We both fell asleep almost instantaneously, but I am unable to say how
long we continued to sleep. It did not seem more than five minutes, and
then we were awakened by a noise, that was loud enough and disagreeable
enough to have waked up the dead. It was one of the strangest noises I
had ever heard in my life; and neither of us could make out what was
causing it, though there could be no doubt it proceeded from some kind
of animals.
At first we thought it was wolves, or rather hyenas and jackals--since
these are the wolves of Africa--and some of the sounds resembled the
voices of these creatures, with which we were already acquainted, from
hearing them every night around the barracoons of King Dingo, and along
the banks of the river. But there were other sounds of a different
kind--shrill screams, and calls like the mewing of cats, and now and
them a chattering and gibbering that bore a resemblance to the voices of
human beings, or, more correctly, to the ravings of maniacs!
Evidently there were many creatures making these noises; but what sort
of beings they were, neither my companion nor I could form any
conjecture. The sounds were harsh and disagreeable--every tone of them
calculated to produce terror in those who might listen to them,--and
they terrified us as soon as we were awake to hear them.
Both of us sprang instantly up, and looked around in affright, expecting
every moment to be attacked; but although we could hear the noises on
every side, we were as yet unable to see who or what was making them.
Our fire glimmered faintly, and enabled us to see only to a very short
distance around us; but in order to get a better view, Ben mechanically
kicked up the half-burnt sticks; and then a bright blaze was produced,
which lit up the whole space shadowed by the branches of the baobab.
As yet we could see nothing--for the noises proceeded out of the thick
darkness beyond; but we could perceive that they came from all sides--
from behind as well as before us. Whatever creatures they were that
were uttering these horrid sounds were not all in one place; they were
everywhere around the great tree; we were in fact surrounded by a large
host of them--completely encompassed.
The sounds now appeared to grow louder and nearer; and as we stood
gazing out into the darkness, we began to perceive certain bright spots,
that scintillated and sparkled like jets of moving fire. These spots
were round and a greenish lustre; and as we looked upon them we were
soon able to tell what they were--they were eyes!
Yes, they were the eyes of some animals, though of what sort we could
not guess. That they were fierce creatures, perhaps beasts of prey, we
had every reason to believe. Their wild cries, and the manner of their
approach proved this; for they were approaching--every moment drawing
nearer and nearer.
In a very few seconds they had got so close, that we could see them
distinctly enough, and no longer conjectured about what kind of animals
they were. I knew them as soon as the light enabled me to get a view of
them. I knew them from having seen some of their kind in a menagerie,
and my companion was even better acquainted with them--they were
baboons.
The discovery did not in any way tend to allay the apprehensions which
their voices had created. Quite the contrary was the effect produced.
We both knew well enough the fierce disposition of these brutes--any one
who has ever witnessed their behaviour in the cage must be acquainted
with the fact, that they are the most spiteful and savage creatures that
can be imagined, and exceedingly dangerous to be approached. And this,
too, after being tamed and constantly receiving kindness from the hand
of man! Still more dangerous when in their native haunts--so much so,
that the woods which they inhabited are never traversed by the natives
without great precaution, and only when several persons well-armed go
together.
Now both my companion and I were well acquainted with these facts; and
to say that we were scared, when we saw the baboons approaching our
place of encampment, is only to declare the simple truth. We were
scared and badly scared too--quite as much terrified as we had been by
the sight of the lion.
We saw, moreover, that these baboons were of the largest, and most
dangerous kind--for there are several different species of baboons in
Africa. These were the hideous "mandrills," as we could tell by their
great swollen cheeks, of purple and scarlet colour, that shone
conspicuously under the light of our fire. We could distinguish their
thick hog-like snouts, and yellow chin-beards as they advanced; and we
had no doubt about what sort of enemy was before us.
Had there been only one or two of these hideous brutes, an attack from
them would have been dangerous enough--far more so than an encounter
with hyenas or fierce mastiff dogs, for the mandrill is more than a
match for either. But what was our dismay on perceiving that the brutes
were in great numbers--in fact a whole flock or tribe was on the ground,
and advancing towards us from all sides. Turn which way we would, their
eyes were gleaming upon us, and their painted faces shining under the
blaze. From all sides came their cries of menace--so shrill and loud
that we could not hear our own voices, as we spoke to one another!
About their design there could be no doubt: they were evidently
advancing to attack us: and the reason why they did not rush forward at
once may have been that they had some dread of approaching the fire; or
perhaps they had not yet made up their minds as to what sort of enemies
we were.
It was not likely, however, that the fire would keep them off for any
long period of time. They would soon become accustomed to it; and, in
fact, every moment they appeared to gain confidence and drew nearer and
nearer.
