We were working away at the canoe: the boys keeping the fire up; the
rest of us heating the irons and burning out the inside; Jack amusing
himself and us by singing a sea-song to the tune of "Come, cheer up, my
lads;" while Chickango was indulging himself in shouting a native ditty
of which we could neither make out the words nor very clearly the
tune,--it had reference, I fancy, to our canoe-building, to which he was
wishing all manner of success. Suddenly a loud, trumpeting sound
saluted our ears; and looking round to ascertain whence it came, we saw
far away in the forest a huge elephant, which we naturally concluded had
been attracted by our voices. He stood whisking his ears and holding
his trunk out in a somewhat threatening manner. Our guns stood against
the trees at some little distance. Chickango gave a warning shout.
"Hide behind the trees, or climb up the nearest you can reach," said
Senhor Silva.
Stanley seemed in no way disposed to follow this advice, but rushed to
his gun.
"Come, boys! come with me," cried Jack, "and we will be up a tree."
Timbo followed Jack and the two boys. Jack sprang up to a low bough of
a tree, and then, stooping down, with Timbo's aid helped up the boys.
David had some time before this gone back to the Castle to remain with
his sisters. Senhor Silva also seized his gun, and ran off to a
distance. Chickango rushed behind a stout tree; whilst I, seizing my
weapon, stood by Stanley's side. Just then I recollected that it was
only loaded with small shot, which, of course, would not have been of
the slightest avail against the monstrous animal. Again the elephant
sent forth a loud trumpeting, and rushed towards us. Stanley took aim
and fired, but whether the animal was struck or not we could not tell:
at all events, it came rushing on furiously towards us.
"Fly behind a tree!" cried my cousin, suiting the action to the word;
but the elephant had his eye fixed on me, and scarcely had I reached the
trunk of the one I had selected when he was close to me on the other
side. Confused by the fearful noise he made, I knew not which way to
turn. He seemed in no way disposed to quit me. He kept dodging round
and round the tree. "Run to the next tree!" I heard Stanley cry out.
"You may get up it and escape him!" Glancing over my shoulder, I saw
that the boughs were low down, and being a good climber, I had fair
hopes of success. It seemed my only prospect of escaping a fearful
death. I watched my opportunity, and when the elephant was on the other
side of the big tree, I ran to the next, and springing to a bough,
caught it, and soon swung myself up to the next. He caught sight of me,
however, shrieking and trumpeting with rage. Even now I did not feel
that I was out of his reach. I had just time to scramble up to the
boughs above my head, when he was close under the tree. As I did so my
cap fell off. I knew that the animal could reach to a great height with
his trunk, and did not feel secure till I had clambered up to one still
higher. I was then able to look down on my assailant, when I saw that
he had seized my cap as it fell; and that probably saved my leg being
seized by his trunk, for he could without difficulty have reached it. I
could only hope that my cousin would in the meantime be able to reload
and kill the creature.
I looked round, but could not see him. Presently I observed two young
elephants coming out of the bush, when the old one, giving a glance up
at me to see that I was safe, ran towards them and began fondling them
with his trunk; the infant monsters (for they were as big as cart
horses) returning his caresses with their own proboscises. What had
become of my friends I could not tell. Every instant I expected to hear
the sound of Stanley's rifle, but it was silent. I now began to fear
that some accident had happened to him, for I was very sure that he
would not have deserted me. Jack and the boys were, I hoped, safe; and
I knew that the blacks could very well take care of themselves. At all
events, I thought, Senhor Silva will return--though, to be sure, he is
no sportsman, and may not wish to encounter the elephant. By degrees
the elephant's anger seemed to abate, and he stood whisking his tail and
flapping his ears, playing with his young charges. Still I knew very
well that should I venture down, his anger would revive, and he would
rush at me as before. I determined, therefore, to wait patiently till
my friends could come to my rescue.
As I was looking round, trying to discover where Jack and the boys had
got to, I saw the head of a negro moving among the brushwood. I thought
it must be that of Chickango; but presently I caught sight of another
and then another creeping along like serpents, now moving slowly, now
more rapidly. I concluded that their leader had his eye on the
elephant, as whenever he stopped they stopped, so that they could
scarcely be distinguished on the ground. Each man carried a large spear
in his hand. They increased in numbers, approaching from all quarters.
It was evident that they had tracked the elephant, and at length closed
in on him. They were fierce-looking warriors, and I could only hope
that they might prove friendly, as from their numbers they would have
been awkward people to deal with as enemies. I expected every moment
that the elephant would discover them, for I thought, by the way he
stopped and looked about, that he was aware that danger was near. The
hunters, however, remained perfectly still, and I could scarcely have
believed that some fifty or more human beings were close to me, ready in
an instant to spring up into active exertion. I anxiously watched their
proceedings, keeping my eye on the man I supposed to be their leader.
