CHAPTER FIVE.
CROSSING THE TUGELA.
The bank of the river was reached. The stream was broad and rapid.Crawford and Percy looked at it with dismay.
"By what means are we to get across?" exclaimed the former.
"I'm sure I can't tell," said Percy. "There's not a ford here, at allevents."
"We'll soon show you," said Denis.
The oxen were outspanned, and while the Hottentots began unloading thewaggon, the Kaffirs, headed by their leader, went along the river, andcut down a number of poles of a soft buoyant wood. These theyimmediately began to form into a couple of rafts. The waggon beingunloaded, was next rapidly taken to pieces, and the wheels lashedtogether, while the upper sides and pole being removed, the rest of thevehicle formed a strong and substantial raft. Long poles and paddleshaving been procured, a portion of the goods were placed on it and theother rafts. Four of the Kaffirs then stepped on the smallest two,having long poles and two paddles, and commenced the passage, shoutingloudly as they did so, the paddlers splashing the water.
"What do they make all that noise for?" asked Crawford.
"Sure to frighten away the crocodiles," answered Denis. "The beastswould otherwise be running their snouts against the raft, wanting to seewhat it is, or they would be catching hold of the horses or oxen as theyswim across."
The first raft having reached the opposite bank in safety, the passageof the waggon, of which Hendricks himself took charge, was commenced.This, being heavier, required a larger crew, but even then it was sometime in getting across. The cargo from the first raft being landed, itreturned for a further freight, bringing back some of the men who hadcrossed in the waggon, while the rest, under the direction of Hendricks,began putting the vehicle together. The second raft began to cross, thepeople in charge of it shouting and shrieking as before. All this timethe Hottentots had remained with the oxen and horses, as they were tocross last, while Crawford and Percy, with Denis and Lionel, employedthemselves in loading the rafts. It had been arranged that they shouldcross on the smallest raft after the cattle had swam over.
While they were thus employed, three of the horses, whose legs had beenleft free, discovering that they would have to cross the river, andapparently not liking the undertaking, took it into their heads togallop off. When the Hottentots ran after them, the cattle began toscatter in a way which threatened a general stampede; they weretherefore obliged to return in order to keep the animals together, "Thiswon't do!" cried Denis. "Come along, Lionel; we must manage to catchthe brutes. If we don't look sharp, they will be away back toMaritzburg."
Percy, seeing them start off, also followed. While Denis went on oneside, Lionel took the other, accompanied by the young Englishman.Fortunately the horses stopped to graze at a tempting spot of grasswhich they found on their way. This, after a long run, enabled the ladsto get to the south of them. They then crept up slowly, and Denis, whowas the most active of the party, caught one which had a long haltertrailing from its head. Instead of hauling at it, he allowed the horseto continue feeding until his two companions had seized the others.They were, however, at this time, at a considerable distance from theriver, and when they got back they found the remaining horses and oxenswimming over, with the Hottentots and several Kaffirs holding on totheir tails, shouting, shrieking, and splashing the water, to keep thecrocodiles at a distance.
"I vote we cross on horseback," said Denis. "It will be half an hour ormore before the raft can come for us, and I'm getting desperatelyhungry. We can get over just as easily as those Kaffir fellows. We caneither sit on the horses' backs, or hold on to their tails, while theytow us over. See, that's how the Kaffirs are crossing."
"I'm ready, at all events," said Lionel. "I think I'll ride my horse."
"Mind if you do, give him his head, and don't on any account pull at thehalter," said Denis. "What way are you going to cross, Percy?"
Percy did not quite like the undertaking, not being accustomed to thissort of thing. But he was ashamed to refuse; at the same time, being anexcellent swimmer, he was not afraid of the water, but more apprehensiveof crocodiles, which he thought after the noise had ceased might comeswimming up to the spot. At last, however, after seeing Denis andLionel mount, they having secured their outer clothing to the heads oftheir horses, he imitated their example, and all three plunged into theriver together, the horses now, with riders on their backs, taking tothe water willingly enough. Denis led the way, keeping on the left orup stream. Percy followed closely a little farther down. Lionel was onhis right. For some distance the river was sufficiently shallow for thehorses to wade, with the water only half-way up their backs. PresentlyDenis's horse began to swim.
"I'll try the Kaffir fashion, and I'd advise you to do the same," criedDenis. "Lionel may stick on his horse's back if he likes."
Saying this he slipped off, and grasping hold of his horse's tail, wastowed across, while he laughed and shouted to Percy to imitate hisexample. Neither Percy nor Lionel felt willing to make the attempt.
"Just try it," cried Denis again; "you'll find that your animal swimstwice as fast. He can't kick, if he were to try."
