We examine the marsh--A cave discovered--We find the floor covered
with fuller's earth--Discharge our pistols--Jack's fright--Ernest
captures an eel--An expedition toward the Gap--Visit Falconhurst
and Woodlands and examine the country round--Franz shoots a
capybara--Ernest and Knips fight the rats--A lecture on
musk--Cinnamon apples--A peccary hunt--We prepare the peccary
meat--Disasters at Prospect Hill--An exploring expedition through
the Gap--We find our barrier broken down across the
desert--Strange objects in the distance--An account of
ostriches--An ostrich slain--We discover the nest--A mud
tortoise--We encounter bears--A desperate fight--Back again to
camp--We skin the bears and smoke their flesh--Pepper found--Three
of the boys start on an expedition--I discover talc.
The greatest danger to which we had yet been exposed was now over, but
there remained much anxiety in my mind lest another serpent might,
unseen by us, have entered the swamp, or might appear, as this had done,
from the country beyond Falconhurst.
I projected then two excursions, the first to make a thorough
examination of the thicket and morass; the next right away to the Gap,
through which alone the archenemy could have entered our territory.
On summoning my sons to accompany me to the marsh, I found neither
Ernest nor Jack very eager to do so, the latter vowing he had the cold
shivers each time he thought how his ribs might have been smashed by the
last flap of the snake's tail; but I did not yield to their reluctance,
and we finally set about crossing the marsh by placing planks and wicker
hurdles on the ground, and changing their places as we advanced.
Nothing was discovered beyond tracks in the reeds and the creature's
lair; where the rushes, grass, and bog-plants were beaten down.
Emerging beyond the thicket we found ourselves on firm ground, near the
precipitous wall of rock, and perceived a clear sparkling brook flowing
from an opening, which proved to be a cave or grotto of considerable
size.
The vaulted roof was covered with stalactites, while many formed stately
pillars, which seemed as though supporting the roof. The floor was
strewn with fine snow-white earth, with a smooth soapy feeling, which I
felt convinced was fuller's earth.
"Well, this is a pleasant discovery!" said I. "This is as good as soap
for washing, and will save me the trouble of turning soap-boiler."
Perceiving that the streamlet flowed from an opening of some width in
the inner rock, Fritz passed through, in order to trace it to its
source, presently shouting to me that the opening widened very much, and
begging me to follow him.
I did so, leaving the other boys in the outer cave, and fired a
pistol-shot--the reverberating echoes of which testified to the great
extent of the place; and lighting the bit of candle I always carried
with me, we advanced, the light burning clear and steadily, though
shedding a very feeble light in so vast a space.
Suddenly Fritz exclaimed:
"I verily believe this is a second cave of salt! See how the walls
glance! and how the light is reflected from the roof!"
"These cannot be salt crystals," said I; "the water which flows over
them leaves no track, and tastes quite sweet. I am rather inclined to
believe that we have penetrated into a cave of rock crystal!"
"Oh, how splendid! Then we have discovered a great treasure!"
"Certainly, if we could make any use of it; otherwise, in our situation,
it is about as valuable as the lump of gold found by good old Robinson
Crusoe."
"Anyhow, I will break off a piece for a specimen. See, here is a fine
bit, only rather dull, and not transparent; what a pity! I must knock
off another."
"You must go more carefully to work, or it will look as dull as the
first. You destroyed its true form, which is that of a pyramid, with six
sides or faces."
We remained some time in this interesting grotto, but our light burnt
low after we had examined it in different directions; and Fritz having
secured a large lump, which exhibited several crystals in perfection, we
quitted the place, Fritz discharging a farewell shot for the sake of
hearing the grand echoes.
On reaching the open air we saw poor Jack sobbing bitterly, but as soon
as we appeared he ran joyfully toward us, and threw himself into my
arms.
"My child, what is the matter?" I cried anxiously.
"Oh, I thought you were lost! I heard a noise twice, as if the rocks had
shattered down; and I thought you and Fritz were crushed in the ruins!
It was horrible! How glad I am to see you!"
I comforted the child, and explained the noises he had heard, inquiring
why he was alone?
"Ernest is over there among the reeds: I daresay he did not hear the
shots."
I found Ernest busily engaged in weaving a basket in which to catch
fish; he had devised it ingeniously, with a funnel-shaped entrance;
through which the fish passing would not easily find their way out, but
would remain swimming about in the wide part of the apparatus.
"I shot a young serpent while you were away, father," said he. "It lies
there covered with rushes; it is nearly four feet long, and as thick as
my arm."
"A serpent!" cried I, hurrying toward it in alarm, and fearing there
must be a brood of them in the swamp after all.
"A fine large eel, you mean, my boy. This will provide an excellent
supper for us to-night. I am glad you had the courage to kill it,
instead of taking to your heels and fleeing from the supposed serpent."
"Well, I thought it would be so horrid to be pursued and caught that I
preferred facing it; my shot took effect, but it was very difficult to
kill the creature outright, it moved about although its head was
smashed."
"The tenacity of life possessed by eels is very remarkable," I said. "I
have heard that the best mode of killing them is to grasp them by the
neck and slap their tails smartly against a stone or post."
