Four days had passed since Captain Broderick had started on his
expedition. His family were now hoping every hour to see him return.
It was difficult, however, to calculate how far Hendricks might have got
before he was overtaken, and what delays might have occurred. Perhaps
he might be unwilling to give up Lionel, and would not be satisfied that
he was Captain Broderick's son. He was deeply attached to the boy, and
looked forward to having him as his companion during his travels, and
making him his successor in his arduous, though interesting and
lucrative, calling. Captain Broderick was only slightly acquainted with
Hendricks, and had from the first been doubtful how he might be
received. He had therefore resolved to go himself, instead of sending
any one else, to bring his supposed son to the farm. It is more easy to
imagine than describe Mrs Broderick's state of anxiety. Was her
long-lost boy to be restored to her? or were the anticipations she had
formed to be fallacious? Her daughters shared her feelings, but they
were so much occupied from morning till night in their various duties,
that their minds consequently dwelt less on the subject than did hers.
Rupert had satisfied himself that there was no doubt about the matter,
and that Hendricks would immediately give up his young brother, as he
called him, to his father.
The evening of the fourth day was coming to a close, when a Kaffir was
seen on the opposite side of the river, making signals. Rupert and
Percy, who were together, instantly hurried down to the boat to
ascertain what he wanted.
"I wonder whether he brings a message from our father," said Percy; "if
so, I am afraid he has been delayed."
"Yes, I am sure he does," answered Rupert. "See, he carries a stick,
with a letter stuck in a cleft in the end. That's the way the Kaffirs
always carry written messages. We shall soon know its contents."
They were quickly across, and the Kaffir, stepping into the boat,
presented the letter at the end of the stick to Rupert. It was
addressed, however, to Mrs Broderick, in his father's handwriting, so
that he could not open it, and he and Percy had to repress their
curiosity until its contents could be communicated by their mother.
They eagerly questioned the Kaffir messenger as they pulled across. He,
however, could give them but little information beyond the fact that the
white chief had overtaken the hunter and his waggon about five days'
journey from the border of Zululand; that two horses had been lost, and
that one of the party had been severely injured or killed; and as they
could obtain no animals to supply the places of those they had lost,
they were likely to be detained some time. He was, he said, the only
inhabitant of his native village who knew the country in that direction,
and he had therefore been selected to bring the message, but he had had
no other communication with the camp, and was unable to give more
particulars.
As soon as they landed, they hurried up, accompanied by the messenger,
to the farm. They found Mrs Broderick in the sitting-room. She
eagerly opened the letter, while they anxiously watched her countenance.
"Is our father well?" inquired Helen.
"What does he say about Lionel?" asked Percy.
"I hope no one has come to grief," exclaimed Rupert.
Mrs Broderick did not reply until she had read through the letter, and
then, holding it in her hands, and still glancing at its contents, she
said--
"Your father is well, though his journey was a dangerous one. Hendricks
seemed much surprised, but received him in a friendly way, until he
explained the object of his visit, when the hunter appeared very
unwilling to believe that Lionel is the child we lost. He is evidently
deeply attached to the boy, and does not wish to part with him. He
said, however, that he should be satisfied if Mangaleesu could produce
any one of the tribe who was present at the attack on our party, when
the nurse was murdered and the child carried off. This, from
Mangaleesu's account, seems impossible, as he declares that the whole of
the tribe had joined him, and that every person in the kraal was put to
death, with the exception of himself, his wife, and the child. Your
father writes, `I cannot come away without the boy; for the more I look
at him, the more convinced I am that he is our son. A certain
expression in the countenance, which all our children possess, is there,
though it is difficult to make Hendricks understand this. Still, as he
is an honourable and right-minded man, I am convinced that he only
requires to be persuaded I have a just claim on the boy, to give him up.
He assures me--and I believe him when he says that he loves the boy as
if he were his own child--that he has made him his heir, and that he
will, he hopes, inherit a fair estate and a good sum at the bank. Of
course I am unwilling to deprive the boy of these advantages, which are
superior to any I can hope to give him. At the same time, if he
accompanies Hendricks, he will be exposed to many dangers, and might not
live to enjoy them. I hope, however, that Hendricks will allow me to
bring the boy away, when I promise to restore him should he not prove to
be our son, or should he desire to return; and I trust he will not under
any circumstances alter his intentions towards him. The boy, as it is,
has no real claim upon the hunter, who might at any time change his
mind, and leave him destitute, though I do not, judging from his
character, see any likelihood of his doing that. I however must, at all
events, remain here some days, for I have lost two horses on the
journey, and my faithful follower, Vermack, has been so severely injured
by a lion, narrowly escaping with his life, that he is at present
utterly unable to travel, though he declares he shall be as soon as I am
prepared to start. He received the injury from which he is suffering on
the morning of the day we reached this place. He had got off to tighten
the girths of his saddle, but had again mounted, and was following some
way behind, when a monstrous animal rushed out from behind a thicket,
and sprang on his horse. His side and leg were much lacerated as he
threw himself from his saddle, and before he could get on his feet and
unsling his rifle, the lion had killed his horse, and was about to leap
on him, but the brave old Dutchman was up to the emergency. The sound
of his shot, as he fired at the brute's head, was the first indication
we had of his danger.
