FRESH PLAN ADOPTED--HUNT FOR A SUIT OF CLOTHES--KILL A LION--TURNED INTO
A BLACK PRINCE--ARRIVE AT THE VILLAGE--CORDIAL RECEPTION--A NATIVE
FEAST--HOW I ESTABLISHED MY REPUTATION--FIND ALFRED--OUR ESCAPE--REACH
THE STAR--SAIL FOR CAPE TOWN--CONCLUSION.
We were not many miles, according to Bigg's computation, from the
village where I supposed that Alfred was held a prisoner. My success as
a hunter had made me think of a plan of operations which I had great
hopes would succeed. It was bold, but I considered that from its very
boldness it was more likely to succeed. I proposed it to Bigg. "You
see," said I, "you made me out to be a great person to the first natives
we met when I killed the elephant, and I see no reason why I should not
succeed equally well with these people, if we take more pains to prepare
ourselves for the characters we are to assume. My idea is this: We will
kill a giraffe or a stag, or some other wild beasts with handsome skins,
and with the trinkets we have got we will dress ourselves out in a very
fine way. I can be a prince as before, deaf and dumb. You can be my
attendant and prime minister, doctor or medicine-man. You tell me that
though they do not like being made slaves themselves, they do not object
to hold others in slavery. Well, then, you can say that I am anxious to
obtain their opinion on the subject of the slave-trade, and that I have
visited them accordingly; and then you can say what a great hunter I am,
and that I make nothing of killing an elephant or a lion, or any other
wild beast you like to mention."
I need not enter further into the particulars of my plan. Bigg highly
approved of it, and so we lost no time in making the necessary
preparations. I doubted whether the skin of a zebra, or a giraffe, or a
lion would make the handsomest regal cloak, and resolved to be guided by
circumstances. We were proceeding along the side of a valley, when just
below us there appeared, grazing, a herd of zebras, and not far off from
them several giraffes, most of them with young ones by their sides. We
were to leeward of them, so I hoped to get near enough to have a shot at
one of them without being discovered. Had I been on horseback, I should
have had no difficulty in catching them up; as it was, I had to proceed
with the greatest caution. Keeping along as much as possible under
shelter of the brushwood, we descended the hill towards them. I then
took post behind the nearest clump of shrubs, and told Bigg to go on
ahead as far as he could, and then, showing himself, turn them towards
me. In a short time I heard his shout, and on they came bounding
towards me. I selected a young one, handsomely marked; for I thought
that the skin would be lighter, and suit better for a cloak than that of
an old one. I fired at its breast, and over it fell, scarcely
struggling for a moment. The shot put the rest to flight. I, however,
had gained my object. We at once skinned the animal, and then set to
work to scrape the skin as clean and thin as possible. This done, Bigg
hung it on to the end of a stick, which he carried over his shoulder,
that it might thus dry in the sun and air as we walked along.
Soon after this I killed a fine deer, which we skinned to serve as a
robe for Bigg. I thought that he would be soon tired if he had to carry
both skins, and so I proposed at once cutting them into the shape of the
robes we required. This we did with our knives, and two very
fine-looking garments we produced. I, however, was not satisfied that
my appearance would be sufficiently regal, so I proposed, if I could, to
obtain a lion-skin with which further to deck myself. We marched on,
however, without encountering a lion all day.
Towards the evening we reached a water-hole, where we determined to
encamp. Near it stood the huge hollow trunk of a tree. This, with a
little addition and cleaning out, would make us, we agreed, a very
comfortable hut for the night. We examined it thoroughly, to see that
there were no snakes in it, and soon had it fit for our reception. We
put a roof to it of leaves, and stuck some stout stakes into the ground
in front of it, to keep off any wild beasts which might be disposed to
leap on us unawares.
By the time we had got a fire lighted to cook our tea it was almost
dark. Just then I saw a huge white rhinoceros come up to drink. We
were inside our hut. I let him drink his fill, and as he was about to
turn aside I fired and hit him on the side of his vast head. He did not
fall, but looked about him as if to see whence the injury had come, and
in what direction to charge, and so I was afraid that the bullet had
glanced off. I therefore fired again. The rhinoceros trotted off a
little way from the pool, looking angrily around, but suddenly stopped,
and then, much to our satisfaction, down he came to the ground. The
body lay still within point-blank range of my rifle. This was a matter
of great importance. It must be understood that I killed the
rhinoceros, not in mere wantonness, but that the carcass might serve as
a bait to a lion, of which I was so anxious to get possession. I waited
for some time, during which an unusual stillness seemed to reign through
the night air.