Once more I saw him stealthily moving on; then suddenly springing up
from behind a tree, he darted his spear with tremendous force right into
the elephant's neck, and before the creature could look round, had again
disappeared behind the tree. The young elephants had caught sight of
their assailants, but instead of flying, rushed up again to their
guardian, one of them intertwining its trunk round his neck. And now
from every side the hunters started up. Spear after spear was darted
into the elephant's back, till it literally bristled with shafts.
Whenever the creature turned round, he was met by new assailants, while
the young ones were meantime untouched. The hunters probably knew that
they would fall easy victims when their guardian was killed. The poor
creature turned round and round, apparently to defend its young charges
from the spears of its assailants. Its life-blood was now flowing fast.
When the blacks observed this, they continued to plunge more and more
weapons into his body. The young ones turned round, and, I thought,
cast reproachful, if not angry, glances at the assailants of their
guardian. Fresh hunters kept coming up, and discharging their weapons,
again retreated under shelter. At length the poor elephant could no
longer move. Its huge head and trunk fell slowly down, then sinking on
his knees, fell gradually over on one side. The poor young elephants
were quickly despatched; and the hunters came rushing up, shouting and
singing over their prizes. The chief then stuck a club into the ground,
with a hideous-looking figure carved on the top of it. On this they all
joined hands and began dancing and shouting more furiously than before,
going round and round their prey. The chief and others then brought
pieces of the meat, which they placed before the idol. This I now knew
to be a _fetish_, as all idols as well as charms are called throughout
Negro-land. I was afraid every instant that I should be seen. Hitherto
there had been little risk of that, as they were all so eagerly engaged
in their assault on the elephant. I supposed that my friends must have
seen the hunters; at all events their loud shouts would now make their
presence known.
Presently one of the hunters looking up caught sight of me in the tree.
I thought he would have fallen back with astonishment. The spear he was
holding in his hand dropped to the ground, his hand sank by his side,
and he kept gazing up, rolling the large white balls of his eyes round
and round as if he was going off in a fit. His exclamation drew the
attention of his companions to me. Many of them seemed as much
astonished, exhibiting their surprise in various grotesque ways. What
they took me for I could not tell; probably some strange animal or a
spirit of the woods. The latter was, I believe, the case. I made signs
to them that I wished to be their friend, putting my hand out as if to
shake theirs, and then began slowly to descend the tree. Still they did
not seem to have made up their minds whether they would wish for a
nearer acquaintance. I tried to explain to them, however, that I had
got up the tree to avoid the elephant, and as they had killed it, for
which I was much obliged to them, I could now come down without fear.
Whether they understood my signs I could not tell, but by degrees I saw
that their fears were somewhat quelled. Stopping at each branch to make
signs, I at length reached the lowest, when once more stretching out my
hand I dropped to the ground, and, in as composed a way as I could,
walked into their midst. They possibly had never seen a white man
before, and looked at me with as much astonishment as an European who
had never heard of the existence of negroes would have looked at them.
They now crowded round me, and began to examine my dress. Some put
their hands on my face and rubbed it, as if expecting the white colour
to come off. Others examined my hands, while one fierce-looking fellow
poked his fingers through my hair.
Familiarity, it is said, breeds contempt; and when I found that they
were making these advances, I feared that, instead of looking upon me as
some superior being as they at first did they might at length ill-treat
me. One of them found my cap, which the elephant had thrown to the
ground. After examining it and putting it on my head, he instantly
pulled it off again and clapped it on his own woolly pate. The chief
hunter next seemed disposed to take possession of my jacket. I knew it
would not do to show any signs of fear, so rushing at the man who had
taken my cap, I seized it from his head and held it tightly in one hand,
while I resisted the efforts of the chief to draw off my coat. Having
satisfied their curiosity for the present, they at length left me alone,
and returned to the carcases of the elephants.
Their first care was to cut off the tusks of the old elephant which were
of great size. This done, they gave vent to their exultation in loud
shouts, and then set to work to cut up the flesh. They seemed to prefer
the young ones, the flesh of which was divided among the whole party.
They next assailed the larger beast, when each man was loaded with as
much as he could carry. This work occupied some time.
