15 V
AN AFRICAN
EDITED J;V
WILLIAM H. G. KINGSTON
ATTHOR OF ''GREAT AFRICAN" TRAVELLERS/' " LIGDV H EATIICOTH,''
i i
■■7
SHlinVRECKS AND L!^ A/.TERS AT SEA, ETC
^
IV/r/:/ 42 ILLUSTRATIONS
LONDON
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, LiMITZB
BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL
BIANCHESTER AND NEW VORK
Mr. W. H. G. KINGSTON'S
TALES OF ADVENTURE IN ALL QUARTERS OF
THE GLOBE.
ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. With 36 Illus.
trations.
ARCTIC ADVENTURES. With 40 Illustrntions.
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. With 42 Illustrations.
ADVENTURES IN INDIA. V/lth 36 Illustrations.
AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURES. With 34 Illustrations.
KIDNAPPING IN THE PACIFIC; or, THE AD-
VENTURES OF DOAS RINGDON. With
23 lUustra'.ioils,
I
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIOiS'S.
VAV.E
"WATER CO^IE SOOX, WATER CO:*IE SOON 1 . » • 3
'•'a tiger, uncle ; A TIGER, JA^ !" 7
"those BOSJEEMEN !-' CRIED JAN 15
*'THE three HUNTERS LIGHTI-.D A EIRE AND SAT THEM-
SELVES DOWN EEFGRE IT " IQ
"what was my SURPRISE TO SEE A HUGE LION ! " . . 23
"AnriNG AT THE EAR OF THE HIRPOrOTA:.;US, TIE FIRED " 29
"DARE WATER. DARE WATER !" 35
"a VAST HERD CAME SCAMPEIUNG ACROSS THE PLAIN . 39
^ 'J
ON WENT THE CREATURES, TRUMPETING WITH RAGE ' . 43
''another LION SPRANG FROM THE COVER" . . . . 51
" THE ELEPHANT, ELEVATLNG ITS TRUNK, ACTUALLY
TOUCHED HIS FOOT ■''
a
a
- if
''then OFF IT WENT, TOWING THE CANOE AT A TRE^.IEN-
DOUS RATE AFTER IT'''
"the CLACKS RUSHED INTO, THE WATER, DARTING THEIR
SPEARS AT IT
))
• WHAT WAS MY DISMAY TO SEE JAN CLINGING TO HIS
HIND LEG?'-
li
I FIRED AT ITS HEAD "
59
WITH A RUSH IT I EAPT ON THE PACK OF THE GIRAFFE 67
SUDDENLY, DOWN CAME THE HARPOON" . . . . 71
73
77
"now a SCENE OF slaught;:r com}*ienced ■' . . .El
S5
9'
iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS,
'*A PARTY OF ^VOME^r SANG A MONOTONOUS CHANT AND
CLATPED THEIR HANDS" lOI
"l SAW THE CROCODILE SEIZE JLA.NS BY THE ARM" .
'*THE RHINOCEROS DROVE ITS HORNS INTO ITS RODY"
r
"the ANH\IAL sent HIM INTO THE AIR"
''LIONS, A WHOLE ARMY OF THEM". . . , o
** FIRST CAME A STAG, A :\IAC:N1 FICENT ANIMAL'
*' ON THEY CAME, CLOSER AND CLOSER
'J
"HARRY AND JAN'S RIFLES WENT OFF AT THE SAME MO
ment"
a
a
WE FIRED, AND ROTH OUR BALLS TOOK. EFFEC'J'
j;
THEY NOW OFFERED UNUSUALLY GOOD MARKS TO OUR
u
WHAT WAS OUR SURPRISE TO SEE AN ENORMOUS LION
)j
'* ALMOST DIRECTLY AFTERWARDS, TWO OF THE GIRAFFES
SANK INTO OTHER PITS "
"OFF STARTED THE QUAGGA, FULL GALLOP
.V
'*THE W^OMEN SHRIEKING, THE CHILDREN HOWLING, AND
THE MEN WAVING FIRFIiRANDS "
107
117
1-3
127
139
147
159
165
r/i
175
179
"SHOOTING AT THE STOR-M-CLOUDS TO DRIVE THE:\I AWAY ' I S3
"A COUPLE OF HUGE RHINOCEROSES*' \?^^
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA
CHAPTER I.
at-J-^-
" How many more days, Jan, will it be before we
get across this abominable desert:'' I asked of our
black guide, as we trudged along, he leading our
sole remaining ox, while my uncle, ]Mr. Roger Farley,
and I led our two horses laden with the remnants ot
our property.
** Alay be ten days, ma}^ be tAvo ten," answered Jan
Jigger, whose knowledge of numerals was somewhat
limited.
I gave a groan, for I was footsore and weary, and
expected to have had a more satisfactory answer.
We were making our way over a light-coloured soft
sand, sprinkled in some places with tall grass, rising
in tufts, with bare spots betAveen them. In other
parts were various creeping plants, and also — though
I called the region a desert — there were extensive
patches of bushes, above which here and there rose
clumps of trees of considerable height. This large
amount of vegetation, however, managed to exist
without streams or pools, and for miles and miles
ADVEXTUKES AV AFRICA.
together we h^id met with no water to quench our own
thirst or that of our weary beasts. Aly uncle was
engaged in the adventurous and not unprofitable
occupation of trading with the natives in the interior
of Africa. He had come down south some months
before to dispose of the produce of his industry at Gra-
ham's Town, where I had joined him, having been sent
for from England. After purchasing a fresh supply of
goods, arms, powder, and shot, and giving a thorough
repair to his waggons, he had again set off northward
for the neighbourhood of lake Ngami, where he was
to meet his partner, Mr. AVelbourn, who had with him
his son Harry, with whom I had been at school, and
who was ^lbout my own age. We had, beyond the
borders of the colony, been attacked by a party of
savages, instigated by the Boers, two or three of
whom indeed led them. They had deprived us of our
cattle and men, we having escaped with a small
portion only of our goods, two of our horses, a single
ox and our one faithful Bechuana. To get away
from our enemies we had taken a route not unusually
followed across the Kalahari desert. We w^ere aware
of the dangers and difhculties to be encountered, but
the road was much shorter than round either to the
east or west ; and though we knew that wild animals
abounded, including elephants, rhinoceroses, lions,
leopards, and hysenas, yet w^e believed that we should
be able to contend with them, and that we should not
be impeded by human savages. Day after day we
trudged forward. The only water we could obtain
was by digging into certain depressions in the ground
which our guide pointed out, when, having scraped
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
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ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
out the sand with the single spade we possessed and
our hands, we arrived at a hard stratum, beyond
which he advised us not to go. In a short time
the water began to Aoav in slowly, increar^ing by
degrees until we had enough for ourselves and our
cattle.
We had now, however, been travelling sixty miles
or more, without finding one of these water-holes ;
and though we had still a small quantity of the
precious liquid for ourselves, our poor horses and ox
had begun to suffer greatly. Still Jan urged us to
^o forward.
** Water come soon, water come soon ! '' he con-
tinued saying, keeping his eye ranging about in every
direction in seach of the expected hole.
Trusting to Jan's assurances, thirst compelled us to
consume the last drop of our water. Still, hour after
hour went by, and we reached no place at which we
could replenish it. Our sufferings became terrible.
]\Iy throat felt as if seared by a hot iron. Often I
had talked of being thirsty, but I had never before
known what thirst really was. J\Iy uncle, I had no
doubt, was suffering as much as I was, but his endu-
rance was wonderful.
We had seen numbers of elands sporting round m^
in every direction, but as soon as we approached
them, off they bounded.
** Surely those deer do not live without water; it
cannot be far away," I observed.
**They are able to pass days and weeks without
tasting any," said my uncle. "They can besides
quickly cover thirty or forty miles of ground if they
ADVENTURES IK AFRICA.
wish to reach it. We must try to shoot one of them
for supper, which may give us both meat and drink.
See, in the wood yonder we can leave our horses and
the ox under Jan's care, and you and I will try to
stalk one of the animals."
On reaching the wood, my uncle and I, w^ith our
guns in our hands, took a direction which would lead
us to leew^ard of the herd, so that we might not be
scented as we approached.
By creeping along under the shelter of some low
bushes as we neared them, the elands did not see us.
Hunger and thirst made us unusually cautious and
anxious to kill one. i\Iy uncle told me to reser\'e my
fire, in case he should fail to bring the eland down ;
but as he was a much better shot than I was, I feared
that should he miss, I also should fail. Presently I
saw him rise from among the grass. Lifting his rifle
to his shoulder he fired ; the eland gave a bound, but
alighting on its feet was scampering off, when I
eagerly raised my rifle and pulled the trigger. As
the smoke cleared off, to my infinite delight I saw the
eland struggling on the grass. We both rushed
forward, and my uncle's knife quickly deprived it of
life. It was a magnificent animal, as big as an ox,
being the largest of the South African antelopes.
On opening its stomach we discovered water, which,
on being allowed to cool, was sufficiently pure to
quench our burning thirst. We secured a portion of
it for Jan, and loading ourselves with as much meat
as we could carry, we returned to where we had left
him. A fire was soon lighted, and we lost no time in
cooking a portion of the flesh. With our thirst
ADVENTURES EX AEEICA.
partially relieved we were able to eat. We had made
our lire at some distance from the shrubs for fear of
^
isrnitinGf them, while we tethered our horses and ox
among" the longest grass we could find. In that dry
region no shelter was required at night, so we lay
down to sleep among our bales, with our saddles for
pillows, and our rifles by our sides. I had been
sleeping soundly, dreaming of purling streams and
babbling fountains, when I awoke to lind my throat
as dry and parched as ever. Hoping to iind a few
drops of water in my bottle, I sat up to reach for it ;
when, as I looked across the fire, what was my
dismay to see a large tiger-like animal stealthily
approaching, and tiger I fully believed it to be. On it
came, exhibiting a pair of round bright shining eyes.
I expected every moment to see it spring upon us. I
was afraid that by crying out I might only hasten its
movements, so I felt for my rifle and, presenting at
the creature's head shouted —
** A tiger, uncle ; a tiger, Jan ! "
*^ A tiger! " exclaimed my uncle, springing up in a
moment. "That's not a tiger, it's a leopard, but if
pressed by hunger may prove as ugly a customer.
Don't fire until I tell a'ou, for if wounded it will be-
come dangerous."
All this time the leopard was crawling on, though
it must have heard the sound of our voices ; perhaps
the glare of the fire in its eyes prevented it from
seeing us, for it still cautiously approached. I saw
■n'S uncle lift his rifle ; he fired, but though his bullet
struck the creature, instead of falling as I expected, it
gave a bound and the next instant would have been
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ADVENTURES IN AFRICA, 9
upon us. Now was my time. As it rose, I fired, and
my bullet must have gone through, its heart, for over it
rolled without a struggle, perfectly dead.
" Bravo ! Fred," exclaimed my uncle. *' This is
the second time within a few hours vour rifle has done
good service. You'll become a first-rate hunter if you
go on as you've begun. How that leopard came here
it's difficult to say, unless it was driven from the hills,
and has been wandering over the desert in search of
prey ; those creatures generally inhabit a high woody
countrv."
Jan exhibited great delight at our victory, and
having made up the fire, we spent some time in
skinning the beast. Its fur was of great beauty, and
although it would add to the load of our ox, we
agreed to carry it with us, as it would be a welcome
present to any chief who might render us assistance.
Having flayed the animal and pegged down the
skin, we returned to our beds, hoping to finish the
night without interruption. As soon as there was
light sufficient to enable us to see our way, we pushed
forward, earnestly praying that before the sun was
high in the heavens, we might fall in with water.
Notwithstanding that Jan repeatedly exclaimed, *'Find
w^ater soon ! Find water soon [ '" not a sign of it
could we see. A glare from a cloudy sky was shed
over the whole scene ; clumps of trees and bushes
looking so exactly alike, that after travelling several
miles, we might have fancied that we had made no
progress. At length even the trees and bushes be-
came scarcer, and what looked like a veritable desert
appeared before us.
10 ADVEXTURES L\ AFRICA,
I had gone on a short distance ahead, when to my
delight I saw in front a large lake, in the centre of
which the waves were dancing* and sparkling in the
sunlight, the shadows of the trees being' vividly re-
flected on the mirror-like surface near the shores,
while beyond I saw what I took to be a herd of
elephants flapping their ears and intertwining their
trunks.
"Water, water!" I shouted; "we shall soori
quench our thirst. AVe must take care to avoid those
elephants, however," I added, pointing them out to
my uncle. " It would be a fearful thing to be charged
by them."
The horses and ox lifted up their lieads and pressed
forward. Jan to my surprise said nothing, though I
knew he was suffering as well as mv uncle and I were.
I was rushing eagerly forward, when suddenly a haze
which hung over the spot, broke and dispelled the illu-
sion. A vast salt-pan lay before us. It was covered with
an effervescence of lime, which had produced the de-
ceptive appearance. Our spirits sank lower than ever.
To avoid the salt-pan, we turned to the right, so as to
skirt its eastern side. The seeming elephants proved
to be zebras, which scampered off out of reach. We
now began to fear that our horses would give in, and
that we should have to push forward with our ox
alone, abandoning evervthing ' it could not carrv.
Still my uncle cried " Forward ! " Jan had evidently
mistaken the road, and passed the spot where he had
expected to find v.-ater. Still he observed that we
need have no fear of pursuing our course. Evening
was approaching and we must again camp : without
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. n
water we could scarcely expect to get through the
night.
Presently Jan lookiiTg out ahead, darted forward and
stopped at where a small plant grew with linear
leaves and a stalk not thicker than a crow's quill,
instantly taking a spade fastened to the back oi the
ox, he began eagerly digging away; and after he had
got down to the depth of a foot, he displayed to us a
tuber, the size of an enormous turnip. On removing
the rind, he cut it open with his axe, and showed us a
mass of cellular tissue filled up with a juicy substance
which he handed to us, and applying a piece to his
own mouth ate eagerly away at it. We imitated his
example, and were almost immediately much re-
freshed. We found several other plants of the same
sort, and digging up the roots gave them to the horses
and ox, who crunched them up with infinite satisfac-
tion.
Our thirst was relieved in a way I could scarcely
have supposed possible. The animals too, trudged
forward with far lighter steps than before. Re-
lieved of our thirst and in the hopes of finding
either water or more tubers next morning, we
lay down thankful that we liad escaped the fearful
danger we had apprehended. As we advanced we
looked out anxiously for the tuber-bearing plants,
but not one qomICl we see. I had 'gone on some little
distance ahead, when I caught sight of a round object
some way off, Avhich, as the rays of sun fell on it,
appeared of scarlet hue. I ran towards it, when I saw
what looked like a small oblong red melon.
"Here's something worth having!" I exclaimed,
12 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
cutting into it with my knife. AVhen I applied it to
iny mouth, to my disappointment I found that, although
juicy in the extreme, it was perfectly bitter. I threw
it down in disgust. Jan soon afterwards, on coming
near, said :
" Dis no good, but find oders presently ! "
Hurrying along, he struck one after another, and
quickly handed me one perfectly sweet ; Avhen he col-
lected many more, with which we returned to where
mv uncle had halted with the animals.
The fruit was far more gratifying to the taste than
the tubers. We allowed the animals to eat as many
as they wished, and, loading them with a supply in
case we should fail to find others further on, we
continued our journey.
Those melons lasted us another whole day and a
night, and afforded the only liquid which passed our
mouths. As we were on foot our view over the level
desert was limited,
I was walking alongside my uncle, discussing our
future plans, having begun to hope that, in spite
of the difficulties we had to contend against, we
should get through, when I saAv some objects moving
rapidly in the distance. They were coming towards
us.
** They are ostriches ! " cried my uncle; " we must
try and kill a few to obtain their plumes."
We halted, and remained perfectly still, hoping
that the birds might approach us. Now they ran
as fleet as a race-horse, now they stopped and went
circling round. Two or three odd-looking birds, as
they seemed, were moving at a much slower rate,
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA, \\
" Those Bosjeemen ! " cried Jan.
We at length saw that the latter were human
beings, their legs covered with white pigment and
carrying the head and feathers of an ostrich on their
backs, while each had in his hand a bow and a number
of arrows. Presently they cautiously approached the
ostriches to leeward, stopping every now and then
and pretending to be feeding. The ostriches would
look at the strange birds, but, not suspecting danger,
allowed them to approach. One of the Bosjeemen
then shot an arrow, when the wounded bird and his
companions ran off; the formez', however, quickly
dropped, when the other birds stopped to see what
was the matter, and thus allowed their enemy to draw
near enough to shoot another arrow.
In this way three little yellow-skinned fellows each
shot, in a short time, four magnificent ostriches.
They had seen us in the distance, but instead of run-
ning away, as we feared they would do, one of them,
guessing we were traders, came forward to bargain
for the sale of the feathers, and Jan acting as inter-
preter, my uncle expressed a willingness to trade.
The Bosjeemen then produced a number of reeds,
scarcely the thickness of my little finger. Having
plucked off the feathers, they pushed them into the
reeds ; and, thus preserved, the feathers were fit to
travel any distance without being spoilt.
It was late by the time the whole operation was
performed, and we had given the articles they had
agreed to take in exchange. As the reeds weighed
but little, the loads were considerably lightened.
Jan now explained' to our new friends that they
i4 ADVENTURES /A AFRICA,
would be further rewarded if they would conduct us
to water. They at once agreed to do so, and one of
them, hurrying away to a spot at a distance where
they had left their travelling equipage, returned with
a dozen ostriches' eggs in a net at his back ; he then
made a sign to us to follow him, while his companions
remained with the ostriches they had shot. Sooner
than we expected he reached a hole, into which he
rapidly dug with his hand ; then, inserting a long
reed, he began to suck away with might and main.
In a short time the water flowed, and was led down
by another reed into a hole at the end of an ostrich
egg, which was soon filled with water. As we had a
leathern bucket we were enabled to give our animals
a drink, though we could not allow them as much as
they would have liked.
The Bosjeeman then, refilling the egg-shells, re-
turned with us to where we had left his companions.
We found that they had built themselves a hut, if so
it could be called, in a thick mimosa bush, by bending
the boughs so as to form a roof, covered by reeds
lightly fastened together. The inside was lined with
dried leaves, grass, and the coarser feathers of the
ostrich. AVhen they saw that we were encamped,
the three hunters lighted a lire and sat themselves
dowm before it to enjoy a sumptuous repast of ostrich
flesh. Though unattractive in appearance, they were
honest little fellows, and we slept in perfect security,
knowing that they would give us timely notice of the
approach of an enemy.
Jan assured us that we might trust them, as it was
a high mark of confidence on their part to show us
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ADVENTURES IN AERICA, 17
where we could procure water, for they are always
careful to hide such spots from those they think
unfriendly.
They accompanied us the following day, and led us
to a pool, the only one we had met with while cross-
ing the desert. Probably in many seasons that also
would have been empty. Here our animals got as
m_uch water as they could drink, and we filled our
water-bottles. We then parted from our yellow
friends, who said that, as they were ignorant of the
country to the northward, they could not venture
farther. Trustinc^' to Jan's sagacity to find water, we
proceeded in good spirits.
We had hoped to trade largely with the natives,
but as we had lost the greater part of our goods, we
should have to depend upon our own exertions to
obtain the ivory and skins which would repay us for
the difficulties and dangers of our journey. We had
fortunately saved the g-reater part of our ammunition,
which would enable us to hunt for some months to
come.
Of course we knew Mr. Welbourn would be much
disappointed at seeing us arrive with so slender an
equivalent for the skins and ivory my uncle had taken
south, instead of the waggon full of goods which he
had expected.
" Pie is a sensible, good-natured fellow, and will
know that it was from no fault of ours w^e were
plundered,'* observed my uncle. **We shall still do
ivell, and shall probably encounter more adventures
than we should have met with had we confined our-
selves to simple trading with the natives. I should.
iS ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
however, have preferred that to undergoing the
fatigues of hunting; besides which we might the sooner
have returned with our cargo of ivory to the coast."
Several more days passed by during which we came
to three spots where we were able to obtain a
sufficient amount of water to satisfy ourselves and our
thirsty animals. Sometimes for miles together not a
drop could be procured, and had it not been for the
tubers, and the little red melons I have described,
the horses and our patient ox must have perished.
At length the sheen of water in the bright sunlight
was seen in the distance. This time we were con-
vinced that it was not a mirage. We pushed forward,
hoping that our sufferings from thirst were at an end.
Trees of greater height than any we had yet met with
since leaving the colony fringed the banks of a fine
river. On examining the current we found that it was
flowing to the north-east, and we therefore hoped
that by following it up we should reach the lake for
which we were bound. Our black guide, however,
advised that we should cross the river, which was
here fordable, and by steering north, considerably
shorten the journey. On wading through the water
Ave looked out sharply for crocodiles and hippopotami,
lest one of those fresh-water monsters should venture
to attack us ; we got over, however, without accident.
Having allowed our animals to drink their full of
water, and replenished our bottles, we encamped for
the night under a magnificent baobab tree with
trunk seventy feet in girth as high as we could reach,
while our animals found an abundance of rich grass
on which to satisfy their hunger.
ADVENTURES IN A ERIC A
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?n ADVENTURES EV A ERICA.
What pigmies we felt as we stood beneath that
giant tree. An army might have found shelter from
the sun under its wide-spreading- boughs. We thought
the spot a perfect paradise after our long journey
across the plain.
We had not long been seated round our camp-hre,
when Jan made a dart at his foot and caught a fly
which had settled on it ; and, exhibiting it to my
uncle, exclaimed
" No good, no good ! "
It was of a brownish colour with thee yellow bars
across the body, and scarcely larger than a common
house-fly. We soon saw others buzzing about in
considerable numbers.
I asked Jan what he meant.
*' Das de isctse : when bite horse or ox den dey die,"
he answered.
