"Are you better, Natty?" I asked.
"Oh yes. Where am I?" he asked, staring about him.
I told him I thought he had fainted, and begged that he would take some
food and then lie down. He had already torn off some of the leaves from
the boughs, and had made a sufficient bed for us; but, of course, we
intended that only one should sleep at a time.
At length, to my great joy, he was able to sit up by himself on the
ground. Finding this, I went to the fire to get the venison, which had
been left roasting before it. As may be supposed, it was somewhat
burned, but I was able to cut as many small slices from it as he could
eat. After tasting a piece, he said, "Do you take it, Andrew. I do not
think I want it." I pressed him, however; and in a little time he was
able to make a tolerable meal. I then placed him inside the hut,
telling him that I would sit up and keep watch till it was his turn, of
course intending to let him sleep on the whole of the night, if he could
do so.
I then made up the fire, finished the piece of burned venison, and sat
myself down in front of the hut. I looked in several times, and was
thankful at length to find that Natty was asleep, I felt a strong
inclination to sleep also, and had the greatest difficulty in keeping
myself awake. Whenever I felt myself nodding, I got up and walked
about; but I was tired, and certainly required rest. At last I did what
many a sentinel has done under similar circumstances. Though believing
I was quite awake, I fell fast asleep. Even in my dreams I thought I
was getting up, walking about, and then sitting down again, and then
going to look in at Natty. Then I thought I made up the fire. I was
somewhat surprised that it did not blaze as readily as before. By this
time I was fast asleep. At length I thought I went in to look at Natty
again, when what was my horror not to find him.
I awoke, to find myself leaning against the entrance at the end of our
hut. The fire was very low, a few glowing embers alone remaining. The
night was dark. As I looked round me, trying to open my eyes wide, what
was my dismay to see numerous pairs of shining orbs gazing at me through
the gloom! That they were the eyes of wild beasts I was convinced,
though of what description I could not tell. The usual night sounds of
an African forest alone reached my ears. The eyes seemed to be drawing
nearer and nearer; and now suddenly a chorus of loud sharp barks and
snarls burst forth, and by the faint light cast by the fire I could see
a number of animals approaching the spot. I now guessed that they were
wild dogs, a species of hyena, which hunt in packs like wolves; or
perhaps true hyenas, and would prove, I dreaded, formidable assailants.
Through the gloom I saw just then another body, which I guessed was a
second pack arriving, thus causing the angry remonstrances of the first.
A pile of firewood lay near me. I threw some of the sticks on my fire,
hoping, if it blazed up, they would not attempt to pass it. My gun I
had ready by my side; but as I could only kill one at a time, I was
afraid, should I begin the assault, I should find it a hard matter to
drive them off. I did not like to wake Natty; indeed, in his weak state
he would have been of little assistance. The effect of throwing the
sticks on the fire was, at first, to dull it, and I was afraid I had put
it out altogether. This made the creatures draw still nearer. I rose
to my feet and stood at the door of the hut, resolving, should they
come, to defend my young companion to the last. If they seized me, I
knew that my fate and his would be sealed. The brutes kept rushing
backwards and forwards within a few yards of the fire, growling and
yelping furiously. I was surprised that the noise did not awake Natty.
His sleep, doubtless, was produced by utter exhaustion. I was afraid,
however, that if I fired, Natty would be startled. I therefore called
out to him, "Do not be alarmed when you hear the report of my rifle!
Natty! Natty! awake!" I called out several times. I began to fear
that he was senseless, or even that worse had happened. "Natty! my dear
Natty! what is the matter?" I again shouted out.
The effect of my voice was what I had not expected, for my savage
assailants on hearing it began to retreat to a more respectful distance.
I thought that I might venture to enter the hut to see what was the
matter with Natty. The brutes, however, directly I was silent, again
came on. I was relieved too by hearing Natty ask, "What is it all
about, Andrew? Have you found Leo and Mango? I have been dreaming
about them so much." Greatly relieved, I replied that some wild animals
were in the neighbourhood, and that I was going to fire at them; and
once more I turned my face towards our enemies.
The brutes were again drawing nearer. Advancing a pace or two to the
fire, I gave it a kick with my foot. This made the flames leap up. By
their light I saw that a fresh actor had come upon the stage and
attracted the attention of the savage brutes. A huge serpent had
crawled out from among the bushes. It sprang upon one of the dogs,
which immediately, writhing in agony, sank on the ground. Instead of
taking to flight, however, they rushed at the creature, one of them
seizing it by the back, but not before one or two others were bitten.
The rest then set on it, and tearing it to pieces, quickly devoured the
greater portion, leaving the head, on account I concluded of the venom
it contained. Not satisfied with their victory over the snake, they
once more advanced towards me with hideous growls and yelps. Seeing
that it would be dangerous to allow them to approach nearer, I took aim
at a large animal, which appeared to be the leader of the pack. I
knocked him over, and he lay struggling on the ground yelping loudly.
His companions came round him, and gave me time to reload. I did not
wish to expend my ammunition uselessly, so, stooping down, I seized a
burning stick, giving another poke to the fire as I did so, and then
waved the brand round and round, shouting loudly in a gruff voice, and
ordering the dogs to be off. Though they did not understand what I
said, the tone of my voice had the effect I desired; and, greatly to my
relief, barking and yelping, they scampered away, I shouting after them.
The animal I had shot kicked his last as they disappeared in the gloom
of the night, and I hoped that I was rid of them.
Having thrown some more sticks on the fire, I went back to Natty. I
felt his hand; it appeared very feverish, and I was still more alarmed
by hearing the incoherent expressions he uttered. Weary as I was, I
could not venture again to go to sleep. I sat down, therefore, by the
side of my poor young companion, moistening his fevered lips every now
and then with water, and bathing his forehead. Still it was with the
greatest difficulty I could keep my eyes open. Sometimes I got up and
walked about in front of the hut, and threw a few more sticks on the
fire. I myself, it must be remembered, had scarcely recovered from my
illness. Having again made up the fire, increasing it to nearly double
the size, I once more sat down by Natty's side. I talked aloud, and
kept pinching myself, in the hope that by so doing I might keep awake.
But exhausted nature at length had its way--my head dropped on my bosom,
and I was asleep, so soundly indeed, that I doubt if the loudest noise
would have aroused me.
In spite of my intentions, I must have had some hours' sleep. I was
awaked by a bright light striking my eyes, and opening them, they were
dazzled by the almost horizontal rays of the rising sun coming across
the plain. My ears were assailed also by a loud barking and yelping,
and I saw close to me the pack of savage dogs which had paid me a visit
the night before, setting furiously on the body of their companion whom
I had shot. The light of the sun had awaked me in time, or they might
have made an attack on the hut before I was ready for their reception.
I let them devour their companion, which they speedily did, leaving not
a particle of skin or bone behind them; one running off with one piece,
and one with another. The remainder, disappointed of their share of the
prey, then turned their savage eyes towards me. Once more I shouted
loudly, and taking off my jacket, waved it at them. Again, to my
satisfaction, off the creatures scampered; and I hoped that I had seen
the last of them. They had not touched the bodies of their companions
bitten by the serpent, which had already become putrid. As I dragged
the carcases to a distance, I felt thankful that the dogs had visited
us, as, had they not come when they did, the snake might have found its
way to the hut, and bitten Natty or me. I could not tell its species,
but thought that it was probably the same which had made its appearance
on the island when we were escaping from the Pangwes.