Perils in the Transvaal and Zululand
possible. One ofthem in this manner got past Sullivan without being seen by him. Hechanced to look back, and saw Sullivan just levelling his gun at me, andhe anticipated the shot by sending a bullet through the back of hisskull. He was lying dead by the roadside when I passed, and Irecognised him as Sullivan, notwithstanding his disguise."
"Talking of his disguise," observed Rivers, "I wonder where they got thesoldiers' uniforms from. I know there are fellows among them who areclever enough at staining Europeans so as to look like natives; but howdid they come by the uniforms?"
"That is a question easily enough answered," remarked Lieutenant Evetts,who had now joined the party. "The Zulus stripped soldiers enough atIsandhlwana to fit out a regiment or two, and for months afterwards theywere to be had for anything the Zulus could get for them. But I mustsay the get-up, on the whole, was not bad."
"No," assented Hardy; "and the fellows who wore the uniforms had all, Ifancy, been really in the army at one time or another. Certainly thecorporal had."
"Yes," said Rivers. "When I first spoke with the man I thought I knewhis face, and probably I had seen him in the ranks. That was one of thecircumstances that for a long time prevented me from entertaining anysuspicion."
"By-the-bye, George," said Margetts, "I have forgotten to ask you howyou discovered Bostock. I thought, as I told you, there was somethingstrange about the party, but did not suspect Bostock was among them, andhis disguise was so perfect that I can hardly believe he is the fellowlying dead yonder. There was no time to ask you when you sent me off toHeidelberg; but I should like to ask you how you recognised him."
"It was your remark and his limp that first made me suspect him," saidGeorge. "He has always limped since he received the wound on board the_Zulu Queen_. I happened to know he had received another wound a fewmonths since--a bullet-wound on the wrist. I went and stood close athand while the pretended corporal was putting the handcuffs again on theprisoners' wrists; and there was the scar of the wound plain enough. Isaw Bostock glance suspiciously at me, as he saw I was scrutinising hiswrist, and I had some trouble to keep myself from showing that I haddiscovered him. But you were saying, Redgy, that Mr Prestcott had toldyou something which I should be interested to hear. May I ask what itwas?"
"Well, Mr Rivers," said Prestcott, "it was simply that I am wellacquainted with your mother. In the course of my business I makefrequent journeys to Zeerust, and know old Ludwig Mansen and his familyquite well. I was there not many weeks ago. It is odd that his namedid not come up in the course of our conversation about Zeerust. I didnot particularly notice yours, or it would certainly have done so. Youwrote to her some time ago, did you not?"
"Yes," said George, "eight or nine months ago; but I have never receivedany reply to my letter."
"Ah, I supposed so. The man to whom you gave it was several months ingetting to Umtongo, which was the name of Mansen's farm. Then she couldget no messenger to carry her reply for several weeks, and it must havereached Rorke's Drift somewhere about the beginning of June. But itappeared you had left the Natal Volunteers, and it was thought you weregoing to join some other corps; but that was not known for certain. Sheis in a terrible state of alarm now, that you have been killed atGinghilovo, or Ulundi, or one of the smaller battles."
"Well, her anxiety will soon be relieved now," observed Margetts.
"I trust so. But in that case Mr Rivers must not wait to accompany MrVander Heyden to Zeerust Mr Vander Heyden cannot be moved for threeweeks, and then he must travel very slowly. I do not suppose he can getto his destination under a month, at the very earliest."
"Of course I shall not wait for that," said Rivers. "I shall rideacross country, if I can find a guide. I suppose it will not occupyvery long, Mr Prestcott?"
"No, sir. Your horse, if that is your horse yonder, would take youthere in four days--probably in three, but certainly in four."
"And as for a guide," interposed Hardy, "you will not find a better inall the Transvaal than Matamo. He knows the whole of this country aswell as I know the paths about my own farm. I am sorry that I myselfcannot remain here; I have another engagement to fulfil at Newcastle.But I will undertake to return before Mr Vander Heyden can reachZeerust. Meanwhile Mr Margetts will stay here and look after theparty."
