I sat there in the chilly darkness, listening till the last sounds of
the beating hoofs died out--began again--grew fainter--finally ceased
altogether. Sandho stood perfectly still, with the painful heaving of
his flanks gradually easing down. At last he uttered a low whinnying
sound, as if asking me why we did not go on; but I made no movement,
spoke no word, only sat and listened for the return of the Boers.
There was no sound, for my ruse had succeeded; and I was just beginning
to try to rouse myself from a faint, half-swooning state, when my nerves
received a fillip; for there in the distance rose the deep, barking roar
of a lion, followed by a pause, and then from a different direction came
the horrible wailing howl of the unclean prowlers who follow the monarch
of the desert to finish the remains of his feasts.
Sandho stirred uneasily and drew a deep breath, which was followed by
something strangely resembling a sigh. I knew it was time to move; and,
shaking off a sensation of fast-approaching lethargy, I tried to get rid
of the feeling of faintness, and only roused the sharp pain afresh.
Still, that spurred me into effort; and as I pressed Sandho's sides
lightly, he began to amble gently along, while I raised my eyes to the
stars, and endeavoured to make out which way we were travelling. There
was a soft mistiness in the great arch above me, and it was some minutes
before I could pick out a few of the familiar stars; but at last I was
certain, and made out that the Boers had galloped on nearly due north,
while Sandho's nose was pointed east.
North meant home; and without doubt they would keep on in that
direction, feeling sure that I should make for the farm. East meant
going in the right direction for Echo Nek and the mountains, though I
should have to bear off after a time towards the north-east. Anyhow,
matters were so far in my favour, and I tried to sit firm in the saddle
as I let the horse amble on at the pace which I had often compared to
swinging in an easy-chair; but the movement was agony now, and my great
dread was lest I should faint and fall, for the suffering seemed greater
than I could bear.
In times of emergency--as I have often learned since--we are very poor
judges, whether as boys or men, of how much the human frame can bear.
Thus, in spite of all I suffered, I kept in the saddle, while, in what
gradually seemed to grow into a horrible, fevered dream, my brave little
horse ambled on and on, and later settled into a walk. He seemed always
to be aiming for one great dim star, which gave me encouragement; then
the dread came over me that, from his steady pursuance of our journey,
he must be making for home, and taking me right into the midst of my
enemies.
After a time he stopped short, and from the steady _crop, crop, crop_, I
knew he was amongst grass; and he grazed away long enough before moving
on again at his old amble. Again he pulled up for another good long
feed, while I managed to find words to talk to him--foolishly, no doubt;
but it helped me and kept off the feeling of pain and loneliness,
seeming to give me strength, too, as I called him "Poor fellow," and
told him how sorry I was I could not get down to rest him, and make his
meal pleasanter by unfastening the curb and taking out his bit.
It was all folly perhaps; but my words were very earnest and true, and I
believe the poor, faithful slave liked to hear my voice, for every now
and then when I spoke he would cease cropping the rich grass, whose
moist odour rose pleasantly to my nostrils, and utter one of his low
whinnying calls.
"He is happy enough," I thought, in my dull misery; "while I, suffering
as I do, would give anything for a mouthful of water. Oh!" I sighed
aloud at last, "if this long night would only come to an end, and I
could reach a spruit. Just to get down and have one long drink, before
trying to sleep and rest!"
As I said these words I felt that no sleep could possibly come to one
suffering such pain, and in desperation I once more made an effort to
free my hands, but only to set my teeth hard and utter a faint groan,
for the pain I suffered in the act seemed to increase tenfold.
I felt half-delirious and strange after that, or at least it seems so
now; but I have some recollection of Sandho going on, stopping to crop
the grass, and then going on again and again, till I found myself gazing
straight before me at a faint, dull light in the distance--a light which
increased more and more, bringing with it a kind of feeling of hope that
the long night of agony was coming to an end, for I knew I was gazing
eastward, and that it would soon be day.
Shortly afterwards I could see we were getting to the termination of the
plain, for there were scattered blocks of stone, with mountains beyond;
and something seemed to flash through me at the sight. "Stones," I said
aloud; "of course! Why not some rough edge against which I can saw the
raw-hide straps which bind my hands?"
There was a faint speck of orange light high up in the sky just then,
and it seemed to be reflected somehow into my brain, making me see my
way at last to a better state of things. Hope was coming with the new
day, and the blackness of despair slowly dying out.
