"It will come soon, and you'll be all right, old fellow," said Denis,
sitting by his side, and supporting his head while he fanned his face.
Raff was, in the meantime, smelling round and round the rhinoceros, and
would evidently have liked to get at the meat, but the tough hide
resisted his efforts.
With deep thankfulness Denis observed Mangaleesu returning, this time
accompanied by another person, whom he recognised, when they got nearer,
as Kalinda. She seemed much concerned at seeing the condition in which
poor Percy lay, and placing herself by his side, she fanned his face,
while Denis poured the water down his throat. She continued tending him
while he went to help Mangaleesu cut into the rhinoceros. A supply of
meat was soon obtained, and Denis proposed to light a fire and cook it.
To this, however, Mangaleesu objected.
"In this open spot we may be seen, for we cannot tell what enemies there
may be in the neighbourhood," he observed. "Let us at once move on to
the place where I concealed Kalinda. It will hold us all, and we shall
there be safer than we are here, while there is water at hand, and we
can light a fire in a hollow, without risk of its being seen in the
distance."
It was very evident, however, that poor Percy, although somewhat
revived, was utterly unable to walk. "Kalinda and I will carry him
then," said Mangaleesu, "while you take his gun."
"But I cannot impose that task on you, for I ought to assist in carrying
him myself," said Denis.
"No, no, you are not strong enough; we will easily manage it."
Mangaleesu and his wife set to work to construct a litter, which they
quickly formed with some poles, and fastened together by creepers. They
then placed Percy on it, and set off, stepping along at a brisk rate,
showing that they considered him alight burden. Denis carried his gun;
and Raff, to whom he had given some water, as well as an ample supply of
meat, trotted after them perfectly revived. Reaching the rocks, they
passed through a narrow defile, into which another smaller one opened,
and at its farther extremity they came to some thick bushes, which
Mangaleesu pulling aside, the mouth of a cavern was discovered.
"Here no one is likely to find us, and if they do we can defend
ourselves against greatly superior numbers," said Mangaleesu. "Your
friend therefore can remain in safety until he has recovered and is able
to proceed on his journey."
The cavern was dry and of considerable height, so that a fire could have
been lighted within; but as the smoke would have been annoying, Denis
suggested that they should light it outside, as the neighbouring bushes
afforded plenty of fuel. This was soon done, and the rhinoceros meat
put on to cook.
Mangaleesu and his wife, not being very particular as to its being well
done, were soon able to commence supper. Denis preferred waiting a
little longer, when he took some in to Percy, who was by this time well
able to eat it. They pronounced it rather tough, but remarkably well
flavoured; indeed, the rhinoceros being an herbivorous animal, its flesh
is not to be despised.
As soon as the meat was cooked, the fire was put out. "We need not keep
up one during the night," observed Mangaleesu, "for no wild beast can
make its way through the bushes which I will draw in front of the cave,
and should any one come near, your dog will give us ample notice."
Among the first inquiries Denis made of Mangaleesu was whether he had
seen the waggon, or could in any way calculate how far they were from
it. Mangaleesu replied that he had not seen it or fallen in with any
tracks to show that it had passed in that direction. On learning whence
they had started, he led Denis to suspect that he and Percy had wandered
much farther to the north-west than they had supposed, and that they
were not likely for several days to meet with the waggon, supposing it
had moved on.
"There is, however," he observed, "a white family living on the borders,
the only one for many miles round, not more than two days' journey from
this. As soon as your friend has recovered his strength, if you start
at daybreak, and walk on briskly, you may reach it on the evening of the
second day. Kalinda and I will accompany you, and we will then go into
Natal, and bid farewell for ever to Zululand."
On telling Percy of the account given by Mangaleesu, he exclaimed, "Why
that must be Falls Farm, where my father lives. I thought we were still
a long way from it. How delightful! I wish that I could get up and set
off immediately. I am sure by to-morrow morning I shall be strong
enough."
Denis was as anxious as his friend to start; for Percy had often spoken
to him about Falls Farm and its inmates, and he thought that it would be
very pleasant to spend a day or two with them. Hendricks, if he had
recovered the oxen, was very likely to be there, or would arrive
shortly.
Denis and Percy were thankful to be able to rest securely without the
risk of being carried off by a lion or leopard, or trampled upon by an
elephant or rhinoceros. A hunter in Africa has no easy time of it,
either by night or by day. He has treacherous human foes and savage
wild animals to contend with.
Although night had not commenced, Denis was glad to lie down by the side
of his friend, so as to obtain a longer rest than he had enjoyed for
many a night. Next morning Percy declared that he felt better, after he
had had another meal off rhinoceros flesh and water. Still Denis saw
that he was not at all able to walk far, and certainly not fit to
attempt making a long journey. He persuaded him therefore to remain
quiet, at all events for another day.
"I wish that we had something better than this rhinoceros meat," said
Denis to Mangaleesu.
"You shall have it," was the answer; "but I must be cautious in going
out, lest I fall in with any of my enemies. If I am killed, I will
trust you to look after my wife. Let her accompany you to the farm,
where I am sure the good white chief will take care of her, as he is
kind, I am told, to all the people round."
