ENLISTED.
It was in August, 1850. Some newly-arrived emigrants had just landed
from their ship, and were walking through the streets of Cape Town,
watching with great amusement the novel sights, the picturesque groups
of swarthy Malays in huge beehive-shaped hats, with red-and-yellow
bandanas round their necks, and their women in dresses of the most
gorgeous colours. Settlers from inland farms rode at a reckless pace
through the streets, and huge waggons drawn by eight or ten bullocks
came creaking along, often at a trot. One of the party stopped before a
placard.
"Active young men wanted for the Cape Mounted Rifles. For full
particulars as to service and pay, inquire of the Adjutant at the
Barracks of the Corps."
"I thought they were recruited in England," he muttered to himself. "I
will go round presently and see about it, but I will look at the papers
first. If there is any trouble on with the natives it would suit me
well, but I certainly will not enlist merely to dawdle about in the
towns. I would rather carry out my idea of buying a farm and going in
for stock-raising." He went into a liquor shop, called for some of the
native wine, and took up a newspaper. It contained numerous letters from
settlers on the frontier, all saying that the attitude of the natives
had changed greatly within the last few weeks, and that all sorts of
alarming rumours were current, and it was feared that in spite of the
solemn treaties they had made two years before, the natives were again
going to take up arms.
"I think that's good enough," he said to himself. "There are likely to
be stirring times again here. Nothing would suit my case better than an
active life, hard work, and plenty of excitement."
Having finished his wine, he inquired the way to the barracks of the
detachment of the corps stationed at Cape Town, and being directed to
it, entered the gates. He smiled to himself at his momentary feeling of
surprise at the sentry at the gate neglecting to salute him, and then
inquiring for the orderly room, he went across the little barrack-yard
and entered. The adjutant looked up from the table at which he was
writing.
"I see a notice that you want men, sir," the new-comer said.
"Yes, we are raising two fresh troops. What age are you?"
"Twenty-eight."
"You have served before, have you not?" the adjutant said, looking at
the well-knit figure standing before him.
[Illustration: "'_You have served before, have you not?' the Adjutant
said._"]
"Yes, I have served before."
"Infantry or cavalry?"
"The infantry; but I can ride."
"Have you your papers of discharge?"
"No."
"Have you any one to speak to your character?"
"No one here. I only landed this morning by the _Thalia_, which came in
from England last night."
"That is awkward," the officer said. "You know that as a rule we only
enlist in England, and only take applicants of good character."
"I am aware of that, sir; but as just at present you are likely to want
men who can fight, character is not of so much importance."
The adjutant smiled, and again scrutinised the applicant closely.
"The man has been an officer," he said to himself. "Well, that is
nothing to me; he has the cut of a soldier all over."
"Do you know the conditions of service? You provide your own horse and
uniform. Government provides arms. In the event of your not being able
to find your horse and uniform, Government will--as it is anxious to
fill up the ranks as soon as possible--provide them, and stop the money
from your pay."
"I can provide horse and uniform."
"Very well, then, I will take you," the officer said.
"I enlist as Harry Blunt. I may say, sir, that I should feel very
greatly obliged if, as I know my duty, you would post me to a troop
already up the country instead of to one of those you are raising, and
who will have to learn their drill and how to sit a horse before they
can be sent up on active duty."
"I can do that," the officer said; "it is only yesterday that we called
for recruits, and we have only had two or three applications at present;
there is a draft going on to Port Elizabeth next week, and if I find
that you are, as you say, up in your drill, I will send you up with
them."
"Thank you, sir, I am very much obliged to you."
"The major will be here at four o'clock," the adjutant said; "come in at
that time, and you can be attested and sworn in."
"After all," Ronald Mervyn said to himself, as he strode away, "there's
nothing like soldiering. I know I should have fretted for the old work
if I had settled down on a farm, or even if I had gone in, as I half
thought of doing, for shooting for a year or so before settling down. If
these natives really mean to make trouble, we shall have an exciting
time of it, for the men I have talked with who fought in the last war
here say that they have any amount of pluck, and are enemies not to be
despised. Now I will be off and look for a horse. I'd better not order
my uniform until I am sworn in; the major may, perhaps, refuse me on the
ground of want of character." He went up to two or three young farmers
who were standing talking in the street.
"I am a stranger, gentlemen, and have just landed. I want to buy a good
horse; can you tell me what is the best way to set about it?"
