers on thelower part of the Kat River, and two days afterwards the Kafir hordes,

variously estimated at from eight to fifteen thousand men, burst across thewholefrontier,wrappedtheeasterncolonyinthesmokeandflamesofburninghomesteads, scattered the unprepared settlers, demolished the works offourteen years’ labour, penetrated towithin twentymiles ofAlgoaBay, anddrovethousandsofsheepandcattlebackintriumphtoKafirland.

ChapterTwentyThreeWar

Itwas at this juncture—theChristmas-tideof1834, and the summer-time inSouth Africa—that a merry party was assembled under the shade ofumbrageoustreesthatcrownedalittleknollfromwhichcouldbeseenthebluesmokecurlingfromaprosperous-lookinghomesteadinthevalebelow.Itwasa party of settlers enjoying their Christmas festivities in the open air. HansMarais and Charlie Considine were among them, but, feeling less inclinedthan was their wont to join in the hilarity of the young folks, they hadsauntered into the shrubbery and conversed sadly about the departure ofConradMaraisandhisfamily,andoftheunsettledstateofthefrontieratthattime.Whiletheytalked,anarmedbandofsavageshadcreptpastthemunperceived,and advanced stealthily towards the party of revellers on the knoll.Comingsuddenlyacrossthetracksofthesesavages,Hanscastananxiouslookathiscompanion,andsaidquickly—“Lookhere,Charlie—thespoorofKafirs!Let’sgo—”The sentence was cut short by a wild war-cry, which was immediatelyfollowedbyshoutsofmenandscreamsofwomen.Turningwithout anotherword, the two friends ran back to the knoll at fullspeed, drawing their hunting-knives, which were the only weapons theyhappenedtocarryatthetime.Onreachingtheknollafearfulscenepresenteditself.TheKafirshadalreadykilled everyman of the party—having come on them unawares and throwntheirassagaiswithfatalprecisionfromthebushes.Theywerecompletingtheworkofdeathwithshoutsandyellsoffiercedelight.Notawomanwastobeseen.Theyhadeitherbeendragged into thebushesandslain,orhadsoughtrefugeinflight.WithamightyshoutofrageHansandConsidinedashedintothemidstofthemurderers,andtwoinstantlyfell,stabbedtotheheart.Seizingtheassagaisofthese,theyrushedthroughthemidstoftheirfoes,and,asifanimatedbyone

mind,madeforthehomesteadbelow.Toreachthestablesandgetpossessionoftheirhorsesandrifleswastheirobject.The savages, ofwhom therewere about thirty, were so taken aback by thesuddenness and success of this onset that for a few seconds they did notpursue. Then, probably guessing the object of the fugitives, they uttered afuriousyelland followed themdown thehill.ButHansandConsidinewereactiveaswellasstrong.Theykeptwellahead,gainedtheprincipalhouse,andsecured their rifles. Then, instead of barricading the doors and defendingthemselves,theyranoutagainandshotthetwoKafirswhofirstcameup.Welldidthesavagesknowthedeadlynatureofthewhiteman’srifle,althoughat that time they had not themselves become possessed of it. When theircomradesfell,andthetwowhitemenwereseentokneelandtakedeliberateaimat thosewhofollowed, thewholepartyscatteredrightand leftand tookrefugeinthebush.But the friends did not fire. These were not the days of breech-loaders.Prudentlyreservingtheirfire,theymadearushtowardsthestables,“saddledup”inafewseconds,and,mounting,rodeforthatagallopstraightbacktotheblood-stained hillock. To rescue, if possible, some of the femaleswas theirobject. Regardless of several assagais that whizzed close to them, theygallopedhitherandthitheramongthebushes,butwithoutsuccess.“Let’stryyonderhollow,”criedConsidine,pointingashespoke.Thewordshad scarce left his lipswhen a host of somehundredsofKafirs,with the shields, assagais and feathers of savage warriors, burst out of thehollow referred to. They had probably been attracted by the two shots, andinstantlyrushedtowardsthewhitemen.Hans Marais dismounted, kneeled to take steadier aim, fired, and shot theforemostwarrior.Then,springingonhissteedatabound,hegallopedaway,loadingashewent,andcloselyfollowedbyhisfriend.Havingreloaded,Hanspulledupandagainleapttotheground.ThistimeConsidine,appreciatinghisplan,followedhisexample,andbothwereabouttokneelandfirewhentheyperceivedbyaburstofsmokeandflamethatthefarm-buildingshadbeensetonfire.In a straight line beyond, two other columns of dense smoke indicated thepositionoftwoneighbouringfarms,andathirdcolumn,awaytotheright,andfurtherremovedfromthelineofthefrontier,suddenlyconveyedtothemindofHansthefactthatageneralrisingoftheKafirshadtakenplace.Insteadoffiring,heroseandremounted,exclaiming—

“Home,Charlie—home!”At themoment a shoutwas heard in another direction. Turning round, theyobservedabodyofadozenorsoofmountedKafirsmakingstraighttowardsthem.To have killed two or four of thesewould have been easy enough tofirst-rate shots armed with double-barrels, but they knew that those unhurtwouldcontinue thechase.They therefore turnedand fled in thedirectionoftheir own home. Their steedswere good and fresh, but their pursuerswereevidentlywellmounted,fortheydidnotseemtoloseground.In the kitchen of Conrad Marais’s homestead Gertie stood that day, busilyemployed in the construction of a plum-pudding, with which she meant toregaleHansandCharlieontheirreturn.AndveryprettyandhappydidGertielook,withherwhiteapronandherdarkhairloopedupincarelessbraids,andherfaceflushedwithexertion,andherprettyroundarmsbaredtothedimpledelbowsandscarcelycapableofbeingrenderedwhiterbytheflourwithwhichtheywerecovered.AyoungHottentotVenusofindescribableuglinessassistedinretardingher.“Themasterwill be here soon,” saidGertie,wiping the flour and pieces ofdoughoffherhands;“wemustbequick.Isthepotready?”Venusrespondedwitha“Ja,”andagrinwhichdisplayedasplendidcasketofpearls.Justthentheclatterofhoofswasheard.“Why, here they come already, and in such a hurry too!” said Gertie insurprise,untyingherapronhastily.Before the apronwas untied, however,Hans had pulled up at the door andshouted“Gertie!”inavoicesotremendousthathiswifeturnedpaleandcamequicklytothedoor.“Oh,Hans!what—”“Come,darling,quick!”There was no time for more. Hans held out his hand. Gertie took itmechanically.“Yourfootonmytoe.Quick!”Gertiedidasshewasbid,andfeltherselfswungtothesaddleinfrontofherhusband,whoheldherinhisstrongrightarm,whileinthegraspofhishuge

lefthandheheldthereinsandanassagai.PoorGertiehadtime,inthatbriefmoment,tonotethatCharlieConsidinesatmotionlessonhispantinghorse,gazingsternlytowardsthekarroo,andthatacloud of dust was sweeping over the plain towards them. She guessed toosurelywhat itwas,but saidnot aword,whileherhusband leapedhishorsethrough a gap in the gardenwall in order to reach the road by a short cut.Double-weightedthus,thehorsedidnotrunsowellasbefore.Considinewasfrequentlyobligedtocheckhispaceandlookback.ThesternfrownontheDutchman’sbrowhadnowmingledwithitaslightlytroubledlook.“Goon.I’llfollowimmediately,”saidConsidineashereinedin.“Don’tbefoolhardy,”criedHans,withananxiouslookasheshotpast.Without replying, Considine dismounted, knelt on a slight eminence on theplain,anddeliberatelypreparedtofire.Thepursuing savagesobserved the act, andwhenwithin about six or sevenhundredyardsbegantodrawrein.CharlieConsidineknewhisriflewell;althoughnotsightedforsucharange,itwascapableofcarryingthedistancewhensufficientlyelevated,andpracticehadaccustomedhimtolong-rangeshots.Heaimedalittleabovetheheadofthe foremost rider, fired, and killed his horse. With the second barrel hewounded one of the Kafirs. At the samemoment he observed that his latehomewaswrappedinflames,andthatthecattleandsheepofConradMarais,whichhadbeenleft inchargeofHans,werebeingdrivenoffbythesavagestowardsthemountains.Thiswasenough.Remounting,Charliefollowedhisfriend,andwasrejoicedtofindonlookingbackthattheKafirshadceasedtheirpursuit.“Strange,” he said on overtaking Hans, “that they should have given in soeasily.”“It isnot fear that influences them,” returnedhis friend,withdeeplyknittedbrows;“thereptilesknowthereisapassbeforeus,andtheywillsurelytrytocutusoff.TheyknowalltheshortcutsbetterthanIdo.Pushon!”Urging their horses to their utmost speed, the fugitives soon approached amorebrokencountry,andskirtedthemountainrangethroughwhichthepassreferred to by Hans led into level ground beyond. It was a narrow trackthrough jungle,whichwasdense in someplaces,open inothers.Theywere

sooninit,ridingfuriously.AtoneoftheopenspacestheycaughtaglimpseofamountedKafirmakingtowardsapartofthepassinadvanceofthem.Hanspulledupatonce,andlookedeagerly,anxiouslyround,whilehepressedthelightformofGertietightertohisbreast.“Wemust fighthere,Charlie,”hesaid,ashemade fora littlemoundwhichwas crowned with a few bushes. “If you and I were alone we might riskforcingapassage,but—come;theyobserveourintention.”Afewboundsplacedthemonthetopof themound,wheretheytookshelteramongthebushes.Thesewerescarcelythickenoughtocoverthehorses,butamong themwas found a hole or crevice into whichHans told his wife tocreep. She had barely found refuge in this place, when several assagaiswhizzed over their heads. Sheltering themselves behind stones, Hans andConsidine looked eagerly in the direction whence the assagais had beenthrown,andtheformerobservedtheearsofahorsejustappearingoverabush.Hefiredatthespotwhereheconjecturedtheridermustbe,andayelltoldthathehadnotmissedhismark.AtthesamemomenthiscompanionobservedpartofaKafir’sformoppositetohim,and,firing,broughthimtotheground.Seeingthis theothersavagesmadearushat themound,supposingprobablythatbothgunswereempty.Theyhadeitherforgottenaboutorwereignorantof double-barrelledweapons.Twomore shots killed the two leadingKafirs,and the rest turned to fly, but a gigantic fellow shouted to them fiercely tocome on, and at the same moment leaped on Charlie Considine with suchforcethat,althoughthelatterstruckhimheavilywiththebuttofhisrifle,hewasbornetotheground.Thetriumphhoweverwasmomentary.NextinstantHans Marais seized him, stabbed him in the throat, and hurled him backamonghiscomrades,alifelesscorpse.Charlie,recoveringhimself,pointedhisunloadedgunatthesavages,whorecoiled,turned,andfledbacktothecoveroftheoppositebush.“Now is our time,” said Hans, dragging his wife from the place of shelter.“Mountandmakeadashbeforetheyrecover.”While speakingHanswas acting. In anothermomentGertiewas in her oldplace,Considineinthesaddle,andthetwomenmadeaboldpushforlife.ItturnedoutastheDutchmanhadconjectured.TheKafirshadleftallpartsofthe surrounding jungle to join in the assault on the mound, and when thefugitivesmadeadashthroughthem,onlyafewhadpresenceofmindtothrowtheir assagais, and thesemissed theirmark.A fewbounds carriedHans andCharlie once more in advance of their enemies, but the clatter of hoofsimmediatelyafterwardstoldthattheywerehotlypursued.

Thereisnosayinghowthechasemighthaveended,iftheyhadnotmetwithapiece of good fortune immediately afterwards. On emerging from the otherendof thepass, theyalmostranintoasmallpatrolofCapeMountedRifles,who,attractedbytheshotsandcriesinthepass,weregallopingtotherescue.Theydidnothalttoaskquestions,but,withaheartycheerandafriendlywaveof the hand from the officer in command, dashed into the pass andmet thepursuingsavagesintheveryteeth.Of course the latter turned and fled, leaving, however, several of theircomradesdeadontheground.Duringthisearlyperiodof thewar thewholedefendingforceof thefrontierconsistedofonlybetweensevenandeighthundredmen, composedofCapeMounted Rifles and the 75th regiment, with a few of the Artillery andEngineers,andthesehadtobebrokenupintonumeroussmallcompanies,whoweresenthereandtherewheresuccourwasmostneeded.Withthislittlepatrol,Hans,Gertie,andConsidinebivouackedthatnight,and,travellingwiththem,soonafterwardsreachedGrahamstown.Thesightofthecountryastheyapproachedwasasadone.Fromallquarters,men,women,children,vehicles,horses,cattle,andsheep,werecrowdingintothetownasaplaceofrefuge.Atfirstthesettlersnearesttheeasternfrontier,takenbysurprise,fledtotemporaryrallying-points.These,however,hadtobeabandonedforstrongerplacesofrefuge.Onenteringthetowntheyfoundthatthegreatestconfusionandexcitementprevailed.Thechurchhadbeensetapartasanasylumforthewomenandchildren,whohadtoputup,however,withtheundesirableaccompanimentsoffire-armsandgunpowder.Publicmeetingswerebeingheld;picquetsofarmedcitizenswerebeingdespatched towatchthemainroads.All thehouseswere throngedtosuffocationwithrefugees—white,brown,andblack.Thestreets,squares,yards,gardens,andothervacantplaces were crowded by night, and the surrounding hills by day, with theflocksandherdsthathadbeensavedfromtheinvaders,whilethelowingandbleating of these were mingled with the sobs and wails of the widow andfatherless.“Whatmisery!”exclaimedGertie,assherodeslowly throughthecrowdsbythesideofherhusband,mountedonahorselentherbyoneofthepatrol,“Oh,howIdreadtohearthenewsfromhome!”Gertie referred toher father’shome,about theconditionofwhich sheknewnothingatthetime.“Whereshallwegotoseekfornews?”sheaskedanxiously.

