Terrors of the Mongolian Desert
Never in all his existence had David had need for such rapid movement as
on the occasion when the wolf suddenly sprang over the barrier at him,
for the brute's flight was like that of lightning, giving but little
time for preparation. And if the matter had, in fact, been left entirely
to our hero, he would most certainly have been badly mauled. As it was,
he drew his magazine pistol swiftly, and fired almost the moment it had
left his belt. But the ball did not stop the animal, though it pierced
his body. Nothing could arrest his attack, save death, and that Chu-Li
brought to him swiftly. As the beast struck David on the chest his fangs
closed on his coat sleeve, fortunately missing the arm, and clung there
for a minute. By then Chu-Li had drawn his knife, and with a quick stab
he ended the struggle.
'Did I not say that they can be dangerous, Excellency?' he said. 'When
they are hungry they are as mad people, knowing no fear. Let us all take
the brands in our hands. I will cast this animal out to his fellows.
Perhaps that will appease them for a while.'
He stooped over the beast, and lifting him with an effort--for he was
very large--cast him out at the side of the tent flap. And at once there
arose such a snarling that all of the party within the hollow held their
breath.
'It would be like that were we to be taken,' said Chu-Li grimly.
'Perhaps it is as well for us to know; for then we shall fight the more
fiercely. I say that there are many who imagine, never having seen a
wolf, that such beasts cannot be so very dangerous. One has to meet them
to understand. Now, we will take the brands and stand ready.
Giving a kick to the fire so that it burned more brightly the four men
stood behind their barricade, flaming brands gripped in their hands. Nor
was it long before they had need for them; for the wolves had by now
devoured their dead comrade, and still scenting food within the hollow,
and having as it were got their courage and their blood up, came
squeezing in twos and threes beneath the tents. Their ferocity was
extraordinary. Time and again David shot one of the brutes through the
body with no apparent result, for it still came forward, leaping at the
barrier and endeavouring to get at those behind it. The brands, however,
were far and away the best weapon. When one was dashed into the face of
a wolf it turned tail promptly and retreated; but it was back again
within a minute, back with its comrades till the crush beneath the tents
threatened to level them, and till the defenders were hard set to it to
preserve their lives.
'This kind of thing can't last much longer,' declared David at last,
when the wolves drew off after some fifteen minutes. 'They are getting
bolder and bolder, and I am inclined to think that the tents help them.
They sneak beneath them till quite close, when it is an easy matter to
spring upon us. I am for firing the tents, and so having a clear view.'
'And I agree, Excellency,' said Chu-Li readily. 'Let us destroy the
tents, when we shall be able to see the brutes coming. Moreover, we can
fire at them in the open, and reserve the brands till they are close at
hand.'
There was a quick nod of acquiescence from Jong and the other Chinaman,
showing that they were in agreement. Jong, in fact, stepped forward to
apply his brand to the canvas. But David stopped him quickly.
'Not yet,' he said. 'Wait till they come on again; perhaps having a
blazing roof over them will give them such a scare that they will clear
off. Besides, it occurs to me that once our tents are destroyed we shall
find ourselves in sad need of them. Let us contrive to save one at
least. Wait while I see what the pack is doing.'
His appearance at the opening was the signal for a chorus of howls and
cries from the wolves, for all the world as if they were human beings.
David watched them for a minute as they sat for the most part collected
about the hollow in a wide circle, watching the place with sharp eyes
which never strayed from it. Once one of the brutes, seeing him in the
open, made a rush forward, but a quick shot caused it to halt and slink
back amongst its fellows. Then our hero unhitched the rope outside from
the peg to which it was attached, and signalled to those within to pull
the canvas towards them.
'I'll watch the beasts while you do it,' he called. 'Pile it up on the
barricade so as to make it higher. Hurry up. They've all got on to their
legs and are moving.'
They had barely time to drag the tent within the cave when the pack of
hungry and maddened beasts outside dashed forward, snarling and yelping,
causing David to retreat at once to the shelter of the barricade.
'Wait till they are well in the opening before you fire the second
tent,' he called to Jong, 'and take care that they don't catch sight of
you. Once down there would be an end to any one.'
For a few anxious moments the defenders of the cave wondered whether
they had been right in clearing the entrance, for now that there was
ample room the wolves swarmed in in a mass, crushing one another,
yelping and snapping viciously, madly struggling to come at those behind
the barricade. Bullets made not the smallest impression. Even the
red-hot brands failed to stop them. It looked, indeed, as if they would
flood the place and kill the whole party. Then Jong set his brand to the
second tent, and almost at once a sheet of flame flared across the
opening. The result was wonderful. The pack of wolves struggled and
fought to get away, and, finally freeing themselves, bolted into the
open, where they sat themselves down again in a ring, their eyes
reflecting the glare of the flames cast by the blazing tent. And there
they continued to squat when the canvas was consumed, their tongues
lolling from their mouths, their cruel white teeth showing.
