One day Jumbo touched Dick's arm, as he was riding along with the
caravan, and, pointing to a clump of trees at some little distance,
said,--
"Giraffe."
Dick reined in his horse, and gazed at the trees.
"I don't see it," he said.
"They are very difficult to see," Mr Harvey remarked; "they have a
knack somehow of standing so as to look like a part of the tree. I
don't see him myself, but if Jumbo says he is there, you may be sure he
is."
"Is the skin valuable?" Dick asked.
"No, Dick, it would not be worth cumbering ourselves with. Nor is the
flesh very good to eat--I do not say it cannot be eaten, but we have
plenty of venison. I never like shooting a giraffe when I can help it.
Clumsy and awkward as they are, they have wonderfully soft and
expressive eyes, and I do not know anything more piteous than the look
of a dying giraffe; however, if you ride up to the trees and set them
scampering, you will get a good laugh, for their run is as awkward and
clumsy as that of any living creature."
Dick accordingly started at a gallop towards the trees; it was not until
he was close to them that he saw three giraffes, two old ones and a
young one. They started off, as he approached, at a pace which seemed
to Dick to be slow, as well as extraordinarily clumsy. The two old ones
kept themselves between their offspring and the pursuer, as if to shield
it from a shot. Dick, however, had no idea of firing; he only wished to
gallop up close, so as to get a nearer view of these singular beasts,
but to his astonishment he found that, although his horse was going at
its best speed, the apparently slow-moving giraffes were steadily
gaining upon him. He could hardly at first believe his eyes. But he
was gradually tailed off, and at last, reining in his horse, he sat in
the saddle and enjoyed a good laugh at the strange trio in front of him,
with their long, straggling legs and necks.
When he rejoined the caravan Mr Harvey, who had watched the pursuit,
asked him laughingly if he managed to catch the giraffe.
"I might as soon have tried to catch an express train; they went right
away from me,--and Tommy can gallop too; but he hadn't a chance with
them, although he did his best."
"They do move along at a tremendous pace in their clumsy fashion. They
take such immense strides with those odd long legs of theirs, that one
has no idea of their speed until one chases them. I never knew a new
hand who tried it, but he was sure to come back with a crestfallen
face."
Three weeks after leaving what they called the elephant-camp the caravan
halted for two days. They had now arrived at the spot where their
troubles with the natives might be expected to begin; they were at the
border of the Matabele country, and here Mr Harvey intended to turn
west, and after keeping along for some time to bend to the south and
re-enter the colony north of Kimberley, and to journey down to Port
Elizabeth, which is the principal mart for goods from the interior.
Between the Matabele and the tribes on their border hostilities had for
some time prevailed, and while they halted Mr Harvey sent forward
Blacking with a few presents to the chief of the next tribe, saying that
he was coming through his country to trade, and asking for a promise
that he should not be interfered with in his passage.
At the end of the second day the messenger returned.
"The chief says come; he says he has been a long time without trade.
But before he answered he talked with his chiefs, and I don't know
whether he means honestly. The tribe has a bad name; they are thieves
and robbers."
"Well, we will go on," Mr Harvey said, "nevertheless; we have got the
chief's word, and he will not after that venture to attack us openly,
for if he did he knows very well that no more traders would visit his
country. His people may make attacks upon us, but we are strong enough
to hold our own. We muster about thirty guns, and in our laager would
be able to beat off his whole tribe, did they attack us; we will,
however, while travelling through his country, be more careful than
hitherto. The waggons shall, when it is possible, travel two abreast,
so that the line will not be so long to guard, and you must not wander
away to shoot. Fortunately we have a store of dried meat, which will
last us for some time."
On the following morning the caravans set out, and after travelling
twelve miles halted on the bank of a stream. Soon after they had formed
their camp five or six natives came in; they brought a few bunches of
ostrich plumes and some otter skins; these they bartered for cotton, and
having concluded their bargains wandered about in the camp, as was the
custom of the natives, peeping into the waggons, examining the bullocks,
and looking at all the arrangements with childish curiosity.
"I expect these fellows have come as spies rather than traders," Mr
Harvey said to the lads. "As a general thing the natives come in with
their wives and children; but, you see, these are all men. I observed
too that they have particularly examined the pile of muskets, as if
reckoning up our means of defence. In future, instead of merely a
couple of men to look after the cattle and keep off any marauders, I
will put six every night on guard; they shall be relieved twice during
the night, and one of the hunters shall be in charge of each watch,--if
there are signs of trouble, we will ourselves take it by turns."
