heart.
The natives came in to trade, but Mr Vincent was utterly unable to doanything. Had it not been for Martin, who was assisted by Kibo andMasiko, no trade could have been carried on.
At length most of the tusks in the neighbourhood were bought up, and asMr Vincent had still some goods remaining, he wished to move further on.He was, however, still so ill that he agreed, at the suggestion of hisson, to entrust the goods to Kanenge, who promised faithfully to takecare of them till his return. He accordingly determined to set out atonce, hoping that the air of the desert would restore him to health, andthe preparations for the journey being completed, the waggon, with itsvaluable load of ivory, descended to the plain. Kanenge, with most ofhis men, escorted it; while Martin and Kibo remained with Mr Vincent,who, should he feel stronger, was to follow the next day on a litter.
Martin's spirits now revived, and he began to hope that, the journeybeing commenced, his father would ultimately recover. His chief sorrowwas with regard to Kibo. The Makololo chief positively refused to allowhim to return. Martin entreated him to remain true to his faith,instead of falling into the ways of his tribe. "Try and instruct them,my dear Kibo," he said. "Young as you are you may be the means ofspreading the glorious truths of the Gospel among them."
"You pray for me then," said Kibo. "I poor boy, I very weak, I donothing by myself."
"We are all very weak and helpless in God's work," said Martin. "If youseek the aid of the Holy Spirit, you will have strength given you."
"Ah, yes," said Kibo; "I no trust to myself, and then I strong and domuch."
This conversation took place at the door of the hut.
Martin thought he heard his father call to him. He ran to the side ofhis couch. Mr Vincent put forth his hand to take that of his son.
"Bless you, my boy," he whispered; "the blood of Jesus Christ cleansethfrom all sin."
Martin put his arm under his father's head. The trader's eyes fixed tothe last on his boy, the film of death stole over them, and ere a fewminutes had passed he had ceased to breathe.
Kibo left his friend for a time to indulge his grief alone, while hesent off a message to inform Kanenge of Mr Vincent's death.
Towards evening the next day, instead of the chief, who was expected,Masiko made his appearance. Martin was thankful to have a Christian atsuch a time with him.
Martin had chosen a spot under a wide-spreading tree for his father'sgrave, and Masiko, who had brought some presents to repay the natives,had it dug.
Here the white trader was buried by his orphan son and his twodark-skinned Christian friends.
Kibo had gone back to the village to order Kanenge's people to preparefor their departure that night, he having received intelligence that aparty of their enemies were on the move and approaching theneighbourhood.
Darkness had set in, yet Martin was unwilling to leave the spot till,assisted by Masiko, he had covered the grave over with a thick roof ofbranches to prevent its being disturbed by savage animals.
He was thus engaged when loud shrieks and cries from the village reachedtheir ears. His impulse was to hasten towards it to find Kibo, thatthey might, if the placed was attacked, escape together.
"Don't go," exclaimed Masiko, grasping Martin's hand; "you cannot helphim, and will be killed or taken prisoner with the rest."
At that instant several figures were observed rushing towards them.
"Come," exclaimed Masiko, dragging Martin forward in the direction thewaggon had taken. "The enemy will not dare to attack our party armedwith guns, and if we can reach them we shall be safe."
Martin, though anxious to discover his friend, could not help feelingthat it would be unwise to return to the village, probably already inthe hands of the enemy. He therefore hastened on with his faithfulcompanion, trusting that they would outstrip the foe. He could onlyhope that Kibo had made his escape, and that he would rejoin them at thewaggon. This it was probably the object of the marauding party to havesurprised.
They had many miles of rough country to traverse; but, though weary,Martin was unwilling to stop and rest, as it was important to warnKanenge of what had occurred, that he might move the waggon to a greaterdistance, or if his force was sufficient, pursue the enemy.
CHAPTER FIVE.