Considering that it would be wise to take my departure, I was on the
point of doing so, when several of the blacks seized me by the arms, and
making me understand that I was to accompany them, pointed to a huge
piece of elephant flesh, which they signified it would be my duty to
carry. This was more than I had bargained for, and I positively refused
to go with them. They now began to move off, and two or three attempted
to drag me along. I shouted at the top of my voice, resisting with all
my power, "Help!--help!--Jack!--Timbo!--Chickango!" I had got some way,
and was afraid I should be carried off as a captive, when I heard a
shout at a little distance, and presently saw Timbo and Chickango
running towards us. They were followed by Jack, Stanley, and David, the
two boys bringing up the rear. The hunters, when they saw my friends
advancing, faced about, looking at them with glances of astonishment. I
heard them all talking together, seemingly asking each other who these
strangers could be. They had recovered their spears, which, still red
with the blood of the elephants, they held in their hands, ready to dart
at Timbo and Chickango. Seeing this, my friends halted, and placing
their muskets on the ground, held up their hands as a sign of peace,
addressing their countrymen, who quickly replied, turning their glances
every now and then at me. Again Timbo spoke to them, and this time with
greater effect than at first. The expressions of anger and fear which I
had observed in their countenances gradually wore off, and they looked
with a more kindly expression towards me. Presently they turned the
points of their spears to the ground, when my two friends advancing,
took the chief by the hand, and immediately those who held me brought me
to the front. Chickango, who had taken up the thread of the discourse,
went on speaking very vehemently, and advancing, led me out of the
throng. Timbo immediately seized my hand. "Go away--quick now, Massa
Andrew. Perhaps dey change deir mind. See! here come de captain and
Senhor Silva, and de t'ree young gentlemen. Dese niggers t'ink you
white spirit, and no dare hurt you."
By this time the rest of our party had come up, and great was the
surprise of the hunters when Senhor Silva addressed them in a language
they could understand. I do not know exactly what account he gave of
us, but the result was that we were all in a short time shaking hands,
and apparently the best of friends. They even begged that we would
accept of some of the flesh of the elephants they had killed--to be sure
it was part of what they themselves could not carry off. Our new
friends now invited us to visit them at their village, which was
situated on the summit of a hill about four or five miles off, but so
surrounded by woods that we had not seen it.
From their wild looks and manners, we were not sorry when at length they
took their departure. Timbo called them Bakeles, and gave no very
flattering description of them. We were thankful that they had not
caught sight of our canoe. They might prove friendly, but should they,
as was possible, attempt to molest us, it might be advisable to leave
their neighbourhood, when we should certainly have a better chance of
escaping by water than by land.
"Then we had better have another craft built without delay," observed
Jack, who heard Stanley make a remark to this effect. "And now that we
know how to set about it, we should get another built much quicker than
the last."
On reaching the Castle we found the young ladies greatly alarmed at our
absence. Senhor Silva, it appeared, had rushed back and called out
David, telling him to come without delay to our assistance. Some of us
were up trees, besieged by an elephant, and he could not tell what had
become of the captain and the rest of us. Stanley had, it appeared,
lost his bag of bullets, and had made off to where we were working at
the canoe to find them. This had prevented him from firing at the
elephant; and not being able to find his ammunition, he also had gone
back to the Castle, from which he found David issuing with a rifle and
some bullets. Soon afterwards they were met by Timbo and Chickango, who
also had observed the approach of the hunters, and had advised them not
to show themselves till the elephant was killed and they were in good
humour after their victory. Jack and the boys had in the meantime
remained up the tree, and, like me, had been watching all that was
taking place. When they saw that I was made prisoner, they had slipped
down, and, unperceived, had hastened to the Castle for assistance.
Kate, on hearing the account given of the savages, strongly urged us to
commence our journey without delay to the south.
"But you see, miss," observed Jack, "it will take us some time to build
another boat, and it may be that we shall become good friends with these
people before then. Timbo says that if we know how to manage them, we
shall be able to get on very well, and maybe we shall do them a good
turn, and they will help us."
Our first canoe was now completed, and we lost no time in commencing a
second.
"It would be as well, I think," said Senhor Silva, "after we have cut
down another tree, to take the bull by the horns, and visit these people
at once. If we show confidence in them they are less likely to injure
us, and, at all events, we can be on our guard against any treachery
they may meditate. I know these native tribes well. If we show that we
do not fear them and are prepared to resist aggression, they will seldom
venture on an attack."
The knowledge that we had a number of natives in our neighbourhood, who
might possibly be evil-affected, greatly changed the sense of security
we had hitherto enjoyed. Although, as far as we were aware, they had
not found out the Castle, they might do so at any moment, and come and
attack us. We agreed, therefore, never to leave it in future without
defenders. We accordingly formed ourselves into two parties. While one
went out hunting, or exploring, or working at the canoe, the other was
to remain in the fortress for its protection.