As, however, neither my uncle nor I felt any ill
effects from the bites of the flies, we thought that Jan
must be mistaken, and at all events it was now too
late to shift our encampment. We therefore, having
made up a blazing fire to scare off any wild beasts,
lay down to sleep, without thinking more of the flies,
which did not cause us any annoyance.
The next morning we saw some of the creatures on
the legs of our horses and the ox ; but we soon
brushed them away, and, loading up, Ave continued
our journey. They went on as usual. Jan, however,
looked much disconcerted, and I savv' him continually
brushing off the flies.
'* No good, no good I" he said, ** hope soon get
through, for de horses not go far."
ADVEXTL'RES I.V AFRICA,
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I
I asked my uncle what Jan meant. He replied that
he had often heard of the tsetse fly, but never having
passed through a country infested by it, he was disin-
clined to believe the stories told of the deadly effects
of its bite on cattle and horses,
.H
CHAPTER IL
We soon passed through the tsetse district, which
was not more than a couple of miles wide, and, as our
animals showed no appearance of suffering, we hoped
that they had escaped injury.
We had determined to encamp early in the day
near a pool fed by a rivulet which fell into the main
stream, in order that we might shoot some game for
our supper. Leaving Jan in charge of the camp, my
uncle and I set off, believing that we could easily find
our way back to the fire. We had gone some distance
when we caught sight of a herd of antelopes. In
order that w^e might have a better chance of killing
one of them, my uncle told me to make a wide circuit,
keeping to leeward of the deer towards a clump of
trees, whence I might be able to get a favourable
shot, while he lay down concealed by the brushwood
near where we then were.
Taking advantage of all the bushes and trunks ot
trees on the way, I approached the antelopes without
disturbing them. Looking out from the cover I had
gained, I watched the beautiful creatures, hoping that
one of them would come within range of my rifle. It
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ADVENTURES IN A ERIC A,
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was tantalising to see them feeding so quietly just out
of my reach. Still, though I might not get a shot, 1
hoped that they might go off towards w^here my uncle
was lying hid. Presently, however, they bounded
towards me ; and, thinking it possible that they might
again turn, I fired at one of the leading animals,
which, notwithstanding its wound, still went on,
though at slackened speed. Instead of reloading, as
I ought to have done, I dashed forward to secure it.
Scarcely, however, had I left my cover than what was
my surprise, and I must confess my dismay, to see a
huge lion ! Should I attempt to escape by flight, the
avage brute would, I kne^v, follow me. I fixed my
QY^s as steadily as I could upon liim, while I
attempted to reload. At the same time I knew that,
even should I fire, I might only wound him, when he
would become more fierce. There were trees near, up
which it was possible I might climb should he give
me time, but it was not likely that he would do that.
I wondered that he did not pursue the antelope; but
probably he had lately had his dinner, or he certa.inly
would have done so. I continued loading, he lashing
his tail and roaring furiously. I expected every
moment that he would spring upon me. To escape
by any other way than by shooting him dead seemed
impossible.
I finished loading, and brought my gun up ready to
4
fire. Should I miss or only wound him, he would bo
upon me in a moment. I had hitherto remained quite
silent, but it occurred to me that if I should shout
loudly enough my uncle would hear my cry for help.
I tbo'J's'ht, too, that I miq'ht scare the lion. When
26 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
once I had made up my mind to shout, I did so with
might and main.
I was answered by a distant " hollo ! " by which I
knew that my uncle was still a long way off. He
would, however, understand that I was in danger, and
come to my assistance ; or, if too l?te to help me,
would provide for his own safety.
The lion seemed as undecided hoAv to act as I was.
As I shouted he roared, and again lashed his tail, but
did not advance a step. This gave me courage ; but,
although the monarch of the forest did not appear in
a combative mood, I felt very sure that, should I
wound him, his rage would be excited. I dared not
for a moment withdraw my eye from him, and thus
we stood regarding each other. To me it seemed a
prodigiously long time. At last he seemed to lose
patience, for his roars became more frequent and
louder and louder, and he lashed his tail more
fuiiously. I raised my rifle to my shoulder. He
came on at a cat-like pace, evidently ignorant of the
powder of the weapon I held in my hands. In another
instant he would spring at me. I pulled the trigger.
To my horror, the cap failed to ignite the powder. I
saw the monstrous brute in the act of springing, but
at the same moment I heard the crack of a rifle close
to me ; the next, a tremendous roar rent the air. I
was felled to the earth, and felt myself weighed down
by a vast body, unable to breathe or move. It was
some time before I came to myself, when, looking up,
I saw my uncle kneeling by my side.
'*The lion very nearly did for you, Fred,'* he said ;
"but cheer up, lad. I don't think you're mortally
ADVENTUkES IN AFRICA. 27
hurt, though you've had a narrow squeak for it. Had
your gun not missed fire, you might have shot the
lion yourself. Here he lies, and there's the springbok/'
While my uncle was talking, he was examining my
hurts. The lion had criven me a fearful blow with his
o
paw, and had injured one of my shoulders. It was a
wonder indeed that he did not kill me.
" We must ^et you to the camp somehow," said m)'
uncle ; " I cannot leave you here while I bring the ox,
so the sooner we set off the better."
Taking me up in his arms, he began to stagger on
with me ; but, though he was a strong man, I was
no slight weight, and he had great difficulty in
getting along. I asked him to let me walk, as I
thought that I could do so with his support. When I
tried, however, I found that I could not move one
foot before the other. As we got within hail of the
camp he shouted to Jan to come and help him ; and
together they carried me along the remainder of the
distance.
** Now that we have you safe here, though I
am unwilling to leave you, I must go back and fetch
the antelope, for we cannot do without food," he
said.
Telling Jan to collect materials for building a hut,
as it was evident that I should be unable to move for
some time, and also charging him to keep an eye on
me, he started off.
I felt a great deal of pain, but I retained my senses,
and tried to divert my thoughts by watching Jan, who
was busily employed in cutting long sticks and
branches for the hut.
23 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
It seemed to me that my uncle had been gone for
more than an hour, and I began to fear that some
accident might have happened to him. Where there
was one lion it was probable that there were others,
a
nd they might revenge themselves on the sla3^er of
their relative.
Jan, however, kept working away as if satisfied
that all was right, now and then taking a look at me,
and throwing a few sticks on the fire to get it to burn
brightly. He then began to prepare for roasting the
expected venison by placing some uprights, with
cross pieces to serve as spits, close to the fire.
'* Hurrah ! here am de Cap'n !" he at length
shouted, such being the title he usually bestowed
on my uncle. " He bring springbok, an' someting
else too."
I felt greatly relieved when I saw my uncle throw
down his heavy load, consisting not only of the ante-
lope which I had shot, but of the lion's skin.
** I brought this/' he said, '' to make a bed for you.
You want it, though it is not fit at present to serve the
purpose.
I thanked him for his offer, but declared that I
would rather just then be left where I was, as any
movement pained me.
Jan lost no time in cutting off some pieces of
venison, and placing them to roast. ■My uncle also
put on a pot with a small portion to make some soup,
which he said would suit me better than the roast.
Hungry as I was, though I tried to eat some of the
latter as soon as Jan declared it sufficiently done, I
could not manage to get it down. My thirst bccani(^
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
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30 ADVEXTURES AV A ERICA.
excessive, and it was fortunate that we were near
water, or I believe I should otherwise have died.
The hut Vv^as soon finished, and some leaves and
grass placed in it for me to lie upon. The soup did
me some good, but I suffered so much pain that I
could scarcely sleep all the night, and in the morning
was in so fevered a condition, that I was utterly unfit
to travel. I was very sorry to delay my uncle, but
it could not be helped, and he bore the detention with
his usual good temper. Nothing could exceed his
kindness. He sat by my side for hours together; he
dressed my wounds Avhenever he thought it necessary,
and indeed tended me with the greatest care.
Day after day, however, went by, and I still re-
mained in the same helpless state. He would not
have left me for a moment, I believe, but it was neces-
sary to go out and procure m.ore game.
Jan had undertaken to scrape and prepare the lion's
skin. He was thus employed near the stream at a
little distance from the camp when I was startled by
hearing a loud snort ; and, looking up, what was my
horror to see him rushing along, with a huge hippo-
potamus following him ! In another minute I ex-
pected to see him seized by its formidable jaws and
trampled to death, and then I thought that the savage
brute would make at me. In vain I attempted to rise
nd get my gun, but my uncle, when he went out,
had forgotten to place it near me. I tried to cry out
and frighten the brute, but I could not raise my voice
sufhciently high. Poor Jan shrieked loud enough,
hut his cries had no effect on the monster. He was
making for a tree, up which he might possibly have
a
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 31
climbed, when his i^ot slipped, and over he rolled on
the ground. He was now perfectly helpless, and in a
few minutes the hippopotamus w^ould trample him to
death. It seemed as if all hope was gone ; but, at
:lie very instant that I thouglit poor Jan's death was
certain, my uncle suddenly appeared, when, aiming
behind the ear of the hippopotamus, he hred, and the
Tc.orxsier fell. Jan narrowly escaped being crushedj
which he would have been had he not by a violent
effort rolled out of the way.
Suffering as I was, I could scarcely help laughing
at Jan's face, as, getting up on his knees, he looked
with a broad grin at the hippopotamus, still uncertain
whether it was dead or not. At length, convinced
that his enemy could do him no further harm, he rose
to his feet, exclaimino- —
*' Tankee, tankee, cap'n ! If de gun not go off, Jan
no speak 'gain."
Then, hurrying on, he examined the creature, to be
certain that no life remained in it.
** What we do wid dis r " he asked, giving the huge
body a kick with his foot.
** As it will shortly become an unpleasant neigh-
bour, we must manage to drag him away from the
o-amp," observed ray uncle. " If the stream were
deep enough, I would drag it in, and let it float down
with the current ; but, as it would very likely gel
stranded close to us, we must haul it away with the
ox and the horses, though I doubt if the animals will
like being thus employed."
I thought the plan a good one ; and my uncle told
Jan to catch the horses and ox, while he contrived som
]' 2
J-
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
harness with the ropes and straps used for securing
iheir cargoes. The ox showed perfect indifference to
the dead hippopotamus, but the horses Avere very un-
willing to be harnessed. They submitted, however,
to act as leaders, while the ox had the creature^s head,
round which a rope was passed, close to its heels.
Even then the animals found it no easy task to drag
the huge body along over the rough ground.
'* We shall not be long gone, Fred,'' said my uncle,
placing a rifle and a brace of pistols close to me. *' I
liope that no other hippopotamus or lion or leopard
will pay you a visit w^hile we are away. If they do,
you must use these, and I trust that you'll be able to
drive off the creatures, w^hatever the}^ may be."
I felt rather uncomfortable at being left alone in
the camp, but it could not be helped; and I could
only pray that another hippopotamus might not make
its appearance. This one, in all probability, came up
the stream far from its usual haunts.
I kept my rifle and pistols ready for instant use.
The time seemed very long. As I listened to the noises
in the forest, I fancied that I could hear the roaring
and mutterings of lions, and the cries of hysenas.
Several times I took my rifle in my hand, expecting
to sec a lion stealing up to the camp. I caught sight
in the distance of the tall necks of a troop of giraffes
stalking across the country, foUow^ed soon afterwards
by a herd of bounding besboks, but no creatures
came near me. At last my uncle and Jan returned
with our four-footed attendants.
**We have carried the monster's carcase far enough
off to prevent it from poisoning us by its horrible
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA, 33
odour when ic putrifies, which it will in a few hours,"
he observed. " But I am afraid that it will attract
the hyrenas and jackals in no small numbers, so that
A'e shall be annoyed by their howls and screechings.
I am sorry to say also that the horses seem ill able to
perform their w^ork, and I greatly fear that they have
been injured by the tsetse fly. If we lose them we
shall have a difficulty in getting" v.\on^. However, we
won't despair until the evil day comes/'
I should have said that my uncle, just before he
rescued Jan from the hippopotamus, had shot another
antelope, which he had brought to the camp, so that
we were in no want of food.
Several days went by. Though I certainly was not
worse, my recovery was very slow, and I was scarcely
better able to travel than I was at iirst ; though I
told my uncle that I would try and ride if he Avished
to move on.
'' I doubt if either of the horses can carry you," he
answered. " Both are getting thin and weak, and
have a running from their nostrils, which Jan says is
the result of the tsetse poison. If you arc better in a day
or two we will try and advance to the next stream or
water-hole; and perhaps we may fall \\\ with natives,
from whom we may purchase some oxen to replace
our horses. It will be a great disappointment to lose
the animals, for I had counted on them for hunting."
That night w^e were entertained by a concert ol
hideous bowlings and cries, produced Vv'^e had no
doubt by the hyasnas and jackals ; but by keeping
up a good fire, and occasionally discharging our rifles,
we prevented them from approaching the camp.
^ ADVENTURJiS LV AFRICA.
At the end of two days I fancied myself better.
We accordingly determined the next morning to re-
cc^mmence our journey. At daybreak we breakfasted
on the remains of the last deer shot, and my uncle
having placed me on his horse, which was the
stronger of the two, put part of its cargo on the
other. Pushing on, we soon left behind the camp we
had so long occupied.
On starting I bore the movement pretty well, and
fancied that I should be able to perform the journey
without difhculty. For the first two days, indeed, we
got on better than I had expected, though I was thank-
ful when the time for camj^ing arrived. On the third
morning I suffered much, but did not tell my uncle
how ill I felt, hoping" that I should recover during the
journey. We had a wild barren tract to cross, almost
as wild as the desert. The ox trudged on as patiently
as ever, but the horses were very weak, and I had
great difficulty in keeping mine on its legs. Several
times it had stumbled, but I was fortunately not
thrown off. Our pace, however, was necessarily very
slow% and we could discover no signs of Avater, yet
water we must reach before we could venture to camp.
Jan generally led the ox, while my uncle walked
by my side, holding the rein of the other horse.
Again and again my poor animal had stumbled ;
when, as my uncle was looking another wa}'', down
it came, and I was thrown with considerable violence
to the ground.
My uncle, having lifted me up, I declared that I
was not much hurt, and begged him to replace me
on the horse. The poor animal was unable to rise.
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ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. IJ
In vain Jan and he tried to get it on its legs. He
and Jan took off the saddle and the remaining part
of the load, but all was of no use. At last we came
to the melancholy conclusion that its death was in-
evitable. Our fears were soon realized : after it had
given a few struggles, its head sinking on the sand,
it ceased to move. We had consequently to abandon
some more of our heavier things, and having trans-
ferred the remaining cargo to the ox, my uncle put
me on the back of the other horse. Scarcely, how-
ever, had Ave proceeded a mile than down it came,
and I was again thrown to the ground, this time to
be more hurt than at first.
I bore the suffering as w^ell as I could, and made
no complaint, while my uncle and Jan tried to get
the horse up. It was soon apparent, however, that
its travelling days were done, and that we had now
the ox alone to depend upon.
"I wish that I could walk," I said, but when I made
the attempt I could not proceed a dozen paces. Had
not my uncle supported me I should have runk to the
ground. We could not stay where we were, for both
we and our poor ox required water and food.
" We must ab^Lndon our goods,'' said my uncle ;
*' better to lose them than our lives. We will, however,
if we can find a spot near here, leave them en cachcy as
the Canadian hunters say; and if we soon fall in witli
any friendly natives, we can send and recover them.''
He had just observed, he said, a small cave, and
he thought that by piling up some stones in front of
it the things would remain uninjured from the w^eather
or wild beasts for a considerable time.
3- ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
As it was only a short distance off, while Jan re-
mained with me, he led the ox to the spot. The cave,
fortunately, had no inhabitant ; and, having" placed
the goods within, and piled some stones so as com-
pletely to block up the entrance, he returned, retainin,q
only the powder and shot, the ostrich feathers, three
or four skins, our cooking utensils, a few packajrco ot
tea, coffee, sugar, pepper, and smiuai articles
weighing but little. Unfortunately, in building up
the wall, one of the larger stones had dropped, and
severely injured his foot. He found it so painful that
he v/as unable to walk. He, therefore, mounting the
ox, took me up before him, I, indeed, b}^ this time could
not even hold on to the saddle, so had not he carried
n:ie I should ha\'e been unable to travel. We now
once more went on. It was already late in the day,
and before long darkness overtook us ; still we could
not stop without Avater, which Ave hoped, however, to
find before long. In ^i short time the moon rose and
?n^ibled us to see our wdcw
l^he prospect was dreary in the extreme. Here
an_d there a fcAv trees sprang out of the arid soil, Avhile
on every side were rocks with little or no A'egetation
round them. "We looked out eagerly for Avater, but
mile after mile Avas passed over and not a pool nor
stream could Ave see. I suffered greatl}^ from thirst,
:in(l sometimes thoug'ht that I should succumb. My
uncle cheered me up, and Jan declared that we should
■
soon reach Avater and be able to camp. Still on and
on Ave Avent. At length Jan cried out — ■
*^ Dare Avatcr, dare Avaterl "
I tried to lift up my head, but had not strength to
move. I heard my uncle exclaim —
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA
39
"A VAST HERD CAME SCAMPKRING ACROSS THE PLAIN." [p- ^O.
40 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
*' Thank heaven ! there's water, sure enough. I see
the moonbeams playing on the surface of a pool/'
I believe I fainted, for I remember no more until 1
found him splashing water over my face; and, open-
ing my eyes. I saw him kneeling by my side. Jan
was busily engaged in lighting a fire, while the ox
was feeding not far off. A hut was then built for me,
and as soon as I was placed in it I fell asleep. In
the morning I awoke greatly revived. JMy uncle
said he v/as determined to remain at the spot until I
was sufficiently recovered to travel, and I promised to
get well as soon as J could. When breakfast was
over he started off with his gun to try and shoot a
deer, for we had just exhausted the last remnant of
venison we possessed.
As, sheltered from the rays of the sun, I lay in my
hut, which was built on a slight elevation above the
lakelet, I could enjoy a fine view of the country in
front of me.
Jan, having just finished cleaning my gun, was en-
gaged a little way below me in cutting up the wood
for the fire, singing in a low voice one of his native
song
o#
Presently I caught sight of my uncle in the far
distance advancing towards a rounded hillock which
rose out of the plain below. Almost at the same
moment, I saw still further off several animals which
I at once knew to be deer coming on at a rapid rate
towards our camp. They were taking a direction
which would lead them close to where my uncle lay
in ambush. They were followed by others in quick
succps^ion. until a vast herd came scamiDcring and
ADVENTURES EW AFRICA. 41
bounding across the plain like an army, two or threa
abreast, following each other. Twice I heard the
report of my uncle's rifle. On each occasion a deer
fell to the ground.
Jan cried out that they were blesbok.s, one of the
finest deer in South Africa. They had long twisting
horns, and were of a reddish colour, the legs being
much darker, with a blaze of white on the face.
I never saw a more beautiful sight. Jan was all
eagerness, and, taking my gun, he went in chase ;
but before he could get near enough to obtain a shot,
the whole herd was scampering away across the plain,
laughing at his puny efforts to overtake them.
In a short time my uncle appeared, carrying a
portion of one of the animals on his back, and imme-
diately sent off Jan with the ox to fetch in the re-
mainder.
Here was wood and water, and game in abundance,
so that we could not have chosen a better spot for
remaining in until I was myself again. As we had
plenty of meat he was able to concoct as much broth
a.s I could consume. It contributed greatly to restore
my strength; and^ judging by the progress I was
making, I hoped that we should be able shortly to
resume our journey.
CHAPTER III.
^ fc^ t,
■«
In a few days I was able to stroll a short distance
from the camp, always taking my gun with me.
Though I still walked with some difficulty, I every
hour found my strength returning. Had we pos-
sessed a waggon we might have loaded it with skins,
so abundant was the game ; but, although we pre-
pared a few of the most valuable, we could not
venture to add much to the cargo of our poor ox. At
last my uncle, seeing that I was strong enough to
undertake the fatigue of the journey, announced his
intention of setting off, and I determined that it should
not be my fault if I broke down again.
In order to try my strength, I accompanied him on
a short shooting excursion from the camp, where we
left Jan to look after the ox and our goods. I found
that I got along far better than I had expected; the
satisfaction of once more finding myself able to move
about greatly raising my spirits. We had gone but a
short distance when looking over the bushes w^e saw
some objects moving up and down which, as we crept
nearer, turned out to be a pair elephant's ears.
** We must have that fellow," said my uncle; "we
' on WENT THE CRFATURES, TRUMPETING WITH RAGE." [p. 4O,
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 45
can carry his tusks, and on^ of his feet will afford us
a substantial meal." The elephant, we fancied, did
not see us ; and keeping ourselves concealed by the
underwood, we cautiously advanced. Presently we
found ourselves on the borders of an open glade, a
few low bushes only intervening between ourselves
and the elephant. He now saw us clearly enough,
and not liking our appearance, I suppose, lifted up
his trunk and began trumpeting loudly.
*' If he comes on, don't attempt to run," whispered
my uncle, *'but face him for a moment, and fire at
his shoulder ; then leap on one side or behind a tree,
or if you can do so, climb up it with your rifle. I will
look out for myself" As he spoke the elephant
began to advance towards us. I fired, as did my
uncle, the moment afterwards ; but, though we both
hit him, the huge beast, after approaching a few
paces nearer, instead of charging, turned away to the
left, and went crashing through the wood.
We having reloaded were about to follow him,
when the heads of nearly £i dozen other elephants
appeared from the direction where we had seen the
first ; and, advancing rapidly through the shrubs
which they ti ampled under ioot^ with trunks and tail
stuck out, and uttering loud trumpetings, they camo
rushing like a torrent down upon us.
" Come behind these bushes ! " cried my uncle, " and
don't move thence if you value your life."
