Alexander Wilmot again took possession of the apartments in Mr
Fairburn's house, and was not sorry once more to find himself surrounded
by all the comforts and luxuries of civilisation. He could scarcely
believe where he was when he woke up the first morning, and found that
he had slept the whole night without being disturbed with the roar of a
lion or the cries of the hyena and jackal: and after the habit to which
he had been so long accustomed, of eating his meals in the open air with
his plate on his knees, he could hardly reconcile himself for a few days
to a well laid-out table. The evenings were passed in narrating their
adventures to Mr Fairburn, who was truly glad of the result of the
mission to Port Natal, as it would be so satisfactory to old Sir
Charles.
Alexander was now most anxious to return to England, and resolved to
take his passage in the first ship which sailed after the arrival of the
waggons with his effects. In the mean time his mornings were chiefly
passed with Swinton and the Major, the latter of whom intended to go to
England by the same vessel as Alexander. Three weeks after their return
to the Cape, the four waggons arrived, and excited much curiosity as
they were filled with every variety of the animal kingdom which was
indigenous to the country Swinton's treasures were soon unloaded and
conveyed to his house, and our naturalist was as happy as an
enthusiastic person could be in the occupation that they gave him.
Alexander only selected a few things; among which were the skins of the
lion and the lioness. As for the Major, he had had all his pleasure in
the destruction of the animals.
Bremen reported that all the Hottentots had behaved very well, and that
Big Adam had nearly recovered, and was able to limp about a little,
although it would be a long while before he would regain the perfect use
of his leg. Alexander now sent for them all, and paid them their wages,
with an extra sum as a gratuity for their good conduct. To Bremen and
Swanevelt, who had invariably conducted themselves faithfully, and who
had been the leading and most trustworthy men, he gave to each a waggon
and span of ten oxen as a present, by which they might in future obtain
their livelihood; and the poor fellows considered themselves as rich as
the King of England. The other waggons and cattle of every description
were left with Swinton to be disposed of.
The Major pressed Swinton very hard to part with little Omrah, but
Swinton would not consent. The Major therefore presented Omrah with one
of his best rifles, and accoutrements to correspond, as a mark of his
attachment and Alexander desired that all the money which was realised
by the sale of the remaining waggons and other articles, as well as the
cattle and horses, should be put by for Omrah's benefit. As a keepsake,
Alexander gave the lad his telescope, with which he knew that Omrah
would be highly pleased.
We may here as well observe, that, a few months after Alexander and the
Major left the Cape, Omrah, who had been placed at a school by Swinton,
was admitted into the church, and baptised by the names of Alexander
Henderson Omrah; Alexander and the Major being his sponsors by proxies.
He turned out a very clever scholar, and remains with Swinton at this
moment. He has more than once accompanied him into the interior, and
has done much in reclaiming his countrymen, the Bushmen, from their
savage way of life, and has been of great service to the missionaries,
as interpreter of the Word to his heathen brethren.
About a fortnight after the return of the waggons to Cape Town, a
free-trader cast anchor in Table Bay to take in water, and Alexander and
the Major secured a passage in her to England. Alexander parted with
great regret from Mr Fairburn and Swinton, with whom he promised to
correspond; and they sailed with a fair wind for St. Helena, where they
remained for a few days, and took that opportunity of visiting the tomb
of Napoleon, the former Emperor of the French. A seven weeks' passage
brought them into the Channel, and they once more beheld the white
cliffs of England.
Alexander's impatience to see his uncle, from whom he had found a letter
waiting for him on his return to the Cape, stating that he was in
tolerable health, induced him to leave the ship in a pilot-boat, and
land at Falmouth. Taking leave for a time of the Major who preferred
going on to Portsmouth, Alexander travelled with all possible speed, and
on the second day arrived at his uncle's.
"Is my uncle quite well?" said Alexander, as he leaped out of the
chaise, to the old butler, who was at the door.
"No, sir, not quite well: he has been in bed for this last week; but
there is nothing serious the matter, I believe."
Alexander hastened up-stairs, and was once more in the arms of Sir
Charles Wilmot, who embraced him warmly, and then, exhausted with the
emotion, sank back on his pillow.
"Leave me for a little while, my dear boy, till I recover myself a
little," said Sir Charles: "I have no complaint, but I am very weak and
feeble. I will send for you very soon."
Alexander, who was himself much affected, was not sorry to withdraw for
a while, and sent the housekeeper, who attended his aged relative, into
the room. In about an hour, a message arrived requesting that he would
return to his uncle.
"And now, my dear, kind boy, tell me everything. I am indeed overjoyed
to see you back again; I have not had one line from you since you left
the Cape, and I really think that the worry and anxiety that I have felt
have been the cause of my taking to my bed. Now you are back, I shall
be quite well again. Now tell me all, and I will not interrupt you."
Alexander sat down by the bed, and entered into a full detail of the
results of his expedition to Port Natal; reading over all the memoranda
which they had collected, and satisfactorily proving that the
descendants of the Europeans then existing could not by any possibility
be from those who had been lost in the _Grosvenor_ East-Indiaman.
Sir Charles Wilmot listened in silence to all Alexander had to say, and
then, joining his hands above the bed-clothes, exclaimed, "Gracious
Lord, I thank thee that this weight has been removed from my mind." He
then for some minutes prayed in silence, and when he had finished, he
requested Alexander to leave him till the evening.
The physician having called shortly after Alexander left his uncle,
Alexander requested his opinion as to Sir Charles's state of health.