They had already got more than half-way over, when, gaining courage,Percy slipped off, and had just got hold of his horse's tail whenLionel, who was, as has been said, a short distance off, uttered a cryof alarm. What was Percy's horror to see his horse frantically beatingthe water with his fore-legs and making no progress! The dreadfulthought instantly occurred to him, that a crocodile had caught hold ofthe animal's legs, and that the boy, who had acknowledged a short timebefore that he was not much of a swimmer, would either be seized by themonster, or be drowned. Percy, though quiet and unassuming in hismanners, possessed more courage and resolution than he was aware of.Another crocodile might seize him even while swimming behind his horse,but he did not think of that risk. He could not bear to see his youngcompanion perish without an effort to save him.
"Throw yourself off, and swim towards me," he shouted.
Lionel did as he was advised, narrowly escaping being struck by thehorse's hoofs. On this, Percy, letting go his horse's tail, andexerting all his strength, swam to meet Lionel, who, although supportinghimself in the water, was evidently unable to reach the bank towardswhich they had been directing their course.
"Keep up, keep up until I come to you," cried Percy, and in a fewseconds he was up to Lionel. "Now place your hand on my back, andstrike out with the other and your feet at the same time. Don't attemptto clutch me, and we will, please heaven, gain the bank."
Lionel, who kept his presence of mind, did as he was bid. At firstPercy was in hopes of regaining his horse's tail, but the animal had gottoo far ahead, and was now abreast of Denis's horse. Denis himself wastoo much ahead to see what had happened, and not until Percy's horse hadgot up to him was he aware of the danger of his two companions. Hisfirst impulse was to let go and swim to their assistance, but his nextthought was that his powers were insufficient for the task.
As he looked round he saw them both swimming on steadily, while Lionel'sunfortunate horse was gradually sinking beneath the surface, althoughits fore-feet were still striking out in the vain attempt to escape fromthe jaws of its captor.
"Shall I come and help you?" he shouted out. "I'll try to do so if youwant me."
"No, no," answered Percy. "If you are not a good swimmer, you'll do nogood. Get to shore as fast as you can, and send off a raft to us, forthey don't appear to be looking at us."
Owing to the oxen and horses having just landed, what had occurred hadnot been perceived from the shore. Crawford, who had gone across on thelast raft, was the first to discover that there were only two horses.He then saw the heads of Percy and Lionel close together.
Shouting out to Hendricks, who was at some distance, attending to thewaggon, he leaped on to one of the rafts, making signs to the nearestKaffir, to whom he could not otherwise communicate his wishes, to comeoff with him.
Fort
unately Hendricks heard his voice, and rushing down, sprang on tothe raft. In the meantime Percy had a hard matter to keep up. Thestream was carrying him and Lionel farther and farther down; and as theygot away from the noise made by the cattle, he well knew that the riskof being seized by another crocodile was greatly increased.
Still, though he might easily have gained the shore by himself, nothingwould induce him to quit his young charge.
"Hold up, Lionel," he cried. "Kick about with your feet, and shout asloud as you can. Those brutes of crocodiles won't hurt us while they'vegot the horse to eat. Hurrah! we are seen from the shore; your fatherand Crawford are on it. They are stopping to pick up Denis, they'll beup to us soon. Now stop and tread water, it will give me a rest. Itwon't matter if we are floated a little lower down. Shout and shriek asloud as you like."
All this Percy said at the top of his voice, for he did not feel quiteas confident as he tried to make Lionel suppose, that another crocodilewould not make its appearance. Still his hopes of escape rose as he sawthe raft urged on by poles and paddles approaching. He kept lookinground him, however, to watch whether one of the dreaded monsters wasrising to the surface, not that, should it approach, he would be able todo much to make his escape. Lionel all the time showed not theslightest fear. He did exactly as he was told. Had his skill as aswimmer equalled that of Percy, he would rather have trusted to his ownpowers, than have hindered his companion from reaching the shore. Theraft was still some way off, although they could distinguish thefeatures of their friends. When, as they were treading water, holdingeach other's hands, Lionel, casting a glance down the stream, exclaimed,"O Percy, can that brute be coming this way?" Percy looked in the samedirection, and there sure enough he saw the head of a huge crocodile,with its snout directed towards them.
"We won't stop here to be gobbled up, at all events," cried Percy. "Putyour hand as before on my back, and we'll swim towards the raft. We maybe in time to get on to it before the creature reaches us."
Though he said this, he felt very faint hopes of success; still, like abrave fellow, he kept up, shouting and splashing as much as he couldwithout stopping on his way. Once he glanced over his shoulder. Thedreaded monster came swimming on. In another minute, before they couldpossibly reach the raft, it would be up to them, though Hendricks andhis companions were exerting their utmost strength to urge it on. Justthen a man was seen running along the bank. He stopped, and raised arifle to his shoulder. Percy fancied he could hear the bullet whistlethrough the air, and the thud as it struck the crocodile's head. Themonster sank from sight. Denis and Crawford raised a loud cheer, and ina few seconds they were hauling Percy and Lionel, both almost exhausted,on to the raft.
"Bravo! Percy, you did it well," cried Denis; "and Lionel showedhimself to be a brave little chap, or he would not have enabled you tosave him as you have done."
