IN WANT OF WATER--THE HONEY GUIDE PLAYS ME A TRICK--HOW I AM SAVED--
ZENUTA.
On rising the next morning, and disposing of some biltongue, we again
started on our journey, and got through many hours of the day with but
little incident to recount, save that we were consumed by a terrific
thirst, having, since the previous evening, been unable to procure
water. The rain which had fallen in the neighbourhood of the kraal
appeared never to have reached this spot, for the bed of a small stream
we had passed was perfectly cracked and arid from want of moisture. So,
while a tropical sun was shining down upon our heads, we had to proceed
without being able to procure a drop of water to cool our parched lips,
only finding relief in sucking or chewing different fruits and leaves of
a watery nature, which Umatula pointed out to us.
Having heard our guide once or twice exclaim, "If I had but a chacma
here," I at last asked him what a chacma was, and why he wanted one at
that particular moment.
"The chacma," he answered, "is a baboon, one of the most destructive of
the whole species to our crops, for he knows where to find the best as
well as we do."
"By old Davy Jones himself," ejaculated Thompson in English to me, "but
what good would a blessed ape, with these propensities, serve us here?"
The question was answered immediately by Umatula, who had stopped on
observing Jack was speaking, and now continued--
"Though our enemy in this, we make him a friend sometimes by taming him;
for the chacma is passionately fond of a root called babiana, which is
always full of a watery juice; so, when lacking water in dry weather
like the present, we lead these creatures by a piece of hide, and they
will direct us to these roots, from which, on digging them up, we
extract the fluid."
After this explanation, Jack, as well as I, desired the presence of the
chacma as much as Umatula did, but the three wishes were no better than
the one--we were quite as destitute of water as ever, and proceeded with
our spirits slightly depressed in consequence. To make matters worse, I
had happened to tread upon a thorn, which had so pierced my foot as to
create a slight lameness, so that I could not walk at the same rate
which I had done on the day previously.
It was within two or three hours of nighttime--and here that period
succeeds quickly to day--when, by sundry signs and a change in the genus
of the vegetation, Umatula said he felt sure that a stream, perhaps a
river, must be close at hand, and proposed that, as I was so crippled,
he and Jack should, diverging a little from the right track, climb a
small eminence some little distance off and ascertain if his surmises
were correct.
Willing to save myself from more exertion than was absolutely necessary,
I gladly agreed to the plan, and, casting myself at the foot of a tree,
watched them depart. They had not long disappeared, however, before the
now easily recognised cherr of the Honey Bird attracted my attention.
Looking up, I saw the little feathered biped, perched on a bush close
by, his head on one side as if making a minute inspection of my person.
Fancying a few honey-combs would be a pleasant addition to our late
meal, if we could but find water, I scrambled on to my feet and began to
follow my small guide. The sweet treasure was evidently not far off,
for the bird went slowly, and, after a few yards, stopped by a tangled
fence of parasites.
Seeing no place for the bees' store, I approached and drew aside the
tangled mass, believing I should find some felled tree or shattered
trunk, which the insects had converted into a hive; but, with a chilling
horror, I stood transfixed to the spot, as my eyes encountered those,
red as blood, of a leopard that was crouching behind.
How long we remained gazing into each others eyes I do not know--it
seemed an hour, but could only have been a few seconds--when a stealthy
movement of the animal, as it apparently began to contract its muscles
for a spring, recalled me to a sense of my danger, and instinctively I
raised an assagai and flung it at the creature; it pierced him in the
shoulder, and with a roar of pain he rose, but failed in his bound.
Instantly I sprang back, then a cry of horror escaped my lips, for I
felt as if a companion of the fierce beast in front had seized me both
with claws and teeth from behind. The next instant, however, I had
learned the terrible truth. I was once more in the tenacious grasp of
another of those awful species of the acacia tribe--the acacia detinens.
Yes, there I was, held firmly, confident that the least struggle would
but make me a greater prisoner; while the leopard, as if conscious of my
helpless position, was slowly dragging itself through the bushes, never
once, however, taking its red fiery eyes from my face. I tried to raise
my arm with an assagai, but it was useless; the thorns penetrated my
flesh, while I felt I had no power to aim the weapon, or, if I did so,
the blow would be so light that it would only further irritate without
harming the brute in front. I even now shudder at the remembrance of
that awful moment. No savage of the most fiendish nature could have
gloated over his intended victim more than the leopard seemed to. He
drew himself along on his stomach as I have seen a dog do. The wound I
had given him I fancied had made him weak, for apparently he was unable
to spring, and, though dreading each moment that he would do so, I grew
sick and dizzy at the terrible suspense.
All at once I read in the creature's eyes his intent to put an end to
the affair. His tail began slowly to lash backwards and forwards,
beating the ground fiercely; then I saw the haunches of the lithe body
crouch up, the shoulders draw back. I could bear it no longer. I felt
my brain turning, and, uttering cry after cry, called aloud for help,
addressing both Umatula and Jack, yet feeling despairingly aware that,
even did they hear my cries, they never could arrive in time to aid me.