Two or three times that night the sentries perceived moving objects near
the camp, and challenged; in each case the objects at once disappeared;
whether they were hyenas or crawling men could not be discerned.
At the halt next day a much larger number of natives came in, and a
satisfactory amount of trade was done. Their demeanour, however, was
insolent and overbearing, and some of them went away with their goods,
declining to accept the exchange offered. After they had left the camp
several small articles were missed.
The next day they passed across a plain abounding in game, and Mr
Harvey said that the boys and the three hunters might go out and kill
some fresh meat; but he warned Dick and Tom not to allow their ardour in
the chase to carry them away from the hunters, but to keep as much as
possible together. When they had killed as many animals as could be
carried on their horses and the hunters' shoulders, they were to return
at once.
It was the first time that Tom had been out hunting since his accident;
his bones had all set well, and beyond a little stiffness and occasional
pain he was quite himself again.
"I am glad to be riding out again with you, Dick," he said; "it has been
awfully slow work jogging along by the side of the caravan."
In addition to the three hunters they took as usual a native with them,
to hold the horses should it be necessary to dismount and stalk the
game, instead of chasing it and shooting it from the saddles, an
exercise in which by this time the boys were efficient. They found more
difficulty in getting up to the game than they had expected, and the
hunters said confidently that the animals must have been chased or
disturbed within a few hours. They had accordingly to go four or five
miles across the plain before they could get a shot; but at last they
saw a herd feeding in a valley. After the experience they had had that
morning of the futility of attempting to get near the deer on horseback,
they determined that the hunters should make a circuit, and come down
upon the herd from different points. Tom and Dick were to stay on the
brow where they were then standing, keeping well back, so as to be out
of sight from the valley, until they heard the report of the first gun,
when they were to mount and endeavour to cut off and head the deer back
upon the others. The hunters then started--Jumbo and Blacking going to
the right, Tony and the other to the left.
After an hour's walking they reached their places at points about
equidistant from each other, forming with Tom and Dick a complete circle
round the deer. They were enabled to keep each other in sight, although
hidden from the herd in the hollow. When each had gained his station
they lay down and began to crawl towards the deer, and until they were
within 150 yards of the herd the latter continued grazing quietly. Then
an old buck gave a short, sharp cry, and struck the ground violently
with his hoofs; the others all ceased feeding, and gazed with startled
eyes to windward, and were about to dash off in a body when the four men
fired almost simultaneously, and as many stags fell. The rest darted
off at full speed in the direction in which Tom and Dick were posted,
that being the only side open to them. An instant later Tom and Dick
appeared on horseback on the brow, and dashed down towards the herd;
these, alarmed at the appearance of a fresh enemy, broke into two
bodies, scattering right and left, giving both lads an opportunity for a
good shot. Both succeeded in bringing down their mark. They then
dismounted, and giving their horses to the native joined the hunters.
They had bagged six deer, and the hunters at once proceeded to
disembowel them; one was to be slung behind each of the saddles, and the
others would be carried by the hunters and native.
While they were so engaged they were startled by a shout, and saw the
native running down towards them, leading the horses and gesticulating
wildly.
"We are attacked," Blacking said, and almost at the same moment three or
four arrows fell among them.
They had collected the dead deer at one spot, and were standing in a
group; looking round they saw a large number of natives crowning the low
hills all round them, and saw that while they had been stalking the deer
they themselves had been stalked by the natives. Without a moment's
hesitation the hunters disposed the bodies of the deer in a circle;
seizing the two horses they threw them beside the deer, fastening their
limbs with the lassoes which they carried, so that they could not move;
then the six men threw themselves down in the circle.
All this had been done in a couple of minutes. The arrows were falling
fast among them, but none had been hit, and as soon as the preparations
were complete they opened a steady fire at the enemy. With the
exception of the man who had come out with the horses all were good
shots, and their steady fire at once checked the advance of the natives,
whose triumphant yelling ceased, as man after man went down, and they
speedily followed the example of their opponents, and, throwing
themselves down on the grass, kept up a fire with their arrows in a
circle of seventy or eighty yards round the hunters.
Gradually, however, their fire ceased, for to use their bows they were
obliged to show their heads above the grass, and whenever one did so the
sharp crack of a rifle was heard; and so often did the bullets fly true
to their aim that the natives soon grew chary of exposing themselves.
"What will they do now?" Dick asked, as the firing ceased.
"They are cowards," Jumbo said contemptuously. "If they had been Zulus,
or Swazis, or Matabele, they would have rushed in upon us, and finished
it at once."
