promised to take and keep awoman for his wife, and she has been faithful to him. If he puts heraway, she may not only be distressed for the loss of her husband, whomshe loves, but may be placed in very painful and degradingcircumstances, which she has in no way merited. It seems contrary tothe genius of Christianity, which is replete with justice and mercy,that she should so suffer. The Scripture no doubt allows but of onewife, that being God's primary institution of marriage. It cannot,therefore, permit any to _contract_ polygamy, but that hardly meets thecase. Scripture also commends the man `who swears unto his neighbourand disappoints him not.' It is a great difficulty."
"How do you yourself meet it, sir?"
"I do not lay down any hard and fast rule. I make a point of talkingthe matter over with the husband and with the wives, and try to inducethem voluntarily to separate, in every case but that of the wife firstmarried. But if I cannot succeed in this, I do not refuse baptism. Wemust remember that, though polygamy has always been a thing contrary tothe divine intention, it was tolerated `for the hardness of men'shearts,' until the truth in all its fulness was bestowed upon men."
"It is not the first time that the difficulty has occurred," saidGeorge. "The French Church, after the conversion of the northernbarbarians, was long embarrassed by the same question."
"True; and the custom gradually died out, and was heard of no more, asChristian light grew stronger," said Mr Bilderjik. "We must hope thatthe same result will follow in Southern Africa. But here I think we areat last. If I do not mistake, that is the Buffalo river that we seeglancing in the distance, and those small specks are the houses atRorke's Drift."
"Yes, that must be the place," said George. "See the baggage-waggons,and the horses and men on either side the ford. But there is nothingeven resembling a village, that I can see."
This opinion was confirmed as they drew nearer. There was a stonekraal, and a storehouse near it, and at a distance of a hundred feet orso another building, which, as they afterwards learned, was used as anhospital for thirty sick soldiers. Nearly a quarter of a mile off, in ahollow between two hills, stood the house in which Mr Bilderjik'sbrother minister resided.
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
Mr Bilderjik rode up to his brother pastor's abode, by whom he and hisyoung friends were very kindly received, and they were all invited toenter his parlour; where, considerably to George's surprise, heencountered his old companions on board the _Zulu Queen_, the two VanderHeydens, and Mynheer Moritz. Annchen came forward with a smile and ablush to welcome George and Redgy, and Moritz was extremely cordial inhis greetings. Vander Heyden also, though somewhat stiffer in hisdemeanour, saluted them with courtesy, expressing his satisfaction atmeeting them again. He explained what, however, the young men hadalready been informed of, his intention to join as a volunteer the forcewhich was to be sent for the purpose of putting down Cetewayo's lawlessrule. "It is not only," he said, "that I have the barbarous murder of anear relative to avenge, but I feel that there will be neither law norjustice in this land until his power is destroyed. I do not know whatbrings you here, Mr Rivers; but I should be glad to think that our aimsand intentions are the same."
"That is so," said George cordially. "I am persuaded that, whatever mayhave been said of former wars which England may have waged with thiscountry, the one she has now undertaken is the cause of justice andright. I am glad to think we shall be fellow-campaigners in it. Isuppose there is no doubt that they will accept our services."
"None indeed," answered Vander Heyden. "You may assure yourself ofthat. There will be few recruits that they will welcome more readily."
Vander Heyden's words proved true. George and Redgy were admittedwithout any demur, as was also Hardy, who arrived two or three daysafterwards. 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 andRedgy, and a close intimacy soon sprang up between the three. Theirexample proved catching. About a fortnight after their arrival atRorke's Drift, the three young Baylens and Matamo made their appearance,having persuaded their father, after many entreaties, to allow them toenter the same company as their friends, in the Mounted Volunteers.George was surprised to see them, for the Baylens had been gone morethan a week. A message had been sent to the President of the OrangeFree State, and it was thought necessary, in the disturbed state of thecountry, that the messenger should have a military escort. As theywould pass very near Horner's Kraal, Farmer Baylen had obtainedpermission to accompany it. But it now appeared that, as soon as theyreached home, the young men had made such urgent representations, as towring from their father a reluctant consent. He had insisted, however,that Matamo should accompany them, upon whom he laid both his commandsand entreaties to keep a careful watch on his sons.
The eight friends, for so they soon became, found the time passpleasantly enough, while the preparations for the campaign were goingon. There was the morning drill and parade, the mess-table, at whichthe six English and the two Dutchmen sat next each other, and there weresword-exercises, and practices with the rifle, which filled up the time,so as to allow of little leisure. In the evening they would commonlyadjourn to a neighbouring seat under the trees, where they beguiled thetime with narratives of past adventures, and speculations as to theapproaching struggle. Hardy was a particularly pleasant companion. Hisanecdotes of the Indian Mutiny, the Abyssinian and Ashantee expeditions,had a great interest for young soldiers who had never yet encounteredthe enemy. He told them of the relief of Lucknow, and how he had stoodby the terrible Well of Cawnpore; how he had accompanied Sir GarnetWolseley in his march to Coomassie; and how he had witnessed the finaldiscomfiture of King Theodore. He regarded the Sepoys, he told them, asmore dangerous enemies, than either the Abyssinians or the Ashantees.But none of them could, for a moment, compare with the Zulus. It wasnot merely the brute courage of these last-named savages that renderedthem so formidable, for almost all barbarous nations are indifferent todanger. It was their discipline, their devotion to their king'scommands, and their contempt for Europeans, that made them soformidable. They could not be cowed or terrified. Nothing butdownright hard blows would quell them; and they would endure an amazingamount of hard blows, before they would knock under.
"Were you ever in very great danger during the Ashantee campaign?" askedRedgy, at one of these evening seances.
"Not more than any one must encounter, who goes on a campaign, Ibelieve," answered Hardy. "No; the greatest danger I was ever in, Ithink, was during the Abyssinian war, and the danger did not come from aman, but an elephant."
"Tell us about it, Hardy," said Walter Baylen. "I did not know KingTheodore 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 longgrass, partly with dense forest, when suddenly an enormous elephantrushed 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 elevenfeet."
"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, whohas shot plenty of them, would tell you so. How high was the largestelephant 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 halffeet high, but never bigger."
"Just so," said Hardy. "Well, this chap, I should think, might havebeen eleven and a half. He was, I fancy, what they call a rogueelephant--an elephant, that is to say, who has been sent to Coventry,for some offence, by his companions. They are always extremelydangerous, and will sometimes attack a man without provocation; whichelephants, as an ordinary rule, will not do. He had the mostmagnificent tusk
s I ever saw; I suppose our commanding officer, CaptainSparrow, noticed this, and thought they would sell for a lot of money inMagdala. He gave the order for all of us to fire upon him, and killhim. I was aware of the danger, and ventured to step up to him, and askhim to recall his order. I knew how difficult the elephant is to kill,except to experienced hunters. It was before the days of theMartini-Henrys, you will remember. I suppose the captain thought thatout of a hundred shots one must be mortal. The men fired before I couldget his attention; and, I suppose, considering the size of the mark,every one must have hit him. He staggered under the shock, and hissides streamed with blood, but he did not fall."
"No, Mr Hardy,"