Just as day broke, Martin and his companion approached the camp. Thechief, observing Martin's clothes torn, and his and Masiko's limbsscratched by the bushes through which they had passed, inquired in ananxious tone why they had come without his son and the rest of hispeople. Masiko then briefly described what had occurred, and said thatthey had hurried on to warn him of the threatened danger.
"I know that you would not willingly have deserted your friend," saidthe chief to Martin.
"No, indeed, I would not," answered Martin; "and had not Masikoprevented me, I would have returned at all risks to the village to tryand discover him. I was in hopes that he might have escaped, and wouldhave followed us. If he does not appear, I am even now ready to returnto try and find him."
The chief uttered an exclamation which showed his grief, and said--
"Too probably he and all with him were surrounded by the enemy, and wereeither killed or were carried off as prisoners. If there were apossibility of his being alive, I would follow him; but our enemieswould not have attacked the place unless with a very large number offighting men, against whom my people would have no chance of success. Ialso promised your father to defend the waggon and his property with mylife, and if I pursue the enemy I shall leave that defenceless."
"I will sacrifice the waggon and all its contents rather than allow Kiboto be carried away into slavery," exclaimed Martin.
"I know your friendship for my son, but it would be useless," saidKanenge. "If the enemy were to see a party outnumbering themapproaching, they would put their captives to death and take to flight.I am better acquainted with the ways of my country than you are. Ourfirst business is to take the waggon to a place where it will be saferthan here, and I will at the same time send out scouts to learn what hashappened."
Kanenge now gave orders to have the oxen yoked to the waggon and themarch to begin. He had one of the oxen saddled for Martin to ride, who,wearied with his long run, more than once dropping asleep, nearly fellof.
After travelling some distance, a broad stream was reached, with anisland in the centre and a village on the opposite side. Signals beingmade, the natives came across with several canoes. The waggon wasquickly unloaded, when it and the goods were carried over to the island.
Kanenge assured Martin that they would be perfectly safe, as the enemy,having no canoes, could not attack them.
Shortly afterwards the scouts who had been sent out arrived, accompaniedby one of the men who had been left in the village, and who was bleedingfrom several wounds. He had a sad account to give. The enemy,numbering upwards of a thousand men, had secretly approached thevillage, and almost surrounding it before they were discovered, hadrushed upon the defenceless inhabitants, killing, as usual, all whoopposed them, and making the rest prisoners. The man confessed that heand his companions had been completely surprised, but that they had allfought bravely; and not till he had seen Kibo surrounded by enemies andcarried off, and he himself had been wounded, did he take to flight.All the rest had been shot down.
Martin had eagerly listened to what the man said, and hoping from theaccount he heard that Kibo was alive, he resolved to attempt hisrelease. He proposed, therefore, as soon as he had rested, to followthe enemy; and should he overtake them, to go boldly into their camp,and to try and redeem his friend. They might possibly be content toreceive in exchange the remainder of the goods in the waggon, and ifnot, he should be ready to offer as many tusks as they might demand. Hecould not devote them to a more satisfactory purpose. He should like tohave returned to Mr Warden with a waggon full of tusks, that he mightfor the future be no cost to him, but he would willingly sacrifice thewhole could he regain his friend.
On explaining his plan to Ka
nenge, the chief replied that though he andMasiko, being strangers, might be allowed to enter the enemy's camp,should any of the Makololo go, they would be immediately killed.
Masiko, though well aware of the risk that he would run by puttinghimself in the power of the cruel savages bent on making slaves of allthey could capture, without hesitation agreed to accompany Martin.
"God will take care of us, we are doing what is right, we must leave therest to Him," he observed.
After a short sleep, Martin and Masiko got ready to set out.
Kanenge selected twelve of his most tried warriors to escort them tillthey should reach the neighbourhood of the enemy's camp. The Makololowere then to remain in ambush, to assist in any way which might be foundpracticable.
Among the stores was an English flag which Mr Vincent had beenaccustomed to hoist on a high pole above