VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER SEVEN.
THE CATTLE-BRANDING.
"Here they come. Is the whole of that lot to be done to-day, Xuvani?"
"Ja, Baas," replied that worthy, swinging back the ponderous gate of thecattle enclosure where he and Jeffreys were standing.
For the ground echoes a low rumble, drawing nearer every moment. It isthe trample of many hoofs, and Jeffreys and his swart companion fixtheir attention upon a troop of cattle coming up the kloof. They aremostly young beasts, and skittish. Now and then one will leave the restand attempt to strike out a line for itself, but lo, one of the twohorsemen riding behind is down on it like lightning; a shout and a crackof the whip, and the recreant is back in the ways of the herd again.Peradventure half-a-dozen will start off headlong down some well-knowntrack, and with frolicsome bellow and heels tossed in the air away theygo, refusing to hear the voice of the driver; but the spirited horsedarts beneath the spur like a greyhound from the leash; over ant-heapand through rhinoster bush straight as an arrow he flies; and behold,suddenly, from around that clump of spekboem, appears the form of one ofthe drivers. A shout, half-a-dozen appalling whip-cracks, the errantbeasts stop short, heads go up and eyeballs dilate upon the unlooked-forapparition with startled inquiry, then wheeling round they scamper backto their comrades, helter-skelter, and the unruly mass moves swiftly on,urged by the horsemen, eyes glaring, horns clashing, and now and againan aggrieved "moo" as some quarrelsome brute playfully prods his nearestneighbour, in the crush. One young bull especially, a fine, well-madeanimal with curving wicked-looking horns, and not a speck of aliencolour on his glistening red hide, is inordinately given to leading therest astray, nor does he take kindly to correction, but puts his headdown and throws his horns about as if he had more than half a mind tocharge his drivers; but he is not quite used to that terrible crackingwhip, and thinks better of it.
"That brute'll make things lively for some of us to-day," remarkedHicks, as his companion fell behind after "collecting" it for about thetwentieth time.
"Shouldn't wonder. The interesting quadruped appears to be getting hishand in. That last time I had fully made up my mind for a roll, andshould have got it too. `Sticks' is an awful fool at getting out ofanything's way."
"Well, we're in now," said Hicks. "Hey, Xuvani!" he called out, dartingforward to head the animals into the kraal, "Look out over there!"
The Kafir gave a couple of bounds and threw up his arms. He was just intime; two seconds later and the whole troop would have streamed past himand galloped away across the _veldt_, which meant that a large part ofthe morning's work would have to be done over again. The animalsstopped short, glared at the sudden obstacle, then looked wildly roundon one side and on the other, but they were hemmed in; the rear part ofthe herd cannoned against the leaders, who at length made for the onlyegress open, and amid much crush and plunging, interlacing of horns, andstarting eyeballs, the whole crowd poured through the wide gateway, thepungent dust rising in clouds from the trampling hoofs.
"Whew! that's warm work!" said Claverton, as Xuvani made fast the hugegate and drew a heavy beam across above the top of it for additionalsecurity. "Now for breakfast, I suppose. Hallo, Jeffreys.Good-morning."
"Mornin'," replied Will, shortly, as they turned towards the stable tooff-saddle their horses.
Mr Brathwaite was somewhat unwell that day, and not at all sorry tohave the assistance of Will Jeffreys in the morning's operations. Sowith many cautions to Hicks about this and that, more by way of showingthat he didn't let everything slide because of a little indisposition,than for any misgivings as to his lieutenant's skill, he made up hismind to remain quiet in his room. Rheumatism is no respecter ofpersons, the only wonder being that the old farmer, after such a life ofhardship and exposure, should be let down as easily as he was.
"Mr Claverton," said Ethel, as they were all seated round thebreakfast-table, "Laura and I are going to see the branding, so I hopeyou'll show us some fun."
"Are you? That determination I should advise you to reconsider."
"But we won't. Aha, I know why you don't want us. You have never donethat sort of thing before, and you don't want us to see you make a badshot and run round the kraal with a cow after you. That's it, isn't it,Mr Jeffreys?" turning to him. She was in a bright, teasing mood, andlooked bewitchingly pretty.
Jeffreys chuckled to himself at Claverton's expense, as he thought, andmumbled something about "it being dangerous for her."
"Dangerous! Not a bit of it. We shall stand outside and look over thegate, and we shall be perfectly safe."
Hicks looked up from his plate with a low whistle.
"Perfectly safe!" he reiterated. "Why, it was only last branding thatthat big black and white ox of Jim's, after chevying Tambusa twice roundthe kraal and knocking him down, jumped the gate, charged a big hencoopthat was pitched close by and threw it fifty feet in the air, and thenstreaked off to the bush like a mad buffalo."