"Well, I am very glad they are not," Dick said; "but what is to be
done?"
"They will wait for night," Tony answered; "then, when we cannot see
them, they will creep up close and charge."
"In that case," Dick said, "the best thing will be for us to keep in a
body, and fight our way through them, and make for the camp."
Jumbo shook his head.
"They quiet now because they think they got us safe; if we try to get
away, they rush down upon us; we shoot many, but we all get killed."
"Then," Dick said, "the best thing will be for me to jump on my horse
and ride straight through them; if I get off alive, I will make for the
caravan and bring back Mr Harvey and the rest to your assistance."
"No good," Blacking said; "your horse would be stuck full of arrows
before you get away; he drop dead; they kill you. I go."
"But it would be just as dangerous for you as for me, Blacking."
"No," the hunter said; "directly you stand up to get on horse they see
you and get ready to shoot; the horse fall dead before he reach them. I
will crawl through the grass; they will not see me till I get to them--
perhaps I get through without them seeing at all; if not, I jump up
sudden and run; they all surprised, no shoot straight; once through line
they never catch me."
Jumbo and Tony assented with a grunt, and Dick, seeing that no better
plan could be suggested, offered no opposition to the young hunter
undertaking the task.
Leaving his gun and ammunition behind him, the black at once without a
word crawled out between the carcases of the deer, making his way, like
a snake, perfectly flat on his stomach, and soon it was only by a very
slight movement of the grass, which was nearly two feet high, that Dick
could follow his progress. But he could not do this for long, an arrow
whizzing close to his head warned him that he was exposing himself, and
he lay down behind his stag and listened with intense eagerness for the
outcry which would arise when Blacking was discovered.
It seemed a long time, so slow and cautious was the black's advance. At
last there was a sudden yell, and the little party, sure that the
attention of their assailants would for the moment be diverted, raised
their heads from the shelter and looked out. They saw Blacking bounding
at full speed up the slope; a score of natives had sprung to their feet,
and were discharging their arrows in the direction of the fugitive, who
zigzagged, as he ran with rapid bounds, to unsteady and divert their
aim. One arrow struck him in the side; they saw him break off the
feather-head, pull it through the wound, and throw it away without a
moment's pause in his flight.
"Is it a serious wound?" Tom asked eagerly.
Jumbo shook his head.
"Not kill him," he said; "too near skin."
By this time Blacking's pursuers had thrown their bows across their
shoulders, and grasping their assegais had started in pursuit.
"They no catch him," Tony said confidently; "Blacking clever man; he not
run too fast; let them keep close behind him; they think they catch him,
and keep on running all the way to camp. People here watch, not tink to
attack us; then they wait again for the oders to come back; half of dem
gone, a good many killed, they not like to attack us now."
"What do you say, Tony?--shall we get up and follow in a body slowly?"
"That would be good plan," Tony said, "if sure no more black men come;
but if others come and join dem, dey attack us out on plain, we got no
stags to lie behind. Dey fight hard 'caus they know that Blacking have
got away, and that help come; make bad affair of it; better stop here."
Presently two or three of the natives were seen coming back over the
brow, having given up the pursuit. Dick's rifle was a good one, and the
brow was not more than 400 yards away; he took a steady aim and fired,
and one of the natives fell. A yell of astonishment broke from the
others, and they threw themselves instantly on the grass. This,
however, although long enough to shelter them in the bottom, was shorter
and scantier on the slope. The inclined position too enabled Dick to
see them, and he again fired. He could not see where the ball struck,
but it must have been close to the two natives, for these leapt to their
feet and bounded back again over the brow.
"That was a capital shot of yours, Dick," Tom said. "I will try next
time. Our rifles will carry easily enough as far as that, although the
hunters' won't. If we can but prevent any of these fellows who have
gone after Blacking from coming down and rejoining those round us, we
are safe enough, for if they did not dare to make a rush when there were
about sixty of them they will not try now when there are not half that
number."
An hour later a party of some ten or twelve natives appeared again on
the brow. Dick and Tom at once fired. One of them fell, and the rest
again retired behind the brow, shouting something to those below, which
Tony at once translated that Blacking had got away. The news, added to
the effect of the fall of their comrades on the height, dispirited the
natives below, and one or two were to be seen stealing up the slopes.
Dick and Tom were on the alert, and one of the natives fell with a
broken leg; this completed the uneasiness of the party below. Creeping
away from the deadly rifles to the foot of the slopes, they suddenly
rose and bounded up it. A general volley was fired by the beleaguered
party, and two more natives fell; the rest dashed up the slope, two of
them on the way lifting and carrying off their wounded comrades.
