Conclusion
Jack had turned sadly from the sight of this joyous entry, and made his
way towards the largest of the huts--the hut built for Mr. Martindale.
There Samba lay--had lain since Barney, with a woman's tenderness, had
carried him from Elbel's camp to the beloved Ilombekabasi which he had
thought never to see again. Little indeed he saw of the fort and of
what was passing there as he lay, day by day, on his simple bamboo bed;
for though his wounds slowly healed, not all the loving care lavished
upon him by his parents and by Barney, who spent every spare hour at
his bedside--not the constant companionship of Pat himself--brought
back strength to his slowly wasting form.
Still, he was always cheerful. The ready smile lit up his face as
Lokolobolo appeared in the narrow doorway. Barney rose as Jack entered
and made room for him at the head of the bed.
"How are you now, Samba?" asked Jack, taking his hand.
"Better, master, better," answered the boy, his voice scarcely audible.
"That's right. Getting a little appetite, eh? Must eat, you know, if
you're to grow strong."
"See my _kwanga_," said the mother, coming forward. "He eats no more
than a bird."
"It is nice, mother; I will eat more by and by. I am so tired now."
"Poor little fellow! You are in no pain?"
"No, master, no pain; only tired."
"Cheer up! You will feel better in the morning."
He pressed the boy's hand and turned to leave with Barney. At the door
Mboyo overtook him.
"He will not go yet to the Great Spirit, O Lokolobolo?" he whispered
anxiously.
"We cannot tell, Mboyo. All we can do is to tend him well. Hope for
the best."
"Poor bhoy!" said Barney as they went away; "'tis mighty little betther
he is, sorr, I'm fearing. 'Twould tax the strength uv a horse to get
over it, widout docthors an' all."
As they walked across the camp, here a man, there a woman, paused in
their work to ask Lokolobolo how Samba was. Children came up--Lofinda,
for whom Samba had shaped a tiny gun; Lokilo, proud of his little
fishing-rod, Samba's gift; Isangila, wearing a necklace of dried maize
he had made for her--and asked shyly when Samba would come out and play
with them again. Some brought offerings of food specially prepared,
delicate fish and rare fruits, the choicest spoil of forest and stream
for miles around. Everybody loved the boy; and Jack loved him with a
particular affection. Over and above his winning ways, Samba stood for
so much to Jack, who, in thoughtful moods, seemed to see him as the
spirit of the negro race, the embodiment of all that was best in the
black man, the representative of millions of his kind, helpless pawns
in a royal game of beggar my neighbour. It was Samba whose woful
plight had first brought home to his heart the terrible realities of
the rubber slavery; it was Samba who had been the means of founding
Ilombekabasi; to him was due the torch of freedom lit at last in this
stricken land--a torch that Jack, in his heart of hearts, dared to hope
would never be extinguished. Surely the conscience of Christendom was
awakening! Pray God the awakening came not too late!
A great silence lay upon Ilombekabasi. To a stranger beyond the walls
the place might have seemed deserted, so still it was, with none of the
cheerful bustle that marks the beginning of a new day. Men and women
were gathered in little knots; they talked in whispers; some were
sobbing; the eyes of most were dim with tears. Even the children were
subdued and quiet; they forgot their play, staring at their elders with
puzzled, solemn eyes. Why was the world so sad to-day? Was it because
Samba was going away? Surely he would come back to them; he had come
back before.
Samba was leaving Ilombekabasi.
Four persons stood by the little bamboo bed. At the foot a dog
crouched, whimpering. Father and mother bent in mute agony over their
son; Lukela, the fountain of her tears dried through long weeping,
hovering above her boy as though by sheer power of love to guard him
from the dread visitant already at the threshold; Mboyo rocking himself
to and fro in the abandonment of sorrow. And the two white men bowed
their heads in silent sympathy and grief. They knew that the end was
very near.
Jack felt a great lump in his throat as he gazed at the still form,
lying with outstretched arms, too weak to move. Poor little fellow!
