There was no chance of letters getting in before them, while as for
telegraphic messages, it was too early yet for such to be delivered.
As they rolled into the station they saw no one about, except the
station-master and one sleepy porter.
The town had not yet woken up, as they could see from the lack of wood
smoke issuing from any of the chimneys.
Three of the men denuded themselves of their beards, which our heroes
put on, transforming themselves into middle-aged men in a twinkling.
They left three young fellows, with their handkerchiefs wrapped round
the lower portions of their faces, so that no one could recognise them.
These precautions were needful, even in loyal Bulawayo, for there were
Boer agents here as well as elsewhere.
The horses were detrained, and led off by their owners to the stables of
the Palace Hotel, where faithful grooms were waiting to receive them.
After delivering over their steeds, each man went by different
directions back to the hospital. As far as they were concerned the ruse
had been entirely successful. As for the special train, it took on a
fresh supply of fuel and water, and dashed off down the line again.
When the townsmen of Bulawayo would get up and resume business for the
day, there was no one to tell them that a special train had arrived and
departed.
"So far, so good," said Dr Jim, as he sent off his wire to Salisbury.
"Now, boys, let us get on. We shall find relays all the road up, and,
although we need not make tracks quite so quickly, for the first fifty
miles we mustn't let the grass grow under us."
They had filled their water-flasks, and laid in provisions while on the
train, so that now they did not wait to look at this rising city. They
put spurs to their steeds and dashed away impetuously towards Gwalo.
At Imbembesi they had breakfast, having ridden through a lonely,
undulating, and woody country. The landlord of the small inn there was
prepared for them, and did not keep them waiting. After enjoying a good
wash and substantial feed, they mounted fresh horses and went on at an
easy gallop.
At Shangain they changed again, and kept on until Gwalo was reached.
Here they rested for a couple of hours, while the doctor received and
answered some telegrams which were waiting.
"As I expected," he said. "The hue and cry is out, but there is no one
to stop us about these parts. We must keep on all night, though, as
time with me is everything." As they rode out of Gwalo he said, "This
is a most interesting locality from an antiquarian point of view: all
round are ancient mine-workings. Some day, when you can spare the time,
you must come back and examine these remains of past races."
They changed horses twice during the night, resting and eating at each
place, so that when morning dawned they had reached Fort Charter, two
hundred and fifteen miles from Bulawayo, and had only sixty-five miles
more to traverse. At Fort Charter they had a bath, breakfast, and three
hours' rest.
They rode easy for the rest of that day, and arrived at the Hamyani
River Hotel about sundown. They were only twelve miles now from their
destination. They were not at all fatigued, although they had been for
thirty-six hours almost constantly on their saddles. Their horses were
also quite fresh.
Yet their leader, for reasons of his own, did not wish to reach
Salisbury until after midnight. They had, therefore, supper here, and
afterwards lay down and had a few hours' sleep. At half-past eleven
they once more took the road, greatly the better for that short repose
and brush-up afterwards.
Their ride had been absolutely without human incident for the past two
days, except for those people at the hotels. They had encountered
neither horseman nor waggon. At the inns their coming had been provided
for, so that they escaped any outside curious eyes.
Dr Jim was in a most contented mood now that he had escaped
observation. It did not matter greatly after this if they chanced to
pass or meet any one, since they were so near to the end. He had
rescued three young Englishmen from the remorseless clutches of his
enemy, and punished some of that enemy's satellites.
"You are in great favour with the chief," he said. "I don't know if he
would have permitted me to leave his side at this time for any one else.
But when he heard your sentences he swore a mighty oath that you should
not taste the cat, even if he had to go himself and pull you out."
"We also made a vow that we should not be flogged," said Ned, quietly.
"You are plucky young fellows, and have stood this journey gamely. If
you look after number one, and do your duty, there is a future before
you. Cecil Rhodes, once he takes a fancy, sticks to it through thick
and thin."
"We shall try to deserve his good opinion, and yours also, doctor."
"Be true to your country, faithful to your friends, and never shirk your
duty, and you are safe to keep the good opinions you have already
gained. Here we are at our destination."
As he spoke he turned into a gate that was held open by a young Kaffir
boy, and walked his horse up an avenue of blue gums, that looked inky,
with their pendulous leaves, in the light of the late moon. The bush
spiders were yet busy spinning their silky traps for the unwary, early
morning fly, and the dew lay heavily upon those gleaming meshes. They
were entering by the back road to the spacious Salisbury abode of the
ex-premier of South Africa.
On each side of them as they rode slowly along were the numerous
outhouses and stables, all substantially built of limestone, and slated.
The gum trees, which had been planted within the past three years, were
already thirty and forty feet in height, and gave out a pleasant aroma.
In front of them they could see a wide spreading building, surrounded by
three tiers of verandahs, and terminated with picturesque pinnacles. It
was like a large hydropathic rather than a private residence.