We made our way back more easily by keeping close to the cliffs, where
the ground was firmer, and found the mother washing clothes at the
fountain. She rejoiced greatly at our safe return, and was much pleased
with the supply of fuller's earth, as she said there was now very little
soap left. The eel was cooked for supper, and during the evening a full
account was given of our passage through the swamp, and discovery of the
rock-crystal cavern.
It was most important to ascertain whether any serpent lurked among the
woods of our little territory between the cliffs and the sea.
Preparations were set on foot for the second and greater undertaking of
a search throughout the country beyond the river, as far as the Gap. I
wished all the family to go on the expedition, a decision which gave
universal satisfaction.
Intending to be engaged in this search for several weeks, we took the
small tent and a store of all sorts of necessary provisions, as well as
firearms, tools, cooking utensils, and torches.
All these things were packed on the cart, which was drawn by Storm and
Grumble. Jack and Franz mounted them, and acted at once the part of
riders and drivers. My wife sat comfortably in the cart, Fritz rode in
advance, while Ernest and I walked; we were protected in flank by the
dogs and Fangs, the tame jackal.
Directing our course toward Woodlands, we saw many traces of the
serpent's approach to Rockburg. In some places, where the soil was
loose, the trail, like a broad furrow, was very evident indeed.
At Falconhurst we made a halt, and were, as usual, welcomed by the
poultry, as well as by the sheep and goats.
We then passed on to Woodlands, where we arrived at nightfall. All was
peaceful and in good order; no track of the boa in that direction; no
signs of visits from mischievous apes; the little farm and its
inhabitants looked most flourishing.
Next day was passed in making a survey of the immediate neighborhood, at
the same time collecting a quantity of cotton, which was wanted for new
pillows and cushions. In the afternoon Franz was my companion, carrying
a small gun entrusted to him for the first time.
We took Fan and Bruno with us, and went slowly along the left bank of
the lake, winding our way among reedy thickets, which frequently turned
us aside a considerable distance from the water. The dogs hunted about
in all directions, and raised duck, snipe, and heron. These usually flew
directly across the lake so that Franz got no chance of a shot. He began
to get rather impatient, and proposed firing at the black swans we saw
sailing gracefully on the glassy surface of the lake.
Just then a harsh booming sound struck our ears. I paused in wonder as
to whence the noise proceeded, while Franz exclaimed, "Oh, father, can
that be Swift, our young onager?"
"It cannot possibly be Swift," said I; adding, after listening
attentively a minute or two, "I am inclined to think it must be the cry
of a bittern, a fine handsome bird of the nature of a heron."
"Oh! may I shoot it, father? But I wonder how a bird can make that
roaring noise! One would think it was an ox, it is more like lowing than
braying."
"The noise creatures make depends more on the construction of the
windpipe, its relation to the lungs and the strength of the muscles
which force out the breath, than on their size. As, for example, how
loud is the song of the nightingale and the little canary bird. Some
people say the bittern booms with his long bill partly thrust into the
boggy ground, which increases the hollow muffled sound of its very
peculiar cry."
Franz was very anxious that the first trophy of his gun should be so
rare a bird as the bittern; the dogs were sent into the wood, and we
waited some distance apart, in readiness to fire.
All at once there was a great rustling in the thicket, Franz fired, and
I heard his happy voice calling out:
"I've hit him! I've hit him!"
"What have you hit?" shouted I in return.
"A wild pig," said he; "but bigger than Fritz's."
"Aha! I see you remember the agouti! Perhaps it is not a hog at all but
one of our little pigs from the farm. What will the old sow say to you,
Franz?"
I soon joined my boy, and found him in transports of joy over an animal
certainly very much like a pig, although its snout was broad and blunt.
It was covered with bristles, had no tail, and in color was a yellowish
gray.
Examining it carefully, and noticing its webb feet and its curious
teeth, I decided that it must be a capybara, a water-loving animal of
South America, and Franz was overjoyed to find that he had shot "a new
creature," as he said. It was difficult to carry it home, but he very
sensibly proposed that we should open and clean the carcase, which would
make it lighter--and then putting it in a game bag, he carried it till
quite tired out; he then asked if I thought Bruno would let him strap it
on his back. We found the dog willing to bear the burden, and reached
Woodlands soon afterward.
There we were surprised to see Ernest surrounded by a number of large
rats which lay dead on the ground.
"Where can all these have come from?" exclaimed I. "Have you and your
mother been rat-hunting instead of gathering rice as you intended?"
"We came upon these creatures quite unexpectedly," he replied, "while in
the rice swamp. Knips, who was with us, sprang away to a kind of
long-shaped mound among the reeds, and pounced upon something, which
tried to escape into a hole. He chattered and gnashed his teeth, and the
creature hissed and squeaked, and running up I found he had got a big
rat by the tail; he would not let go, and the rat could not turn in the
narrow entrance to bite him, but I soon pulled it out and killed it with
my stick.
"The mound was a curious looking erection, so I broke it open with some
difficulty, and in doing this dislodged quite a dozen of the creatures.
