think, is Annchen. That's their way of pronouncingthe name."
"Well, I hope they'll make themselves agreeable. As they are to be ourcompanions for four or five weeks at least, it will make a considerabledifference to us whether they are pleasant or not."
"I too should like to know something about them," said Margetts."Here's the skipper. Perhaps he'll be able to tell us something. Goodmorning, Captain Ranken," he added, as the captain came up.
"Good morning, gentlemen. Good morning, Mr Margetts," said theskipper; "glad to see you've got over it. Mr Rivers here is an oldsalt, and doesn't mind even the Bay of Biscay."
"We want you to tell us something about our fellow-passengers," saidGeorge.
"Fellow-passengers! We've very few--two Englishmen, besides yourselves.One is Mr Whittaker, a clerk in a house at Pieter Maritzburg, theother Mr Walters, who has some Government appointment in the colony.There's a Portuguese too. He's in the wine trade, I fancy, but he goesno farther than Madeira. And there's a Dutch officer and his sister--Mynheer Vander Heyden and his friend Moritz. They all three hail fromthe Transvaal. I never had so few passengers on board before."
"Well, you know the old proverb," said Margetts: "the fewer the bettercheer. We must try to make that good."
"All right, Mr Margetts! Nothing is pleasanter than these voyages,when the passengers are on good terms with one another. I will do mybest, I promise you, to make things pleasant. Here they come," he addeda moment afterwards, as the head and shoulders of a tall man came up thehatchway. "Come with me, and I will introduce you."
The two Dutchmen looked round them as they mounted the companion ladder,with the air of persons who were familiar with what they saw. They wereboth somewhat heavily built, but rather fine-looking men. The taller ofthe two might be eight or nine-and-twenty. His figure showed greatmuscular strength, and there was an alacrity in his movements whichbetokened one well accustomed to bodily exertion. His features wererather handsome, though there was an expression to be traced on themwhich indicated an imperious, and somewhat irascible, temper. Hisfriend Moritz was of a slighter build, but still wiry and strong. Hisfeatures were not so regular, but he looked more good-natured than hiscompanion. It may be added that their demeanour accorded with theseimpressions.
"Mynheer Vander Heyden, Mynheer Moritz, let me introduce you to MrRivers and Mr Margetts. You will have much in common with them, Ifancy, as their destination is only a few hundred miles short of yourown."
Vander Heyden bowed distantly. "English settlers, I suppose," he said."Do you propose to establish yourselves, gentlemen, in Natal, orZululand?"
"In neither," replied Rivers a little stiffly, for he did not like thetone in which Vander Heyden spoke. "The place to which I am proceedingis in the Transvaal."
"I thought as much," muttered Vander Heyden. Rivers only half caughtthe words, but there could be no mistake as to Vander Heyden'sdemeanour. Some unpleasant altercation might have ensued, if Moritz hadnot stept forward and said pleasantly, "The Transvaal! that is ourcountry, and it is a very fine one to settle in. May I ask what is thename of your station?"
"Dykeman's Hollow," replied Rivers. "It lies, I am told, some twentymiles from the Zulu frontier."
"Yes, at Umvalosa," assented Moritz. "I know where it is, and haveoften been by it, though I have never visited there. I believe the landis very good in that neighbourhood."
"Is the hunting good there?" asked Redgy; "are there plenty of wildanimals about there?"
"More than perhaps you would desire," returned Moritz, smiling. "Thelions and the elephants are not often to be seen; they never continuelong in any neighbourhood in which Europeans have settled. Still, inthe northern parts of the Transvaal you will meet with them--occasionally, at all events. But of the tigers--or rather the leopards,for that is what they really are--and of the hyenas, there are plenty.There is also no lack of snakes--cobras, ondaras, and puff-adders; thereis no dearth of any of them."
"I shall enjoy the lion-hunting, at all events," said Redgy.