“Tothebarracks,”repliedHans.“Youneednotbeanxious,Ithink,”saidConsidine;“ifanythingveryserioushadhappened, it is likely thepatrolwhorescueduswouldhaveheardsomeaccountofitbeforeleavingGrahamstown.“Don’tyouthink?”headded,turningtoHans,“thatwehadbetterinquirefirstatDobson’splace?”Atthatmomenttheywerepassingalargestore,overthedoorofwhichwasablue board with the words “Dobson, Skyd, and Company” emblazoned inlargewhitelettersthereon.The store itself presented in its windows and interior an assortment of drygoods,soextensiveandmiscellaneousastosuggesttheideaofonebeingableto procure anything in it—from a silk dress to a grindstone. It was anextremelyfull,prosperous-lookingstore,andinthemidstofitweretobeseen,sitting on the counters, James and Robert Skyd, both looking bluffer andstrongerthanwhenwelastmetthem,thoughscarcelyadayolder.JamesandRobertwerethemanagingpartnersofthisprosperousfirm;DobsonandJohnSkyd were what the latter styled the hunting partners. Robert Skyd hadrecentlymarriedaprettyGrahamstowngirl,andherlittleboy—thenaboutoneyear old—was, so said his father, the sleeping partner of the firm,who hadbeenvaguelyhinted at by the “Company” longbeforehewasborn. Indeed,the “Company” had been prudently inserted with special reference to whatmight“turnup” inafteryears.At the time thefirmwasformed, ithadbeensuggested that it should be styled Dobson, Skyd, and Sons, but as it waspossiblenothingbutdaughtersmightfalltothelotofanyofthem,“Company”wassubstitutedasbeingconveniently indefinite.Dobson tookprecedence inthe title in virtue of his having brought most capital into the firm. He hadinvested his all in it—amounting to three pounds four and nine-pencehalfpenny. JohnSkydhadcontributedhalf-a-crown,whichhappened tobeabadone.Jamesbroughtnothingatall,andRobertentereditalittleindebtfortobacco.Thegreatwaggonofthehuntingpartners,loadedwithhides,horns,andivory,stoodatthedoorofthestore,asGertieandherprotectorspassed,havingjustarrived from a successful trip into Kafirland, and fortunately escaped theoutbreakofthewar.Fastening their bridles to one of its wheels, Hans, Gertie, and Considineentered.The first face they sawwas that ofEdwinBrook, intowhose arms

Gertieranwithawildcryofjoy.“Why,HansMarais!”criedJamesSkyd,jumpingoffthecounterandgraspinghisbigfriendbythehand,whileRobertseizedthatofConsidine,“wherehaveyou dropped from?—But I need scarcely ask, for all theworld seems to becrowding into the town. Not hurt, I hope?” he added, observing the bloodwhichstainedhisfriend’sdress.“Notinperson,”answeredHans,withasmile,returninghiscordialgrasp.“Andwhatofproperty!”askedEdwinBrook,lookinground.“All gone,” returnedHans sadly. “I rose thismorning a reasonablywealthyman—now,Iamabeggar.Buttellme,whatofyourfamily,MrBrook?”“All saved, thank God,” was the reply. “Junkie, dear boy, who is themostactive young fellow in the land,managed to—Ah! here he comes, andwillspeakforhimself.”Ashespokea tall strappingyouthofabout fifteenentered,openedwidehislaughingblueeyesonseeingHans,and,afteraheartygreeting,toldwithsomehesitationthathehadchancedtobeouthuntingonfootinthejunglesoftheGreatFishRiverwhentheKafirscrossedthefrontier,andhadmanaged,beingaprettygoodrunner,togivehisfatherwarning,sothatthefamilyhadtimetoescape.He did not tell, however, that he had, in a narrow pass, kept abovesixtyKafirsincheckwithhisownhandandgununtilGeorgeDallycouldrunto the house for hisweapons and ammunition, and that then the two held ahundredoftheminplaylongenoughtopermitofthewholefamilyescapingunderthecareofScholtz.“But,”saidEdwinBrook,whorelatedallthiswithevidentsatisfaction,“Iamlikeyourself,Hans,inregardtoproperty.MountHopeisablackenedruin,thefarmislaidwaste,andthecattleareovertheborders.”“AndwhereisMrsBrook?”askedConsidine.“In thishouse.Up-stairs.Come,Gertie isgetting impatient.Letusgo toseeher.”“Now, friends,” said Considine to the brothers Skyd,who had by that timebeen joined by the hunting partners, “there is a matter on which we mustconsultandactwithoutdelay.”HerehetoldofConradMarais’sdeparturewiththeboersacrossthefrontier,and added that if the party was to be saved at all it must be gone aboutinstantly.

“Youcan’tgoaboutitto-day,Charlie,”saidJohnSkyd,“sodon’tgivewaytoimpatience. For such a long trip into the enemy’s countrywemust gowellarmedandsupplied.”“Iwillbrooknodelay,”saidConsidine,withflushingcountenance.“IfithadnotbeenforthenecessityofbringingGertiehereinsafety,HansandIwouldhavesetoutatonceandaloneontheirspoor.Isitnotso?”Hansnoddedassent.“No,friends,”hesaid,turningtothebrotherswithdecision,“wemustbeoffatonce.”“What! without your suppers?” exclaimed Bob Skyd; “but to be serious, itwon’tbepossibletogetthingsreadybeforeto-morrow.Surelythatwilldo,ifwestartatdaybreak.Besides,thepartywithyourfather,Hans,isastrongone,wellabletoholdoutagainstavastlysuperiorforceofsavages.Moreover, ifyouwaitweshallgetupasmallbodyofvolunteers.”HansandCharliewere thusconstrainedunwillingly todelay.Atgreydawn,however, they rode out of Grahamstown at the head of a small party,consistingoftheentirefirmofDobsonandSkyd,inclusiveofJunkie,whosefather granted him permission to go. His mother silently acquiesced. MrsScholtzviolentlyprotested;andwhenshefoundthatherprotestswereuseless,she changed them into pathetic entreaties that Junkie would on no accountwhatevergotosleepincampwithwetfeet.Assoonastheinvasiontookplace,anexpresshadbeensenttoCapetown,andtheableGovernor,SirBenjaminD’Urban,tookinstantandenergeticmeasuresto undo, as far as possible, themischief done by his predecessors. Colonel(afterwards Sir Harry) Smith was despatched to the frontier, and rode thedistance—sixhundredmiles—insixdays.ArrivinginGrahamstown,hetookcommandwithafirmhand,organisedthewhole male population into a warlike garrison, built barricades across thestreets, planted cannon in commandingpositions, cleared the townof flocksandherds,whichwerebreedinganuisance,sentthemtotheopencountrywitha cattleguard, andpreparednotonly todefend the capital, but to carrywarinto the enemy’s country. In short, he breathed into the peoplemuch of hisownenergy,andsoonbroughtorderoutofconfusion.Thestateofaffairsinthecolonyhadindeedreachedaterriblepass.Fromallsidesnewscameinofmurderandpillage.TheunfortunatetradersinKafirlandfaredillatthattime.Oneofthese,Rodgers,wasmurderedinthepresenceof

histhreechildren.AmannamedCramerwassavagelybutcheredwhiledrivingafewcattlealongtheroad.Another,namedMahony,withhiswifeandson-in-law,wereinterceptedwhiletryingtoescapetothemilitarypostofKafirDrift,andMahonywasstretchedacorpseathiswife’sfeet,thentheson-in-lawwasmurdered,butMrsMahonyescapedintothebushwithtwoofherchildrenandaHottentotfemaleservant,and,aftermanyhardships,reachedGrahamstown.Amountedpatrolscouringthecountryfell inwithafarm-housewherethreeDutchmen, in a thick clump of bushes, were defending themselves againstthree hundred Kafirs. Of course the latter were put to flight, and the threeheroes—twoof thembadlywounded—were rescued.Nearlyeverywhere thesettlers,outnumbered,had to fly,andmanywereslainwhiledefending theirhomes,butatthelittlevillageofSalemtheyheldtheirgroundgallantly.TheWesleyanchapel,mission-house,andschoolhouse,werefilledwithrefugees,and although theKafirs swooped down on it at night in large numbers andcarriedoff thecattle, they failed toovercome the stoutdefenders.Theopolisalso held out successfully against them—and so did the Scottish party atBaviaansRiver,althoughattackedandharassedcontinually.DuringanattacknearthelatterplaceaScottishgentlemanofthePringleracehad a narrow escape. SandyBlackwaswith him at the time. Three or fourKafirssuddenlyattackedthem.MrPringleshotone,Sandywoundedanother.AthirdranforwardwhilePringlewasloadingandthrewanassagaiathim.Itstruck himwith great force on the leathern bullet-pouchwhich hung at hisbelt.SandyBlacktookaimatthesavagewithapistol.“Aimlow,Sandy,”saidPringle,continuingtoload.SandyobeyedandshottheKafirdead,then,turninground,saidanxiously—“Are’eestickit,sir?”“I’mnotsure,Sandy,”repliedPringle,puttinghishandinatthewaistofhistrousers,“there’sblood,Isee.”Onexaminationitwasfoundthattheassagaihadbeenarrestedbythestrongpouchandbelt,andhadonlygivenhima triflingscratch,so that thegallantandamiableMrDodsPringlelivedtofightinfutureKafirwars.Inanotherplace,near theKatRiver, thirtymenwereattackedbyahundredandfiftyKafirs.Thelattercameonwithfury,butfiveofthefarmersbroughtdown seven of the enemy at the first discharge, and thereafter poured intothemsorapidanddestructiveafirethattheywereseizedwithpanic,andfled,leavingseventy-fiveoftheirnumberdead.Instances of individual heroismmight be endlesslymultiplied, butwe think

thisisenoughtoshowthedesperatenatureofthestrugglewhichhadbegun.Inthecourseofonefortnightthelaboursoffourteenyearswereannihilated.Forty-fourpersonsweremurdered,369dwellingsconsumed,261pillaged,and172,000headoflive-stockcarriedoffintoKafirlandandirretrievablylost;andwhat aggravated the wickedness of the invasion was the fact that during agreatpartof theyear theGovernorhadbeenengagedinspecialnegotiationsfor a new—and to theKafirsmost advantageous—system of relations,withwhichallthechiefsexceptonehadexpressedthemselvessatisfied.Writing on the condition of the country Colonel Smith said: “Already areseventhousandpersonsdependentonGovernmentforthenecessariesoflife.Thelandisfilledwiththelamentationsofthewidowandthefatherless.Theindelibleimpressionsalreadymadeuponmyselfbythehorrorsofanirruptionof savages upon a scattered population, almost exclusively engaged in thepeaceful occupations of husbandry, are such as tomakeme look on those Ihavewitnessedinaserviceofthirtyyears,tenofwhichinthemosteventfulperiodofwar,astriflestowhatIhavenowwitnessed,andcompelmetobringunder consideration, as forcibly as I am able, the heartrending position inwhich a very large portion of the inhabitants of this frontier are at presentplaced,aswellastheirintenseanxietyrespectingtheirfuturecondition.”SirBenjaminD’Urban,arrivingsoonafterwards,constitutedaBoardofReliefto meet the necessities of the distressed; and relief committees wereestablished in Capetown, Stellenbosch, Graaff-Reinet, and other principaltowns, while subscriptions were collected in Mauritius, Saint Helena, andIndia.SoonafterthearrivalofColonelSmith,burgherforceswerecollected;troopsarrivedwith theGovernoron the sceneofaction,and theworkofexpellingtheinvaderwasbeguninearnest.Skirmishesbysmallbodiesoffarmersanddetachmentsoftroopstookplaceallovertheland,inwhichtheDutch-AfricancolonistsandEnglishsettlerswiththeirdescendantsviedwitheachother,andwiththeregulars,inheroicdaring.Justicerequiresittobeaddedthattheyhadaboldenemytodealwith,fortheKafirswerephysicallysplendidmen;fullofcourageanddaring,althougharmedonlywithlightspears.

ChapterTwentyFourShowswhatbefellaTraderandanEmigrantBand

Stephen Orpin, with the goods of earth in his waggon and the treasures ofheaven in his hand, chanced to be passing over a branch of the AmatolaMountainswhenthetorchofwarwaskindledandsentitshorridglarealongthe frontier. Vague news of the outbreak had reached him, and he was

hasteningbacktothevillageofSalem,inwhichwashisbachelorhome.Stephen,wemay remark inpassing,wasnot abachelor fromchoice.Twicehad he essayed towin the affections of JessieMcTavish, and twice had hefailed.Notbeingamanofextremeselfishness,herefusedtodieofabrokenheart. Hemourned indeed, deeply and silently, but he bowed his head, andcontinued,asfarasinhimlay,tofulfiltheendforwhichheseemedtohavebeen created. He travelled with goods far and wide throughout the easterndistricts of the colony, became a walking newspaper to the farmers of thefrontier,andaguidetotheBetterLandtowhoeverwouldgranthimahearing.But Stephen’s mercantile course, like that of his affections, did not runsmooth.At thepresent time it becameevenmore rugged than themountainroadwhichalmostdislocatedhiswaggonandnearlymaddenedhisHottentotdrivers, for, when involved in the intricacies of a pass, he was suddenlyattackedbyabandof“wild”Bushmanmarauders.Thespotchancedtobesofar advantageous that a high precipice at his back rendered it impossible toattackhimexceptinfront,wherethegroundwasprettyopen.Orpin was by nomeans a milksop, and, although a Christianman, did notunderstandChristianitytoteachtheabsolutegivingupofallone’spossessionstothefirstscoundrelwhoshalldemandthem.Themoment,therefore,thattherobbers showed themselves, he stopped the waggon at the foot of theprecipice,drewhisever-readydouble-barrelledlarge-boregunfromunderthetilt,andranoutinfront,callingonhismentosupporthim.Kneelingdown,heprepared to take a steady aim at the Bushman in advance, a wild-lookingsavage in a sheepskin kaross and armedwith an assagai. The robberswereevidentlyawareofthenatureofagun,fortheyhaltedonseeingthedecidedactionofthetrader.“Comeon!”shoutedOrpintohismen,lookingbackoverhisshoulder;buthismenwerenowheretobeseen: theyhaddesertedhimat thefirstsightof therobbers,andscrambledawayintothejunglelikemonkeys.To resist some dozens of savages single-handed Stephen knew would beuseless, and to shed blood unnecessarily was against his principles. Hethereforemadeuphismindatoncehowtoact.Risingandturninground,hedischargedhisgunattheprecipice,topreventtheBushmenfromaccidentallydoingmischiefwithit;then,sittingdownonapieceoffallenrock,hequietlytookouthispipeandbegantolightit.Thiswasnotmeantasapieceofbravado,butStephenwaseccentric,and itoccurred to him that there was a “touch of nature” in a pipe which mightpossiblyinducetheBushmentobelessrudetohimpersonallythanifhewere