With the sun rapidly brightening the sky, I urged Sandho forward, but
only at a walk, for he was weary and sluggish, and the slightest
movement beyond that pace brought back the sickening pain so intensely
that I believe if he had broken into a trot I should have fainted and
fallen to the ground. By going gently, however, we gradually neared the
wild and rocky portion beyond which the huge masses of stone towered up
into a mighty heap, forming one of the rough hills with precipitous
sides known to the Dutch settlers as "kopjes" or "heads."
I now began to revive more and more in the fresh, invigorating morning
air, and carefully examined the open veldt away to the north and east in
search of the enemy; but not a living thing was visible. Then I turned
my attention towards the rough ground in front and the kopje beyond, as
I knew full well these were likely to be the home of other enemies,
which on an ordinary occasion would retreat before an armed and mounted
man; how they would behave towards one so completely helpless I
shuddered to think. Sandho, however, made no sign beyond raising his
muzzle again to sniff at the breeze we encountered; and when I called
upon him to halt, he lowered his head directly and began to crop the
rich grass growing amongst the stones.
My intention now was to dismount; but I sat still, hesitating, and
looking away over the open veldt, fearing to alight, being fully aware
how helpless I should be and unequal to the task of remounting.
However, it had to be done; so, pulling myself together, I drew my feet
from the stirrups, and called upon Sandho to stand fast. Then, lying
forward till my face touched my steed's neck, I made a desperate
effort--quickly, for I could not trust my strength--drew my injured left
leg right up on to the horse's back, and lay there perfectly still for a
few moments, suffering horribly from the pain of my overstrained
muscles, before making another effort, and then dropped down on my right
foot, dismounting on the wrong side of the horse, feeling, as I did so,
everything give way. I had completely collapsed, and all was blank. It
may have been an hour, or it may have been only a few minutes--possibly
only seconds--passed before I opened my eyes and gazed up, wondering
what was the meaning of the soft, warm puffs of moist air, and what it
was that kept on snuffing at my face.
"Sandho, old boy!" I said, gazing up in his great, soft eyes, and the
wondering horse whinnied and then turned away to begin grazing once
more; while I waited for the sick feeling from which I suffered to pass
off, before trying to get up and find some sharp-edged stone against
which I could rub the raw-hide thong which bound my wrists.
It was terrible work, and I had to make a severe call upon my courage
before I made the first effort. For it was like this: I was quite
exhausted and in a state of semi-stupor, combined with drowsiness. So
long as I lay quite still my injuries felt dull and numbed; but at the
slightest movement my arms and shoulders gave a burning, fiery pain,
while my left leg and ankle shot out pangs almost unbearable.
The effort had to be made, though; and, setting my teeth hard, I called
up all my powers of endurance, and after a severe struggle managed to
get upon my knees.
The pain now was excruciating; and, realising that my left leg must be
badly hurt, I made another effort before I was overcome again, getting
upon my feet and reeling towards a big upright mass of granite; but
before I had taken half-a-dozen limping steps the whole scene began to
glide round me, and I fell heavily, insensible once more.
It is no easy task to rise to one's feet when lying with arms tightly
bound behind the back. Think, then, what it must have been to one
suffering as I was--arms swollen and cut into by the leather thong,
utterly exhausted, and with one leg rendered completely useless.
Again I passed through that sickening phase of recovery from a swoon;
and then it was some time before my senses would act, and I could fully
grasp the situation and understand I must once more make that same
effort to rise.
I was thoroughly desperate now; and as soon as I fully grasped my
position I made another attempt, turning over from my back, where I lay
in agony upon my swollen hands and wrists, on to my face. It was
impossible to keep it back, and I uttered a low cry, which brought
Sandho trotting towards me from where he was making a hearty meal. Then
I lay quite still, with the deathly sickness passing off once more, my
heart beating heavily all the time and a feeling of thankfulness making
me glow; for there, as I lay face downwards, I knew that my helpless and
swollen arms and hands were lying on either side, perfectly numb, but
free. In that last heavy fall, in trying to reach the stone, the thong
must have snapped, the dew-soaked raw leather falling loose; and now I
had only to wait till the circulation and sense of feeling returned.
The pain I suffered was still bad enough, but it seemed to be softened
by the feeling of joy which pervaded me; and soon after, Sandho having
wandered off again to graze, I heard a sound which nerved me to renewed
efforts--the peculiar plashing made by a horse wading into a pebbly
stream. That was enough. A minute later I was struggling to reach the
stone I had fought to gain before; and by its help I got upon my feet,
when I saw Sandho some twenty yards away, standing in a depression by
the side of a perpendicular mass of rock, down whose side a spring of
water gushed and ran off below the rock, to sink out of sight some
distance off.
