I PREPARE TO ESCAPE--I LEAVE THE KRAAL, BUT QUICKLY RETURN--THE ENEMY--
THE KRAAL IN FLAMES.
Lying there on my sleeping-mat I contemplated my hazardous position with
feelings better imagined than described. My flesh crept as I recalled
the horrible torture I had seen practiced on the wretched wizard, and
felt how in a few days, if fortune did not favour me, I too might
undergo the same.
I tried to draw consolation from the fact, that Metilulu--for a great
wonder--had shown much repugnance in accepting the rain-maker's
statement, and had declared he would reserve his decision, respecting
the white man's removal, till the morrow; but I could abstract but
little comfort from this, feeling assured that if the drought continued
the land would be brought into such a terrible state of famine, that, if
not from his own will, Metilulu, to save himself from the fury of the
people, would be compelled to give, me over into the merciless grasp of
the enraged prophet. No; there was only one way left to me. I felt my
life was no longer safe there--if reprieved by Metilulu's friendship
until the next day, it was but deferring my ultimate fate; therefore I
resolved, if possible, to escape that very night, and take to the bush,
being more willing to trust to its perils than those I knew I ran with
the witch-doctors.
Having come to this resolve, I thought the best way to avoid creating
any suspicions of my intent was to go about as usual; so, rising, I
repaired to my cows to see if they required any care, then went to my
small patch of tobacco land, where, collecting many leaves, and rolling
them fit for use, I wrapped each separate parcel in reeds, according to
the custom of the Kaffirs, who place them in their huts, where they can
be seen by all, for the possession of a large store of tobacco is a
great pride to the natives, as they reckon their superiority over their
fellows by it.
As may be easily conceived, _I_ did not do it for this purpose, but
prepared them in these small portions so that I could easily carry them
about my person in my intended flight; for I perfectly well knew the
value of the plant in the bush, not only as a comfort to its possessor,
but because it is equivalent to the use of money in England when you
require services rendered, for a Kaffir will do anything to possess some
of the much-prized weed.
Frequently, while so engaged, I cast anxious glances to windward to note
if there was the least sign of rain clouds appearing, but from north to
south, from east to west all continued to be one clear, blue, unbroken
expanse. Once, noticing a slight mist on the horizon, I wetted the palm
of my hand and held it up in that direction, when I fancied I could
detect the faint touch of a cooler breeze. If so, there might really be
rain before morning, but certainly not earlier; therefore, it made no
change in my resolve to be off that night, if possible.
Having done all I could to my patch of land, which I mentally hoped
never to see again, I took my packets of tobacco and turned homewards.
The men having little to do, and no heart to do that, were mostly seated
about the kraal, smoking or talking respecting the drought and the
deaths of their cows. As well as I could, without making it
perceptible, I avoided these groups, for the fear displayed on my
approach--some retreating altogether, while all regarded me with a
strange look of covert suspicion--was now fully explained, the truth
being that they each regarded me as the wilful cause of their present
dire suffering.
I wisely took no heed of their manner, pretending not to perceive it,
though in truth it made me most uncomfortable, for I fancied it likely
these men, urged to frenzy by reflecting on the approaching famine,
might rise up at any moment, surround my hut, demand me of Metilulu,
make me a prisoner, and torture me to their hearts' content--a deed for
which they would afterwards rejoice, and no doubt receive the praises of
the Prophets and Metilulu himself, for, as far as I could judge, even as
I had returned to the kraal, the wind had slightly shifted, and rain
might not be two days off, when its subsequent arrival would of course
be attributed to my death. No pleasant reflection; and I could have
regarded the men about me with the same horror as did the poor
mis-called wizard when the witch-doctor, after his farcical snuffing the
air, suddenly, as if he had smelt him out, dropped upon the wretched
victim; but, conquering any outward sign of uneasiness, I exchanged a
few casual remarks with those I met, taking no note at their not always
being returned.
