The boys were continually asking Timbo and Igubo when they were going to
catch them another pet. They were with me one day when the two men
arrived loaded with the flesh of an animal which Stanley had shot.
"What is that?" I asked.
"He bery good eat," was the answer; "like a little horse."
"But what is it called in England?" I inquired. "Him zebra," he
answered; "mark over back. We cooky for supper."
"I wish Stanley had caught him alive," said Leo. "Now, Timbo, cannot
you manage to get a young one for us, or a couple, and then we could
break them in, and make them carry us."
"Him no carry no one," answered Timbo. "He wild. Kick off, even dough
you stick on like Chico."
"But we could soon teach Chico to ride it. I suspect that it would
puzzle even a zebra to kick him off."
"We will try," said Timbo. "We go and make many pitfalls; but take
care, Massa Natty, you no tumble in when tiger or leopard dere."
I found that the men had already dug some pitfalls, though hitherto,
excepting a koodoo, nothing had been caught in them.
Next morning they set off to visit the pits, accompanied by the boys.
In rather more than an hour they came back, Leo and Natty dragging a
beautiful little animal between them, while the two men brought the head
and skin and a quantity of meat of another. David, who was with me, ran
out to meet them.
"They have got a gemsbok!" he exclaimed; "one of the most interesting of
the antelope tribe. It is known also as the oryx."
"How did you catch it?" he asked.
"We found it in the pit!" exclaimed the boys at once; "the mother and
the young one. Poor little creature. The mother fought so furiously
that the men were obliged to kill her, and not till then could we get
the young one out. But it will make a capital playmate for the koodoo."
"It is very hungry," said David. "We will try if it will take some
milk."
While Leo and Natty ran off to milk a goat, the men held the little
animal, which, though it trembled, made no attempt to escape. David
examined the head of the larger one. It had beautiful horns, nearly
three feet in length, slightly curving backwards, and of a shiny black
colour, and very slender. The mane and tail were very like those of a
horse, while the shape of the head and the colour were those of an ass,
the legs and feet, however, showing it to be an antelope. Both the
horns were so exactly equal that I could fancy a person taking a side
view of the animal might imagine them to be one and the same; and David
said that the gemsbok has often therefore been supposed, by those who
have seen it at a distance only, to be the unicorn which the ancients
believed to exist. The little calf was of a reddish cream colour, and
was so small that the horns had scarcely yet appeared. Timbo told us
that the gemsboks were generally seen in small herds. Probably this one
and its calf had been separated from their companions, as no others had
been taken. It is one of the swiftest quadrupeds of Africa, indeed its
speed is almost equal to that of the horse. Herds of them are generally
found in districts devoid of water, as they can go a long time without
drinking, having receptacles in their inside somewhat like those of a
camel, though much smaller, for retaining fluid.
As soon as the milk was brought David tried to feed the little creature
with a spoon instead of the bottle, and after a few attempts it
willingly swallowed the milk. He then applied the bottle to its mouth,
and as soon as it found out its contents it sucked it eagerly; he had
hopes, therefore, of being able to bring it up. Kate and Bella,
summoned by the boys, now came in to inspect their new pet. It allowed
Bella to stroke it and pet it without evincing any fear, and when she
fastened a handkerchief round its neck it followed her willingly.
"What a dear little creature!" she exclaimed. "We must give it a name,
though. I do not think gemsbok is pretty. I like oryx better."
"I am afraid, however, when he gets his horns he will prove rather a
dangerous companion," observed David, looking at the head of the larger
animal which lay on the ground outside the hut. "It will fearlessly
encounter the most savage animals of the desert, and instances have
occurred where it has succeeded in killing even a lion or tiger which
had incautiously sprung on its dagger-like weapon of defence."
"Oh, it will be a long time before those grow!" said Leo. "We can pad
them, or cut off their tips, and then it can hurt no one, even in play."