"`Galloping back, we saw him on the ground, while the lion lay dead on
the top of the horse, close to him. Fortunately, Hendricks had
outspanned at no great distance off, and had sent out some hunters, who,
coming up directly afterwards, assisted us in carrying the wounded man
to the camp. That very night the horses which Denis Maloney and the
Kaffir had ridden were attacked by a troop of hyenas, and one was so
severely injured that we were obliged to put him out of his misery.
Hendricks cannot spare us any of his horses, and it may be some days
before I can obtain any fresh ones, though I have sent in all
directions. Let me know by bearer of this--Omkomo--who will be ready to
set off after a few hours' rest, how you are all getting on. Bid Rupert
not to relax his vigilance, although, from information I picked up on
the road, I trust that the Zulus who are in search of Mangaleesu have
given up the pursuit, and have returned to their own district. This
necessitates a long delay, for which I had not reckoned when I left the
farm.'"
Though deeply thankful to hear of her husband's safety, Mrs Broderick
was left in the same state as before regarding Lionel. Her mother's
heart, and the account Percy had given her, convinced her that he was
her son.
"I knew my father would see the likeness as soon as he set eyes on him!"
exclaimed Percy. "Didn't you, Crawford? Wouldn't you be ready to swear
that he was our brother?"
Crawford could scarcely help smiling. He thought Lionel something like
Rupert and Maud, but he did not consider him to resemble either Helen or
Rose.
Mrs Broderick at once wrote an answer to her husband's letter, which
was delivered to Omkomo. After a hearty meal he went to sleep. Rising
when it was nearly daylight, he took some more food, and declared that
he was ready to set out. Rupert and Crawford ferried him across the
river.
"In case the white chief should not be ready to begin his journey when
you arrive at the hunter's camp, will you promise to return with any
message he may have to send?" asked Rupert as he put the Kaffir on
shore.
"Yes, for the same reward I will come," was the answer.
Farewells were exchanged, and the messenger quickly disappeared in the
gloom.
The day passed by, the inmates of the farm being engaged in their usual
occupation. Rupert obeyed his father's injunctions, and had a strict
look-out kept, that he might obtain early notice of the approach of
strangers. An active scout was also employed in scouring the country
round on the east side of the river, keeping himself concealed while he
made his way to spots from whence he could take a wide survey, and
ascertain if any persons were moving about. The country on that side
was entirely depopulated; Panda, as has before been said, not allowing
any of his subjects to live near the borders. So far the farm was
favourably situated, for there were thus no natives likely to prove
hostile in its immediate neighbourhood, as there were no flocks, or
herds, or game to tempt them, and savage wild beasts were comparatively
rare.
Some days had passed since Rupert and Crawford caught sight of the
strange natives, on their visit to the hippopotamus pond, and they had
ceased to think about the subject. They were indeed fully convinced
that none of the party of Zulus who had threatened to attack them
remained.
Mangaleesu, they considered, might without risk take his departure; but
he expressed no wish to go, and Mrs Broderick was anxious to keep him,
that he might give such particulars as he possessed with regard to
Lionel. It has been said that the inhabitants of the farm depended
greatly on the chase for their supply of meat, and as no hunters had
gone out for several days, their stock had run short.
Rupert was always ready for a hunting expedition, and Crawford, who had
come out to Africa under the belief that the chase would form one of his
chief occupations, was eager to engage in the sport.
"I don't think there can be any objection to our going away for a few
hours," said Rupert. "I can leave Percy in charge during our absence,
as he will have nothing to do except to see that the men keep at their
work. You and I, with our two Kaffir guides, will start to-morrow
morning, and I hope that we shall bring back meat enough to supply us
until my father returns."
Crawford eagerly agreed to the proposal, and Percy was pleased at the
thought of being left in sole charge, although it was to be but a few
hours.
"Try and not be absent longer than you can help," said Mrs Broderick,
as she wished her son good-night--for the party were to start the next
morning. "Although I apprehend no danger, we cannot tell what may
occur."
"There is nothing to fear," answered Rupert, "and meat we must have,
that's very certain. My father would not object to my going under the
circumstances; for if I sent the Kaffirs alone, they are such bad shots
that they may bring back nothing, though they are very useful in finding
the game and helping me to kill it."
Before daybreak Rupert and Crawford were in their saddles, and Percy was
up to see them off, as were his sisters, who had insisted on rising to
give them breakfast before starting, a delicate attention which Crawford
duly appreciated.
Followed by two Zulus, also well mounted, they directed their course to
the lower ground in the south-west, where game most abounded. The air
was pure and fresh when they started, coming from the hills, and both
young men felt in the highest possible spirits, and ready for the sport.