A prayer rose to my lips. I gave one gigantic, mad struggle as I saw
the leopard rise quickly into the air; then shrieked wildly as its
horrid face, with its eyes aflame--its terrible mouth agape and
glistening with strong white teeth--glared into mine, while its breath,
like a simoom, stirred my very hair. Madly I flung up my arms, then
sunk back insensible.
When I came to--for of course I did, else this history would never have
been written--I believed I had been killed, and, having passed through
the darkness of the grave, had awakened in the other world; but a few
instants after my eyes recognised the African foliage about me, and I
felt I was lying on the ground, my body painful with pricks and tears,
and my head supported on somebody's knees.
"Is that you, Jack, old fellow?" I asked faintly.
"Ah, you speak! you live!" exclaimed a well-remembered voice in the
Kaffir tongue, and Zenuta's face was bent over mine.
Faint and sore as I was, I started up in my surprise,
ejaculating--"Zenuta! you here? How can it be possible?"
"Possible! Oh, Galbrth, do you think I could have ever lived without
you? You went--oh, cruel, cruel!--but I followed--pardon me."
"What! followed, Zenuta? Have you braved the dangers of the bush alone,
and for my sake?" I said, in much astonishment and emotion.
"Dangers!" she repeated, smiling, "I did not think of them. What were
they to me when I knew by surmounting them I should again see you; and
if I did not," she added seriously, "I thought we might meet again
_there_,"--pointing upward--"as you have so often told me we should."
The tears started to my eyes at the affection of this poor girl, and,
taking her hand, I said, "Heaven bless you, Zenuta! I shall never be
able to repay you--never, indeed, for it must be to you that I owe my
life."
"Yes, yes! to me, Galbrth, to me!" she cried, a bright joy radiating her
features, as she clapped her hands with delight; "you owe your life to
me, poor Zenuta! Oh, I am glad--so glad!"
"But tell me how, dear Zenuta. I really thought my hour had at last
come."
As she was about to commence her story we were interrupted by the return
of Umatula and Jack, whose surprise at the appearance of Zenuta was
equally as great as mine had been. The Kaffir, I fancied, regarded her
angrily, and I secretly resolved that, if he expressed his disapproval
in words, the affectionate girl should find a powerful protector in me;
but as he remained quiet, and the first vexed expression died out of his
features, I explained to them the danger I had run, and learned from
Umatula that it was no uncommon thing for the honey guide to lead
persons occasionally to the lair of some fierce beast of the forest
instead of to the bees' treasure, which unpleasant propensity makes the
natives very cautious when they follow the bird.
"But how, Zenuta," I added, turning again to her, "were you able so soon
to follow us and thus become my protector, my preserver?"
"At the same time that you left the kraal," she said, "it seems that a
party of warriors was sent to bring us, the women, and cattle to their
new home. My people travel faster than white men, and a few hours after
I heard--oh, Galbrth! I heard that you had gone--gone for ever to the
white settlement. I threw myself in agony on the ground; but I could
not weep. My head felt on fire, and at last, starting up, I resolved to
follow you. Creeping, in the confusion, out of the kraal, I fled to the
bush. I did not care if I died there: I only felt I could no longer
live with my people when you were away."
"And the fire last night, Zenuta?" I asked anxiously.
"It nearly caught me," she answered, laughing gleefully, "but I ran--I
ran till I could escape it. Then I went on: I could not sleep, for I
could find no trace of the path you had taken. It made me mad. I ran
on and on--I felt no fatigue--I had no fear--when suddenly a cry, a
shout of terror, reached me. It was your voice, Galbrth. I rushed
forward: I saw the leopard just rising into the air. I saw your danger.
The next moment, with a leap, I had flung my arms tightly about the
creature, and we both together fell struggling to the ground, when,
feeling one of your assagais touch my hand, I seized it, and plunged it
again and again into the leopard's body, till I felt his claws relax on
my arms, when I knew he was dead and I was safe."
"What!" I cried, in much concern, "did the frightful animal harm you,
my noble Zenuta?"
"A little," she replied, smiling, as she turned to me her arm, on the
back of which I perceived the flesh to be torn and bleeding.
"My poor, my brave girl!" I exclaimed tremulously.
"It is nothing--I like it," she laughed softly, "because did I not save
you, my Galbrth?"
I pressed her hand affectionately in mine, and, before anything else was
said or done, persisted that her shoulder should be attended to. Then,
being consumed with a terrible thirst, I asked Umatula whether he had
prophesied rightly respecting water being near.
"Yes," he replied with an amused smile, "there is plenty at a little
distance off, as I should have known," he added, "had your accident
occurred before we started, for the plant which held you prisoner always
grows near water."
"If that be so," I exclaimed, getting up, "for heaven's sake let us go
there, for I am perishing of thirst! Let us get to this stream which
you have discovered."