tostandbyandlookaggrievedwhilehiswaggonswerebeingpillaged.In this conjecture he was right. The robbers rushed towards the waggonwithout doing him any harm. One of them, however, picked up the gun inpassing. Then the leader seized the longwhip and drove thewaggon away,leavingitslateownertohismeditations.Stephenwouldhavebeenmorethanhumanifhecouldhavestoodthelossofall his earthly goods with perfect equanimity. He groaned when the oxenbegantomove,andthen,feelingadesperatedesiretorelievehisfeelings,andastrongtendencytofight,hesuddenlyshuthiseyes,andbegantopraythatthe robbers might be forgiven, and himself enabled to bear his trials in abecoming manner. Opening his eyes again, he beheld a sturdy Bushmangazingathiminopen-mouthedsurprise,withanupliftedassagaiinhishand.Stephenjudgedthatthiswasthechiefoftheband,whohadremainedbehindtokill him.At all events,whenhe ceased topray, andopenedhis eyes, theBushmanshuthismouth,andpoisedhisassagaiinathreateningmanner.Unarmed as hewas, Stephen knew that hewas at theman’smercy. In thisdilemma, and knowing nothing of the Bushman language, he put powerfulconstraintonhimself,andlookedplacidlyathiswallet,inwhichhesearchedearnestly for something, quite regardless, to all appearances, of the deadlyspear,whosepointwaswithintenfeetofhisbreast.TheBushman’scuriositywasawakened.HewaiteduntilStephenhaddrawnalumpoftobaccofromhispouch—whichlatterhetookcaretoturninsideouttoshowtherewasnothingelseinit.Risingquietly,thetraderadvancedwithapeacefulair,holdingthetobaccoouttotheBushman,wholookedsuspicious—and distrustfully shook his assagai; but Stephen took no heed. Stoppingwithinacoupleofyardsofhim,heheldoutthetobaccoatthefull lengthofhisarm.TheBushmanhesitated,butfinallyloweredhisassegaiandacceptedthegift.Stephen immediately resumedhispipe,andsmiledpleasantlyathisfoe.TheBushmanappearedtobeunabletoresistthis.Hegrinnedhideously;then,turningabout,madeoff in thedirectionofhiscomradesasfastashisnakedlegscouldcarryhim.ItwasBooby,thefollowerofRuytertheHottentot,whohadthusrobbedtheunfortunatetrader,and,nottwohoursafterwards,RuyterhimselffellinwithStephen,wendinghiswayslowlyandsadlydowntheglen.Desiringhismen toproceed in advance, the robber chief askedOrpin to sitdownonafallentreebesidehim,andrelatewhathadhappened.Whenhehaddoneso,RuytershookhisheadandsaidinhisbrokenEnglish—

“You’sbinmyfriend,Orpin,butIcannothelpyoudistime.Boobynotundermenow,an’we’sbofb’longtoDragoener’sband.I’ssorry,butnotcanhelpyou.”“Nevermind,Ruyter, I daresay you’d helpme if you could,” said Stephen,withasigh; then,withanearnest look in theHottentot’s face,hecontinued,“I’mnot,however,muchdistressedaboutthegoods.TheLordwhogavethemhastakenthemaway,andcangivethembackagainifHehasamindto;buttellme,Ruyter,whywillyounotthinkofthethingsweoncespokeof—thattimewhenyouweresoroughlyhandledbyJanSmit—aboutyoursoulandtheSaviour?”“HowyouknowsInottink?”demandedtheHottentotsharply.“Becauseanymancanknowatreebyitsfruit,”returnedOrpin.“IfyouhadbecomeaChristian,Ishouldnotnowhavefoundyoutheleaderofabandofthieves.”“No, I not a Christian, but I do tink,” returned Ruyter, “only I no’ canonderstan’. De black heathen—so you calls him—live in de land. WhiteChristian—so you calls him—come and take de land;make slabe ob blackman,andkick’imaboutlikepairoboleboots—Inotonderstan’nohow.”“Come, Iwill try tomake you understand,” returnedOrpin, pulling out theNewTestamentwhichhealwayscarriedinhispocket.“Somewhitemenwhocall themselvesChristians areheathens, and someblackmenareChristians.Weareall,—blackandwhite,—bornbad,andGodhassentusaSaviour,andamessage,sothatallwhowill,blackorwhite,maybecomegood.”OrpinherecommencedtoexpoundtheWord,andtotellthestoryoftheCross,whiletheHottentotlistenedwithraptattention,oraskedquestionswhichshowedthathehadindeedbeenthinkingofthesethingssincehislastmeetingwiththetrader,manyyearsbefore.Hewasnotverycommunicative,however,andwhenthetwo parted he declined tomake anymore satisfactory promise than that hewouldcontinueto“tink.”StephenOrpinspentthenightaloneinatree,upwhichhehadclimbedtobemoresecurefromwildbeasts.Sittingthere,hemeditatedmuch,andcametotheconclusionthatheoughtinfuturetodevotehimselfentirelytomissionarylabours. Inpursuanceof that idea,hemadehisway tooneof theWesleyanmissionstationsinKafirland.On the road thither he came to aKafir kraal, where themen seemed to beengagedintheperformanceofawar-dance.

Onbeingquestionedby theseKafirs as towhohewas, andwherehe camefrom,Orpinreplied,inhisbestKafir,thathewasatraderandamissionary.The chief looked surprised, but, on hearing the whole of Orpin’s story, acunning look twinkled inhis eyes, andheprofessedgreat friendship for themissionaries,statingatthesametimethathewasgoingtooneoftheWesleyanstations,andwouldbegladtoescortOrpinthither.Thereafterhegaveordersthat the whiteman should be taken to one of his huts and supplied with a“basket”ofmilk.Thewhitemangratefullyacknowledgedthekindoffer,and,askingthenameofthefriendlychief,wasinformedthatitwasHintza.Justthenacourtfoolorjestersteppedforward,andcriedaloudhisannouncementsoftheeventsoftheday,mixedwithhighlycomplimentarypraisesofhismaster.Stephendidnotunderstandallhesaid,buthegatheredthusmuch,—thatthewarriorshadbeenouttobattleandhadreturnedvictorious;thatHintzawasthegreatestmanandmostcourageouswarriorwhohadeverappearedamongtheKafirs,togladdentheirheartsandenrichtheirbands;andthat therewasgreatworkyetfor thewarriorstodointhewayofdrivingcertainbarbariansintothesea—towhichdesirable deed the heroic, the valiant, the wise, the unapproachable Hintzawouldleadthem.Orpinfeared thatheunderstood themeaningof the lastwords toowell,but,beingawarethatHintzawasregardedbythecolonistsasoneofthefriendliestoftheKafirchiefs,hehopedthathemightbemistaken.Hintzawasasgoodashisword,andsetoutnextdaywithabandofwarriors,givingthewhitemanagoodhorsethathemightridebesidehim.OnthewaytheycameonasightwhichfilledOrpinwithsadnessandanxiety.Itwastheruins of a village, which from the appearance of the remains had evidentlybeenoccupiedinpartbywhitemen.HeobservedthatagleamofsatisfactionlitupHintza’sswarthyvisageforamomentashepassedtheplace.Dismounting, the party proceeded to examine the ruins, but found nothing.TheKafirswere very taciturn, but the chief said, on being pressed, that hebelieved ithadbeenamissionstationwhichwickedmenofother tribeshadburned.Ontheoutbreakofthiswarsomeofthemissionariesremainedbytheirpeople,otherswerecompelledtoleavethem.Thestationjustpassedhadbeendeserted.AttheonetowhichHintzawasnowleading Orpin the missionaries had remained at their post. There he foundthem still holding out, but in deep dejection, for nearly all their people hadforsaken them, and gone to thewar. Evenwhile hewas talkingwith them,

crowdsofthebloodstainedsavageswerereturningfromthecolony,ladenwiththe spoils of the white man, and driving thousands of his sheep and cattlebeforethem.Inthesecircumstances,StephenresolvedtomakethebestofhiswaybacktoSalem.OntellingthistoHintza,thatchieffromsomecausethathecouldnotunderstand,againofferedtoescorthim.Hewouldnotaccompanyhimpersonally,hesaid,buthewouldsendwithhimabandofhiswarriors,andhetrustedthatonhisarrivalinthecolonyhewouldtelltothegreatwhitechief(theGovernor)thathe,Hintza,didnotaidtheotherKafirtribesinthiswar.Stephen’s eyes were opened by the last speech, and from that moment hesuspectedHintzaoftreachery.Hehadnochoice,however,buttoaccepttheescort.Ontheverydayaftertheyhad started, they came to a spot where a terrible fight had obviously takenplace.Thegroundwas strewnwith themangledcorpsesof apartyofwhitemen, while the remains of waggons and other signs showed that they hadformedoneofthebandsofDutchemigrantswhichhadalreadybeguntoquitthecolony.Thesavagesmadeineffectualattempts toconceal theirdelightatwhattheysaw,andOrpinnowfeltthathewasinthepowerofenemieswhomerelysparedhislifeinthehopethathemightafterwardsbeusefultothem.Thebandwhichescortedhimconsistedofseveralhundredwarriors,afewofwhomweremountedonsplendidhorsesstolen fromthesettlers.Hehimselfwasalsomountedonagoodsteed,butfeltthatitwouldbemadnesstoattemptto fly from them. On the second day they were joined—whether byarrangement or not Orpin had no means of judging—by a band of over athousandwarriorsbelongingtoadifferenttribefromhisescort.Asthetraderrode along in a dejected state ofmind, one of the advance-guard or scoutscamebackwithexcitedlooks,sayingthatalargebandofDutchfarmerswasencampeddowninahollowjustbeyondtheriseinfrontofthem.ThechiefoftheKafirsorderedthescoutsternlytobesilent,at thesametimeglancingatOrpin. Then hewhispered to twomen,who quietly took their assagais andstationed themselvesoneon either sideof theirwhite prisoner—for suchhereallywas.Orpinnow felt certain that thegroupof principalmenwhodrew together alittleapartwereconcerting thebestmodeofattacking theemigrant farmers,andhisheartburnedwithinhimashethoughtofthemrestingthereinfanciedsecurity,whiletheseblackscoundrelswereplottingtheirdestruction.Butwhatcould he do—alone and totally unarmed?He thought ofmaking a dash andgiving the alarm, but thewatchful savages at his side seemed to divine hisintentions,fortheygraspedtheirassagaiswithsignificantaction.

“Adesperatedisease,”thoughtOrpin,“requiresadesperateremedy.Iwilltryit, and may succeed—God helping me.” A thought occurred just then.Disengaginghisrightfootfromthestirrup,hemadeasifhewereshorteningitalittle,butinstead,hedetacheditfromthesaddle,andtakingoneturnoftheleatherroundhishand,leapedhishorseatthesavagenearesthimandstruckhimfullontheforeheadwiththestirrup-iron.Dashingonatfullspeed,hebentlow,and,ashehadhoped,thespearoftheothersavagewhizzedcloseoverhisback.The actwas so sudden that hehad almost gained the ridgebefore theothermountedKafirscouldpursue.Heheardaloudvoice,however,commandthem to stop, and, lookingback, saw thatonlyoneKafir—the leader—gavechase,butthatleaderwasapowerfulman,armed,andonafleeterhorsethanhisown.Aglanceshowedhimthecampoftheemigrantfarmersinahollowaboutamileorsodistant.Hemadestraightforit.Theactionofthenextfewsecondswasshort,sharp,anddecisive.TheDutchmen, havinghad a previous alarm froma smallKafir band,wereprepared. They had drawn their waggons into a compact circle, closing theapertures between and beneath them with thorn-bushes, which they lashedfirmlywith leather thongs to thewheels anddissel-boomsorwaggon-poles.Within this circle was a smaller one for the protection of the women andchildren.Great was the surprise of the farmers when they heard a loud shout, andbeheld a white man flying for his life from a solitary savage. With thepromptitude ofmen born and bred in themidst of alarms, they seized theirgunsandissuedfromtheirfortifiedenclosuretotherescue,buttheKafirwasalreadyclosetoOrpin,andintheactofraisinghisassagaitostabhim.Seeingtheurgencyofthecase,ConradMarais,whowasconsideredaprettygoodshotamonghis fellows, tooksteadyaim,and,at the riskofhitting thewhiteman, fired. The right arm of the savage dropped by his side and theassagaifelltotheground,but,pluckinganotherfromhisbundlewithhislefthand,hemadeafuriousthrust.StephenOrpin,swayingaside,wasonlygrazedby it. At the same time he whirled the stirrup once round his head, and,bringing the iron down with tremendous force on the skull of his pursuer,hurledhimtotheground.“Stephen Orpin!” exclaimed Conrad Marais in amazement, as the tradergallopedup.“You’vegotmorepluckthanIgaveyoucreditfor,”growledJanSmit.“You’ll need all your own pluck presently,” retorted Orpin, who thereupontold them that hundreds of Kafirs were on the other side of the ridge, and

would be down on them in a few minutes. Indeed, he had not finishedspeakingwhentheridgeinquestionwascrossedbytheblackhost,whocameyellingontotheattack,—thefewmountedmenleading.“Come, boys, let’s meet them as far as possible from the waggons,” criedConrad.The whole band of farmers, each mounted and carrying his gun, dashedforward.Whenquiteclosetothefoetheyhalted,and,everymandismounting,kneltandfired.Nearlyallthehorsemenamongtheenemyfelltothegroundatthedischarge,andtheriderlesssteedsgallopedovertheplain,whilenumbersof the footmen were also killed and wounded. But most of those savagesbelonged to a fierce andwarlike tribe. Though checked for amoment, theysoon returned to the attackmore furiously than before. TheDutch farmers,remounting, galloped back a short distance, loading as they went; haltingagain,theydismountedandfiredasbefore,withdeadlyeffect.There is no question that the white men, if sufficiently supplied withammunition,couldhavethuseasilyovercomeanynumberofthesavages,butthewaggonsstopped them.Onreaching these, theywereobliged tostandatbay,and,beinggreatlyoutnumbered,tookshelterinsideoftheirenclosure.Ofcoursetheirflocksandherds,beingmostofthemoutside,wereatoncedrivenaway by a small party of the assailants, while the larger proportion, withsavageyellsandwar-cries,madeafuriousattackontheirposition.Closingroundthecircle, theyendeavouredagainandagaintobreakthroughthe line or to clamber over thewaggon-tilts, and never did savagewarriorsearn a better title to the name of braves than on that occasion. Even thebristlingfourandsix-inchthornsofthemimosa-busheswouldnothavebeenable to turn back their impetuous onset if behind these the stoutDutchmen,fighting for wives and children, had not stood manfully loading and firingvolleysofslugsandbuckshotatarm’s-lengthfromthem.ThecrowdedranksoftheKafirswereploughedasifbycannon,whilehundredsofassagaiswerehurled into the enclosure, but happilywith little effect, though a fewof thedefenders—exposingthemselvesrecklessly—werewounded.While ConradMarais was standing close to the hind-wheels of one of thewaggons,watchingforagoodshotataKafiroutside,whowasdodgingaboutforthedoublepurposeofbaulkingConrad’sintentionandthrustinganassagaiinto him, another active Kafir had clambered unobserved on the tilt of thewaggon andwas in the very act of leaning over to thrust his spear into thebackof theDutchman’sneckwhenhewasobservedbyStephenOrpin,whochancedtobereloadinghisgunatthemoment.

