Mr Bilderjik rode up to his brother pastor's abode, by whom he and his
young friends were very kindly received, and they were all invited to
enter his parlour; where, considerably to George's surprise, he
encountered his old companions on board the _Zulu Queen_, the two Vander
Heydens, and Mynheer Moritz. Annchen came forward with a smile and a
blush to welcome George and Redgy, and Moritz was extremely cordial in
his greetings. Vander Heyden also, though somewhat stiffer in his
demeanour, saluted them with courtesy, expressing his satisfaction at
meeting them again. He explained what, however, the young men had
already been informed of, his intention to join as a volunteer the force
which was to be sent for the purpose of putting down Cetewayo's lawless
rule. "It is not only," he said, "that I have the barbarous murder of a
near relative to avenge, but I feel that there will be neither law nor
justice in this land until his power is destroyed. I do not know what
brings you here, Mr Rivers; but I should be glad to think that our aims
and intentions are the same."
"That is so," said George cordially. "I am persuaded that, whatever may
have been said of former wars which England may have waged with this
country, the one she has now undertaken is the cause of justice and
right. I am glad to think we shall be fellow-campaigners in it. I
suppose there is no doubt that they will accept our services."
"None indeed," answered Vander Heyden. "You may assure yourself of
that. There will be few recruits that they will welcome more readily."
Vander Heyden's words proved true. George and Redgy were admitted
without any demur, as was also Hardy, who arrived two or three days
afterwards. He was a more valuable recruit than any of the party,
having served many years in various campaigns under Havelock, Napier,
and Wolseley. His advice and help were most serviceable to George and
Redgy, and a close intimacy soon sprang up between the three. Their
example proved catching. About a fortnight after their arrival at
Rorke's Drift, the three young Baylens and Matamo made their appearance,
having persuaded their father, after many entreaties, to allow them to
enter the same company as their friends, in the Mounted Volunteers.
George was surprised to see them, for the Baylens had been gone more
than a week. A message had been sent to the President of the Orange
Free State, and it was thought necessary, in the disturbed state of the
country, that the messenger should have a military escort. As they
would pass very near Horner's Kraal, Farmer Baylen had obtained
permission to accompany it. But it now appeared that, as soon as they
reached home, the young men had made such urgent representations, as to
wring from their father a reluctant consent. He had insisted, however,
that Matamo should accompany them, upon whom he laid both his commands
and entreaties to keep a careful watch on his sons.
The eight friends, for so they soon became, found the time pass
pleasantly enough, while the preparations for the campaign were going
on. There was the morning drill and parade, the mess-table, at which
the six English and the two Dutchmen sat next each other, and there were
sword-exercises, and practices with the rifle, which filled up the time,
so as to allow of little leisure. In the evening they would commonly
adjourn to a neighbouring seat under the trees, where they beguiled the
time with narratives of past adventures, and speculations as to the
approaching struggle. Hardy was a particularly pleasant companion. His
anecdotes of the Indian Mutiny, the Abyssinian and Ashantee expeditions,
had a great interest for young soldiers who had never yet encountered
the enemy. He told them of the relief of Lucknow, and how he had stood
by the terrible Well of Cawnpore; how he had accompanied Sir Garnet
Wolseley in his march to Coomassie; and how he had witnessed the final
discomfiture of King Theodore. He regarded the Sepoys, he told them, as
more dangerous enemies, than either the Abyssinians or the Ashantees.
But none of them could, for a moment, compare with the Zulus. It was
not merely the brute courage of these last-named savages that rendered
them so formidable, for almost all barbarous nations are indifferent to
danger. It was their discipline, their devotion to their king's
commands, and their contempt for Europeans, that made them so
formidable. They could not be cowed or terrified. Nothing but
downright hard blows would quell them; and they would endure an amazing
amount of hard blows, before they would knock under.
"Were you ever in very great danger during the Ashantee campaign?" asked
Redgy, at one of these evening seances.
"Not more than any one must encounter, who goes on a campaign, I
believe," answered Hardy. "No; the greatest danger I was ever in, I
think, was during the Abyssinian war, and the danger did not come from a
man, but an elephant."
"Tell us about it, Hardy," said Walter Baylen. "I did not know King
Theodore used elephants in his army."
"No, it was not in battle, it was during the march," was the rejoinder.
"Ours was the advanced guard of the army, and we had entered Abyssinia,
and were passing through a very wild country, partly covered with long
grass, partly with dense forest, when suddenly an enormous elephant
rushed out of the bush upon us. He was the biggest elephant I ever saw.