"You will have no difficulty about that," one of them replied, "for
there's been a notice up that Government wants to buy horses, and at two
o'clock this afternoon, those who have animals to dispose of fit for
cavalry service are to bring them into the parade ground in front of the
infantry barracks. Government has only asked for fifty horses, and there
will probably be two or three times that number brought in. We have
each brought in a horse or two, but they are rather expensive animals. I
believe the horses are intended for mounts for staff-officers. They want
more bone and strength than is general in the horses here."
"I don't much mind what I pay," Ronald said, carelessly. "However,
gentlemen, I may see you down there, and if Government does not take
your horses, perhaps I may make a deal with one of you."
At the appointed hour Ronald strolled down to the parade. There were a
good many officers assembled there, and a large number of young Boer
farmers, each with one or more horses, led by natives. The major and
adjutant of the Cape Mounted Rifles were examining the horses, which
were ridden up and down before them by their owners, the adjutant
himself sometimes mounting and taking them a turn. Presently his eyes
fell upon Ronald, who was closely scrutinising the horses.
"That is the young fellow I was speaking to you about, major, the man in
the tweed suit examining that horse's mouth."
"Yes, I have no doubt you are right, Lawson; he has the cut of a
military man all over, and beyond all question a gentleman. Out-ran the
constable at home, I suppose. Well, we will take him anyhow; for rough
work men of that stamp make the very best soldiers. I fancy we have more
than one in our ranks now. No, you need not bring that horse up," he
broke off, addressing the young farmer, whose horse Ronald had just been
examining. "He's got some vice about him, or you would not be offering
him at our prices."
"He's as good a horse as there is in the colony," the young Dutchman
said; "but I am not offering him at your price. I thought that some
young officer might be inclined to buy him, and I have brought him down
to show. There is no vice about him that I know of, but he has only been
mounted twice, and as he has never been off the farm before he is a bit
fidgety."
"What do you want for him?" the major asked, examining the horse
closely.
"I want a hundred and twenty pounds for him."
"A hundred and twenty fiddlesticks," the major said. "Why, man, there
are not ten horses in the colony worth a hundred and twenty pounds."
"Perhaps not," the young Dutchman said, coolly, "but this is one of the
ten."
Several of the other officers now came up and examined the horse, and
they were unanimous in their approval of him.
"He would be worth three hundred as a hunter at home," one of them
remarked, "but nobody's going to give such a price as that out here,
when you can get a decent runner for twenty; but he is certainly the
handsomest horse I have seen since I have been in the colony, and I have
seen some good ones, too."
The farmer moved off with the horse. As he left the ground, Ronald again
walked up to him.
"I like your horse," he said, "and if you will take a hundred pounds for
him, I will give it you."
"Very well," the Dutchman said, "I will take it, but I wouldn't take a
penny under. Have you the money here?"
"I have not got it in my pocket," Ronald replied, "but I have letters of
credit on the bank. Walk round with me there, and I will give you the
cash."
In ten minutes the money was obtained and handed to the farmer, who gave
Ronald a receipt for it. Ronald took the halter from the hands of the
native, and at once led the horse to the stable of the hotel at which
he had already left his luggage. Then he ordered one of the cases to be
opened, and took out a saddle and bridle which he had brought out with
him in view of rough colonial work.
"I did not expect to be suited so soon," he said to himself, "and
certainly did not expect to find such a mount here. I like him better
than either of my old hunters, and will back him, after a couple of
months' good handling, to win any military steeplechase. That's money
well laid out; when a man may have to ride for his life, money in
horseflesh is a good investment."
He went down at four o'clock, and was attested and sworn in.
"I saw you down on the parade ground, Blunt," the adjutant said. "We
have bought a score of horses for the use of recruits. You can have one
of them at the Government price if you choose."
"I am much obliged to you, sir," Ronald replied, "but I picked one up
myself."
"He will have to pass inspection, you know, Blunt?"
"I think he's good enough to pass, sir," Ronald said, quietly. "I am
considered a pretty good judge of a horse."
"There is the address of a tailor," the adjutant said, handing him a
card; "he has got a supply of the right cloth, and has contracted to
supply uniforms at a very reasonable price. You need not come into
barracks until to-morrow, unless you choose."
"I thank you, sir. I have a few things to get, and I would rather not
report myself until to-morrow afternoon, if you will give me leave."
"Very well, then, I will not ration you to-morrow. Report yourself to
Sergeant Menzies any time before nine o'clock in the evening."
Ronald gave the military salute, turned on his heel, and went out of
the barracks. He went straight to the tailor whose card had been given
to him. "I want to be measured for a uniform for the Mounted Rifles," he
said. "How much do you charge?"