I felt as if my life was of very little value just then,
for I could not see how we were to escape being
crushed by the huge monsters as they rushed over us,
>.ry uncle fortunately possessed all the coolness re-
quired by an elephant hunter.
46 ADVENTURES E\ A ERICA,
** Fire at that fellow opposite/' he cried. *' I'll take
the next, and they'll probably turn aside."
We almost at the same moment pulled our triggers.
The elephant at which my uncle fired stopped short,
then down it came with a crash on its knees ; while
the one I aimed at rushed by with its companions,
very nearly giving me an ugly kick with its feet.
We had both dropped behind the bush the moment
we had delivered our lire. On went the creatures
trumpeting with rage, and disappointed at not find-
ing us.
We were not free from danger, for it was possible
that they might return. As soon, therefore, as their
tails had disappe*ared among the brushwood, we re-
loaded and ran towards some trees, the trunks of
which would afford us some protection. Here we
waited a short time in yight of the elephant which
lay dead on the ground. We could hear the trumpet-
ing of the others grow less distinct as they made their
way through the forest, either influenced by fear or
excited by rage, fancying they were still following
Vis up.
"They will not come back for the present," said
my uncle at length as we issued out from among the
trees, when he at once began to cut out the tusks
from the dead elephant. These he calculated weighed
together fully a hundred and ten pounds. This, how-
ever, was a greater weight than he could carry, and
he would not allow me to attempt to help him.
''You shall Qon\rey one of the feet to the camp, and
Vv'c will try our skill in cooking it," he said, dexter-
ously cutting it off.
ADVEXTCRES EV AFRICA. 47
Taking a stick he ran it through the foot so that
I could the more easily carry it. He then having
shouldered one of the tusks, we set out for the camp,
well satisfied with our day's sport.
As soon as we arrived we sent off Jan for the other
tusk, as he could easily find the w^ay by the track we
had made ; while my uncle dug a hole close to the
lire, into which he raked a quantity of ashes, and then
covered it up. After some time he again scraped out
the ashes, and having wrapt the foot up in leaves,
he put it into the hole, and covered it up with hot
earth. On the top of all he once more lit a fire, and
kept it blazing ^iway for some time.
The fire had well-nigh burnt out when Jan returned
with the other tusk. He told us that on his way back
he had seen the spoors of the elephants, and that if
we chose to follow them, he was sure that we should
come up with them, and should most probably find
those we had wounded.
We now uncovered our elephant's foot, which Jan
pronounced to be as satisfactorily cooked as his own
countrymen could have done it. The fiesh was soft
and gelatinous greatly resembling calves-head, and
was so tender that we could scoop it out with a
spoon. I don't know that I ever enjoyed a meal
more. Although we could not venture to load our
ox with more than the two tusk.s we had already
obtained, my uncle, hoping soon to fall in with Llr.
Welbourn, determined to try and obtain the tusks
from the other two elephants we had wounded, and to
leave them concealed, until we could send for them.
There was the risk, of course, of their being dis-
J' 2
48 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
covered by the natives, as we were now approaching
an inhabited part of the country. AVe had still a
couple of hours of day-light, and as I did not feel
myself fatigued with my previous exertions, my uncle
agreed to allow me to accompany him, while Jan was
left to clean the tusks und to prepare straps for carry-
ing them on the back of the ox.
\\*e soon discovered the elephants' spoor, and
followed it for some distance, the splashes of blood
we found here and there showing that the wounded
animal had stopped to rest. It would be necessary,
as we approached them, to be cautious, as they would
be on the alert and ready to revenge themselves for
the injury they had received.
We now every moment expected to come upon them.
We stopped to listen; no sound could we hear to in-
dicate that they were near vis. We, therefore, went
on until, reaching the top of a hillock, Ave caught
sight of some water glittering among the trees. Ad-
vancing a little further a small lakelet opened out
before us, in the shallow part of which, near the shore,
stood an elephant, sucking up the water with his
trunk and throwing it over his neck and shoulders.
My uncle remarked that he was sure it was the
animal we had wounded, but that he was still too far
off to give us a chance of killing him. We were
making our way among the trees, hoping to got near
without being perceived — though that was no easy
matter as he kept his sharp eyes turning about in
every direction — when, from behind the grove which
had before concealed them, several more rushed out.
** They see us!'' cried my uncle. *' We must gej
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA, 49
up among the branches and shoot them as they pass,
for they will not let us escape as easily as before."
Fortunately, near at hand was a tree, up which,
without much difficult}^, we could make our way.
^ly uncle, ^oin^ up first, helped me to follow him.
Scarcely had we secured ourselves when the ele-
phants came up with their trunks sticking out and
trumpeting as loudly as before. As they kept their ,
eyes on the ground, they did not see us. We fired
at them as they passed.
We remained for some time expecting the wounded
elephant to follow its companions, but as it did not
we began to hope that it had succumbed, and that we
might find it dead in the neighbourhood. We w^ere
about to descend to look for it, w^hen the heads of
three giraffes, or camelopards, as they are sometimes
called, appeared among the trees ; the animals lifting
up their tall necks to crop the leaves as they advanced.
As they were coming in our direction we agreed to
wait. By descending we might frighten them. In a
short time one separated from the others, and got so
close that my uncle could not resist the temptation of
firing. As the shot entered its neck the graceful
animal sank down to the ground, and lay perfectly
dead. The other two trotted off to a short distance,
alarmed by the report ; but, seeing no human foe and
not knoAving what had happened to their companion,
they stopped and continued browsing on the leaves as
before.
*^ The chances are that they will soon come this way,
and so we cannot do l)etter than remain where we
are/' observed my uncle.
^o ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
We sat some time watching the graceful creatures
as they stretched up their long necks to a remarkable
height, in search of the young shoots and leaves.
r
Presently we saw one of them turn its head and lool
towards its dead companion. The next moment a
lion burst out from among the bushes and sprang
towards the giraffe on the ground. I had fancied that
lions never condescended to feast on a dead animal ;
but probably there was still some little life in the
giraffe, or, at all events, having only just been
killed, the carcase could have had no savoury odour.
Directly afterwards we heard a roar, and another lion
sprang from the cover, the first replying with a roar
which made the welkin ring. If we could not kill the
lions, it was evident that w^e should soon have none of
the meat to carry back with us. Instead, however, of
beginning to tear the giraffe to pieces, the lions began
walking round and round it and roaring lustily, pos-
sibly thinking that it was the bait to a trap, as they
are taught by experience to be wary, many of their
relatives having been caught in traps set by the
natives. So occupied were the brutes with this matter
that they did not discover us though we were at no
great distance from them.
The two giraffes, on hearing the first lion roar, had
trotted off, or they would probably have soon been
attacked.
" Stay here, Fred ! " whispered my uncle to me : '* I
will descend and get a shot at one of those fellows
don't be alarmed. If I kill him, the chances are the
other runs off At all events, I will retreat to the
tree, and do you keep read}^ to fire, should he follow
"A::orHER lion sprang from the cover;
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 53
me, while I reload. In the meantime there is no real
danger."
I felt somewhat nervous at hearing this, though my
uncle knew so well what he was about that I need not
have been alarmed for his safety. Before I could
reply he had descended the tree. Holding his rifle
ready, he advanced towards the lions, but even then,
as he was to leeward they did not discover him.
He was within fifteen paces of them, when he
stopped and levelled his rifle. Just then they both
saw him, and looked up as if greatly astonished at his
audacity. He fired, and the first lion, giving a spring
in the air, fell over on the body of the giraffe.
The second stopped, hesitating whether to leap on
his enemy or to take to flight. This gave my uncle
time to reload when he slowly stepped back towards
the tree, facing the lion, which advanced at the same
pace.
"Now, Fred! let me see w^hat you can do," he
shouted out as he found that the brute had got within
range of my rifle.
I obej-ed him, earnestly trusting that my shot
would take effect. I felt sure that I had hit the
animal, though, w^hen the smoke cleared off, to my
dismay I saw it about to spring at my uncle. He
stood as calm as if the creature had been a harmless
sheep. Just as the lion, rose from the ground, I heard
the crack of his rifle, and it fell back, shot through the
heart. I quickly scrambled down to the ground to
survey the giraffe and the two lions. My uncle
seemed in no way elated by his victory. " If we had
had our waggon w^e might have secured the skins,"
54 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA
he observed ; *' but as it is, we must content ourselves
with some of the giraffe's flesh, which we shall find
palatable enough for want of better/'
Drawing his knife, he at once commenced opera-
tions on the giraffe. "We soon, having secured as
much of the meat as we could require, ran a couple
of sticks through it and started off to return to the
camp.
Darkness, however, came down upon us before we
had gone far ; still, we hoped to be able to find our
vva}^. Scarcely, however, had the sun set, when the
mutterings and roars of Uoun saluted our ears ; and of
course we had the uncomfortable feeling that at any
moment one of them might spring- out on us. Wc
cast many an anxious glance round, and kept our
rifles in our hands readv for instant use, hoping that
we should have time to see a lion before he was upon
us. We had no fear at pi'esent of human foes, as the
country through which we were travelling Avas unin-
habited ; though we might fall in with hunting parties^
who were, however, likely to prove friendly. Besides
lions, there was a possibility of our encountering
hyaenas, leopards, and wolves, which, when hunting in
packs, areas dangerous as in other parts of the world.
My uncle made me go ahead, while he kept five or
six paces behind, so that, should a lion spring out at
me, he might be ready to come to my assistance. We
kept shouting too, to scare away any of the brutes we
most dreaded ; for, savage as is the lion, he is a
cowardly animal except when pressed by hunger.
Fortunately the sky was clear, and the stars shining
out brightly enabled us to steer our course b}' them ;
ADVENTURES IN A ERICA, 55
but we went on and on^ and I began to fear that we
had already passed our camp. 1 expressed my ap-
prehensions to my uncle.
" No ! " he answered, ** we are all right. We shall
see the fire in a short time, unless Jan has let it out,
which is not likely."
"But perhaps a lion may have carried him off, and
killed our ox also, and we shall then be in a sad
plight," I remarked.
" Nonsense, Fred ! " he answered; "you are over-
tired wath your long walk, and allow gloomy appre-
hensions to oppress you. I wish that I had not
brought you so far."
After this I said no more, but exerted myself to the
utmost ; though I could scarcely drag one foot after
the other, and had it become necessary to run for our
lives, I ^o not think I could have moved. I looked
about, '^.ow on one side now on the other, and fancied
that I could see the vast heads and shaggy manes of
huge lions watching us from among the trees. I did
not fear their roars as long as they were at a distance.
At length I heard what I took to be the mutterings of
half-a-dozen, at least, close to us. I shouted louder
than ever, to try and drive them off. As soon as I
stopped shouting I listened for my uncle's voice,
dreading lest one of the brutes should have seized
Idm. I could not stop, to look round, and I was most
thankful when I again heard him shout —
"Go on, Fred; ^o on, my boy. We shall see Jan'g
camp-fire before long. I don't believe there's a lion
within half a mile of us. During the night w^e hear
their \'oices a long distance off."
56 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA
At leng-th I saw, right ahead, a glare cast on the
trunks and branches of the trees. It was I hoped
produced by our camp fire. Again, again, we shouted;
r
should any lions be stalking us, they were very likely
to follow our footsteps close up to our camp, and might
pounce down upon us at the last moment, fearful of
losing their prev. I felt greatly relieved on hearing
Jan's shout in reply to ours ; and pushing eagerly on,
we sav/ him sitting close to a blazing fire which he
had made up. He was delighted to see us, for he had
become very anxious at our long absence; especially
as a troop of elephants, he said, had passed close to
the camp ; and, as one of them was wounded, he
knew that they had been met with by us, and he feared
might possibly have trampled us to death. He had
heard, too, the roar of lions near at hand. We found
the giraffe's flesh more palatable than I had expected.
As soon as we had eaten a hearty supper we lay down
to rest, Jan promising to remain awake and keep up
a blazing fire so as to scare away the lions.
Every now and then I awoke, and could hear the
roarings and mutterings of the monarchs of the forest,
which I heartily wished Avere sovereigns of some
other part of the world.
Greatly to my disappointment, after the fatigue I
had gone through I was unable to travel the next
morning, and we had to put off our departure for
another da}'.
My uncle went out for a short time, to shoot an
antelope or any other species of deer he could come
across for provisions, as Avhat he killed for food one
day was unfit for eating the next.
ADVENTURES L\ AFRICA S7
He had been absent for some time, and as I felt
that a short walk would do me good, I took my gun,
intending not to go far from the camp. I had some
hopes that I might come across an antelope or deer
during my short excursion. I of course took good
care to keep a look-out on either side, lest I should be
surprised by a lion or a leopard, the animals mostly
to be feared in that region. It was not impossible
that I might fall in with an elephant^ but I had no
intention of attacking one if I did, and should have
ample notice of its approach, so that I might keep out
of its way. I had gone about a quarter of a mile or
so from the camp, and was thinking of turning back
when I reached a tree which I found I could easily
climb, as the remains of branches stuck out almost
close to the ground. I got up for the sake of taking
a survey of the country around, and especially over
that part of it we had to travel the next morning. I
found my lofty seat very pleasant, for I was well
shaded by the thick foliage over head, while a light
breeze played among the lea\-es, which was refreshing
in the extreme. I had some difficulty in keeping
awake, but I endeavoured to do so fearful of letting
go my gun, or, perhaps, of falling to the ground my-
self I did my best not to fall asleep, by singing
nd by occasionally getting up and looking around
a
me.
The tree grew, I should have said, on the side of a
bank, with a wide extent of level ground to the east-
ward, dotted over with thick clumps of trees, some
'large enough to be called woods; while nearer at
hand, on either side of me, the vegetation was more
8 ADVIlXTURIlS A\ AFRICA.
scattered, here and there two or three trees only grow-
ing together. In some places single trees alone
could be seen, rising in solitary grandeur from the
soil. I had just got up when I caught sight of an
elephant, which had come out from one of the clumps
I have mentioned, where it had probably been spend-
ing the hot hours of the day, and advanced slowly
towards me, now plucking a bunch of leaves with its
trunk, now pulling up a shrub or plant. Presently I
caught sight of a man with a gun in his hand coming
out from the forest to the left and making his way
towards where the elephant was feeding. He ap-
parently did not see the animal, which was hidden
from him by an intervening clump. When he got
closer I recognised my uncle. Wishing to warn him
of the neighbourhood of the elephant, I shouted as
loudly as I could bawl ; but, from the distance we
were apart, he could not hear me. The elephant
also took no notice of my voice, but went on feeding
as before.
Presently my uncle came in sight of the monstrous
beast, which must have seen him at the same time,
for it ceased feeding and turned its head in the direc-
tion he was coming. Nothing daunted, my uncle
continued to advance, keeping, however, more to the
right, which would bring him towards the tree on
which I was perched. The elephant began to move
towards hira. He quickened his pace — he was now
in the open ground, over which he Avas making his
way, exposed to great danger. He was aware of
this and kept his gun ready to lire, though should he
miss, he would be at the mercy of the brute. I con-
II
'HIE lILi:ri:ANT, KLEVaTING its XnUNK, ACTUALLY TOUCHFD
LA ^^'
HIS FOOT.
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA, 6i
sidered how I could help him, but saw it Avould be
madness to descend the tree to fire, and therefore
remained where I was, praying that, should my uncle
fire, his shot might be successful.
Presently, up went the elephant's trunk; and,
trumpeting loudly, he went at a fast trot directly
towards my uncle, who, stopping for a moment,
levelled his rifle and fired ; but, although the shot
took effect, it did not stop the elephant's progress.
He had not a moment to reload — flight was his
only resource. Happily not far off was a tree, but
whether its branches grew low down enough to enable
him to climb up it, I could not see, and I trembled
for his safety. I shouted and shrieked, hoping to
divert the attention of the elephant. It appeared to
me that its trunk was not a dozen yards from my
uncle. Should it once encircle him, his fate would be
sealed. I never felt more anxious in my life. 1
might still stop its course I hoped, and, raising my
rifle, I fired at its head, but my bullet seemed to make
not the slightest impression. I shrieked with alarm.
The next moment I saw my uncle seize the bough of
a tree w^hich had appeared to me above his head,
when, exerting all his strength, he drew himself up.
The elephant, elevating its trunk, actually touched his
foot, but he drew it beyond its reach, and quickly
clambered up into a place of safety. The elephant
stood for a moment, its trunk raised as if expecting
him to fall, and then made a furious dash at the tree
in a vain endeavour to batter it down. The tree
trembled from the shock but stood firm.
The elephant then, taking my uncle's cap which had
F
6-2
7:xt[:res /.y Africa,
falbn OiT, trampled it under foot, going round and
round the tree and trumpeting loudly. It was evi-
dently a rogue elephant, an ill-tempered brute who
had been driven from the herd to spend a solitary^
existence. vSueh are always the most dangerous, as
they appear to have a greater hatred of man and to
be more cunning than the elephants found in herds.
It seemed to have made up its mind to besiege us.
Our position was unpleasant in the extreme, for while
it remained w^e dared not descend, and for what we
ould tell, we might be kept up our respective trees
all night, and perhaps the following day, or still
longer.
CHAPIER IV.
.vli
]\Iy uncle and I felt far from happy up our trees. He
had had nothing to eat since he left camp in the
morning", and I too was getting very hungry. An
hour or more went by, and yet the old *' rogue"
elephant showed no inclination to take its departure.
Fortunately it had not discovered my uncle's rifle,
which lay concealed in the grass close to the foot of
the tree.
He now shouted to me to try to slioot the brute.
This was no easy matter perched as I was high up ;
and as I was not likely to hit any vital part, I feared
that any shot would only contribute to increase its
rage without bringing it to the ground or driving it
off. I had but five more bullets in my pouch, but I
determined to do my best and not throw a shot away.
I waited until the animal presented its side to me,
when I fired, and the bullet struck it on the neck ;
but, though the blood flowed, it seemed to take no
notice of the wound. The next I planted just below
the shoulder. The elephant uttered several loud
trumpetings and rushing again at the tree, seized the
stem with its trunk, and endeavoured to pull it down,
!■• 2
64 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
It shook violently, compelling my uncle to hold on
with arms and legs.
I quickly reloaded and fired another shot directly
behind the creature's ear. I baw the blood spouting
forth and flowing down until it formed a pool dyeing
the surrounding grass. Gradually the elephant's
trunk unwound and hung down from its vast head.
** You've done for it," shouted my uncle; "send
another shot into its neck and we shall be free."
I was reloading while he spoke, and before the
elephant altered its favourable position I again fired.
Less than a minute elapsed, then down it sank
on its knees. It made several efforts to rise but
without success— its strength was fast failing. I had
one more bullet remaining, but I wished to save it
for any emergency which might occur. We had not
long to wait before the elephant fell over on its side
and lay an inanimate mass.
My uncle quickly descended the tree and I followed
his example. His first act was to pick up and examine
his gun. It having escaped injury he at once reloaded,
and then, shaking hands, w^e surveyed our fallen foe.
** I wish that we could carry these magnificent
tusks with us, but that is out of the question," ob-
served my uncle. ** We will, however, try to secure
them. Help me to cut them out."
We set to work ; and having fastened all the straps
we could muster round one of them, he ascended the
tree in which I had taken refuge, and I assisting him,
we hauled up one of the tusks, and deposited it safely
among the branches. The other was hauled up in
the same fashion, and pretty hard work it was, as
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA, 6;
s
each tusk was considerably above half a hundred-
weight.
*' I hope that we shall be able to send for these
ome day or other, and we are not likely to forget
this spot in a hurry," remarked my uncle.
Having cut off one of the elephant's feet we ran a
stick through it and started off for the camp. The
day, however, was not to pass without another adven-
ture. We had not gone half the distance when we
saw, above the bushes, the head and neck of a giraffe.
It did not appear to be alarmed ,• but influenced by
curiosity, instead of cantering away, it drew nearer,
coming round the end of the clump, evidently wonder-
ing what strange creatures we could be. So in-
terested was it that it did not notice another and more
formidable enemy which had been creeping up close
behind. This was a lion, which, engaged in stalking
its prey, did not discover us. We, therefore, could
watch at a safe distance what was taking place. The
lion kept creeping on, cautious as a cat, and with
movements very similar, when, believing that it had
^ot near enough for its purpose, with a rush and a
tremendous bound, it leapt on the back of the giraffe
before the latter could use its heels to drive off its foe.
With fearful tenacity the savage creature hung on to
the shoulders of the terrified giraffe, which bounded
forward, and leapt and sprang from side to side in a
vain endeavour to shake off its foe. Not a sound did
it utter, but dashed on, with head erect; while the
lion was tearing away with its teeth and claws at its
shoulders and neck. There was no doubt from the
first which of the two would gain the victory. Blood
66 ADVENTURES IN A ERICA.
was streaming from the neck and flanks of the poor
giraffe, which very quickly slackened its pace and then
down it came, unable longer to endure the pain it was
suffering. The lion at once began tearing away at
the flesh. Still it kicked, and struggled, but its efforts
were useless, and it very quickly ceased to move.
** We must have that lion," said my uncle.
Having examined our rifles we hurried towards the
spot where the savage brute was enjoying its banquet,
so busily employed that it did not see us. AVhen at
length it Avas aware of our approach it ceased feeding,
and gazed at us with its fore paws on the body of its
victim, presenting a truly magnificent spectacle.
We were near enough by this time to take a steady
aim.
*' Do you fire, Fred, and then reload as rapidly as
you can, while I will wait until you are ready."
*' But I have no second bullet," fortunately recol-
lecting at the moment that I had expended all my
bullets but one.
My uncle handed me a couple, and I obeyed his
injunctions. '}^ly bullet passed through the lion's
thick mane and crashed into its neck.
Uttering a tremendous roar as it felt the pain, it
came towards us. Without a moment's loss of time
I reloaded, fearing that, should my uncle's bullet fail
to stop it, the brute would be upon us.