"We all right now," Jumbo said; "dey no attack us here any more; like
enough dey wait and lie in ambush in grass, in case we move away; but we
not do that; we sit here quietly till the caravan arrive."
"Do you think Mr Harvey will bring the whole caravan?"
"Sure to do dat," Jumbo said. "He no able to leave party to protect the
waggons and to send party here to us; he bring the caravan all along
together. If he attacked, he make laager; but me no tink dey attack.
The people ready to cut off little party; den the chief say he not
responsible, but if his people attack the caravan dat different thing."
The hours passed slowly; the heat in the bottom, as the sun, almost
overhead, poured its rays down into it, was very great. As the hours
passed on the heat became less oppressive, but it was with intense
pleasure that the boys saw Mr Harvey suddenly appear on the brow, and
checking his horse gaze into the valley.
They leapt to their feet and gave a shout, which was answered by Mr
Harvey.
"Are they round you still?" he shouted.
"No; they have all gone," Dick replied; and Mr Harvey at once rode
down.
By the time he reached them the hunters had freed the legs of the
horses, and these struggled to their feet.
"You have given me a nice fright," Mr Harvey said, as he rode up.
"We have had a pretty good fright ourselves," Dick replied. "If it had
not been for Blacking pluckily getting through them to take you the
news, I don't think we should have seen daylight. Is he much hurt,
sir?"
"He has got a nasty wound," Mr Harvey replied. "An arrow has gone
between his ribs. He fell down from loss of blood when he reached us,
and had we gone much farther he would have been overtaken. They were
close upon his heels when he got in. Fortunately I halted the caravan
soon after you started; when I saw the herds making way I thought it
better to wait till you rejoined us. It was well I did so; we noticed
him a couple of miles away, and when we saw he was pursued I went out
with six men and met him half a mile from the caravan. He had just
strength left to tell us what had happened. Then we went back to the
caravan, and moved out towards you. We were obliged to come slowly, for
there are a good many natives out on the plains, and twice they looked
so threatening that I had to laager and treat them to a few distant
shots. They evidently did not like the range of my rifle, and so I have
come on without any serious fighting. I have been in a great fright
about you; but Blacking, when he recovered from his faint, told me that
he thought you were safe for a while, as nearly half the party which had
been attacking you had followed him, and that you had already killed so
many that he thought they would not venture to attack before nightfall.
Now, you had better come up to the waggons at once; you can tell me all
about it afterwards."
The deer which had formed such useful shelter were now lifted, and in a
quarter of an hour the party reached the waggons without molestation. A
vigilant watch was kept all night, but no alarm was given.
In the morning Mr Harvey rode down with the lads and the hunters into
the valley. Except that here and there were deep blood-stains, no signs
of the conflict remained, the natives having carried off their dead in
the course of the night. The hunters, after examining the ground,
declared that fifteen of the enemy had fallen, including those shot on
the slopes. The journey was now resumed.
At the next halt the natives came in to trade as usual, and when
questioned professed entire ignorance of the attack on the hunters.
Three days later, without further adventure, they arrived at the kraal
of the principal chief. It was a large village, and a great number of
cattle were grazing in the neighbourhood. The natives had a sullen
appearance, but exhibited no active hostility. Mr Harvey formed his
waggons in a laager a few hundred yards outside the village, and then,
accompanied by the boys, proceeded to the chief's abode. They were at
once conducted to his presence. He was seated in a hut of bee-hive
form, rather larger than those which surrounded it. When the white men
crawled in through the door, which like all in native structures was not
more than three feet high, they were at first unable to see, so dark was
the interior. The chief uttered the usual words of welcome.
"I have a complaint to make, chief," Mr Harvey said, "against some of
your people. They attacked my two friends and some of my followers when
out hunting. Fortunately they were repulsed, with the loss of some
fifteen of their number, but that does not make the attack upon them any
the less inexcusable."
"That is bad," the chief said; "how does my friend, the white trader,
know that they were my men?"
"They were inside your territory anyhow," Mr Harvey said. "It was upon
the third day after I had left the Matabele."
"It must have been a party of Matabele," the chief said; "they often
come into my territory to steal cattle; they are bad men--my people are
very good."
"I can't prove that they were your people," Mr Harvey said, "whatever I
may think; but I warn you, chief, that if there is any repetition of the
attack while we are in your country you will have no more traders here.
Those who attacked us have learned that we can defend ourselves, and
that they are more likely to get death than plunder out of the attempt."