"We supply tunic, jacket, and two pairs of breeches, and cap, for nine
pounds."
"When can you let me have them?"
"In three days."
"I must have them by to-morrow afternoon, by six o'clock, and I will pay
you two pounds extra to get them done by then. But mind, I want
good-fitting clothes. Do you understand?"
"You will pay eleven pounds for them if I get them ready by six o'clock.
Very well, then, I will try and do them."
"Of course you can do them, if you choose," Ronald said. "If you get
them cut out and stitched together, I will come in at nine o'clock in
the morning to try them on. Now where can I get jack-boots?"
"The last shop down the end of this street. Moens is the name. He always
keeps a lot by him, and the Mounted Rifles here mostly deal with him."
Ronald was fortunate enough to obtain a pair of boots that fitted him
well, and he now strolled back to his hotel. The next morning, after
trying on his uniform, which was of dark green, he went to the stables
and saddled his new purchase. The horse was fidgety and nervous from its
new surroundings, and refused for some time to let him mount; but he
patted and soothed it, and then putting one hand on the saddle, sprang
into it at a bound. He rode at a walk through the streets, and when he
got beyond the limits of the town touched the horse with his spurs. The
animal reared up, lashed out behind once or twice, and then went off at
a gallop. Ronald kept along the road until he was beyond the patches of
land cultivated by the natives. When once in the open country, he left
the road, and allowed the horse to gallop across country until its speed
abated, by which time he was nearly ten miles from Cape Town; then he
turned its head, and at a quiet pace rode back to the town.
"A month's schooling," he said, "and it will be an almost perfect horse;
its pace is very easy, and there's no doubt about its strength and wind.
You are a beauty, old boy," he went on, as he patted the animal's neck,
"we shall soon be capital friends."
The uniform was delivered punctually, and after saying good-bye to his
fellow-passengers who were staying at the hotel, Ronald put on his
uniform, filled the valise, he had that afternoon purchased, with a
useful kit, took out an excellent sporting rifle that would carry
Government ammunition, and a brace of revolvers, and, packing up his
other clothes and ordering all the baggage to be put away in a store
until required, he mounted and rode into barracks.
"Where shall I find Sergeant Menzies?" he asked one of the men at the
guardroom.
"His quarters are over there, the last door in that corner."
Ronald rode over to the point indicated, and then dismounted. He entered
the passage. The sergeant's name was written on a piece of paper
fastened on the first door. He came out when Ronald knocked. "I was
ordered by the adjutant to report myself to you, sergeant," Ronald said,
saluting.
"He told me that a recruit was coming, but how did you get your uniform?
Why, you only enlisted yesterday."
"I hurried them up a bit," Ronald said. "Where shall I put my horse?"
The sergeant went into his quarters and came out with a lantern. He
held it up and examined the horse.
"Well, lad, you have got a bonny beast, a downright beauty. You will
have to get the regulation bridle, and then you will be complete. Let me
look at you." He held up the lantern. "You will do, lad," he said, "if
you make as good a soldier as you look. You only want the sword and belt
to be complete. You will have them served you out in the morning. Now,
come along and I will show you the stable." He made his way to the
stable, where there was a vacant stall, and stood by while Ronald
removed the saddle and bridle and put on the head-stall. "You can take
an armful of hay from that rack yonder. I can't get him a ration of
grain to-night, it's too late."
"He's just had a good feed," Ronald said, "and will not want any more,
but I may as well give him the hay to amuse himself with. It will
accustom him to his new quarters. What shall I do with my rifle and
pistols?"
"Bring them with you, lad; but there was no occasion for you to have
brought them. Government finds arms."
"I happened to have them with me," Ronald said, "and as the rifle
carries Government ammunition, I thought they would let me use it."
"If it's about the right length I have no doubt they will be glad to do
so, for we have no very great store of arms, and we are not quite so
particular about having everything exactly uniform as they are in a
crack corps at home. As for the pistols, there is no doubt about them,
as being in the holsters they don't show. Several of the men have got
them, and most of the officers. Now, I will take you up to your
quarters." The room to which he led Ronald contained about a dozen men.
Some had already gone to bed, others were rubbing up bits and
accoutrements; one or two were reading. "Here's a new comrade, lads,"
the sergeant said; "Blunt's his name. He is a new arrival from home, and
you won't find him a greenhorn, for he has served already."
Ronald had the knack of making himself at home, and was, before he
turned in an hour later, on terms of good fellowship with his comrades.
