The Vee-Boers: A Tale of Adventure in Southern Africa

by Mayne Reid

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

  A RIVER RUN OUT.

  The stream on which the Vee-Boers had embarked was unknown to all ofthem. Even their guide was unacquainted with it, though he had onceaccompanied a party of English hunters to a point farther north thanwhere they now where. By its general direction it should run into theLimpopo, which river they had crossed some days before, on their treknorthward. But where it joined the latter, and how far below, as alsothe character of the stream itself, were questions undetermined.

  Nor knew they much more of the Limpopo. Van Dorn had been on it fartherdown, at the place where Smutz and the hunting party passed over; butneither he nor the Hottentot had followed its course for any greatdistance. They were acquainted with but ten or fifteen miles of itscourse, beyond which all was _terra incognita_ to them, or, as the baasin his Dutch vernacular expressed it, "verder onbekend."

  Thus they had entered on a voyage, whose termination hinged on manyuncertainties, and might be prolonged by many delays, to say nought ofthe dangers.

  For the first day, however, all went well. The buoyant koker-boomsacted admirably, keeping the decks, with all lading on them, high anddry. The current, too, while smooth, was sufficiently rapid to givethem good way, without requiring the use of either pole or paddle. Allthat needed doing was to keep in mid-stream, on account of itsnarrowness, and that was of easy accomplishment with the powerful sternoars working on their pivots. Large as were the rafts, and heavilyladen, so light were their timbers, that when swirl or side currentthreatened to bring them against the bank, the weakest man on boardmight be safely entrusted with the steering. Craft of no kind couldhave been more obedient to the rudder, a matter of much pride and boastto the Macobas, who had the credit of their construction.

  But, indeed, all the people were in the most exuberant of spirits.Moving on without any physical exertion--a smooth gliding motion, as onskates or in a sleigh--was of itself a pleasure, which the continuouschanging of the scenery, with many sights new to them, intensified tovery delight. It was as though they were out on a holiday excursion, oryachting trip, and for the time they thought not of dangers that mightbe before them, while alike oblivious of the perils they had late passedthrough.

  The enjoyment was general throughout all the day; the water-cavalryskirmishing around with much shouting and laughter. There was racingalso, with bets made by the young Boers, each laying on his favourite.

  In these aquatic contests the Caffres were mostly victorious, thoughSmutz ably upheld the honour of the Hottentot race. The Macobas took nopart in them, being on board the rafts, and occupied with theirnavigation.

  As evening approached the "horse play" came to an end, for now there waswork to be done: the rafts to be brought up to the bank, and made fastto moorings. To keep drifting on in the dark would be madness itself,as who could tell what was below? There might be rapids, or worsedanger still--a waterfall. Jan Van Dorn was too cautious to run anysuch risk; so, as the twilight began to fling its purple mantle overstream and bordering woodlands, he called out the command to draw in,pointing to the spot that appeared best for a landing-place. This wasin a bend where the current was sluggish, and the banks of slightelevation; for to beach such unwieldy craft in a swift-running stream isnot only a difficulty but a danger. In the present case it wasaccomplished without accident; and the three soon lay alongside thebank, each cabled to a tree, with a gangway plank run out, over whichall swarmed ashore, women, children, and men. Water-travelling was anovelty to them; and, though not yet irksome, the return to land waswelcome by way of relaxation.

  Supper was eaten on shore, though not there cooked, as the culinaryarrangement on the rafts was of a superior order, better than anyimprovised affair of the gipsy kind. But what mattered it where therepast was prepared, so long as it was enjoyable, and enjoyed? which itwas by our voyagers, one and all of them. For one and all were nowhungry, having that day eaten the morgen-maal at a much earlier hourthan usual. It was the last cooked in the ant-hill kitchen-range; sincewhen long time had passed, and with the fresh, breezy air of the rivertheir appetites were sharpened to keenness.

  Soon as the meal was over all retired to rest, some on board, otherspreferring to seek repose on shore, under the trees. It was warm enoughanywhere, and more than enough, the heat not only being a discomfort ofitself, but subjecting them to torture from mosquitoes.

  These troublesome insects were in swarms--myriads--and made it all but asleepless night to many. Even the Caffres, notwithstanding theirgreased and ochre-coated skins, suffered the same, every now and thenone or other taking a plunge into the river by way of soothing theirritation.

  Joyously all hailed the return of daylight, which chased the persecutorsaway. And they were merry again over the morgen-maal, which they atebefore leaving the landing-place. Nor was their hilarity less, afterthey had parted from moorings, and were once more in mid-stream, movingonwards. The delight of yesterday's downward glide, with its manypleasant incidents, led them to anticipate the same all along.

  A disappointment it proved, as with most other matters of too sanguineexpectation. For a few miles farther the current carried them smoothlyas on the day before, and they made good way. But then things began tochange, the stream becoming wider with a slower flow. This, they couldsee, was constantly decreasing, and at length ended in completestagnation, as though the water were dammed up below.

  Now, for the first time, had they to take to oars and poling, the polesserving best in such shallow water. For they found it to be less than afathom's depth, and still getting shallower as they pushed onward. Butthey had not much farther onward to go, nor could they. Another mile orso and the rafts, all three, became grounded. Just what Jan Van Dornhad been for some time apprehending--_the river was run out_!