"What nonsense, Ethel! Of course you can't go," said her aunt, who hadre-entered the room during this conversation. "Why, the things oftenbreak out of the kraal."
"Very well, aunt, I don't want to be a witness to poor Mr Claverton'sdiscomfiture;" and she cast at him a glance of petulance, mingled withcompassion, whose effect upon the object thereof was absolutely nil.
A business-like appearance was that of the scene of operations. Theanimals were standing quietly about the large enclosure seventy yards indiameter, with its solid, bristling thorn-fence eight or nine feet highand its massive five-barred gate. In the centre burnt--or rathersmouldered, for it was of the red-hot glowing order--a great fire, overwhich bent the bronzed form of Xuvani, the cattle-herd, superintendingthe due heating of the branding-irons and gossiping in subdued gutturalswith the other "hands"--two Kafirs and a smart, wiry little Hottentot,who, with the _penchant_ of his race for scriptural appellations,rejoiced in the time-honoured and patriarchal one of Abram. Xuvani wasa man of between fifty and sixty, of middle height, and of powerful,almost herculean build; the muscles stood out upon his limbs like greatropes, and a blow from his fist--that is, if he had known how to makeuse of his fists, which Kafirs very seldom do know--would have sufficedto fell an ox. He was rather light in colour, and his beard and woollyhead were just shot with grey; there was shrewdness in his ruggedfeatures, and a twinkle of satiric humour lurked in his eye. He hadbeen a long time in the service of his present master, who had found hima cut above the average Kafir in honesty and trustworthiness. Moreover,he was greatly looked up to by the other natives, not only on account ofhis great physical strength, but also as one who had shown his prowessin a marked manner during the wars which have been alluded to. Althoughfar from quarrelsome by nature, Xuvani never needed a second challenge.His kerries were all ready, as more than one party of Fingoes passingSeringa Vale in search of employment could testify, to its sorrow.Indeed, once he had expiated his share in one of these AfricanDonnybrooks by a sentence of several months in gaol.
"Well, Xuvani!" sang out Hicks, as they slipped off their jackets andflung them on to the kraal fence--"Got the iron hot? All right, let'sbegin. Now then, Piet--what the devil are you standing there for,grinning like a Cheshire cat? Lay hold of the _reim_ and catch thatheifer."
Piet, a stalwart Kafir, grinned all the harder, and drawing out therunning noose of the _reim_ he made a cast, then, as the heifer ran overit, with a mighty jerk he drew it taut and the animal, noosed by thehind leg, fell. Before it could rise again they all threw themselvesupon it, and in a trice its legs were securely bound while two menfirmly held its head. In a second Hicks had taken the branding-ironfrom one of the Kafirs, and held it for half a minute lightly but firmlypressed against the fleshy part of the thigh. The poor brute groanedand struggled violently as it felt the hot iron; there was a sharp,hissing sound from the singeing hair, a foetid smoke arose, diffusing asmell of burnt flesh, and the operation was complete. Whatever dangerthere is in the performance generally falls to
the lot of him whoreleases the victim, which not unfrequently, as soon as it feels itslogs again, fiercely charges its emancipator, all the others havingpreviously withdrawn themselves behind some of the other cattle standingabout the kraal. The first animal, however, was not of an inherentlyvicious nature. Consequently, no sooner was it free than it ran offamong its kindred, greatly scared and bewildered. All went merrilyenough till they had got a fine black and white cow under the iron. Shelay still, but there was rage mingled with pain in her groaning.
"She'll be at some of us when she gets up," said Jeffreys, exerting allhis strength to restrain the frenzied plunges of her pointed horns.
They stood aside, as, with a rapid turn of the wrist, Xuvani deftly castloose her bonds. She sprang to her feet in a twinkling, and, loweringher head, furiously charged the old cattle-herd, who, there being noroom for dodging, was constrained to run, with his late victim afterhim, head down, all ready to fling him a dozen feet in the air. But theconsummate coolness and agility of the Kafir was to the fore. Hezigzagged as he ran, to avoid a charge, then, seizing his opportunity,he sprang aside, and placing one hand between the animal's shoulders hevaulted lightly over her back as she sped past him and got in among therest. A cheer broke from the spectators at this splendid feat, butbefore it had time to die, a shout of "Look out, she's coming this way,"sent them all scattering; and sure enough, singling out Jeffreys, shemade at him like a streak of lightning. He just avoided her charge bydodging round the rear of a great trek ox, who was standing quietlywondering what the deuce all the hubbub was about. The furious chargeof the maddened cow into his unoffending flanks may, or may not, haveenlightened him on the point; anyhow, he resented the familiarity bylashing out with his heels, one of which coming in violent contact withthe chin of his assailant had the effect of somewhat modifying thatexuberant animal's spirits, and she slunk off in aggrieved fashion, allthoughts of vengeance at an end.