As the sun rose, however, and they got on the lower ground, the heat
increased, and they appeared to have passed into a different region.
Occasionally from the woods came the cheerful chirp of the feathered
tribe, but otherwise, all around was hot, silent, and lonely.
"We shall be in sight of some game soon, or I am much mistaken,"
observed Rupert. "I'll send the Kaffirs out on either side to turn them
towards us, and it will be hard if we don't manage to knock over some
before long. I ordered the two Hottentot boys to bring on the light
waggon to take home the game, for we can carry back but a small portion
on our horses."
Just as he spoke, a troop of graceful pallahs appeared bounding along in
the distance. They stopped gazing in wonder and terror at the
strangers, while the two Kaffirs, making a wide circuit, galloped on in
the hope of cutting them off. Still the animals stood gazing until
Rupert and Crawford got considerably nearer, when two or three of them
were seen to change their places; then suddenly the whole herd, each
leaping high in the air, started off as fast as they could go,
apparently endeavouring to avoid one of the Zulus who was coming up.
The effect was singularly pretty, as they made bound after bound, the
red on their backs and sides, and the white on the under parts of their
bodies, alternately appearing and disappearing. In vain the hunters
rode after them.
"We may have some of those fellows yet, though," observed Rupert; "but
we must be more careful how we approach them."
Almost immediately afterwards some loud sneezes were heard, and looking
to the right they caught sight of a troop of mingled gnus and quaggas,
passing and repassing without a pause. Every now and then a gnu would
rush out from among the crowd, whisk his tail, give a sneeze, and then
rush back again amongst his comrades. Now and then a young gnu was seen
to fall behind with its mother, or the bull would drop out of the ranks,
and switching it severely with its long tail, compel it to keep up. The
older quaggas also seemed to keep their youngsters in excellent order.
Frequently, for some misdemeanour, one of the elder animals, with its
ears back, would make a rush at one of the smaller ones, and give it a
severe bite as a hint to it to keep in its place. As the hunters got
near the herd, the animals, turning their heads towards them for an
instant, suddenly whisked round, giving a glance back as they did so,
with a cunning expression, as much as to say, "You'll not catch me this
time," and off they set.
The quaggas and gnus, however, soon after separated, going off in
different directions. As the ground appeared more favourable in the
direction the quaggas had taken, Rupert proposed that they should give
chase to them.
The two Kaffirs dashed over all impediments for the sake of turning the
herd and giving the gentlemen an opportunity of shooting some of them.
A cloud of dust marked their course. On the animals dashed at a
slashing pace, but very soon relaxed their efforts, as they are no match
for a horse. The two Kaffirs now appeared ahead of them, and shouting
and shrieking, drove them back towards Rupert and Crawford, who had
drawn up out of sight behind a clump of bushes. Both firing at the same
time, each brought down a quagga, and before the herd had recovered
sufficiently to go off in another direction, they had reloaded, and two
more lay struggling on the ground. Just then Crawford saw a young filly
which had missed its mother and got separated from the herd.
"I heard your sister Helen say she should so much like to have a young
quagga to try and tame it," exclaimed Crawford, riding up to the little
animal, which seemed in no way alarmed at the appearance of the horse,
but apparently mistaking it for its parent, trotted alongside.
"If you like, we'll endeavour to keep it between us till we can give it
in charge of one of the Kaffirs," said Rupert, coming up.
The little animal at first appeared perfectly contented with its new
companions, and galloped between them. Suddenly, however, finding that
it had made a mistake, it attempted to bolt; but Rupert, expecting this,
had prepared a noose at the end of his halter. Finding itself caught,
the filly made a most determined resistance, kicking, snapping its jaws,
in which not a tooth was to be seen, dashing round and round, and
hanging back with its whole weight, altogether exhibiting its ferocious
nature.
Fortunately the Kaffir soon came up, and applying his water bottle to
its lips, quickly brought it to a more amiable state of mind. Crawford
now stroked its back and spoke gently to it, till the little creature
appeared perfectly at its ease.
"I should so much like to keep the small animal alive, for I am sure it
would please your sister to have it, and I am afraid that the Kaffir
might not treat it properly," he observed to Rupert. "If you don't
object, I'll lead it back to the farm, while you and your men continue
the chase."
"With all my heart," answered Rupert, who guessed that Crawford, as yet
inexperienced in hunting, would not be of much use.
Crawford, therefore, leading his horse with one hand and the animal by
the other, set off for the farm, while Rupert and his men, having
covered up the dead quaggas with bushes, to guard them from the vultures
and jackals until the arrival of the waggon, continued on in pursuit of
further game.
Rupert was fully as successful as he expected; a couple of pallahs,
three springbocs, and a buffalo being the result of the expedition, in
addition to the quaggas, and all within the radius of a couple of miles.
The waggon appeared in due time, and being loaded, he and his men set
off to escort it back to the farm.