"I hardly think you will," observed Vander Heyden with something of asneer. "You will find that a different matter from what you in Englandare pleased to call sport--hunting a hare or a fox, or shooting at abird. Hunting in the Transvaal requires both skill and courage."
"No doubt, Mr Vander Heyden," said George shortly; "but there is noreason, I suppose, why an Englishman may not possess both."
"It is possible that he may," returned the Dutchman coldly.
Captain Ranken looked uncomfortable. He foresaw altercations in thedistance, if not open quarrels, and these on board ship were especiallyto be deprecated. He saw that though George apparently wasgood-tempered, he was not disposed to submit to insolence; and VanderHeyden evidently entertained the strong dislike to the English for whichso many of his countrymen were notorious. Nothing, however, had beensaid as yet which required his interference. He was looking about forsome means of diverting the conversation into another channel, when thearrival of a new person on the scene effected his purpose for him. Adelicate white hand appeared on the top of the companion, andimmediately after a female figure issued forth. The captain steppedforward to offer his hand.
"I am rejoiced, Miss Vander Heyden, to welcome you on deck. This is acharming morning for your first appearance. It is quite warm, thoughthere is a pleasant breeze."
The young lady untied the woollen scarf she had wrapped round her head,and requited the captain's civility by a bow. The latter would haveproceeded to present her to the two Englishmen, but her brother steppedstiffly forward, and, offering his arm, led her to a seat near thetaffrail Moritz followed, and the captain turned off to give somedirections to the mate.
"I don't like that fellow, George," said Margetts. "He seems inclinedto be insolent. I'm afraid we shall have a row with him before long."
"I don't know about a row, Redgy," said Rivers; "that is, if you mean anopen quarrel. I don't mean to quarrel with him, or with any one else.But he must be more civil, if we are to be on friendly terms. The otherseems inclined to be more sociable."
"And his sister too," observed Redgy. "She looks good-natured enough,and only look how handsome she is! Don't you think so, George?"
"She is not bad-looking," assented Rivers; "I shouldn't call herregularly handsome, but she is certainly both pretty and sweet-looking."
"Her society will make the voyage pleasanter," said Redgy.
"I should doubt that," returned George. "If I don't mistake, thisDutchman doesn't mean us to make her acquaintance."
"She may have something to say to that," observed Margetts. "He isn'teither her father or her husband, you know."
"No," said Rivers; "he couldn't prevent our knowing her, if she desiredit herself. But I shall take my cue from him, and stand aloof if heshows that he wishes it. But here come two more--and Englishmenevidently. I don't think the Portuguese will show on deck to-day, fromwhat the steward told me. I suppose we needn't stand on ceremony here.Mr Whittaker and Mr Walters, I believe," he added, taking off his hat."My name is Rivers, and my friend's here is Margetts. As we are to befellow-voyagers for some weeks, we had better make acquaintance."
"My name is Whittaker," said the elder of the two travellers, apleasant-looking man of about thirty, "and I am happy to be introducedto you, Mr Rivers. This is Mr Walters. He lands at East London, butall the rest of us, I believe, are going on to Durban."
"I believe so," assented Rivers. "Do you reside in Durban, may I ask?"
"No. I am the chief clerk in the Colonial Bank at Pieter Maritzburg. Ihave been home on business connected with the bank, and am nowreturning."
"Do you know these Dutchmen?" asked Margetts, looking as he spoke at thegroup of three who were still seated by the taffrail.
Mr Whittaker looked in the direction indicated.
"Yes," he said, "I do know them; and I am not particularly glad to havethem for my fellow-passengers. I have seen them once or twice in Natal,and I met t
hem at the house of one of our correspondents a week or twoago in London."
"What do you know about them?" inquired Redgy. "I know that they havean especial dislike to Englishmen," said Whittaker; "that is, VanderHeyden has; I don't know about the other. If you knew the colony aswell as I do, Mr Rivers, you would be aware that there is a greatdifference observable among the Dutch settlers. Some of them are kindand friendly enough with all white men--"
"All _white_ men?" interposed Redgy. "Not with blacks, then?"