In the morning, after grooming his horse, he went into the barrack-yard,
when the troop formed up for dismounted drill.
"Will you take your place at once in the ranks?" Sergeant Menzies asked.
"Do you feel equal to it?"
"Yes; I have not grown rusty," Ronald replied, as he fell in.
An hour's work sufficed to show Sergeant Menzies, who was drilling the
troop, that the new recruit needed no instructions on that score, and
that he was as perfect in his drill as any one in the troop.
"Are you as well up in your cavalry drill as in the infantry?" he asked
Ronald as the troop fell out.
"No," Ronald said, "but when one knows one, he soon gets well at home in
the other. At any rate, for simple work the system is exactly the same,
and I think with two or three drills I shall be able to keep my place."
After breakfast the troop formed up again in their saddles, and the
officers took their places in the ranks. As the sergeant handed to the
adjutant some returns he had been compiling, the latter asked:
"By the way, sergeant, did the recruit Blunt join last night?"
"Yes, sir, and he is in his place now in the rear rank. He was in his
uniform when he came, and I found this morning that he is thoroughly
well up in his drill. A smart soldier all over, I should say. I don't
know that he will do so well mounted, but I don't think you will see him
make many blunders. He is evidently a sharp fellow."
"He ought not to have taken his place until I had passed his horse,
sergeant. Still I can do that after parade drill is over."
The adjutant then proceeded to put the troop through a number of easy
movements, such as forming from line to column, and back into line, and
wheeling. There was no room for anything else in the barrack-yard, which
was a small one, as the barracks would only hold a single troop. Before
the movements were completed, the major came out. When the troop was
dismissed Sergeant Menzies brought Ronald up to the two officers. He had
in the morning furnished him with the regulation bridle, belt, and
sword. Ronald drew up his horse at a short distance from the two
officers and saluted.
"There's no doubt about his horse," the major said, "that is if he is
sound. What a good-looking beast!"
"That it is, major. By Jove, I believe it's the very animal that young
Boer asked us one hundred and twenty pounds for yesterday; 'pon my word,
I believe it's the same."
"I believe it is," the major agreed. "What a soldierly-looking young
fellow he is! I thought he was the right stamp yesterday, but I hardly
expected to see him turn out so well at first."
The two officers walked up to Ronald, examined his horse, saddle, and
uniform.
"That's not a regulation rifle you have got there," the major said.
"No, sir, it is one I brought from England with me. I have been
accustomed to its use, and as it is the regulation bore, I thought
perhaps I might carry it."
"It's a trifle long, isn't it?" the adjutant asked.
"Yes, sir, it's just two inches too long, but I can have that cut off by
a gunsmith."
"Very well; if you do that you can carry it," the major said. "Of course
it's much better finished than the regulation one, but not much
different in appearance. Very well, we pass the horse." Ronald saluted
and rode off to the stables.
"He hasn't come out penniless, anyhow," the major laughed.
"No, that's quite evident," the adjutant agreed. "I dare say his friends
gave him a hundred or two to start on a farm, and when he decided to
join us he thought he might as well spend it, and have a final piece of
extravagance."
"I dare say that's it," the major agreed; "anyhow I think we have got
hold of a good recruit this time."
"I wish they were all like him," the adjutant sighed, thinking of the
trouble he often had with newly-joined recruits.
"By the way," the major said, "I have got word this morning that the
draft is to be embarked to-morrow instead of next week. They took up a
ship for them yesterday; it seems our men there are worked off their
legs, for the Kaffirs are stealing cattle and horses in all directions,
and the colonists have sent in such a strong letter of complaint to the
Governor that even he thinks the police force on the frontier ought to
be strengthened. Not, of course, that he admits in the slightest that
there is any ground for alarm, or believes for a moment that the Kaffirs
have any evil intentions whatever; still, to reassure the minds of the
settlers, he thinks the troops may as well go forward at once."
"I wish to goodness," the adjutant said, bitterly, "that Sir Harry Smith
would take a cottage for two or three months close to the frontier; it
would not be long before his eyes were opened a little as to the
character and intentions of the Kaffirs."
"It would be a good thing," the major agreed, "but I doubt if even that
would do it till he heard the Kaffirs breaking in his doors; then the
enlightenment would come too late to be of any service to the colony.
By-the-bye, the colonel told me yesterday he should send me forward next
week to see after things. He says that of course if there is any serious
trouble he shall go forward himself."