'I think we might as well begin to fire at them,' said David. 'We have
ample ammunition, but may as well carry out the work methodically, so
that no two men will fire at the same animal. I will take those to the
left. Chu-Li, you fire at those seated on the right. Jong and his friend
will take the left and right of the centre of the circles. Aim
carefully, and make every shot count.'
There was a huge commotion amongst the brutes seated outside as a volley
burst from the cave. They started to their feet and dashed here and
there yelping loudly. Then, led by one huge animal, they headed straight
for the hollow, as if determined to gain an entrance.
'Fire quickly,' shouted David. 'Empty your magazines into them and then
take up the brands.'
It was a fortunate thing for the party that the Chinese soldiers were
armed with modern weapons, and trained to use them, and also that Jong
had been provided with a magazine pistol. Otherwise the rush of the pack
of wolves could not have been stopped. But as it was the storm of
bullets pelting into their ranks, as well perhaps as the flashes of
flame from the dark opening, caused the line to halt. Then those who had
not been hit fell with terrible ferocity on their wounded comrades,
tearing them to pieces.
'It's not a nice thing to look at,' said David, as he re-loaded, 'and I
rather think a fellow will be inclined to dream the whole thing over one
of these nights and have the jumps in consequence. But it will help us
wonderfully by easing their hunger. Now, we will fire again. The more we
knock over the better.'
Little by little the wolves drew away from the hollow as the bullets
swished amongst them. At first they had contented themselves with
changing their respective positions. But finding that their comrades
were still falling, the bulk at length crept away till they were hidden
in the darkness. But they were still within easy distance for a rush.
Occasionally a slinking form crept into view against the white
background, only to slide away into the shadow. And then, after hours
and hours of toilsome and anxious waiting, the dawn came, causing the
whole pack to turn tail and seek cover in the distance.
'May we never see or hear them again is what I fervently hope,' declared
David, seating himself for the first time since the animals had put in
an appearance. 'I fancy we have had as narrow an escape as is possible,
and am devoutly thankful. Now, Jong, food and drink, and then we'll get
away from the hollow.'
'And ride direct for the nearest village, Excellency,' advised Chu-Li.
'For one cannot say that the wolves have gone far. There may be a forest
close at hand, and were they in hiding there, and to catch us in the
open, then indeed all our struggling would have been in vain. With no
hollow to help us we should quickly be torn to pieces.'
'Then before we go far we had better have a good look round. I shall
climb to the top of the hill now. It is quite clear, and the sun looks
as if it would appear. No doubt I shall be able to see a long way, and
if there is a wood anywhere near I shall catch sight of it.'
David left Jong squatted over the fire, preparing a much-needed morning
meal, and issued from the cave. The snow outside was a couple of feet
deep, while here and there, where the wind had swept it into drifts, it
was as much as twenty feet from top to base. Everywhere adjacent to the
cave were the foot-marks of the wolves, with a distinctly outlined
circle where they had squatted between their attacks. As for the beasts
themselves, there was not a living one in sight. Only numerous
half-knawed bones could be seen, for the ravenous beasts who had escaped
the bullets of the defenders had eaten everything else.
'I couldn't have believed it possible unless I had actually seen such a
result with my own eyes,' said David to himself. 'People in Old England
would probably smile incredulously if I told them the yarn how a pack
had simply devoured twenty or more of their fellows when knocked over by
our weapons. But here's the evidence, as clear as one can wish it. Now
for the hill top.'
It was hard work scrambling up, and many a time he slid down many yards
on the surface of the hard-frozen snow. But by sticking to the task he
at length reached the top. It presented in ordinary times, no doubt, a
sharp ridge, that was now smoothly rounded by the snow, and which ran
north and south for some four hundred yards. It was the only high ground
to be seen, so that David and his little party were peculiarly lucky to
have come upon it. And its elevation gave one a wonderful view over the
snow-clad landscape, that glistened and shone now under a wintery sun.
As far as the eye could see the white expanse was unbroken, save in one
direction where there was a smear of black across it, from the
neighbourhood of which smoke was rising.
'A village,' he thought. 'Not a sign of a forest, so I presume that
those beasts have quitted this part of the country, only they must have
gone precious quickly, for there is not one to be seen anywhere. I think
we can safely set out.'