It was hard work, and the pain excessive; but I limped and shuffled
along till I was close to the stream, and then sank down again, to lie
and drink and drink again of the sweet, pure water, every mouthful
giving me renewed energy.
I must have fallen asleep after dragging myself from the pool--a
swoon-like sleep, from which I awoke in a confused, muddled state--only
gradually grasping my position and realising how long I must have been
insensible, for the kopje above me was glowing as if on fire, bathed in
the glory which suffused the west. My horse was lying down a dozen
yards away, with his head just raised; and in front, forming a charming
picture, was a little herd of about a dozen graceful antelopes, some
drinking, some standing in the water, and another upon the top of a low
flat stone, with head erect and long horns gracefully curving over its
back as it kept a lookout for danger; a slight movement upon my part a
few moments later making the beautiful animal utter a snort, and then
the whole party were off like the wind.
Their rush made Sandho spring to his feet with a neigh of alarm, and
then, as I made an effort and rose to a sitting position, he bounded up
to me, whinnying with pleasure, and thrust his muzzle over my shoulder.
To my delight, I found that, though painful and tender, the swelling of
my arms and wrists had gone down; while much of the pain had left my
leg, which was, however, stiff and helpless from the terrible wrench.
My first movement was to get to the spring above where the little stream
had been trampled and discoloured by the antelopes; and after a good
draught I stood up once more, feeling ready to attempt mounting again,
and see if I could reach the spot my father had appointed for the
meeting with Joeboy. I knew, too, from sundry symptoms, that I must be
better--far better than I could have expected, for I was ravenously
hungry; and as I realised this I could not keep back a laugh. A capital
sign this, though painful, for there was no chance of obtaining food
till I could reach some farm; but I could recall no likely place on my
way to the Nek, and so the hunger-pains had to be borne.
Leaving Sandho browsing upon the rich grass near the spring in a dainty
way, which, in combination with his appearance, suggested that he had
been feeding to his heart's content, I climbed over the rocks till I
reached the highest point of the kopje. There, lying down, I set myself
to carefully scan the open veldt in search of mounted men; till,
satisfied there were none to be seen, I descended, mounted my horse, and
rode gently away, not suffering more than was to be expected after what
I had gone through.
The country where I now was seemed fairly familiar, and I soon made out
mountain-tops in the distance, which served as guides. One peak in
particular I marked down as lying to the left of Echo Nek, or at all
events near the gap in the mountains I was to reach; and towards this
Sandho ambled for another hour, when the night began to close in fast.
After marking down the direction of the peak as well as I could before
the light died out on the misty horizon, I waited till it was quite
dark, then I selected a star which I calculated was just over where I
had last seen the peak, and once more rode on for what must have been
three hours; but then, concluding that to ride farther might possibly
mean going astray, I walked my horse till a tolerably suitable spot
offered itself for a halting-place till daylight, where I off-saddled
Sandho, turned him loose to graze, and settled myself down in a patch of
thorny bush to pass the night as I could.
I longed to light a fire to keep off lions; but in avoiding one enemy I
felt I might be attracting another; for if there were Boers anywhere in
the neighbourhood they would be certain to ride up, and then all my
efforts would prove to have been in vain. Hence there was nothing for
it but to take the risk.
The night was glorious though cold, for I had been imperceptibly rising
into high ground. The stars sparkled as if there was frost; but I had
no eyes for the beauty of the scene, hemmed in as I was by enemies.
Twice over I shivered as to the fate of poor Sandho, the deep, muttering
roar of the lions seeming to make the ground tremble and the air
vibrate. If they scented my horse and drew near I was perfectly
defenceless, and could do nothing to save the poor beast. So alarmed
did I grow at last upon his account that I determined to risk being
seen, and hurriedly began to collect scraps of dead wood, twigs, and
such pieces of dry grass as were likely to burn. I did not stop to find
many; but, startled by a loud barking roar that, in my nervous state,
sounded very near, I knelt down and struck a match, holding it well
sheltered with my hands till the splint was fully alight, and then
started the grass and wood. Fortunately these were thoroughly dry and
caught readily; but the quantity was very small, and the blaze a mere
trifle compared with what I wished to obtain. So, as actively as I was
able, I started collecting everything I could, and carefully piled it
up; but with small success, for I had to depend entirely upon my hands
to break off scraps, and they burned away almost as fast as I could
reach the fire.
I had just thrown on as much as I could hug to my breast when I was
startled by a heavy breathing; and, turning sharply, for a moment or two
I was certain that one of the fierce beasts had crept up. There, only a
few feet away, were a pair of glistening eyes reflecting the fitful
flames, and I began to back so as to get the fire between me and my foe.