Notwithstanding the lion's near approach my uncle
waited, and then fired, hitting it between the eyes.
Still it advanced, but, blinded and almost stunned,
though it made a desperate bound towards us, its aim
was uncertain. ]\[y uncle sprang on one side and I
I
-^ J»
" WITH A RUSH IT LEAPT OX THE BACK OF THE GIRAFFE;
\_p, 6s
ADVENTURES EV A ERICA, Cg
on the other, when, before I had finished loading",
over it fell, and lay dead between us.
*^ A pretty good afternoon's sport," observed my
uncle. ** We'll take the liberty of cutting a few steaks
from the giraffe wdiich this brute here has hunted
for us, and the sooner Ave get back to camp the
better."
The chief difficulty in obtaining the steaks was in
cutting through the tough skin of the giraffe, which
was almost as thick as that of a rhinoceros. By
employing our axes we soon, how^ever, accomplished
our task, and in a few minutes reached the camp,
where Jan, who had heard our shots, had made up a
large fire in expectation of any game we should
bring.
While the elephant foot w^as cooking w^e regaled
ourselves on some fine slices of giraffe meat, which
assisted to stop the cravings of hunger. All night
long we were surrounded by the abominable cries of
hyaenas and jackals wdiich w^ere collected round the
carcases of the slain animals.
It is said that they dare not touch even a dead lion,
but at all events w^hen we went out to look the next
morning the bones only of the two animals remained.
We now once more reloaded our ox and set out
northward. We remarked that the poor creature, in
spite of its long rest, looked thinner, and in worse
condition than before.
** Him tse-tse do it. You see, ox die ! " exclaimed
Jan.
Still the faithful brute stepped on wath its heavy
load, and we hoped that Jan was mistaken.
70 ADVEM'URES IN ArRICA,
At length we came in sig^ht of a broader river than
we had crossed since we had left the desert.
We had no doubt that it would conduct us down to
the lake, on the borders of which we hoped to find
our friends encamped. How to cross it was the
difficulty. I sug-g-ested that we should construct a
raft, as the reeds which fringed the barik would supply
us with abundance of material.
;S^ot far off was a tree-covered island, the interven-
ing space being filled v/ith reeds. Leaving Jan and
the ox on the shore, my uncle and I set off to reach
the island, thinking that we could there more con-
veniently build our raft and launch it than from the
main land.
Plunging in among the reeds we soon found our-
selves almost overwhelmed : not a breath of air could
reach us, and the heat was so stifling that we almost
fainted. Still, having begun, we were unwilling to
give up.
Frequently we could only get on by leaning against
the mass of reeds, and bending them dow^n until we
could stand upon them. They were mixed with a
serrated grass which ctit our hands, while the whole
was bound together by the climbing convolvulus,
with stalks so strong that we could not break them.
Plying our axes, ho\A-ever, we managed to make
our onward w^ay until we gained the island, but here
to our disappointment w'e found that we were thirty
vards or more from the clear water, which was full of
great masses of papyrus with stalks ten feet in height,
and an inch and a half in diameter. These also were
bound togctlier l^y the convolvulus in a way which
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
71
4
o
o
a:
o
Q
;2 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
made them perfectly impenetrable. While we stood
on the shore of the island the sound of human voices
reached our ears, and we saw in the distance several
canoes descending- the stream. Each carried three
men, two paddling' and one standing up with a large
harpoon attached to a rope in his hand. They were
in pursuit of some large dark creatures whose heads,
just rising above the water, looked like those of
enormous cart-horses.
*^They are hippopotami ! " exclaimed my uncle,
"and we shall see some sport presently.''
Suddenly, down came the harpoon, and was fixed
in the back of one of the monsters, which almost
sprang out of the w^ater as it felt the pain of the
wound ; then off it went, towing the canoe at a
tremendous rate after it, the end of the rope being
secured to the bows, w^hilc the barb to which the rope
was attached being shaken out of its socket remained
firmly fixed in the animal's body.
We ran along the island to watch the canoe as long
as it remained in sight, but it was towed so rapidly
that it soon disappeared. Presently, however, we
saw another coming down the stream fast to a second
hippopotamus, not only the head but a considerable
portion of the body of which was floating above the
water. The men in the canoe were hauling them-
selves up closer to their prey, preparatory to plunging
their lances or harpoons into its body. I fancied that
I could almost distinguish the savage glance of the
brute's eyes. Suddenly it stopped ; then, turning
round, gave a rush at the canoe.
In vain the blacks slackened the rope, and seizing
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA
73
M
-^
<
tn
D
O
o
<
o
u
O
o
r
O
'A
7^ ADVRXTUKES IN AFRICA.
their paddles, endea\'oured to escape from it. With
open mouth the hippopotamus rushed on the boat,
and, seizing* it in its enormous jaws, crushed it up as
if it had been made of paper.
One poor fellow was caught ; a fearful shriek was
heard ; and, directly afterwards, we saw his body, cut
in two, floating down the stream. The other two men
had disappeared, and w^e fancied must also have been
killed. Again and again the animal darted at the
canoe, expending his rage upon it.
While he w^as thus employed the two men rose to
the surface and instantly made for the shore, dragging
the end of the rope by a path we had not before
observed, between the reeds. With w^onderful activity
they made it fast to the trunk of a tree. Directly
afterwards three other canoes arrived, and the men,
armed w'ith harpoons and heavy spears, jumping on
shore, joined their companions in hauling in on the
rope attached to the hippopotamus. In vain the
monster struggled, endeavouring to tear itself aw^ly
from the rope. The blacks with wonderful boldness
rushed into the water, darting their spears at it. It
had seized the shaft of the harpoon, which had broken
in two, and was endeavouring to bite through the
rope.
Two other canoes now came up and their crews
attacked the hippopotamus in the rear. So engaged
were the hunters that they did not observe us. As
we watched their proceedings it appeared very prob-
able that in spite oi its wounds the hippopotamus
would break eiway. Seeing this, my uncle unslung
his rifle and advanced towards the monster, which
ADVENTURES IX AFRICA. 75
had already severed several strands of the rope. As
it opened its vast mouth, he fired down its throat, and
it almost instantly, giving another convulsive struggle,
rolled over.
His success was greeted with triumphant shouts by
the hunters who had only just before discovered us.
Having drawn the body of the hippopotamus up to
the dry land, the blacks crowded round us, and by
signs and exclamations expressed their admiration
of the way in which my uncle had killed the creature.
We tried to explain that we were very happy to
have been of service to them, and that we should feel
obliged, if, in return, they would ferry us across the
river, and guide us to the waggons of the white men
who had encamped not far off.
Leaving the hunters to cut up the hippopotamus,
and stow its flesh on board their canoes, we returned
to where we had left Jan and the ox. As it was
getting late, we agreed to remain \vhere we were until
the following day, — in the meantime to try to shoot
an antelope or deer of some sort which would enable
us to provide a feast for the natives by whom we
micfht be visited.
I was fortunate enough, while lying down among
some rocks near our camp, to kill a springbok, one of
the most light and elegant of the gazelle tribe ; but
its companions, of Avhich it had several, bounded ofE
at so rapid a rate that I had no chance of killing
another. I, therefore, lifting my prize on my shoulder,
returned to camp, where my uncle soon after arrived,
laden with the flesh of a quagga, which, although be-
longing to the family of asses, is good food.
76 ADVENTURES IN A ERICA,
Scarcely had we put on some meat to cook, -vvlien
half a dozen of our acquaintances arrived. It was
vSatisfactory to find that Jan understood their language.
They appeared to be well disposed towards us, and
our friendship was cemented by the feast of quagga
flesh which we got ready for them. We ourselves,
how^ever, preferred the more delicate meat of the
springbok. "VVe kept some of the meat for our next
day's breakfast, and offered the remainder to our
guests, which they quickly stowed away.
They undertook to convey us down the river the
following morning in their canoes, or on a raft,
observing that, if we went in the canoes, we must be
separated, as each could carry only orvQ of us. We,
therefore, determined to trust to a raft, such as we
ourselves had proposed building. Our guests retired
for a short distance from us, and formed a camp by
themselves for the niorht,
I awoke about two hours before dawn, when my
attention was attracted to a peculiar noise which I
might liken to a low grunting and the tread of
numberless feet. As day broke, I saw the ground to
the southward covered with a dense mass of deer
V
moving slowly and steadily on towards an opening in
a long range of hills to tiic east. They appeared to
be in no hurry, but continued feeding as they went. I
aroused my uncle, who pronounced them to be spring-
boks, one of which I had shot on the previous evening
migrating for the winter to the northward. They were
beautiful animals, graceful in form, of a light cinna-
mon red on the back, fading into white on the under
part of the body, a narrow band of reddish brown
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ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 79
separating" the two colours. As far as the eye could
reach, the whole country seemed alive with them,
not only the plain but the hill-side, along* which they
bounded with graceful leaps.
Our guests on the previous evening had disappeared,
but they quickly came back with a large party of their
tribe, and gave us to understand that they could not
escort us down to the river for the present, as they
must set out to attack the springboks, and hoped that
we would accompany them.
This my uncle and I at once agreed to do, and,
supplying ourselves w^ith a good stock of ammunition,
we set off with the first party that started. Our
friends led us at a rapid rate over the hills by a short
cut, so that we might intercept the animals, as they
passed through the mountains. Another party, we
found, remained behind, to drive them through, or
prevent them turning back when frightened by our
presence. We were only just in time, for already the
leaders of the herd had made their appearance. As
we approached the mouth of the gorge, while some of
the hunters rushed up the hills, and stationed them-
selves on either side, so as to dart their javelins at the
passing deer, others took post at the mouth of the
gorge, thus preventing the egress of the animals,
without coming within range of their weapons.
Now a scene of slaughter commenced such as I
have seldom witnessed. The leaders of the herd
turned to retreat, but were met by the party who had
remained on the other side shrieking and shouting,
and knocking the handles of their spears against
their shields. Some of the animals tried to escape
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So ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
up the mountains, others dashed forward to our very
feet, and many fell down killed by terror itself We
shot a few, but the slaughter seemed so unnecessary
that we refrained from again firing, and would gladly
have asked the natives to desist ; but while the
animals were in their power, they would evidently
have refused to do so.
Happily the affrighted deer found an opening,
which, from the excessive steepness of the path, had
been neglected. Through this a considerable number
made their escape, and were soon beyond the reach
of their merciless pursuers.
The natives now beofan to collect the animals thev
had slain, and each man returned in triumph with a
springbok on his shoulders.
We, not to be outdone, each carried one of those
w^e had shot, and a pretty heavy load it was. I was
thankful when we got back to the camp, where we
cooked a portion of the veni~on.
As we might have felt sure, the natives, having
plent}^ of food, were not at all disposed to move from
the spot, and, indeed, continued feasting the whole of
the next day. On the following, they were so gorged
that they were utterly unable to make any exertion.
Had an enemy been near, and found them in this con-
dition, the whole tribe might have been killed or
carried off into captivity.
We in the meantime explored the banks of the
river until we found a convenient spot for forming our
raft. In most places the reeds extended so far from
the shore that during the operation we should have
had to stand up f* our middles in water among them.
'ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
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ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
with the risk of being picked up by a crocodile or
hippopotamus, both of which delectable creatures
were, in considerable numbers, frequenters of the
stream.
As the blacks still showed no inclination to ac-
company us, Jan volunteered to return for the ele-
phant's tusks and other articles we had left behind, if
I would go with him.
To this my uncle somew^hat demurred, but, at last,
when I pressed the point, he consented to remain in
charge of the goods we had brought while we set off
on our expedition.
CHAPTER V.
>»
At daybreak Jan and I set off, he as usual loading
the ox, while I walked ahead with my rifle, ready for
a shot. Our baggage consisted of a couple of skins
to sleep on, a stock of ammunition, a small portion of
our remnant of flour, tea, sugar, and pepper. We
had no fear of not hading food, as game of all sorts
was abundant, provided I kept my health, and was
able to shoot it.
I asked Jan what he thought of the ox which
looked remarkably thin.
"No good!" he answered; "last till get back, but
not more — den him die."
I trusted that the poor animal would hold out as
long as he supposed.
We rested at noon under an enormous acacia, of
the younger branches of which the elephants are
apparently very fond. We saw that they were every-
where twisted off to the height of about twenty-five
feet, which is as far as an elephant can reach.
Here and there, under the trees, were conical hills
twenty feet high, built up for residences by the white'
ants. P"requently they v/ere covered with creeping
^4 ADVENTURES EV AFRICA.
plants which met at the top, hanging" back in an
Limbrella shape, completely shading them. I shot
several doves and other birds to serve us for dinner,
and while Jan was cooking them I went in search of
fruit, and discovered an abundance of medlars very
similar to those we have in England, as well as some
small purple figs growing on bushes. The most
curious fruit I met with Avas like a lime in appearance,
with a thick rind, but inside was a large nut. I had
to climb a tree to obtain them, for all those lower
down had been carried off by elephants who were
evidently very fond of the fruit.
As our object was to make as much haste as
possible, I was resolved not to go out of the way
to shoot any large game, though I kept my rifle
loaded with ball as a defence against lions, leopards,
rhinoceroses, or hyaenas.
The first day's journey we saw several in the
distance, though none came near us. We formed
our camp at the foot of a tree, with a large fire in
front of us, and on either side of the trunk we erected
a fence of stout stakes in a semi-circular form ; so we
hoped that we should be able to sleep without being
molested by wild beasts. The ox remained outside,
and we knew that he would run to the fire, should
danger threaten him.
The usual cries proceeding from an African forest
prevented us from sleeping over soundly, and I was
awakened by the roar of a lion, which stood on a
mound some little distance from our camp, afraid of
approaching near our fire, and the palisade which he
probably took for a trap-
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ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 87
We had exhausted our stock of wood during the
night, and in the morning Jan went out to procure
a fresh supply for cooking our breakfast. I was em-
ployed in plucking some birds which I had killed in
the evening, when I heard my companion shouting
lustily for help, and at the same time, a loud crashing
of boughs reached my ears, while the ox came hurry-
ing up to the camp in evident alarm.
Seizing my rifle, I sprang up, fearing that a lion
had pounced down upon Jan, while picking up sticks,
and I was fully prepared for an encounter with the
savage brute. Instead of a lion, however, I saw an
elephant, with trunk uplifted, rush out from among
the brushwood. I sprang behind a tree, as the only
place of safety, when what was my dismay, to see, as
he passed, Jan clinging to his hind leg. How the black
had got there was the puzzle, and how to rescue him
from his awkward position was the next question to
be solved. Should he let go, he might naturally
expect to receive a kick from the elephant's hind foot
which would effectually knock all the breath out of
his body; and yet, should he not get free, he might
be carried miles away and perish miserably. My
only hope was at once to mortally wound the ele-
phant. Not a moment was to be lost if I was to save
poor Jan. Just then the elephant caught sight of the
ox, and stopped as if considering if he sbould attack
it. Whether he was aware that Jan was clinging to
his leg or not, I could not tell, as the black's weight
no more impeded him than a fly would a man when
running.
The ox, instead of endeavouring to escape, pre-
8S ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
scntecl its head to the elephant, though it trembled in
every limb.
Jan, who seemed paralyzed with fear, did not let
go as I thought he would have done, and his best
chance would have been to spring back, even though
he had fallen on the ground directly behind the ele-
phant. I did not like to shout to him for fear of
attracting the creature's attention.
Now or never was my time to save the poor fellow.
I stepped from under cover of the tree, and, levelling
my rifle, aimed at a spot directly behind the ear.
The huge monster did not move, then presently it
began swaying to and fro, I shouted to Jan to leap
off and hurried on to help him. Before I reached the
spot, he had followed my advice, and hardly had he
done so, than down came the elephant with a crash,
to the ground. Jan raised a shout of triumph.
** De master hab done well 1 '' he cried out. I
could not help joining him, and even the ox gave a
bellow of satisfaction as he saw his huge foe stretched
lifeless on the ground.
We at once set to work to extract the tusks with
our axes. Rather than leave them, we a.greed to
take them with us. We therefore placed them on the
back of our ox, together with some slices of elephant
meat which w^ould prevent the necessity of shooting
game during the day.
We now pushed forward for the cave where we had
left our goods, and met with no adventures worth
noticing. We saw numerous herds of antelopes,
giraffes, and a few ostriches. The latter I would have
killed if I could, for the sake of their valuable feathers.
ADVKNrURES JX AFRICA. 89
The cave had been untouched, and it was with no
small satisfaction that I loaded up the ox with its
contents, as we prepared to set off the next morning
on our return, intending, on our way back, to obtain
the elephant's tusks we had deposited in the tree,
which had afforded me such seasonable shelter when
attacked by their owner.
We met as before buffaloes, elands, koodoos, and
various antelopes. As I was walking along ahead,
suddenly I found my face enveloped as if by a thick
veil ; and as I was tearing off the web — for such it
was — I caught sight of a large yellow spider, hauling
himself up to the tree above. In the neighbourhood
were many other webs, the fibres radiating from a
centre point where the greedy insect was waiting for
its prey. ■-
Each web was about a yard in diameter, and the
lines on which they were hung, suspended from one
tree to another, were as thick as coarse thread. We
occasionally met with serpents, but they generally
kept out of our way.
One da}^, during a halt, while seated under a tree,
I caught sight of another enormous spider of a reddish
tinge. Never did I see a creature so active. It sud-
denly made its appearance from a hole in the bark,
and giving a tremendous bound, caught a large moth
which it quickly devoured. AVith wonderful rapidity
it ran about the tree, now darting forward, now
springing back. With a feeling of horror lest it
should spring upon me, I removed to a distance.
On looking down on the ground, I saw what I at
first thought was a coin the size of a shilling ; but on
90 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
looking closer I discovered that it was of a pure white
silky substance like paper, and that it formed the
door to a hole. On trying to lift it up I discovered
that it was fastened by a hinge on one side, and on
turning it over upon the hole it fitted exactly — the
upper side being covered with earth and grass, so
that, had it not been for the circumstance that the
inmate had been out, I could not possibly have
detected it. Jan said it was the hole of a spider,
probably the creature I had seen engaged in seeking
its prey.
While encamped that night, I heard the crashing
of heads and horns. Jan told me it was caused by a
troop of buffaloes who were fighting. Presently a
loud snorting and puffing reached our ears. The
uproar increased, and he declared that the noise was
produced by rhinoceroses and buffaloes quarrelling.
My fear was that in their heady fight the animals
might come our way and trample over us, or per-
haps the rhinoceroses would attack our poor ox, who
was but ill able to defend himself.
While I was looking out beyond our camp-fire I
caught sight of a herd of elephants, the huge males
going first, followed by the females, on their way
down to a large pool where they were going to drink.
I followed them cautiously until they entered the
water.
Having satisfied their thirst, they began throwing
it over themselves and disporting in the cool element,
gambolling and rolling about like a party of school-
boys bathing. As I could not have carried away
their tusks, I did not attempt to shoo^^ one but left
" r riRED AT ITS HEAD."
[/-94
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 93
them unmolested. After a while I saw them rcturn-
i:!^ by the way they had come, appearing in the
uncertain light like huge phantoms so noiselessly did
they stalk over the ground.
It is strange that, huge as the elephant is, from the
soft padding of its feet, the sound of its steps is not
liCcird even on hard ground. Its approach is only
to be discovered by the snapping of boughs and twigs
as it makes its way among the brushwood.
We were but a short distance from the spot where
wo had left the elephant's tusks, one of the objects o{
our expedition. I felt very sure of the place, as the
adventure w^e had there met with had marked it in
my memory.
I was going up to the tree followed by Jan, wdien I
saw an object moving among the branches. This
made me approach cautiously, and fortunately I did
so, for on looking up, I caught sight of an enormous
leopard, which probably had been attracted by the
smell of the flesh still adhering to the roots of the
tusks. As the creature had got possession of the
tree, I had first to dislodge him before I could obtain
our tusks ; that they were still there I discovered by
seeing their points sticking out beyond the forks of
the boughs where we had deposited then:. I knew
the leopard's habit of leaping down oil passing
animals, and thought it might attempt to catch me
in the same manner. I therefore stood at a distance,
but though I shouted at the top of my voice, and
threw pieces of wood at it, it held its post, snarling
and growling savagely.
"Better shoot him, or he come down when no
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94 ADVENTURES IJV AFRICm.
tinkee," cried Jan, who had remained with the ox at
a safe distance.
As we were in a hurry to move on, I saw that the
sooner I did this the better, but it was important to
shoot it dead, for should I miss or only wound it, it
might make its leap before I had reloaded, and attack
me and Jan.
I advanced, and taking good aim, pulled the
trigger, but what was my dismay to find my gun
miss fire, while at the same moment the leopard
made a spring from a high bough on which it was
perched. I expected the next instant to feel its fangS
in my neck, and be struck to the ground by its sharp.
claws ; but happily its feet caught in some of th6
creeping vines which were entwined round the tree,
and it very nearly came toppling to the ground on its
head. Recovering itself, however, it pitched on a
lower bough.
I, in the meantime, endeavouring to be calm, cleaned
out the nipple of my gun, and put a fresh cap on ; then
retiring a few paces while the creature gazed down
upon me, about to make another spring, I fired at its
head, into which the bullet buried itself, and down it
crashed to the ground.
I leaped back, and reloading, stood ready to give it
another shot, but this was unnecessary; after a fev/
convulsive struggles, it lay helpless on the ground.
On drawing near I found that it was dead. The
skin being a handsome one, I determined to secure
it. With Jan's assistance, I soon had it off
and placed on the back of the ox. I now as-
cended the tree, and found that though the ends
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ADVENTURES IN AEKICA, 95
of the tusks were gnawed, they were not otherwise
injured.