"Must that be so?" asked George. "I should have liked Redgy toaccompany me."
"It must be, I am afraid," said Hardy. "I am sorry that my engagementmust be kept."
"I am sorry too," said Margetts; "but of course we cannot leave VanderHeyden here alone. When shall you set out, George?"
"To-morrow, if Matamo is prepared," was the answer. "But we must liedown now and take some rest. The dawn must be close at hand."
"I shall return with my party and the prisoners at once," saidLieutenant Evetts; "and I suppose you also, Mr Prestcott, willaccompany me."
"Yes," said Mr Prestcott. "The medicines and lint ought to be sent outat once."
They parted, and our travellers, lying down, took some hours' repose.Then George summoned Matamo, and inquired of him whether he knew the wayto Umtongo, and would undertake to guide him thither.
"The way to Umtongo," repeated Matamo. "I know it quite well. I havebeen there two, three times. I could ride it in the dark."
"That's all right, then," said George.
"Yes, sir; we can get there in three days,--Koodoo's Vley one day,Malapo's Kloof two days, Umtongo three days. But they will be longdays."
"Then had we not better start at once?"
"Yes, sir, or we shall not reach Koodoo's Vley to-night. I will go andget everything ready."
In two hours they set off, the Bechuana appearing to be in high spirits.The track he pursued led through a country wilder than any George hadyet seen. It ran for some miles along the banks of a small but mostpicturesque stream, the banks of which were clothed with trees of everyvariety. The mimosa predominated, but it was intermingled withdate-trees and Kaffir plums and huge cacti, with their swordlike leaves,and acacias already coming into flower. Overhead hoopoes and parrotskept up a never-ending chorus, while countless tribes of monkeys andsquirrels leaped and chattered among the branches. Occasionally theresprang up, with the whirring noise so familiar to the sportsman, a coveyof red-brown partridges. Notwithstanding that they were well suppliedwith provisions, George's instinct could not forego the opportunity. Helet fly right and left with both barrels. Two partridges dropped deadjust in front of them, while others flew off wounded. Matamo dismountedand secured them, and they proved a most appetising addition to theirsupper when they halted a few hours after.
"How far are we from Koodoo's Vley?" said Rivers, as he leaned backagainst the sloping bank, after having made a delicious meal.
"Koodoo's Vley? About three hours' ride. Give the horses a long rest,and we shall get there before the moon goes down."
George relapsed into thought. The excitement of the last few hours hadleft no time for reflection, but now the recollection of what had passedbetween himself and Annchen came vividly back. He had long felt assuredthat, notwithstanding the distance at which he had always been kept fromher, she was not indifferent to him, but now he had had a distinctassurance to that effect from her lips. For a moment the doubt crossedhim whether, in the few hurried words he spoke to her before the attack,he had not in some measure broken his promise to Vander Heyden. Therehad been little time for reflection, and his had been dictated by asudden impulse. But no. He felt sure it had not been so. His promiseto Vander Heyden had been that he would not ask her to be his wife, andhe had not asked her. Doubtless she would expect him to follow up hisdeclaration by a formal offer, but it must rest with her brother whetherthat must be made. On the whole, he had good hope, when he recalled theparticulars of Vander Heyden's interview with him, that he wouldwithdraw his opposition. At all events, there was no need to bedown-hearted about it, and perhaps the less his thoughts rested upon itthe better.
He turned to Matamo, who was sitting on the
other side of the fire,sorely disturbed, apparently, at the long silence to which George'sreverie had consigned him. He responded at once to George's advances,who inquired of him whether he had known Mr Prestcott before he met hima few days previously.
"Do I know Mr Prestcott? Yes, sir, I have known him a long time. Verygood Baas, is Mr Prestcott. He tells pretty stories."
"More pretty than true, hey, Matamo?" suggested George. "Did you hearhis story about the lion and the powder-flask?"
"Yes, sir; I have heard that more than once. It gets nicer every timeit is told. Mr