Stanley, who always considered it best to meet danger in the face, or,
as our Portuguese friend had said, "to take the bull by the horns," was
anxious forthwith to pay a visit to our neighbours. He begged Senhor
Silva to accompany him, and chose myself and Chickango to be of the
party; while David, Timbo, and Jack, with the two boys, were left to
protect the young ladies. To increase the strength of our fort, we had
driven stout poles all round it, and formed what Jack called ports along
the walls, through which our muskets could be fired.
"Do not be afraid, Stanley," said Leo, as we were preparing to set off.
"If the blacks come, we will render a good account of them. Natty and I
can now fire a musket as well as any of you, and we have been teaching
Kate and Bella. We will beat them off, depend on it."
"I do not think the blacks will come," said Natty; "but if they do, I
think we ought to fight. There is no doubt about that."
Natty was always more quiet in his remarks than his friend, but I felt
sure there was quite as much mettle in him. With our guns on our
shoulders, our friends cheering us, we marched down the hill towards the
negro village. Senhor Silva had brought a couple of swords, one of
which he wore, and the other Stanley had girded to his side, while
Chickango and I carried spears. Stanley had in addition his pistols
stuck in his belt. Altogether we presented a tolerably warlike
appearance, sufficient, we hoped, to make the savages treat us with
respect. After proceeding for some distance we found a native path,
which, Chickango said, led to the village. He and I by this time were
able to converse pretty well, I having learned some of his language, and
he having picked up a good many words of English. We did not always, to
be sure, understand what each other said, but we made out our meaning by
signs when words failed us. An open space at the foot of the hill,
where plantains were growing, showed us that we were near the village,
though it was so completely concealed by trees that not till we were
actually at the gates did we discover it. It consisted of a long street
of huts, the doors facing each other, with the blank walls on the
outside; very similar indeed to those we had constructed, though ours
was on a much smaller scale. At each end were gates, which were now
left open. Several men came rushing out, with their spears poised, as
we approached, but on Chickango addressing them, they lowered their
weapons, and gave us a friendly greeting. Their skins were somewhat
lighter than the coast natives. They were a tolerably good-looking race
for Africans. Their only dress was a piece of matting worn round the
loins, and their ornaments, necklaces formed of the teeth of wild
animals, and rings round their arms and legs. The women whom we saw had
a number of these rings, while their hair was dressed in various ways
with no little care. Nearly all the people had, slung over their
shoulders, a grass-cloth bag or purse, very neatly made, in which they
carried various articles. The chief had neat grass-cloth mats spread
for us, and taking his seat on one, he begged us to sit down on the
others. Senhor Silva then presented him with some tobacco, greatly to
his delight, and be instantly produced some well-carved pipes, when,
fire being brought, he commenced smoking with evident satisfaction. It
is curious that savages in both the eastern and western hemispheres
should so delight in the much-abused weed. As we sat smoking the
calumet of peace--for such we hoped it would prove--the chief informed
us that he had been residing at that spot about a couple of years, but
added: "I fear we shall soon have to move towards the coast, for already
we hear that the fierce Pangwes are advancing in this direction; and
unless you white men will help us, we cannot hope to oppose them." He
described the Pangwes as a terrible people, and great warriors. "It is
said that they eat up all the enemies they kill," he added, shuddering
as he spoke. "Such may be our fate; for as they come not only in
hundreds but in thousands, we cannot hope to withstand them."
Senhor Silva replied, that although we, as visitors to their country,
could not interfere in their quarrels, yet we should be glad to
negotiate with their enemies should they make their appearance.
The chief laughed at the notion. "You might as well attempt to turn the
torrent of yonder river," he answered, "as to try and induce the savage
Pangwes to turn aside from any undertaking on which they have resolved.
There is only one thing they understand, and that is the argument which
your muskets can hold. If you wish to aid us, you must come with them
and plenty of ammunition, and you may then make the Pangwes turn aside
to some other district."
I need not further describe our interview, but it ended in a most
satisfactory manner, the Bakeles promising to be our friends, and to
help us should we require their aid. Having concluded our visit, we
took our leave, and commenced our return homewards. As we made our way
through the forest we saw vast numbers of apes playing about the trees,
and kept a bright look-out on either side lest we should come suddenly
upon a lion or leopard--an animal still more to be dreaded, on account
of the distance it can spring. We trusted to the guidance of Chickango,
for alone I doubt whether we should have been able to find our way. As
we were moving along, suddenly, from among the leaves of a palm, I
caught sight of an odd-looking face peering out at us, and apparently
examining us with much curiosity. The nose was white, and a thick
fringe of white hair surrounded the cheeks. The face was black, and the
body was of a dark colour, stunted hair covering the top of the head. I
could not help bursting out into a fit of laughter at the odd look of
the creature, for it reminded me of an old woman. It was unlike any ape
I had before seen. Hearing the noise, it turned up its eyes with a look
of astonishment, and then springing to the nearest branch, ran off,
twirling its long tail, into the depths of the forest. As we agreed not
to kill any animal uselessly, we let it go without firing a shot; for we
were too far off from home to carry it with us. It would have been
useless to collect objects of natural history, except very small ones,
as we could not have conveyed them with us on the long journey we
expected soon to make.