With the aid of Jan I lowered them down, and
secured them to the back of the ox. The poor brute
was now overloaded, but as we had not far to go, I
hoped that it would be able to carry its burden that
short distance.
Had I been strong I would have endeavoured to
carry some of the load, but I found my gun and
ammunition, with the birds I occasionally shot, quite-
enough for me. At length, greatly to my satisfaction,-
we drew near the spot where I had left my uncle on
some high ground overlooking the river. Every
moment I thought that our poor ox would give in.
We might, I suspect, have been indicted by the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, had
we been seen urging on the ox, but we had no choice,-
for had we abandoned our goods, the natives would
have taken possession of them. At last, as evening
was approaching, we caught sight of my uncle's
camp-fire. We shouted, as he did in return, when-
he came hurrying down the hill to meet us.
** What poor brute have you got there?" he ex-
claimed, after welcoming us.
When I told him it was our old ox, he would
scarcely believe it to be the same animal. Hardly
was the burden off its back, and Jan w^as about to
lead it down to the water, than the poor creature,
giving a convulsive shudder, fell to tlie ground, and in
a few minutes was dead, having faithfully performed
its duty to the last.
I felt more sad than I could have supposed i^.
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90 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
possible, as I assisted my uncle and Jan in drawing"
away the carcase from the camp. We had not
dragged it far, before some natives arrived, who
relieved us of all further trouble, saying that they
would take it to their camp, and eat it in spite of its
having died from the effects of the tse-tse poison,
which we warned them was the case.
My uncle told me that he had prepared a raft,
which would convey us and our goods down the river
to where Mr. Welbourn's camp was situated, and that
he had engaged a couple of canoes and a party of
natives to accompany us. Instead of the howling of
wild beasts, we were serenaded during the night by
the shouts of laughter and songs of the blacks feasting
on the carcase of the poor ox. It was quite as well,
however, that it should be eaten by them, as by
jackals, which would have been its fate had it died in
the wilderness.
Next morning, assisted by the blacks, we carried
our goods down to the river, where we found a curious
raft constructed of reeds. It appeared to me loosely
thrown together, somewhat like the top of a floating
haystack. i\Iy uncle said that the natives had formed
it by throwing on the calm water a number of reeds,
which were interlaced together. Then others were
added, until the lower sank by the weight of those
pressed upon them, it being built up until it rose to a
sufficient height above the surface to bear as many
men and as much cargo as it was required to carry.
In the centre was stuck a mast to which a sail made
of skin^ was twisted, while a long oar projecting
astern served to guide it. Notwithstanding the
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 95
assurances of the natives that it was fit to perform a
long voyage, I was glad of the attendance of the
canoes.
All things being ready, amid the shouts of the
people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut
into the stream by the canoes, set sail. Considering
the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on witli
great rapidit}^ the canoemen having to paddle pretty
hard to keep up with us.
It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and
to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
The voyage, however, was not without its dangers.
Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show
its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our
frail craft, which it might easily have done with one
heave of its back. Occasionally, too, crocodiles
would swim by, looking up at us with their savage
eyes, showing us how we should be treated should
we by any chance be sent splashing into the
water. About mid-day we steered for the shore
where our black crew intimated that they intended
to dine.
The raft was secured by a rope round the mast and
carried to the trunk of a tree. AVe, however, w^cre
unwilling to leave our goods on board without a
guard, and therefore determined to remain where we
were and to eat a cold meal ; the materials for which
we had brought with us. The water appearing bright
and tempting, I was about to plunge overboard, when
I felt the raft give a heave. Directly afterwards,
a huge crocodile poked his ugly snout above the
surface, warning me that I had bet'er remain where J
9^ ADVEXTURES IN AFRICA,
was. Two or three others made their appearance soon
afterwards in the neighbourhood. My uncle and I
agreed that the sooner we were away from the spot
the better, as any of the savage brutes coming under
the raft might upset it, and we should be committed
:to their tender mercies.
We were very glad, therefore, when the blacks,
having finished their meal, returned on board, and we
once more began to float down the stream.
We were in hopes that at the rate we were proceed-
ing we should meet our friends before the close of the
day, but darkness approached, and the blacks gave us
to understand that we must go on shore and spend
the night at a village of their tribe, where we should
be hospitably entertained. To this we could offer no
objection, though it involved the necessity of landing
our goods, as Ave had no fancy to spend the time
on the raft, with the prospect of finding it melting
away below our feet, and we ourselves left to be
devoured by the crocodiles, or perhaps, to have it
capsized by the heave of an hippopotamus beneath
it.
As we glided on, we saw a collection of bee-hive
looking huts on the top of the south bank. The rafi
was directed towards them. The natives, leaping on
shore, secured it as before by a rope to a tree growing
on the beach. They then assisted in carrying our
property to the shore. Having piled it up in a heap
and covered it over with a roof of leaves, they
assured us that it would be as safe as if guarded by a
■hundred men. As they had hitherto shown themselves
to be scrupulously honest, we had no reason to doubt
ADVENTURES IN A ERIC A. 99
them on this occasion ; and we, therefore, willingly
accompanied them to the village, whence a number of
people issued forth to greet us. They then conducted
us to a newly built hut, the inside of which was as
clean as we could desire, the floor covered with freshly
made mats. There we could more securely rest than
we had been able to do for a long time. We were,
however, not yet allowed to enter it ; a feast was pre-
paring at which it was expected we should be present,
after which there was to be a dance for our entertain-
ment. For the feast a fat ox had been killed, part
being roasted and part stewed. Some of both w^as
placed before us, together with huge bowls of porridge,
which our entertainers mixed with their fingers, and
.transferred by the same means to their mouths in
large quantities. They looked somewhat surprised
when we hesitated to follow their example, but con-
sidering that it would show mistrust, we at last
overcame our repugnance. The porridge itself was
certainly not bad, and our hosts laughed- heartily
as they saw how we burnt our fingers and made wry
faces. The whole was w^ashed down with huge
draughts of pombe, a sort of beer, with slightly
intoxicating properties. We did not inquire too
minutely as to how it w-as made. The feast over,
we heard an extraordinary uproar proceeding from
another part of the village, a sound between the
barking of dogs and people endeavouring to clear
their throats. On going in the direction whence the
.strange sounds came, we found several men with
spears in their hands and anklets oi shells fastened
round their \^'^^, bending over a small fire, and pro-
rco ADVE.\'TURES IN AFRICA.
clucing tlie melancholy noises which had attracted our
attention. Others danced round them rattling their
unklets, while a party of women forming an outer
semicircle sang a monotonous chant and clapped
their hands. The old men and women, the senior
inhabitants of the village, whom we were invited to
join, sat on the opposite side, spectators of the per-
formance. In the meantime the young men and boys
u-cre prancing about, now advancing to the girls
beating the ground, rattling their anklets, and creating
an enormous quantity of dust.
These proceedings had gone on for some time,
when a gay youth, evidently the leader among them,
snatching a brand from the fire after dancing up to
the girls, stuck it in the ground, when he began
to leap round and over it, for a considerable time,
taking care not to touch it.
After these various scenes had been enacted, a
number of young men, representing a war party
returning victorious from battle, made their appear-
ance, and brandishing their broad-headed spears,
ornamented with flowing ox-tails. Now they rushed
off, as if to pursue an enemy ; now returned, and were
w^elcomed by a chorus from the women.
The scene was highly effective ; the glare of the
fire being reflected on the red helmet-like gear and
glittering ornaments of the girls, on the Hashing
blades and waving ox-tails on the warriors, and the
figures of the spectators, with the huts and groups cf
cattle in the distance, while the howling, chanting,
shrieking, and barking sounds were kept up without
intermission. We, at last, making signs to the chief
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ADVENTURES IN AERICA. lox
-that we were very w^e^lry, placing our heads on
our hands and closing our eyes, were led cere-
;nioniously to our hut, into which we were thankful to
enter. Having closed the entrance we lay down and
tried to go to sleep. The noises which reached our
ears showed us, however, that the dance was being
kept up with unabated spirit, and I suspect that our
hosts formed but a mean opinion of our tastes in con-
sequence of our disappearing from the festive scene.
Next morning, having bestowed a few remaining
trinkets to delight the hearts of the black damsels, we
wished our hospitable entertainers farewell and con-
tinued our voyage, not an article of our property
having been purloined.
Our raft clung together far better than I should
have supposed, but I suspect, had it struck a rocky
bottom, the case would have been very different. We
l^assed by herds of hippopotami, some with young
ones on their backs, and although they sank as we
approached, they soon came to the surface to breathe.
On the trees overhead were numbers of iguanas,
which, on seeing us, splashed into the water. The
chief canoeman carried a light javelin, with which he
speared a couple, the flesh proving to be tender and
gelatinous.
Numerous large crocodiles, as w^e appeared, plunged
heavily into the stream, indeed there was everywhere an
abuudance of animal life. Had we not been anxious
to join our friends, we should have been contented
to continue the voyage for several days longer.
Another evening was approaching when we espied
beneath a huge tree what looked like a tent and a
104
ADVENTURES IN AERICA.
couple of waggons near it. We fired off our guns as
a signal, and in a short time we saw two white men
coming towards us. We quickly landed in one of the
canoes, and were soon shaking hands with Mr, Wei-
bourn and his son Harry,
CHAPTER VI.
^ws«
Mr. Welbourn had a good stock of ammunition,
and with the supply we brought it was considered that
xe had sufficient to enable us to continue the journey
northward into a region where elephants abounded.
The cattle were in good condition, and, provided we
could escape the tsetse and were not cut off by savage
enemies, we might expect to obtain full loads of tusks.
Besides three Plottentot drivers and a dozen Makololo,
^Ir. Welbourn was accompanied by a white hunter,
Hans Scarff, who had joined him on his way from the
coast. His appearance was not in his favour, for a
more sinister countenance I had seldom met with.
He, however, was said to be a bold hunter and a first-
rate horseman, and his assistance was therefore likely
to prove useful.
The head man of the Alakololos, Toko, as he was
called, was a fine, tall, active fellow wth an intelligent
countenance, who, if not handsome according to our
notion, w^as good-looking for a black, and a brave
faithful fellow. Besides the oxen to drag the waggons,
we had eight fine horses, most of them well trained
to encounter the elephant and rhinoceros, or any
other wild beasts of the forest.
Jc6 ADVENTURES L\ AFRICA.
Near our camp a stream of clear water fell into the
river, and in the evening Harry asked me to go down
and bathe. Hans said he would join us.
*^Are there no crocodiles there?" I asked, and I
told him of the numbers I had seen in the river.
'* No fear of the brutes there," answered Hans ;
*' the water is too shallow "
*' Or hippopotami :" I put in.
•■'Still less likely," said Hans. "The monsters
never come up such streams as these."
We started off, and on reaching the stream sepa-
rated from each other. While looking out for a clear
pool free from lilies, or other aquatic plants, presently
Jlarry, who had gone up the stream, cried out
*' I've found a capital place. We can leap into>
deep water from the bank."
Just then I heard my uncle shout out —
*' Where are you going, boys r The crocodiles come
up here to lay their eggs. It is as dangerous a part
as any in the country."
At that moment Harry shouted out, " Hulloa !-
m m !
I was rushing to his assistance, when I heard a-
fearful cry from Hans, who, his foot slipping, had
fallen into the water. As he did so, a huge cro-
codile darted across the stream.
My uncle and Mr. Welbourn were descending the.
bank, and were much nearer than I was. I was un-
decided to whose assistance I should run, when, to my
horror, I saw the crocodile seize Hans by the arm,
before he could regain his feet. I fortunately had my
large hunting knife in my belt, though I had not;
" I SAW THE CROCODILE SEIZE HANS BV THE ARM."
ADVEXTURES EV AFRICA. 109
brought TAJ rifle. Little as I liked Hans, I felt that
it was mv clutv to C;o to his assistance. Unless I did
so he would be quickly dragged off into deep water,
and become the prey of the crocodile. Seebig that
his father and my uncle had alread}^ got hold of
Harry, drawing my liunting-knife I dashed forw^ard,
s];outing with all my might to try to frighten the
savage brute. Hans had cauq'lit hold of the branch
of a fallen tree, Avhich he grasped with his left arm,
holding on to it for his life. Every m.oment I expected
to sec him let ^o, wlicn his fate would have been
sealed. Not for an instant did I think of the danger
I w^as running. I can scarcely even now understand
how I acted as I did. With a single bound I sprang
over the branches close to the head of the crocodile,
and seizing the man with one hand, I plunged the
Jaiife into the eye of the monster, wdio immediately
opened his jaws, and as he did so, Plans, with an
activity I could scarcely luive expected, hauled him-
self up to the top of the bough, a\ here 1 sprang after
him, while the crocodile, giving a wdiisk of his tail
which nearly knocked us off our perch, retreated into
deep water, the next instant to turn lifeless on its
back, when, floating down a {e\x Awards, its huge bcdy
was brought up b}^ a ledge of recks which projected
partly out of the v/ater.
*'AVell done, Fred, my bo}^," shouted mv uncle and
^Ir. Welbourn in chorus.
Having placed Harry on the bank they hurried
forward to assist me in lifting Hans off the boucj:h to
which he was clinging, and to place him beside
Harry, For some seconds he lay, scarcely knowing
110 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
what had happened. On examining his arm, thousjh
it was fearfully crushed, wonderful as it may seem,
no bone was actually broken. After a little time he
revived, and, accompanied by Harry, we led him
l)ack to the camp. i\Iy uncle exerted all his medical
skill to doctor him, and the next morning', though his
arm was useless, he was able to move about as well
as ever. He did not exhibit any special feeling of
gratitude to me, but I won the good opinion of the
natives, and of Toko in particular. Had anybody
told mo that I should have been able to perform the
act, I should have declared it was impossible, and all
I know is that I did it.
As all the ivory in the neighbourhood for which we
had goods to gi\'e in exchange had been purchased,
we pushed forward to the north-east to a country in-
habited by tribes which had hitherto had little or no
intercourse with Europeans. It is not, howevei-, my
object so much to describe the people as the adven-
tures w^e met with. I cannot exactly say with the
naval officer, who, describing the customs of the
people he visited, in his journal wrote, "Of manners
they have none, and their customs are beastly."
Savage those we met were in many respects, but
their savager}^ arose from their ignorance and gross
idolatry.
We travelled in a very luxurious manner, compared
to our journey with the single ox across the desert.
As we advanced we saw numbers of large game, and
one evening nearly a hundred buffaloes defiled before
us in slow procession, almost wnthin gun-shot, while
herds of elands passed us without showing any Jiigns
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. XXX
of fear. We at the moment had abundance of meat
in the camp, or some of them would have fallen
victims to our fire-arms.
The next day, seeing a herd of zebras in the dis-
tance, taking my rifle, I started oiT, hoping to shoot
one of them. As the wind was from them to me, and
as there were some \ov^ bushes, I expected to get up
to them within gun-shot, before they perceived me.
I was not disappointed ; and, firing, I wounded one
of them severely in the leg. The rest of the herd
took to flight, but the wounded animal went off to-
xvards our camp, from which several of our men
issued to attack it.
I was walking along leisurely when, hearing the
sound of feet in the direction from which I had come,
I turned round and saw a solitary buffalo galloping
towards me. The nearest place of safety was a tree,
but it was upwards of a hundred yards off. I had, of
course, reloaded, and now got my rifle ready, hoping
to hit the brute in the forehead. Just then the
thought occurred to me, ** What would be my fate
should my gun miss fire V The buffalo came on at a
tremendous speed, but fortunately a small bush in its
way made it swerve slightly and expose its shoulder.
Xow was the moment for action, and as I heard the
bullet strike the animal I fell flat on my face. The
buffalo bounded on over my body, apparently not
perceiving me. I lay perfectly still. It had got to a
considerable distance, when it was met by the men
who had come out to kill the zebra, and was quickly
shot down.
Toko shook his head when he saw me, exclaiming
I 2
n2 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
that I must not go out again without him, lest I
should be killed by some savage animal.
" But I have my rifle to defend myself," I observed.
"Your rifle may miss flre sometimes, or you may
fail to kill the elephant or rhinoceros you attack-
Better have two rifles. I wnll go with you," he an-
swered, in his peculiar lingo.
Our plan was always to encamp near water, and
where we could obtain wood for our fires ; for such
regions were certain to be frequented by a variety of
animals. Sometimes we remained two or three days
in the same spot, provided no villages were near ;
though people were generally grateful to us for de-
stroying the wild beasts, as even the elephants are
apt to injure their plantations by breaking in and
trampling over them.
Harry and I, who had become fast friends, generally
went out together, accompanied by Toko, sometimes
on foot, sometimes on horseback. One day we had
all three gone out on foot, prepared for any game.
That we might be more likely to fall in with some
creature or other, we separated a short distance ;
keeping, however, within hail, and agreeing that,
should one of us shout, the other two were to close
in towards him. I was in the centre. Toko on the
left, and Harry on the right.
We had gone some distance when I heard Toico
shout, ** Elephant, elephant!" I uttered the same
cry to Harry, but he did not apparently hear me, and,
at all events, I could not see him. After running for
thirty or forty yards, I ca,ught sight of Toko up a
tree. He cried out to me to climb another a short
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. \\%
distance off, the branches of which would afTord an
easy ascent. Wishing to follow his advice, I was
running" along, when my foot caught in a creeper and
I fell to the ground with considerable force, letting
rny rifle drop as I did so, but in vain attempted to
regain my legs, so severely had I sprained my ankle.
I naturally called to Toko to come to my assistance.
He did not move or reply, but continued shouting
and shrieking at the top of his voice. What was my
horror just then to see a huge elephant, with trunk
uplifted, burst out from among the trees on one side,
while, at the same moment, a large lion approached
with stealthy steps on the other. I gave myself up
for lost, expecting to be carried off in the jaws of the
lion, or trampled to death by the feet of the elephant.
Toko sat immovable, with his rifle levelled at the
lion's head, and just as the brute was about to make
its fatal spring he fired. As he did so, I saw the
elephant, startled by the sound, swerve on one side,
its feet passing cjose to where I lay, but it did not
appear even to see me. Away it went, trumpeting
loudly and crashing through the underwood.
The next instant Toko leaped down from his perch
and hurried towards me, wdien, turning my head, I
caught sight of the lion struggling on its back, and
attempting to regain its feet. Toko, lifting me in
his arms, carried me a few paces off, and taking up
my rifle again approached the lion and shot it dead
Almost at the same instant the sound of another rifle
reached our ears.
^*Go and help Harry," I said to Toko; "ho may
want your assistance."
U4 ADVENTURES IN AERICA.
" I place you in safer place dan dis/' he answered ;
and, again taking me up, he propped me against
the root of a large tree close by ; then reloading
my rifle, he put it into my hands. He next reloaded
his own.
, "I must go and help Harry," he said; and awaj
he bounded.
I had wished him to go and assist my friend, but
scarcely had he disappeared than the dreadful idea
came into my head that another lion — companion of
the one just killed — might be prowling about and
discover me. In spite of the pain I suffered, I en-
deavoured to rise on my knees, so that should one
appear I might take a better aim than I could lying
down. Still, should my apprehensions be realised, I
felt that I should be placed in a very dangerous pre-
dicament. One thing, however, was certain, that it
could not be worse than the one from which I had
just escaped, FeAv people have been situated as I
have been, with a lion about to spring from one side,
and an elephant appearing on the other.
Doing my best to keep up my spirits, I listened
attentively to try and ascertain what was happening
to Harry. Presently there was more loud trumpet-
ing and directly afterwards two shots were fired in
rapid succession. This assured me that Harry had
escaped and that Toko had reached the scene of
action. The Makololo was too clever and experienced
an elephant hunter to be taken at disadvantage, and
I had great hopes that he had succeeded in killing
the animal.
I did not forget mv fears about another lion, and
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 115
cast my eyes anxiously around almost expecting to
see one emerge from the thicket, \yhile at the samo
time I looked out eajjerly for the return of my friend.
Once m.ore the trumpeting burst forth, the sounds
echoing through the forest. I thus knew that the
elephant had not yet fallen. A minute afterwards I
heard the crashing of boughs and brushwood some
way off. I guessed, as I listened, that the animal
was coming towards where I lay. The sounds in-
creased in loudness. Should it discover me it woidd
probable revenge itself by crushing me to death, or
tossing me in the air with its trunk. I had vciy rifle
ready t© fire. There was a chance that I might kill
it or make it turn aside. The ground where I lay
sloped gradually downwards to a more open spot. I
expected the next instant that the elephant would
appear. It did so, but further off than I thought it
would, and I thus began to hope that I should escape
its notice. It was moving slowly, though trumpeting
with pain and rage. The instant I caught sight of it
another huge creature rushed out of the thicket on
the opposite side of the glade. It was a huge bull
rhinoceros with a couple of sharp-pointed horns one
behind the other.
The elephant on seeing it stopped still, as if wish-
ing to avoid a contest with so powerful an antagonist,
I fully expected to witness a long and terrible fight,
and feared that, in the struggle, the animals might
move towards where I lay and crush me. That the
elephant was wounded I could see by the blood
streaming dowa its neck. This probably made it
le::s inclined to engage in a battle wath the rhinO'
n6 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
ccros. Instead of advancing it stood whisking its
trunk about and trumpeting. The rhinoceros, on the
contrary, after regarding it for a moment, rushed
fearlessly forward and drove its sharp-jDointed horns
into its body while it in vain attempted to defend
itself with its trunk. The two creatures were novv-
locked together in a way which made it seem im-
possible for them to separate, unless the horns of the
rhinoceros were broken off. Never did I witness a
more furious fight. The elephant attempted to throw
itself dowm on the head of its antagonist, and thereby
only drove the horns deeper into its own body. So
interested was I, that I forgot the pain I was suffer-
ing, while I could hear no other sounds than those
produced by the two huge combatants. AVhile I was
watching them, I felt a hand on my shoulder, and
saw Harry standing over me.