"No, Mr Margetts," returned the other gravely. "A man can know verylittle about the colony not to be aware that every Dutchman regards thenatives as being of little more account than dogs or horses--of a gooddeal less account than many horses."
"So I have heard. But what about their relationship with other whites?"
"As I was saying, some of them will receive kindly and hospitably allEuropeans; but others entertain a rooted dislike to all but their owncountrymen. Englishmen in particular they regard as their naturalenemies. They will not do them the slightest service, or exchange themost ordinary civilities with them. I have known some Boers refuse evena glass of cold water to an Englishman when he was almost perishing withthirst."
"And this Vander Heyden is one of that sort, hey?" asked Margetts. "Bythe way, did not Captain Ranken say he was an officer?"
"He has been some years in the Dutch service. He left the Transvaalwhen his father died; but he is now returning to marry, and live on hisproperty with his wife and sister. Some years ago, when visiting afriend at Maritzburg who is a merchant there, there was a quarrel withan English officer, which attracted a good deal of attention, and madeVander Heyden, for the time at all events, very notorious. That wascaused by his manner of dealing with the natives."
"What were the particulars?" asked Mr Walters.
"He was on his way to Maritzburg," said Whittaker, "and on the road hemet a servant of Captain Tarleton's, who was taking two horses belongingto his master to Rorke's Drift. The spot where they met was at a smallspring in the middle of a long dry tract of country. They arrivednearly about the same time; but Tarleton's servant got there first, andwas proceeding to water the horses, when Vander Heyden ordered himimperiously to desist, and wait until his party had watered theircattle. He took the captain's servant for a native,--a Kaffir or Zulu;but the man really was a Sikh, and as bold and fierce as Vander Heydenhimself. He angrily refused; and, when the Dutchman thrust himviolently on one side, he drew his knife, and would have stabbed hisassailant, if the others of the party had not seized him. While thealtercation was going on, Captain Tarleton himself rode up, and, havingheard the particulars from the bystanders, took up the quarrel. Theresult was a challenge; and there would have been a duel in Maritzburg aday or two afterwards, if the matter had not reached the ears of one ofthe local magistrates. He sent for the parties, convicted Vander Heydenof an assault, and required him to find securities to keep the peace, orleave the colony. The Dutchman chose the latter course. But theaffair, I take it, has not increased his affection for us English."
"Well, he must keep the peace here," remarked the captain, who had againjoined them; "and I shall take care that he does. But I agree with MrWhittaker that he is not very likely to be over cordial with us English.I have already seen some indications of his feelings towards us."
"The other man--Moritz his name is, I think," observed Redgy--"appearsto be more amiably disposed."
"The young lady too seems pleasant," said Mr Whittaker; "but I supposeshe will be in a great measure under her brother's orders."
"No doubt," said Rivers. "Well, of course, it rests with herselfwhether we are to be friendly with her or not."
Several days passed on. Madeira was reached; and then the ship's coursewas set for Saint Helena, where there was to be a delay of at leasttwenty-four hours. The anticipations expressed as to Vander Heyden'sdemeanour were fully verified. He stood aloof himself from all thepassengers except Moritz and the Portuguese, Martinez; and it wastolerably plain that he only sought his society as a means of keepingthe others at a distance. At the meals, which took place in theprincipal cabin, he seated his sister at the end of the table, on thecaptain's right. He himself sat next to her, with Moritz immediatelyopposite, and Martinez next to him. As he never addressed a single wordto the Englishmen, and the Portuguese could not speak English, allconversation with Annchen became almost impossible; indeed, as none ofthem had been introduced to her, they could hardly under suchcircumstances presume to address her. Indeed, they felt too muchoffended at the haughty dislike which Vander Heyden made no show ofconcealing, to have any desire to do so; and the voyage to the Capemight have been accomplished without the interchange of a word betweenthe young lady and her English fellow-passengers, if it had not been foran occurrence which took place when they were some days' voyage south ofMadeira, and approaching the equator.