With a loud roar, very unlike his usual gentle tones,Orpin sprang forward,seizedathickpieceofwoodlikeafour-footrolling-pin,andtherewithfelledthesavage,whotumbledheadlongintotheenclosure.“Oh,father!”exclaimeda terrifiedvoiceat thatmoment,whilea light touchwaslaidonConrad’sshoulder.“What brings you here, Bertha?” said Conrad, with an impatient gesture.“Don’tyouknow—”“Come,quick,tomother!”criedthegirl,interrupting.No more was needed. In a moment Conrad was in the central enclosure,where,crowdedunderarudeerectionofplanksandboxes,were thewomenand children.An assagai had penetrated an unguarded crevice, and, passingunderthearmofpoorMrsMarais,hadpinnedhertothefamilytrunk,againstwhichsheleaned.“Berthacouldnotpullitout,”saidMrsMarais,withafaintsmileonherpaleface,“butIdon’tthinkI’mmuchhurt.”Inamomentherhusbandhadpulledoutthespear,foundthatithadpenetratedherclothing,andonlygrazedherbreast,tooktimemerelytomakesureofthis,andthen,leavingherinBertha’shands,returnedtothesceneofcombat.Hewas not an instant too soon. A yell was uttered by the savages as theyrushedataweakpoint,wherethethorn-bushdefenceshadbeenbrokendown.Thepoint appeared tobeundefended.Theywereabout to leap through inadense mass when ten Dutchmen, who had reserved their fire, discharged avolleysimultaneouslyintothemidstofthem.Itwasaruseofthedefenderstodrawthesavagestothatpoint.WhilsttheKafirstumbledbackoverheapsofdeadanddying,severalotherfarmers thrustmassesof impenetrablemimosabushintothegapandrefilledit.Thisdiscomfiturecheckedtheassailantsforalittle;theydrewoffandretiredbehindtheridgetoconcertplansforarenewedandmoresystematicattack.

ChapterTwentyFiveTreatsofVariousStrangeIncidents,someInterestingMatters,anda

Rescue

While the emigrant farmers were thus gallantly defending themselves, thepartyunderHansMaraisandCharlieConsidinewashasteningontheirspoortotherescue.Theirnumbershadbeenincreasedbyseveralvolunteers,amongwhomwere

GeorgeDally and Scholtz, alsoDavid, Jacob, andHendrik, the sons of JanSmit,whohadmadeuptheirmindsnottofollowthefortunesoftheirsavage-temperedsire,butwhowereatoncereadytoflytohisrescueonlearningthathe was in danger. While passing through the country they were furtherreinforcedbyabandofstoutburghers,andbyfourbrothersnamedBowker.Therewereoriginallysevenbrothersof thisfamily,whoafterwardsplayedaprominentpart in theaffairsof thecolony.Oneof theseBowkerswasnotedforwearingaverytallwhitehat,inwhich,beingofaliteraryturnofmind,hedelightedtocarryoldlettersandnewspapers.Fromthiscircumstancehishatbecameknownas“thepost-office.”Althoughsmall, thiswasaboutasheroicabandofwarriorsasevertookthefield—nearlyeverymanbeingstrong,active,adeadshotwelltrainedtofightwithwildbeasts,andacquaintedwiththetacticsofwildermen.Proceedingbyforcedmarches,theysoondrewneartothatpartofthecountrywherethebeleagueredfarmerslay.One evening, having encamped a little earlier than usual, owing to thecircumstanceoftheirhavingreachedafountainofcleargoodwater,someofthemore energetic among themwent off to search for game. Among thesewerethebrothersBowker.“There’s very likely a buffalo or something in that bush over there,” saidSeptimus Bowker, whowas the owner of the “post-office” hat. “Come,MrConsidine,youwantedto—Where’sConsidine?”Everyonelookedround,butConsidineandHanswerenotthere.OneoftheSkyds,however,rememberedthattheyhadfallenbehindhalfanhourbefore,withtheintentionofprocuringsomethingfreshforsupper.“Well,wemustgowithouthim.Hewantedtoshootabuffalo.Willnooneelsego?”No one else felt inclined to go except Junkie Brook, so he and the fourBowkerswentoff,Septimuspressingthe“post-office”tightlyonhisbrowsastheygallopedaway.Theyhadnot far togo,gameofallkindsbeingabundant in that region,butinstead of finding a buffalo or gnu, they discovered a lioness in a bed ofrushes.Thepartyhadseveraldogswiththem,andthesewentyelpingintotherushes,whilethebrothersstationedthemselvesonamound,standinginarow,onebehindanother.Thebrotherwiththetallwhitehatstoodinfront.Beingtheeldest,heclaimed

the post of honour.Theywere all fearlessmen and crack shots. Junkiewasordered to stand back, and complied with a bad grace, being an ardentsportsman.“Lookout!”exclaimedthebrotherinfronttothebrothersinrear.“Ready!”wasthequietresponse.Nextmomentoutcamethelionesswithasavagegrowl,andwentstraightatSeptimus,whocockedhisgunascoollyasifhewereabouttoslayasparrow.Whiletheenragedanimalwasintheactofbounding,Septimusfiredstraightdownitsthroatandsuddenlystooped.Bysodoinghesavedhishead.Perhapswe should say the tall white hat saved it, for the crushing slap which thelioness meant to give him on the side of the head took effect on the post-office, and scattered its contents far and wide. Spurning Septimus on theshoulderswithherhind-legsassheflewpast,thelionessmadeatthebrothers.FirmastheHoratiistoodtheotherthree.Deliberateandcoolwastheiractionastheytookaim.Junkiefollowedsuit,andthewholefiredavolley,whichlaidthelionessdeadattheirfeet.Gathering himself up, Septimus lookedwith some concern at thewhite hatbeforeputtingiton.Remarkingthatitwastough,heproceededtopickupitsliterary contents, while his brothers skinned the lioness. Shortly afterwardstheyallreturnedtocamp.Passingthatwayanhourorsolater,HansMaraisandCharlieConsidinecameuponthespoorofthelioness.“Isay,Charlie,”calledoutHans,“theremustbealioninthevleythere.I’vegotthespoor.Comehere.”“It’s not in the vley now,” repliedCharlie; “come here yourself; I’ve foundblood,and,hallo!here’sanewspaper!Why, itmustbea literarylion!Look,Hans, canyoumakeout thename?—Howker,Dowker,or somethingo’ thatsort.Dolionsevergobythatname?”“Bowker,”exclaimedHans,withalaugh.“Ah!myboy,there’snolioninthevleyiftheBowkershavebeenhere;andsee,it’sallplainasapikestaff.Theyshot it here and skinned it there, and have dragged the carcass towards thatbush;yes,hereitis—alioness.They’rebacktocampbythistime.Come,let’sfollowthem.”As they rode along,Hans,who had been glancing at the newspaper, turnedsuddenlytohiscompanion.

“I say, Charlie, here’s a strange coincidence. It’s not every day that a manfindsaTimesnewspaperinthewildsofSouthernAfricawithamessageinittohimself.”“Whatdoyoumean,Hans?”“Tellme,Charlie,aboutthatuncleofwhomyouoncespoketome—longago—inratherdisrespectfultones,ifnotterms.Washerich?”“Ibelieveso,butwasneverquitecertainastothat.”“Didhelikeyou?”“Iratherthinknot.”“Hadyouamalecousinorrelativeofthesamenamewithyourselfwhomhedidlike?”“Thenallowmetocongratulateyouonyourgoodfortune,andreadthat,”saidHans,givinghimthenewspaper.Charlieread.“IfthisshouldmeettheeyeofCharlesConsidine,formerlyofGoldenSquare,Hotchester, he is requested to return without delay to England, or tocommunicate with Aggard, Ale, and Ixley, Solicitors, 23a FitzbustawaySquare,London.”“Most amazing!” exclaimed Considine, after a pause, “and there can be nodoubt it refers tome, for these weremy uncle’s solicitors—most agreeablemen—whogavemetheneedfultofitmeout,anditwastheirchiefclerk—aRoman-nosed jovial sort of fellow,namedRundle somethingor other—whoaccompaniedme to the shipwhen I left, andwishedme a pleasant voyage,with a tear, or a drop of rain, I’m not surewhich, rolling down hisRomannose.Well,but,asIsaidbefore,isn’titanastonishingcoincidence?”“Itwasn’tyouwho said thatbefore, itwas I,” returnedHans, “butwemustmakeallowanceforyourstateofmind.Andnow,aswe’renearingthecamp,whatisittobe—silence?”“Silence, of course,” said Charlie. “There’s no fear of Bowker reading theadvertisementsthrough,hehasfartoomuchliterarytasteforthat,andevenifhedid,he’snotlikelytostumbleonthisone.Solet’sbesilent.”There was anything but silence in the camp, however, when the friendsreached it and reported theirwantof luck; for thewarriorswere then in the

firstfervourofappealingtheirpowerfulappetites.Nextmorningtheystartedatsunrise.Early in theday theycameon themangled remainsof theemigrant farmersbefore referred to.At first itwas supposed thismust be the remnant of theband theywere in search of, but a very brief examination convinced them,experienced as theywere inmen and signs, that itwas another band. Soonafter,theycameinsightofthepartyforwhichtheyweresearching,justastheKafirsweremakingarenewedattack.AlreadyafewvolleyshadbeenfiredbytheDutchmen, thesmokeofwhichhung likeawhiteshroudover thecamp,andswarmsofsavageswereyellingroundit.“Thecattleandflockshavebeensweptaway,”growledFrankDobson.“Butthewomenandchildrenmustbesafeasyet,”saidConsidine,withasighofrelief.“Now, boys,” cried Hans, who had been elected captain, “we must acttogether.When Igive theword,halt and fire likeoneman, and thenchargewhere I lead you. Don’t scatter. Don’t give way to impetuous feelings. Beundercommand,ifyouwouldsaveourfriends.”Hespokewithquick,abruptvigour, andwaited forno replyor remark,but,puttinghimselfwherehefanciedaleadershouldbe,infrontofthecentreofhislittleline,setoffinthedirectionoftheemigrants’campatasmartgallop.Asthehorsemendrewneartheyincreasedtheirpace,andthenayellfromthesavages,andacheer from their friends, told that theyhadbeenobservedbythecombatantsonbothsides.TheKafirswereseenrunningbacktotheridgeontheothersideofthecamp,andassemblingthemselveshurriedlyinadensemass.On swept the line of stalwart burghers, over the plain and down into thehollow indeadsilence.The forceof their leader’scharacter seemed tohaveinfused military discipline into them. Most of them kept boot to boot likedragoons.EvenDallyandScholtzkeptwell in line,andnonelaggedorshotahead.Astheypassedclosetothecampwithoutdrawingrein,theDutchmengavethemanenthusiasticcheer,butnoreplywasmade,savebyJunkie,whocould not repress a cry of fierce delight.Downdeeper into the hollow theywent,anduptheoppositeslope,—thethunderoftheirtreadalonebreakingthestillness.“Halt!”criedtheleaderinadeeploudvoice.They drewup together almost aswell as they had run.Nextmoment every

manwasonthegroundanddownononeknee;thenfollowedtheroaroftheirpieces,andayellofwildfurytoldthatnonehadmissedhismark.Beforethesmokehad risenayard theywereagain in the saddle.No furtherorderwasgiven.Hanscharged;therestfollowedlikeawallatracingspeed,withgunsandbridlesgraspedintheirlefthandsandsabresdrawnintheirright.Thesavagesdidnotawait theonset.They turned, scattered, and fled.Manywere overtaken and cut down. The Dutchmen sallied from the camp andjoinedinthepursuit.TheKafirswereroutedcompletely,andallthecattleandflockswererecovered.Thatsamedaytherewasahotdiscussionoverthecamp-firesastowhethertheemigrantfarmersshouldreturnatoncetothecolonyorwaituntiltheyshouldgather togethersomeof theotherpartiesofemigrantswhichwereknown tohavecrossedthefrontier.Atlastitwasresolvedtoadoptthelattercourse,butthewivesandfamiliesweretobesentbacktoFortWilshireundertheescortoftheirdeliverers,theretoremaintillbettertimesshoulddawn.“Charlie,”saidConradMarais,ashewalkedupanddownwithhisfriend,“Imuststickbymyparty,butIcantrustyouandHans.You’llbecarefulofthewomenandlittleones.”“Youmaydependonus,”repliedConsidine,withemphasis.“Andyouneedn’tbeafraidtospeaktoBerthabytheway,”saidConrad,withapeculiarsideglance.Charlielookedupquicklywithaflush.“Doyoumean,sir,that—that—”“Of course I do,” cried the stout farmer, graspinghis friendby thehand; “Iforgive your being an Englishman, Charlie, and as I can’t make you aDutchman,thenextbestIcandoforyouistogiveyouaDutchwife,whoisinmyopinionbetterandprettierthananyEnglishgirlthateverlived.”“Hold!”criedConsidine, returning thegrasp,“Iwillnot joinyou inmakinginvidious comparisons between Dutch and English; but I’ll go farther thanyou, and say that Bertha is in my opinion the best and prettiest girl in thewholeworld.”“That’ll do, lad, that’ll do. So, now, we’ll go see what the Totties havemanagedtotossusupforbreakfast.”Before thesunset thatnight theemigrant farmers,unitedwithanother largeband, were entrenched in a temporary stronghold, and the women and

children,with the rescue party—strengthened by a company of hunters andtraderswhohadbeenintheinteriorwhenthewarbrokeout,werefarontheirwaybacktoFortWilshire.