'*I am sorry you have met with this accident! " he
exclaimed. ''The sooner you get away from this the
better. There is a safer spot a little higher up the
bank. Toko and I will carry you there."
I willingly consenting, my friends did as they pro-
posed, as from thence I could watch the fight with
greater security. They, having placed me in safety,
hurried towards the combatants, hoping to kill both
of them before they separated.
The elephant, already wounded, appeared likely to
succumb without our further interference. There was
indeed little chance of its attempting to defend itsell
against them. Toko, making a sign to Harry to
remain Avhere he was, sprang forward until he got
close up to the animals, and firing he sent a bullet
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ADVE.XTURES IN AFRICA, 119
right through the elephant's heart. The huge creature'
fell over, pressing the rhinoceros to the ground.
Leaping back Toko again loaded, and Harry ad-
vancing they fired together into the body of the sur-
vivor, which after giving a few tremendous struggles,
sank down dead.
The battle over, Harry proposed carrying me at
once to the camp, and then returning to bring away
the elephant's tusks, the lion's skin, and as much of
the meat of the two first animals as was required for
the use of the party. I was very thankful to accept
his offer, as I wanted to get my ankle looked to,
having an uncomfortable fear that it was broken, in
which case my hunting would be put a stop to for
many a week to come. He and Toko were not \on^
in manufacturing a litter to carry me, by means of
two long poles, on their shoulders. Having placed
me on it they set off for the camp. Fortunately wo
had not very far to go. I hoped that in the mean
time we should meet with neither elephants nor
lions.
Only under rare circumstances are rhinoceroses to
be dreaded, for they are generally mild and well-
disposed creatures, and usually take to flight when
they come in sight of human beings.
We had gone about half-way, when a lion, bursting
out from a thicket close by, stalked across the path
some distance ahead. My bearers placed me on the
ground and handled their rifles.
*' We'll stand by and defend you, don't be alarmed,"
cried Harry.
**rm not afraid of your running away," I. answered,
120 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
" but don't fire at the creature unless it approaches to
attack us. If you only wound it, its rage may bo
excited, and I to a certainty shall become its victim."
The lion regarded us for a few seconds when — we
raising a loud shout — it, greatly to my satisfaction,
bounded on and disappeared in the wood. Indeed a
lion when alone will seldom, especially in the da}^-
time, attack human beings who show a bold front,
though it will follow like a cat, as do most other
savage brutes, if a man runs from it.
My friends again taking me up, we proceeded,
though I own that I peered somewhat anxiously into
the wood where the lion had retreated, lest it should
change its mind and rush out upon us.
My uncle returned soon after we reached the camp,
and at once examined my ankle. Greatly to my
relief he assured me that it Avas not broken, and that,
if he bound it up in a water bandage, I should pro-
bably be well in a d^iy or two. As it was already
late, the blacks were unwilling to go through the
forest at night for the purpose of bringing in our
spoils, for fear of being carried off by lions. All
night long we could hear them muttering and roar-
ing. Harry suggested that they were mourning for
their late companion. Occasionally the death-cry of
some unfortunate deer which they had pulled down
reached our ears, while various other sounds, some
produced by insects or bull-frogs, or birds, disturbed
the silence of the forest. I, however, managed, in
spite of the noise and the pain I suffered, to go to
sleep, and in the morning, greatly to my satisfaction,
I found my ankle much better than I expected.
■IDVENTVRES IN AFRICA. J2i
As meat was wanted, several of the party proposed
to set off at an early hour to bring in some from the
animals we had killed ; my uncle, Mr. Welbourn,
and Harry going also. As I did not like to be left
behind, I begged to be allowed to mount a horse and
to ride with them. I should have been wiser to have
remained quietly at the camp, but I wanted to revisit
the scene of our encounter the previous day. Jan
followed behind with several of the blacks, who were
to be loaded with our spoils. As we neared the spot,
I heard my friends exclaiming in various tones —
** Where is it ? What has become of the creature ! " —
and, pushing forward, I caught sight of the elephant
and the dead lion at a distance, but nowhere was the
rhinoceros to be ^qqxx. It was very evident that it
could not have been killed as wo had supposed, and
that, having only been stunned, it, at length recover-
ing itself, had made off.
Toko cried out that he had discovered its spoor,
and I saw him hurrying forward evidently hoping to
find the creature. The other blacks meanwhile set to
work to cut out the tusks, and select a few slices off
such parts of the body as were most to their taste,
including the feet, the value of which we knew from
experience.
While they were thus occupied, my three white
friends were busy in flaying the lion. I kept my eye
r
on Toko, expecting that, should he discover the rhino-
ceros, he would summon some of the party to his
assistance. I saw him look suspiciously into a thicket,
then he turned to fly. The next moment a huge beast
rushed out, which I had no doubt was the rhinoceros
t22 ADVENTURES AV AFRICA,
we fancied that we had killed on the previous day.
Toko made for a tree behind w^hich he could shelter
himself. I called to my friends to draw their atten-
tion to the danger in which he was placed, but to my
dismay before he could reach the tree the rhinoceros
was upon him. There was no time to leap either to
the one side or the other, but as the animal's sharp
horn was about to transfix him, he made a spring* as
if to avoid it, but he was not in time, and the animal,
throwing up its head, sent him and his rifle floating
into the air to the height of several feet. The rhino-
ceros then charged on towards the men cutting up
the elephant, when my uncle and his companions,
having seized their rifles, began blazing away at it.
Fortunately one of their shots took effect, and before
it had reached the blacks, down it sank to the ground.
While Harry hastened on to where Toko lay, my
uncle and Mr. Wclbourne, quickly reloading, fired
into its head and finished its existence.
I had ridden up to the Makololo, expecting to find
every bone in his body broken. As I approached, to
my satisfaction I saw^ him get up ; and though he
limped somewhat, after shaking himself and picking
up his rifle, he declared that he w^as not much the
Avorse for the fearful toss he had received, and was as
ready as ever for work.
He soon rejoined tlie rest of the men, and assisted
in packing the oxen w:ith the tusks and meat. Some
of the flesh of the rhinoceros was also cut off, and
with the lion-skin packed up. Rhinoceros meat,
though tough, is of good flavour. The portions we
carried off were from the upper part of the shoulder
**XHE AxMMAL SENT iilM INTO THE AK
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ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
J25
and from the ribs, where we found the fat and lean
regularly striped to the depth of two inches. Some
of the skin was also taken for the purpose of making
some fresh ox-whips. We of course carried away the
horns, which are about half the value of ivory. Alto-
gether, the adventure which at one time appeared
likely to prove so disastrous, afforded us no small
amount of booty.
CHAPTER VII.
Tjiit: constant mutterings and roarings which saluted
our cars during the night, made us suspect that we
should not obtain much game in the neighbourhood,
besides which we should run a great risk of being
attacked while out shooting. We therefore struck
camp, and proceeded on to the northward. The
country in many places was rocky, and though there
were no mountains of an^^ great height there were
savage defiles through which we had to pass, the
sides of the cliffs being covered with brushwood and
creepers, and in some spots with tall trees. We were
not afraid of being attacked by natives, but notwith-
standing we alwa3''s sent out scouts on our flanks and
ahead.
We had gone on some distance when Toko, who
was leading, came hurrying back.
" I have seen a strange sight, which I would rather
not have seen,'' he exclaimed.
'*^ What is it ?" asked my uncle.
** Lions, a whole army of them. They seem deter-
mined to stop our way," he answered.
** If there were a hundred of them they should not
ADVENIUKS:^ IN AFRICA.
127
^ mi $
•* LIONS, A \ViIOLE AUMY OF THEM/'
[A 1:6'.
128 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
do that/' replied my uncle. "We'll have a look at
the gentlemen. We shall soon drive them off if I
mistake not/'
As it would have been imprudent to carry the cattle
and horses into the neighbourhood, a halt was called,
and the blacks were left in charge of the animals,
while we, with Hans Scarff, prepared to ride forward.
" Stay ! " said Harry. ** I think we have got some-
thing to send them to the rightabout, if our shouts
fail to drive them aw^ay." And going to the waggon
he produced half-a-dozen rockets.
"One of those will do," observed his father, "for
we may want the rest for another emergency. How-
ever, you can carry a couple in case one should fail."
Led by Toko, we proceeded along the defile, when,
on reaching some high ground, we saw, collected to-
gether below us among the rocks, an immense number
of lions. There must have been several families, fathers
und mothers with their young ones. What could
have brought them together to that spot, it was diffi-
cult to conjecture. Toko declared that they knew
we were about to pass that way, and had assembled
for the purpose of attacking us. Of course such an
idea was ridiculous ; however, there they were, and
had w^e passed close to them, they might have com-
mitted serious havoc among our cattle, although we
should no doubt have shot down many of them. They
must have seeti us, from the way they lashed their
tails and muttered ; while, from the loud roars which
three or four of the elders gave forth, it was pretty
clear that they meant mischief.
We, however, rode forward determined to drive
ADVENTURES IN A ERIC A. 129
them away. Harry and I, in the meantime, got the
rockets ready to fire in case our shouts should fail to
produce the desired effect. As we got nearer there
was a general movement among them. As we
shouted they roared in return, apparently not being
alarmed by the sound of our voices.
" We must not remain unarmed, so let only three
tire at a time, while the others reload," said my uncle.
'* Now fire!"
As the smoke cleared away, it seemed doubtful
whether any of the shots had taken effect, as the lions
did not move from the spot they occupied.
** I suspect they are waiting for the appearance of
a herd of *gemsboks/ and that they will not give up
the chance of catching their prey," observed my uncle.
" We must disappoint them then," said Mr. Wel-
bourn. " Harry, get one of your rockets ready, and
pitch it into the middle of them directly after we fire
our next volley."
We had got the tube fixed and placed at the proper
elevation. We had to wait until those next to fire
had discharged their rifles, when two of the lions
were evidently badly wounded, but even this did not
make them take to flight. Harry then applied the
match to the rocket which pitched in the midst of
the congregated lions. The effect was electrical.
Seized with a panic, away they all scampered over
r
the rocks at a greater rate than I had ever before
seen lions run. None stopped for the others. One
with his spine injured lay on the ground. Two
others dropped before they had got far, while the
remainder were scon out of sieht.
i^o ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
** The brutes will not come back to this locality,"
exclaimed my uncle. " We must now put the other
ones out of their pain."
A rifle ball sent through the head of each quickly
did this. Rapidly skinning them, we left the carcases
to be devoured by the birds of prey, which almost
before we got out of sight appeared in the air ; for
although hyaenas and jackals are said to keep aloof
even from a dead lion, the vulture tribes possess no
such awe for the monarch of the wilds.
Returning to where we had left our cattle, we at
once moved forward, anxious to get out from among
the rocky defiles as soon as possible. Scarcely had
we emerged from them, than we saw in the distance
an enormous herd of deer, which Mr. Welbourn at
once pronounced to be " pallah." As they approached
we drew on one side before we were discovered. First
came a stag, a magnificent animal of a bay colour,
fading into a whity-brown, with elegantly, somewhat
harp-shaped horns, marked with rings, and a black
semicircular mark on the croup by which it could be
at once distinguished. Its feet were of a jetty hue.
Though it might have seen us, it continued walking
on in a sedate manner, the rest following their leader
with a confidence which showed that they must put
implicit trust in him.
My uncle and Hans, at once dismounting, crept
towards the herd; and, waiting until the greater
number had passed, fired together, when three of the
animals fell dead. The remainder, instead of turning
to fly, dashed forward to fill up the gaps in their line,
the whole moving on at a much greater speed than
ADVKXTURES LV AFRICA. \\\
before. Two others, however, were killed before the
herd made their escape through the pass towards
which they were directing their course.
Had we not driven away the lions, probably many
more would have been killed by them. AVe at once
carried off the hve which were destined for provision-
ing our party, and loaded our waggons with their
skins and horns.
AVe were now approaching a part of the country
where we hoped to find a greater number of elephants
than we had yet met with, our chief object being to
obtain their tusks ; although nothing came amiss,
rhinoceros horns, skins, or ostrich feathers ; the latter
especially, from their small bulk, were really of more
value than elephant tusks.
We were now crossing a wide plain with rocks.
Here and there were ant-hills, by the side of each ot
which grew a dark-leaved tree called the '' ]\rollopie.''
Near our camp was a rain-pool, at which our animals
were watered. Jan here captured a large frog in
which, when he cut it open, for the purpose of pre-
paring it for cooking, he found a whole mouse, two
or three ants, and several other insects.
Tn the morning our people informed us that they
had heard the roaring of a lion during the night at a
neighbouring pool ; and as there was a great likeli-
hood of his paying a visit to the camp, to make a
feast off our oxen, we determined to dispatch him
before going out to hunt.
As we approached the pool, the noise was again
heard-
"Hemustbe in a thicket close by," exclaimed Harry.
132 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
But every thicket round was well beaten, and no
lion appeared. At last I heard Harry laughing
heartily, and saw him pointing to the opposite side
of the pool, where I caught sight of a big frog poking
his head above the reeds. There could be no doubt
of it. Though he could not swell himself to the size
of a lion, Mr. Bullfrog had managed to imitate very
closely his voice, so we returned to camp feeling
somewhat ashamed of ourselves, Harry every now
and then giving way to a burst of laughter.
In the open country, where little shelter is to be
found, lions are not often to be met with, and as they
can be seen long before they approach, no danger is
to be apprehended from them. One of the men who
had remained behind followed, bringing one of the
bull-frogs which he had captured in the pool. The
body, which we measured, was nine inches in length,
by five and a half wide ; and the hind legs, from toe
to toe, eighteen inches. On being cut open a young
bird which it had lately swallowed was found in its
inside,
I, having completely recovered the use of my foot,
arranged with Harry that we should make another
expedition together in search of game. We agreed
that Jan should accompany us, and just as we were
starting Hans offered to go. We would rather have
dispensed with his company, as he was not a favourite
with either of us. Mr. Welbourn, my uncle, Toko,
and two or three Makololos were to set off in another
direction. They charged us not to go beyond a vlet
or pool, which we had heard of from the Makololos,
about twelve miles to the northward.
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ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 135
This, however, gave us a very wide scope, and v.-e
fully expected to come back with plenty of game of
some sort.
We went on for some distance without meeting
with any live creatures, though we crossed the spoor
of numerous elands, buffaloes, giraffes, and occa-
sionally of elephants. Neither Hans nor Jan knew
more of the country than we did, but Harry said that
he had brought a compass, so that we should have no
difficulty in finding our Avay, even should clouds
gather in the sky or night overtake us. When,
however, he came to search for the instrument in his
pocket, it was not to be found.
"Never mind,'* he observed, " as the sky is bright,
the sun will guide us by day, and the stars by night,
even if we are kept out, and there is no reason why
we should be if we turn back again in good time.''
On we went, therefore, intending on arriving at
the vleiy to wait until some animals should come to
drink, which they were sure to do, unless there Avere
other water-holes in the neighbourhood.
We had brought very little food, expecting to be
able to supply ourselves with meat and fruits. From
the appearance of the country we had no doubt that
we should meet with melons, even though w^e might
not come across w^ater before we arrived at the vlci.
We had, according to our calculation, gone about
two-thirds of the distance without having shot a
single animal, when the weather began to change.
Clouds gathered in the sky, and a thick mist swent
across the face of the country, such as occasionally,
though not often, occurs in that latitude. We agreed,
135 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
however, that by turning directly back we should have
to traverse the same region we had just passed over,
without finding game, and we should thus be disap-
pointed in obtaining food. This was not to be thought
of. I would be far better to go on to where we should
have every chance of finding it. Hans concurred
with us, and, as Jan was always ready to go forward,
on we went.
In consequence of being shaded from the rays of
the sun, we were better able to travel than usual
during the hot hours of the day. We had reached
the part of the country where we had expected to
find the vlei ; but, even though Jaxi mounted to the
topmost boughs of the tallest tree we could find,
when he came down he declared that he could not
discover water.
We therefore again pushed on, until we reached a
rocky hill, to the summit of which we climbed. Not
a pool could we see either to the north, east, south,
or west.
We were now getting both hungry and thirsty, for
we had exhausted the water we had brought in our
bottles. We were convinced, however, that we must
be near the vlciy and that some rise in the ground
probably hid it from view. While looking about we
caught sight of some animals of the deer tribe, and
Harry and I arranged to go down to try and kill one
of them, while Hans and Jan were to continue the
search for water, and, should they find it, they were
to meet us at the foot of the hill, from which they
started.
Keeping ourselves among the rocks and shrubs and
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 137
tall grass, we made our way in the direction we had
seen the deer. As we got nearer Harry pronounced
them to be otirebis. We were afraid that v^^e should
have no chance of getting within shot, for we saw
them gliding rapidly along, often bounding several
feet into the air, then galloping on again, and once
more bounding on,
'*I'll try a dodge I once saw practised," whispered
Harry. " Do you lie down with your rifle ready to
fire behind yonder bush, and Til go forward and show
myself. They have a good deal of curiosity in their
nature, and I'll try to excite it."
He then placed his rifle and coat and hat on the
ground, and creeping a little forward, to one side of
where I lay, he suddenly rose with his feet in the air,
supporting himself on his hands. How he could
manage to maintain that position so long surprised
me. I should have had the blood rush into my head
and dropped down in a minute had I made the
attempt.
All the time I was watching the ourebis ; which,
no longer leaping about, remained quiet for some
seconds, and then with slow and stately steps ad-
vanced towards the curious object. I had time to
examine them minutely. Their colour was a pale
tawny above, and white below. The horns straight
and pointed, and, as far as I could judge, five inches
in length. The animal itself is of no great height,
standing not more than two feet from the ground,
though when it lifts up its head it looks much taller.
The fem.ale of the pair which approached w^as hornless.
On they came, closer and closer. I was afraid that
138 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
Harry would drop down and frighten them away
before they had got near enough to enable me to
take a sure aim.
I was in as good a position as I could desire, for,
though the bush effectually concealed me, I could see
them clearly. I dared not, however, move my rifle in
the least degree, for fear it should touch the leaves
and make the animals suspicious. *' Do not fire until
they begin to move away, I want to get them up close
to me," said Harry, in a whisper.
The animals still, in spite of the danger, came on,
until they were not twenty yards off. At length, it
seemed to me, by the way they moved their ears, that
they were on the point of starting.
I fired, the buck dropped on his fore-legs, and at
the same instant Harry threw himself on his feet, lifted
his rifle and fired at the doe before she had got ten
paces off. Down she also came utterly helpless, and
was quickly put out of her suffering by Harry. The
buck instinctively attempted to defend himself with
his horns, but seizing one of them, I deprived him of
existence.
We had good reason to be satisfied with the result
of Harry's experiment. He told me that not only the
ourebis but several other deer, if attracted in the same
way by their suspicions or curiosity being aroused,
can be thus shot.
We lost no time in cutting open our deer, so as to
lighten the loads, and the better to preserve the meat.
Each v/as as much as a man could carry on his
shoulders. We were unwilling, however, to leave
any part behind. Believing that we could carry
•• ON THEY CAME, CLOSER AND CLOSER.
[/• U7
ADVENTURES IN A ERIC A. i\\
them better whole than cut up, we stap;gered along
\\\\\\ our burdens, fortunately not having far to go.
On arriving at the spot agreed on, w^e found that our
companions had not returned. We therefore set to
work to collect fuel for a fire, and to cut up one of the
animals. So parched had we become, that w^e could
scarcely refrain from drinking their blood. I had
always found, however, that blood rather increased
than diminished thirst. We were both by this time
well versed in wood-craft, and quickly divided the
animal in the most scientific fashion. While we
were employed in this manner, we frequently looked
round to ascertain if the two men were approaching,
but they were not to be seen.
Having finished our task, while I was making up
the fire, Harry climbed to the top of the rock, that he
might obtain a wider look-out.
"I can see them nowhere," he said, when he came
down, ** but I caught sight of an animal which, if I
mistake not, is a big lion following our spoor, or pro-
bably it is attracted by the scent of the deer. As he
is coming this way, we must be prepared for him :
though he might not condescend to cat a dead deer,
he may take it into his head to carry off one of us
living subjects. He is not likely to give us any
undue notice of his approach,''
Harry agreed therefore to keep watch while I con-
tinued the operations on which I was engaged. I
soon got some forked sticks, which I ran into the
ground to hold the spits, and on these I placed the
venison to roast, but hungry as I was I felt that w^ithout
t4i ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
water I could scarcely get down the food I was cooking'.
Evening was approaching,
" I say, Fred, if those fellows don't come soon, we
must set off by ourselves, and look out for water. Per-
haps some may be found among the rocks, or if not, we
must cut some wooden spades and dig for it. Those
deer wouldn't be inhabiting these parts if water wasn't
in the neighbourhood."
**It will be too late to commence any search to-
night," I observed. ** It is already nearly dark,
and the chances are that the lion you saw just
now will pounce down upon us, if we go far from
the fire. I would rather endure thirst than run that
risk."
*' Still we must have water," exclaimed Harry; ** but
you stay here and look after the venison, and I'll just
wander to a short distance. I do not suppose the
brute will find me ; and perhaps, you know, it was not
a lion after ail I saw : it might have been a buffalo or
a brindled gnew.
"You said positively it was a lion," I remarked;
" for your own sake, as well as mine, I beg that you
v/ill not wander from the camp.
Still Harry, pointing to his mouth, insisted on going.
Just as he was about to set off, a loud roar, not twenty
paces off, reached our ears.
*'What do you say now:" I asked. "You don't
mean to assert that that was the cry either of an ostrich
vr a bull-frog."
**I wish that it were the latter," he answered; for
then there would be a chance of finding water. How-
ever, I'll stay in camp and try to endure my thirst until
J J
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ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 143
those fellows come back — and they're pretty sure to
find water."
