THE MATABILI APPEAR, AND FOLLOW THE SPOOR OF HANS' PARTY--THE
DISCOVERY--THE ATTACK--THE REPULSE OF THE SAVAGES.
The day broke with all the splendour of an African morning; the rain of
the previous day had refreshed the ground, and filled the various pools
with water, and thus the animals and feathered denizens of the plains
were cheerful and busy in their various occupations. Numbers of green
parrots were screaming in the kloofs near Hans' retreat, whilst the
sweet double whistle of the quail resounded from every patch of grass.
The vulture, with its graceful sweeping flight, circled high in the air
over the spot where the carcases of the horses still remained; whilst
here and there a black-breasted eagre sat on a withered tree, and
scanned the surrounding earth and sky, in order to select the most
dainty morsel for his morning meal.
The baboons from the summit of the hills had descended into the plains
in order to dig up roots, which there grew in abundance, and served them
for food. This was a sight which pleased Hans, for there are scarcely
any creatures more watchful than baboons, and thus he knew that no enemy
could approach without these creatures giving notice by their rapid
retreat to the mountain peaks. Having found a hole in the rocks close
to the caves, which was full of fresh water, there was no need to quit
the small plateau for that necessary, and thus Hans sat and watched the
changing effects of the rising sun, whilst he listened to the long-drawn
breaths of the sleepers, who, exhausted by the anxiety of the previous
night, needed more sleep than was usual.
The plains beneath Hans' hiding-place offered a beautiful panorama to
the sportsman or artist; the bright glowing tints of the foreground were
mellowed in the middle distance, whilst far away the mountains assumed a
rich blue colour, and yet stood out in bold relief against the distant
sky, the dry air failing to give the subdued effect of distance usually
observed in our climate. Amidst the groves of wide-spreading acacia, or
near the banks of the many tiny streams that wound along the plain, were
groups of game. Herds of elands, buffaloes, and quaggas were scattered
here and there, whilst smaller and solitary bucks could be seen, now
bounding away from some fancied danger, then grazing on the green and
fresh grass. The sportsman, provided with ammunition and gun, could
keep his camp in plenty here, and need have no fear of starving, were it
not that the game at times migrates and leaves a district, when the food
ceases to be attractive or plentiful.
As Hans watched the various animals, he noticed a troop of quaggas
galloping rapidly across the flats; their passage seemed to alarm
various other creatures which had previously been feeding in quietness,
and there was a general movement among the quadrupeds. The baboons
ceased their labours and moved leisurely up the ravine, till reaching
commanding positions on the summits of rocky eminences, they stood
erect, and barked their displeasure at some threatening danger.
Hans, determining to obtain a better view of whatever might be the
cause, ascended the rocks above his cave, and, taking care to screen
himself from observation, scanned the distant country. He soon saw that
the animals had not been alarmed without cause, for coming forward at a
rapid pace were a party of dark men, who Hans made out to be armed
Matabili. There were more than a hundred of them, and from all being
armed, from the rapid pace at which they advanced, and from their coming
exactly over the same ground that he had ridden forty-eight hours
previously, he concluded they were following his horses' footmarks.
The advance of such a party was not unexpected by Hans. Had he supposed
that he would not have been followed, he would have suggested that the
whole party should walk on towards his people's lager. With but one
horse the two girls might have ridden turn and turn about, and so have
lessened the fatigue of the journey, but even under these circumstances
the Matabili would be sure to overtake them, and so he decided that
hiding would be the safer plan.
He noticed that three or four men, probably the most experienced, led
the main body of the Matabili; these men succeeded each other in the
lead, and by acting as guides, often enabled the main body to make short
cuts, and thus to save themselves much walking, or rather running, for a
slow run seemed the pace that was adopted. Though the enemy followed
very accurately the spoor of the horses on which the rain had fallen,
and thus seemed capable of tracing him even under these disadvantageous
circumstances, yet Hans was in hopes that when the horses were no longer
used the Matabili would not be able to follow him. He had, however,
seen enough to render it advisable to descend at once from his position,
to give the alarm to his companions below, and to seek a place of
concealment from which he might observe all the movements of his
pursuers.
These arrangements were soon made, and Victor and Hans sat watching with
anxiety the approach of their enemies.
The Matabili followed the traces of Hans' party with the accuracy of
hounds on a hot scent, and when they spied some vultures sitting on the
trees near the carcases of the horses, their speed was increased, and
they hastened to examine what was the cause that attracted these carrion
feeders.