ChapterTwentySixRelatesIncidentsoftheWarandaGreatDeliverance

Onreachingthefrontierfortitwasfoundtobeinastateofexcitementbustle,andpreparation.News had just been received that the treacherous chief Hintza, althoughprofessedlyatpeacewiththecolony,wassecretlyinleaguewiththeinvadingchiefs, and theGovernorwas convinced of the necessity of taking vigorousmeasures against him. The savages, flushedwith success, and retiring for atimetotheirownlandwiththecattletheyhadcarriedoff,foundinHintzaonereadytoaidthemineveryway.Ittranspiredthathehadnotonlyallowedthestolencattle tobesecretedinhis territory,butmanyofhisownpeoplewere“out”withtheconfederatechiefsfightingagainst thecolonists,while tradersunderhisprotectionhadbyhisordersbeenseizedandplundered.Amessagehad therefore been sent to Hintza requiring him at once and decidedly todeclarehisintentions.Tothis,insteadofareply,thesavagechiefsentoneofhis braves, whose speech and conduct showed that his wily master onlywishedtogaintimebytriflingdiplomacy.Thebravewasthereforesentbackwithanothermessage,totheeffectthatifhe,Hintza,shouldaffordanyoftheotherchiefs shelterorprotection, anddidnot restore thebootyconcealed inhis territory, he would be treated as an enemy. It was also proposed thathimself should come and have an interview with the Governor, but thisinvitationhedeclined.SirBenjaminD’Urban, therefore, resolved tomenacethetruculentchiefinhisowndominions,andwhenHansMaraiswithhisbandenteredthesquareofthelittlefort,hefoundthetroopsonthepointofsettingout.Theforceconsistedofabodyofregularsandaburgherbandcollectedfromall parts of the colony. Among them were hardy Englishmen from theZuurveld, tough with the training of fourteen years in the wilderness, andmassiveDutchmenfromthekarroo,splendidhorsemenanddeadlyshots.Whilethebustlewasatitsheightapartyofhorsemengallopeduptothegate,headedbyagiant. It turnedout tobeacontingentfromGlenLynden,underGroot Willem of Baviaans River, with Andrew Rivers, Jerry Goldboy, andseveraloftheDutchfarmersoftheTarkainhistrain.“Ho!hereyouare,”criedGrootWilleminhisheartybassroar,asheleapedtothegroundandseizedHansMaraisbythehand.“AllwellatEden—eh?”

“Burntout,”saidHansquietly.Thegiantlookedaghastforamoment.Thenhisfriendranhurriedlyoverthemainpointsofhisstory.Buttherewasnotimefortalk.Whilesalutationswerebeing exchanged by themembers of the various parties thus assembled, SirBenjaminappeared,mountedhishorse,gaveorderstoseveralofhisofficers,andspokeafewwordstoGrootWillemandHans.Inafewminutesthetroopsweremarchedoutofthefort,andnextdayreachedtherightbankoftheKeiRiver.ThiswasthewesternboundaryofHintza’sparticularterritory.Onarriving,theGovernorissuedgeneralorderstotheeffectthatHintzawasnot“tobetreatedasanenemy.”Nokraalsweretobeburnt,nogardensorfieldspillaged,andnonativesmeddledwith,unlesshostilitieswerefirstbegunbythem,andthatnoactofviolenceshouldbecommitteduntilduenoticeofthecommencementofhostilities had been given. “You see,” said Sir Benjamin in a privateconversation with one of his staff, “I am resolved to take every possibleprecaution to avoid giving cause of complaint to the great chief, and toendeavour by mild forbearance to maintain peace. At the same time, it isessential that I should actwith vigour because undue forbearance is alwaysmisinterpretedbysavages tomeancowardice,andonlyprecipitates theevilsweseektoavoid.”Onarriving at a spotwhere a trader namedPurcell hadbeenplundered andmurdered,thetroopsweremetbyseveral“councillors”fromHintzaandfromthechiefBooko,whowerestilladay’sjourneydistant.TothesetheGovernorsaid:—“Go, tell theGreatChief that I request an interviewwithhimself,because Idesirethatpeaceshouldbebetweenus,andthatjusticeshouldbedone.Iwillnotceasetoadvanceuntilsuchinterviewisobtained,anditwilldependonhisownconductwhetherHintzaistreatedbytheBritishGovernmentasafriendorafoe.”But theGreatChiefwasdoggedlybent onmeetinghis fate.He returnednoanswer to the message, and the troops moved on. Arriving at the missionstationofButterworth, theyfounditdestroyed,andhere theyweremetbyalargebodyofFingoes—native slaves—whoeagerlyoffered their services tofightagainst theircruelmasters theKafirs.TheseFingoes—destined inafteryears tomake a deep impression on the colony—were the remains of eightpowerfulnations,who,brokenupandscatteredbytheferociousChakaandhisZuluhordes,hadtakenrefugewithHintza,bywhomtheywereenslavedandtreatedinthemostbrutalmanner.HegavethemgenerallythenameofFingo,

which means dog. Their eager offer to serve under the British Chief wasthereforemostnatural,butSirBenjamindeclinedtheirservicesatthetime,aswarhadnotyetbeendeclared.Soon after, a detachment of thirty men was sent back to the colony withdespatches, in chargeof anensignnamedArmstrong,whowaswaylaid andmurderedbysomeofHintza’sKafirs.TheGovernor,findingthathisoverturesweretreatedwithstudiedneglect,andthathostilitieswerethusbegun,calledtohimaKafircouncillorandwarrior,andsaid—“Your master has treated all my messages with contempt. He is in secretalliancewith the chiefswho have invaded our colony.He has received andconcealed cattle stolen from the white men. A British trader has beendeliberatelymurdered inhis territory, near his own residence, andunder hisprotection, and no steps have been taken to punish themurderers.ViolenceandoutragehavebeencommittedbyhimonBritishtraders,andmissionarieslivingunderhissafeguardhavebeenforcedtofleetotheTambookiechieftosave their lives. Iwillno longer treatwithhim.SinceHintza is resolvedonwar,heshallhaveit.IwillnowtaketheFingoesundermyspecialprotection,make them subjects of the king of England, and severely punish any whocommitviolenceuponthem.IwillalsocarryoffallthecattleIcanfind.—Go,tellyourmasterhisbloodshallbeonhisownhead.”This message, which was followed up by prompt action, the capture ofconsiderablenumbersofcattle,andasuccessfulattackononeofhisprincipalkraals,broughtthegreatchieftohissenses—apparently,butnotreally,asthesequelwillshow.Hesentinfourmessengerswithproposals,buttheGovernorrefused to treat with any one except Hintza himself. Terrified at last intosubmission, he entered the campwith a retinue of fifty followers, and wascourteouslyreceivedbythecommander-in-chief.Duringthecourseoftheseproceedingsdetachedpartieswerefrequentlysenthitherand thither to surpriseakraalor tocapturecattle,and the twopartiesunderGrootWillemandHansMarais,havingarrivedatFortWilshireat thesametime,wereallowedtoactprettymuchinconcert.Onenighttheyfoundthemselvesencampedinadarkmountaingorgeduringathunderstorm.“Well,well,”saidJerryGoldboytoJunkie,whowithScholtzhadtakenrefugeunder the very imperfect shelter of a bush, “it’s ’orrible ’ard work thiscampaigning;speciallyinbadweather,withthepointofone’snosea’mostcutoff.”Jerry referred to awoundwhich an assagai aimed at his heart had that day

inflictedonhisnose.Thewoundwasnotsevere,but itwaspainful,and thesticking-plasterwhich held the point of his unfortunatemember in its placegavehiscountenanceanunusuallycomicalappearance.“Isitveryzore,boy?”askedScholtz.“Zore!Iwishyou’adit,an’youwouldn’t’avetoask,”returnedJerry.“Howdidyoucomebyit?”askedJunkie,lookinggravewithdifficulty.“Well,itain’teasytosayexactly.Youseeitwasgettingdarkatthetime,andIwasdoin’mybesttodriveathiefofahoxdownaplaceinthekloofwhereithadtostandupright,a’most,onitsfront-legs,withitstailwhirlin’inthehair.An’I’adn’tmuchtimetowasteneither,forIknewtherewasKafirsallabout,an’thetroopswasgettin’a’eadofme,an’my’osswastiedtoayellow-woodtreeatthefooto’thekloof,an’Ibegantofeelsorto’skeerywiththegloomythicketsall around,an’ ruggedprecipices lookin’as if they’d tumbleonme,an’thegreatmountainsgoin’upto’eaven—oh!Icantellyouitwas—itwas—”“In short, the most horrible sight you ever saw,” said Junkie, drawing hisblankettighterroundhisshoulders,andcrouchingnearertothebulkyformofScholtzforprotectionfromthewindwhichwasrising.“Yes,Junkie,itwas—themost’orriblesightIeversaw,forwildsavageness,so I drewmy sword and gave the hox a prog that sent ’im ’ead over ’eelsdown the kloofw’ere ’e broke ’is back. Just at thatwerrymoment—wouldyoumindtakin’your toeouto’myneck,Junkie? itain’tcomfortable: thankyou.—Well,asIwassayin’,atthatverymomentIspiedablackfellowstealin’awayinthedirectionofmy’oss.Hesawmetoo,butthoughtIdidn’tsee’im.Up I jumps, an’ run for the ’oss. Up ’e jumps an’ run likewise. But I wasnearerthan’im,an’adealfaster—thoughIdon’tmeantoboast—”“An’adealfrighteneder,”suggestedJunkie.“P’raps,’oweverIgottothe’ossfirst.Ididn’t taketimetomount,butwentleap-frog over ’is tail slap into the saddle,which gave the hold ’oss such askeerthat’ebolted!TheKafir’egaveayellan’sent’isassagaiafterme,an’bybadluckIlooksroundjustasitwentpastan’allbuttookoffthepointofmynose.Wasn’titunlucky?”“Unlucky!youungratefulman,”growledScholtz.“Youshouldbever’gladdeassagaididnotstickyouindenecklikevonzow.—IszatrainvichIfeelsinzebackofminehead?”

“Like enough. There’s plenty of it, anyhow,” said Junkie, trying to peerthrough thegloom in thedirectionof the tentsoccupiedbya smallbodyofregulartroopswhichaccompaniedthem.Ashedidsoasuddensquallstruckthe tents, levellingtwowith theground,andentirelywhiskingoffone,which,aftermakingawildcircleintheair,waslaunchedoveraprecipiceintothickdarkness,andnevermoreseen!Lyingunder another bush, not far distant,Considine andHans lay crouchedtogether for thepurposeatonceofkeepingeachotherwarmandpresentingthesmallestpossibleamountofsurfacetotheweather.Theydidnotsleepatfirst,andbeingwithinearshotofthebushunderwhichthebrothersSkydhadsheltered themselves, found sufficient entertainment in listening to theirconversation.“Wescarcecountedonthissortofthing,”saidJohnSkyd,“when,fifteenyearsago,welefttheshoresofoldEnglandfor‘Afric’ssouthernwilds.’”“That’s true, Jack,”wasBobSkyd’s reply, “and I sometimes think itwouldhavebeenbetterifwehadremainedathome.”“Cravenheart!whatdoyoumean?”demandedJames.“Ay,whatdoyoumean?”repeatedDobson;“willnothingconvinceyou?Itistruewemadeapoorjobofthefarming,owingtoourignorance,butsincewetooktomerchandisehavewenotmadeagoodthingofit—ain’titimprovingevery day, and won’t we rise to the very pinnacle of prosperity when thismiserablewarisover.”“Supposingthatwearenotkilledinthemean-time,”saidStephenOrpin,whoformedoneofthegroup.“Thatisameretruism,andquiteirrelevant,”retortedDobson.“Talking of irrelevant matters, does any one know why Sandy Black andMcTavishdidnotcomewithGrootWillem?”askedOrpin.TothisJohnSkydrepliedthathehadheardsomeonesayapartyoftheGlenLyndenmenhadgoneofftorootoutanestoffreebootersunderthatscoundrelRuyter,who, takingadvantageof the times,hadbecomemore ferociousanddaringthanever.“Yet some say,” observed Dobson, “that the Hottentot robber is becomingreligiousorcraven-hearted,Idon’tknowwhich.”“Perhapsbroken-hearted,”suggestedOrpin.