I don't think he could have stood less than some inches over eleven
feet."
"I thought they were found much larger than that," said Margetts.
"Ah, so people say," said Hardy. "They talk of their being fourteen,
fifteen, and sixteen feet high, but that is all fancy. Matamo here, who
has shot plenty of them, would tell you so. How high was the largest
elephant you ever shot, Matamo?"
"The bull-elephants are mostly nine or ten feet," said the Bechuana.
"Some stand eleven feet, but not many. I once saw one eleven and a half
feet high, but never bigger."
"Just so," said Hardy. "Well, this chap, I should think, might have
been eleven and a half. He was, I fancy, what they call a rogue
elephant--an elephant, that is to say, who has been sent to Coventry,
for some offence, by his companions. They are always extremely
dangerous, and will sometimes attack a man without provocation; which
elephants, as an ordinary rule, will not do. He had the most
magnificent tusks I ever saw; I suppose our commanding officer, Captain
Sparrow, noticed this, and thought they would sell for a lot of money in
Magdala. He gave the order for all of us to fire upon him, and kill
him. I was aware of the danger, and ventured to step up to him, and ask
him to recall his order. I knew how difficult the elephant is to kill,
except to experienced hunters. It was before the days of the
Martini-Henrys, you will remember. I suppose the captain thought that
out of a hundred shots one must be mortal. The men fired before I could
get his attention; and, I suppose, considering the size of the mark,
every one must have hit him. He staggered under the shock, and his
sides streamed with blood, but he did not fall."
"No, Mr Hardy," said Vander Heyden, smiling; "no more than a man would
fall if he was pricked with a hundred needles. Well, what next?"
"The next thing was that he recovered his legs," said Hardy, "and glared
round at us with an angry eye, as much as to ask, who was to pay for
this outrage? I was nearest to him, and I think he had seen me move out
to Captain Sparrow, and had an idea that I might have been the author of
the attack. Any way, I felt for a minute or two very uncomfortable;
but, if he had suspected me, he changed his mind, and made a rush
straight at Captain Sparrow. The captain ran for it, and dodged behind
his men. It was no good. The elephant soon caught him with his trunk,
whirled him into the air as if he had been a shuttlecock, and, when he
came down again, trampled upon him again and again, till he had trodden
all human likeness out of him. Then he looked round upon the ranks
again, as much as to say, `That's enough for this time, but you'd better
not try this again.' After which he turned quietly round and went into
the bush. We dug a grave, and scraped together, as well as we could,
the bloody and mangled remains. I shall never forget the look the
elephant gave me. It was as much as to say, `If I thought you had
anything to do with it, I'd give it to you too.'"
"Ha! that was a narrow escape, Mr Hardy," said Moritz; "but I think my
friend Henryk's here was narrower still. I daresay he will tell it you
himself."
The others joining in the request, Vander Heyden complied willingly
enough.
"It occurred some years ago," he said. "I was staying at the time at
Pretoria, with my relative Pieter Uys, and we had gone out for some
bok-shooting in the wild country that runs up towards the Limpopo. It
was generally believed that the wild beasts had left that neighbourhood;
but I imagine that a hunt must have been going on somewhere near the
Limpopo, and a number of elephants, some of them wounded, were making
their way south. At all events, they broke upon us without our having
had any suspicion of their being in our neighbourhood, bursting through
the thick mimosas round us, as though they had been so many bulrushes.
We were three in party--Frank, myself, and a Hottentot named Kololo.
One of the largest of the herd came so suddenly upon us that we had no
time to think of escaping. We did the only thing there was to do: we
levelled our rifles and fired, hoping to strike him in the heart or
brain. Kololo, poor fellow, aimed right enough; but the elephant tossed
his head at the moment, and the ball struck his tusk and glanced off.
The movement distracted my aim also, and my bullet only inflicted a
flesh wound. Frank's rifle, luckily for him, was at the moment empty.
The elephant glared at us, then ran up and caught Kololo round the waist
with his trunk and flung him up a great distance into the air, so that
he fell among the Tambookie grass. Then he charged me, caught me, as he
had Kololo, round the waist, and pitched me up as he had him, as easy as
a boy shies a stone into the air. Fortunately for me, there was great
motjeerie close at hand. I was thrown across one of the great branches,
and was jammed into a fork of the tree, so tight that I could not
release myself. The elephant stopped below and waited for me to fall,
but, seeing that I did not, he rushed after Kololo, who was still lying
half stunned in the Tambookie grass, and trampled him, very much as Mr
Hardy describes, into powder. Then he came back to the tree where I was
still lying insensible, and, seeing that I was out of his reach, twisted
his trunk round the bole and tried to tear it up. Then he put his
forehead against it and tried to push it down. Big as it was, it
cracked under his enormous weight. But by this time Frank had reloaded
his rifle, and got a clear sight of him, as he stood pushing at the
tree. The ball passed through his heart, and he fell dead instantly.