Suddenly a terrific roar sounded in our ears. It was not to be
mistaken; it was that of some huge old lion. I looked out eagerly,
expecting to see the monarch of the forest emerge from the darkness.
Still he did not appear; but a troop of jackals replied to the roar, and
their savage, hideous cry was echoed by that of a number of hyenas.
Before long I saw them emerging out of the neighbouring thickets, and
stealing down towards the body of the rhinoceros. They quickly flung
themselves on it, and began tearing away at the flesh, wrangling and
fighting over every mouthful. I should have fired to drive them away,
had I not feared that by so doing I should have prevented the approach
of the lion. I had just lost all patience, and was about to let fly
among them, when I caught sight of a magnificent lion, with a fine black
mane almost reaching to the ground, which stalked with majestic steps up
to the carcass. He was followed by two others. They commenced their
banquet without disturbing the former guests; indeed, none of the
animals seemed to take any notice of each other. I refrained from
firing at once, for I knew that the lions would not take their departure
without drinking. I waited also to get rid of the jackals and hyenas,
for I was certain that no sooner should the king of beasts be dead than
they would set upon his carcass and devour it. I observed that the
other beasts did not attempt to dispute a bone with the lions, but at
the same time they seemed to pay them very little respect, and would
look up and absolutely laugh in their faces without ceremony.
At length scarcely a particle of the big rhinoceros remained, except
some pieces over which the three lions kept watchful guard. The other
animals stood at a little distance watching them till every particle was
consumed, and then finding that their banquet was at an end, ran off to
their lair, or in search of some other prey. The lions meantime
approached the water. The leader presented his side to me; I could
resist no longer, but fired at his shoulder. He gazed round with a look
of rage and defiance, uttering a loud roar. Then, seeing no enemy, he
turned to fly, but his roar changed into a mournful, groaning cry, and
before he had gone many paces he sank down helpless on the ground. He
continued his roar of pain for some minutes. I was about to rush up to
despatch him at once, but Bigg entreated me to remain quiet, saying that
it is very dangerous to approach a dying lion, as, with a last effort,
he may spring up and destroy the incautious intruder. As soon as I had
fired, the other lions, scared by the noise, trotted off and disappeared
in the bush. At last the big lion's groans ceased, and then, carrying
as many sticks as we could lift, with torches in our hands, we
approached the carcass. Solon ran up to it with evident mistrust, but
after he had sniffed round it, the lion making no movement, we felt
satisfied that it was dead. We at once lighted a large fire close to
the carcass, to scare away his comrades, or the hyenas or jackals,
should they be inclined to return; and then forthwith set about skinning
him. It was no easy operation, and we had also to collect sticks to
keep up our fire, while we were several times alarmed by Solon's barking
at the approach of wild beasts. The night was far spent before the skin
was in what we fancied a fit state for use, and we then returned with
our trophy to our tree. We lighted another fire in front of it, and
afterwards, while Bigg kept watch, I took a couple of hours' sleep. He
laughed at the notion when I roused up and told him to lie down, and
said that, on a pinch, he could do very well without sleep for a night
or two.
As soon as we had breakfasted and our garments were ready, we dressed up
in them.
My heart beat anxiously as we drew near the village. The people stared
at us as we approached, pointing, and running, and chattering away most
vehemently, evidently not knowing what to make of us. My rifle was
still covered up, and Bigg carried both our bundles. We advanced
boldly, as if we were confident of meeting with a friendly reception.
As we drew nearer, Bigg began to shout out all the titles he could think
of, to make it appear that I was some very wonderful person. I looked
about, meantime, eagerly for Alfred. I did not see him, and I began to
fear that he was not there, or that he might be ill, or perhaps, worse
than all, had sunk under the climate and the labour he had to perform.
The people crowded round us, and the chief made his appearance, and I
saw Bigg pointing to my lion-skin robe, and talking away very
vehemently. He was explaining, I found, that I was a great slaughterer
of lions and other wild beasts, and that I wore this robe as a mark of
my prowess. I need not repeat all the extraordinary things he said.