On reaching my hut I found Zenuta still there, so, as I wished to be
alone to make some little preparation for the night, I sent her out on
an errand; then, placing the wicker-door before the entrance, that the
interior could not be easily seen, I took two hard stones which I had
brought in with me, and cautiously began rubbing up the heads of the few
assagais I had managed to retain to as sharp a point as I could make
them.
The work took me some little time, and had the effect of engaging my
thoughts and preventing me dwelling too much upon my perilous position.
I then selected the best skins I possessed, placing them ready to put
on, with my kaross, which I intended to make serve for a sleeping-mat,
as I should, no doubt, have to camp out for many nights in the bush;
afterwards putting the rolls of tobacco in a piece of hide, I stowed it
away with the rest, to be ready to hand when I started.
I had scarcely ended, and the hour was, as far as I could judge, about
six o'clock European time, when a shadow fell over the doorway, and the
next moment a "boy," slim and handsome in figure, as Kaffirs all are in
youth, crept in on hands and knees. I recognised him as one of those
who attended on Metilulu, and my heart fell, fearing that the chief had
changed his mind, and determined to surrender me to the rain-doctor even
then; for when he had honoured me with any message before, it had
usually come through Tugela. But the messenger's first words allayed my
fears at once on this point.
After the ordinary every-day salutations, the "boy" stated that Metilulu
had sent to say he desired me not to take my cows out the next day, but
entrust them to another, for he wished me to wait upon him, as he had
something of much importance to communicate.
I answered directly that the noble Metilulu had ever shown me--a
stranger--so much kindness, that his will was as law to me, even as to
his own people; therefore I should certainly not take my cows out the
next day, but would attend upon him as he desired. "I should like
also," I added, "if the chief would permit me to inform him that, as far
as my knowledge as a sailor went, I hoped and believed we should have
rain before two days were over."
The messenger seemed much pleased at my reply, feeling, perhaps, that I
was safe in their clutches, and started off to bear it immediately to
Metilulu.
I had purposely made my answer touch upon the kindness of the chief,
with the hope that the little praise might act in my favour, and I had
also mentioned the coming rain, thinking it possible that it might
excite Metilulu's curiosity, so, if I did not effect my escape, that he
would defer my execution, to see if the "white man's" prophecy was
correct. I knew my reply would be delivered _verbatim_; for these
Kaffir messengers can carry them for miles, but never vary in a
syllable.
Zenuta returning, I informed her of Metilulu's wish. She displayed much
concern on hearing it, and finally declared that she felt sure he meant
mischief.
"Do you think so, Zenuta?" I said very indifferently, for I could not
even trust her with the fact that I was about to escape; for I should
have had to add that I must leave her behind, and we never again should
meet. Poor girl! But what _could_ I do? "I do _not_ think so," I
continued; "he has proved himself so hospitable to me up to this time,
that I do not believe he would change. At any rate, he will assuredly
listen to my arguments; and finally, Zenuta, you are aware," I added
solemnly, pointing upward, "that my faith rests in One above, who has
power to save me if He please, had all the chiefs in Caffraria willed my
death."
She looked doubtfully and with awe at me, then said, with touching
earnestness, "May He, then, save you, Galbrth, if He really can, my
beloved!"
Despite my apparent indifference, Zenuta's behaviour naturally made me
more certain than ever that to stay till the morrow would be like
signing my own death-warrant; therefore, for all Metilulu's peaceful
message, I determined to be gone that night.
How long the time appeared before it came. When it did, however, it
could not have been more kind to me, for the moon did not rise till late
and the night was very dark. So, anxiously waiting alone in my hut, I
listened till all grew silent in the kraal, and I felt sure its inmates
were wrapped in sleep. Then I glided out, my kaross tied up, the
tobacco strung round my shoulders, and my shield and assagais in my
hand. Fearing to quit the place by the usual egress, lest the dogs
should create a disturbance and alarm the sleepers, I stealthily skirted
my hut till I reached the fence, where, with a strength made great by
the imminence of my danger, I forced the poles asunder and squeezed
myself through. When I was outside, I gave a long sigh of relief for I
felt free, safe, but not quite safe enough. On the contrary, I was very
anxious to put as great a distance between the kraal and myself as
possible before my absence could be discovered. So quickly I hurried
on, keeping a sharp look-out around and breathing many blessings upon
the darkness; but I had not gone far when the moon, showing the tip of
its broad disc over the hills, east a silver ray of light on the
opposite horizon, warning me of its approach, and I glanced keenly on
each side for some bushes to conceal my figure from view.