"I promise to do as you desire; but if there is any danger, it would be
better not to go out," said Denis. "We can rough it on the rhinoceros
meat."
Mangaleesu, however, observing that there would not be enough meat to
last them another day, insisted on going out to find a deer or antelope.
Having closed the mouth of the cavern, and charged his companions not to
venture forth, he set out. Denis and Percy passed their time mostly in
sleep, to make up, as Denis said, "for their want of rest for so many
days." Kalinda sat watching them, having nothing else to do. A
considerable part of the day had passed, and they began to grow anxious
at Mangaleesu's not returning.
Kalinda waited patiently, but she now frequently got up and went close
to the mouth of the cavern, where she stood in the attitude of
listening. Poor creature, she had long been accustomed to that state of
anxiety, but now she had begun to hope that they would soon get across
the border. They had taken into the cave a supply of water, and had
cooked the remainder of the rhinoceros meat. As Mangaleesu did not
return, the pangs of hunger compelled them to eat a portion, although
they kept some in case he should come back without having succeeded in
obtaining any game.
The day was drawing on when Kalinda, who was standing at the entrance,
started and said in a low voice to Denis--
"He is coming!"
Presently the bushes were drawn aside, and Mangaleesu appeared, carrying
a small antelope on his back. He looked tired and excited; and throwing
the animal down, he hurriedly again closed the bushes, and sank
exhausted to the ground.
"We must speak low, lest any one outside may hear us," he whispered. "I
have been seen and pursued, but eluded my enemies. They may not
discover this retreat, for I pretended to go off in an opposite
direction. As I came along I resolved that you, my young friends,
should escape as soon as you can. If found with me, you may be killed;
but if you are alone, should you be overtaken, and will explain where
you are going, you will not be molested." Such, at all events, was the
meaning of what Mangaleesu said. "I would advise you to set off before
daylight to-morrow morning," he continued. "Make your way to the farm.
With the directions I will give you, you will easily find it. You may
very likely be seen and pursued: be not alarmed; invite these who
overtake you to escort you to the farm."
"But what will you and your wife do?" asked Denis.
"We will remain here in concealment until our enemies have grown weary
of searching for us. I will watch them until I see them go away, and
then we will set out and get across the border as fast as possible. The
country is thinly peopled, so that we shall have no difficulty in
escaping notice."
Denis expressed his regret at having to go without his friends, but
agreed that the plan would be the best to adopt.
Mangaleesu, before it grew dark, showed them the spring, and the
direction they were to follow, and minutely described several points, so
that they would run no risk of losing their way. The antelope meat was
cut up, and a portion cooked at a fire kindled in the cave, which,
though it created more smoke than was pleasant, was easily borne in
consideration of the advantage obtained.
Mangaleesu and Kalinda, with the two white lads, sat round the fire,
eating their supper of venison, washed down with cold water, and talking
over in low voices plans for that future which it was very possible none
of them might live to see. Raff, who formed one of the circle, watched
them with the greatest gravity, as if he fully understood all that was
said. They then lay down to seek the rest the two young travellers at
all events so greatly needed.
The night passed quietly; and when they awoke, Percy declared that he
was sufficiently strong to undertake a two days' march, and having
breakfasted, they set off, followed by Raff, a short time before
daybreak.
Mangaleesu accompanied them some distance, to put them in the right way.
They felt rather anxious about his getting back in safety to the cave.
"No fear," he answered: "a Zulu can creep unseen where a white man would
certainly be observed. Even if my enemies were near, they would not
discover me; but they are some way from this, and you will, I hope, be a
good distance on your road before they find you, so that they will not
guess whence you set out."
They shook the chief warmly by the hand, and again thanked him for the
assistance he had rendered them. Scarcely had he left them a minute,
when, as they looked round, they could nowhere see him.
They trudged on as fast as they could venture to go in the gloom of
morning. When daylight broke, they increased their speed. Percy kept
up bravely, and Denis declared that he had never felt in better trim for
a long march. As they fell in with no hostile Zulus, they more than
ever regretted that Mangaleesu and Kalinda had not accompanied them.
From the rate they went they felt sure that they had accomplished half
the distance. Having a supply of cooked meat, they agreed that it would
be wiser to spend the night in a tree. As darkness approached, they
looked about and found one with wide-spreading branches; into this they
climbed.
"But I say, we must not run the risk of letting Raff be carried off as
poor Fangs was; we must get him with us," said Denis. "I cannot reach
him as I did before with my pocket-handkerchief, but we'll fasten our
rifle slings together, and he'll easily make his way up."
This was done. Raff caught hold of one end; they hauled away, and he,
helping himself up with his claws, was soon seated near them on the
forks of a tree.
"But what if a leopard should think of coming up here, like the one we
saw the other day!" said Percy.
"Raff will give us due notice," answered Denis. "We'll keep our rifles
ready, and send him back again with a shot through his skull."
Their beds were not very comfortable, but notwithstanding, knowing that
Raff was keeping watch, they slept soundly till the next morning.
Descending the tree, they breakfasted on the remains of their venison,
and pushed forward, feeling in as good trim as they had when they
started on the previous day.