We were slowly making our way through the forest, keeping our guns ready
to fire at a moment's notice, when, in the thick shade of some closely
growing trees, we caught sight of another huge ape, with a young one by
its side. At the first glance I fancied it was a gorilla, but the
second showed me that it was a differently formed animal, and not nearly
so large as that monster of the woods. The mother and infant were
gambolling together; the young one tumbling head over heels, then
leaping on its mother's shoulders, then rolling about the ground, while
she turned it over and over, apparently to the little creature's great
delight. We all stopped, and concealing ourselves behind some thick
brushwood, watched the creatures.
"There you see a very curious animal," said Senhor Silva to me. "That
is what you call in Europe a chimpanzee."
The old animal had an intensely black face, while that of its young one
was yellow. It was between four and five feet in height. Suddenly it
stood up on its legs and walked a few paces, stooping somewhat like an
old man. The position it assumed enabled it to look at us, when, with a
sudden cry, it seized its young one in its arms, and sprang up the
nearest tree, exhibiting a wonderful agility. I should have had no
heart to shoot the creature, and I was glad to see Stanley, though he
instinctively lifted his piece to his shoulder, drop it again.
"No," he said; "we must let the mother and child live. David must go
without the specimen. We could not carry even the skin home, and one
young monkey as a pet is enough. So Master Chico shall have no rival."
We had not gone far when we met with two paths leading through the
thickest part of the forest, both of which we concluded would conduct us
homeward.
"If you and Chickango will take one, Senhor Silva and I will take the
other," said Stanley. "We shall have better prospect of sport, and two
guns are sufficient to contend with either lions or panthers."
We accordingly separated, I taking the path to the right.
When passing through an African forest, it is necessary for a man to
keep his eyes about him in every direction. The path I was following
led to an open space, which had been used as a plantation by the
natives, I guessed, by finding a few plantains growing on it. Passing
across it, we discovered another path, which led further into the
forest. "Dis no man path," observed Chickango. "Elephant make it." I
had no doubt he was right from the appearance of the opening, the boughs
on either side being broken down, and the ground being trampled by the
feet of large animals. Though I might have been somewhat proud of
"bagging" an elephant, as Stanley would have called it, I had no great
wish to encounter one. Still, as from the direction I judged the path
to take, by observing the way the sun's rays penetrated the thick
foliage, I thought it would lead us homeward, I did not like to turn
back. We therefore proceeded along it. Elephants are tolerable
road-makers, as wherever they can get through an army may follow.
We went on for about an hour, till we were in a denser forest than I had
yet seen. Creepers innumerable hung down from the boughs, twisting
round them, and forming a complete network in all directions; while huge
fern-leaved plants covered the ground, waving gracefully above our
heads. We were in a complete labyrinth of shrubs, plants, and creepers,
out of which alone I could certainly never have extricated myself. "No
fear, me find a way," said Chickango, "while sun up," and he pointed to
a small opening above our heads, through which the sky could be seen.
We went on a little way; but it appeared to me that we were getting more
and more involved in the mazes of the forest. I looked at Chickango.