As I did so I came to a most abrupt halt, for among the trees some
distance off, where the moonbeams fell, I could swear I saw the dusky
forms of Kaffirs gliding in and out about the trunks. A moment's
careful inspection proved to me that they did not belong to the tribe I
had just left, but were advancing apparently with the extremest caution.
What could it mean? There was but one answer. Some Chief was
retaliating upon Metilulu the attack he had not many days ago made upon
him. But what was I to do? Make use of the confusion that must ensue
to favour my escape! No; I could not do it; for I recalled the kindness
I had experienced from these people, and thought of the helpless women,
Zenuta above all, and children who lay sleeping, unconscious of the
approaching enemy who, in a brief space, would massacre them with the
most barbaric cruelty.
My resolve was instantly taken. With the greatest speed I could muster,
I swiftly returned to the kraal, entering by the same way I had left.
Then having flung my kaross and tobacco back into the hut, I ran first
to the "boys'" huts, they being the nearest, afterwards to the men's,
whispering the word of alarm--"The enemy is upon us."
Quickly the whole kraal was astir, and, hastily arming themselves with
shields and assagais, commenced as quietly as possible driving the
cattle to the bush, for the first thought of the besieger is to seize
the cows, while that of the besieged is to prevent his doing so.
Through the enemy advancing at the back of the kraal, we were able to
quit it unperceived with the oxen, women, and children, for the latter
also were to take refuge in the bush till the fight was over. We were
but just in time, for scarcely had all been safely placed than, ere we
could get back, with yells like an army of fiends, the place was
surrounded by the enemy, who scaled the fence like a swarm of black
beetles, flourishing their weapons, and proving by their behaviour how
little mercy the sleeping inmates would have obtained had they been
there.
Speedily, however, they discovered that the kraal was empty, and their
howls of baffled rage was only excelled by those they uttered when a
shower of assagais from our party showed that they were expected and
prepared for. Then for the first time I witnessed a Kaffir method of
warfare. Each man crouched behind his shield, or held it so as to
protect his head, only glancing out when he cast his weapon with
unerring aim at his enemy.
The moon was now fully up, lighting the entire scene, which was both
picturesque and animated. The air at first seemed darkened by the
flying assagais, and I, forgetful of the danger I had so lately and
perhaps still did run, threw mine with as good a will as any of them.
Many of our men fell; but I soon perceived that our numbers far exceeded
the enemy, who no doubt had reckoned on a surprise for success. They
began visibly to give way, and shortly after, forming into a compact
body, the shields held in front like a wall, as against them the native
spears are useless, they commenced a slow retreat, for they had speedily
taken to the open field when the fight began. Slowly we followed,
casting our spears as they did as we proceeded, when, suddenly, over the
fence surrounding the huts, several black forms were seen to leap, and
the next moment sharp pointed tongues of flame shot up from numerous
parts into the air.
They had fired the kraal!
The yells of rage now came from our party, as frantic for revenge they
made a furious charge on the enemy, who fled with all haste to the bush,
leaving many wounded behind them, who were pitilessly slaughtered by the
infuriated pursuers. But the bush once gained, it became useless to
follow further, therefore the order was given to return and collect the
cattle, which were becoming restive and ungovernable at the sight of the
flames.
To have saved the kraal, I need not say, would have been impossible,
constructed as it was of wood and thatch, so, having got the oxen safe,
we encamped on the hillside, where--the Kaffirs breathing vows of a
terrible vengeance--we sat to watch it burn out; and a fine sight truly
it was, forming a grand picture, for the spiral masses of flame rushing
with a roar upward, lighted for some distance around the strangely grand
African scenery, while the broad faced moon, with her attendant stars,
shone placidly down from above.