The former replied--
"He has but one complaint, my dear sir, which all the remedies in the
world are not very likely to remove: it is the natural decay of nature,
arising from old age. I do not consider that he is in any immediate
danger of dissolution. I think it very likely that he may never rise
from his bed again; but, at the same time, he may remain bed-ridden for
months. He sinks very gradually, for he has had naturally a very strong
constitution. I believe the anxiety of his mind, arising from your
absence, and the blame he laid on himself for having allowed you to
undertake your expedition, have worn him more than anything else; but
now that you have returned, I have no doubt, after the first excitement
is over, that he will rally. Still man is born to die, Mr Wilmot, and
your uncle has already lived beyond the threescore years and ten
allotted to the average age of man. Depend upon it, everything shall be
done which can protract a life so dear to you."
Alexander thanked the physician, and the latter then went up-stairs to
Sir Charles. On his return, he informed Alexander that Sir Charles's
pulse was stronger, but that something must be allowed for the
excitement which he had undergone.
When Alexander saw his uncle in the evening, the latter again thanked
him for having undertaken the expedition, and having brought back such
satisfactory accounts.
"I am much your debtor, my dear boy," said he; "and if it is any
satisfaction to you (which I am sure it must be from your kind heart) to
know that you have smoothed the death-bed of one who loves you, you have
your reward. I feel quite strong now; and if it will not be too much
trouble, I should like you to give me a narrative of the whole
expedition; not all at once, but a little now and then. You shall begin
now, and mind you enter into every little detail,--everything will
interest me."
Alexander commenced his narrative, as his uncle requested, stating to
him how they were fitted out; the names of all the people; describing
Swinton and the Major, and giving a much closer narrative of what passed
than we have done in these pages. After an hour or so, during which
Alexander had not got so far in his narrative as to have quitted the
Cape for Algoa Bay, he left off, that he might not weary his uncle, and
wished him good-night.
For many weeks did the narrative, and the conversation produced by it,
serve to amuse and interest the old gentleman, who still remained in his
bed. But long before it was finished, Major Henderson had arrived at
the hall, and had been introduced to Sir Charles, who was much pleased
with him, and requested him to remain as long as he found it agreeable.
The Major, at Alexander's request, had the lion and lioness set up in
Leadbeater's best style, and the case had now arrived at the hall, and
was brought up into Sir Charles's room, that he might have some idea of
the animals with which they had had to contend; and there it remained,
for the old gentleman would not allow it to be taken away.
"I must send out a present to that little Omrah," said Sir Charles, one
morning, as he was conversing with the Major; "what shall it be?"
"Well, sir, I hardly know; but I think the best present for him would be
a watch."
"Then, Major, order one of the best gold watches that can be made, when
you go to town, and send it out to him; and, Major,--I am sorry to give
you that trouble, but I am an old bed-ridden man, and that must be my
excuse,--take the keys from the dressing-table, and open the small
drawer of that cabinet, and you will find two morocco cases in it, which
I will thank you to bring to me."
The Major did so, and Sir Charles, raising himself on his pillow, opened
the cases, which contained each a massive ring, in which was set a
diamond of great value.
"These two rings were presented me by Eastern princes, Major, at the
time that I was resident in their country. There is little difference
in their value, but you would find it difficult to match the stones,
even in England. I will shut the cases up again, and now that I have
shut them up in my hands, take one out for me. Thank you, Major; that
one is a present from me to our friend Swinton, and you must send it out
to him with the watch for the Bush-boy. The other, Major, I hope you
will not refuse to accept as a testimony of my gratitude to you, for
having accompanied my dear boy on his expedition."
Sir Charles put the other case into the Major's hands.
"I certainly will not refuse anything as a remembrance from you, Sir
Charles," replied the Major; "I accept your splendid present with many
thanks, and so will Swinton, I am certain; but he will be more pleased
with the kind attention than he will be with its great value; and I
trust you will believe me when I add that such is also my own feeling."
"I only hope you may have both as much pleasure in receiving as I have
in giving them," replied Sir Charles; "so put them in your pocket and
say no more about them. There is Alexander coming up, I know his tread;
I hope you do not mean to desert him now that the shooting season is
coming on; he will be very lonely, poor fellow, without you."
"I have good news, my dear uncle," said Alexander, as he entered;
"Swinton is coming home; I have a letter from him, and he will be here,
he trusts, a fortnight after his letter."
"I shall be most happy to shake hands with him," said Sir Charles.
"Pray write for him to come down immediately he arrives."
Three weeks after this announcement Swinton made his appearance and we
hardly need say was most warmly welcomed. Omrah he would not bring with
him, as he wished him to continue his education; but the Major declared
that he had left the boy because he was afraid of his being taken from
him. Our travellers were thus all reunited, and they agreed among
themselves that it was quite as comfortable at the hall as it was in the
Bechuana country; and that if the sporting was not quite so exciting, at
all events it was not quite so dangerous.
Swinton and the Major remained with Alexander till the opening of the
next year, and then they both left at the same time, and sailed in the
same ship; the Major to rejoin his regiment in India, Swinton to his
favourite locality in Africa, to obtain some more specimens in natural
history.
As the physician had declared, Sir Charles never rose from his bed
again; but he sunk so gradually that it was almost imperceptible, and it
was not until the summer of that year that he slept with his fathers,
dying without pain, and in perfect possession of his senses.
Alexander now came into possession of the estates and title, and
certainly he entered upon them without any reproach as to his conduct
towards his uncle, who died blessing him. And now my tale is ended, and
I wish my young readers farewell.