The nearly-consumed horses were immediately discovered, and shortly
afterwards the skull of the Matabili killed by the lion. The ground
around was searched by the various men, and the conclusion was soon
arrived at, that although the horses were all dead but one, yet their
late captives had by some means managed to escape. The next proceeding
was, therefore, to find the spoor, so as to discover in which direction
they were to pursue. This was a work of time, for the late heavy rain
had washed out nearly every trace from the previously hard soil; but the
skilled spoorers spread out in various directions, and some of them at
length found the traces of the horse that Bernhard had ridden away.
The Matabili at this were delighted; they believed that the three men
had started on foot and had placed one or both of the females on
horseback: thus they believed their journey could be accomplished only
slowly, so that there was every chance of the fleet-footed savages
overtaking their escaped captives, and shortly bringing them back to
their prison. The whole party soon assembled round the traces of the
horses and held a brief consultation. No time was to be lost in
following this spoor; and the most quick-sighted Matabili were at once
sent forward to trace it on before. The remainder followed, and looked
anxiously for the footprint of man. When, however, some very soft
ground had been passed, and no footprints were seen, the leader, an
experienced and cunning savage, called on his men to halt, and explained
to them that there should be some other footprints besides those which
they had seen.
"There were three men, and two women; one of these has been killed and
eaten by a lion," said the Matabili chief: for he knew not that the
skull belonged to one of his own people. "We can see the spoor of but
one horse; on that the women would probably ride;--but where are the
men's footprints? We must find these. They have not crossed this soft
ground: there is no spoor here. They may have crossed higher up, where
the ground is harder. Look, men, and find some spoor, or we may be
making a mistake."
Every search was made for several hundred yards on either side of the
soft ground on which was the spoor of Bernhard's horse, but with no
satisfactory results.
"The rain must have washed out the spoor," was at length the expressed
opinion of the majority of the Matabili, and the whole party would
immediately have followed the traces of the horse, had not another old
Matabili agreed with the chief man that it was not wise to go on without
some more spoor being seen.
The chief, being thus strengthened in his suspicions, decided to leave
ten men behind to examine every likely place near, especially the kloofs
on the hill-sides, and then to follow with all speed the main body, who
would push on in hopes of overtaking the fugitives.
Hans and Victor watched the Matabili as all these proceedings were
carried on. They guessed what the doubts were which delayed the pursuit
of the spoor, and they counted with considerable anxiety the number of
the Matabili who were detailed for the purpose of examining the kloofs.
From the smallness of this party both men believed that the Matabili did
not consider it very probable that their captives were concealed
thereabouts, and they were also inclined to think that ten Matabili were
by no means a match for two Dutch Mensch armed with their trusty roers.
"We shall have a fight for it, Victor," said Hans; "and we ought not to
let one of these men escape, or they will bring a host of savages down
upon us before Bernhard can return with help. They don't know where we
are, and so we shall have the full advantage of a surprise, and we
should, if possible, shoot so as to send our bullets through two men at
a time."
"See, they are going back to our last outspan, and will there try to
pick up our spoor; but even a Matabili will be puzzled to find any
traces that the heavy rains have not washed out. It will be good to tie
up some powder and bullets in cartridges," continued Hans; "we shall
want quick loading; and let us take care not to both fire at once,
unless in extremities,--then we shall always have two bullets ready for
them. We must kill or wound four Matabili with each barrel; and I think
a bullet cut into four, and two bits put on the top of each charge, will
be good; thus we shall do more than give one wound. We must not think
of the cruelty, Victor; for it is for life, and for those poor girls, we
fight. We shall be tortured and then killed like oxen if we are
defeated. Luckily the wind is not fair for the main body to hear our
guns, and a part of the hill is between us, or the report might bring
them all back again."
"Katrine," said Hans, "keep quiet in your cave, and on no account show
yourself. We shall have to fire some shots soon, but never fear for our
success."
"Is it the Matabili murderers again, Hans?" inquired Katrine. "I will
pray for you, Hans; but take care of yourself, and don't run more risk
than is necessary."
The Matabili who were left behind searched carefully for spoor, but
without success; they therefore advanced to the nearest kloof,
determined to search each of these in succession.
"In that kloof," said Hans, "I don't think my spoor could be seen; for I
merely walked once a part of the way down it; at the top, however, they
may find my footprints; at least, if they can read them on the grass."
It occupied the enemy fully half an hour to ascend the kloof and reach
the summit, where Hans and Victor had a distinct view of them; they
halted on reaching the top of the kloof, and examined the ground in all
directions, and scanned the various ridges and rocks.
