CONCLUSION.
The Club stood speechless with astonishment, and so did the trapper.
Uncle Dick was the first to break the silence, which he did by laughing
long and heartily. “You have made a reputation now, Lewis,” said he.
“These natives are all firm believers in witchcraft, and they think you
are a medicine-man.”
This was the reason why the Zulus had fled in such hot haste. They had
never seen a white man dressed as Dick was, and neither had they ever
seen one act so strangely. It struck them at once that he was a
conjuror, and that he was going through some sort of an incantation for
the purpose of bringing some dire calamity upon his foes.
“I think we have seen the last of them for to-night,” continued Uncle
Dick. “Now when we resume our journey we must make all haste, for when
these fellows go back to their own country their king will send an army
after us, and Dick may not be able to frighten them away again.”
As soon as the Zulus were gone the Griquas came out of their
hiding-places and gathered about the tent, all clamoring to know how it
happened that the dreaded enemy had been driven off so easily. When
Uncle Dick gravely informed them that his conjuror had found means to
send them away, their gratitude knew no bounds. Then most of them
dispersed at once, and when they returned, brought presents of milk and
corn—articles for which they had hitherto demanded the highest prices in
beads and wire—and tremblingly placed them on the ground before the
great medicine-man. Groups of them stood about the fire until ten
o’clock that night, watching every move he made; and Dick had only to
stand erect, look toward the stars, extend an arm at full length and
pull the other back to his shoulder as if he were drawing a bow, to send
them scampering away at the top of their speed.
The next morning the travellers were astir at an early hour, all eager
to begin the journey to the coast; but now another difficulty was
presented. The Griquas who had been engaged to fill the places of the
Kaffirs were nowhere to be found. The boys were dismayed, but Uncle Dick
was as serene as usual. “I expected it,” said he. “They were frightened
by that visit from the Zulus. We must depend upon the oxen to guide us
back.”
“Do they know the way home?” asked George.
“No, but they made a trail coming here, and their instinct will lead
them to follow that trail back.”
“Why, it must be obliterated by this time.”
“No matter for that. They will find and follow it in the darkest of
nights.”
Inspanning was a task the boys did not like, and they hoped they had
assisted in it for the last time; but as there was no one to do the
business for them they set to work with a will, and by ten o’clock the
wagon was in motion. Contrary to their expectations, not a Griqua
followed them out of the village. They were afraid of the Zulus, and so
was Uncle Dick, if one might judge by the way he disposed of his forces,
and the arrangements he made for repelling an attack. He and Frank went
on ahead as usual, the two trappers brought up the rear—there were no
loose cattle and horses to drive now—and the others rode beside the
wagon, Eugene being instructed in case of difficulty to take his brother
up behind him. The travellers moved in this order until the middle of
the afternoon, when they entered the dry bed of what had once been a
stream of considerable magnitude. The high banks on each side were
thickly lined with bushes and rocks, affording excellent ambush for an
enemy, and as the bed of the stream was only forty feet wide, and the
road ran through the middle of it, it was impossible for the travellers
to get out of range of the javelins of the Zulus should they chance to
be awaiting them here. And they were waiting for them, just as Uncle
Dick expected they would be. The chief of the Zulus, having recovered
from his fright, had made a wide detour around the village during the
night, and concealed his warriors along the banks of the stream among
the rocks and bushes. When the passage was about half completed he made
his presence known. The signal for attack was a loud yell given by the
chief, who suddenly appeared on the top of one of the high rocks on the
bank; but no sooner had he gained a footing there, than a bullet from
Bob Kelly’s ready rifle brought him headlong into the bed of the stream.
His warriors however, promptly obeyed the signal. They arose from their
concealments on both sides of the road, and the way the spears whistled
through the air for a few minutes was surprising. The majority of these
weapons seemed to be aimed at the two trappers—the warriors, no doubt,
believing that if the conjuror could be killed the rest of the
travellers could be easily managed—and it was a wonder how they escaped
being pierced by them. Their horses were struck down almost instantly,
but the trappers landed on their feet, and sheltering themselves behind
convenient rocks in the road, opened a hot fire on the savages.
All these things happened in less than a minute. Although the attack was
not altogether unexpected, it was still a surprise, it was made so
suddenly. As soon as Uncle Dick had time to think he began to issue his
orders.
“Leave the wagon, boys,” said he, “and run for that high hill you see
yonder.”
