immediate proximity of their moorings, though the staging-plank was run
out, and some landed to ramble about a bit. When morning came, it was
seen that the islet had an area of some eight or ten acres, all
grass-covered; and, strange to say, the grass all withered, though but a
foot or two above the level of the river's water. Its brown colour
strikingly contrasted with the vivid green of the palmits forming its
periphery; and suggested a gorgeous picture-frame, from which the work
of the artist had been removed, leaving nought behind but the rough
backing of boards. Neither tree nor bush grew upon it; their absence
indicating that it was subject to annual submergence in the season of
rain.
To all this, however, the rafters scarce gave a thought. Nor would they
have bestowed a second glance on it, but for what they saw on the water
outside; this, an array of zeekoes, in such numbers that the surface was
literally flecked with them! They were all around the islet, and over
the river, far as the verge of vision--certainly hundreds of them. The
spectacle recalled the vast assemblage of elephants encountered higher
up; only that the great band of pachyderms were but visitors to the
place where they had been seen, while these of the water seemed either
to be permanent residents around the islet, or made it a sort of
rendezvous.
Here, then, was a grand opportunity for the Vee-Boers to complete the
scheme already in progress; in short, almost a certainty of making their
fortunes. Nor did they hesitate about the steps that should be taken to
profit by it. Instead, it was at once resolved to remain upon the
islet, till the ultimate moment when the rainy season might be expected
to commence, or the last zeekoe in that quarter be killed.
With like promptness did they enter upon execution. Ere the setting of
another sun, the three waggon-tilts were again seen serving as tents,
set up in the centre and highest part of the islet--with two
hartebeest-houses, constructed of the palmit reeds beside them--while
the naked-bodied burden-bearers streamed to and fro between raft and
camp-ground, as the links of an endless chain.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1. Zeekoe (Anglice, "sea-cow") is the name by which the
hippopotamus is known to the Dutch colonists of South Africa. It is
just as inappropriate as that of "river-horse" (hippopotamus).
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
TO SEA AND HOME.
Let the reader imagine a month to have elapsed since our migrant
graziers--for the time turned hippopotamus hunters--pitched their camp
on the river islet. They are still in occupation of it; and proof that
they have chased the zeekoes to some purpose is seen all around. Under
a capacious shed, some hundreds of the animals' teeth lie in heaps, as
horns in a tannery, and beside them many bunches of _jamboks_,
manufactured from the hides; while piles of _Zeekoe-speck_ [Note 1] and
bladders of fat rendered into lard, are heaped up everywhere. During
all the month they have had a busy time of it; the young hunters killing
hippopotami, while the Hottentots and Caffres did the skinning,
whip-making, curing, and "trying out."
Tempted by a chase so profitable in results, and still yielding, they
had lingered till the last moment it might be safe. Perhaps too long,
was the apprehensive thought of Jan Van Dorn, as one morning he waked up
to behold the sky overcast with inky clouds, at the same time hearing
the rumble of distant thunder. It was the very morning they had fixed
upon for breaking up camp, and moving everything on board the raft. But
as yet nothing had been stirred; waggon-tilts, hartebeest-houses,
sheds--with all the paraphernalia--standing or piled up as ever.
Neither was hand laid upon them that day, nor on the five days
following. For before breakfast could be eaten, the far-off thunder had
come near, and was no longer heard in low muttering, but loud
reverberation; peal succeeding peal, as if all heaven's artillery had
opened fire over their heads. Lightning flashed and forked athwart the
clouded firmament, from which fell rain, not in drops, but sheets--a
very swill of it.
Five days, and part of a sixth, did the downpour continue without
intermission, save in the nights. But these being dark as Erebus,
nothing could be done in the way of transferring effects to the raft;
while during daylight so thick and blinding was the rain, that to keep
under shelter was the only thing thought of.
On the morning of the seventh day, the sky cleared again, and there was
a suspension of the storm. But Jan Van Dorn and Smutz knew it would be
only temporary; since now, sure enough, the dreadful periodical rains
had set in. So much the more reason for hastening departure from that
perilous spot.