I did not like to say that I was not quite certain on
that subject. I had hopes, however, that even should
they have failed to find it, we should not perish, as I
trusted before long we might have a shower of rain,
although none had as yet fallen from the cloudy sky.
Some venison which I had put close to the fire was by
this time cooked, but it w^as with the greatest difficulty
that we could get down even a few mouthfuls.
*' I cannot eat another morsel," cried Harry, putting
down his knife. ** If those fellows don't arrive soon,
dark as it is, I must set off by myself to try and find
water ; depend upon it, there is some not far ofl", or
that lion would not come here," and he threw himself,
utterly overcome, on the ground.
I tried to cheer him up, and made another attempt
to eat some venison, but had to ^ive it up after
nibbling at a piece ; yet I felt that I could have swal-
lowed a hearty meal, if I could have obtained a
draught of water, however tepid and full of insects it
might have been.
We were sitting a short distance from the fire with
our rifles in our hands, prepared for the reception of
the lion, should he venture to invade our camp, when
Harry exclaimed, *' Hark ! I hear footsteps : they must
be those of Hans and your black fellow."
We listened ; and I hoped that Harry was right.
'* Let us shout! " I exclaimed.
We both together raised our voices. Our hail was
answered from a distance. The night air had brought
the sound of footsteps much further than I should havci
I, 2
144 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
supposed possible. It was some time before, by the
light of the fire, we saw the rough, uncouth figure of
Hans, followed by Jan.
** Have you brought water?'' was the first question
Harr^ asked.
*' Yah ! we have brought water, and have seen
plenty of elephants — fine country for shooting, and we
will go there to-morrow."
'' Never mind the elephants and shooting now ; hand
me the water,'' cried Harry, eagerly.
Hans gave Harry his skin bottle, and Jan hurried up
with his to me. I swallowed the liquid eagerly, hot
and nauseous as it was, full, I suspect, of living crea-
tures ; but it tasted like nectar, and I half emptied the
bottle at a draught.
" Now I am ready for the venison !" cried Harry.
" So am I, indeed," said Hans ; " for we haven't had
anything to eat ^ince we left you, and are wxll-nigh
dying of starvation."
" As we were of thirst," I remarked, handing Hans
and Jan a large piece of venison each. They devoured
it eagerly, and Harry and I then turned to and were
able to eat a good meal.
*' 1 should like to get some sleep," said Hans ; " we
will tell you to-morrow of our adventures."
"We are in no hurry to hear them," said Harry;
" but I tell you, one of us must keep a watch, or we
may have an unpleasant visit from a lion, who is
prowling about in the neighbourhood."
" The cowardly brute won't come near us," said
Hans, drowsily. " The chances are it was a rock
you saw in the dusk, or it might have been a jackal."
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA, 145
*' But we heard it roar/' said Harry.
^*0h, then it was a bull-frog'/' cried Hans, rolling
himself up in his cloak and lying down.
" Bull -frog or lion, there it is again!" exclaimed
Harry, jumping up and seizing his rifle.
There was no doubt about the matter ; though the
voice of an ostrich at a distance may sound like that
of a lion, the roar of the king of the forest is unmis-
takable when close at hand. Even Hans was con-
vinced, and was quickly on his feet. It was very
certain that we should get no rest that night, unless
we could dispose of the intruder. The lion skin was
also of value, and we could not allow him to escape
with impunity. We all advanced together, resolved
forthwith to shoot the brute ; that we should see him
directly we had no doubt. A short distance off,
between our camp-fire and the spot whence the roar
proceeded, was a pile of low rocks, a spur from a
neighbouring hill. We had just reached it, when we
caught sight of the lion who had emerged from
behind a thicket a little way ahead. He seemed at
once to look upon us as his foes. Had it been in the
day-time, he would probably have slunk away ; but
night was his season for activity ; and, lashing his tail
and again roaring loudly, he advanced across the open
space below the rocks. Now was the critical moment :
should we fail to kill him, he might make a desperate
F
spring and knock over one of us. It was settled, there-
fore, that Harry and Jan should fire first, and then
Hans and I, should they fail to kill the brute : we to
try what we could do, they, of course, in the mean-
time, reloading.
146 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
The grand principle in attacking wild beasts is
never to allow the whole of the party to remain
unarmed for a moment. The lion did not appear
quite to like the look of things. He advanced cau-
tiously, showing his whole vast proportions, his huge
shaggy mane, and the afterpart of his body looking
thin and small, but even that was of the size of a full-
grown donkey. TAvice he stopped, and each time
uttered a tremendous roar.
'' He smells us, if he cannot see us," said Harry.
Still the creature appeared doubtful whether he
would spring towards the suspected point.
**Now, Harry, let's see what you can do," I whis-
pered.
"I shall be glad if I can knock him over the first
shot," he answered.
Harry and Jan's rifles went off at the same moment,
and we could hear their bullets strike, but neither
brought the lion to the ground. His rage overcame
his fears ; and lashing his tail and again roaring, he
was about to spring on us, when Hans and I, taking
steady aim at him as he rose from the ground, sent our
leaden messengers oi death through his body. He
must have leapt up half-a-dozen feet, falling right over
on his head, where he lay struggling for a few seconds ;
but before we could leap over the rocks and get near
him, he was dead. We signified our satisfaction at
the victory by a loud shout.
"We shall now sleep soundly," said Hans, giving
the animal a kick with his foot.
We repaired to our camp and made up the fire.
Though Hans declared that there was no necessity for
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
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ADVENTURES /// AFRICA
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remaining awake, Harry and I agreed to keep watch
and watch until the morning, not feeling at all certain
whether another lion, or perhaps a leopard, might pay
us a visit; or a herd of elephants, buffaloes, or rhino-
ceroses, might come our way and trample us to deaths
while enjoying our balmy slumbers.
CHAPTER VIIL
When people know that their lives may depend
upon maintaining a blazing fire, they must be foolish in-
deed if they allow themselves to slumber at their posts';
but I confess that I had great difficulty, during my
watch, in keeping my eyes open, after the exertions of
the day and the hunger and thirst I had endured. I felt
that my only chance was to get up and walk about
with my rifle in my hand. I did not, however, go far
from the fire, as the smoke drove the mosquitoes and
other insects away from its immediate vicinity ; and I
knew also, that at any distance from the flames I was
as likely to be seized by a savage animal as I should
be did no fire exist.
I could hear ev^ery nowand then the mutterings and
occasional roars of lions, with the cries of hyaenas and
jackals, and the calls of various night-birds. Alto-
gether the concert had a somewhat depressing effect,
accustomed though I was by this time to the noises
proceeding from an African forest.
At last the time I had agreed to watch came to an
end, and I roused up Harry, charging him to keep a
bright look-out.
Ko ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
"Do not let yourself drop off for a moment, old
fellow," I said; " as long as any prowling animal setis
you moving about around the fire he'll not venture to
make an attack ; but should you slumber for a moment,
it is impossible to say what he may do."
" I do feel awfully drowsy, I own," answered Harry,
rubbing his eyes and yawning ; ** still I'll do my best.
Tt is a shame that fellow Hans won't stand watch as
he ought to do. I only hope that another lion will
come roaring close up to the camp, for the sake of
making him get on his legs. He knows that neither
you nor I would sleep on our posts, so he rests in
perfect security, throwing all the trouble on us."
Harry and I talked on for a little time, I hoping
that he would thus be thoroughly aroused ; then I lay
down on the spot he had occupied, pretty close to the
Jire, with my rifle by my side ready for instant use.
It appeared to me that I had not been asleep five
minutes when I heard Plarry exclaim
** Fred, rouse Jan. Up with you, and get ready for
battle."
I seized my rifle and sprang to my feet, as wide
awake as ever I was in my life, and there I saw, not
six paces off, a creature with glaring eyes ; not a lion,
however, but looking unusually large as it emerged
from the darkness into the light of the fire.
It crouched as if for a spring ; at the same moment
I heard Hans shriek out. For an instant I glanced
round, and caught an indistinct sight of another big
cat-like creature stealing towards the rear of the camp.
*' You and Jan must look out after that brute, and
we'll attend to this one," I shouted.
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 151
As I spoke, the leopard, for such it was, notwith-
standing our cries, — Harry, I should have said, had
begun to bawl away as loudly as I was doing, — made
a furious spring towards him ; but though he was
shouting lustily, he remained as cool as a cucumber,
holding his rifle ready.
We fired, and both our balls took effect, when the
leopard literally turned, with its ieet uppermost, and
fell right down into the centre of the fire, where it
lay struggling convulsively, utterly unable to rise.
Directly afterwards I heard the report of a pistol, and,
while hastily reloading, I saw that Hans had shot the
other leopard through the head.
As we did not wish to lose the skin of the one we
had shot, Harry again firing gave it its quietus ; we
then seizing it by its hind legs dragged it out of the
fire, and Jan's knife soon finished the other.
We thus gained two magnificent leopards skins :
the fire had but slightly injured the one we had
killed.
'* There is some use in keeping watch at night,
Hans,'' observed Harry; "what would have become
of us if I had not been awake ? Those brutes would
have been in our midst before we were able to lift a
hand in our defence. As it was, I caught sight of
only one of them stealing towards us, and had barely
time to rouse up the rest of you, so that if Fred
hadn't been very quick, the brute would have been
down upon us."
" All right,'' answered Hans, " such a thing is not
likely to happen a second time in a night, so I
suppose we may noAV go to sleep in quiet,"
152 ADVENTURES IN At RICA.
" I don't suppose anything' of the sort," repUed
Harry; "there are no end of lions and leopards
prowling about, and you would have heard them if
you hadn't snored so loudly. It will be your turn to
keep watch, and I intend to rouse you up in half
an hour."
"Yah, yah," answered Hans, placing his head on
the ground, and going off to sleep again.
As I thought would probably be the case, the seem
of the dead leopards attracted packs of hyaenas and
jackals, who serenaded us with their horrible yells
and howls for the remainder of the night, though the
blazing hre we kept up prevented them from ap-
proaching.
Nothwithstanding Harry's threat, he did not wake
up Hans, w^ho w^ould probably again have composed
himself for sleep, and we might have been left to the
tender mercies of the hyaenas.
In the morning we took the skins off the two
leopards ; and cleaned and packed them up so as to
be easily transported. As Hans claimed the skin ot
the leopard he had shot, he had to carry it, while Jan
carried ours. We then started off for the vlei. It
would be too late in the morning, we calculated, by
the time w^e could reach it, to shoot any animals; and
we should have to wait till the evening, when they
would be likely to come down to drink at the pool
We should not, therefore, have hastened our footsteps,
had we not been anxious to obtain a fresh supply of
»vater ; for the small stock Hans and Jan had brought
ivas exhausted, and we were now almost as thirsty as
we had been on the previous day.
f*r^»-^^.^ J? '
V/E FiRED, AND EOTH OUR BALZ^S TOOK EFFECT/' ip. Hi.
ADVENTURES IN A PR It /i. 155
Hans walked on ahead without speaking ; but as
he was never very talkative, w^e were not surprised at
this. At last he turned round, and told Jan that he
must carry his leopard-skin.
We thought this too much of a good thing. Jan
appealed to us.
"Certainly net," answered Harry. ** You claimed all
the skin as your property. You are bound to carry
it, or leave it behind if you like, but Jan shall not be
compelled to carry it.''
Hans turned round and Avalked on sullenly, but
presently I saw him drop his burden, and then present
his rifle at Harry. Fearing that Hans was about to
murder my friend, I dashed forward and struck up
the weapon, which the next instant w^ent off, the
bullet almost grazing Harry's hat.
" We must overpower the man,'* I said, making a
sign to Jan, and we all three threw ourselves upon
him, and prevented him drawing his knife, when he
would, I suspect, have run amuck among us, as the
Malays frequently do when exasperated.
How to treat the madman — for such he appeared to
be — it was difficult to say. He was immensely strong,
and we had to exert ourselves to keep him down. Jan
proposed to kill him, and was drawing his knife for
the purpose when Ave interfered.
" We shall have to do it, I fear, if we cannot bind
r
his hands behind him," said Harry.
" No, no ; we must deprive him of his' rifle and am-
munition, and he will thus be compelled to follow u
** If he w^anders away into the desert, his fate will
be certain," observed Harry.
3
Is6 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
" He has brought it upon himself," I remarked :
"here, Jan, take my rifle-strap ; slip it round his arms
and draw it tight, — be quick about it. Now, Harry,
get another strap round his legs."
All this time Hans was struggling violently, with-
out uttering a w^ord. Having succeeded in doing as I
proposed, we had him completely in our power. He
grinned fearfully and foamed at the mouth ; indeed,
he almost seized poor Jan's bare arm in his teeth, and
had not Harry given him a severe blow he would
have succeeded.
** Now let's try to get him on his feet, and we will
then slacken the strap sufficiently to enable him to
walk, though not to allow him to run away," I said.
Hans was very unwilling at first to move, but at
length we got him to w^alk along, though he appeared
like a man in a dream, — not knowing what he was
doing. Jan assured us that he could iind the way to
the w^ater-hole, and we therefore proceeded in the
direction he pointed out. It was a question, however,
whether we should remain to shoot there, or, having
supplied our bottles, return with our unfortunate com-
panion to the camp. As he seemed strong enough to
carry the leopard-skin, we replaced it on his shoulders.
Every now and then he would attempt to run ; but the
strap round his legs quickly brought him up. Our
progress was of course very slow, imtil at length the
vlei was reached. We passed on our way several
trees of considerable size overturned by elephants ;
many of them being ten inches in diameter, it must
have required great strength to uproot them. Others
were broken short off, a little distance from the ground,
adventur::s in africa, 157
by the elephants. This showed us that the country
was frequented by the animals, and that if we had
patience we might be able to shoot a number. While
lying in ambush, however, it would be necessary to
remain perfectly silent, as they would be alarmed by
the slightest noise.
At length the water-hole came in sight, and eagerly
hurrying forward we quenched our thirst and refilled
our bottles. Hans did not refuse to drink, and
appeared somew^hat better afterwards; but there was
a roll in his eye which made us unwilling to set him
at liberty. Not to alarm the elephants, we retired to
a distance and lighted a fire, where we cooked the
venison we had brought w^ith us, which, although
somewhat high, was still eatable ; we then lay down
to rest under the shade of a wide-spreading tree,
making Hans sit by us.
Harry and I, wishing to obtain some sleep, told Jan
to watch our prisoner; and a;s he had had more rest
than we had the previous night, we hoped he would
keep awake.
At length I opened my eyes, and, on looking round,
what was my dismay to see Jan fast asleep, and to
find that Hans was not there. I aroused Harry. "We
had placed our prisoner's rifle and knife close to us,
and they were safe. He could not be far off; so call-
ing Jan — who looked very much surprised at finding
what had happened — we started off, hoping to dis
cover the poor wretch. The feeling of anger with
which we had before regarded him Avas now changed
into compassion. Should he have had any evil inten-
tions, could he have got his arms free, he might have
-M
158 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
brained us as we slept. However, it seemed doubtful
whether he had been able to get more than his legs
at liberty. The strap which secured his elbows was
nowhere to be seen. We traced his spoor, but this
disappeared along an elephant track — for even Jan
failed to discover the marks of his footsteps. The
night was approaching, and we lost all hope of dis-
covering him. We therefore took up our position in
the thicket we had selected, close to the path the
elephants pursued when going down to the pool. We
here fully expected to shoot two or three animals.
We then proposed returning next morning to the
camp, in order to bring two or three of the men with
us to make further search for Hans.
We had not long taken up our position, when we
caught sight of the huge forms of several elephants
coming through the forest, along the path which we
had discovered. We saw them sweeping their trunks
backwards and forwards over the ground, evidently
suspecting something wTong.
Thirst impelled them forward, however. They
approached close to where we lay hidden, and I was
just about to fire at the leader, who had magnificent
tusks^Harry having agreed to take the next in order
■when a loud shout rent the air, and a figure started
up directly in front of the animal. It was Plans. His
arms were still bound, but he kept leaping about,
utterly fearless of the elephants before him. I
hesitated for a moment, when the thought struck me,
■should I kill the elephant, I might save the life of
the unhappy being wdio seemed to be courting his fate.
I pulled the trigger. I could hear the ball strike, bu:
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
159*
" Jllty NUW OIIErvKD.UNUSUAt.LV GOOD MAUKS TO
OUK RIFLES.
n
[/. 163.
n 2
i6o ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
what was my horror to see the animal rush forward,
and the next moment trample Hans ScarfF beneath
his feet. A single shriek escaped the miserable man,
and then all was silent. Excited as I was, I did not
notice that Harry fired at the second elephant at the
same moment. His bullet must have entered the
animal's brain, for it sank a helpless mass on the
ground. The rest of the herd, alarmed by the fate of
their leaders, turned round, and wiith loud trumpeting
rushed away into the forest.
The first elephant, in the meantime, lifted up the
body of his victim, whom he dashed violently to the
ground ; and then, staggering a few paces, came
down with a crash and lay motionless.
We hurried out of our ambush to render assistance
to Hans ; but he was dead, every bone in his body
being broken; even his features could not be re-
cognized. We could not blame ourselves for the
occurrence, though grieved at his sad fate.
We now purposed returning to our last camp,
where we had left our fire burning. Jan begged leave
to cut off some pieces of the elephant's flesh to cook for
supper. This he did forthwith, in a more rapid way
than we could have accomplished the task.
Covering up the body of Hans with some thick
bushes, we left it where it lay, in order to prevent the
hyaenas and jackals from getting at it, and returned
to our fire.
We had not long been seated round it, talking
over the events of the day, when Jan, starting up,
declared that he saw the li^ht of a fire in the
distance
ADVENTURES /A AFRICA. i6i
Harry and I looked in the same direction. There
was no doubt about the matter.
w
" Who can they be r*' exclaimed Harry.
"Perhaps they are natives." I answered. "If so,
we must be careful how we approach them.'*
" I think it is more likely that they are our friends
coming to search for us/' said Harry. " They will be
surprised at our not appearing* yesterday, and may have
pushed forward a party who, if on horseback, would
soon be up with us.''
I at length agreed that such was probably the case,
and we accordingly settled at once to go towards the
fire. We should probably, even at a distance, be able
to discover whether or not it was made by our friends.
Jan was of our opinion.
Having hastily finished our meal, we made our way
in the direction we proposed. On getting near the
fire, Jan offered to go forward and to bring word while
we lay hid, so that we might retreat if necessary before
we were discovered.
When I was in the forests of Africa, I always
remembered that while I was stalking an animal, a
lion or leopard might be stalking me ; and we there-
fore, while we waited for the return of Jan, kept our
eyes about us, and our ears open to detect the slightest
sound.
We had longer to wait than we expected. At length
we heard a rustling of leaves near us, and Jan's voice
exclaiming,
"Dey de Capt'n's party, and Toko, and two, three,
Makololoes; dey all got horses !"
This was good news. As we went along he told
l62 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
■ me that he had not informed them that we were near,
as he wished to give us the pleasure of announcing
ourselves.
In a few minutes we were in the midst of our friends,
and our appearance afforded my uncle great relief.
They had come across our camp, and found the bodies
of the lions, and had some misapprehensions that after
all we might have been carried off by others.
He was, of course, much shocked at the fate of
Hans, though, he observed, that it was better he
should have died thus, than have committed murder
or some other mischief, as from his uncertain temper
it was very likely he would have done.
The Makololoes, on hearing that we had killed two
elephants, were eager to go at once and obtain some
of the flesh ; but my uncle persuaded them to remain
until the next morning, promising that they should
then have an abundance of meat.
Although expeditions on foot have their advantages,
Harry and I came to the conclusion, when we again
found ourselves mounted, that we should prefer in
future going out on horseback. My uncle told us that
iie expected the waggons would camp where we then
were, so that we might load them with the tusks and
.skins we might obtain.
Directly breakfast was over we rode to the scene of
our encounter with the two elephants, neither of which
had been disturbed. The tusks were soon removed,
and the IMakololoes cut away enough flesh for a whole
.army. A grave w^as then dug, and the body of poor
Hans buried. This done, we followed the spoor of the
elephants, intending to kill them while feeding in the
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 163
daytime, and afterwards attack them as they came
down to drink.
We had not ridden far when Toko, who was ahead,
came back with the intelligence that he had dis-
covered four or five in an open glade, plucking off the
branches and leaves of their favourite trees ; and that
by keeping along through the wood we might come
upon them without much risk of being discovered.
Almost a minute afterwards we came in sight of the
animals, when we at once dismounted to watch them
and arrange our plan of proceeding. While some
Makoloioes held our horses, my uncle, Harry, and I
crept along not far from the edge of the forest, so as
to get in front of the elephants we saw feeding, while
Mr. Welbourn, Toko, and one of his foUowei's made a
wider circuit, with the intention of taking them on the
other side should they move in that direction. We
hurried on, eager to get in front of the animals before
they should move away. They now offered unusually
good marks to our rifles. My fear was that their
sharp eyes might detect us before we could get near
enough to fire. My uncle advised each of us to select
a tree up which we could climb, or whose trunk was of
sufficient thickness to afford us protection should
the elephants, discovering us, make a charge.
As the forest was tolerably thick, they could not
move as rapidly as in the open ground. We hoped,
therefore, to have time to escape should our bullets
fail to kill them at the first shot. There were three
magnificent fellows feeding close together, and several
others beyond them. The latter had fallen to the
share of j\Ir. Welbourn and his party, and we agreed
1 64 ADVENTURES EV A ERICA.
to devote our attention to the three nearest. We pro-
ceeded with the greatest care, in Indian hie. The
slightest sound, even at a distance, caused by a
stumble or the breaking of a twig, would attract the
attention of our expected prey.
We at length could see their trunks lifted above their
heads to reach the higher branches, the rest of their
bodies being invisible, and of course they could not
see us.