If Frank had taken a bad aim, I shouldn't have been sitting here to tell
the story."
"Well, I think your escape was narrower than Hardy's," said Ernest
Baylen. "Halloo, Willikind, what now?"
This question was addressed to his brother Wilhelm, who at this moment
approached, accompanied by Sergeant Long.
"Your services are required, Mr Vander Heyden," said the latter. "Our
colonel wishes to obtain some information from Mr Pieter Uys, who has
joined Colonel Wood as a volunteer at Bemta's Kop. The colonel has been
told that you are well known to Mr Uys."
"Yes," said Vander Heyden; "he was my guardian, and I have known him all
my life."
"So he was informed. He wishes to send a verbal message, and receive a
verbal answer, as any writing might, by some accident, fall into the
hands of the enemy. Will you and Mr Moritz go to the colonel, who is
waiting for you at his quarters?"
The two Dutchmen rose, put on their swords and helmets, and went off in
the direction indicated.
"The colonel thinks I ought to take eight or ten with me," continued
Sergeant Long, looking round him, "as the roads are said to be beset by
a number of lawless fellows, both black and white, who would show no
respect for the British flag. Will any of you gentlemen volunteer to
accompany me?"
He was answered by a general cry of assent. Pleasant as their camp life
was, there was something of monotony in it, and the young men were glad
of a little variety. "I will," and "I will," was the cry on every lip.
"A ride to Bemta's Kop will be some fun," remarked Margetts. "Drill and
sword-exercise are very well in their way, but there may be too much
even of them."
"You will soon see plenty of fun, sir," observed Sergeant Long.
"Cetewayo's time will be up in two or three days now, and there is no
chance of his knocking under." In another quarter of an hour the party
had set out. It consisted of ten persons--there was Sergeant Long, who
was in command, the two Dutchmen, George, Margetts, and Hardy, the three
young Baylens, and Matamo. The last-named had been very urgent to be
allowed to accompany the party, and, as he was a strong, alert, and
active fellow, Sergeant Long had made no objection.
The road lay for some distance along the bank of the Buffalo river, and
was at first quite open and safe to travel. Knowing that the whole
neighbourhood, except within the immediate contiguity of the camp, was
full of dangerous characters of all kinds, Sergeant Long had impressed
on the party the necessity of keeping a bright look-out Matamo, in
particular, whose long training particularly qualified him for such
duties, was told to report to the sergeant anything suspicious that
might present itself to him. But for some time there was nothing that
could occasion uneasiness. There was neither rock nor wood for a long
distance on either side of the road, which could possibly afford shelter
to an enemy. But after an hour's ride the character of the country
began to alter. Ridges of rock appeared rising one above another, until
their height became sufficient to shut out the view beyond. Farther on,
these ridges began to be clothed with thorns and shrubs of various
kinds, presenting places from which it would be easy to fire unobserved
on any one passing by. The farther the road ran, the more dangerous did
it appear; and at last, when they were approaching Bemta's Kop, Sergeant
Long drew rein, and called up Matamo.
"I don't like this," he said. "Do you know this road? Have you often
travelled by it?"
"I know the road pretty well," answered Matamo. "But if the Zulus or
the white robbers hide in the bank, it will not be possible to see them
till they fire."
"Just so. Are there many bad places before we reach Bemta's Kop?"
"Plenty of bad places--as bad or worse than these. But I chance to know
a way round. It is a mile or two longer, but we shall be safe from the
robbers there."
"We should lose time by taking that, but I really think it would be
safer. What do you say, Mr Hardy?" he continued, drawing him aside.
"I don't like the look of the road; and if it is true that there are
large gangs of ruffians of all kinds about, it is not safe to proceed
farther in a route like this."
"I am quite of your mind, sergeant," said Hardy; "I know Matamo is
entirely to be trusted."
"Very good; so be it. Show us the way, Matamo, and we will follow."