The result was, that the chief and all the people of the tribe looked on
me with the most profound respect. To show it, they forthwith prepared
a feast, and when Bigg told them that I must have a hut to myself, one
of the principal men in the place volunteered to vacate his. The chief,
however, expressed his hope that I would give him a specimen of my
skill, and that as the neighbourhood was much infested by lions, I
should be conferring a great benefit on the community by killing them.
Bigg explained this to me when I returned to my but, and I was very glad
to learn of the proposal, as I knew that I should thus the more easily
establish my credit among them. My first question on finding myself
alone with Bigg was about Alfred. He said, that from what he had heard
he felt sure that he was in the place, and that if we walked about the
village we should very likely fall in with him. It might have been more
prudent to remain in my hut, but after waiting a little time, I could
not resist the temptation of taking a stroll to try and discover my
brother. A good many of the natives followed me as I walked about, but
the chief and others were occupied in preparing for the banquet, and no
one seemed inclined to impede my progress.
I had not gone far when I saw a person in a field digging with a wooden
spade. As I got near I saw that he was white, though I could not be
certain if he was my brother or not. I walked close up to him. I did
not think that he would suspect who we were. He was dressed in the
remains of a jacket and trousers, but they were almost in tatters, while
a palm-leaf hat covered his head. Twice I had to pass close to him. At
last he looked up, and stared at me earnestly. Then I was certain it
was Alfred, but worn and ill, and sadly changed. I longed to rush
forward and embrace him, but I had to restrain my feelings, and to
content myself with pointing at him as a sign to Bigg, who, I trusted,
would make some arrangement for him to meet me. I then, flourishing the
long case in which my rifle was enclosed, walked away, followed by the
mob of negroes, leaving Bigg to speak, if possible, to Alfred.
I had no time again to communicate with Bigg, for on returning to the
village I found that the feast was ready, and that the chief was waiting
to do the honours. I have not space to describe it. I exerted myself
to do it justice, and so did Bigg, who succeeded much better than I did.
Some of the dishes, composed of baked roots and fruits, were not bad,
but the animal food was of a very doubtful character. Some of the
smaller creatures might have been hares or rabbits, but they looked
remarkably like monkeys, while there were other things which might have
been eels, but were, I had a strong suspicion, snakes cut into bits.
When the feast was over, Bigg told me that the chief was anxious that I
should go out that evening and kill some lions. I nodded my head in
assent.
"I have told him you would do so if his people would show you where they
are to be found," he observed.
Accordingly, the chief and a large number of his people set out with us.
Some dozen were, I found, said to be experienced hunters. Solon
followed at my heels. He had created almost as much interest among the
natives as we had, I was looking out for a deer or a zebra, or some
other smaller animal to serve as a bait for the lions, when I heard a
loud trumpeting in the forest, and presently a huge elephant rushed out
directly in front of us. I was delighted to see him, but the natives
hurried off right and left to escape from him. I, to their surprise,
stood my ground, though his trunk was lifted, and he was evidently about
to charge. I had a tree near me. Solon, as before, performed his part
faithfully, rushing on and barking close up to him. The elephant
lowered his trunk to strike him when within fifteen yards of me; I
fired, and in a moment he sunk to the ground.
This feat alone satisfied the natives of my prowess, but I was
determined to show that I could kill lions also. I left a large party
of them cutting up the elephant, and walking on, shot a zebra. The
body, I knew, would attract the lions, so I signed to Bigg to get a hole
dug near the spot, that it might serve as a rifle-pit for us. He and I
took up our post there, while the natives hid themselves away in the
surrounding bush to watch my proceedings. I had not long to wait before
some jackals came screeching up to partake of the banquet they had
scented far off. Before long two magnificent lions followed. My
ambition was to kill both of them. They soon began to attack the
carcass of the zebra, but I waited till they both at the same moment had
their sides turned towards me. Then I let fly first one barrel, and
then the other, I gave a shout of satisfaction as I knocked them both
over. They got up, however, roaring, and advanced towards the pit where
Bigg and I, with Solon, lay concealed. One fell, but the other bounded
on. I had no time to reload, but I had my pistol, and Bigg had his. We
held them ready. The terrific monster, with a roar of rage, was close
above us, his eyes glancing fire; we could almost feel his breath. We
both fired right at his head at the same moment, and then slunk down in
our pit. I thought it would prove our grave, but the lion bounded clear
over it, and on jumping up again to reload, I saw him a few paces off
stretched out in the agonies of death.