Stanley and the two black boys were out hunting, and in the evening they
appeared, the boys carrying slung on two poles an animal which we saw at
once was alive.
"Why, it is a little horse!" cried Leo, running down the hill. "The
zebra we have been so longing for!" exclaimed Natty.
They soon arrived at the encampment, Stanley highly delighted with his
prize. It was curious that the two animals they had been so long
wishing for should have been taken on the same day.
"He has given us a great deal of trouble," said Stanley, as the little
creature was brought up to be inspected by the girls and I. "I doubt if
we shall ever make him reconciled to captivity. He struggled and kicked
so much that we had great difficulty in getting hold of him, and as to
making him come along with us, that was impossible. The harder we
pulled one way the more determined he was to go another, and at length
Mango suggested that we should sling him as you see, and he could then
no longer help himself. But it was no easy matter to get him into the
slings."
The little zebra was somewhat more clumsily shaped than a pony's colt,
and about the size of one three or four weeks old. A pen had been built
for the koodoo, and into this the two animals were now introduced.
Koodoo gazed at them with looks of astonishment, but in a short time ran
up to the little oryx and seemed to welcome it.
"I do not know whether they understand each other's language," said
Bella, "but it strikes me koodoo is telling little oryx that he is very
well treated, and recommending him to be reconciled to his fate."
The zebra, however, would not go near them, and whenever they approached
ran off round and round the pen. In a short time it became hungry, and
David, accompanied by Timbo, with a calabash of milk, went in to try and
feed it. Timbo had some difficulty in catching it, for whenever he drew
near it kicked out viciously, and then scampered off. It was, however,
at length caught, and though at first when David tried to put the milk
into its mouth it kept its teeth closed just as as a child does when
medicine is offered it, it at length allowed some to be poured down its
throat.
I was now sufficiently recovered to walk about the camp with the aid of
a stick. Sometimes Kate and Bella assisted to support me, and when Leo
and Natty were within they were always ready to offer me their arms. We
never ventured to leave the camp without a guard; for since the first
visit of the lion I have described to our neighbourhood we had
frequently heard his roar, although he had not ventured to come nearer.
Our life, indeed, was not altogether free from anxiety, for we could not
hide from ourselves the danger which the hunters especially ran from
wild beasts, nor could we be certain either that the natives in the
neighbourhood might not some day prove treacherous. Stanley, grown bold
by immunity, increased the length of his expeditions, and frequently did
not return till after nightfall. One day he went out accompanied by
Igubo and his two sons, leaving the rest of us to work in the garden and
to keep watch over the camp.
"How long shall you remain away?" asked Kate. "It makes us feel so
anxious when you are absent."
"You can dispense with our protection for a couple of nights, I hope, at
all events," he answered. "We have no enemies to fear; and, in truth,
two nights spent in the wilds at a time are sufficient to satisfy even
my love of sport. If we had waggons to carry our provisions, and horses
to ride, the case might be different; but even if we get the game we
cannot bring it back, so you may rely on our reappearance at the time I
propose."
I did not see them in the morning, as they went away before I had risen.
Stanley had been absent two days, when, as the weather was cool, the
boys begged me and their sisters to come down and take a paddle on the
lake. I was able, I thought, to walk down and back again with their
assistance, and as David thought I should benefit by the amusement, he
advised me to go, Timbo remaining, while Jack went as captain. Chico,
as usual, accompanied us, and hopping into the canoe, took his seat in
the bows. As we paddled along we had abundance of matter to interest
us, in the numerous birds which skimmed along the water or sat perched
on the trees. Bella pointed out some beautiful turtle-doves, which were
sitting happily on their nests above the water gently uttering their low
coos to each other. Not far off we espied an ibis perched on the stump
of a tree, shattered probably by lightning.
"I should like to bring her down for her impertinence," cried Leo.
"Listen to her loud `Wa--wa--wa.' She is trying to drown the voices of
your favourites, Bella."