He had always been faithful. I could not suppose that he now intended
treachery; and yet could he have had any private communication with the
natives we had been visiting, and agreed to deliver the white men dead
or alive into their hands? I was following close behind him, for often
there was not room for us to walk two abreast, I should say to creep
rather, in and among the underwood. Suddenly he turned round and
touched me on the arm, making a significant gesture to be silent. Then
he crept slowly on, crouching down close to the ground. I followed his
example as well as I could, though it was difficult to get on in that
attitude. Presently he stopped, as did I, behind the crooked trunk of a
half-dead tree, and listening, I heard a loud flapping noise as if some
machinery were at work. Then rising a little from my cover, I observed
a high brown back, looking like some vast mound among the foliage. It
soon began to move, and the head and ears of an enormous elephant came
into view. It appeared to me that the creature's eye was turned towards
us. If so, I could not but expect that he would quickly come to
ascertain who were the pigmy intruders into his domain. Chickango kept
crouching down watching the creature. I fancied I heard a noise on my
left side, and glancing in that direction, I saw another huge head with
a trunk lifted above it. Had I been an experienced hunter, I might have
known how to act. I was afraid of speaking and asking Chickango what he
advised, lest the elephant might hear us. Even now I could not but
suppose that we were perceived. Presently Chickango sprang to his feet
and took aim at the creature's head. I expected to see it roll over,
but some white splinters which flew from an intervening branch told me
that the bullet had been turned aside, though I fancied even then it
must have struck the animal. Instantly its trunk was lifted up, and,
with a tremendous trumpeting which made the forest ring, and a loud
tramping of his heavy feet, he dashed towards us. I felt that our lives
depended upon the accuracy of my aim. It was my first shot at an
elephant, and let any one fancy how the mighty animal must appear in a
rage, and it may be supposed that my aim was not likely to be very
steady. I fired when he was about a dozen paces off. A practised
sportsman might have waited longer. If my bullet took effect it did not
stop his charge, for on he came directly at us. Chickango sprang on one
side. I attempted to follow his example by springing on the other. As
I did so my gun caught in a creeper, which suddenly whisked it from my
hand. I dared not stop to recover it. The creature's huge tusks were
aimed at me, I thought, and I expected the next instant to be pierced
through or crushed to death, or to find myself tossed high in air by his
trunk; but, blind with rage, and somewhat puzzled by two enemies, he ran
his trunk against the stump of the tree with such force as to pierce the
rotten wood through and through. Over it came with a crash; but so
firmly fixed, that for a moment he could not shake it off, while the
dust from the rotten wood fell into his eyes. His companion, meantime,
was trumpeting away furiously, and advancing towards us, but Chickango
and I were concealed from him by the thick wood. Other trumpetings were
heard at the same time, which showed us that he had other companions
besides the one we had seen. I had not forgotten the way I had escaped
the previous day, and glancing round, I saw a thick-stemmed tree
directly behind me. I darted round it; while Chickango concealed
himself behind another. Our assailant, meantime, disconcerted by the
piece of the tree still clinging to his tusks, went crashing on through
the underwood till he had got to a considerable distance from us. His
nearest companion, fortunately a female, followed him. "Load, massa,
load!" cried Chickango to me. Alas! I dared not move to recover my
gun, and felt that my only chance of safety till I could do so and
reload was to keep behind the tree. The male elephant, having cleared
his tusks of the rotten wood, lifted up his trunk, and began trumpeting
away as a signal of defiance, which was echoed by his other companions
in the neighbourhood. Chickango advanced towards him cautiously as
before. Once more he lifted his weapon and fired; but, to my horror, I
saw the creature again dash forward. The black, though a bad shot, was
active of foot, and sprang behind a tree. The other elephant now came
rushing forward; while at the same moment I heard another trumpeting
sound close behind me, and saw, to my dismay, the vast heads of numerous
male elephants, their huge tusks and trunks towering above the
underwood. The various movements I had made brought me back to the
neighbourhood of the spot where the elephant had made his first charge,
when I caught sight of my gun at a little distance. I dashed forward
and seized it. The attempt was dangerous, for the elephants were coming
towards me. In doing so I lost sight of Chickango; but I was sure from
his previous conduct that he would not desert me. I again retreated
towards the nearest large trunk I could see, though all the intervening
space, it must be understood, was filled with fallen trees, and
creepers, and saplings, intertwined as I have before described. To stay
there, however, I saw would be more dangerous than to take to flight, as
with so many assailants, sagacious and cunning in the extreme, I should
at once have been surrounded; and as to climbing a tree, as I had before
done, that was impossible, as no branches were within reach. I had no
time either to reload my piece. I therefore ran, or rather I scrambled,
among the boughs as fast as I could get along. Probably it was
fortunate my gun was not loaded, as I could scarcely have prevented the
lock catching in the creepers through which I made my way. For some
seconds I thought the creatures were at fault, for I saw them standing
still, looking about for me. It was sharp work. I did not profess to
be an elephant hunter, but I could not help feeling that I was, at all
events, now being hunted by the elephants. Still I persevered, but I
dreaded every moment to find myself caught by a creeper, or my head in a
noose, and then to see the monsters rush towards me.