The Bechuana complied. Turning back about fifty yards, he urged his
horse between two almost perpendicular masses of rock, and then made his
way among the boles of the trees for perhaps a quarter of a mile. Then
he turned sharp to the right, and followed a similar course, appearing
to know his way, as if by instinct, among the yellow woods and
oomahaamas, of which the wood chiefly consisted. A bare, open country
followed, along which they rode for a long distance without seeing so
much as an animal or a bird the entire way. Presently Matamo again
turned sharply to the right, and after a short ride through some
thickets of scrub, the summit of Bemta's Kop, and soon afterwards
Colonel Evelyn Wood's encampment, came in sight.
On arriving there, Sergeant Long presented himself at the quarters of
the commanding officer and stated his errand. Mr Uys, it appeared, was
in the camp, and Vander Heyden and Moritz were immediately conducted to
him. The others were invited to sit down to refreshments offered them.
It was seen at once that they were not common soldiers, and the officers
entered into friendly conversation with them.
"You are fortunate in having got along that road in safety," observed
Captain Forester to George. "It is not everybody who does. Only two
days ago some waggons bringing in supplies were attacked by a lot of
these fellows in open day, and several of our men were wounded. They
got the worst of it, however, and perhaps that has induced them to sheer
off. I believe one or two of them were killed--certainly hurt."
"Well, we were not in charge of any valuables," remarked George. "There
was nothing to be got from us but our guns, and perhaps our horses."
"Just so; unless they thought you were carrying despatches. Cetewayo
would pay them well for any information that might be brought him."
"Well, I suppose no white men would carry any information against their
own countrymen to him," remarked Margetts.
"Oh, wouldn't they!" exclaimed Captain Forester. "You have much too
good an opinion of our countrymen, Mr Margetts. I am afraid they would
not only give information, but supply them with Martini-Henrys and
Colt's revolvers, and Gatling guns too, if they could get hold of them,
always provided they could make fifty per cent, by the bargain.
However," continued the captain, "if they had meant to stop you at all,
they would have done so on your way here. Most probably the losses they
sustained the other day have given them such a lesson that they won't
meddle with our men again."
In another hour the two Dutchmen returned, having had a satisfactory
interview with Mr Uys, and received the reply which was to be carried
to Rorke's Drift. A consultation was then held, and it was agreed that
they had better set out immediately, as it would be possible, by sharp
riding, to reach the camp before dusk. It was thought better to follow
the same road on their way back, as that by which they had come, it
being plain that it was a route known to very few, if to any but Matamo
himself. They set out accordingly, and arrived without adventure at the
point in the road whence Matamo had turned off. Considering now that
all danger was over, they set off at a round trot by the way which ran
along the river-side; when suddenly, as they were passing a mass of
rock, the top and sides of which were hidden by foliage, a puff of white
smoke issued from a bush, and a bullet was fired which would have struck
Vander Heyden in the chest, if it had not happened that Walter Baylen's
horse plunged forward at the moment, so that the ball intended for the
Dutchman entered Walter's shoulder. Hardy instantly fired his revolver
at the spot whence the smoke had issued; and all the party, putting
spurs to their horses, galloped through the first opening that presented
itself into the broken ground which lay on the other side of the rock.
Half a dozen rough-looking fellows, alarmed by their approach, were just
springing on their horses, and making off in all directions, as they
came up. One of the party, who had been wounded, doubtless, by Hardy's
shot, was leaning against a tree unable to move. By the sergeant's
direction, Hardy and Matamo alighted from their horses, and proceeded to
secure him, at the same time tying up a wound in the thigh which he had
received. The two Baylens and Margetts lifted Walter from his horse,
and proceeded to examine his hurt. The sergeant and Moritz went off in
pursuit of one knot of fugitives; George and Vander Heyden after
another. The latter were not above two hundred yards ahead, and there
was a long stretch of down country without shrub or stone to break the
prospect. As their horses were evidently better than those of the
robbers, they expected to overtake them. After a gallop of half an
hour, they had approached within fire, and George, discharging his
pistol, wounded one of the horses in the leg. Perceiving that he could
go no farther, the man sprang from his saddle, and confronted his
antagonist. An expression of surprise broke from George, as he
recognised the leader of the mutineers on board the _Zulu Queen_, John
Bostock. Vander Heyden also appeared surprised, though he made no
remark.
"You here?" exclaimed Rivers. "I did not expect it, but I am glad you
will not escape the punishment you so richly deserve. I suppose you
will surrender yourself our prisoner, or we shall fire upon you at
once."
"You are two to one, Mr Rivers," said Bostock, "and you are both armed.