Some I killed, but many plunged into the water and escaped.
"On examining their dwelling I found it a vaulted tunnel made of clay
and mud, and thickly lined with sedges, rushes, and water-lily leaves.
"There were other mounds or lodges close by, and seeking an entrance to
one I stretched my game bag across it, and then hammered on the roof
till a whole lot of rats sprang out, several right into the bag. I hit
away right and left, but began to repent of my audacity when I found the
whole community swarming about in the wildest excitement, some escaping,
but many stopping in bewilderment, while others actually attacked me.
"It was anything but pleasant, I assure you, and I began to think of
Bishop Hatto in the Mouse Tower on the Rhine. Knips liked it as little
as I did, and skipped about desperately to get out of their way, though
he now and then seized a rat by the neck in his teeth.
"Just as I began to shout for help, Juno came dashing through the reeds
and water, and made quick work with the enemy, all flying from her
attack.
"My mother had great difficulty in forcing her way through the marsh to
the scene of action, but reached me at last; and we collected all the
slain to show you, and for the sake of their skins."
This account excited my curiosity, and I went to examine the place
Ernest described: where I found, to my surprise, an arrangement much
like a beaver dam, though on a small scale, and less complete.
"You have discovered a colony of beaver rats," said I to Ernest, "so
called from their resemblance in skill and manner of life to that
wonderful creature.
"Muskrat, musquash, and ondatra are other names given to them. They
have, you see, webbed feet and flattened tails, and we shall find that
they carry two small glands containing the scented substance called
musk. The sooner we strip off the skins the better; they will be useful
for making caps."
We went back to the house, and met Fritz and Jack just returned from
their excursion, reporting that no trace of serpents, great or small,
had been met with.
Jack carried in his hat about a dozen eggs; and Fritz had shot a couple
of heath fowls, a cock and hen.
We sat down to supper, Franz eager to partake of his capybara. Even he
himself made a face at the peculiar flavor of the meat.
"It is the musk which you taste," said I; and I described to them the
various animals in which this strange liquid is found; the musk deer,
musk ox, crocodile, muskrat of India (also called coudeli, which taints
a corked bottle of wine, if it only runs across it), concluding with an
account of the civet, called also civet-cat.
"The civet," said I, "is a handsome black and white animal, and the
perfume obtained from it was formerly considered a valuable medicine; in
the present day it is used chiefly as a scent. This odoriferous
substance is secreted, _i. e._, formed, in a double glandular pouch near
the tail, and the Dutch keep the creature in captivity, so that it shall
afford them a continual supply.
"The method of removing the civet perfume is ingenious. The animal is
very quick and elastic in its movements, and having sharp teeth it is
not pleasant to handle. So it is put into a long, narrow cage in which
it cannot turn round, a horn spoon is then introduced, and the perfume,
a thick, oily stuff something like butter, is coolly scraped from the
pouch, the plundered civet being then released from strait durance,
until the supply is reformed."
Presently Jack ran for his game bag, producing some fruit which he had
forgotten. Several pale green apples, quite new to us, excited general
attention.
"Why, what are those? Are they good?" I asked.
"I hope so, for we sadly want something to take away the taste of
Franz's beast," said Jack: "but Fritz and I were afraid of eating some
awful poison or other, like the manchineel, so we brought them for the
inspection of the learned master Knips."
I took one and cut it in two, remarking that it contained a circle of
seeds or pips, instead of the stone of the manchineel. At that moment
Knips slyly came behind me, and snatching up one half, began to munch it
with the liveliest satisfaction, an example which the boys were so eager
to follow that a general scramble ensued, and I had some trouble in
securing a couple of apples for myself and their mother.
I imagined this to be the cinnamon apple of the Antilles.
Every one seeming wearied by the fatigues of the day, our mattresses and
pillows were arranged, and the inmates of Woodlands betook themselves to
repose.
With early light we commenced the next day's journey, directing our
course to a point between the sugar-brake and the Gap, where we had once
made a sort of arbor of the branches of trees; as this remained in
pretty good condition, we spread a sailcloth over the top of it, instead
of pitching the tent, and made it very comfortable quarters for the
short time I proposed to stay there.
Our object being to search the neighborhood for traces of the boa
constrictor, or any of his kindred, Fritz, Jack, and Franz went with me
to the sugar-cane brake, and satisfied ourselves that our enemy had not
been there. It was long since we had enjoyed the fresh juice of these
canes, and we were refreshing ourselves therewith, when a loud barking
of dogs, and loud rustling and rattling through the thicket of canes,
disturbed our pleasant occupation, and, as we could see nothing a yard
off where we stood, I hurried to the open ground, and with guns in
readiness we awaited what was coming.
In a few minutes a herd of creatures like little pigs issued from the
thicket, and made off in single file at a brisk trot; they were of a
uniform gray color, and showed short sharp tusks.
My trusty double-barrel speedily laid low two of the fugitives; the
others continued to follow the leader in line, scarcely turning aside to
pass the dead bodies of their comrades, and maintaining the same steady
pace, although Fritz and Jack also fired and killed several.