The big elephant and his companion whom I had at first met with now
again espied me, and, trumpeting and shrieking, came dashing through the
woods towards me, tearing down the branches, and trampling the young
saplings under foot. Once I stopped and began to load my gun, but again
the elephants advanced, and I feared that I should not have time to do
so before they were upon me. I continued to retreat in the same
uncomfortable way as before, scrambling over the fallen trunks, and
expecting to see every moment a huge boa, or some venomous snake, dart
out from among them. I was thus scrambling on, endeavouring to increase
my speed, when one of the dangers I dreaded occurred. I slipped, and my
foot catching in a creeper, held me firmly, while I fell forward amid
the tangled mass of creepers, out of which I could by no efforts release
myself. I struggled in vain. The trumpetings and cries of the
elephants sounded loudly in my ears. Just as I had given myself up for
lost, a shot whistled over my head. The nearest animal staggered
forward till he was within half-a-dozen paces of me. Another and
another shot followed. One of them appeared to have been equally
successful with the first, for another elephant, turning round as if to
move off, sank hopelessly on the ground. Loud shouts followed, and
presently I saw my cousin and Senhor Silva forcing their way through the
forest, while Chickango darted out from behind a tree where he had taken
post, and fired, just at the moment to save my life. The other
elephants, frightened by the sound, lifted up their trunks and rushed
back into the forest, the crashing sound of falling boughs and the loud
tramp of their feet showing the direction they had taken.
Two male elephants with fine tusks, and a cow, were the result of our
adventure. The tusks were too valuable to be left, so we immediately
set to work to cut them from the heads of the animals.
"Pity Bakeles no know of dis," said Chickango. "Dey come and have great
feast, and t'ank us."
Stanley and our Portuguese friend told me that they had been directed
towards the spot on hearing our first shot, and that then the trumpeting
of the elephants had reached their ears. This had made them hurry
forward to our assistance. I was thankful that they had arrived thus
opportunely, or I believe that my adventures in Africa would have been
terminated. The weight of the tusks was considerable. We slung them,
however, on two poles, and carried them between us, though darkness had
set in before we reached the Castle, and we felt not a little anxious
lest some lurking wild beast might spring out on us--an event very
likely to happen in an African forest at night. We, however, reached
home in safety, and gave an account of our adventures. Our visit to the
Bakeles village excited great interest; but when I came to describe our
adventure with the elephants, I saw Kate and Bella's colour go.
"Oh, Andrew!" exclaimed Kate, "how dreadful it would have been had the
elephants reached you! How providential it was that Stanley and Senhor
Silva arrived in time to save your life!"
David and his sister both expressed a wish to visit the Bakeles.
"I am not quite certain that that would be wise," observed Stanley. "At
present they look upon us as a party of warriors who may be gone
to-morrow; but if they see young people, they will think we have come to
settle, and may perhaps be disposed to try and get rid of us."
Kate was very glad to hear that we had let the chimpanzee go.
"I wish, though, that you had brought the young one home; we could very
well have taken care of it, and Chico would like to have a playmate,"
exclaimed Bella.
"Possibly Chico and Chim might have quarrelled instead of played
together," observed Senhor Silva; "and I suspect you will find Chico
sufficient to look after."
Senhor Silva, though accustomed to the climate, was not so strong as
most of us, and the morning after our long expedition he was unable to
rise from his couch. David said he had a bad attack of fever; and as
the day wore on, he became delirious, and caused us great anxiety. He
had endeared himself to us by his kind and unpresuming manners; besides
which we knew that he would be very useful in enabling us to travel
through the country--indeed, without his aid the difficulties of
accomplishing the journey would be very great. Anxious as we were, we
could not all of us remain at home. David therefore stayed behind with
the two girls to attend on our sick friend, and Stanley begged me to
accompany him on a shooting expedition with Chickango, while Jack,
Timbo, and the two boys continued working on the second canoe. We were
anxious to shoot some pigeons and small game for our larder; though I
suspect Stanley would have been better pleased to come across some of
the larger animals of the forest. We had bagged a good many birds, when
a beautiful little gazelle came bounding across our path. It put me in
mind of an Italian greyhound, only it had a longer neck and was somewhat
larger. I was quite sorry when Chickango, firing, knocked it over. It
was, however, a welcome addition to our game bag. He called it Ncheri.
It was the most elegant little creature I met with in Africa among the
numberless beautiful animals which abound in the regions we passed
through.
We were at the time proceeding along the foot of a hill. Scarcely had
he fired, when a loud trumpeting was heard, and directly afterwards we
saw a negro rushing through the underwood, followed by a huge elephant.
"Up! up the hill!" cried Chickango, suiting the action to the word. I
followed, for as we were wishing to kill birds alone, my gun was loaded
only with small shot. The elephant made towards us. The negro stranger
came bounding on. Chickango and I had got some way up the hill, but
Stanley, who stood his ground, was engaged in ramming home a bullet.