Though we passed close by, the ibis seemed in no way disposed to move,
but continued shouting "Wa--wa--wa." However, she was not allowed to
cry alone, for near her sat three fish-hawks piping away in the same
fashion. Leo was about to stop and take a shot at one of them, but Kate
intreated him to let the bird alone, and we rowed on, leaving him and
his companions piping away to their hearts' content. Presently we saw a
moderately-sized bird, like a plover, darting here and there, and
uttering a peculiar sound. "Tine--tine--tine," cried Leo; "what is that
you say?" Presently a white-necked raven, which was sitting on a stump
some way down, flew off, shrieking with fear, as the plover pursued it.
"Well, that is a coward," said Leo. "He is running away from a bird
half his size."
"Very wise," observed Jack. "Timbo, when he was out with me the other
day, told me they call him the `hammering iron,' on account of his
`Tine--tine--tine' cry. But it is not his cry which makes the raven fly
off. He has got a sharp spur on his shoulder, just like that on the
heel of a cock, and he could dig it into the raven, and soon draw its
life-blood."
On went the plover to a bank a little way ahead, where it pitched on
what we thought at that distance was a log of wood. As we paddled up
the seeming log turned into a huge crocodile basking in the sun.
"Stop paddling," I cried to the boys. "Let us see what the plover is
about."
It ran along the back of the reptile, but stopped on the top of its
snout, and then with perfect fearlessness actually flew down into its
gaping mouth. I then recollected an account I had read of a bird on the
Nile of that description, which is known by the name of siksak--the
trochilus. It is stated by two or three credible witnesses that it
performs the part of tooth-picker to the monster. Whether it was so
occupied or not we could not tell, but presently the crocodile appeared
to rouse itself up and to crawl towards the water, into which he
plunged, diving down out of sight.
"There goes Master Tine--tine--tine flying away. I suppose he will go
and warn his other friends," said Jack. "That is his business, so Timbo
says; and when these birds are about you can never get a shot at a
crocodile."
As we continued paddling on we were convinced that they had been warned
of our approach, for they all betook themselves to the water long before
we got near them. Proceeding we reached a part of the river where the
banks were steep and composed of sand. Presently we saw a creature
crawling out of the water, and making its way up the bank.
"What creature can that be?" asked Natty.
"A water-turtle!" I exclaimed; for I recognised it from the
descriptions I had seen of it.
Presently it came to a steep part of the bank, and as it was climbing up
it fell, and lay helpless on its back.
"We will make prize of him," cried Jack. "Paddle away, boys."
We were soon up to the bank, when Jack sprang out of the canoe, and
before the turtle could recover itself he had seized it in his arms and
placed it in the bottom of the canoe. There the creature lay utterly
helpless. While the canoe's bows were on the shore, Chico, who had got
tired of sitting so long in one position, made a spring on to the land
to pick some fruit which grew on a low bush at no great distance. The
boys were so interested in watching the turtle that, without seeing that
Chico was absent, they shoved off, and had already got to some little
distance when they discovered that we had left one of our company
behind. Chico, having filled his paws with fruit, ran down the bank.
"Hillo, old fellow!" exclaimed Jack, "we will come in for you."
The current, however, just then took the canoe's head, and we drifted
some way down before we could turn back. At that instant we saw a
ripple in the water, and presently the huge head of a crocodile was
projected above it. The monster darted forward; and poor Chico, before
he was aware of his danger, was seized by its huge jaws. In vain we
cried out and shrieked at the top of our voices. The crocodile had got
hold of its prey. Chico struggled, but he was as helpless as a mouse in
the fangs of a cat. "Oh, save him, save him!" shrieked out Bella; but
it was too late. Though the boys paddled with might and main, before
they reached the shore the crocodile sank beneath the surface, dragging
the poor ape with him. A little circle alone marked the spot where it
had gone down.