Having taken up our positions, one in front of each
elephant, we crept forward, bending down as low as
we could so as to escape detection as long as possible.
At the same time we looked out for trees to serve as
places of refuge. Activity and presence of mind are
necessary w^hen a person is hunting wild beasts, but
especially when elephant shooting.
I lost sight of my uncle, who was on my left, but I
could just see Harry, who was on the opposite side,
his head appearing above the grass and shrubs. I had
made up my mind not to fire until I heard the report
of my uncle's rifle. At last I could see the huge ears
of an elephant, just in front of me, flapping up and
down.
I knew that the moment would soon arrive when I
must fire or be discovered by the elephant. I crept on
a few paces further, then rose on my knees. At the
m.oment that I heard the crack of my uncle's rifle, I
lifted my own w^eapon and fired, aiming full at the
creature's broad chest as high up as I could, so as to
clear the head. Before the smoke — which was kept
from rising by the branches — had cleared away, a loud
trumpeting" was heard. The moment it began Harry
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA
i6s
"WUAT V,'.\5 OUJi SURl'KiSE TO SEE AN EXORMOUS LION.
[/. 166-
1 66 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
fired, but I could not see the result. I sprang to my
feet, so as to escape behind a tree I had marked, fully
expecting to have the elephant I had shot charge
furiously at me ; but it did not, and though I retreated
some paces I could still see its head. It seemed to be
looking about to discover the enemy who hadv/ounded
it. No long time passed before it caught sight of me,
and then on it came. I could also hear a loud crash-
ing among the boughs to the right, produced, I had no
doubt, by the elephant at which Harry had aimed.
On reaching the tree I instantly began to reload,
hoping to have time to give the elephant another shot
as he passed me ; for, though he had seen me for a
moment, I knew that he would go straight on without
looking behind the tree. But, even before he had got
up to the spot, down he fell on his knees, crushing
several young trees. At the same moment I heard
Harry cry out, and leaving my own prize I dashed
forward to his assistance. I was just in time to sec
the elephant, with his trunk uplifted, close to Harry,
who had not had time to reload or take shelter behind
a tree. I fired, aiming behind the ear of the elephant,
when down it came, as mine had done, prostrate on
the ground. If my uncle had been equally successful,
we should have made a grand haul. Without stopping
to finish off our elephants, we hurried in the direction
we supposed him to be, reloading as we went. We
uttered a loud shout to attract his attention. It was
replied to by a tremendous roar; and, instead of an
elephant, what was our surprise to see an enormous
lion lashing its tail and looking up at the branches of
a tree, among which we discovered my uncle ; and ho
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA
167
xn^— xu
■ ■^ -
must have had a narrow escape, for he was only just
beyond reach of the brute, Avho might, it seemed to us,
by making" a desperate spring, have struck him down.
We had now to look out for ourselves, for should the
lion discover us, unless we could kill him at once, he
might tear us to pieces. Fortunately another tree of
considerable girth, and in the position we desired^ v/as
close at hand. AVe retreated behind it. As the lion
turned his head and we thought might be looking for
us, w^e both fired. To our great delight we rolled him
over where he stood.
"Bravo ! Weil done!" cried my uncle, descending
the tree. *^ We'll now go after my elephant."
Leading the way, without exchanging further wordSj
he dashed out of the forest.
"/•'/
■>. J'i Hi
'^i ;i
CHAPTER IX.
On getting out from among the trees we cauglit
sight of an elephant going along at full swing across
the plain. There seemed but little chance of our
overtaking him, but my uncle urged us to persevere,
for by the large blotches and splashes of blood which
we met with, it was evident that he was wounded. It
was pretty hot work, as we were loaded with our ammu-
nition and our rifles, but we w^ere encouraged to pro-
ceed by "finding that the elephant was slackening his
pace.
"We shall catch him before long!" exclaimed my
uncle. "On, on. If that lion hadn't interfered, I
should have shot him at once ; but the brute's lair
must have been close to where I stood, and I ran a
fearful chance of being seized by him.''
AVe did not see w'hat had become of the other
elephants, and we concluded that either Mr. Welbourn
had disposed of them, or that they had run into the
forer:t to conceal themselves. However, we soon saw
that the attempt to overtake the elephant on foot was
useless. We therefore made a short cut back to where
we had left our horses. Each of us mounting one.
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA, 169
guided by the spoor, we immediately made chase. It
was far more satisfactory to be on horseback than on
foot. Following the .spoor, w^e quickly again came in
sight of the elephant, which was moving slowly on.
Seeing us, he lifted up his trunk and, trumpeting
loudly, seemed about to charge.
My uncle, notwithstanding, rode forward and fired.
The ball struck, when immediately, turning the horse's
head, he galloped off, taking the way towards the
camp. He had not gone far, however, before the
elephant stopped, and Harry and I coming up, both
fired, when down it came to the ground, and was
dead before my uncle reached it.
"A good day's sport, my lads," he exclaimed in
high glee. " We shall soon have the waggons loaded
if we go on in this way. Fred, you go to the camp
to bring up the oxen to load with the tusks and meat,
while Harry and I will look after the other elephants
and the lion."
I had taken a good survey of the country, so that I
believed I could find my way, and without hesitation
set off. I had gone but a short distance when a troop
of giraffes hove in sight, and beautiful objects they
were, with their heads elevated on their long necks.
Influenced by the propensity of a hunter I dashed
forward in pursuit. Suddenly, my horse swerved on
one side, and I saw that he had narrowly escaped a
pitfall. Almost directly afterwards, two of the giraffes
sank into other pits, and on turning round I saw that
the animals were pursued by a party of natives, who
had them thus completely in their power.
On examining the pit into which I had ^o nearly
170 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
tumbled, I perceived that it was about twelve feet in
depth, with a bank of earth about seven feet hig"h
left in the centre, broad at the bottom, and narrowing
towards the top. The fore legs of the giraffe had
sunk into" one side of the hole, the hinder legs into
another, the body resting on the narrow bank, so
that the creature in spite of all its struggles could
not possibly extricate itself.
I left the natives to take possession, and rode on
endeavouring to avoid the pit-falls, of which I had
little doubt there w^ere many on my way. I had, of
course, to go much slower than I should otherwise
have done. Though two or three times I nearly got
caught, I safely reached the camp. Stopping merely
to take some refreshment, I again set off with the
oxen, to bring in the produce of our chase. We
found that it was necessary to be quick about it, lest
the natives should find that we had killed the ele-
phants and appropriate the tusks. They, however,
had hitherto been so busily employed in chasing the
giraffes that they had not discovered the elephants.
We took possession of the tusks, and as much of the
meat as our party could consume.
Mr. AVelbourn had been almost as successful,
having killed two fine elephants and a couple of
deer. Next day we continued our journey northward.
In passing over the plain, w^hile Harry and I were
riding on ahead, w^e caught sight of an animal occa*
sionally rising out of tlie ground and then disap-
pearing.
*'That must be a beast caught in a trap or pit-fall,"
said Harry ; *' let's go and see what it is.''
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA
171
i ^
•^
H
O
O
o
H
u?
Q
•>
s
H
>
H
U
H
{/I
O
<
172 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
On reaching the spot we found that he was right in
his conjectures. He told me that the animal was a
quagga, which somewhat resembles a well-shaped
ass. In vain the quagga tried to get out by the
most desperate efforts. Sometimes its fore feet
almost touched the top of the bank, but again and
again it fell back.
" I should like to take possession of the animal/*
said Harry, "it doesn't appear to be at all injured,
and if we could manage to break it in, it would make
a capital riding horse. If you'll watch the pit, I'll go
and get some of the men to come with ropes."
To this I agreed, and he soon returned with Toko
and two other men, bringing not only ropes, but a
large sack and a saddle.
"What are you going to do with those things?"
I asked.
"You shall see," he replied. "It was Toko's
idea."
The quagga looked very much astonished at seeing
itself surrounded by human beings, and as before, it
endeavoured to escape from the pit.
As it did so, Toko, who had fastened the sack to a
loop at the end of a long stick, drew it over the
quagga's head, so as to prevent its biting, which it
would have done had it been able to see.
A halter was fixed round its mouth, and ropes were
passed under its body, by which it was drawn out.
As soon as it found itself on firm ground, it began to
throw its legs out in all directions, but Toko held it
fast by the halter. At last, wearied by its exertions,
it stood perfectly still. The moment it did so, Toko
ADVENTURES IN A ERICA. 173
made a sign to his followers, vv'ho clapped a saddle on
its back, and drew tight the girths.
" Capital ! " cried Harry. **I have got a first-rate
steed at small cost, and I'll soon show you wdiat it
can do/'
Before I could dissuade him from making the
attempt^ he, w^ith his usual impetuosity, leapt on the'
quagga's back, and, seizing the bridle, told Toko to
let go.
What Harry might have expected' occurred. Off
started the quagga, full gallop, towards the herd from
which it had been separated by falling into the pit.
I feared from the vicious nature of the animals, that,
seeing some strange being on the back of their
companion, they would kick it and its rider to
death. In vain I shouted to Harry to stop his steed
and come back : that was more than he could do.
So telling Toko to mount his horse, I set off in
pursuit.
The moment the herd of quaggas saw us coming,
away they galloped at a furious rate. There were not
many streams, but over the rocky beds of water-
courses, through dense thickets, up hills, down
valleys, on they went.
Our horses began to show signs of fatigue, and I
was afraid Harry would be carried away into the
wilderness. To attempt to throw himself off would
have been madness, and yet while the quaggas were
running, there was little chance that their companion
would stop.
We had ridden so far that I knew our friends w^ould
be anxious about us, for they had not seen us disap-
174 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
pear, and no one in the camp would know what had
become of us.
To abandon Harry was not to be thought of, and
we therefore pushed forward in the hopes of at length
coming up with him and stopping his wild steed.
The difficult}^ was solved in an unexpected way. Sud-
denly in front of the herd of quaggas appeared a large
party of people armed with spears and darts. Utter-
ing loud shouts, the blacks began to send their mis-
siles among the herd. The quaggas were thrown
into the greatest confusion, some going on one side,
some on the other, others turning in the direction
from which we had come. At length the shouts and
cries around it brought Harry's quagga to a stand-
still, and enabled us to get alongside. I advised him
to dismount.
"No, no!" he answered. **I have got my steed
and intend to him, and if you ride near he'll go well
enough."
Harry was right. The brute, pretty w^ell tired out,
went v/ith perfect quietness, and submitted to be
tethered with a strong rojoe and hobbles round its
legs, so that there was no chance of its breaking
away.
" I'll tame him ! " cried Harry. " Tell them. Toko,
no one must on anv account bring him food — I alone
will give it him.
By this time the natives, who had killed half-a-
dozen quaggas, had come close to us. We considered
that it w^ould be prudent, if not an act of politeness,
to thank them for stopping the quagga; and Toko,
who was our spokesman, so explained matters, that
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ADVENTURES IN AFRIC/L tJ7
the hunters expressed their happiness in seeing us,
and invited us to their village.
We should have excused ourselves, on the plea of
having at once to return to camp ; but, as the day
was already drawing to a close, and even Toko de-
clared that during the darkness he should be unable
to find his way back, we accepted the invitation, and
set off with our new friends, who were in high spirits
at the thoughts of the quagga flesh they were about
to enjoy.
Their huts were larger and cleaner than any we
had yet seen ; and we found that, although the people
were hunters, they were also agriculturists, and pos-
sessed pretty extensive plantations at the back of the
village.
The women were immediately set to work to pre-
pare the feast ; and in a short time the whole popu-
lation was banqueting. We, of course, soon knocked
off, and begged permission to rest in one of the huts.
We had scarcely however gone to sleep, than we were
aroused by a tremendous hubbub ; and, rushing out,
we found all the women on foot, engaged in seizing
their children, whom they had hauled out of their
beds, or rather up from the mats on which they lay,
and were belabouring them unmercifully with rods.
On enquiring the cause from Toko, he told us that
news had been brought that an immense herd of
elephants was approaching the plantations. The
object of beating the children was to frighten away
the animals. This was, for one cause, good news for
us, as we hoped to obtain full cargoes for our waggons.
We at once offered to go out and shoot the elephants ;
178 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
if the natives would guide us to the trees in which we
could take up our posts for the purpose.
We soon found plenty of volunteers, and, guided
by them, we each reached a tree in the neighbour-
hood of the plantations, near which they assured us
the elephants were sure to pass. We gladdened their
hearts by telling them that they should have the
meat, provided we retained the tusks for our share.
The noise, hoAvever, continued ; the women shrieking,
and flourishing their rods, the children howling, dogs
barking, and the men shouting at the tops of their
voices and waving fire-brands. Our fear was that
the elephants would be frightened, and turn back;
but scarcely had we climbed up the trees, each of us
accompanied by several natives, than we caught
sight, through the gloom, of the dusky forms o±
an immense herd of elephants emerging from the
thicker *part of the forest. We at once, taking
aim at the leaders, fired, hoping to kill some and
turn back the rest. Two fell, and the herd halted,
apparently too much astonished to tell what had
happened.
This gave us time to reload, when again the anima'is
came on, passing by the fallen bodies of their com-
panions. Taking steady aim we again all fired ; and,
beyond our most sanguine expectations, three more
elephants sank to the ground, each shot through the
head. AVhether or not the shrieks in front distracted
their attention and made them regardless of the
sound of our shots, I cannot say; but the animals
scarcely stopped for a moment, though some of them
trumpeted notes of alarm, and advanced with appa-
ADVENTURES IN A ERICA,
179
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rent caution. The rest stopped lazily, Avaving- about
their huge trunks.
I was very thankful that Ave were high enough up
the trees to be out of their reacli. Though several
passed us before we had reloaded, others followed,
and three more bit the dust. Neither did this stop
the onward course of the elephants ; for, breaking
down the fences which enclosed the plantations, they
swept across, seizing the fruit with their trunks, and
transferring it to their mouths.
Again and again we fired together. The cries of
the inhabitants did not stop their advance, though it
tended to turn them on one side, where, meeting with
several huts, they trampled them down as if they had
been built of cards. Had it not been for the exertions
of the people, the whole village would have been
destroyed; which Toko assured us, had frequently in
other instances been the cas^.
As soon as the elephants had passed, we descended,
and as they showed no inclination to turn back,
we pursued them, firing as we could make certain
shots, thus killing I am afra:d to say how many more,
lest my account might not be credited.
The remainder of the herd then swept on, though
we would not give up the chase until we had expended
nearly all the ammunition we had w4th us. At length
we returned to the village, where we found the people
taking the loss of their crops very philosophically, as
they considered that the abundance of elephant meat
would make them ample amends.
" I hope the poor people will not get a surfeit,"
remarked Harry. ^'I suspect in a few days they'll
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. i8l
wish the carcases at Jericho, or at all events, at a
distance from their villacre. Our horses and the
quag"ga would have fared ill, had the elephants come
across them/'
After a few hours' rest, we bade our friends good-
bye, and mounted our steeds, promising to return for
the tusks, which Ave reminded them were ours.
Harry wisely kept a sack over his animal's neck,
and Toko and I rode on either side to guide it. The
creature went wonderfully well, and sooner than we
had expected we came upon the waggons. The news
we brought was highly satisfactory, and without a
moment's delay the oxens' heads were turned in the
direction of the village.
The people received us as old friends, and to en-
courage them to help us we promised them a reward
for each of the tusks they brought in. They had
already begun to butcher the elephants which had
fallen in their plantations, and in every direction
round the huts strips of flesh were hung up to dr}^,
creating an odour far from pleasant. They lost no time
in bringing in the tusks. Harry and I were highly
complimented on our performance. The tusks being
cleaned and stowed aw^iy, our w^aggons were nearlv
full : another day's successful hunting would enable
us to turn our faces westward. We accordingly
promised to reward our hosts if they would bring us
information as to the direction the herd had taken.
Harry and I had been congratulating ourselves on
the prospect of a quiet night's rest in our tent between
the waggons ; but we had not been long asleep when
we were aroused by a tremendous clap of thunder
1 83 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
which seemed to break directly over our heads, while
almost immediately afterwards, there came a most
fearful shrieking and shouting' from the village close
J
to which we were encamped. Slipping on our coats^
we hurried out. As we did so a curious sight met
our gaze. The whole of the miale population were
on foot, armed with bows, and arrows ; and as the
lightning darted from the black clouds we saw them
shooting away at them as fast as they could place
their arrows to the string.
As may be supposed, we kept carefully behind the
savages lest we might be struck by the arrows,
which we had heard were poisoned. The thunder
rattled and roared, the lightning flashed, and the
men shrieked and howled. I asked Toko what it
all meant.
"They're shooting at the storm-clouds to drive
them away," he answered.
** Do you think it will produce that effect r " I
asked.
*'Who knows?" he replied. ''They fancy so, and
are therefore right to try and get rid of the storm,
and drive away Vv'hat they believe would do them
harm."
I told Toko that the powerful Being who rules the
heavens would not be influenced by such folly, though
iio would be ready to hear the prayers of the smallest
child. He seemed to take the matter far more lightly
than I should have expected.
*' They are poor ignorant savages," he remarked,
*' who have not the adv^^^tage of living with white
men."
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA,
183
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i84 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
The storm swept by, and the poor people were
satisfied that their shooting had driven it away.
Ne3 1 morning, inspanning at an early hour, we
proceeded in the direction we concluded the elephants
had taken.
While camping at noon, some of the natives who
had gone on ahead as scouts, brought us the satis-
factory intelligence that the herd were feeding in a
wood about eight miles off; and that as a stream ran
by, they were certain to go down to drink in the
evening ; when, if we took proper measures, we
should be able to kill as many more as we Avanted.
We lost no time, therefore, in proceeding onward,
and as the ground was pretty level we made good
progress.
We camped at a part of the stream where we could
draw water ; and where, from the rocky character of
the bank, the elephants were not likely to come down
and drink. On one side it was a swamp, between
which and our camp we could leave our horses at
liberty to feed, one or two men only being required to
w^atch them. As soon as these arrangements were
made, we set off to search for the spoor of the ele-
phants, so that we might place ourselves in ambush
on one side, as w^e had before done, to shoot them as
they approached or returned from the water.
As we made our onward way, we caught sight of
numerous elephants feeding at their ease in various
directions. If they were part of the herd which we
had lately attacked, they had soon recovered from
their alarm. We took up our posts in satisfactory
positions, hoping that, before the night was over, we
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
155
4»
A COUPLE OF HUGE RIIJNOCEUQSES."
[/- iS7.
rS6 ADVENTURES IN AER/C..4,
should have bagged the full complement of tusks we
required.
I do not suppose the detailed account of our various
proceedings would prove interesting. Suffice it to say,
we were not disappointed. Harry, I, and Toko shot
one elephant apiece, and my uncle and Mr. Welbourn
each shot three, they using explosive bullets, which
never fail to kill the animals they wound.
At length, frightened by the destruction of their
companions, the remainder of the herd retreated, and
we, leaving the bodies until next mormngy returned to
our tent.
As Harry and I were pretty well knocked up with
our exertions of the previous day, we remained en-
camped while natives were employed in bringing in
the tusks.
After breakfast we strolled out with our guns, hoping
to get some wild fowl in the marsh, for we were some-
what tired of feeding on elephant's flesh.
We had killed se\'eral birds, and on our way back
we stopped to look at the horses and quagga,
which were feeding in perfect harmony. The latter
having a bandage round its eyes, and it being
hobbled, Harry went up to it, and spoke gently in
its ear.
"Take care \" I exclaimed, f^ he'll give you an ugly
bite."
As I spoke the quagga turned his head and very
nearly caught him by the arm.
It was a lesson to Harry not to pet his favourite in
future, and I advised that he should muzzle it until
its temper should become softened.
ADVENTURES IN AFRICA. 187
We were standing talking, when suddenly the horses
began to prance and kick up their heels.
*' Hallo ! what are those ?" exclaimed Harry, turning
round.
We then saw, emerging from the marsh, where they
had been wallowing, a couple of huge rhinoceroses,
who seemed to look upon the horses and us as intruders
they had a right to drive off their domains.
It was not without some difficulty that we got out
of their way. Clumsy as the animal looks, and short
as are its legs, it can move with wonderful rapidity
over the hard ground.
As our guns were only loaded with small shot, it
would have been useless to fire at them. The horses
could take pretty good care of themselves, though
they exhibited their fear of the savage-looking crea-
tures by scampering off in all directions.
Meantime, having withdrawn our small shot, we
were ramming down bullets as fast as we could.
Although the horses could escape, the poor quagga,
with its legs hobbled and its eyes covered, had but a
poor chance. The leading rhinoceros had singled it
out as the object of attack ; and, before Harry and I
could fire, rushing furiously forward, it pierced the
poor animal through with its formidable horns, pinning
it to the earth. When too late to save the quagga,
we both pulled our triggers, when the animal, still
dragging the body of its victim on, rushed forward
several paces before it dropped.
We, of course, reloaded, but before we could fire,
the other rhinoceros might be in the midst of the
camp and commit all sorts of damage. Fortunately,
1 88 ADVENTURES IN AFRICA.
at that moment, Toko, who hq.d. just arrived with a
party of men cai*rying the tusks, his rifle being" loaded
with ball, with a well-directed shot prevented the
catastrophe we feared by killings the rhinoceros just
before it reached the waggons.
We had an evening of rejoicing, for by the addition
of our rhinoceros horns, our waggons were piled up to
the very top; and my uncle expressed some ap-
prehension that the axles might break down with the
weight of the unusual load before we arrived at the
coast.
We lost not a day in proceeding thither. On reach-
ing Waliish Bay, we safely embarked the valuable
produce w^e had collected.
So ended the first series of my adventures in Africa.
I have, however, since made several other expeditions
to various parts of that hitherto little-known continent,
of which I may some day give an account to the
world.
THE END>
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