“Perhaps.Anyhowit issaidhis followersaredissatisfiedwithhimforsomereasonorother.Hedoesnotleadthemsowellashewaswontto.”While the white men were thus variously engaged in jesting over theirdiscomforts, or holding more serious converse, their sable enemies werepreparing for them a warm reception in the neighbouring pass. But bothparties were checked and startled by the storm which presently burst overthem.Atfirstthethunder-clapsweredistant,butbydegreestheycamenearer,andburstwithdeafeningcrash,seeminglycloseoverhead,whilelightningranalongtheearthlikemomentaryrivuletsoffire.Atthesametimethewindowsofheavenwereopened,andrain fell inwaterspouts,drenchingeveryone totheskin.Thestormpassedassuddenlyasitcame,andatdaybreakwasentirelygone,leavingacalmclearsky.Sleepy,wet,coveredwithmud,andutterlymiserable,thepartyturnedoutoftheircomfortlessbivouac,and,afterahastymealofcoldprovisions,resumedtheirmarchupthekloof.At the narrowest part of it, some of the troops were sent in advance asskirmishers, and the ambush was discovered. Even then they were in anawkwardposition, and there canbenoquestion that if thenativeshadbeenpossessedoffire-armstheywouldhavebeencutofftoaman.Asitwas,thesavages came at themwith dauntless courage, throwing their assagaiswhennearenough,andhurlingstonesdownfromthealmostperpendicularcliffsoneitherside.Butnothingcouldresistthesteadyfireofmenwhowere,mostofthem, expert shots. Few of the whitemenwere wounded, but heaps of theKafirslaydeadoneachothereretheygavewayandretreatedbeforeadashingchargewiththebayonet.Oh!itwasasadsight,—sadtoseemeninthevigoroushealthofearlyyouthandthestrongpowersofmanhood’sprimecastlifelessonthegroundandlefttorotthereforthemistakenideaontheKafirs’partthatwhitemenweretheirnatural enemies, when, in truth, they brought to their land the comforts ofcivilisedlife;sadtothinkthattheyhaddiedforthemistakennotionthattheircountry was being taken from them, when in truth they had much morecountrythantheyknewwhattodowith—morethanwassufficienttosupportthemselvesandall thewhitemenwhohaveevergone there,andall thatarelikely togo formanyyears to come; sad to thinkof the sternnecessity thatcompelled thewhitemen to lay them low; sadder still to thinkof thewivesand mothers, sisters and little ones, who were left to wail unavailingly forfathersandbrotherslosttothemforever;andsaddestofalltorememberthat

itisnotmerelythenakedsavageinhisuntutoredignorance,butthecivilisedwhitemaninhislearnedwisdom,whoindulgesinthissilly,costly,murderous,brutal,andaccursedgameofwar!Returning from the fight next day with a large herd of captured cattle, thecontingent found thatHintzahadagreedunconditionally toall theproposalsmade to him by the Governor; among others that he should restore to thecolonists50,000headofcattleand1000horses,—onehalf tobegivenupatonce,theremainderinthecourseofayear.Thedeceitfulchiefwasthusreadyinhisacquiescence,simplybecausehehadno intention whatever of fulfilling his engagements. To blind his whiteenemies themore effectually, hehimselfoffered to remain in the campas ahostage,with his followers. Two other chiefs,Kreli andBooko, also joinedhim.ThisseeminglygraciousconductwonforHintzasomuchconfidencethatorderswereimmediatelygiventoevacuatehisterritory.HebecametheguestofColonelSmith,andtheGovernorpresentedhimwithnumerousconciliatorygifts.ThereafterthecampwasbrokenupandtheGovernortookhisdeparture.No sooner was his back turned than Hintza’s people commenced a generalmassacre of the Fingoes.About thirtyweremurdered in cold blood near toColonelSomerset’scamp.Fullofindignation,whenheheardthis,theGovernorsummonedHintzatohispresenceandrelatedwhathadoccurred.“Well,andwhatthen?”wastheKafir’scoolreply,“aretheynotmydogs?”SirBenjaminmetthisbygivingordersthatHintzaandallthepeoplewithhimshouldbeputunderguard,andheldashostagesforthesafetyoftheFingoes.He instantly despatched messengers to stop the carnage, and said that if itcontinued after three hours he would shoot two of Hintza’s suite for everyFingokilled.Headded,moreover,thatifhefoundtherewasanysubterfugeinthemessagetheysent—ashehaddiscoveredtohavebeenthecaseinformermessages—hewouldhangHintza,Kreli,andBookoonthetreeunderwhichtheyweresitting.In less thantenminutes themessengersof thechiefswerescamperingoffatfullspeedindifferentdirectionswithorders!Sopotentwasthepowerofthisvigorous treatment that within the short time specified the massacre wasstopped.But theGovernorknewwell thecharacterof themenwithwhomhehad todeal. To have left the Fingoes in their hands after this would have beentantamount tocondemning themtosuffer therevengefulwrathof theircruel

masters,whowouldnodoubthaveresumedthemassacretheinstantthetroopswerewithdrawn.SirBenjamin therefore collected them together, alongwiththe few missionaries and other British subjects who had found temporaryrefuge at the station of Clarkeburg. He placed them under the care of theReverend Mr Ayliffe, for whom the Fingoes expressed sincere regard, andtransportedthewholebodyinsafetyacrosstheKei.“Anamazingsight,”observedCharlieConsidinetoaknotofhiscomrades,asthey reined up on the top of a knoll, andwatched the long line of Fingoesdefilingbeforehimlikeanantediluvianblacksnaketrailingitssinuouscourseovertheland,withalittleknotofred-coatsinfront,lookinglikeitsfieryhead,andsundrygroupsofburghers,andothertroops,hereandtherealongitsbody,like parti-coloured legs and claws. The length of thismighty snakemay beestimatedwhen it is said thatof theFingonationnot fewer than2000men,5600women,and9200children,with22,000cattle,were ledacross theKeiintothecolonyatthattime.The whole scene, with its multitudinous details, was a commingling of theludicrous, the touching, and the sublime. Itwasmirth-provoking to observethewildenergyofthecoal-blackmen,astheysprangfromsidetoside,withshield and assagai, driving in refractory cattle; the curious nature of thebundlesbornebymanyofthewomen;thefrolickingofthelargerchildrenandthetotteringofthesmallerones,whoselittleblacklegsseemedquiteunequaltothesupportoftheirrotundbodies.Itwastouchingtosee,hereandthere,astalwartmanpickupatiredgoatandlayitonhisshoulders,orrelieveawearywoman of her burden—or catch up a stumbling little one that had lost itsmother,andcarryitalonginhisarms.Anditwasasublimethoughtthatthisgreatarmywasbeingled,liketheIsraelitesofold,outofworsethanEgyptianbondage, into a Christian colony, as the adopted sons and daughters of acivilisedGovernment.Itwas,inonesense,a“nationborninaday,”fortheFingoesweredestined,inafter years, to become the faithful allies of their white deliverers, and thecreators of much additional wealth in the colony,—a raw native materialwhich at that time gladdened, and still rejoices, the hearts of thosemissionaries who look to the Fingoes with reasonable hope, as likely tobecome, in time, the bearers of the Gospel to their kindred in the wilds ofCentralAfrica.

ChapterTwentySevenTheFateoftheParamountChiefofKafirland

Meanwhile Hintza, not having shown sufficient readiness and alacrity in

redeeminghispromises,washeldasahostageinthehandsofthewhiteman.He was, however, treated with the utmost consideration, and when heproposed to accompany a division of the troops, in order to exercise to theutmost his personal influence in recovering from his people the cattle andhorses due, and to apprehend the murderers, according to treaty, he wasallowedtodoso,notonlyquitefreeinperson,butevenwithhisweaponsinhishands.ColonelSmith,however,whocommanded theforce,distinctly told thechiefthrough an interpreter, that if he attempted to escape hewould instantly beshot.The force consisted of detachments of the Cape Mounted Rifles, the 72ndregiment,andthecorpsofGuides—350meninall.Towards the afternoon of the day on which they marched, a circumstanceoccurredwhich justifiedColonelSmith’s suspicions as toHintza’s sincerity.Theyhadreachedastreamletandencamped,whenoneoftheguidesreportedtohimthattwoKafirs,withfiveheadofcattle,werenearthecamp,andthatHintza,onthepleathattheywouldbeafraidtoapproach,hadsentoneofhispeopletobringthemin.Onbeingquestioned,thechiefdeclinedtogiveanyexplanationonthesubject,andtheKafirsnotonlydidnotcomein,astheywereordered,butmadeoff,andcarried thehorseofHintza’smessengeralongwith them!ThesuspicionexcitedbythiscircumstancewasincreasedbytheevasiveanswersgiventotheColonel’srepeatedinquiriesastothepointonwhichHintzawishedthetroopstomarch.“We are going right,” was the only answer that could be elicited from thetaciturnsavage.After crossing the range of theGuadanHills, the troops bivouacked on theGuanga, and hereHintza becamemore communicative, said that hewishedthemtomarchtowards themouthof theBashee,byaroutewhichhewouldpoint out, and that they must move at midnight. This was done, and theycontinuedtomoveforwardtilleighto’clockinthemorning,observingastheywent the spoor of numerous herds of cattle that had been driven in thatdirectionquiterecently.Themen,beingtired,werethenhaltedforrefreshment.AtthispointHintzabecameparticularlyuneasyatthevigilancewithwhichhewaswatched.

“Whathavethecattledone,”hesaidtestily,“thatyoushouldwantthem?andwhyshouldmysubjectsbedeprivedofthem?”“Whydoyouasksuchquestions,Hintza?”repliedColonelSmith;“youknowwell themanyoutrages committed on the colonists by your people, and thethousandsofcattlethathavebeenstolen.Itisinredressofthesewrongsthatwedemandthem.”Thechieflookedstern,butmadenorejoinder.Heappearedtorecoverhimself,however,afterbreakfast,andwasinhighspiritswhileonthemarch.Herodearemarkably strong horse that day, which he appeared very anxious to sparefromfatigue—dismountingandleadinghimupeveryascent.Asthepartyadvanced,thetracksofnumerouscattlewerestillfoundleadingonward,buttheanimalsthemselveswerenowheretobeseen.“Yousee,”remarkedthechief,withatouchofsarcasminhistoneasherodebesidetheColonel,“youseehowmysubjectstreatme:theydrivetheircattlefrommeinspiteofme.”“Idonotwantyoursubjects’cattle,Hintza,”wastheColonel’spointedreply;“Iwant,andwillhave,thecolonialcattlewhichtheyhavestolen.”“Then,”returnedthechief,“allowmetosendforwardmycouncillorUmtinitotellmypeopleIamhere, that theymustnotdriveawaytheircattle,andthatthecattleofyournationwillbealoneselected.”Althoughitwasquiteevidentthatthechiefmeditatedmischiefitwasthoughtbesttoagreetothisproposal.Accordingly,thecouncillor,afterbeingenjoinedto return thatnight,whichhepromised todo,mountedand left thecampatfullspeed,accompaniedbyanattendant.Therewasgroundforuneasinessandmuchcautioninall this,forthosewhoknewHintzabestwerewonttosaythathepossessedinahighdegreeallthevices of the savage—ingratitude, avarice, cunning, and cruelty, and histreatmentof the tradersandmissionariesunderhisprotection,aswellashissecretencouragementoftheborderchiefs,fullyboreouttheiropinion.“Now!”exclaimed thechief inhighspiritswhenUmtinihad left,“youneednotgoontotheBashee,youwillhavemorecattlethanyoucandriveontheXabecca.”Thepaththetroopswerepassingwasamerecattle-trackleadinguphill,fromthe bed of the Xabecca river, among tangled brushwood, and occasionallypassing throughacleft in the rocks.ColonelSmithwas theonlymemberof

the party who rode up the hill; Hintza and the others led their homes. Ondrawing near to the summit, the chief and his attendantsmounted and rodesilentlybutquicklypasttheColonelintothebushes.OneoftheguidesobservingtheactioncalledtotheColonel,whoimmediatelyshouted,“Hintza,stop!”Thesavagehadnointentionofstopping,but,findinghimselfentangledinthethicket,wascompelledtoreturntothetrack.Hedidsowithsuchcoolnessandwithsuchaningenuoussmile, that theColonel,whohaddrawnapistol, felthalf ashamed of his suspicions, and allowed the chief to ride forward asbefore.Atthetopofthesteepascentthecountrywasquiteopen.TheXabeccariverwasseeninfrontwithafewKafirhutsonitsbanks.Herethechiefsetoffatfullspeedinthedirectionofthehuts.Colonel Smith and three of the guides pursued.The latterwere quickly leftbehind, but the Colonel, being well mounted, kept up with the fugitive.Spurringonwithviolence,hesoonovertookhim.“Stop,Hintza!”heshouted.ButHintzawasplayinghis lastcard.Heurgedhishorse togreaterexertion,andkeptstabbingathispursuerwithanassagai.TheColonel drew a pistol, but it snapped.A secondwas usedwith like illsuccess.He then spurred close up, struck the chiefwith the butt end of thepistol, and, in so doing, dropped it. Hintza looked round with a smile ofderision, and theColonel, hurling the other pistol at him, struckhimon theback of the head. The blow was ineffectual. Hintza rode on; the troopsfollowed as they best could. They were now nearing the huts. At length,making a desperate effort, theColonel dashed closeup to the chief.Havingnownoweapon,heseizedhimbythecollarofhiskaross,orcloak,and,withaviolent effort, hurled him to the ground. Both horses were going at racingspeed.TheColonel,unabletocheckhis,passedon,butbeforehewasbeyondreachtheagilesavagehadleapedtohisfeet,drawnanotherassagaifromthebundlewhichhecarried,andhurleditafterhisenemy.SogoodwastheaimthattheweaponpassedwithinafewinchesoftheColonel’sbody.The act afforded time to those behind to come up. AlthoughHintza turnedaside instantlyandrandownthesteepbankof theXabecca, the foremostofthe guides—named Southey—got within gun-shot and shouted in the Kafirtonguetothechieftostop.Noattentionbeingpaidtotheorder,hefired,andHintzafell,woundedintheleftleg.Leapingupinamoment,heresumedhis

flight,whenSoutheyfiredagain,andoncemorethechiefwashitandpitchedforward,butroseinstantlyandgainedthecoverofthethicketwhichlinedthebank of the river. Southey leaped off his horse and gave chase, closelyfollowedbyLieutenantBalfourofthe72ndregiment.Theformerkeptup,andthelatterdown,thestream.TheyhadproceededthusinoppositedirectionssomedistancewhenSoutheywasstartledbyanassagaistrikingthecliffonwhichhewasclimbing.Turningsharply,hesawHintza’sheadandhisupliftedarmamongthebusheswithinafewfeetofhim.Thesavagewasintheactofhurlinganotherassagai.Quickasthoughttheguidelevelledhisgunandfired.Theshotcompletelyshatteredtheupper part ofHintza’s skull, and next instant amangled corpsewas all thatremainedoftheparamountchiefofKafirland.