I felt certain that these were peccaries, and recollected that an
odoriferous gland in the back must be removed immediately, otherwise the
meat will become tainted, and quite unfit to eat. This operation, with
the help of my boys, I accordingly performed at once.
Presently, hearing shots in the direction of the hut where we had left
Ernest and his mother, I sent Jack to their assistance, desiring him to
fetch the cart, that the booty might be conveyed to our encampment,
employing the time of his absence in opening and cleaning the animals,
thus reducing their weight.
Ernest came back with Jack and the cart, and told us that the procession
of peccaries had passed near the hut, and that he, with Juno's help, had
secured three of them.
I was glad to hear this, as I had determined to cure a good supply of
hams, and we made haste to load the cart; the boys adorned it with
flowers and green boughs, and with songs of triumph which made the woods
ring they conveyed the valuable supply of game to the hut, where their
mother anxiously waited for us.
After dinner we set to work upon our pigs, singeing and scalding off the
bristles; I cut out the hams, divided the flitches, bestowed
considerable portions of the carcass on the dogs, and diligently
cleansed and salted the meat, while the boys prepared a shed, where it
was to be hung to be cured in the smoke of fires of green wood.
This unexpected business of course detained us in the place for some
time. On the second day, when the smoking shed was ready, the boys were
anxious to cook the smallest porker in the Otaheitian fashion. For this
purpose they dug a hole, in which they burned a quantity of dry grass,
sticks, and weeds, heating stones, which were placed round the sides of
the pit.
While the younger boys made ready the oven, Fritz singed and washed his
peccary, stuffing it with potatoes, onions, and herbs, and a good
sprinkling of salt and pepper.
He then sewed up the opening, and enveloped the pig in large leaves to
guard it from the ashes and dust of its cooking place.
The fire no longer blazed, but the embers and stones were glowing hot;
the pig was carefully placed in the hole, covered over with hot ashes,
and the hole with earth, so that it looked like a big mole heap.
Dinner was looked forward to with curiosity, as well as appetite; my
wife, as usual, distrusting our experiments, was not sanguine of
success, and made ready some plain food as a _pis aller_.
She was well pleased with the curing-hut, which was roomy enough to hang
all our hams and bacon. On a wide hearth in the middle we kindled a
large fire, which was kept constantly smouldering by heaping it with
damp grass and green wood. The hut being closed in above, the smoke
filled it, and penetrated the meat thoroughly; this process it had to
undergo for several days.
In a few hours Fritz gave notice that he was going to open his oven.
Great excitement prevailed as he removed the earth, turf, and stones,
and a delicious appetizing odor arose from the opening. It was the smell
of roast pork, certainly, but with a flavor of spices which surprised
me, until I thought of the leaves in which the food had been wrapped up.
The peccary was carefully raised, and when a few cinders were picked
off, it looked a remarkably well-cooked dish. Fritz was highly
complimented on his success, even by his mother.
The scented leaves were, I thought, those of a tree which I knew to be
found in Madagascar, called by the natives ravensara, or "good leaf." It
is said to combine the scent of the nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon. The
fruit is a species of nut, possessing the scent of the leaves in a more
delicate degree, and from it an oil or essence is distilled, which is
highly valued in native cookery.
During the process of curing our large supply of hams and bacon, which
occupied several days, we roamed about the neighborhood in all
directions, finding no trace of the serpent, but making many valuable
acquisitions, among which were some gigantic bamboos, from fifty to
sixty feet in length and of proportionate thickness. These, when cut
across near the joints, formed capital casks, tubs and pots; while the
long sharp thorns, which begirt the stem at intervals, were as strong
and useful as iron nails.
One day we made an excursion to the farm at Prospect Hill, and were
grievously provoked to find that the vagabond apes had been there, and
wrought terrible mischief, as before at Woodlands.
The animals and poultry were scattered, and everything in the cottage so
torn and dirtied, that it was vain to think of setting things right that
day. We therefore very unwillingly left the disorder as we found it,
purposing to devote time to the work afterward.
When all was in readiness for the prosecution of our journey, we closed
and barricaded the hut, in which, for the present, we left the store of
bacon; and arranging our march in the usual patriarchal style, we took
our way to the Gap, the thorough defense of which defile was the main
object we had in view.
Our last halting-place being much enclosed by shrubs, bamboos, and
brushwood, we had during our stay opened a path through the cane thicket
in the direction we were about to travel; this we now found of the
greatest assistance, and the loaded cart passed on without impediment.
The ground was open and tolerably level beyond, so that in a few hours
we arrived at the extreme limit of our coast territory.
We halted on the outskirts of a little wood, behind which, to the right,
rose the precipitous and frowning cliffs of the mountain gorge, while to
the left flowed the torrent, leaving between it and the rocks the narrow
pass we called the Gap, and passing outward to mingle its water with the
sea.
The wood afforded us pleasant shelter, and standing high and within
gunshot of the mouth of the rocky pass, I resolved to make it our
camping place. We therefore unpacked the cart, and made our usual
arrangements for safety and comfort, not forgetting to examine the wood
itself, so as to ascertain whether it harbored any dangerous animals.