We agreed that we had done enough for one afternoon, and Bigg, calling
to the natives, they crowded round the bodies of the lions, and gave
strong signs of their satisfaction.
While they were not observing us, I whispered to Bigg that I was anxious
to get back at once to the village, that I might communicate with
Alfred. It seemed an age, however, before the natives retired to their
huts, and I was alone with Bigg and Solon. Still longer after that did
it seem before, while I was watching eagerly at the door, that I saw a
figure creeping towards the hut. I had to hold Solon down, for he
seemed inclined to fly out and bark.
"Ralph, Ralph, is it you indeed come to look for me?" said a voice which
I recognised as Alfred's, and the next moment we were in each other's
arms, and I found myself crying almost as if my heart would burst.
Alfred was not much less moved, while Solon sprang up, and leaning
against us, licked his hand.
Bigg had gone to sleep, but he soon roused up, and a very happy party we
were. We had not much time to talk though. Now was the moment for
action. Alfred was of opinion that the natives would soon suspect me
and Bigg, and that it would be our wisest coarse to make our escape
without any delay. I completely inclined to the same opinion.
"Why should we wait a moment then?" exclaimed Alfred. "Let us be off at
once."
"Stay," said I; "you shall rig up in my princely gear, and I will appear
as a humble little blackamoor. You shall have my pistols, and I will
carry my trusty rifle; we shall then all be armed, and I have no doubt
but that we shall be able to make our way among either natives or wild
beasts. Quick--quick--here, take the things."
I would not allow Alfred to expostulate. In a very few minutes the
change was complete, and the black mane of the lion so completely
covered his features, that it was scarcely possible to distinguish what
was the colour of the skin beneath. Solon sat watching the whole
process with great interest. I thus once more appeared in my negro
shirt, with bare feet and head. We all then crept out of the hut. No
sound was heard. The stars told us the direction we were to take.
Alfred knew of a well-beaten native path which led eastward. We crept
on cautiously along it till we were out of hearing of the village, and
then we all ran on as fast as our legs could carry us. It mattered
little how tired we might be at the end of our journey, provided we
could get in safety on board the _Star_. We had had a good supper, so
that we had not to stop for feeding. Before sunrise, we had made good,
I believe, full twenty miles, perhaps still more. We were not likely to
be pursued, but still we pushed on. At length, when the sun rose high,
we stopped to breakfast and rest. Alfred and I had a great deal to talk
about. He had to tell me his adventures, and I had to tell him how I
had found him out.
In the afternoon we were again on foot, pushing on as rapidly as before.
We saw elephants and rhinoceroses and several lions, but while we were
moving on none of them appeared inclined to attack us. At night we
rested with large fires in front of us, and a tall tree with some thick
stakes at our backs. Once we were startled by a bark from Solon and a
fierce growl close to our ears, and there stood a huge black maned lion.
I lifted my rifle to fire and Alfred and Bigg each seized a burning
brand and dashed it in his face. The reception was warmer than he
expected, and with a roar of surprise he bounded off again into the
bush.
We had more difficulty in dealing with the natives the nearer we
approached the coast. They evidently suspected us, and wished to stop
our progress. Bigg talked to them a great deal, but I suspect that they
did not even comprehend his very extraordinary lingo. We, however,
pushed on and made our escape from them. It was some hours after noon
when, from the summit of a high ridge, we caught sight of the sea. We
cast our eyes along the horizon, and thought that we could make out the
_Star_ in the offing. How thankful we felt, and how our spirits rose!
We hurried down the hill; when at the bottom, we were annoyed to find
ourselves close to a large negro village. We were going to pass round
it when some of the natives saw us, and we agreed that it would be best
to put a bold face on the matter, and to march openly into the village.
Bigg did his utmost to talk over the people, but I suspect that his
language betrayed him. They collected in numbers, and by their gestures
it appeared to us that they contemplated detaining us. To this it would
not do to submit; so having observed a path which we believed led down
to the sea, we hurried along it, Alfred leading. We supposed that there
was no person of authority in the village to stop us, and we agreed that
it would be wiser to go ahead before one should arrive. We looked round
every now and then; when at length we saw that no one was watching us,
we pushed on as fast as we could go. It was generally a descent, but
now and then we had to climb a hill. At the top of one we saw the sea
glittering below before us, and what was our delight to observe three
boats pulling in towards the shore from a man-of-war brig, which we had
no doubt was the _Star_. On we ran faster than ever, and good cause we
had to do so, for some loud shouts made us look behind, when we saw a
whole posse of natives brandishing their spears and running after us at
the top of their speed. Still the boats appeared to be too far off to
reach the shore before the natives would overtake us. On they came with
dreadful shrieks and cries. As far as we could see, on looking back,
none of them had firearms, and had I chosen, of course I could have
picked off two, and perhaps even more, before they could have got up to
us; but I was most unwilling to shed blood, and besides, I thought that
if matters could be explained to the natives they might be disposed to
be friends instead of enemies.
