The bank of the river was reached. The stream was broad and rapid.
Crawford and Percy looked at it with dismay.
"By what means are we to get across?" exclaimed the former.
"I'm sure I can't tell," said Percy. "There's not a ford here, at all
events."
"We'll soon show you," said Denis.
The oxen were outspanned, and while the Hottentots began unloading the
waggon, the Kaffirs, headed by their leader, went along the river, and
cut down a number of poles of a soft buoyant wood. These they
immediately began to form into a couple of rafts. The waggon being
unloaded, was next rapidly taken to pieces, and the wheels lashed
together, while the upper sides and pole being removed, the rest of the
vehicle formed a strong and substantial raft. Long poles and paddles
having been procured, a portion of the goods were placed on it and the
other rafts. Four of the Kaffirs then stepped on the smallest two,
having long poles and two paddles, and commenced the passage, shouting
loudly as they did so, the paddlers splashing the water.
"What do they make all that noise for?" asked Crawford.
"Sure to frighten away the crocodiles," answered Denis. "The beasts
would otherwise be running their snouts against the raft, wanting to see
what it is, or they would be catching hold of the horses or oxen as they
swim across."
The first raft having reached the opposite bank in safety, the passage
of the waggon, of which Hendricks himself took charge, was commenced.
This, being heavier, required a larger crew, but even then it was some
time in getting across. The cargo from the first raft being landed, it
returned for a further freight, bringing back some of the men who had
crossed in the waggon, while the rest, under the direction of Hendricks,
began putting the vehicle together. The second raft began to cross, the
people in charge of it shouting and shrieking as before. All this time
the Hottentots had remained with the oxen and horses, as they were to
cross last, while Crawford and Percy, with Denis and Lionel, employed
themselves in loading the rafts. It had been arranged that they should
cross on the smallest raft after the cattle had swam over.
While they were thus employed, three of the horses, whose legs had been
left free, discovering that they would have to cross the river, and
apparently not liking the undertaking, took it into their heads to
gallop off. When the Hottentots ran after them, the cattle began to
scatter in a way which threatened a general stampede; they were
therefore obliged to return in order to keep the animals together, "This
won't do!" cried Denis. "Come along, Lionel; we must manage to catch
the brutes. If we don't look sharp, they will be away back to
Maritzburg."
Percy, seeing them start off, also followed. While Denis went on one
side, Lionel took the other, accompanied by the young Englishman.
Fortunately the horses stopped to graze at a tempting spot of grass
which they found on their way. This, after a long run, enabled the lads
to get to the south of them. They then crept up slowly, and Denis, who
was the most active of the party, caught one which had a long halter
trailing from its head. Instead of hauling at it, he allowed the horse
to continue feeding until his two companions had seized the others.
They were, however, at this time, at a considerable distance from the
river, and when they got back they found the remaining horses and oxen
swimming over, with the Hottentots and several Kaffirs holding on to
their tails, shouting, shrieking, and splashing the water, to keep the
crocodiles at a distance.
"I vote we cross on horseback," said Denis. "It will be half an hour or
more before the raft can come for us, and I'm getting desperately
hungry. We can get over just as easily as those Kaffir fellows. We can
either sit on the horses' backs, or hold on to their tails, while they
tow us over. See, that's how the Kaffirs are crossing."
"I'm ready, at all events," said Lionel. "I think I'll ride my horse."
"Mind if you do, give him his head, and don't on any account pull at the
halter," said Denis. "What way are you going to cross, Percy?"
Percy did not quite like the undertaking, not being accustomed to this
sort of thing. But he was ashamed to refuse; at the same time, being an
excellent swimmer, he was not afraid of the water, but more apprehensive
of crocodiles, which he thought after the noise had ceased might come
swimming up to the spot. At last, however, after seeing Denis and
Lionel mount, they having secured their outer clothing to the heads of
their horses, he imitated their example, and all three plunged into the
river together, the horses now, with riders on their backs, taking to
the water willingly enough. Denis led the way, keeping on the left or
up stream. Percy followed closely a little farther down. Lionel was on
his right. For some distance the river was sufficiently shallow for the
horses to wade, with the water only half-way up their backs. Presently
Denis's horse began to swim.
"I'll try the Kaffir fashion, and I'd advise you to do the same," cried
Denis. "Lionel may stick on his horse's back if he likes."
Saying this he slipped off, and grasping hold of his horse's tail, was
towed across, while he laughed and shouted to Percy to imitate his
example. Neither Percy nor Lionel felt willing to make the attempt.
"Just try it," cried Denis again; "you'll find that your animal swims
twice as fast. He can't kick, if he were to try."
They had already got more than half-way over, when, gaining courage,
Percy slipped off, and had just got hold of his horse's tail when
Lionel, who was, as has been said, a short distance off, uttered a cry
of alarm. What was Percy's horror to see his horse frantically beating
the water with his fore-legs and making no progress! The dreadful
thought instantly occurred to him, that a crocodile had caught hold of
the animal's legs, and that the boy, who had acknowledged a short time
before that he was not much of a swimmer, would either be seized by the
monster, or be drowned. Percy, though quiet and unassuming in his
manners, possessed more courage and resolution than he was aware of.
