THE LAST HUNT--THREE PROPOSALS--"STILL WATERS RUN
DEEP"--THE END.
As we neared the river their doses of brandy and opium were
considerably reduced, so that by the time we had crossed the Luranga
they were fairly sobered up. They had been supplied with all they
wanted to eat, which was not a great deal; but as they got the opium
out of their systems their appetites returned, and before their
departure they had an abundant meal of stewed meat and steaks, cooked
over the fire. We loaded them with presents--that is, we gave each
of them a cotton shirt, three yards of cloth, and two strings of
beads--so that they went back to the north side of the river feeling
very proud, happy, and rich, though possibly they may have had some
misgivings as to the reception which awaited them on their arrival at
the king's kraal. The king had a pleasant habit of beheading or
strangling those of his people who displeased him, and it was on this
account that I impressed the envoys with the idea that the whole
affair was due to the white man's magic, and the innocent soldiers
were not in the least to blame.
Shortly after the soldiers joined their comrades on the north bank
the whole party marched away into the country back of the river and
disappeared among the hills. We were fearful that they might attempt
a raid upon us during the night, and so, about sunset, we inspanned
again and traveled by moonlight until a late hour, a new axle having
been made to replace the broken one. We felt sure that the fellows
would not proceed far into the region where they did not belong, lest
they might encounter some of the soldiers of the king who owned the
land, and in that event there would be sure to be a fight.
We trekked on again the next night, and then went into kraal about
half a mile from a water-hole, which was the drinking-place of a
large number of elephants, buffaloes, elands, and other animals, not
to omit lions and leopards. We found a small spring of water close
to where we outspanned, sufficient for the use of our party,
including the oxen and horses, but not large enough to be a favorite
spot with the wild animals when a much greater one was close at hand.
Here we determined to abide for a while, to give our teams a chance
to rest after their forced march, and also to do some hunting that
would finish the burdens of our wagons. In these up-country
excursions the hunter loads his wagons with provisions and trade
goods, and as the provisions and goods are used up he fills the space
with hides, ivory, karosses, and other things that are marketable in
the seaports of the Cape. When his cargo is completed he is ready to
return home. By means of the contents of his wagons he pays the
expenses of his expedition, and sometimes realizes a handsome profit.
We had some fine hunting in that region, including night-shooting at
the drinking-place already mentioned. Our sport was hardly equal to
that which Cumming describes in his book, but we had splendid
success, take it for all in all, and were well satisfied with it.
The asperities of night-shooting were softened on several occasions
by the presence of Mrs. Roberts and Miss Boland, who wished to enjoy
the sport, and achieved their full share of success in so doing.
We had our wagons pretty nearly filled up, and only a few more hides
and tusks were needed to complete the lading. As for the ladies'
wagon, it was little more than half filled, and their collection of
ivory was considerably smaller than ours. We said nothing about this
to our friends, as we all were reluctant to dwell intently on the
subject of separation.
One day I was out with Miss Boland in search of elands, giraffes, or
any other medium-sized game that came in our way. We were not
equipped for elephants or buffaloes, and, as usually happens in such
cases, we saw both kinds of animals in goodly numbers. When we saw
the elephants Miss Boland said:
"I suppose you'll be riding back to camp now to get your elephant-gun
and ammunition?"
"No," I answered, "my enthusiasm for elephants is less than it was."
"Well," she responded, "so is mine. I'm thinking I have had all the
elephant and buffalo shooting I care for, and Mrs. Roberts shares my
opinion."
"Do you intend to remain much longer in this region?" I asked.
"I think not," was the answer; "I was talking the matter over with
Mrs. Roberts last evening, and we are pretty well agreed that when
you gentlemen leave us we will start for Walvisch Bay."
I explained that the time of separation was approaching; that our
wagons were nearly filled with the articles that a hunter usually
brings back from the chase, and in a day or two we would probably
inspan and start for Durban.
"Our roads diverge from this point," said Miss Boland, with a sigh.