Was this the end of the bright young life, so full of promise? He
thought of the days of health, when the boy with happy face went hither
and thither, eager to do some service for his beloved master, no matter
how hard or how perilous. He thought of the dangers Samba had faced
for his parents' sake, and the brightness he had brought into their
lives and the lives of hundreds of his people. He thought with agony
of the terrible scene when Samba, rather than say a word to the undoing
of those he loved, had endured the tortures inflicted by the inhuman
agent of a detestable tyranny. And now the end was at hand! The
blithe spirit was departing, the poor body done to death by the greed
of a Christian King. "Botofe bo le iwa! Rubber is death!" The words
rang in Jack's ears; would they were the knell of this despotism, this
monstrous "system" that bought wealth with the price of blood!
The end came soon. Samba moved his hand, and turned his eyes, and
murmured "Pat!" The watchers barely caught the word, but the dog
sprang up, and went to the bed, and nestled his head on the boy's
shoulder. Samba murmured his pleasure, a happy smile lit up the brave
young eyes, and then the light faded, and went out. Samba had left
Ilombekabasi.
They buried him next day in the forest he knew and loved so well, with
the ceremonies of his people, and as befitted the son of a chief.
All the people of Ilombekabasi, men, women, and little children,
followed him to the grave. They laid by his side the few possessions
of the boy--his rifle, his knife, his tin, his wooden spear. And some
of his comrades, Makoko and Lingombela and Lianza and Lepoko, fired a
salute over him and left him there among the trees.
That night, sitting in Jack's hut, Barney talked of the past and the
future.
"Poor ould master came here for gold, sorr. All the gold in all the
world is not worth little Samba's life. Whin the master looks down out
uv Paradise and sees the people here, I know what he'll say, just as if
I heard 'm. He'll say: 'I was niver a philanthrophy, niver did hould
wid that sort uv thing. But I'm rale glad that bhoy uv mine wint out
wid me in time to make a few poor black people happy. Poor craturs!
God bless 'em!' Sure, sorr, black people have got their feelings--same
as dogs."
THE END
_Butler and Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London_
JUST PUBLISHED
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_
One of Clive's Heroes
A STORY OF THE FIGHT FOR INDIA
ILLUSTRATED BY W. RAINEY, R.I.
The Headmaster of Harrow: "I have read it and think it a very good
book. The historical accuracy is really wonderful in a romance, and
the local Indian colour well preserved. Mr. Strang is to be
congratulated."
Athenaeum: "An absorbing story.... The narrative not only thrills, but
also weaves skilfully out of fact and fiction a clear impression of our
fierce struggle for India."
Aberdeen Free Press: "Mr. Strang may congratulate himself on having
achieved another superlatively good story."
Guardian: "An excellent tale. Mr. Herbert Strang's care and accuracy
in detail are far beyond those of the late Mr. Henty, with whom it is
the fashion to compare his work, while he tells a story infinitely
better."
Christian World: "A book from Mr. Herbert Strang is now as regular and
welcome an event as in former days were Mr. Henty's yearly volumes.
_One of Clive's Heroes_ will thrill many a young heart during the
Christmas holidays. Sound history and thrilling romance."
Lady's Pictorial: "When in doubt what to buy for a boy, or boys, for a
Christmas gift, choose Mr. Herbert Strang's _One of Clive's Heroes_."
Church Times: "Boys are fortunate indeed to have found in Mr. Strang a
worthy successor to their old friend, the late G. A. Henty."
Notts Guardian: "'The successor to Henty' is a title that needs living
up to; but Mr. Herbert Strang, upon whom it has been conferred, richly
deserves it."
Educational Times: "Far better than Henty."
Education: "A splendid book for boys. We used to think that no one
could take Henty's place; and we feel certain that no one will ever be
able to take Mr. Strang's."
Saturday Review: "Herbert Strang tells a story as well as Henty told
it, and his style is much more finished."
HODDER AND STOUGHTON
PUBLISHERS LONDON
* * * * *
JUST PUBLISHED
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_
(HERBERT STRANG'S FIRST HALF-CROWN BOOK)
Jack Hardy
OR, A HUNDRED YEARS AGO
ILLUSTRATED BY W. RAINEY, R.I.