"There is one who will pay you off for that," cried Jack, looking into
the water as if in search of the crocodile. "When Igubo hears of it he
will be after you, depend on it."
We all felt sad at the loss of our pet, and much as we had enjoyed the
early part of the trip, it certainly spoiled the pleasure of the
remainder.
"Poor Chico!" exclaimed Natty every now and then. "I little thought you
would come to so untimely an end."
Bella cried outright, and Kate could scarcely restrain her feelings. We
now proceeded back to the landing-place, and Jack and the boys having
drawn up the canoe to the spot where she usually lay concealed, we
commenced our return home. My young cousins and Natty assisted me up
the hill. We had got to about half the distance, when a loud roar came
from the thicket I have before mentioned. "Roar away!" cried Jack, "you
will not frighten us." Bella, and even Kate, could not, however, help
trembling at the sound; indeed, there is something peculiarly terrific
in the cry of the lion in his native wilds. I trusted that he would
confine himself to roaring, and not attempt to approach nearer. The
boys and Jack looked to their guns.
"We will be ready for him if he dares to show his face," cried Jack.
"Now, you young gentlemen fire first, if he looks as if he was going to
attack us. I will keep my fire in case you miss."
The lion, however, allowed us to gain our home, where we found David and
Timbo looking out for us, and ready to fire at the beast should he
approach.
"But where Chico?" cried Timbo when he saw us. Jack told him what had
happened. "When I tell Igubo, he soon punish crocodile," he said.
"Igubo great crocodile hunter."
"But what have you there, Jack?" asked David, as he saw the turtle which
Jack had brought up on his back. "Well, you have indeed a prize, for
the turtle will be a pleasant addition to our bill of fare."
When the girls went to their hut, we examined the water-turtle, which
Timbo and Jack at once prepared for cooking. Opening it, we found that
it had upwards of thirty eggs in its body. The shells were flexible,
and the same size at both ends, like those of the crocodile.
"Dis make one bery fine dish," said Timbo, "and de liber is first-rate.
We hab it ready for when de captain come back."
"We must leave the charge of cooking it to you," said David, "for I
doubt whether my sisters will understand the art so well."
Part of the turtle was cooked, and supper made ready, but still our
friends did not appear. Night drew on, and we became somewhat anxious.
At last David advised his sisters to take supper and to return to their
hut, while we sat up waiting for the party. Hour after hour passed by,
and still they did not appear. At last David insisted on the boys and I
going to bed, while he and Jack and Timbo kept watch. Every now and
then we could hear the roar of the lion in the distance, replied to by
their loud shouts to scare him away. I could only hope that my cousins
were asleep: as for myself, I could not close my eyes. Not a breath of
wind was stirring, not a sound was heard except that ominous roar which
occasionally broke the silence of night. At length David came in,
pretty well tired out, and lay down, saying that Jack had undertaken to
keep the morning watch. I also, in spite of my anxiety, at last fell
asleep. I awoke suddenly with the sound of the lion's roar in my ears.
It seemed far louder and dearer than before. Could it be fancy? The
morning light was streaming in through an opening over the door, which
we had left to admit air. Again I heard that fearful roar. I started
up, for it seemed to be in the very midst of our camp. I thought of my
young cousins and the boys, who were likely enough to have gone out
early. I sprang to the opening, and there I saw, in the very midst of
the cattle-yard, an enormous lion, his head lifted up proudly, while his
huge paws were placed on one of the animals he had struck down. Never
had I seen so magnificent a creature--his vast mane covering his neck
and shoulders, while his tail waved to and fro as a signal of defiance,
looking up as if he saw an enemy approaching. The other animals,
terror-stricken, were trying to force their way out of the yard. I
could see no one. What had become of Jack and Timbo I could not tell.