The elephant had all the time been keeping one eye on the black and one
on us. When I thought he was on the point of seizing my cousin, he
suddenly turned on his first assailant. The black darted to a tree,
when the elephant, seizing him with his trunk, threw him with tremendous
force to the ground. This enabled Stanley to spring up after us; and
the hill being very steep, with rolling stones, we hoped that we were
there safe from the attacks of the now infuriated beast. It cast a
glance at the unfortunate black, who was endeavouring to crawl away
along the ground. Again the elephant was about to seize him with his
trunk, and in an instant would have crushed him to death, when Stanley,
raising his gun, fired, and struck the creature in the most vulnerable
part--behind the ear. The ball must have entered the brain, for,
sinking down instantly, it rolled over, and, we thought, must have
killed the black by its weight. We hurried down, hoping that there
might yet be time to save the poor fellow's life, regardless at the
moment of our victory, which, with hunters in general, would have been a
cause of triumph. As we got round, we found that the black had narrowly
escaped being crushed to death; indeed, as it was, his legs appeared to
lie almost under the monster's back. We drew him out, however, and to
our satisfaction found that he was still breathing. Chickango said that
he belonged to the Bakeles, and was probably a chief hunter among them.
As, however, we were much nearer our own abode than their village,
Stanley and I agreed to carry him with us, somewhat, I fancied, to
Chickango's astonishment. "Oh! he black fellow, he die; what use
carry?" he remarked. Of course we kept to our own opinion, hoping that
with David's skill the poor man might recover. He was unable to speak,
and was indeed apparently unconscious.
"Had my rifle been loaded with ball, I should have saved that poor
fellow the last fearful crush; and in future we must not go without one
or two of our fowling-pieces loaded with ball," observed Stanley,
ramming down a bullet into his rifle.
Chickango and I did the same. We then constructed a rough litter, on
which we placed the injured negro. We bore him along, my cousin and
Chickango carrying the head and I the feet part of the litter. We found
the weight considerable, especially over the rough ground we had to
traverse, but the life of a fellow-creature depended upon our
perseverance. Chickango carefully noted the spot where the elephant
lay, that we might return as soon as possible for some of the meat and
the tusks, which were very large. We reached the spot where our friends
were cutting out the canoe just as they were about to leave it, and we
were thankful to have their assistance in carrying the stranger. Kate
got a great fright seeing us coming, thinking that one of our party had
been killed. David instantly applied himself to examining the hurts of
the negro. He found that his left arm had been broken, and the ribs on
the same side severely crushed. "The injuries might be serious for a
European," he observed; "but the blood of an African, unheated by the
climate, escapes inflammation, and I have hopes that he may recover."
Senhor Silva had recovered his senses, though still very weak, and when
I went to see him, he expressed his gratitude for the attention with
which David and the young ladies had treated him. Chickango was very
eager to set out immediately, in order to bring in the elephant's tusks
and some meat, but Stanley considered that it was too late in the day,
and put off the expedition till the following morning.
We were somewhat later in starting than we had intended--Jack and Timbo
accompanying Stanley, Chickango, and I. We carried baskets and ropes,
to bring with us the ivory and a supply of meat. On reaching the spot,
however, where the huge monster lay, we found that others had been
before us. The tusks were gone, and a portion of the flesh.
Innumerable birds of prey, also, were tearing away at it, or seated on
the surrounding trees devouring the pieces they had carried off, while
several hyenas, already gorged, crept sulkily away, doubting whether
they should attack us or not. The spectacle was almost ghastly, and it
showed how soon a mountain of flesh might disappear in that region.
Chickango was greatly disappointed, as not a particle of flesh which he
could touch remained, while, of course, we regretted the loss of the
valuable tusks. On our way back, we caught sight of a number of
beautiful little monkeys skipping about in the trees. Chickango called
them oshingui. They were the smallest I ever saw. Below the trees
where they had their abode ran a small stream; and Chickango told me
they were very fond of water, and were never found at a distance from
it. On the same trees, and playing with them, were numerous birds,
called monkey-birds from their apparent attachment to those creatures.
We saw another very beautiful little bird, with an extremely long
flowing tail of pure milk-white. It had a crest on its head of a
greenish black, and its breast was of the same colour, while lower down
the feathers were of an ashy brown. Snow-white feathers on the back
rose up, like those of the birds of paradise, to which it had a strong
resemblance. Soon after this I saw some creatures on the ground, and
catching hold of one of them, I found that it was an enormous ant of a
greenish white colour, with a head of a reddish black. The fangs were
so powerful that when I put my fingers to them, they literally tore a
piece of flesh out.
"Why, these creatures would eat us all up, if we were to encounter them
as we did those the other day," I remarked.
"No fear, massa," answered Timbo. "Dey no come in same way. Dey no go
into house, no climb tree, and only just a few hundred or t'ousand march
together."
It was satisfactory to hear this, for really I felt that should an army
invade us, we might have more reason to dread them than the blacks
themselves. I was not sorry to miss the elephant flesh, for I had not
forgotten the tough morsels we had placed between our teeth when
presented to us by the friendly blacks soon after we landed.