The following morning the draft of Cape Mounted Rifles embarked on board
a steamer and were taken down to Algoa Bay, and landed at Port
Elizabeth, drenched to the skin by the passage through the tremendous
surf that beats upon the coast, and were marched to some tents which had
been erected for them on a bare sandhill behind the town.
Ronald Mervyn was amused at the variety of the crowd in the straggling
streets of Port Elizabeth. Boer farmers, Hottentots, Malays, and
Fingoes, with complexions varying through every shade of yellow and
brown up to black; some gaily dressed in light cottons, some wrapped in
a simple cowhide or a dirty blanket, many with but little clothing
beyond their brass and copper ornaments.
The country round was most monotonous. As far as the eye could see it
was nothing but a succession of bare, sandy flats, and, beyond these,
hills sprinkled with bush and occasional clumps of aloes and elephant
trees. Upon the following morning the troop marched, followed by a
waggon containing their baggage and provisions, drawn by ten oxen. A
little naked boy marched at the head of the oxen as their guide, and
they were driven by a Hottentot, armed with a tremendous whip of immense
length, made of plaited hide fastened to the top of a bamboo pole. After
a fourteen miles' march the troop reached the Zwart Kop river, and,
crossing the ford, encamped among the scattered mimosas and numerous
wait-a-bit thorns. The horses were then knee-haltered, and they and the
oxen were turned out to feed till night. The next day's march was a very
long one, and for the most part across a sandy desert, to the Sunday
River, a sluggish stream in which, as soon as the tents were pitched,
the whole party enjoyed a bath.
"To-morrow we shall reach the Addoo Bush, Blunt," one of his comrades,
who knew the country well, remarked. "This is near the boundary of what
you may call the Kaffir country, although I don't think they have their
kraals as far south as this, though there was fighting here in the last
war, and may be again."
"But I thought our territory extended as far as the Kei River?"
"So it does nominally," the other said. "All the country as far as that
was declared to be forfeited; but in point of fact the Kaffirs remained
in possession of their lands on condition that they declared their
allegiance to the Crown, and that each chief was made responsible for
any cattle or other robberies, the spoor of which could be traced to his
kraal. Of course they agreed to this, as, in fact, they would agree to
anything, resolving, naturally, to break the conditions as soon as it
suited them. Local magistrates and commissioners are scattered about
among them, and there have been a lot of schools and missionary stations
started. They say that they are having great success. Well, we shall see
about that. In the last war the so-called Christian natives were among
the first to turn against us, and I expect it will be the same here, for
it's just the laziest and worst of the natives who pretend to become
Christians. They get patches of land given them, and help in building
their huts, and all sorts of privileges. By about half-a-day's work each
week they can raise enough food to live upon, and all that is really
required of them is to attend services on a Sunday. The business
exactly suits them, but as a rule there are a great many more Hottentots
than Kaffirs among the converts. I can give you a specimen of the sort
of men they are. Not long since a gentleman was coming down with a
waggon and a lot of bullocks from King Williamstown. The drivers all
took it into their head to desert one day--it's a way these fellows
have, one of them thinks he will go, and then the whole lot go, and a
settler wakes up in the morning and finds that there isn't a single hand
left on his place, and he has perhaps four or five hundred cows to be
milked, and twice as many oxen and horses to look after. Well, this
happened within a mile or so of the missionary station, so the gentleman
rode over there and asked if some of the men would go with him down to
Beaufort, a couple of days' march. Nobody would go; he raised his
offers, and at last offered five times the usual rate of pay, but not
one of the lazy brutes would move, and he had at last to drive the whole
lot down himself, with the aid of a native or two he picked up on the
way. However, there has been pretty good order along the frontier for
the last two years, partly due to the chiefs having to pay for all
cattle traced to their kraals, partly to the fact that we have got four
hundred Kaffir police--and an uncommon smart lot of fellows they
are--scattered all along the frontier, instead of being, like us, kept
principally in towns. You see, we are considered more as a military
body. Of course, we have a much easier time of it than if we were
knocking about in small parties among the border settlements; but there
is a lot more excitement in that sort of life, and I hope that if there
is trouble they will send us out to protect the settlements."
"I hope so," Ronald said, cordially. "Barrack life at a dull little town
is the slowest thing in the world. I would never have enlisted for that
sort of thing."
