Perils in the Transvaal and Zululand

capture of Cetewayo, and proceededstraight to Luneberg, whither the waggons had been despatched fromNewcastle to join them. Annchen had travelled under the charge of herbrother's two chief Hottentot servants, Koboo and Utango. Matamo andHaxo had been despatched by their respective masters to join the partyat Newcastle, and Hardy arrived the following day from Landman's Drift.The whole party being assembled, they set off about the end of the firstweek of September.

  There were two waggons, each with its full team of oxen and fourservants attached to each. All these belonged to Vander Heyden, andcontained valuables of all kinds, household furniture, farm implements,guns and ammunition, and a considerable supply of provisions, it beingdifficult and sometimes impossible to procure even the commonestarticles at various places on their route. They were to proceed firstto Heidelberg, by Elandsberg and Standerton; afterwards journeying northof Potchefstroom to Lichtenberg, and so to Zeerust. Supposing them tobe able to travel every day, and no casualties to delay them, it wouldprobably be five or six weeks before they would reach their destination.But there might be obstacles of all descriptions to encounter. Heavyrains might oblige them to remain inactive for days together. Diseasemight attack the cattle, especially the lung disease, of which mentionhas already been made, to which horses were so liable in that country.There was also a risk from wild animals. The more dangerous beasts, thelion, the rhinoceros, and the like, had become very scarce of late yearsin all the southern portion of the Transvaal, unable to endure thevicinity of the white man and his rifle. Still they might be met withat various points of their route, and the tiger (that is, the Africanleopard, which is so-called in that country) and the hyena were stillnumerous. Annchen and her attendant were accommodated in the bestwaggon. Vander Heyden and Hardy usually slept in the other, as did theothers indeed also, Vander Heyden having courteously offered sleepingberths to George and Margetts. The native servants usually made theirbed on the ground outside.

  It was now the end of the second day of their journey, and they werebeginning to make their way into the wilder country of the Transvaal,leaving the more civilised parts behind them. The road during thegreater part of the day had lain across lonely tracts of country--suchkraals and farmhouses as they had fallen in with being few and farbetween. The main features of the scenery had been long undulatingdowns, over which the tall coarse grass was growing up in abundance,diversified now and then by masses of rock rising abruptly into sharpeminences, and crossed occasionally by deep watercourses overgrown withweeds. These were, in general, difficult and sometimes dangerous topass. Every now and then herds of springboks came by, bounding straightup into the air, as they caught sight of the travellers, likeJacks-in-the-box, to an astonishing height, and then rushing away withthe fleetness of the wind. More rarely elands and hartebeests appeared,and once a number of gnus--these strange animals, which seem to besomething half-way between the horse and the ox--went by at theirawkward gallop. George and Matamo rode in pursuit and succeeded inkilling a hartebeest and two springboks, the more dainty parts of whichwere cooked for the evening meal.

  Annchen took her supper with the rest of the party, but soon afterwardsretired to her waggon; and the four Europeans, sitting round the largestfire, for the night was unusually cold, began to converse together.

  "This is near the place where that disaster occurred--Intombe--isn'tit?" asked Margetts, knocking the ashes out of his pipe.

  "Yes," answered Hardy; "the spot where the massacre took place is downon the bank of the river, only a little way from this. One would havethought that Isandhlwana would have been enough to teach even ourcountrymen common prudence. But I suppose nothing ever will."

  "It looks like it, certainly," said George. "But it does not oftenhappen that three such instances of carelessness, followed by suchterrible results, follow in the course of one single campaign, asIsandhlwana, Intombe, and the death of the Prince Imperial."

  "That last was rather cowardice than carelessness, wasn't it?" askedMargetts.

  "I don't think so," said George. "The Prince Imperial was an entirelyraw and inexperienced officer. The country was known to be in a mostdangerous state, full of armed Zulus, who are among the most stealthyand cunning of all enemies; and he was allowed to go out in command of aparty with no one competent to advise him. They tried to make out thathe was not in command of the party, but nothing could be plainer thanthat he was; and that it was his total ignorance of the Zulus and theZulu country that caused the disaster."