What was to be done? Against such a host we could not defend ourselves,
not for five minutes, had we been armed ever so well. The powerful
brutes would have pulled us down in the twinkling of an eye, and torn us
to pieces with their strong hog-like tusks. Defence would be idle--
there was no other mode of escape than to endeavour to get away from the
ground.
But how? to climb up into the tree would not avail us, though it had
saved us from the lion. These mandrills could climb better than we;
they would soon overtake us, and tear us to pieces among the branches.
We next thought of running out into the open ground, and escaping by
flight. Probably we should have made the attempt, but turn which way we
might we saw that the baboons were in the way--a complete circle of them
had formed around us, several ranks deep; and had we attempted to pass
through them, it was plain they could have seized upon us and dragged us
down. In short, we were surrounded, and our retreat cut off.
We were fairly at a stand, and could think of no means of escape. And
yet to remain where we were, was to be attacked to a certainty; for
every moment the threatening ranks were closing around us--still
continuing to utter the same horrid cries--which, probably, were partly
meant to terrify us, and partly to encourage each other in the outset.
I am very sure that but for the fire--which was no doubt a strange sight
to them--they would not have wasted time in the attack, but would have
sprung forward upon us at once. But the fire, which they still appeared
to regard with some degree of suspicion, held them back.
Perceiving this, my companion bethought him of a means of farther
putting them in fear; and, calling me to follow his example, he caught
up one of the blazing faggots, and, rushing out towards the nearest,
waved the brand in their faces. I did as I saw him, only going towards
the opposite side of the circle of our assailants.
The manoeuvre was not without its effect. The baboons retreated before
this odd species of assault, but not so precipitately, as to leave any
hope of our being able to drive them off altogether. On the contrary,
as soon as we stopped they stopped also; and when we returned towards
the fire to exchange our brands for others, they followed us up and came
as close as ever. They grew even more furious and noisy--for the fact
that we had not injured any of them taught them to look upon our
firebrands as harmless weapons, and no longer to be dreaded.
We repeated the manoeuvre more than once; but it soon ceased to inspire
them with fear; and we had to wave the torches before their very snouts
before we could cause them to turn tail and run from us.
"This way won't do, Will'm," said my companion, in a voice that told his
alarm, "they won't be run off, lad! I'll try 'em with a shot from the
old piece--maybe that'll send 'em a bit."
The "Queen Anne," was loaded, as usual, with small shot; and we had
thought of firing at them when they first came up; but we knew that the
small shot would only sting them, without doing any real injury, and,
consequently, render them more furious, and implacable. We had,
therefore, abstained from firing the gun, until we should try the effect
of the firebrands.
Now, however, Ben was determined, that at least one of them should pay
the forfeit; and I saw him pushing the ramrod into the gun--just as we
had done when loading for the lion.
In a few seconds he had got ready; and then stepping forward till he
stood near the line of the threatening mandrills, he pointed the piece
at one of the largest and fired.
A scream of pain announced that he had aimed well; and the great brute
was seen sprawling over the ground, and struggling in the agonies of
death--while a crowd of its companions rushing from all sides gathered
around it. At the same instant I had fired the pistol and wounded
another of them, which also became the centre of a sympathising group,
Ben and I, after firing, ran back to the fire. It was impossible to
reload the gun--since the ramrod was now sticking in the body of the
baboon--but, even had we been in possession of a dozen ramrods, we
should not have found time to use them. The effect of our shots, fatal
as they had been, was the very reverse of what might have been
anticipated. Instead of intimidating our assailants, it had only
increased their courage; and now, forsaking their fallen comrades, they
returned to the attack with redoubled rage and with evident
determination to close with us without more ado.
We saw that the crisis had come; I had seized one of the largest of the
firebrands, and my companion held the musket clubbed and ready to deal
blows around him. But what would these have availed against such
numbers? we should soon be overpowered, and dragged down--never more to
regain our feet--but to be torn to fragments by those terrible teeth,
gnashing and threatening all around us.
And this would most certainly have been our fate, had not that moment
offered a means of escape from our perilous position.
A means did offer itself, and it was odd we had not thought of it
before.
Just as we were at the height of despair--expecting every moment to be
our last--our eyes chanced to turn on the dark doorway that opened into
the side of the tree--the entrance to the chamber of the dead. It was
still open--for we had not returned the bark slab to its place, and it
was lying where we had thrown it on the ground outside. Both of us
noticed the doorway at the same instant, and simultaneously recognised
in it a means of escape--for both shouted as with one voice and rushed
towards it together.
Narrow as was the entrance we passed quickly through. A rabbit could
scarce have glided more rapidly into its burrow; and, before any of the
pursuing mandrills could lay a tooth upon our skirts, we had got inside,
and were once more in the company of the skeletons.