"Well, if what the settlers say turns out right, you will have plenty of
excitement, I can tell you. I was in the last war, and I don't know that
I want to go through another, for these beggars fight a great deal too
well for it to be pleasant, I can tell you. The job of carrying
despatches or escorting waggons through a bush where these fellows are
known to be lurking, is about as nasty a one as a man can wish. At any
moment, without the least notice, you may have half-a-dozen assegais
stuck in your body. And they can shoot straight, too; their guns are
long and clumsy, but they carry long distances--quite as far as our
rifles, while, as for the line muskets, they haven't a chance with
them."
Two more days' marching and the troop arrived at Grahamstown. Here they
encamped near Fort England, where a wing of the 91st Regiment was
quartered, and the next fortnight was spent in constant drills. The
rifles were then ordered forward to King Williamstown, where two days
later they were joined by the infantry.
Before starting, the adjutant had specially called the attention of
Captain Twentyman, who commanded the troop, to his last joined recruit.
"You will find that man Blunt, who joined us yesterday, a good soldier,
Twentyman. It may be he has been an officer, and has got into some row
at home and been obliged to leave the service. Of course you noticed his
horse on parade this morning; we have nothing like it in the Corps. The
farmer who owned it offered it to us yesterday afternoon, and wanted a
hundred and twenty pounds for it. He said that both his sire and dam
were English hunters, the sire he had bought from an English officer,
and the grandsire was a thoroughbred horse. The man has a large farm,
about twenty-five miles from Cape Town, and goes in for horse-breeding;
but I have seen nothing before of his as good as that. I expect the
young fellow has spent his last penny in buying it. Of course I don't
know what he will turn out in the way of conduct; but you will find, if
he is all right in that respect, that he will make a first-rate
non-commissioned officer, and mounted as he is, will, at any rate, be a
most useful man for carrying despatches and that sort of thing. I
confess I am very much taken with him. He has a steady, resolute sort of
face; looks pleasant and good-tempered, too. Keep your eye upon him."
Captain Twentyman had done so during the voyage and on the line of
march, and Ronald's quickness, alacrity, and acquaintance with his duty
convinced him that the adjutant's supposition was a correct one.
"By Jove, Twentyman," an officer of the 91st said as he was standing
beside him when Ronald rode up and delivered a message, "that fellow of
yours is wonderfully well mounted. He's a fine soldierly-looking fellow,
too, and I don't know why, but his face seems quite familiar to me."
"I fancy he has been an officer," Captain Twentyman replied, "we have
several in the corps--men who have been obliged for some reason or other
to sell out, and who, finding nothing else to do, have enlisted with us.
You see the pay is a good deal higher than it is in the regular cavalry,
and the men as a whole are a superior class, for you see they find their
own horses and uniforms, so the life is altogether more pleasant than
the regular service for a man of that kind. Almost all the men are of
respectable family."
"I certainly seem to know his face," said the officer, thoughtfully,
"although where I saw it I have not the least idea. What is his name?"
"He enlisted as Harry Blunt, but no doubt that's not his real name.
Very few men of his kind, who enlist in the army, do so under their own
names."
"I don't know any one of that name," the officer said, "but I certainly
fancy I have seen your man before; however, I don't suppose in any case
he would like being recognised; men who are under a cloud don't care
about meeting former acquaintances."
A week later, to Ronald's great satisfaction, a party of twenty men, of
whom he was one, under Troop-Lieutenant Daniels, were ordered to march
the next morning to the Kabousie River, whence the settlers had written
praying that a force might be sent for their protection, as the Kaffirs
in the neighbourhood were becoming more and more insolent in their
manner. Many of their cattle had been driven off, and they were in daily
expectation of an attack. No waggons accompanied the party, as they
would erect huts if they remained in one place, and would have no
difficulty in obtaining provisions from the farmers. The men chosen for
the service were all in high glee at the prospect of a change from the
dulness of the life at King Williamstown, and were the objects of envy
to their comrades.
The start was made at daybreak, and after two days' long marching they
reached their destination. The country was a fertile one, the farmhouses
were frequent, most of them embedded in orchards and vineyards, showing
signs of comfort and prosperity.
"This is the first place that I have seen since I reached the colony,"
Ronald said to the trooper riding next to him, "where I should care
about settling."
"There are a good many similar spots in this part of the country," the
man said, "and I believe the folks here are everywhere doing well, and
would do better if it were not for these native troubles. They suffered
a lot in the last war, and will, of course, bear the brunt of it if the
natives break out again. There are a good many English and Scotch
settlers in this part. There are, of course, some Dutch, but as a rule
they go in more for cattle-farming on a big scale. Besides, they do not
care about English neighbours; they are an unsociable set of brutes, the
Dutch, and keep themselves to themselves as much as possible."