  "The troopers might have stopped to help him," suggested Margetts.

  "They were told to mount and ride," said George, "and they did what theywere told. How can you blame them for obeying their officer's orders?Don't you think so, Hardy?"

  "Most certainly," assented Hardy. "It does not appear that any of them,except his own French attendant, knew that the Prince was in any moredanger than the rest of the party, until it was too late to do anythingfor him. The attempt to make out that that unfortunate Lieutenant Careyhad the command of the party and was answerable for the loss of thePrince, was one of the most dishonest things I ever remember. Theperson really to blame was the officer who sent out the party under thePrince Imperial's charge. But I suppose it was necessary to have ascapegoat, and this poor young Carey was the most convenient person toselect."

  "What will become of Cetewayo?" suggested Vander Heyden. "Will theysend him to Robben Island, along with Langalabalele and a lot ofothers?"

  "Most likely," said Hardy; "and there he will enjoy himself along withhis wives, and grow fat, and die an old man most likely."

  "Yes, if a party in England don't take him up," said Rivers. "I am toldthere are persons in England who are raising a great clamour and makingout that he has been shamefully used."

  "I wish they could be made to come out and live under his rule inZululand," suggested Hardy. "What is that?" he exclaimed a momentafterwards, starting up. "There is something in the bush there,creeping near us. Take your rifles. We must see to this." He caughtup a long burning stick from the fire and threw it down among a numberof dry canes and reeds which lay at a short distance. A bright flamesprang up and showed some dark figures moving off into the scrub at alittle distance; but the shadows fell so confusedly that it wasdifficult to make out whether they were men or animals. A minuteafterwards Matamo passed them on horseback, cantering off in thedirection of the scrub.

  "That's all right," said Vander Heyden; "he's sure to truck them, if anyone can. We may sit down again. I suppose you couldn't see what theywere, Hardy?"

  "It was something crawling on four legs," said Hardy, "and I caught amomentary glimpse of a spotted skin, but whether it was the kaross of aZulu, or a real tiger, I can't say."

  "The tigers are very bold," said Vander Heyden, "in this country. Isuppose they are not such formidable beasts as the tigers of Bengal,though."

  "No, indeed," said Hardy. "If you had ever come into contact with them,you would know the difference."

  "Did you ever kill a tiger in Bengal?" asked Margetts.

  "Why, no, Mr Margetts, but one very near killed me."

  "Did he? Tell us about it," said Redgy.

  "Well, it was very soon after I went to India, when I was quite a youngman. There was a letter of importance to be taken to the officer incommand at Meerut; there was no one at hand who could take it, and theywere obliged to entrust it to me. I was to travel by what they calldak,--travelling all night in a palanquin on men's shoulders, andresting during the hot hours of the day. We were travelling in thewildest part of the country, when one of the bearers put his head inbetween the curtains. `Would massa like to see a tiger?' he said.

  "I had been dozing, but I started up. `No,' I said; `there are fewthings I should like to see less.'

  "`Massa see one if he like it. Very big tiger yonder!'

  "I looked out, and there, sure enough, about two hundred yards ahead ofus there was a big tiger, trotting along in advance; I could see hisstriped skin clearly in the mo
onlight.

  "`Won't you stop?' I inquired of the bearers.

  "`No good stop!' was the comforting reply; `tiger see us before we seehim. If he mean to eat us, he eat us; if he don't, he leave us alone.'

  "I looked carefully to the loading of my gun, and lay back in thelitter, watching our fellow-traveller, who jogged on, apparentlyentirely regardless of us. Presently he turned into the jungle anddisappeared.

  "`Well!' I said, `to be sure you are not going to pass the spot wherehe very likely is laying wait for us?'

  "`If he mean to have us, he have us,' was the only answer I got.