Nothing worse than wild cats was discovered. We disturbed several of
these creatures in their pursuit of birds and small game, but they fled
at our approach.
By the time dinner was ready we felt much fatigued, and some hours of
unusually sultry and oppressive heat compelled us to rest until toward
evening, when returning coolness revived our strength. We pitched the
tent, and then occupied ourselves with preparations for the next day,
when it was my intention to penetrate the country beyond the defile, and
make a longer excursion across the Savannah than had yet been
undertaken.
All was ready for a start at an early hour; my brave wife consented to
remain in camp with Franz as her companion, while the three elder boys,
and all the dogs, except Juno, went with me.
We expected to find it somewhat difficult to make our way through the
narrowest part of the pass, which had been so strongly barricaded and
planted with thorny shrubs, but found on the contrary that the fences
and walls were broken down and disarranged. It was thus very evident
that the great snake, as well as the herd of peccaries, had made an
entrance here.
This barricade was the first check that had been placed by hand of man
upon the wild free will of nature in this lonely place.
With one consent storms, floods, torrents, and the wild beasts of the
forest, had set themselves to destroy it.
We resolved to make the defenses doubly strong, being convinced that the
position was capable of being barricaded and fortified so as to resist
the invaders we dreaded.
The prospect which opened before us on emerging from the rocky pass was
wide and varied. Swelling hills and verdant wooded vales were seen on
one hand, while a great plain stretched before us, extending from the
banks of the river toward a chain of lofty mountains, whose summits were
rendered indistinct in the haze of the distance.
We crossed the stream, which we named East River, filling our flasks
with water, and it was well we did so, for in continuing our journey, we
found the soil become more arid and parched than we had expected; in
fact we soon appeared surrounded by a desert.
The boys were astonished at the altered appearance of the country, part
of which had been explored when we met with the buffaloes. I reminded
them of the difference of the season; that the expedition had been made
directly after the rains, when vegetation had clothed with transient
beauty this region, which, possessing no source of moisture itself, had
become scathed and bare during the blazing heat of summer.
Our march proceeded slowly, and many were the uncomplimentary remarks
made on the "new country."
It was "Arabia Petrea," groaned one. "Desert of Sahara," sighed another.
"Fit abode for demons," muttered a third. "Subterranean volcanic fires
are raging beneath our feet."
"Patience, my dear fellows!" cried I; "you are too easily discouraged.
Look beyond the toilsome way to those grand mountains, whose spurs are
already stretching forward to meet us. Who knows what pleasant surprises
await us amid their steep declivities? I, for my part, expect to find
water, fresh grass, trees, and a lovely resting-place."
We were all glad to repose beneath the shade of the first over-hanging
rock we came to, although, by pressing further upward, we might have
attained to a pleasanter spot.
Looking back toward the Gap, we marked the strange contrast of the
smiling country bordering the river, and the dreary, monotonous plain we
had traversed.
After gazing on the distant scene, we produced our store of provisions,
and were busily engaged, when Knips (our constant companion) suddenly
began to snuff and smell about in a very ridiculous way; finally, with a
shriek which we knew was expressive of pleasure, he set off at a full
speed, followed by all the dogs, up a sort of glen behind us.
We left them to their own devices, being far too pleasantly engaged with
our refreshments to care much what fancy the little rogue had got in his
head.
When hunger was somewhat appeased, Fritz once more cast his eyes over
the expanse of plain before us, and after looking fixedly for a moment,
exclaimed:
"Is it possible that I see a party of horsemen riding at full gallop
toward us! Can they be wild Arabs of the desert?"
"Arabs my boy! certainly not; but take the spyglass and make them out
exactly. We shall have to be on our guard, whatever they are!"
"I cannot see distinctly enough to be sure," said he presently, "and
imagination supplies the deficiency of sight in most strange fashion. I
could fancy them wild cattle, loaded carts, wandering haycocks, in fact
most anything I like."
The spyglass passed from hand to hand; Jack and Ernest agreed in
thinking the moving objects were men on horseback; but when it came to
my turn to look, I at once pronounced them to be very large ostriches.
"This is fortunate, indeed!" I exclaimed; "we must try to secure one of
these magnificent birds; the feathers alone are worth having."
"A live ostrich, father! that would be splendid. Why, we might ride upon
him!"
As the ostriches approached, we began to consider in what way we should
attempt a capture. I sent Fritz and Jack to recall the dogs, and placed
myself with Ernest behind some shrubs which would conceal us from the
birds as they came onward.
The boys did not rejoin us for some little time; they found Knips and
the dogs at a pool of water formed by a small mountain stream, which the
monkey's instinct had detected; his sudden departure was thus accounted
for, and they availed themselves right gladly of his discovery, filling
their flasks, and hastily bathing before their return.
The ostriches continued to come in our direction, varying their pace as
though in sport, springing, trotting, galloping, and chasing each other
round and round, so that their approach was by no means rapid.
I could now perceive that of the five birds one only was a male, the
white plumes of the wings and tail contrasting finely with the deep
glossy black of the neck and body.
The color of the females being ashen brown, the effect of their white
plumes was not so handsome.