An hour later, after a hearty breakfast, the ponies were loaded with the
stores accompanying the party, and David and his men set out. Though the
going was not as easy as it had been when there was no snow, it was not
particularly difficult; for there had been a severe frost, and the hoofs
of the animals sank only a little way below the surface.
'I think we'd better keep well together, and have the pack ponies
between us,' said David, once they were clear of the hill. 'To tell you
the truth, now that we are in the open I'm beginning to wonder whether I
can have made a mistake about those brutes. If they have gone right off,
then they must have got away at their fastest pace, else I should have
seen them. It makes me a little anxious.'
'It is one of those matters which one cannot well help, Excellency,'
Chu-Li reassured him. 'It may be that the brutes have found some hollow
which was not visible from the top of the hill, and have taken shelter
in it. I mean some dip in the ground. There is this to be said in our
favour. The animals have had a fine feed during the night, and will
therefore not be so ravenous, while it is well-known that wolves do not
attack so fiercely during the day time. But I have known of a party
being torn to pieces, and for that reason we had best hasten.'
They urged their willing animals forward after that, and were soon more
than half-way to the village, which could now be distinctly seen. It was
then that Jong announced that there was something following the party,
causing David to call a halt. At once he, too, caught sight of a
slinking object, while Chu-Li declared that he had seen several.
'They are wolves without doubt, Excellency,' he said, 'and keep
themselves as low down on the snow as possible, so as to come near
without being seen. I had rather fight twenty men than the same number
of those fierce brutes.'
'And I too,' agreed David. 'However, we have got to face the matter out.
Jong, do you go on, leading the pack-ponies as fast as possible. Hu-Ty
can take my mount as well as Chu-Li's, while we two will walk, firing at
the wolves whenever we see them. A few good shots should make them keep
their distance. If not, we will mount and ride as fast as the beasts
will take us. In less than an hour at any rate we shall be at the
village.'
Slipping out of his saddle he handed the reins to Hu-Ty, and took his
rifle from him, together with a handful of ammunition. Chu-Li at once
joined him, while Jong took the leads of the other animals and sent them
towards the village at a smart rate. Indeed, the ponies were only too
willing. For though they may not have seen the prowling enemy in rear,
they shivered visibly and fretted greatly, showing that they had
probably scented the wolves.
'Now, we will take it in turns, Chu,' said David. 'One good shot is
better than twenty misses, and besides, if we knock one wolf over, he
provides food for his comrades.'
Catching a clear view of a slinking form at that moment he dropped on to
one knee, levelled his rifle and took careful aim. The snap of the
weapon was followed by a distant howl, while the animal he had fired at
leaped into the air and fell backward into the snow.
'Showing that a bullet at a fair range is more deadly than one fired
point blank,' he remarked, remembering that when in the cave many of the
wolves though perforated had still dashed forward.
'It was a fine shot, Excellency,' exclaimed Chu, with enthusiasm. 'As to
a bullet being more deadly, I am sure of it. I have seen men dash
forward with mad impetuosity. Nothing could stop them, unless the bullet
struck them in the head or heart. Such fanatics seemed to feel nothing
till they had given a blow, and then many a man fell never to move
again. I know, for I was one of the few who helped my masters, the
English, when the legations at Pekin were besieged during the revolt of
the Boxers. Those were fierce times, Excellency.'
He drew himself up proudly, while David looked at the soldier in a new
light. It was clear that Chu was something like his leader, the astute
and travelled Twang Chun, Governor of the province. He at least was not
one of the masses who saw in a European a foreign devil meant only to be
killed.
'You have much to be proud of, Chu,' he said warmly. 'That must have
been a fine experience.'
'It was, Excellency; we fought against huge odds, and the attackers were
even as fierce as these beasts. But see: the others have fallen upon the
one you shot. I will send a bullet amongst them.'
It was an easy shot, and the Chinaman laid a second wolf low. Then he
and David leaped into their saddles, while the whole party went on at as
great a pace as the ponies could accomplish, leaving the wolves, of whom
there seemed to be a great number, huddled around their fallen comrades.
It gave David and his men a breathing space, and for ten minutes they
were able to press on without halting. Then the wolves, having devoured
the two which had been shot, came after them again, slinking over the
snow, and showing themselves as little as possible.
'We'll do as we did before,' cried David, looking over his shoulder,
'only this time, as there seem to be so many, we had better kill four at
least if possible. Come along, Chu. No need to stop Jong and the pack
ponies. We shall easily catch them up.'
Two minutes later when they were again in their saddles and had drawn
level with Jong, the latter reported that he had seen some of the dark,
slinking forms to his left, while within a few minutes Chu announced
that others were coming up on the right. It was a very serious position,
and though David discussed the matter quickly, no one could devise any
other plan than that of hurrying forward.