“Come on, Dick,” shouted Archie, slinging his empty Maynard on his back
and drawing his pistols from their holsters.
“Lewis, you and Bob stay where you are,” commanded Uncle Dick. “You’re
safe there, and in a few minutes we shall be in a position to help you.”
The boys, led by Uncle Dick, at once put their horses into a full
gallop. Walter, who was seated on the driver’s box, springing up behind
his brother, and Frank bringing up the rear, carrying a revolver in each
hand, and banging away every time he saw a head to fire at. The oxen,
frightened by the shouting and the noise of the firearms, tried to
follow, but three of them had already been killed in the yoke, and the
leaders turning back upon those in the rear, the team became mixed up in
the greatest confusion.
Frank was astonished at the force with which the Zulus threw their
spears. They did not throw them very accurately, for the reason that
they were so very much afraid of the bullets which rattled about among
the rocks, that they did not spend an instant in poising their weapons
before they launched them; but they sent them through the air with great
speed, and those which struck the oxen and horses made wounds that were
almost instantly fatal. Presently Frank was given further proof that
they were terrible weapons in the hands of those who knew how to use
them. Archie, who was galloping along in front of him, mounted on the
splendid animal which he had paraded before his cousin when the latter
drew the ungainly beast he was then riding, suddenly came to the ground
all in a heap. Frank drew up on the instant, and the utmost horror was
depicted on his countenance as he threw himself from his saddle and
kneeled by his cousin’s side. As he did so a spear whistled through the
air and buried itself in the sand beside him, but he paid no attention
to it. His thoughts were wholly wrapped up in his cousin, who set his
fears at rest by saying, cheerfully,
“I’m all right, but I’ve lost my horse at last. Did you see that spear
go through his neck? He has fallen on my leg, and I—Oh, Frank!”
The latter, who had seized his cousin by the shoulders, and was exerting
all his strength to pull him to his feet, suddenly released his hold and
fell by Archie’s side. At the same time there was a whistling sound in
the air, and Archie looked up to see the shaft of a spear quivering in
the air above his cousin’s side, the point being out of sight. It looked
as though it was buried in Frank’s body, but fortunately it was not. It
had passed through the haversack in which he carried the cartridges for
his Maynard, and was thrown with sufficient force to carry him to the
ground. The next moment the grim warrior who launched the weapon came
tumbling heels over head down the bank, while a triumphant shout from
Dick Lewis told the cousins who it was that sent him there.
“It is hot about here, Frank. You had better take care of yourself,”
said Archie.
The only notice Frank took of this friendly advice was to jump to his
feet and renew his efforts to release his cousin. This time he was
successful, but when he lifted him to his feet Archie found that he
could not stand alone. That, however, was a matter of small moment
seeing that Frank had a horse close by. The animal had remained
motionless where his rider left him, and it was the work of but a few
seconds for Frank to jump into the saddle and pull his cousin up after
him. This done, he put the animal to the top of his speed, and the two
were carried safely down the ravine and into the midst of their friends,
who having reached the hill of which Uncle Dick had spoken, were in a
position to drive the Zulus from the field. Having a cross-fire upon
them they had complete command of their position, and one volley was all
that was needed to send them flying up the hill on each side of the
ravine.
As soon as the Zulus were out of sight the trappers arose from their
concealments, and having removed the saddles and bridles from their dead
steeds and thrown them into the wagon, they proceeded to put the train
in motion, Uncle Dick and his party keeping up a steady fire all the
while to prevent the return of the savages. While Bob cut the dead oxen
loose from the yokes, Dick forced the leaders back into their places,
and when the animals had been made to understand what was required of
them, they brought the wagon up the hill in safety. It was a lucky fight
taken altogether. The Zulus must have suffered severely; the trappers
said they had seen a dozen or more of them tumble into the ravine, while
all the travellers lost were three oxen and as many horses. Frank had
had a very narrow escape. The weapon which had so nearly ended his
existence was packed carefully away in the wagon with the haversack
still fast to it. He intended that these articles should some day occupy
a prominent place among the curiosities in his room at the cottage.