ChapterTwentyEightTheResultsofWar

“Peaceatlast!”saidEdwinBrooktoGeorgeDally,onarrivingathisravagedandherdlessfarmintheZuurveld,whitherGeorgehadprecededhim.“Peaceisit,sir?Ah,that’swell.It’sabouttimetoo,forwe’vegotadealtodo—haven’twe,sir?”George spoke quite cheerily, under the impression that his master requiredcomforting.“Yousee,sir,we’vegottogobackprettywelltowherewewasin1820,andbeginitalloveragain.Itissomewhataggrawatin’!Mighthavebeenavoided,too,ifthey’dkep’afewmoretroopsonthefrontier.”“Well,Jack,thetreatyissignedatlast,”saidRobertSkydtohisbrother,ashesatonhiscounterinGrahamstown,drummingwithhisheels.“Not too soon,” replied John Skyd, taking a seat on the same convenientlounge.“Ithascostussomething:housesburntallover thesettlement, fromendtoend;cropsdestroyed;cattlecarriedoff,and,worstofall,tradealmostruined—except in the case of lucky fellows like you, Bob, who sell to thetroops.”“Warwouldnothavebrokenoutatall,”returnedBob,“iftheKafirshadonlybeen managed with a touch of ordinary common sense in times past. Ourlossesare tremendous. Just lookat theKafir trade,which lastyear Ibelieveamounted to above 40,000 pounds,—that’s crushed out altogether in themeantime,andwon’tbeeasilyrevived.Kafirsinhundredswerebeginningto

discard their dirty karosses, and to buy blankets, handkerchiefs, flannels,baize, cotton, knives, axes, andwhat not,while the traders had set up theirstoreseverywhereinKafirland—tosaynothingofyourownbusiness,Jack,inthegum,ivory,andshootingway,andourprofitsthereon.Wewerebeginningto flourish so well, too, as a colony. I believe that we’ve been absorbingannually somewhere about 150,000 pounds worth of British manufacturedarticles—not to mention other things, and now—Oh, Jack, mankind is amonstrousidiot!”“Peacecomestoolateforus,Gertie,”saidHansMarais tohiswife,ontheirreturn to the old homestead on the karroo, which presented nothing but ablackenedheapofdrymud,bricks,andcharredtimbers;herdsandflocksgone—drearysilenceinpossession—theverypictureofdesolation.“Betterlatethannever,”remarkedCharlieConsidinesadly.“Wemustjustsettowork,re-stockandre-build.Notsodifficulttodosoasitmighthavebeen,however,owingtothatconsiderateuncleofmine.We’rebetteroffthansomeof our poor neighbours who have nothing to fall back upon. They say thatmore than 3000 persons have been reduced to destitution; 500 farm-houseshavebeenburntandpillaged;900horses,55,000sheepandgoats,andabove30,000 head of cattle carried off, only a few of which were recovered byColonel Smith on that expedition when Hintza was killed. However, we’llkeepupheartandgotoworkwithawill—shan’twe,mylittlewife!”Bertha—nowBerthaConsidine—wholeanedonCharlie’sarm,spokenotwithher lips, but she lifted her bright blue eyes, and with these orbs of lightdeclaredherthoroughbeliefinthewisdomofwhateverCharliemightsayordo.“They say it’s all settled!” cried Jerry Goldboy, hastily entering KennethMcTavish’sstable.“What’sallsettled?”demandedSandyBlack.“PeacewiththeKafirs,”saidJerry.“Peace wi’ the Kawfirs!” echoed Sandy, in a slightly contemptuous tone.“H’m!theyshouldneverhaehadwarwi’them,Jerry,myman.”“But’aving’adit,ain’titwellthatit’shover?”returnedJerry.“It’scostusabonniepenny,”rejoinedBlack.“Nae doot Glen Lynden has come off better than ither places, for we’vemanagedtohaudoorainno’thatill,butwae’smeforthepuirfolko’thelow

country!An’I’llbeboundtheImperialTreasury’llsmartfor’t.Butit’sanillwind thatblawsnaegude.We’ve takenagudesliceo’ landfrae the thievin’craters, for it’s said Sir Benjamin D’Urban has annexed all the countrybetweentheKeiandtheKeiskammatothecolony.Amostneedfu’addition,forthejungleso’theGreatFishRiverortheBuffalowerejistfortresseswheretheKawfirsplayedhide-an’-seekwi’thesettlers,an’it’sasplainasthenoseonmyfacethatpeacewi’themisnotpossibletillthey’redrivenacrosstheKei—thatbein’adefensibleboundary.”“So,theysaythatpeaceisproclaimed,”saidStephenOrpintoaprettyyoungwomanwhohadrecentlyputitoutofhispowertotalkofhis“bachelorhomeatSalem.”JessieMcTavishhadtakenpityonhimatlast!“Indeed!”repliedJessie,withahalf-disappointedlook;“thenIsupposeyou’llbegoingoffagainonyourlongjourneysintotheinterior,andleavingmetopinehereinsolitude?”“Thatdepends,”returnedOrpin,“onhowyoutreatme!PerhapsImaymanagetofindmyworknearerhomethanIdidindaysgoneby.AtalleventsI’llnotgo intoKafirland just now, for it’s likely to remain in an unsettled state formanyaday.Ithasbeenasadanduselesswar,andhascostusaheavyprice.Think,Jessie,oftheliveslost—forty-fourofourpeoplemurderedduringtheinvasion, and eighty-four killed and thirty wounded during the war. Peoplewillsaythatisnothingtospeakof,comparedwithlossesinotherwars;butIdon’tcareforcomparisons,Ithinkonlyofthenumbersofourpeople,andofthehundredsofwretchedKafirs,whohavebeencutoffintheirprimeandsenttomeettheirJudge.ButtherehasbeenonetrophyofthewaratwhichIlookwith rejoicing; 15,000 Fingoes rescued from slavery is something to bethankfulfor.Godcanbringgoodoutofevil.ItmaybethatHewillgivemeemploymentinthatdirectionerelong.”These various remarks, good reader, were uttered some months after theeventsrecordedinthelastchapter,forthedeathofthegreatchiefofKafirlanddid not immediately terminate thewar.On the contrary, the treaty of peaceentered into with Kreli, Hintza’s son and successor, was scouted by theconfederatechiefs,Tyali,Macomo,etcetera,whoremainedstillunsubduedintheannexedterritory,andboththere,andwithintheoldfrontier,continuedtocommitmurdersandwide-spreaddepredations.It was not until the Kafirs had been hunted by our troops into the mostimpregnable of their woody fortresses, and fairly brought to bay, that thechiefssentmessengerstosolicitpeace.Itwasgranted.Atreatyofpeacewasenteredinto,bywhichtheKafirsgaveupall right to thecountryconquered,andconsentedtoholdtheir landsundertenurefromtheBritishSovereign.It

wassignedatFortWilshireinSeptember.Thereafter Sir Benjamin D’Urban laid downwith great wisdom and abilityplansfortheoccupationanddefenceoftheannexedterritory,soastoformarealobstructiontofutureraidsbythelawlessnatives—planswhich,ifcarriedout,wouldnodoubthavepreventedfuturewars,andonthestrengthofwhichthe farmers began to return to their desolated farms, and commence re-building and re-stockingwith indomitable resolution.Others accepted offersoflandinthenewterritory,andafewoftheDutchfarmers,hopingforbettertimes,andstilltrustingtoBritishwisdomforprotection,wereprevailedontoremaininthecolonyatatimewhenmanyoftheirkindredweremovingoffindespairofbeingeitherprotected,understood,orfairlyrepresented.Amongthesestill trustingoneswasConradMarais.StronglyurgedbyHansand Considine, he consented to begin life anew in the old home, andwentvigorouslytoworkwithhisstoutsons.But he had barely begun to get the place into something like orderwhen ashellwassent into thecolony,whichcreatedalmostasmuchdismayas if ithadbeentheprecursorofanotherKafirinvasion.Conrad was seated in a friend’s house in Somerset when the said shellexploded.Itcameintheformofanewspaperparagraph.Helookedsurprisedonreadingthefirstlineortwo;thenadarkfrownsettledonhisface,which,ashereadon,becamepale,whilehiscompressedlipstwitchedwithsuppressedpassion.Finishing the paragraph, he crushed the newspaper up in his hand, and,thrustingitintohispocket,hastenedtothestable,wherehesaddledhishorse.Leapingonitsbackasifhehadbeenayouthoftwenty,hedrovethespurintoitsflanksandgallopedawayatfullspeed—awayoverthedustyroadleadingfromSomersettothehills:awayovertheridgethatseparatesitfromthelevelcountrybeyond;andawayover thebrownkarroo,untilat last,coveredwithdustandfleckedwithfoam,hedrewupathisowndoorandburstinuponthefamily.Theywereconcludingtheireveningmeal.“Readthat!”hecried,flingingdownthepaper,throwinghimselfintoachair,andbringinghisfistdownonthetablewithacrashthatsetcupsandglassesdancing.“There!” he added, pointing to the paragraph, as Hans took up the paper—“that despatch fromLordGlenelg—theBritishColonialSecretary—at thetopofthecolumn.Readitaloud,boy.”Hansreadasfollows:—

“‘IntheconductwhichwaspursuedtowardstheKafirnationbythecolonistsand the public authorities of the colony, through a long series of years, theKafirs had ample justification of the late war; they had to resent, andendeavourjustly,thoughimpotently,toavengeaseriesofencroachments;theyhadaperfectrighttohazardtheexperiment,howeverhopeless,ofextortingbyforce that redresswhich they could not expect otherwise to obtain, and theclaimofsovereigntyoverthenewprovincemustberenounced.Itrestsuponaconquest resulting fromawar inwhich,as faras Iamatpresentenabled tojudge,theoriginaljusticeisonthesideoftheconquered,notofthevictoriousparty.’”“Mark that!” criedConrad, starting to his feetwhenHanshad finished, andspeaking loud, as ifhewereaddressing theassembledcolony insteadof theamazedmembers of his own family,—“mark that: ‘the claimof sovereigntyoverthenewprovincemustberenounced.’SoitseemsthattheKafirsarenotonly to be patted on the back for having acted the part of cattle-lifters foryears, but are to be invited back to their old haunts to begin thework overagainandnecessitateanotherwar.”Hestoppedabruptly,asiftocheckwordsthatoughtnottobeuttered.Therewas amomentary silence in the group as they looked at each other. It wasbrokenbyConradsayingtohisyoungestson,inavoiceofforcedcalmness—“Go,lad,getmeafreshhorse.IwillrousetheDutch-Africanfarmersalloverthecolony.Thelandistoohottoholdus.WecannothopetofindrestundertheUnionJack!”We can sympathise strongly with the violent indignation of the honestDutchman,for,ingoodtruth,notonlyheandhiskindred,butallthepeopleofthecolony,weremostunjustlyblamedandunfairlytreatedbytheGovernmentofthatday.NeverthelessConradwaswrongabouttheUnionJack.Thewisestof plans are open to the insidious entranceof error.The fairest flagmaybestained, by unworthy bearers, with occasional prostitution. A Secretary ofStateisnottheBritishnation,norisheeven,atalltimes,atruerepresentativeof British feeling. Many a deed of folly, and sometimes of darkness, hasunhappily been perpetrated under the protection of theUnion Jack, but thatdoesnotalterthegreathistoricalfact,thattruth,justice,fair-play,andfreedomhaveflourished longerandbetterunder itsamplefolds thanunderanyotherflagthatfliesonthefaceofthewholeearth.ButConradMaraiswasnot inaposition toconsider this just then.Theboywho is writhing under the lash of a temporarily insane father, is not in aposition to reflect that, in themain, his father is, ormeans tobe, just, kind,

loving,and true.Conradboltedahastysupper,mounted thefreshsteed,andgallopedawaytorousehiskindred.Andheprovednearlyasgoodashisword.He rousedmanyof them to joinhim inhis intendedexpatriation, andmanymore did not need rousing. Some had brooded over theirwrongs until theybegan tosmoulder,andwhen theywere told that theunprovokedraidof theKafirthieveswasdeemedjustifiablebytheGovernmentwhichoughttohaveprotectedtheirfrontier,buthadleftthemtoprotectthemselves,thefireburstintoaflame,andthegreatexodusbeganinearnest.Thus,asecondtime,didConrad and his family, with many others, take to the wilderness. On thisoccasionthepartyincludedHansandCharlieConsidine,withtheirfamilies.There was still wanting, however, that last straw which renders a burdenintolerable.Itwaslaidonatthetimewhenslaverywasabolished.TheAbolitionActwascarriedintoeffectonthe1stDecember1834,atwhichtime the accursed system of slavery was virtually brought to an end in thecolony,thoughtheslaveswerenotfinallyfreedfromallcontroltill1838.Butthegloryof thisnobleworkwas sulliednot a littleby theunjustmanner inwhich, during these four years, the details relative to the payment ofcompensationtoslave-ownerswerecarriedout.Wecannotaffordspaceheretogointothesedetails.Sufficeittosaythat,asoneoftheconsequences,manyfamilies in thecolonywereruined,andapowerful impulsewasgivento theexodus, which had already begun. The leading Dutch-African families inOliphant’s Hock, Gamtoos River, along the Fish River, and Somerset, soldtheir farms—in many cases at heavy loss, or for merely nominal sums—crossed theborder, andbadea finaladieu to the landof their fathers.Thesewere followed by other bands, among whom were men of wealth andeducation,fromGraaff-Reinet,Uitenhage,andAlbany,untilamightyhosthadhivedoffintothefarnorth.Throughmanyamonthoftoilandtroubledidthishostpasswhile traversing the landof thesavage inscatteredbands.Manyasad reverse befell them. Some were attacked and cut off; some defendedthemselves with heroism and passed on, defying the Kafirs to arrest theirprogress,untilatlasttheyreachedthedistantlandsonwhichtheirheartswereset—and there they settled down to plough and sow, to reap and hunt andbuild,butalwayswitharmsathand,forthesavagewaseveronthewatchtotakethematadisadvantageorunawares.ThuswerelaidthefoundationsofthecolonyofNatal,theOrangeFreeState,andtheTransvaalRepublic.