"Yes, that is true," I replied; "Durban and Walvisch Bay are on
opposite sides of South Africa. But the roads may come together
again."
"I don't think I understand you quite, Mr. Manson," replied Miss
Boland, with a blush rising on her cheek, browned though it was by
the sun of Africa.
"I will make my meaning clear in a few words: we have become pretty
well acquainted during our sojourn, and I have no hesitation in
asking you, Miss Boland, to become my wife. Will you do so?"
If we had been on foot the reader would be justified in surmising
that we fell into each other's arms after the usual manner of lovers
when one of the most important questions of life is asked; but as we
were on horseback in the open plain the scene was varied--our horses
edged closely to each other, we clasped our right hands, leaned over
in our saddles and exchanged a kiss, and after the kiss was exchanged
Miss Boland uttered the single word "Yes."
For some minutes we rode on in silence, our hearts too full for
utterance; by and by I spoke, and then the lady responded, and in a
little while we were chatting away about as before. We paid very
little attention to the game that day, and came back to camp
absolutely empty-handed, although we knew there was a short supply of
meat for feeding our multitude. The rest of the party rallied us
somewhat on our ill success, which I attributed to the shyness of the
game, it having been hunted so long, and I added that we would have
to pull out of that place within a day or so at the latest.
I should explain that in our homeward ride after the proposal and
acceptance it was arranged that Miss Boland would proceed with Mrs.
Roberts to Walvisch Bay, and after settling their affairs there she
would take the first steamer for Cape Town. I would go with Harry
and Jack to Durban, and when all our matters in that place were
adjusted I would take the first steamer on that side of the peninsula
for Cape Town. There we would meet again, in a city where marriage
licenses are easily obtained and clergymen are numerous and fond of
earning fees.
My remark about the necessity of moving out from where we were
encamped precipitated matters; Jack sought and obtained an
opportunity to see Miss Boland alone. I think they took a stroll in
the direction of the spring that supplied us with water, under the
pretense that they wanted a draft, or at least Jack did, fresh from
the ground. Before they returned from the spring Jack had asked Miss
Boland to become his wife, to which she had replied that her heart
was already pledged to another.
"Not to Harry, is it?" in a tone that evinced considerable anger and
jealousy.
"Oh no, not at all," was the reply; "he has never spoken to me on the
subject."
"Then it's some fellow back in merry England, I suppose?" Jack
retorted. "I don't care who it is, as long as it isn't Harry. But
as long as I live," he continued, "you will always have my best
wishes, Miss Boland, and my warmest hopes for your happiness."
The young woman expressed herself in similar terms toward her
would-be lover, and then changed the subject of conversation, which
was broken up altogether when they reached the camp again.
Harry happened to be inside the tent cleaning his rifle during this
episode at the spring, and consequently knew nothing about it. After
supper, which we took all together under the improvised tent where we
held our first luncheon, we chatted awhile about the necessity of
breaking up and going in different directions, regretting unanimously
the inevitableness of the movement. When we adjourned and escorted
the ladies to their tent Harry managed to draw Miss Boland aside,
unperceived by either Jack or myself. He went through pretty nearly
the same formula as that of the walk to the spring, receiving the
same answer that had been given to Jack. He was a good deal
crestfallen to find that Miss Boland's heart and hand were already
pledged, and fell into the same supposition that her fiancé was
somebody in the old country. His satisfaction at this belief was
similar to that of Jack, and it would have been cruel to undeceive
him, as well as awkward.
It is not often that a young woman has three proposals inside of six
hours from three different individuals, and all three good men and
true.
We agreed to have another day's hunting and then inspan and trek
away, each party in its own direction. Happily for us, a large herd
of elands put in its appearance early in the day, and we went in
pursuit of them. There were so many of us on horseback that we
managed to surround the herd and drive it into a hollow, of whose
existence we knew, where a precipitous wall on three sides of an area
of a few acres caught the creatures as in a trap. We could have
killed the entire herd without difficulty, but we were merciful, and
only shot enough to give us a good supply of meat.