The misfortunes which had thus far followed the travellers seemed to end
with that fight. From that time forward things worked as smoothly as
could be desired. Fortune first smiled upon them the next morning when
the Griquas, who had been engaged to accompany them to the coast,
entered the camp. The Zulus having been whipped and driven out of the
country, they were no longer afraid to fulfil their contract. Walter was
glad to see them, for he was tired of acting as driver, and so were the
rest of the boys, for they were relieved of the task of inspanning. They
passed back through the Boer settlement, and here another surprise
awaited them. The Dutchmen having had time to recover their good-nature
were in the humor for trading, and at every farm they visited some of
the goods, which they thought they would have to carry back to
Grahamstown with them, were exchanged for fat cattle. Long before they
reached the coast their stock was exhausted, there was a drove of eighty
oxen following behind the wagon, and those of the party who had lost
their horses were remounted on animals purchased from the Boers.
Everything was disposed of at a fair profit, so that the expedition,
which at first threatened to end in failure, turned out much better than
they had ever hoped it would.
Uncle Dick’s first care, when he reached the coast, was to inquire for
his runaway driver, of whom he had heard at several farm-houses along
the route. He found that the man had been in Grahamstown, and that he
had sold a horse and gun there; but they were not the same that he had
stolen from his employer. Mack was much too smart for that. He had
traded off Uncle Dick’s horse and gun at the first opportunity, sold
those he received in exchange, and used the money to carry him out of
the country. Uncle Dick’s gun had probably been left with some Boer a
thousand miles back in the interior; but of course it would not pay to
go back after it.
When the last ox, the last pound of ivory, and the last article
composing their outfit had been disposed of, the party went on board the
schooner in high spirits; and at the turn of the tide the anchor was
hoisted not to be dropped again, they fondly hoped, until they sailed
into the bay at the rear of Mr. Gaylord’s plantation. Nothing happened
to mar the pleasure of the homeward voyage. Propelled by favoring
breezes the Stranger sped merrily on her way, and the topsails were
scarcely touched from the day they took their departure from the Cape of
Good Hope until land was sighted on the other side of the Atlantic. The
first familiar object they saw was Lost Island, which would ever be
memorable in the history of the Sportsman’s Club, and the next was the
village of Bellville. As the schooner sailed along past the town—the
wind being favorable she did not signal for a tug to tow her in—her
appearance attracted the attention of the people on the wharves, who
gazed at her with great interest. There were some among them who had
never seen her before, while others thought there was something about
her that looked familiar, but they could not tell who she was. The
Club’s friends had learned from Chase and Wilson that the Stranger was
homeward bound, but they did not look for her so soon, and not one on
the wharf could call her by name until they saw her round the point
above the village and shape her course towards Mr. Gaylord’s wharf. Then
it was too late to welcome her.
When the schooner rounded the point the Gaylord mansion and all its
surroundings came plainly into view. The family did not seem to be on
the lookout for her, but they were quickly made aware of her arrival.
The twenty-four pounders, whose voices had not been heard since they
spoke so emphatically to the inhabitants of that island away off in the
Pacific, awoke the echoes of the hills, and when the breeze carried away
the smoke that rolled up from their muzzles, some one was seen running
along the carriageway that led from the barn to the house. It was old
Sam. He was gone but a few minutes, and when he returned he was
accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord. The schooner stood as close in to
the jetty as the depth of the water would permit, and then dropped her
anchor. Before it had fairly touched the bottom the gig was in the
water, and Uncle Dick and the Club were on their way to the shore.
Of course, a perfect round of festivities followed the return of the
wanderers, and the happy Christmas times were repeated. It was a week
before George Le Dell and the cousins could tear themselves away from
the hospitable Gaylord mansion. The rickety stage-coach carried them to
New Orleans, and when they had taken leave of the trappers and seen them
safely on board a steamer bound for St. Louis, they took passage on
board a Washita River boat, and the next time they set foot ashore it
was in front of George’s home. There the cousins remained another
week—Archie would have been glad to prolong the stay indefinitely—and
then started for Lawrence, where they arrived in due time, their voyage
around the world being happily terminated.
Now, reader, the story of the Club’s adventures and exploits is ended,
and before bidding them and you farewell, it only remains for us to tell
where they are now, and what they have been doing since we last saw
them. It is a true saying, that the boy is father to the man; and from
what we know of our heroes, it is safe to predict that the virtues of
manliness, truthfulness and fidelity which have ruled their lives in the
past will always be strictly adhered to. Frank Nelson has not yet made
anything more than a local reputation, but that he is sure to do it some
day his friends all feel confident. He is a practicing lawyer in his
native State. He is as fond of his fishing-rod and double-barrel as he
ever was, and spends a portion of each summer at the Rangeley Lakes and
among the Adirondacks. If he ever goes into politics, as his friends are
urging him to do, it is to be hoped that he will use his influence and
eloquence to correct some of the abuses that are now so prevalent. His
home is still at Lawrence, where his mother resides. Archie Winters,
shortly after his return from abroad, became a student at a certain
polytechnic institute. He settled down to business with the
determination to make a man and a civil engineer of himself. He
graduated with honors, stepped at once into a responsible and lucrative
position, and the cards of invitation that were sent out a few months
ago show what he was working for. Archie is married now, and General Le
Dell and his family go North every summer to visit him and his wife.