Another crocodile might seize him even while swimming behind his horse,
but he did not think of that risk. He could not bear to see his young
companion perish without an effort to save him.
"Throw yourself off, and swim towards me," he shouted.
Lionel did as he was advised, narrowly escaping being struck by the
horse's hoofs. On this, Percy, letting go his horse's tail, and
exerting all his strength, swam to meet Lionel, who, although supporting
himself in the water, was evidently unable to reach the bank towards
which they had been directing their course.
"Keep up, keep up until I come to you," cried Percy, and in a few
seconds he was up to Lionel. "Now place your hand on my back, and
strike out with the other and your feet at the same time. Don't attempt
to clutch me, and we will, please heaven, gain the bank."
Lionel, who kept his presence of mind, did as he was bid. At first
Percy was in hopes of regaining his horse's tail, but the animal had got
too far ahead, and was now abreast of Denis's horse. Denis himself was
too much ahead to see what had happened, and not until Percy's horse had
got up to him was he aware of the danger of his two companions. His
first impulse was to let go and swim to their assistance, but his next
thought was that his powers were insufficient for the task.
As he looked round he saw them both swimming on steadily, while Lionel's
unfortunate horse was gradually sinking beneath the surface, although
its fore-feet were still striking out in the vain attempt to escape from
the jaws of its captor.
"Shall I come and help you?" he shouted out. "I'll try to do so if you
want me."
"No, no," answered Percy. "If you are not a good swimmer, you'll do no
good. Get to shore as fast as you can, and send off a raft to us, for
they don't appear to be looking at us."
Owing to the oxen and horses having just landed, what had occurred had
not been perceived from the shore. Crawford, who had gone across on the
last raft, was the first to discover that there were only two horses.
He then saw the heads of Percy and Lionel close together.
Shouting out to Hendricks, who was at some distance, attending to the
waggon, he leaped on to one of the rafts, making signs to the nearest
Kaffir, to whom he could not otherwise communicate his wishes, to come
off with him.
Fortunately Hendricks heard his voice, and rushing down, sprang on to
the raft. In the meantime Percy had a hard matter to keep up. The
stream was carrying him and Lionel farther and farther down; and as they
got away from the noise made by the cattle, he well knew that the risk
of being seized by another crocodile was greatly increased.
Still, though he might easily have gained the shore by himself, nothing
would induce him to quit his young charge.
"Hold up, Lionel," he cried. "Kick about with your feet, and shout as
loud as you can. Those brutes of crocodiles won't hurt us while they've
got the horse to eat. Hurrah! we are seen from the shore; your father
and Crawford are on it. They are stopping to pick up Denis, they'll be
up to us soon. Now stop and tread water, it will give me a rest. It
won't matter if we are floated a little lower down. Shout and shriek as
loud as you like."
All this Percy said at the top of his voice, for he did not feel quite
as confident as he tried to make Lionel suppose, that another crocodile
would not make its appearance. Still his hopes of escape rose as he saw
the raft urged on by poles and paddles approaching. He kept looking
round him, however, to watch whether one of the dreaded monsters was
rising to the surface, not that, should it approach, he would be able to
do much to make his escape. Lionel all the time showed not the
slightest fear. He did exactly as he was told. Had his skill as a
swimmer equalled that of Percy, he would rather have trusted to his own
powers, than have hindered his companion from reaching the shore. The
raft was still some way off, although they could distinguish the
features of their friends. When, as they were treading water, holding
each other's hands, Lionel, casting a glance down the stream, exclaimed,
"O Percy, can that brute be coming this way?" Percy looked in the same
direction, and there sure enough he saw the head of a huge crocodile,
with its snout directed towards them.
"We won't stop here to be gobbled up, at all events," cried Percy. "Put
your hand as before on my back, and we'll swim towards the raft. We may
be in time to get on to it before the creature reaches us."
Though he said this, he felt very faint hopes of success; still, like a
brave fellow, he kept up, shouting and splashing as much as he could
without stopping on his way. Once he glanced over his shoulder. The
dreaded monster came swimming on. In another minute, before they could
possibly reach the raft, it would be up to them, though Hendricks and
his companions were exerting their utmost strength to urge it on. Just
then a man was seen running along the bank. He stopped, and raised a
rifle to his shoulder. Percy fancied he could hear the bullet whistle
through the air, and the thud as it struck the crocodile's head. The
monster sank from sight. Denis and Crawford raised a loud cheer, and in
a few seconds they were hauling Percy and Lionel, both almost exhausted,
on to the raft.
"Bravo! Percy, you did it well," cried Denis; "and Lionel showed
himself to be a brave little chap, or he would not have enabled you to
save him as you have done."
