"They certainly do not look very peacefully inclined, yet we ought not
to judge them from what we see of them now."
"I can say, for myself, Sir," put in Jack, "that I don't care to see
them again. So rather let my verdict stand."
"No doubt," laughed the missionary, "yet the ceremony to me seems a
harmless one. I fancy it is a rejoicing after a successful hunting
expedition. Look yonder how thickly the game lies."
"By that little fat man," said Jack. "Lor'! what a sight of good things
he must have eaten to have reached such a girth."
"What do you say, Thompson," laughed Mr Ferguson, "shall we make a
descent on them, or no?"
There was a most eloquent silence on Jack's part, whereupon the
missionary turned to me--
"Well, Galbraith, what do you say? With the few resources we have here,
starvation may soon be our lot, if we are not previously devoured by
some of the fierce denizens of the bush."
"That is true, Sir," I replied, "and I have no desire for either one nor
the other. If I had but a rifle and a few rounds of powder and ball, I
would not fear, Crusoe-like, living on these shores, despite the animals
and those black dancers, till I could hail a ship; but the ocean is not
so kind to us as to him, and has not cast up chests containing just the
things we want. Still, as to joining those gentlemen in undress below
there, I confess I am rather of Jack's opinion, for those frantic
movements with the spear, and demoniacal yells scarcely look friendly."
"You are probably right, Galbraith; yet were I alone it would be my duty
as a true soldier of my Master's cross to go among them, and try to sow
in these ignorant minds the seeds of His Word, and so I would do, only I
will not lead others into the danger I would run myself, for if I have
not read the disposition of you two wrongly, were I to go you would
follow."
"That we would," echoed Jack, and I also responded in the affirmative.
"But see!" continued Thompson, "what are they after?"
I looked back to the spot from which my attention had been momentarily
withdrawn, and perceived the chief had arisen, and with a waddling gait
was moving to the hill opposite, followed by the other Kaffirs, some of
whom had lifted up and were carrying the slaughtered game. As quickly
as the slow pace of the fat chief would permit, they crossed the hill
and vanished over the other side.