Still, unfortunately, this could not under the present juncture be
ascertained. What we had to do was to keep out of their way. Lightly
clad as they were, they ran very fast; so did we. The people in the
boats pulling in towards the shore must have seen them, we fancied, and
gave way with a will to get in in time to assist us. I looked at the
savages, and then I looked at the boats, and I felt utterly hopeless
that this could be done. The blacks were almost close enough to have
hurled their spears at us, when, as I had given up all hope of escape, a
loud cheer saluted our ears close to us, and Mr Henley with a dozen
blue jackets well armed, appeared from behind a high rock overhung with
lichens and creepers on our left. They presented their muskets, and the
natives halted. The latter, though they might not possess them, knew
perfectly well the effect of fire-arms. Mr Henley, who knew something
of the language of the coast natives, addressed them, and after a little
palaver, first one and then another came down towards us. He had no
great difficulty in persuading them that we were friends, for they saw
that had he wished it he could have allowed his men to fire, and might
have killed numbers of them. He assured them that the English were not
only friends, but that they wished to put an end to the slave-trade, and
to encourage agriculture, and would assist them by every means in their
power. The result was that we parted on very good terms.
Our appearance on board caused a great deal of amusement, though nothing
could exceed the kindness with which Alfred and I were received and
treated by all the officers.
After calling at several places, we went on to Cape Town. Two other
ships of war were there, the officers of which came on board the _Star_.
No sooner did the captain of one of them see Alfred, than he held out
his hand towards him, exclaiming--
"I am delighted to meet you again, my dear sir. Why, you are the very
person who in so gallant a manner swam off to my ship when she was cast
away on the coast of Chagos, and were the means of saving the lives of
all on board."
Alfred, to my great joy, acknowledged that such was the case, for he had
not told me of the circumstance. The result was that Captain Armstrong,
who had a vacancy on board, at once gave it him; and as there were a
sufficient number of captains at the Cape at the time, he was allowed to
pass his examination as a mate, and was rated as such accordingly.
Several of my other friends were equally fortunate. A large ship,
homeward-bound, had lost her master, and Mr Henley being known
favourably to the agents at Cape Town, he was appointed to take charge
of her. Captain Armstrong, knowing that it was important that Alfred
should return home, gave him leave to accompany me in Mr Henley's ship,
the _Susan_. We were on the point of sailing, when, to my still greater
satisfaction, my grandfather arrived from Ceylon, also on his way home.
We accordingly all agreed to go together on board the _Susan_. Just
before we sailed, however, the _Star_ was ordered home; and as it was
much better that Alfred should return in her, he once more donned his
newly-made mate's uniform and rejoined her. As the _Susan_ was not a
very fast sailer, he had thus the satisfaction of reaching England
first, and with joy and thankfulness was he received by all the dear
ones at home. He had learned a severe lesson from all he had gone
through, and no better officer now exists in the service. We were not
less welcome when, a few days afterwards, we joined the family-circle.
All our troubles seemed to have vanished.
Little did I think when I left home that I should so soon see all the
dear ones I had left, with our grandfather, kind Mr Ward, Mr Henley,
and Henry Raymond, assembled round our dinner-table, while Solon was
sitting up attentive to all that was going forward; and Tommy Bigg, and
his father, and Johnny Spratt were enjoying a good supper in the kitchen
below. I ought to have said that my grandfather brought a good account
of kind Mr Fordyce, who was soon coming to England, while Lumsden, my
old school-fellow, had now the chief charge of his affairs in Ceylon.
I had learned much by my voyages and travels. One truth had been
impressed more firmly than ever on my mind, that under every
circumstance in which we can be placed, if we will but do our duty to
the very utmost of our power, and rely firmly on our Maker's kind
providence and mercy, all will ultimately turn out for the best, and we
shall not fail to see his finger guiding and directing every event for
our ultimate happiness and prosperity.