True to our agreement, we all inspanned on the following morning and
trekked away, the ladies going to the southwest, we to the southeast.
We breakfasted together, and the last bottle of champagne was used in
drinking health and a safe journey, together with all sorts of good
wishes to each and every one of the party. Tears were in all our
eyes as we separated, but there were fewer in Harry's, than in those
of any of the rest.
The ladies' wagon was ready sooner than were our own wagons, and they
pulled out in advance of us. We fired a farewell volley as they
departed, and they fired one in return.
"I wonder if we'll ever meet again?" said Harry, with a sigh, as he
watched the retreating forms of the two ladies on horseback.
"Perhaps so," said Jack, in a tone of confidence; "the world is
small, and the paths of humanity constantly cross each other."
"Yes," I answered, in consonance with Jack, "the world is very small,
and the more I live the more I comprehend the correctness of the
assertion. Of course life has many chances, but I confidently
believe that we have not separated from our friends for all time."
We met with no mishap of consequence during our homeward journey,
though we lost several of our oxen and my favorite horse, Brickdust,
by the depredations of the lions. We were able to kill enough game
to keep the company fairly supplied with provisions, but as we neared
the settlements of the Boer farmers we found the game growing very
scarce.
By the way, I must not fail to tell of an adventure which befell
Harry during this journey. It was after we reached the settlements,
and when game was scarce, that Harry pursued a quagga for quite a
distance. Night overtook him, and he was not in sight of camp; he
knew its general direction, and was riding for it, listening intently
for the sound of the signal-guns that we always fired when one was
out after dark. He was feeling rather gloomy at having lost his
game, and was thinking of the possibilities of being obliged to camp
out alone in the open air.
Suddenly his horse snorted, and indicated that there was something
ahead. Harry urged him gently forward, and in the little light that
remained he made out the forms of two quagga, that seemed to be
standing entirely unalarmed in the presence of danger. To make sure
work Harry dismounted, and by the quick use of his rifle he brought
down both the animals. Then, clinging to his bridle, he went
cautiously in the direction of his prizes to examine them. To his
horror he discovered that they were horses; one of them was wearing a
halter, and the other was fully harnessed. He had been shooting a
Dutchman's wagon-team!
At the Tugela River we found such a flood that we were obliged to
wait two days for it to subside. Then we went on, and one day, about
noon, rolled into Durban with the air of conquering heroes. We sold
our hides, ivory, and other things to good advantage, and recouped
ourselves fully for our outlay. With our horses and oxen we were
less fortunate; it is always the case, the world over, when you want
to buy live-stock, nobody wants to sell, and when you want to sell
nobody wants to buy, except at an enormous discount. You have the
alternative of accepting half the value or of keeping the animals and
seeing them perform that wonderful scientific feat of eating their
heads off. We chose the former method and sold our stock at auction
in the public square of Durban.
After everything had been cleaned up and our settlements made, I
inquired for the first steamer that would leave for the Cape. Jack
said he thought he would take a run down there, and he was glad that
I intended going. Harry was not inclined to make the journey, and
said he would stay awhile in Durban and then join another party going
up-country. "I'll wait for you fellows," said he, "if you'll cut
your Cape visit short, and come back in a reasonable time."
"I don't think I shall be back this way in a hurry," remarked Jack.
"The fact is, boys--I don't mind telling it to you now--I'm engaged
to Mrs. Roberts! We are to meet at the Cape and be married there."
"The deuce you say!" Harry remarked.
"Yes, actually so; I proposed to her the morning we broke camp, and
she accepted!"
There was a pause, which I broke by saying, "Jack and I can be 'best
men' for each other, as I'm engaged to Miss Boland, and am to meet
her for marriage at the Cape!"
Harry and Jack both gave prolonged whistles as I finished my little
story, and after his whistle Harry remarked, "I thought from what she
said she was engaged to a fellow in England!"
"So did I," said Jack; "and this quiet, inoffensive, demure old
Manson has cut us both out!"
"That he has!" said Harry. "'Still waters run deep!'"
THE END.