"I do not believe we shall have a chance with these birds," said I,
"except by sending Fritz's eagle in pursuit; and for that we must bide
our time, and let them come as near as possible."
"In what way, then, are ostriches caught by the natives of the African
deserts?" inquired Fritz.
"Sometimes by chase on horseback; but their speed is so very great, that
even that must be conducted by stratagem.
"When these birds are pursued, they will run for hours in a wide circle;
the hunter gallops after them, but describes a much smaller circle, and
can therefore maintain the pace for a longer time, waiting to make the
attack until the bird is fatigued.
"Among the Bushmen, the hunter sometimes envelopes himself in the skin
of an ostrich, his legs doing duty for those of the bird, and his arm
managing the head and neck so as to imitate the movements of the bird
when feeding. The enterprising hunter is thus enabled to get among a
flock of ostriches, and to shoot them with arrows one after another.
"When aware of an enemy they defend themselves desperately, using their
powerful legs as weapons, always kicking forward, and inflicting
dreadful injuries on dogs, and even on men, if attacked without due
precaution. But let us take up our positions, and keep perfectly still,
for the ostriches are at hand!"
We held the dogs concealed as much as possible; the stately birds
suddenly perceiving us, paused, hesitated, and appeared uneasy. Yet as
no movement was made, they drew a few steps nearer, with outstretched
necks, examining curiously the unwonted spectacle before them.
The dogs became impatient, struggled from our grasp, and furiously
rushed toward our astonished visitors. In an instant they turned and
fled with the speed of the wind; their feet seemed not to touch the
ground, their wings aiding the marvelously rapid progress.
In a few moments they would have been beyond our reach, but as they
turned to fly the eagle was unhooded. Singling out the male bird the
falcon made his fatal swoop, and piercing the skull, the magnificent
creature was laid low. Before we could reach the spot the dogs had
joined the bird of prey, and were fiercely tearing the flesh and
bedabbling the splendid plumes with gore.
The sight grieved us.
"What a pity we could not capture this glorious bird alive!" exclaimed
Fritz, as we took its beautiful feathers; "it must, I am sure, have
stood more than six feet high, and two of us might have mounted him at
once!"
"In the vast sandy deserts where nothing grows, what can flocks of these
birds find to live upon?" inquired Ernest.
"That would indeed be hard to say, if the deserts were utterly barren
and unfruitful," returned I; "but over these sandy wastes a beneficent
Providence scatters plants of wild melons, which absorb and retain every
drop of moisture, and which quench the thirst as well as satisfy the
hunger of the ostriches and other inhabitants of the wilds. These
melons, however, do not constitute his entire diet; he feeds freely on
grasses, dates, and hard grain, when he can obtain them."
"Does the ostrich utter any cry?"
"The voice of the ostrich is a deep, hollow, rumbling sound, so much
resembling the roar of a lion as to be occasionally mistaken for it. But
what does Jack mean by waving his cap and beckoning in that excited
fashion? What has the boy found, I wonder!"
He ran a little toward us, shouting:
"Eggs, father! Ostriches' eggs! a huge nest full--do come quick!"
We all hastened to the spot, and in a slight hollow of the ground beheld
more than twenty eggs, as large as an infant's head.
The idea of carrying more than two away with us was preposterous,
although the boys, forgetting what the weight would be, seriously
contemplated clearing the nest.
They were satisfied when a kind of landmark had been set up, so that if
we returned we might easily find the nest.
As each egg weighed about three pounds, the boys soon found the burden
considerable, even when tied into a handkerchief and carried like a
basket. To relieve them, I cut a strong elastic heath stick, and
suspending an egg in its sling at each end, laid the bent stick over
Jack's shoulder, and like a Dutch dairy-maid with her milk pails, he
stepped merrily along without inconvenience.
We presently reached a marshy place, surrounding a little pool evidently
fed by the stream which Knips had discovered. The soft ground was
trodden and marked by the footsteps of many different sorts of animals;
we saw tracks of buffaloes, antelopes, onagas or quaggas, but no trace
whatever of any kind of serpent; hitherto our journey in search of
monster reptiles had been signalized by very satisfactory failure.
By this brook we sat down to rest and take some food; Fangs presently
disappeared, and Jack calling to his pet discovered him gnawing at
something which he had dug from the marsh. Taking it for a root of some
sort, Jack brought it for my inspection. I dipped it in water to clear
off the mud, and to my surprise found a queer little living creature, no
bigger than half an apple, in my hand. It was a small tortoise.
"A tortoise, I declare!" cried Fritz. "What a long way from the sea. How
came it here, I wonder?"
"Perhaps there has been a tortoise-shower," remarked Ernest. "One reads
of frog-showers in the time of the ancient Romans."
"Hullo, Professor! you're out for once," said I. "This is nothing but a
mud-tortoise, which lives in wet, marshy ground and fresh water. They
are useful in gardens; for although they like a few lettuce leaves now
and then, they will destroy numbers of snails, grubs, and worms."
Resuming our journey, we arrived at a charming valley, verdant,
fruitful, and shaded by clumps of graceful trees. It afforded us the
greatest delight and refreshment to pass along this cool and lovely
vale, which we agreed to call Glen Verdant.