Henry Chase and Leonard Wilson have purchased an orange plantation in
Florida, and report says they are respected and successful men.
Fred Craven is a first lieutenant in the revenue service; and when he
becomes a captain, as he probably will before another year has passed
over his head, we should like to see any smuggler outwit him as Mr. Bell
outwitted the captain of the cutter who overhauled the Banner once upon
a time, and made her captain and crew prisoners. Jasper Babcock is a
commission merchant and cotton factor in Bellville; George Le Dell, who
is Archie’s brother-in-law, is in the same business in Memphis; Phil
Perkins owns a controlling interest in a line of steamers plying between
New Orleans and Galveston; and Walter and Eugene are carrying on their
father’s extensive plantation, Mr. Gaylord having retired from active
business. Of course they live at home—there is no place in the world
like home, they think—and so does Uncle Dick, whose cabin is as much a
place of resort for the young men of the vicinity as it used to be for
the boys. The Banner is still in existence, and as for the Stranger,
Uncle Dick says she is as good as she ever was, and still able to beat
anything of her size that floats.
The intercourse between the cousins and the Sportsman’s Club which was
brought about almost by accident, has never been interrupted. This
acquaintance quickly ripened into friendship, which will be as lasting
as life itself. Many a grand reunion have they had since they returned
from abroad; and of all the adventures of which they have been the
heroes, none occupy a more prominent place in their memories or are so
often discussed as those that befell them while they were sojourning
AMONG THE BOERS.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAMOUS CASTLEMON BOOKS.
=GUNBOAT SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. 6 vols. 12mo.
FRANK THE YOUNG NATURALIST.
FRANK IN THE WOODS.
FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
FRANK ON A GUNBOAT.
FRANK BEFORE VICKSBURG.
FRANK ON THE PRAIRIE.
=ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. 3 vols. 12mo.
Cloth.
FRANK AMONG THE RANCHEROS.
FRANK IN THE MOUNTAINS.
FRANK AT DON CARLOS’ RANCH.
=SPORTSMAN’S CLUB SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. 3 vols. 12mo.
Cloth.
THE SPORTSMAN’S CLUB IN THE SADDLE.
THE SPORTSMAN’S CLUB AFLOAT.
THE SPORTSMAN’S CLUB AMONG THE TRAPPERS.
=FRANK NELSON SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. 3 vols. 12mo. Cloth.
SNOWED UP.
FRANK IN THE FORECASTLE.
THE BOY TRADERS.
=BOY TRAPPER SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. 3 vols. 12mo. Cloth.
THE BURIED TREASURE.
THE BOY TRAPPER.
THE MAIL-CARRIER.
=ROUGHING IT SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. 3 vols. 12mo. Cloth.
GEORGE IN CAMP.
GEORGE AT THE WHEEL.
GEORGE AT THE FORT.
=ROD AND GUN SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. 3 vols. 12mo. Cloth.
DON GORDON’S SHOOTING BOX.
THE YOUNG WILD FOWLERS.
ROD AND GUN CLUB.
=GO-AHEAD SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. 3 vols. 12mo. Cloth.
TOM NEWCOMBE.
GO-AHEAD.
NO MOSS.
=FOREST AND STREAM SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. 3 vols. 12mo.
Cloth.
JOE WAYRING.
SNAGGED AND SUNK.
STEEL HORSE.
=WAR SERIES.= By HARRY CASTLEMON. 5 vols. 12mo. Cloth.
TRUE TO HIS COLORS.
RODNEY THE OVERSEER.
MARCY THE REFUGEE.
RODNEY THE PARTISAN.
MARCY THE BLOCKADE-RUNNER.
_Other Volumes in Preparation._
* * * * *
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by
R. W. CARROLL & CO.,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
1. Moved the advertising page from after the title page to
the end.
2. Silently corrected typographical errors.
3. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as
printed.
4. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
5. Enclosed bold font in =equals=.