  "I had a strong presentiment that he _did_ mean to have us, and I washalf inclined to get out of the litter and leave them to make theexperiment in their own persons. But at this moment there was a ringingnoise heard in the distance, and a troop of native horsemen, who hadbeen sent on some errand, came riding up. I informed the officer incommand of our predicament, and he gave us an escort of his men to thenearest station. We heard afterwards that the tiger in question hadbeen for many weeks past the terror of the neighbourhood, having killedgreat numbers of men. I was exceedingly glad to hear, when I returnedthat way a week or two afterwards, that he had been tracked out andshot."

  "I know they are formidable beasts," said Vander Heyden. "I saw some ofthem when I was in England, and also at the Cape. The so-called tigerof this country is an awkward beast to come into contact with, though.But I consider the buffalo, if he is wounded, a much more dangerousanimal."

  "I agree with you," said Hardy. "A full-grown buffalo is pretty nearlya match for a lion, and a herd of them can put a lion to flight at anytime."

  "Yes, I have seen that myself," said Vander Heyden. "I remember once,when I was out hunting in the country near the Crocodile river, I cameupon a lion who had just seized a buffalo calf, which had strayed, Isuppose, for none of the herd were in sight. He was carrying it off tohis lair probably. I fired, and my bullet struck one of his legs. Itwas a bad shot, and only inflicted a flesh wound. The lion turned, andI suppose would have rushed upon me. But at that moment a trampling washeard, and a troop of buffalo came in sight, headed probably by themother. The lion left the calf and galloped off as fast as he could tothe jungle, which lay a mile or so off. He would have got clear ofthem, I have no doubt, if it hadn't been for the wound I had given him.But that crippled him so much, that the herd presently overtook andcharged him. He turned and sprang upon one of them. But they had himdown in a minute, and gored him to death with their horns, without hisbeing able to make any resistance."

  The sound of horses' feet was now heard, and Matamo came up. "Well,Matamo," cried Redgy, "what was it then? was it a tiger, or a hyena, ora wild dog, or what?"

  "I am not sure," said Matamo, "but I think it was a bush thief?"

  "A bush thief?" repeated Hardy; "do you mean a native or a white man?"

  "A white thief, Mr Hardy," answered the Bechuana,--"the same whoattacked us before."

  "What! on the banks of the Blood river, you mean--before Isandhlwana,eh?" said George.

  "Yes, Mr Rivers,--the man you rode after and did not catch."

  "What makes you suppose that? Colonel Wood is believed to have clearedthe country of the gang by whom we were attacked," observed Margetts.

  "The colonel did not drive him off," said Matamo. "_I_ remember himquite well; I saw him in Luneberg the day before we left. He waslooking at the waggons and asking questions. He thought I did not knowhim, but I did."

  "Then you think he is dogging us?" suggested Rivers.

  "He is certainly after us, and means us harm," rejoined the Bechuana."I saw him long way off to-day. I knew his horse."

  "Horse! was he on horseback when you saw him just now--that is, if youdid see him?"

  "He was creeping through the bush on his hands and knees when I firstsaw him," was the answer. "When I first got on my horse and rode afterhim, I saw him a long way off, on the edge of the wood, he and one ortwo more. They got on their horses and rode off before I could comeup."

  "Well, they won't come back to-night, anyhow," observed Rivers; "andto-morrow we must devise some means of circumventing them."

  No more was said, and presently the party turned in to theirsleeping-places for the night.

  Rivers tapped Vander Heyden on the shoulder, and the two moved off ashort distance out of hearing.

  "What do you think of this, Mr Vander Heyden?" inquired George whenthey were out of hearing distance.

  "I am afraid Matamo is right," answered the Dutchman. "I know more ofthis man Cargill, or, as he chooses to call himself, Bostock, than Ihave cared to say. He was once in the Dutch service, and was receivedin society as a gentleman. At the Hague he fell in with my sister, towhom he offered very marked attentions--indeed, once made her an offerof marriage."