In the distance we could see herds of antelopes or buffaloes feeding;
but as our dogs continually ranged a long way ahead of us, they were
quickly startled, and vanished up one or other of the narrow gorges
which opened out of the valley.
Following the imperceptible windings of the vale, we were surprised, on
quitting it for the more open ground, to find ourselves in a country we
were already acquainted with, and not far from the Jackal Cave, as we
called the place where Fangs had been captured in cubhood.
On recognizing the spot, Ernest, who was in advance with one of the
dogs, hastened toward it. We lost sight of him for a few minutes, and
then arose a cry of terror, violent barking, and deep, surly growls.
As we rushed forward, Ernest met us, looking white as ashes, and calling
out:
"A bear, a bear, father! He is coming after me!"
The boy clung to me in mortal fear. I felt his whole frame quivering.
"Courage, my son!" cried I, disengaging myself from his grasp; "we must
prepare for instant defense!"
The dogs dashed forward to join the fray, whatever it was; and not long
were we in doubt. To my no small consternation, an enormous bear made
his appearance, quickly followed by another.
With leveled guns, my brave Fritz and I advanced slowly to meet them.
Jack was also ready to fire, but the shock had so unnerved Ernest that
he fairly took to his heels. We fired together, one at each bear; but
though hit, the monsters were unfortunately only wounded. We found it
most difficult to take aim, as the dogs beset them on all sides.
However, they were much disabled, one having the lower jaw broken, and
the other, with a bullet in his shoulder, was effectually lamed. The
dogs, perceiving their advantage, pressed more closely round their foes,
who yet defended themselves furiously, with frightful yells of pain and
rage. Such was the confusion and perpetual movement of the struggle,
that I dared not fire again, seeing that even slightly wounding one of
our gallant hounds would instantly place him in the power of the raging
bears.
Watching our opportunity, we suddenly advanced with loaded pistols to
within a very few paces of the animals, and firing, both fell dead, one
shot through the head, the other, in the act of rearing to spring on
Fritz, received his charge in its heart.
"Thank Heaven!" cried I, as with dull groans the brutes sank to the
ground. "We have escaped the greatest peril we have yet encountered!"
The dogs continued to tear and worry the fallen foe, as though unwilling
to trust the appearance of death. With feelings somewhat akin, I drew my
hunting-knife, and made assurance doubly sure.
Seeing all safe, Jack raised a shout of victory, that poor Ernest might
gain courage to approach the scene of conflict, which at last he did,
and joined us in examining the dangerous animals, as they lay motionless
before us.
Every point was full of interest, their wounds, their sharp teeth, their
mighty claws, the extraordinary strength of neck and shoulder, all were
remarked and commented on, and observing that the shaded brown hair was
tipped with glossy white, I thought that these might be the silver bears
mentioned in Captain Clarke's journey to the northwest coasts of
America.
"Well, my lads," said I, "if we have failed to catch sight of serpents,
we have at least made good riddance of some other bad rubbish! These
fellows would one day have worked us woe, or I am much mistaken. What's
to be done next?"
"Why, skin them, to be sure," said Fritz. "We shall have a couple of
splendid bearskin rugs."
As this process would take time and evening drew on, we dragged the huge
carcasses into their den, to await our return, concealing them with
boughs of trees and fencing the entrance as well as we could. The
ostrich eggs we also left behind us, hidden in a sandy hole.
By sunset we reached the tent, and joyfully rejoined the mother and
Franz, right glad to find a hearty meal prepared for us, as well as a
large heap of brushwood for the watch-fire.
When a full account of our adventures had been given, with a minute and
special description of the bear fight, the mother related what she had
done during our absence. She and Franz had made their way through the
wood up to the rocks behind it, and discovered a bed of pure white clay,
which it seemed to her might be used for making porcelain. Then she had
contrived a drinking trough for the cattle out of a split bamboo.
She had arranged a hearth in a sheltered place by building up large
stones, cemented with the white clay; and, finally, she had cut a
quantity of canes and brought them, on the cart, to be in readiness for
the building we had in hand.
I praised the thoughtful diligence which had effected so much that was
of real and definite use. In order to try the clay, I put some balls of
it in the fire now kindled, to burn during the night, and we then betook
ourselves to rest under shelter of our tent.
I awoke at dawn and aroused my little party. My first idea was to
examine the clay balls, which I found baked hard and finely glazed, but
too much melted down by the heat--a fault which, seeing the excellent
quality of the clay, I knew it would be well worth while to remedy.
After breakfast, and our accustomed devotions, we harnessed the cart,
and took the way to the bears' den. Fritz headed the party, and, coming
in sight of the entrance to the cave, called out softly:
"Make haste and you will see a whole crowd of wild turkeys, who seem to
have come to attend the funeral obsequies of their respected friend and
neighbor, Bruin, here. But there appears to be a jealous watcher who is
unwilling to admit the visitors to the bed of state!"