"They do not seem to think there is an enemy here, Victor," said Hans:
"I believe they would take more care of themselves if they did. They
stand quite unconcerned, though they might be made targets of at once.
This I don't think they would do if they suspected us of being concealed
hereabouts. We must not fire a shot as long as there is a chance of our
escaping detection, for it may be better far to escape being seen, than
even to kill all these men."
"We will not fire, Hans, unless a man comes across the little causeway
there leading to this table-land; then it would be better to make sure
of our foe. See, Hans," whispered Victor; "they have discovered your
footprints, and are coming on rapidly: we shall find fighting a
necessity now."
"They bring it on their own heads, then," said Hans, as he tapped his
gun to secure the powder being up in each nipple: "you fire first,
Victor, and take two in a line if you can, whilst I wait for the next
shot."
The Matabili had undoubtedly discovered the footmarks of Hans, as they
ran rapidly along the pathway which he had trodden the day previously;
but they seemed to entirely underrate their enemy, as they took no
precautions for concealment. As they approached the caves the men
jostled each other in their eagerness to get first, and grasping their
spears, they waved them in the air as though they already felt them
penetrating the white men's flesh. In a very short time they had
reached the ridge leading to the caves, and upon the first men arriving
at this point they saw the caves and the means adopted by Hans to make
these secure from wind and rain; the Matabili at once recognised this as
the work of men, and with a yell of pleasure they dashed forward.
"Now," whispered Hans; and Victor, whose gun was at his shoulder,
pressed the trigger, and the loud report of the heavy gun (for it was an
eight to the pound that Victor used) for a moment deafened all other
sounds. Hans and Victor stooped low to see under the smoke, and saw two
of their enemies lying dead, whilst a third was jumping about in pain
and rage, a wound from one of the cut bullets having rendered him unfit
for further service. The remaining Matabili, however, though daunted
for a moment, beat their shields and rushed forward: there was, however,
only room for one at a time on the ridge, and their endeavour to precede
each other caused a moment's delay.
"My turn now, Victor," said Hans; and raising his gun, a second
discharge brought two more Matabili to the ground.
"Fire at the leader, Victor," said Hans: "they are going to retreat I'll
pick off the large man near him;" and the two shots in quick succession
killed the two men against whom the aim was taken.
"In with the bullets, Victor," whispered Hans, "before we move. Six out
of ten killed, and one or two wounded, is good; the others will never
stay, they will run for aid to those on before; and I must stop this, or
we shall have near a hundred men upon us in twelve hours or less. You
keep guard here, Victor; I'll cut off these rascals' retreat: mind those
fellows are not shamming. Katrine," called Hans, "it is well; we have
driven away the murdering hounds, and I'm going now to stop the few that
have escaped from telling tales. I'll be back soon."
Hans, by means of some wild vine and creepers, descended from the
opposite side of the small plateau to that by which the Matabili had
advanced: he then ran along the top of the ridge, and made his way
rapidly down to the edge of the bush. He thus commanded the plain along
which he expected the three Matabili would run, who he believed were
likely to follow their main body in order to procure assistance. He
soon saw he was not mistaken in his suppositions; for, crouching so as
to be concealed as much as possible from the view of any one at the
caves, the three men who had escaped the bullets of the two hunters ran
rapidly onwards, and were soon within fifty yards of Hans' position. As
they passed him he raised his gun and made an excellent shot at the
leader, who never moved after he touched the ground, on which he fell
headlong. The two remaining men with wonderful agility darted from
right to left like snipe in their course, and thus gave Hans merely a
snap shot at about one hundred yards. He fired, however, but heard the
harmless whistle of his bullet as it struck the ground, and whizzed far
on ahead of his enemies.
Had the Matabili been aware that he had no other weapon than his gun,
they would upon this second discharge have endeavoured to close with
him, and with their assagies they might easily have done so before he
could reload; but they knew not either the weapons he used, or whether
there was more than one white man near them, so they were intent only on
retreat. It was with deep disappointment that Hans saw the failure of
his second shot, and at first he thought he might obtain another chance
if he reloaded and ran in pursuit, but the speed at which the Matabili
ran and their well-known endurance, reminded him that he was no match
for them in a foot-race; and so he decided to return at once to Victor,
in order to consult as to the best means to be adopted to meet what he
now, looked upon as certain, viz. an attack in about twelve hours from
at least a hundred infuriated Matabili, who were brave to a degree, and
who would not mind sacrificing some dozen men, in order to at length be
able to bring back to their chief the captives who had, by a temporary
neglect, been given a chance to escape.