Bookman: "A story about a gallant young middy could not have a more
alluring sub-title than 'A Hundred Years Ago.' On his way to join the
_Fury_ the gallant midshipman discovered a hotbed of smuggling at
Luscombe, and unearthed a spy of Napoleon's. Jack's first fight with
the smugglers ended disastrously, and he soon found himself in a French
prison. Thence he made a daring escape, recaptured the _Fury_, and
picked up a fine prize ship on his way back to Portsmouth. The
characters in the story are drawn with originality and humour,
especially that fine seaman Babbage.... Finally Jack triumphs all
along the line, and his gallantry is rewarded by his appointment to
join the _Victory_. Boys will expect to hear more of Jack Hardy, and
of what he did at Trafalgar."
Athenaeum: "Herbert Strang is second to none in graphic power and
veracity.... Here is the best of character sketching in bold outline."
Speaker: "A greater than Henty."
School Guardian: "Mr. Herbert Strang fills in stories for boys the
place of the late Mr. Henty."
Tribune: "Herbert Strang's former books 'caught on' with our boys as no
other books of adventure since Henty's industrious pen fell from his
hand."
Dublin Express: "It has become a truism to say that the mantle of Henty
has descended to Herbert Strang, and indeed in some respects Mr. Strang
surpasses Henty."
HODDER AND STOUGHTON
PUBLISHERS LONDON
* * * * *
BY HERBERT STRANG
Kobo
A STORY OF THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR
Athenaeum: "In Kobo, Herbert Strang has provided much more than a good
boys' book for the Christmas market. Whilst readers of _Tom Burnaby_
will not be disappointed of an ample meal of stirring adventures and
hard war fights, readers of a more serious turn will find an excellent
picture of Japanese life and character, ... not to mention some vivid
sketches of modern naval warfare."
Spectator: "An excellent story, such as one might expect to have from
the author of that capital book, _Tom Burnaby_.... 'With a Japanese,
duty comes inexorably first.' This, indeed, is the key-note of the
whole story. This principle of action dominates Bob's friend, and it
dominates the story."
Saturday Review: "Last year a new name of great promise appeared in the
list of writers of boys' books. This year the promise shown by Mr.
Herbert Strang in _Tom Burnaby_ is more than borne out by _Kobo_ and
_Boys of the Light Brigade_.... He shares the late Mr. Henty's
knowledge of history and war; he is less encyclopaedic in his
descriptive methods perhaps than was Henty, though he gives the same
air of verisimilitude to his chapters by means of maps and charts ...
he has an admirable style, and a sense of humour which he handles with
the more effect because he never turns a situation into broad farce."
Academy: "For vibrant actuality there is nothing to come up to Mr.
Strang's _Kobo_."
Daily Telegraph: "This vivid story owes not a little of its
attractiveness to its many picturesque touches of local colour."
Pall Mall Gazette "Mr. Herbert Strang, whose splendid story, _Tom
Burnaby_, proved so brilliantly successful last year, has written
another that will rank as its equal for vivid interest."
Westminster Gazette: "An adventure story after a boy's own heart."
* * * * *
BY HERBERT STRANG
Brown of Moukden
Athenaeum: "Herbert Strang may be congratulated on another first-rate
book.... Characterization is a strong feature, ... and Ah Lum, the
literary chief of the brigands, is a memorable type."
Spectator: "Mr. Strang has very rightly taken up again the subject in
which his story of _Kobo_ achieved such a success last year.... The
story is very skilfully constructed.... Of particular scenes we may
single out for mention the episode of the railway train, ... a most
effective piece of narrative.... The relief of humorous passages and
situations has been given, and without stint.... Ah Lum, the
spectacled brigand chief, with all the wisdom of Confucius and Lao-Tze
at his finger tips, is a most amusing person.... _Brown of Moukden_ is
certainly a success."
Academy: "Related with the same spirit and intimate knowledge of the
East that made _Kobo_ a marked success."
Church Times: "The incident of the locomotive race down the Siberian
Railway is, for breathless interest, the equal of anything we know of
in the whole range of juvenile fiction.... The book will hold boy
readers spellbound."
Army and Navy Gazette: "When Mr. Henty died boys were disconsolate, for
they had lost a real friend; but now we have Mr. Herbert Strang most
capably taking his place. He was welcomed as showing great promise in
_Tom Burnaby_, but he did better in _Kobo_, that strong story of the
earlier pages of the Russo-Japanese War, and now he has done better
still in _Brown of Moukden_."