Hendricks was less demonstrative, but equally grateful to Percy,although he had no time just then to show his feelings. Placing the twoboys on the centre of the raft, he, with the rest who had come on it,had to exert themselves to pull back to the shore, where they foundUmgolo waiting to receive them.
"You saved the boys' lives, my friend," said Hendricks, addressing himand taking his hand. "You have rendered me many services; this is notthe least of them."
Of course he spoke in Kaffir, and Umgolo replied in the same language,that he was always ready to serve his young master, and that he was veryglad to have prevented the crocodile from destroying the two boys. Notime was lost in conveying them up to the spot where the camp was to befixed. Here a fire was immediately lighted to dry their clothes and tocook some provisions, while they sat close to it, wrapped up inblankets. They both speedily recovered, the proof of which was thatthey ate heartily of the viands prepared for them.
"It's the last time I'll endeavour to cross a river at the tail of ahorse, when crocodiles are likely to be swimming about," exclaimedDenis. "I'm mighty glad that you escaped from the brute, Lionel; hadyou been swimming as I was, it would have had you to a certainty."
The circumstance which had occurred tended greatly to draw the ladstogether, while Percy rose much in the estimation of all his companions.
"I only wish that I could see a hungry lion rush out on you, or a partyof Zulus coming out of a kraal to cut off your head; I'd show both theone and the other what I could do with my rifle," exclaimed Lionel."I'd fight until I was killed, and should not care if you made yourescape."
"Thank you!" answered Percy. "I hope we shall not come to thatextremity, but I am very sure that you will do your best to help me outof any danger I happen to get into."
The night passed with the usual chorus from hyenas and jackals. At dawnthe travellers were on the move. For a considerable distance fewinhabitants were met with, the king not approving of his subjects livingnear the border, lest, when he should require them, they should getacross it, and escape from his paternal care.
After moving on for some days, another steep hill rose before them.They encamped at the foot, that the oxen might the better be able todrag up the waggon in the morning. The ascent was no easy one, and theHottentots had to exert their arms and voices.
"I hope the descent will not be so difficult, or the waggon may chanceto be capsized," said Crawford, as he and Denis were following behind,ready to put big stones under the wheels, and prevent the vehicleslipping back.
"No fear of that, for we shall not have to descend at all," answeredDenis.
He was right. On the summit being reached, the travellers foundthemselves on the edge of a vast plateau, extending to the north andsouth. Some parts were covered with fine timber trees, others withscattered mimosa bushes, and here and there a hillock rose above theplain. Deer of various species were seen bounding along in unrestrainedfreedom, chiefly small animals; now and then a herd of pallah or koodoowould make their appearance, sorely tempting the hunters to go in chase.Hendricks, however, was anxious to proceed as fast as he could throughthe country, until he could reach a region where elephants and othermore valuable animals abounded.
Although the sun was intensely hot during the day, the air was pure andexhilarating, especially in the early morning. Day after day the partytravelled on, occasionally passing near kraals, but Hendricks generallyavoided them, unless he wished to do a stroke of trade with theinhabitants. The country as they advanced became wilder and rougher,and game of all sorts abounded, so that after outspanning in theafternoon, the hunters who went out with their guns never failed tobring back an ample supply of meat for the camp. When there was time,and there was more than was required for immediate consumption, theflesh, whether of deer, or quagga, or gnu, was cut up into long strips,and after being slightly salted, was strung up, either outside thewaggon, or on a rope fastened from it to a tree, where it quickly driedin the warm air. The meat thus prepared is called beltong, and requiresno further cooking to suit the palate of the hunter. It is to be suresomewhat hard, but not bad tasted. Even the flesh of the quagga, whichfew white men would eat willingly, becomes, when thus prepared,tolerably palatable.
Occasionally it was necessary to give the oxen a rest, when they mightregain, on an abundant pasture, their strength, exhausted by the toilsthey had encountered.
Next time they stopped, Denis, Percy, and Lionel agreed that they wouldgo hunting together, so that they might have all the glory tothemselves; for, should they accompany Hendricks and Umgolo, or evenCrawford, who had become a good shot and a daring hunter by this time,they would, as Denis observed, "not have a chance of shooting anything."
Two days after this, having arrived at a suitable spot, away from anykraal, where there was an abundance of grass, and a stream of brightwater flowing at the bottom of the valley; their leader calling a halt,the oxen were outspanned and the camp formed. As there was sure to beplenty of game in the neighbourhood, the three lads at once madearrangements for their trip. As their steeds had merely followedquietly behind the waggon, they were perfect
ly fresh, and it was settledthat they should ride them. They agreed also to take with them a Kaffirservant, Gozo, who, though not equal to Umgolo, was considered anexperienced hunter. Hendricks did not object to the boys accompanyinghim, though he gave him strict charge to keep them out of harm's way.They turned in early, that they might be off at daybreak, as Hendrickswisely insisted that they should return before nightfall.