A solemn stillness lay over this building, plunged as it was in
darkness, and rising out of the shrubbery and fruit trees which had been
planted and forced up regardless of expense. Solemnly and darkly this
combined mass of building and foliage, with the delicate filigree
tracings of palm trees and other exotics, rose against the declining
moon. There was not a light to be seen in any of the windows.
But in a corner of the garden was a small single-storeyed building, like
a summer-house, and here in the two windows facing them gleamed a ruddy
glow of lamplight.
"The master is still up, Pete?" observed Dr Jim, as they dismounted and
gave their horses to the Kaffir boy.
"Yes, Baas. He is waiting for you."
"Then, we must not keep him waiting. Come, lads, and report
yourselves."
He opened a little side gate, and strode through the shrubbery towards
the lighted windows, with our heroes at his heels.
For the second time they were about to behold this colossus of Africa--
the man who never turned upon a friend, or took refuge behind an excuse;
the man who considered his vast possessions as only trust-money for the
good of his country; the most powerful and striking personality of the
nineteenth century. Our heroes did not tremble as they had done when
entering the abode of the ignoble enemy at Pretoria. There were no
policemen here to guard this potent life. He was hedged round by
admiration and affection. Nor had he any dread of the assassin's
bullet, for he was a man absolutely fearless. Yet they approached with
timid expectation for all that.
Dr Jim tapped at the door, and a strong clear voice bade them enter.
Next moment they were inside a small room plainly furnished with a
table, a few chairs, and a small camp bed. They were in the favourite
sanctum and bedroom of the modern Napoleon. He had been busy writing
before they came, for the table was littered with papers. But at their
entrance, he sprang up quickly, and, taking two strides, held out his
shapely hand and clasped that of Dr Jim with a firm fervent grasp.
"Welcome back, old fellow, and you also, young gentlemen; let me
congratulate you on your escape."
He pushed the spirit-decanter and a box of cigars over to Dr Jim, who
helped himself. Then he looked at our heroes with a genial smile.
"You have been already adding a line to our history, and making
yourselves famous in Africa," he said. "I have here my orders to look
out for you, and hand you back to prison. Ah, there is a fine to do
over this affair. Thirteen valuable burghers gone under, I believe."
"Twelve I am answerable for," answered Dr Jim, calmly.
"The thirteenth was killed by one of the Kaffirs who escaped with us,"
said Ned.
He had been wondering how they had got on, and now enquired if any of
them had been captured.
"Not yet. Nor do I expect they will be. I suppose you made
arrangements about their safety, Jim?"
"Yes," replied the doctor. "They will be passed on to their own people
by the friendly Kaffirs, while if any care to come up here, the railway
authorities have orders to forward them without delay."
Our heroes rejoiced to hear this news, for their Kaffir friends had lain
heavy on their minds since they had parted from them.
"Then, by this time they are into British territory, for these fellows
know their way about much better than either the Boers or we do. We
shall have them up here in a few days. Now, I suppose, you are ready
for your breakfast, and bed afterwards?"
Our heroes were ready for their beds at least, although they declined
the offer of any more refreshments.
"Right you are."
Cecil Rhodes pressed an electric knob at his side, and in another moment
the Kaffir boy Pete appeared.
"Show these young gentlemen to their bedrooms, Pete, and afterwards go
to your own lair. I shall not require you any more this morning."
He nodded to our heroes as he resumed his seat at the table.
"We shall have a chat after you have rested. Don't hurry up before
noon. Breakfast will be sent up to your bedrooms. Now, Jim, old
fellow, you can do without sleep, I know, and there are three hours'
hard work before us here to get over ere I can let you go."
Dr Jim drew a chair up to the table, and prepared to listen to
instructions.
"I guess it is no sinecure that post of Dr Jim's," said Ned to his
chums as they left the little house and walked after Pete towards the
big one.
"When does your master sleep, Pete?"
"Never, I think," answered the boy. "He is always working and wide
awake. When sun rises he will be off to the veldt for a long ride with
Baas Jim, then all the day they will be working again. Sometimes he lie
down on that little bed for half an hour after lunch, or he have a nap
in his chair after dinner, but that is all he takes of sleep."
When they got inside, the boy set on the electric light in the hall and
staircase to show them up to their rooms. There he left them, as they
desired him, to manage for themselves.
Three nights before they had been slaves, with only a caked earth floor
to lie upon. They were now the occupants of a sumptuous bedroom each,
with every comfort and appliance that unlimited wealth could procure.
Full of heartfelt gratitude, they knelt and poured out their thanks to
the God who had protected them and liberated them from the house of
bondage. Neither did they forget to blend the names of those who had
been the instruments in His hands of their deliverance. Lastly, they
prayed that He might watch over and guard the dark-skinned brothers who
had escaped with them.
After this grateful offering they crept into the comfortable beds, and
very soon forgot all the troubles of the past.