'We've given those in rear reason to halt for a while at any rate,' he
told his men. 'We must wait and see what these others are going to do,
and if they look as if they were coming close in we shall have to halt
and fire at them. I admit I don't like the business at all. How long
will it take us to get to the village at this rate, Chu?'
'Half an hour, Excellency. By then if the wolves mean to attack, there
will be little left of us.'
There was a deep line across the soldier's brow, while his eyes were
drawn and anxious; but of his pluck there could be no two opinions.
Chu-Li was a fine soldier and feared nothing, nothing perhaps that was
human. But wolves were different altogether. However, the situation was
one that had to be faced, and for that reason the party went on as fast
as possible, taking no notice of the brutes which were attempting to
outflank them. But at length the latter had drawn in perceptibly, while
half-a-dozen were in front of the party between them and the village.
'Then there's nothing for it but to dismount and fire as we go,' said
David, as he set an example by dropping from his saddle. 'Hu-Ty must
help. The ponies are not likely to stray with these beasts so near them,
and will more likely huddle closely together. Come, let us do our utmost
to drive the wolves off.'
Walking rapidly beside their ponies David and the two Chinamen stopped
every few seconds to fire at the wolves, knocking several over. But as
fast as one fell, others seemed to leap into his place, as if they came
from the snow itself. And a bad sign for the fortunes of the party,--the
beasts were now ignoring their fallen comrades.
'Looks as if they preferred humans,' thought David, grimly. 'I begin to
see that we shall have to halt and make a stand. Chu,' he called loudly.
'They look as if they were about to make a rush. They have come in a lot
closer and are all round us now. If they run in make a dash for the
ponies, and take up your posts in the very centre. It's hard luck for
our mounts, but we must put them between us and our enemies. Ah! they're
moving. That big one out there seems to be a leader.'
Up went his rifle, and the beast he aimed at howled as he pulled the
trigger. But he did not fall as had the others. Glaring at David's party
for a moment, he suddenly sank his head, and with his limbs bent beneath
him came dashing forward over the snow. And as he came his mates
followed, howling and yapping.
'Into the centre!' shouted David. 'Put the ponies outside. Begin to fire
at once.'
Bunched in a little group, the forlorn little party made the utmost of
the situation. The four stood close together with the ponies immediately
outside them. And the poor animals seemed to have guessed that they were
to act as a bulwark, for they cowered, shivering and stamping their
hoofs, and pressing in upon the men who were to defend them. It was just
before a volley belched from the rifles of his party that David heard a
distant gong, and then a loud report. Looking round in the direction of
the village he was overjoyed to see a number of men running towards him,
many of whom carried flaming brands, while the weapons they bore were as
many and as various as the garments of the strangers.
'Fire as hard as you can!' he shouted. 'The villagers are running out to
help us, so that if we can keep the wolves at bay for a couple of
minutes we shall be safe.'
Those two minutes were perhaps the most strenuous he had ever spent in
all his life. Even Chu-Li admitted that the defence of the legations at
Pekin was hardly equal to that last attack. For the wolves had heard the
gong and the shout of the villagers, and as if determined that their
prey should not escape them, they dashed in madly, their eyes flaming,
their teeth parted in a snarl. More than one managed to leap on to the
backs of the ponies, only to be at once shot or struck down by the
knives the Chinese carried. One even fixed its fangs in the neck of a
pony, till the poor beast, driven frantic with pain and fear, dashed
away from the circle. Twenty wolves were on it immediately, and would
have had it down and torn to pieces in little time had not a crumb of
sense returned to the pony. It kicked madly in all directions, and then
galloped back to its comrades, where Chu and Jong slashed at the wolves
still holding to it. By then the villagers were close at hand, running
forward in a compact body, and at once, with many a snarl of rage, the
wolves took themselves off.
'Who are you?' demanded one of the strangers, who was muffled to the
eyes, and dressed in padded clothing which made him of enormous size.
'You come from the north or the south? Answer immediately. If from the
north, then in spite of the wolves you must go on your journey.'
'We come from the south. This Excellency is a friend of Twang Chun, the
noble Governor of this province,' answered Chu, putting himself forward
as spokesman. 'The Excellency bears letters to all whom it may concern.
He is a noble Englishman.'
'Then follow; a friend of the noble Twang Chun is our friend. You will
be welcome.'
David bowed as the Chinese headman kow-towed before him, looking as if
he found it hard to bend, so many garments had he on him. Then our hero
thanked him warmly, and asked why, if he had come from the north, he
would not be welcome.