"By Jove!" said Claverton. "Xuvani's a smart fellow. That's one of theneatest things I ever saw done."
The old Kafir grinned a little, and they went on with the programme.After two or three more beasts had been branded, Jeffreys remarked:
"Now then, you fellows, there are lively times in store. It's thatbull's turn. I've been watching him, and he looks wicked--devilishwicked." He pointed to the young bull which had been troublesome in themorning.
"All right," said Claverton. "That's my speciality. I made up my mindto have the burning of that chap when I turned him back twenty-one timesthis morning."
"The branding's nothing; it's the letting him up that's the fishy part,"said Jeffreys, with a thinly-veiled sneer.
Noose in hand the Kafirs advanced towards the bull, who was standing ina corner of the kraal, pawing up the ground, with his head down, androlling his eyes viciously.
"Look out," warned Hicks, "he's all ready for a charge!"
Scarcely were the words out of his mouth than the animal sprang forwardas the noose was thrown down in front of him; then, as he rushed overit, the thong was tightened, and he fell sprawling on all-fours androaring hideously. He plunged and struggled as for dear life, butanother jerk of the _reim_ threw him, and in ten seconds he was lyingbound and helpless.
"Now then, Tambusa, bring the iron. Sharp's the word!" cried Claverton;then receiving it, he deliberately imprinted a neat B upon his prostratefoe, whose frenzied roars drowned the hissing of burnt flesh, as themoist steam rose in clouds from his tortured thigh.
"By Jove, there's a spree sticking out!" said Hicks, emphatically. "We_shall_ have to mind our eye when he gets up. Are you ready, Xuvani?"
"No, he isn't. _I'm_ going to loosen the _reim_," answered Claverton,preparing to make good his words.
"Bosh, old chap! Better let him do it, he's used to it," remonstratedHicks.
"Devil a bit. Now! Stand aside!" and as the others made themselvesscarce, he drew off the noose, and the bull, springing to his feet,vented his feelings in an appalling roar as he glared round in search ofsomebody to pulverise. As luck would have it, at this moment a cowbehind which Tambusa had taken refuge quietly walked away, thusdisclosing that unfortunate aboriginal to the full view of theinfuriated beast, which came straight at him there and then. NowTambusa was a youthful Kafir, and naturally of a mild and unaggressivedisposition, and when he saw the fierce brute making for him, he lostnerve and blindly fled. The kraal gate towered in front of him, andwith the energy of despair he half leaped, half scrambled over it, andhis foot catching the topmost bar he was hurled headlong, half-stunnedand wholly bewildered, a dozen yards off upon the smooth green swardoutside. His pursuer, without pausing, cleared the gate like a stag,and there he lay entirely at the mercy of the infuriated bull. Anotherminute, and he would be gored and torn in pieces. But a cool brain anddetermined heart was between him and certain death. Seizing his jacketfrom the hedge whereon it had been flung, Claverton was through thekraal gate in a twinkling, and not one second too soon, for the bull,who had been carried on some fifty yards by the impetus of his leap, hadnow turned, and with head lowered was thundering down upon his prostrateprey, "brilling" [Note 1] savagely. At this juncture Claverton dartedin front of him, and throwing out his jacket, after the manner of the_cappa_ of a _torero_, he succeeded in drawing off the headlong charge,which temporary respite Xuvani was able to make the most of by lugginghis young compatriot through the gate again. Then the bull stopped,glared for a moment, and with a terrific roar came at Claverton again.This time he nimbly leapt aside, striking the animal across the eyeswith the jacket. Had the bull charged at that moment it would probablyhave gone hard with him, for what with the violent exertion and thetension of the nerves, he was somewhat exhausted; but it did not. Andwhat a picture was that upon the smooth sward. There stood the redsavage brute, the sun glistening on his sleek hide and white horns,lashing his tail and pawing up the ground with his hoofs; the foamdropping from his mouth as with head lowered he gathered himself for onemore terrific rush. Facing him ten yards off--his intrepid adversary,unarmed and exposed to his full fury. The spectators might well holdtheir breath. And yet as he slowly retreated step by step, and thoughhe never took his eyes off the bull, Claverton was aware of every singlemovement that went on around him. He knew that the doorway leading intothe garden was thronged, mistress and servant alike being attracted bythe frenzied roars of the maddened beast. He saw Ethel faint dead away,and then summoning up nerve and strength for one final effort, he flungthe coat right upon the gleaming horns of the ferocious brute, as with anew fury begotten of its short respite it made its deadly charge.Suddenly blinded, the bull stopped and began turning round and round inits efforts to free itself, for the jacket had caught firmly on itshorns; but taking advantage of his dexterous _coup de main_, Clavertonwas over the gate again and safe, while his antagonist, having amusedhimself by tearing the garment to ribbons, trotted away down the kloof,growling in baffled wrath.