As yet, however, their only fear was the fatal malarious fever, likely
to ensue. But ere twenty minutes more had passed, they were made aware
of another danger hitherto unthought of. Preliminary to moving their
_impedimenta_ on board the raft, the three baases had gone down to
inspect it, with a view to the storage of the cargo, now so much
augmented. Never was visit of inspection shorter, or more perfunctory,
nor one with more abrupt ending. In fact they could not get upon the
raft at all, as the inner end of the plank, that had rested on dry land,
was now several yards out in the water--bobbing up and down like a
float-stick. There was no obscurity about the cause. The river had
risen several feet; and, as they stood regarding it, they could see it
was still on the rise. In another hour or two--possibly less--the whole
islet would be under water.
Whatever the reason for haste before, it was now more than doubled.
And, needless to say, all possible haste was made; a scene of activity
following, with hurrying to and fro. Down came the waggon covers--
canvass, bamboos and all--to be rushed on board the raft, and there
dropped without waiting to set them up again; goods and chattels, all
the old effects with the new, getting transferred from camp to craft in
like expeditious manner.
Everything was on board by noon; and, as luckily no rain fell during the
rest of that day, they had all stowed snug before night, and were ready
to resume navigation; their last spell of it on that bottom of
koker-booms--so hoped they, and believed.
By earliest dawn of the next day the raft was cast loose from moorings,
and rowed out into the river clear of the islet. Then went it floating
down, though with deck nearer the water-line than ever before. But
this, instead of troubling those on board, only gave them gratification;
as might be gathered from the words of Jan Van Dorn, spoken after they
had got well under way. Seated beside his two associates on sheaves of
jamboks, all three pipe in mouth, and eyes bent on the heaps of ivory,
zeekoe-speck, and lard, the head baas thus unburdened himself:--
"After all, brothers, it's not likely to turn out so bad for us. Look
at these!" with a nod towards the varied spoils. "If we can only get
them safe into the Durban market, they'll sell for enough to make good
all our losses. Ay," he added, with a knowing wink, and a circular
flourish of his meerschaum, "with a trifle of profit besides; sufficient
to give us all a fresh start, and a good one, once we've treked back to
the Transvaal."
"Ya--ya!" was the laconic response of Blom and Rynwald; after which the
three sate smoking on in silence; only now and then interchanging grunts
of congratulation, as their eyes rested on the valuable commodities
heaped up around them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is pleasant having to record, that their hopeful anticipations were
realised, and to the letter. On the third day after putting off from
the islet, the raft was tossing about in tidal water, where the river's
current met the inflowing surge of the sea. And here again the
koker-booms behaved splendidly, bearing them well up and safe through
the conflict of waters--at length to lie cabled to a staunchion on the
wharf of the little seaport they had heard of, and which proved to be in
existence.
Nor did fortune forsake them there. Instead, favoured them in their
finding a vessel at anchor in the port--a coast-trader bound down for
Natal. Overjoyed was her skipper to take them on board; so many
passengers, who could well pay the passage-money, to say nothing of the
large amount of freight, giving him a full cargo. It was just as if
they had chartered his vessel beforehand, and he had been awaiting them.
In fine, the wanderers by land and water got safe back to their point of
departure in the Transvaal, richer than they had ever been before. Nor
did they leave it again, having no longer cause for expatriation. For
soon after their return, ensued that strife usually called the
"Transvaal Rebellion," but by the Transvaalians themselves, the "War of
Independence."
How they won it at Laing's Nek, and the Spitz-kop, is well-known; and
among those who took part in that fierce, sanguinary fight, none bore
them more gallantly, or did greater execution with their long guns, than
the young Vee-Boers, whose travels and adventures are herein recorded.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1. The thick layer of fat immediately under the skin of the
hippopotamus is esteemed a delicacy by the Boers, who call it, when
salted and cured, Zeekoe-speck, or bacon. The jelly made from the feet
is also much prized, while the best kind of whips (jamboks) are those of
hippopotamus hide. As is well-known, the teeth furnish an ivory of the
finest quality.
The End.