Gentlewoman: "Mr. Herbert Strang may really be said to be the successor
of the late Mr. Henty, and parents and others on the look-out for
desirable boys' books must be grateful to him each year for an
excellent story at Christmastide.... This is the literature we want
for young England."
Journal of Education: "Mr. Strang's former books have led us to expect
great things from his pen, and these volumes prove him to be in the
foremost rank of writers of boys' books. They are thoroughly healthy
in tone, full of stirring adventures; and in each case linked to
history in a manner that is never oppressive, and adds considerably to
the interest of the story."
* * * * *
BY HERBERT STRANG
Boys of the Light Brigade
A STORY OF SPAIN AND THE PENINSULAR WAR
Spectator: "Mr. Strang's name will suffice to assure us that the
subject is seriously treated, and a better subject could hardly be
found.... Altogether a capital story."
Professor Oman (Chichele Professor of Modern History at Oxford, and
Author of _A History of the Peninsular War_): "Pray accept thanks from
a historian for having got historical accuracy, combined with your fine
romantic adventures."
Outlook: "Let us be thankful for a boy's book really worth reading."
Schoolmaster: "We have read this book with great interest and delight.
More than four hundred pages of the most thrilling events are told with
a marvellous fidelity to history."
Standard: "It is a book which no boy will be able to put down when once
started."
The Adventures of Harry Rochester
A STORY OF THE DAYS OF MARLBOROUGH AND EUGENE
Academy: "_Tom Burnaby_ and _Kobo_--the best books of their
season--have a worthy successor in _The Adventures of Harry Rochester_."
Glasgow Herald: "Mr. Herbert Strang again displays all the qualities
that attracted attention and secured for him such a brilliant success
when he made his appearance two years ago as the author of _Tom
Burnaby_.... We recommend it to all parents who want something
thoroughly sound, as well as interesting, to put into the hands of
their boys."
Army and Navy Gazette: "The descriptive power and characterization are
quite remarkable."
Dundee Advertiser: "In some essentials, such as constancy in bold
action, this well-studied and finely-coloured tale is superior to any
written by the lamented Henty. With the need of some one to take
Henty's vacant place has come the man."
* * * * *
BY HERBERT STRANG
Tom Burnaby
Field-Marshal Lord Wolseley: "It is just the sort of book I would give
to any schoolboy, for I know he would enjoy every page of it."
Sir A. Conan Doyle: "... I think it is a really excellent picture of
African life."
Mr. J. L. Paton, Head-master of Manchester Grammar School: "... It is
worth reading and thoroughly wholesome. I wish it all success."
Dr. R. P. Scott, Secretary of the Head-masters' Association: "... I
have read the book from cover to cover, and found it thoroughly
interesting, vivid, healthful, and helpful. I can cordially recommend
it to boys, and will do so whenever opportunity offers."
Pall Mall Gazette: "That splendid story _Tom Burnaby_."
Educational News: "The stirring pages of _Tom Burnaby_."
Literary World: "... Mr. Strang ... has put as much work into this
story as one finds in a really good novel; the little bits of useful
information that he sprinkles through it are palatable and readily
digestible, and the 'atmosphere' (if one may mix one's metaphors)
'rings true.'"
Mark Lane Express: "... Mr. Strang has come to the front rank with a
bound...."
World: "... The tone of the story is excellent; manly and spirited, it
cannot fail to rouse a response in a boy's heart."
Financial News: "As a writer of stirring stories the author of the
famous _Tom Burnaby_ stands in the front rank of those who devote their
talents to the edification of the rising generation."
School Government Chronicle: "Mr. Herbert Strang understands the taste
and temper of the British public-school boy."
Liverpool Mercury: "The record of his career deserved to be bound in
leather and blocked on all sides with gold."
Dundee Advertiser: "... as good as the plot is the way in which the
author conveys a living impression of the region and its inhabitants."
Glasgow Evening News: "... a masterpiece in the Henty manner."
Englishman (Calcutta): "It is a book that every wholesome-minded boy
will revel in, for it is alive with action and picturesque adventure."