"Well, he can go, we've done with him this time, but Heaven help anynigger that has the ill luck to cross that chap's path within the nextquarter of an hour," were Claverton's first words. He was panting andbreathless, but wanted to create a diversion from the string ofcongratulations which he knew was forthcoming; for, of all things, hehated a scene, and didn't see what there was to make a fuss aboutbecause a fellow had had a little spree with a bull, to divert hisattention from a young idiot of a nigger who had been ass enough totumble head-over-heels just at the wrong moment. Whatever his faults,there wasn't a grain of vanity in the man.
"Now then, Xuvani--Piet!" he went on sharply, as the Kafirs, with achorus of emphatic "whouws," were gazing after the retreating form ofthe cause of all the shindy. "What the devil are you fellows staringat? Come on--fall to--we've lost enough time already."
They resumed operations. Now and then a beast, when it was let up,would run at the Kafirs, but in a bewildered, half-hearted sort of away, and without doing any damage; and all the younger cattle weredisposed of. There yet remaine
d four or five large oxen who had comeinto their present owner's possession late in life, and who were to besealed. These were not thrown down, however, but their heads made fastto a post by a _reim_ round their horns, while with another _reim_ theleg to be operated on was drawn out at tension. They were sober, sedatecreatures who had undergone plenty of the troubles of life, common totheir race, in the shape of heavy loads, scarcity of water and often ofgrass in dry seasons, but, as if to make up for it, a plentifulallowance of whip; and took this additional affliction philosophicallyenough.
The result of the day's doings was to open Jeffreys' eyes. Hisestimation of the other had undergone a considerable change since theprevious evening. The dressed-up, finicking carpet skipper was fullyhis own equal in pluck, and in cool-headedness immeasurably hissuperior. This he could not but recognise, though he regarded Clavertonwith no increase of cordiality.
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Yes, life would flow pleasantly enough in this unruffled fashion,thought Claverton, as they were all strolling in the garden towardssundown. After the stirring events of the day, the quiet and rest of aperfect evening seemed more than ordinarily grateful. All was so still,and calm, and soothing, and such sound as reached them seemed sosoftened and mellowed by distance as to harmonise rather than todisturb. A dove cooed softly from an adjacent thorn-brake, and beesreturning to the old basket hive set in a nook in the wall, made atuneful hum upon the sensuous air. Yonder a dragon-fly zigzagged ongauzy wing above the glassy surface of the dam, seeking its prey amongthe gnats whose chrysalids were hatched beneath the overhanging weeds.Suddenly this idyllic scene was invaded by a brace of Kafirs. They wereXuvani and Tambusa, and they began to accost Claverton.
"What on earth do they want? Something to do with that eternal bull, Isuppose. I wish the brute had found its way into some butcher's shoplong ago! Here, Hicks I come and interpret, there's a good fellow!"
"He says Tambusa is his sister's child, and that you saved his life,"interpreted Hicks; "that is to say you saved his--Xuvani's life, Kafirway of putting it, you know--and not only did you save his life, orrather both their lives," went on Hicks, manfully unravelling thenative's long-winded oration; "but you nearly lost your own."
"That all?"
"No--don't interrupt him. He says that they are grateful--both he andthe boy. That the future is uncertain, and that we never know what turnevents will take--"
"He never spoke a truer word than that, anyhow."
"And that if ever at any time he or Tambusa can render you any servicethey will do so, even should it be at the risk of their lives--a lifefor a life--and that they are glad to have looked upon such a howlingbig swell," concluded Hicks, with the result that Ethel was obliged toturn away to stifle her laughter.
"Bosh, Hicks! He didn't say that, you know."
"He did, upon my word. At least, to be more literal, he said he wasglad to have looked upon so great a chief. But my rendering was moreeuphonious--more poetical, don't you see?"
Then Tambusa knelt down and kissed his rescuer's foot, and the twoKafirs withdrew. Claverton looked after them with a curious expression.
"That's all too thickly laid on," he said. "Gratitude, `lively sense offavours to come,' _i.e._ prospective 'bacco. H'm! much too thick!"
"What a dreadful person you are!" expostulated Ethel. "Why shouldn'tthey mean what they say? I declare that speech of Xuvani's was aperfect flower of savage poetry, and you don't know what a good fellowhe is. I think it's quite horrid of you to throw cold water on him."
"So it would be if I had. The noble savage don't affect that fluid muchas a rule in any state of temperature."
Did the Kafir mean what he said? We shall see.
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Note 1. Frontier term for the growling noise which is neither roar norbellow, made by enraged cattle.