Hendricks was less demonstrative, but equally grateful to Percy,
although he had no time just then to show his feelings. Placing the two
boys on the centre of the raft, he, with the rest who had come on it,
had to exert themselves to pull back to the shore, where they found
Umgolo waiting to receive them.
"You saved the boys' lives, my friend," said Hendricks, addressing him
and taking his hand. "You have rendered me many services; this is not
the least of them."
Of course he spoke in Kaffir, and Umgolo replied in the same language,
that he was always ready to serve his young master, and that he was very
glad to have prevented the crocodile from destroying the two boys. No
time was lost in conveying them up to the spot where the camp was to be
fixed. Here a fire was immediately lighted to dry their clothes and to
cook some provisions, while they sat close to it, wrapped up in
blankets. They both speedily recovered, the proof of which was that
they ate heartily of the viands prepared for them.
"It's the last time I'll endeavour to cross a river at the tail of a
horse, when crocodiles are likely to be swimming about," exclaimed
Denis. "I'm mighty glad that you escaped from the brute, Lionel; had
you been swimming as I was, it would have had you to a certainty."
The circumstance which had occurred tended greatly to draw the lads
together, while Percy rose much in the estimation of all his companions.
"I only wish that I could see a hungry lion rush out on you, or a party
of Zulus coming out of a kraal to cut off your head; I'd show both the
one and the other what I could do with my rifle," exclaimed Lionel.
"I'd fight until I was killed, and should not care if you made your
escape."
"Thank you!" answered Percy. "I hope we shall not come to that
extremity, but I am very sure that you will do your best to help me out
of any danger I happen to get into."
The night passed with the usual chorus from hyenas and jackals. At dawn
the travellers were on the move. For a considerable distance few
inhabitants were met with, the king not approving of his subjects living
near the border, lest, when he should require them, they should get
across it, and escape from his paternal care.
After moving on for some days, another steep hill rose before them.
They encamped at the foot, that the oxen might the better be able to
drag up the waggon in the morning. The ascent was no easy one, and the
Hottentots had to exert their arms and voices.
"I hope the descent will not be so difficult, or the waggon may chance
to be capsized," said Crawford, as he and Denis were following behind,
ready to put big stones under the wheels, and prevent the vehicle
slipping back.
"No fear of that, for we shall not have to descend at all," answered
Denis.
He was right. On the summit being reached, the travellers found
themselves on the edge of a vast plateau, extending to the north and
south. Some parts were covered with fine timber trees, others with
scattered mimosa bushes, and here and there a hillock rose above the
plain. Deer of various species were seen bounding along in unrestrained
freedom, chiefly small animals; now and then a herd of pallah or koodoo
would make their appearance, sorely tempting the hunters to go in chase.
Hendricks, however, was anxious to proceed as fast as he could through
the country, until he could reach a region where elephants and other
more valuable animals abounded.
Although the sun was intensely hot during the day, the air was pure and
exhilarating, especially in the early morning. Day after day the party
travelled on, occasionally passing near kraals, but Hendricks generally
avoided them, unless he wished to do a stroke of trade with the
inhabitants. The country as they advanced became wilder and rougher,
and game of all sorts abounded, so that after outspanning in the
afternoon, the hunters who went out with their guns never failed to
bring back an ample supply of meat for the camp. When there was time,
and there was more than was required for immediate consumption, the
flesh, whether of deer, or quagga, or gnu, was cut up into long strips,
and after being slightly salted, was strung up, either outside the
waggon, or on a rope fastened from it to a tree, where it quickly dried
in the warm air. The meat thus prepared is called beltong, and requires
no further cooking to suit the palate of the hunter. It is to be sure
somewhat hard, but not bad tasted. Even the flesh of the quagga, which
few white men would eat willingly, becomes, when thus prepared,
tolerably palatable.
Occasionally it was necessary to give the oxen a rest, when they might
regain, on an abundant pasture, their strength, exhausted by the toils
they had encountered.
Next time they stopped, Denis, Percy, and Lionel agreed that they would
go hunting together, so that they might have all the glory to
themselves; for, should they accompany Hendricks and Umgolo, or even
Crawford, who had become a good shot and a daring hunter by this time,
they would, as Denis observed, "not have a chance of shooting anything."
Two days after this, having arrived at a suitable spot, away from any
kraal, where there was an abundance of grass, and a stream of bright
water flowing at the bottom of the valley; their leader calling a halt,
the oxen were outspanned and the camp formed. As there was sure to be
plenty of game in the neighbourhood, the three lads at once made
arrangements for their trip. As their steeds had merely followed
quietly behind the waggon, they were perfectly fresh, and it was settled
that they should ride them. They agreed also to take with them a Kaffir
servant, Gozo, who, though not equal to Umgolo, was considered an
experienced hunter. Hendricks did not object to the boys accompanying
him, though he gave him strict charge to keep them out of harm's way.
They turned in early, that they might be off at daybreak, as Hendricks
wisely insisted that they should return before nightfall.