All the party were on deck. Annchen, dressed entirely in white, andwearing a large hat of the same colour,--the crown being thickened as adefence against the sun,--was sitting on a low stool under the shade ofthe companion. Rivers, Redgy, and Mr Walters were lying on the deckunder an awning which they had constructed with the help of an old sail.A sharp wind had been blowing since daybreak, which threatened to riseto a gale at sundown. Presently one of the sailors, carrying a load ofpotatoes to the coop, came up the hatchway. He had evidently beendrinking, and was extremely unsteady on his legs. A gust of wind caughthim as he stepped on deck. He reeled, and struck against Vander Heyden,upsetting him, and knocking him against Annchen, who was standing closeby. She lost her balance, and the wind, catching her hat, swept itacross the deck. It would have been carried into the sea, if it had notbeen caught in the rigging. Rivers started up, skimmed nimbly up theropes, recovered the hat, and, descending, presented it to its owner.Annchen coloured, and glanced hurriedly round at her brother, expectinghim to acknowledge the civility.
But Vander Heyden was differently employed. He had regained his feet,and was on the point of angrily reproving the sailor for his clumsiness,when he suddenly exclaimed,--
"Ha! you here, you English scoundrel! What has brought you into thisship? How dare you intrude yourself on me?"
"I want to have nothing to do with you," retorted the man sullenly. "Icouldn't help the wind blowing, could I? As for my being an Englishscoundrel, a Dutch coward is worse any day!"
"Insolent hound!" cried Vander Heyden, striking him a heavy blow as hespoke; "I will teach you to insult a Hollander."
The man reeled and fell on the deck, knocking over another sailor, namedVan Ryk, who was passing at the moment. Their dislike of the Boerseemed to be as great as his of them. They leaped up and rushedtogether on Vander Heyden, and an angry fray would have ensued, ifWyndham, the first mate, had not interfered. He had seen what hadoccurred, and desired the combatants to desist.
"Mr Vander Heyden," he said, "this cannot be allowed. Bostock has hadmore than his allowance of grog, and I shall see that he is punished forthat; but I am pretty sure he did not mean to annoy you--"
"Whom do you call Bostock?" interrupted the Dutchman,--"that schelm,Cargill? I know him better than you do, I fancy."
"I know him by the name in which he entered this ship," returned themate. "But it does not matter what his name is. You had no right tostrike him, and should beg his pardon."
"Beg his pardon!" exclaimed the other haughtily; "you do not think Ishall do that! He has hurt me a good deal. I believe I have sprainedmy ankle badly. But, anyway, I am not to be subjected to his drunkeninsolence. If he intrudes himself on me again, he will suffer sharplyfor it. Help me down below, Frank," he continued; "I must get my shoeoff, and bandage my ankle. The surgeon had better come to me."
"Stop, sir," said the mate. "I shall send for the captain, and informhim of what has passed. You will be pleased to wait till he comes ondeck."
Captain Ranken accordingly was summoned, and, having heard Wyndham'sstatement, asked Van
der Heyden whether the matter had been correctlyreported; but the latter made no reply.
"I must assume, then, that the thing really occurred as reported. I begto tell you, sir, that I command this ship; and any one who interfereswith its discipline is accountable to me. You will beg this man'spardon, as the mate has most properly required, and give yourundertaking not to repeat your violence, or I shall confine you to yourcabin. Any repetition of your offence will be punished by your beingput into irons."
"I shall give no promise," said Vander Heyden angrily. "Frank, help meto my cabin, and send the surgeon to me. I suppose he will not beforbidden to attend me."
"Certainly not, sir," said Captain Ranken; "I did not know that you hadbeen hurt. Perhaps when below you will think better of this, and givethe promise I require. I hope you will forgive me, Miss Vander Heyden,"he continued, as the Dutchman was helped down the companion. "I amextremely sorry for what has occurred; but it is necessary for thecomfort of the whole ship, that I should maintain strict discipline."
Annchen