But I call upon Mr Vander Heyden here, if he is not a coward, to meet
me in fair fight. He knows that I am entitled to it. My birth is as
good as his own, I have served in the same army as himself, and I have
twice challenged him. He is fond of saying that the English would be no
match for the Dutch, if it wasn't for the advantages that their position
in the colony gives them. Does he dare meet an Englishman now, without
advantage on either side? Mr Rivers, here, may stand by, and see that
there is fair play."
"Mr Vander Heyden, surely you will not think of allowing this," said
George, as he saw the Dutchman alight from his horse, and proceed to
secure him to a solitary thorn which grew on the down. "Let him say
what he likes, he cannot be entitled to a meeting at your hands."
"It may be he is not, Mr Rivers," said Vander Heyden. "He is no doubt
by birth a gentleman, and has held a commission in our army. I agree
with you that he has so lowered and degraded himself, that he cannot
claim his privilege, either as an officer or a gentleman. But let that
be as it may, no soldier, and, above all, no Hollander, can refuse to
meet him face to face. You must act for both parties, Mr Rivers, and
see that everything is fair. No Englishman shall ever say I refused his
challenge."
"If you insist upon it, I suppose I must," said George, who, though
greatly vexed and disgusted, knew enough of Vander Heyden to be assured
he would not give way on the point. "If this duel is to take place, it
had better be immediately. What weapons do you propose?"
"What he pleases," replied Vander Heyden shortly.
"Pardon me, Mr Vander Heyden," said George, "but if I am to have the
management of this affair, I cannot allow that. You are the challenged,
and, by a rule everywhere acknowledged, have the choice of weapons. I
choose pistols for you, and twelve paces is the distance at which you
are to fire. I presume no objection is raised to either point." He
looked at Bostock, who, though somewhat disappointed, as George fancied,
at the proposed arrangement, answered sullenly, "Choose what weapons you
like."
"Very well," said Rivers. "Then here is my revolver and Mr Vander
Heyden's; they are by the same maker, and as nearly equal as two pistols
can be. Take your choice of them, and stand, if you please, on that
spot. Now, Mr Vander Heyden, in what manner will you fire--alternately
or at the same moment?"
"Alternately; that is the usual practice here," said Vander Heyden. "We
can toss for who is to have the first fire."
A florin was accordingly flung up, and it was found the right of
shooting first fell to Vander Heyden.
The signal was given, he fired, and his bullet tore a button from
Bostock's breast. The Englishman then discharged his revolver, and the
bullet struck Vander Heyden's helmet, through which it cut a furrow,
without wounding him, though he reeled under the blow.
"I presume that is enough," said George. "He cannot claim more at your
hands."
"Does he demand more?" asked Vander Heyden.
"I do," said Bostock. "I claim a second shot."
"Let him have it," said the Dutchman.
"If you must, you must," exclaimed Rivers. "But take notice that I will
allow no more. If you persist after this, I shall ride off the ground."
Vander Heyden bowed stiffly, and, raising his revolver, delivered his
second shot. It evidently struck his antagonist, who raised, and then
dropped his arm, as if in pain. Hastening up, George discovered that he
had been hit in the right wrist. The wound did not appear to be a
dangerous one, but it was obviously impossible for Bostock to hold a
pistol.
"I cannot have my revenge to-day," he exclaimed sullenly, when the
bleeding had been stopped, and the wound bound up. "But the day will
come when I shall return your fire."
"When you please, sir," answered the Dutchman haughtily. "After an
affair of this kind, you must be allowed to go free. If we meet again,
it will be different. I shall not feel obliged to answer your challenge
a second time."
They parted, Bostock leading away his wounded horse, and the other two,
remounting, rode back to their companions.
"Mr Rivers," said the Dutchman when they had ridden, a short distance,
"I thank you for your friendly offices. Will you add to them by being
entirely silent about this adventure?"
"Certainly," returned George; "it would not be desirable on many
accounts to speak of it." No more was said until they rejoined their
companions, who were somewhat impatiently awaiting their return.
"Did you kill either of those fellows?" asked the sergeant. "I fancied
I heard several shots fired."
"No, they got off," said George vaguely. "I hope Walter is not much
hurt."
"Only a flesh wound, George," said Walter Baylen. "The worst of it is
that I am afraid it will prevent me from joining the other fellows when
they march. They tell me I shan't be able to stir for three weeks to
come."
"Well, we had better start now, and lose no time," said Rivers.
"Matamo, you have got the prisoner safe, I see. Why, I declare it is
Van Ryk! a good job too!"