'Because, Excellency, there is plague there, and in spite of the cold
weather people are flying from it. Mobs have passed us, but we have kept
them at a distance. Elsewhere the frantic people have burst into
defenceless villages, and have murdered every one so as to take their
food supplies. We had rather welcome wolves than these maddened
individuals. But tell me about the beasts who attacked you. You have had
a very narrow escape without doubt. I myself have never seen the brutes
attack so fiercely, and I am accustomed to them.'
Nowhere else had our hero been made so welcome as in the village to
which they had now come, and he and his party spent three days there,
resting after their adventures, and waiting till the snow had cleared.
For a thaw had set in, and the wet made the ground almost impossible
for horses. But on the fourth day they were able to start, and set out
from the village, having made arrangements that supplies of rice and of
chickens should be forwarded to the ruins weekly.
'Unless, of course, something occurs to prevent our despatching the
food, 'said the headman.' We have abundance here, and shall be glad to
sell it. But this trouble in Manchuria is very pressing, and it may be
that we shall not be able to spare men to go to you. Everywhere reports
say that mobs are parading the country, and when a Chinaman is homeless
and hungry no law is sufficient to stop his thieving and killing. A fine
journey, Excellency. It has been a pleasure to meet you.'
Three days later David reached the ruins where his comrades were
working, and was hailed with delight by the Professor.
'I began to get really nervous about you,' he declared, 'especially when
the snowstorm broke over the country. Come and tell me all that has
happened to you.'
'And now let me hear something about the work here, Professor,' asked
David when he had told him about the discovery of the hollow during the
snowstorm, and the attack of the wolves. 'How are you progressing?'
'Splendidly; couldn't be better,' exclaimed the Professor, rubbing his
hands together with energy. 'We seem to have dropped upon the very part
which your poor father excavated. Of course, he did not go very far;
that we know, for Chang and his ruffians so soon interrupted him.
However, he removed a mass of debris, which has made our work all the
lighter. We have already made discoveries. We have opened up some
wonderful inscriptions, and Dick hit upon a buried bronze bowl which is
unique I should say, and will find a place in the British Museum. The
only contretemps we have experienced was two days after the snowstorm. A
band of most villainous-looking fellows came this way and demanded
provisions. They were from Manchuria, from the plague-infested area,
and, of course, my workers would have nothing to do with them. They
moved off soon afterwards, though there is little doubt that had they
been in greater strength they would hardly have let us off so lightly.
Come in, and see what we have been doing.'
For three weeks David worked with the excavators, finding the task of
the greatest interest. For the diggers had come upon a covered way,
built in stone, and absolutely perfect, and from this, as the debris was
cleared away, it was possible to enter houses, the roofs of which were
just visible above the all-pervading sand, while the interiors were
often almost free of that material. And in them was found abundance of
food for reflection--domestic articles in great numbers left by those
ancient residents, tiled ways which could not be improved upon by the
later Romans; and bronze vases and receptacles of every shape and
design, some so elegant, in fact, that the Professor, who was a
connoisseur in such matters, declared that the form was similar to that
found in ancient Grecian vases, and that this old Mongolian civilization
had undoubtedly sent its artistic wares broadcast, till they reached
the far west, and were copied by a race less ancient than these
Mongolians, but ancient for all that.
'Believe it or not as you will,' he said, impressively, 'but there is
reason in my statement. Here are vases similar to those made by the
ancient Greeks. But Greece was probably only rising in power and to the
summit of her artistic attainments when this city had ceased to exist,
for the civilisation of these parts is extremely ancient. Yet the work
of the two nations has a decided similarity. What more natural than to
conclude that here in China was laid down the model for future designers
in bronze? One sees the same elsewhere. Japan, famed for long now for
her art in bronze, is merely a copyist. Her designers took their curves
and angles from the modellers of the Celestial Empire.'
It was all extremely fascinating, and David threw his heart into the
work. Often and often, too, he wondered whether some day he and the
diggers would come upon a part where there could be no doubt that his
father had worked. And then, why should he not discover the will for
which he had come to the country?
'It's not the money,' he said, many and many a time, when discussing the
matter with the Professor. 'I don't really care a pin about it just now,
though I daresay it will prove very useful. But I said I would come out
to China to search for it. Here I am. I mean to discover it, if the will
is actually in existence.'
'All of which proves you to be what your respected stepmother
proclaimed,' smiled the Professor. 'David, I'm afraid you are an
exceedingly stubborn customer.'
Stubborn or not, the lad had set his heart on the undertaking, and the
further the excavations progressed the more eagerly did he move about
the ruins. Then the course of his search was interrupted, for peace and
tranquility are never to be long expected in such a country as China.