  "But she repelled him?" said George.

  "Yes, so decidedly that he had no pretext for intruding further on her.But he would not desist, and my sister appealed to me for protection. Icalled at his quarters, and the result was a quarrel and a challenge,which I accepted. But the same night, at the burgomaster's ball, he wasso insolent in his demeanour to Annchen, that I insisted on his leavingthe ballroom. A fracas with the police ensued, and he was lodged inprison, from which he made his escape. I never heard what had become ofhim until I saw him on board the _Zulu Queen_. But he had sent a noticeto me, while in prison, that the defiance which had been exchangedbetween us still held good, if I dared to meet him. I answered that Istood prepared to do so when and where he might demand it. I could notthen foresee that he would fall to his present level. He reminded me ofmy words when we met that day near the Blood river. I daresay youwondered that I should condescend to a duel with such a fellow. But myword had been given, though at that time I did not like to tell youall."

  "I see," said George; "but you are not bound to meet him again."

  "No, nor have I any intention of doing so. Indeed, I told him so. Butyou heard what he said,--`he would find his opportunity of returning myfire,' or some such words. He is quite ruffian enough to shoot at mewithout further warning."

  "If I thought that," exclaimed George, "I declare I would fire upon himwithout ceremony! What, do you think he was creeping up through thereeds with that intention when Matamo saw him?"

  "I cannot say. But if it was really he that Matamo saw, I don't thinkit unlikely."

  "Well, we must be on our guard of course. It is a pity we haven't agood dog with us. We must see if we can't get one at one of the houseswe pass. There is nothing for it but to go to sleep now. I think weare safe for to-night."

  The night passed as had been anticipated, without further disturbance.In the morning the route was resumed, the place appointed for thatevening's halt being Elandsberg. They were able to proceed with greaterspeed than on the previous day, the long, level plain being rarelyinterrupted by watercourses. The only drawback was that the veldt,though to all appearance level and firm, was in many places underminedby the burrows of the ant-bears which abound in this district, and whichthe long grass renders invisible. The horses were continually plunginginto these fetlock deep, and sometimes almost to the knee. The greatestcare was necessary to prevent a dangerous accident. This formation ofground lasted through the whole of the morning's ride, so that VanderHeyden had no opportunity of resuming the conversation with George whichhe had held on the previous evening. But when the mid-day halt had beenmade, the Dutchman, who had been seated near him under the shade of alarge oomehahma, asked him to take a turn with him into the wood, whilethe drivers were engaged in inspanning the cattle.

  "Mr Rivers," he said, "I think I ought to tell you what I have heardfrom my sister about this man Cargill, of whom we were speaking lastnight. I suppose she had overheard something from the Hottentots, whichinduced her to suppose that he had been seen in the neighbourhood. Butit certainly is necessary that some steps should be taken to prevent themischief which may otherwise not improbably follo
w. You will perhapsthink it strange that I should speak to you, of all men, about her. Iknow the light in which you regard her. You have never, indeed, madeany secret of it." He paused and hesitated, looking at George in anembarrassed manner.

  Rivers bowed rather distantly. "You are right, Mr Vander Heyden," hesaid; "I have said and done nothing secretly. But I am aware of yourfeeling on the subject. You must allow me to say that you have made nosecret of _your_ feeling either."

  "That is true, Mr Rivers, and is one reason why I wish to speak to younow. I will not deny that when we first met, on board the _Zulu Queen_,my feeling was one of simple dislike to your countrymen. That may be anunreasonable prejudice; but if you knew my family history, you would notwonder at it. But the events which ensued on board the ship, andafterwards during the campaign in Zululand, have, permit me to say,completely altered my feeling. I have learned your true character, andhonour and esteem you."

  George again bowed, and put out his hand, which the other took frankly."I, too, Mr Vander Heyden, have had prejudices to get over," he said,"and may say with truth that I have surmounted them."

  "I am glad that you can say so," resumed Henryk. "To proceed--I wouldnow