They could not have deserted their posts, for both had given too many
proofs of courage to make me suppose so. Calling to David, who was yet
sleeping soundly, I seized my gun; but when I returned, the lion had
gone, with the animal he had struck down. David and I rushed out of the
hut. At that moment there were several shots. Looking out in the
direction from which the roars had previously come, I saw the lion
bounding away along the hill, still apparently unwounded.
"Has he gone? has he gone?" I heard Leo and Natty shouting out. "Yes,
yes! and he has carried off our little gemsbok!"
"But where are Jack and Timbo?" I asked. "How was it they let the
creature come in?"
"They heard some shots in the distance, and thinking that they were
fired as signals by Stanley and his party, they were just setting off to
meet them, and the lion must have taken that opportunity of coming into
our camp. They had not got far, and must have caught sight of the lion
as he was making his escape. It is a mercy the girls are safe!"
As they were speaking, Jack and Timbo came back. "Well, I never did
think he was going to play us so scurvy a trick," exclaimed Jack, "or we
would not have left the camp. But what do you fancy those shots can
mean, Mr Crawford?"
Both David and I agreed, however, that they were probably fired by
Stanley or his companions, either at some animals, or as a signal to
give us notice of their return; and we therefore begged Jack and Timbo
to proceed as they had purposed, while we remained on the watch for the
lion, should he venture to come back. Kate and Bella now came out of
their hut, and great was their grief at hearing of the loss of one of
their pets--the most promising, indeed, of all, for in a few days it had
become so thoroughly tame, that it would follow them about like a lamb.
They, like us, had been kept awake the greater part of the night, and,
owing to this, had not been aroused by the sound of the lion's voice;
indeed, the events I have described occupied less time than I have taken
to write them. The boys now employed themselves in collecting the
trembling animals, who had not yet recovered from the fright which the
appearance of their dread enemy had given them. The little koodoo and
zebra had, however, been safe in their pen, or they would probably have
run off, and we should have seen no more of them.
"I did not fancy that a lion could have leaped so high a palisade," said
David; "but I see we must take other measures to secure our camp for the
future. I believe that even a lion cannot break through an enclosure of
prickly-pear, and I propose that as soon as Stanley comes back we all
set to work to surround our camp with a thick line of it; and if we
fasten a fringe of its sharp leaves to the top of our fence, we shall be
able to bid defiance to either lion or leopard. I doubt, indeed, if
elephants, or even human beings, would willingly assail such a
fortification as ours will then be."
I fully agreed with David, and we settled that we would immediately set
to work and collect the cactus plants which grew in abundance on the
hill-side.
"They will be very hungry when they do come back," said Kate, "and
therefore, Bella, you and I will prepare breakfast for them forthwith."
David and I assisted them in getting the repast ready, and our anxiety
was shortly relieved by Leo running in exclaiming that Stanley and all
hands were coming up the hill. "They have got no end of game," he
added--"birds and beasts enough to feed us all for a month to come, if
we were in Siberia and could freeze the meat and keep it till we want
it, instead of being in the middle of Africa. Unless we can salt it
pretty quickly, however, it will not be fit for much by to-morrow
morning."
Having thus delivered himself, he ran out again, and down the hill. In
a short time our friends arrived, pretty well tired out, however, for
they had been to a long distance, and found it impossible to reach home
the night they had intended. They had therefore encamped a few miles
off, and started again at dawn. The shots we had heard had, as we
supposed, been fired by them to give us notice of their approach. They
had pushed on without stopping for breakfast, and were duly grateful to
Kate and Bella for enabling them thus speedily to satisfy their hunger.
Stanley said he had a long account to give us of their adventures. They
had fallen in with a native village, the inhabitants of which appeared
to be inclined to be friendly, and had invited them to join in a grand
hunting expedition. "I will tell you all about it as soon as I have
eaten something," said Stanley. "But what is this I hear of a visit
from a lion? Did the brute actually dare to leap into the midst of our
camp and carry off one of its inmates? It shall not be the fault of my
rifle if he does not pay dearly for his freak before another sun rises."