ChapterTwentyNineTheLast

Withpeacecameprosperity.Thiswasnot indeedveryobviousat first, for ittookalongtimetoreconciletheunfortunatesoftheeasternprovincestotheirheavy losses, and a still longer time to teach them to forget. Nevertheless,from this time forward the march of the settlers of 1820, commercially,intellectually,andreligiously,becamesteady,regular,andrapid.Nodoubttheysufferedoneortwogrievouschecksasyearsrolledon.AgainandagaintheyhadtofighttheKafirsavageanddrivehimbackintohisnativejungles,andeachtimetheyhadmoretroubleindoingsothanbefore,becausetheKafirwasanaptpupil,and learned tosubstitute thegunfor theassagai;but he did not learn to substitute enlightened vigour for blind passion,thereforethewhitemanbeathimasbefore.Hedidmorethanthat.Hesoughttodisarmthesavage,and,toalargeextent,succeeded. He disarmed him of ignorance by such means as the LovedaleMissionary Institution nearAlice; the Institution nearHealdtown, and otherseminaries,—as well as by mission stations of French, Dutch Reformed,Wesleyan,English,andScotchchurchesscatteredalloverKafirland;hetaughtthe savage that “the fear of theLord is the beginning ofwisdom,” and thatindustryisthehigh-roadtoprosperity.Someoftheblackmenacceptedthesetruths,othersrejectedthem.Preciselythesamemaybesaidofwhitemenallovertheworld.Thosewhoacceptedbecameprofitabletothemselvesandthecommunity. Those who rejected, continued slaves to themselves, and anuisancetoeverybody.Againweremarkthatthesamemaybesaidofwhitemeneverywhere.Whiteunbelieverscontinuedtopronouncethe“red”Kafiran“irreclaimable savage,” fit for nothing but coercion and the lash. Blackunbelieverscontinuedtocursethewhitemanasbeingunworthyofanybetterfatethanbeing“drivenintothesea,”and,betweenthetwo,missionariesandChristians,bothblackandwhite,hadahardtimeofit;buttheydidnotgivein,for, though greatly disheartened at times, they remembered that they were“soldiers”ofthecross,andassuchwereboundto“endurehardness.”Moreover, missionaries and Christians of all colours and kinds, doubtlessrememberedtheirownsinsanderrors.Beingimperfectmen,theyhadinsomecases—through prejudice and ignorance, but never through design—helpedthe enemy a little; or, if they did not remember these errors and aims, theywereprettyvigorously remindedof thembywhiteopponents, andnodoubtthe thought of this humbled them to some extent, and enabled them to bowmore readily to chastisement. Then they braced themselves anew for thegospel-fight—theonlywarfareonearththatiscertaintoresultinblessingtoboththevictorsandthevanquished.IfanyofthemissionariesheldwithLordGlenelginhisunwisereversalofthegood Sir Benjamin D’Urban’s Kafir policy, they must have had the veil

removedfromtheireyeswhenthatnoblemanhimselfconfessedhiserrorwithacandourthatsaidmuchforhisheart;reversedhisowndecrees,andfellbackupon that very plan which at first he had condemned in such ungenerousterms. His recantation could not, however, recall the thousands of Dutch-African farmers whom he helped to expatriate. Perhaps it was well that itshouldbeso,forgoodcameoutofthisevil,—namely,thereclamationofvasttractsofthemostbeautifulandfertileregionsoftheearthfromthedominionofdarknessandcruelty.Butwhatofthosewhosefortuneswehavebeenfollowing,duringthisperiodofpeaceandprosperity?Someofthemremainedinthecolony,helpedontheseblessings,andenjoyedthem.Others, casting in their lotwith thewanderers, fought the battles andhelpedtolaythefoundationsofthenewcolonies.First, Charlie Considine. That fortunate man—having come into thepossessionofaconsiderablesumofmoney,throughtheunclewhohadturnedout somuch “better than he should be,” and having become possessed of ahuge family of sons and daughters through that Gertie whom he styled the“sugar of his existence,”—settled in Natal along with his friends Hans andConradMarais.WhenthatfertileandwarmregionwastakenpossessionofbytheBritish, he refused to hive offwith theMarais, and continued to labourthereintheinterestsoftruth,mercy,andjusticetotheendofhisdays.JunkieBrook,with that vigour of characterwhichhad asserted itself on thesquallydayofhisnativity, joinedFrankDobsonandJohnSkydinahuntingexpeditionbeyond theGreatOrangeRiver; andwhen theOrangeFreeStatewassetupby theemigrantDutchmen,heandhisfriendsestablished thereabranchoftheflourishinghouseofDobson,Skyd,andCompany.BeingonthespotwhenSouthAfricawaselectrifiedby thediscovery (in1866-67)of theDiamondFieldsofthatregion,theysenttheirsons,whosenamewaslegion,todig, and soon became diamond merchants of the first water, so that whenJunkie visited his aged parents on the Zuurveld—which he often did—heusuallyappearedwithhispocketsfullofpreciousstones!“I’ve found a diamond this time, nurse,” he said, on the occasionof one ofthese visits, “which is as big—oh!—as—as an ostrich-egg! See, here it is,”andhelaidonthetableadiamondwhich,ifnotquiteasbigastheeggofthegiant bird, was large enough to enable him, with what he had previouslyearned,toretirecomfortablyfromthebusinessinfavourofhiseldestson.Thesuddenacquisitionofrichesinthiswaywasbynomeansuncommonatthat time, for the “Fields” were amazingly prolific, and having been

discoveredatacrisisofcommercialdepression,werethemeans,notonlyofretrievingthefortunesofSouthAfrica,butofadvancinghertoaconditionofhithertounparalleledprosperity.MrsScholtz—bythattimegrownunreasonablyfat—eyedthediamondwithalookofamusedcontempt;sheevidentlydidnotbelieveinit.Pattingthehandof her former charge, she looked up in his laughing face, and said, with ashakeofherhead—“Ah!Junkie,Ialwayssaidyouwasawonderfulchild.”Sittingon abench in frontof thehouse—no longerdomestics, but smokingtheir pipes there as “friends” of the family,who had raised themselves to astate of comparative affluence—George Dally and Scholtz, now aged men,commentedonthesamediamond.“It’llmakehisfortune,”saidGeorge.“Zee boy vas always lucky,” remarked Scholtz; “zince I began to varm formyselfIhavenotzeensobigastone.”“Ah!Scholtz,”returnedhisfriend,“thehotelbusinesshasdoneverywellforme,anIdon’tcomplain,butifIwasyoungagainI’dselloffandhaveaslapatthe‘Fields.’”“Zatvouldonlyproveyouvasvonfool,”saidScholtzquietly.“Ibelieveitwould,”returnedGeorge.In regard to the Scotch party at Glen Lynden, we have to record that theycontinuedtopersevereandprosper.Woolbecameoneofthestaplearticlesofcolonialcommerce,andthehillsoftheBaviaansRiversentalargecontingentofthatarticletotheflourishingseaportoftheeasternprovinces.Of course the people multiplied, and the sturdy sons of the South Africanhighlandsdidcredittotheirsires,bothinthematterofwarringwiththeKafirandfarmingonthehills.SandyBlackstucktohisfarmwiththeperseveranceofatrueScot,andheldhis own through thick and thin.Hemarried awife also, andwhen, in lateryears, thenativeblacksmadeasuddendescentonhishomestead, theywererepulsedbyaswarmofwhiteBlacks,assistedbyanarmyofMcTavishes,andchasedoverthehillswithadegreeofenergythatcausedthemalmosttolookblue!AndrewRivers,beingamanofprogressiveandindependentmind,castabout

him in a state of uncertainty for some years, devoting himself chiefly tohunting, until the value of ostrich feathers had induced far-sighted men todomesticatethegiantbird,andtaketo“farming”ostriches—incubatingthembyartificialaswellasnaturalmeans.ThenRiversbecameanostrich-farmer.He was joined in this enterprise by Jerry Goldboy, and the two ultimatelybought a farm on the karroo and settled down. Rivers had a turn forengineering, and set himself to form a huge dam to collect rain near hisdwelling. From this reservoir he drew forth constant supplies, not only towater flocks and herds, but to create a garden in the karroo, which soonglowedwithgoldenfruit.Inthishesetagoodexample,whichhasbeenfollowedwithgreatsuccessbymanymenofenterpriseinthoseregions;andthereisnodoubt,wethink,thatifsuchdamsweremultiplied,Artesianwellssunk,andrailwaysrun into thekarroos, those fine, though comparatively barren regions of South Africa,wouldsoonbegintoblossomliketherose.Thus, what between ostrich feathers, wool, horses, cattle, and enterprise,RiversandGoldboymade themselvescomfortable.Likeothermenofsense,theymarried.Thereafter thegardenhad tobe considerably enlarged, for thegolden fruit created by the streamswhich had been collected and stored byRivers, provedquite inadequate to the supplyof thoseoceansofbabies andswarms of Goldboys that flooded the karroo, and filled its solitudes withshouts and yells thatwould have done credit to thewildest tribe of reddestKafirsintheland.Someofthesedescendants,becomingmenofenergy,withrovingdispositionsliketheirsires,travelledintothefarnorth,andwest,andhelpedtodrawforththecopperore,andtoopentheminesofGreatNamaqua-land—thusaidinginthedevelopmentofSouthAfrica’s inexhaustible treasure-house,whileothersof them, especially the sonsof Jerry,went into the regionsof theTransvaalRepublic,andthereprovedthemselvesGoldboysinverytruth,bysuccessfullyworkingthenowcelebratedgold-fieldsofthatregion.StephenOrpindidnotgiveup trade,butheprosecuted itwith less and lessvigourastimewenton,andatlastmerelycontinueditasameansofenablinghimtoprosecute thegreatobjectofhis life, thepreachingof thegospel,notmerely to thosewhommen style par excellence the “heathen,” but to everyonewhowaswilling to listen to thegoodnews—redemption from sin!Ah!therewasgreatfervourinStephenOrpin’stoneswhenhesaid,asheoftendid—“Men andwomen, I do not come here tomake you good,which, in theestimation of more than one half of the so-called Christian world, meansgoody.MydesireistoopenyoureyestoseeJesus,theSaviourfromsin.Who

amongyou—excepttheyoung—doesnotknowthepowerofsin;ourinabilitytorestrainbadandvicioushabits;ourpassionatedesiretodowhatweknowiswrong;our frequent falling fromcourses thatweknow tobe right? It isnotthat hell frightens us; it is not that heaven fails to attract us. These ideastrouble us little—too little. It is present misery that torments.We long anddesiretohave,butcannotobtain;wefightandstrive,butdonotsucceed,or,itmay be, we do succeed, and discover success to be failure, for we aredisappointed, and then feel a tendency towards apathetic indifference. If,however,ourconsciencesbeawakened,thenthetormenttakesanotherform.Wearetemptedpowerfully,andcannotresist.Wecannotsubdueourpassions;wecannotrestrainourtempers.Nowonder.HasnotGodsaid,‘Greaterishewhorulethhisownspirit,thanhewhotakethacity?’Thegreatestconquerorisnotsogreatashewhoconquershimself.Whatthen?Is therenodeliverancefromsin?Yes,thereis.‘Sinshallnothavedominionoveryou,’arethewordsofHimwhoalsosaid,‘ComeuntoMe,allyethatlabourandareheavyladen,andIwillgiveyourest.’”“Stephen Orpin,” cried a sturdy sinner, in whose ears these words werepreached,“doyouknowallthattobetrue?Canyouspeakfromexperienceofthisdeliverance,thisrest?”“Yes,”criedStephen,startingupwithasuddenimpulse,“Idoknowit—partlybysomedeliverancesthathavebeenwroughtforme,partlyfromsomedegreeofrestattainedto,andmuch,verymuch,fromthefirmassuranceIhavethat,butforGod’sforbearingandrestrainingmercy,Ishouldhavebeenalostsoullonglongago.Man,whereinIhavefailedinobtainingdeliveranceandrest,ithasbeenowingtomysin,nottofailureintheLord’sfaithfulness.”ButStephendidnottravelsofarorsolongashadbeenhiswontindaysgoneby. A wife and family, in the village of Salem, exercised an attractiveinfluence,fasteninghim,asitwere,toafixedpoint,andconvertinghisformererratic orbit into a circlewhich,with centripetal force,was always drawingnearertoitscentre.InthecourseofhisearlywanderingsOrpinmanagedtosearchoutRuytertheHottentot robber, and so influenced him as to induce him to give up hislawlesscareer,andreturntothecolony.RuyterdrewwithhimAbdulJemalee,Booby the Bushman, and one or two others, who settled down to peacefuloccupations.TheMalay in particular—slavery being by that time abolished—returned toCapetown, and there found his amiable wife and loving children ready toreceive him with open arms. It is true the wife was somewhat aged, likehimself,andhischildrenweregrownup—someof themevenmarried,—but

these little matters weighed nothing in his mind compared with the great,gloriousfact, thathewasreunited to themina landwherehemightcallhisbodyhisown!If Jemalee had been aman ofmuch observation, hemight have noted thatmany important changes had taken place in Capetown and its surroundingsduring his long absence. A new South African college had been erected; alibrarywhichmightnowstand in the front rankof theworld’s librarieshadbeencollected;thefreedomofthepresshadbeenlargelytakenadvantageof,and education generally was being prosecuted with a degree of rigour thatargued well for the future of the colony—especially in Stellenbosch,Wellington, and neighbouring places. ButAbdul Jemaleewas not aman ofobservation.Hedidnotcareastrawforthesethings,andalthoughweshouldlikemuch to enlargeon them, aswell as onother topics,wemust holdourhand—for the new and eastern, not the old andwestern provinces of SouthAfricaclaimourundividedattentioninthistale.There is no necessary antagonism, however, between these two—‘East’ and‘West.’Circumstancesandmenhaveatpresentthrownafewapplesofdiscordinto them, just aswas the casewith England and Scotland of old;with theNorthandSouthintheUnitedStatesoflate;but,doubtless,theseapples,andeveryothersourceofdiscord,willberemovedinthecourseoftime,andSouthAfricawillerelongbecomeaunitedwhole,withaunitedreligiousand commercial people, under one flag, animated by one desire—theadvancementoftruthandrighteousnessamongthemselves,aswellasamongsurroundingsavages,—andextendinginonegrandsweepofunbrokenfertilityfromtheCapeofGoodHopetotheEquator.

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