The Watcher, as Fritz called him, was an immensely large bird, with a
sort of comb on his head, and a loose, fleshy skin hanging from beneath
the beak. Part of the neck was bare, wrinkled, and purplish-red, while
around it, resting on the shoulders, was a downy collar of soft, white
feathers. The plumage was grayish-brown, marked here and there with
white patches; the feet appeared to be armed with strong claws. This
great bird guarded the entrance to the cave, occasionally retiring into
it himself for a few minutes; but as soon as the other birds came
pressing in after him, he hurried out again, and they were forced to
retire.
We stopped to observe this curious scene, and were startled suddenly by
a mighty rush of wings in the air above us. We looked up; at the same
moment Fritz fired, and an enormous bird fell heavily head foremost on
the rocks, by which its neck was broken, while blood flowed from a wound
in the breast.
We had been holding back the dogs, but they, with Fritz, now rushed
toward the cave, the birds rising around them and departing with heavy,
ungainly flight, leaving only Fritz's prize, and one of the other birds
killed by the large one in its fall.
With the utmost caution I entered the cave, and rejoiced to find that
the tongue and eyes only of the bears had been devoured; a little later
and we should have had the handsome skins pecked and torn to rags, and
all chance of steaks and bears' paws gone.
On measuring the wings of the large bird from tip to tip, I found the
length exceeded eleven feet, and concluded it to be a condor; it was
evidently the mate of the "Watcher," as Fritz called the first we saw.
To work we now went on the bears, and no slight affair we found it to
skin and cut them up, but by dint of perseverance, we at last succeeded
in our object.
Determining to smoke the meat on the spot, we cut magnificent hams, and
took off the rest of the meat in slices after the manner of the
buccaneers in the West Indies, preserving the paws entire to be cooked
as a delicacy, and obtaining from the two bears together a prodigious
supply of lard, which my wife gladly undertook to melt and prepare for
keeping.
The bones and offal we drew to some distance with the help of our
cattle, and made the birds of the air most welcome to feast upon it.
This, with the assistance of all sorts of insects, they did so
effectually that before we left the place the skulls were picked
perfectly clean, the sun had dried them, and they were ready for us to
carry off to our museum.
The skins had to be very carefully scraped, washed, salted, cleansed
with ashes, and dried; which occupied fully two days.
I was lamenting our distance from the rascusara tree, the leaves of
which had flavored our roast peccary so nicely, when I observed among
the brushwood which the boys had brought from the thickets around us, a
climbing plant, whose leaves had a very strong smell; the stem resembled
a vine, and the fruit grew in clusters like currants. Some were red, and
some of a green color, which I supposed to denote various degrees of
ripeness. They were hard, and the outer skin was quite thin.
I recognized in this the pepper plant, a discovery particularly
agreeable at this moment.
The boys soon gathered a large supply; the red berries were soaked in
salt and water for several days, then washed and rubbed, and finally,
becoming perfectly white, were dried in the sun. The treatment of the
green berries was simple; they were merely exposed to the sun's heat for
a day or two, and then stored: in this way we obtained enough, both of
black and white pepper, to last us a very long time.
I took also a number of young plants, that we might have pepper growing
at Rockburg and our various settlements. Some roots of another plant
were also taken, which, from the pods, appeared to be a kind of bean.
We were glad of this occupation during the tedious business of smoking
the bears' meat, and availed ourselves of the leisure time by also
preparing for stuffing the condor and the turkey buzzard, urubu or black
vulture--for I could not determine to which species the smaller bird
belonged.
The four boys at length became so weary of inaction, that I determined
to let them make an excursion alone on the Savannah. Three of them
received this permission with eager delight, but Ernest said he would
prefer to remain with us; to which, as the expedition was to be entirely
one of pleasure, I could make no objection.
Little Franz, on the other hand, whom I would willingly have kept with
us, was wild to go with his brothers, and I was obliged to consent, as I
had made the proposal open to all, and could not draw back.
In the highest spirits they ran to bring their steeds (as we were fain
to call the cattle they rode) from their pasturage at a short distance.
Speedily were they saddled, bridled, and mounted--the three lads were
ready to be off.
It was my wish that our sons should cultivate a habit of bold
independence, for well I knew that it might be the will of God to
deprive them easily of their parents; when, without an enterprising
spirit of self-reliance, their position would be truly miserable.
My gallant Fritz possessed this desirable quality in no small degree,
and to him I committed the care of his young brothers, charging them to
look up to and obey him as their leader.
They were well armed, well mounted, had a couple of good dogs; and, with
a hearty "God speed and bless you, my boys!" I let them depart.
We, who remained behind, passed the day in a variety of useful
occupations.
The bears' meat, which was being cured in a smoking shed such as that we
set up for the peccary hams, required a good deal of attention from my
wife. Ernest had a fancy for making ornamental cups from the ostrich
eggs, while I investigated the interior of the cave.
I found the inner wall to consist of a kind of talc, mingled with
threads of asbestos, and also indications of mica. Examining further, I
detached a large block, and found to my joy that I could split it into
clear transparent sheets, which would serve admirably for window panes.
My wife saw this substitute for glass with unfeigned satisfaction,
declaring, that although she would not complain, yet the want of glass
for windows had been a downright trouble to her.