Hair-Breadth Escapes: The Adventures of Three Boys in South Africa

by H. C. Adams

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

  STRANGE COMPANY--CAPTURED AGAIN--THE KAFFIR VILLAGE--CHUMA OBDURATE--LAVIE'S MISSION--THE WIZARD--A BOND OF FELLOWSHIP.

  It was a long and terrible night. The heaven was covered with vastmasses of inky clouds, which the gale drove rapidly before it; andoccasionally there were sharp bursts of rain, from which even the densefoliage of the tree in which they were lodged but imperfectly screenedthem. The howling of the wind round them, and the roaring of thetorrent below, rendered all attempts to converse with one anotherimpossible. They could only cling to their place of refuge, and countthe weary minutes as they passed, gazing anxiously on the eastern sky inthe hope of seeing there the first faint streaks of dawn.

  A little after midnight the fury of the elements seemed to have reachedits height, and now a new danger threatened them. The huge tree rockedto and fro under the gusts of wind, as though it had been a bulrush, andevery now and then a loud crack from below, intimated that one of thestrong roots had yielded to its violence. At length, after one blast,more fierce than any which had preceded it, the last fibre gave way. DeWalden felt the great trunk bend slowly forward, and settle down in thewater; and almost immediately afterwards it was carried down thecurrent, whirling and crashing against other trees as it went, with aforce which nearly shook its occupants from their hold. Fortunatelythey had taken their stations on a branch which still remained above thewater when the tree was uprooted; but it was nevertheless only by themost desperate exertion of the little strength which still remained tothem, that they could save themselves from dropping, exhausted andbenumbed, into the watery abyss beneath.

  At length the dawn began to glimmer, and showed that the tree, which hadbecome entangled with a number of others, had reached a point in theriver where it could proceed no further. The vast floating _debris_ hadlodged against lofty rocks, which projected some distance into thestream, and thus an insuperable obstacle was offered to its fartherprogress. As the light grew stronger, it revealed a spectacle soextraordinary, and at the same time so frightful, that De Walden, withall his long and varied experience, could not recall the like of it.Numberless animals had taken refuge, as he and his party had done, inthe boughs of trees, or had been carried against them by the torrent.The confused mass of trunks and branches was now crowded with the moststrangely assorted occupants that had ever been brought together sincethe day of the great deluge; their natural instincts being, for thetime, completely overpowered by terror. The lion and the eland crouchedclose beside one another; the steinbok and the ocelot clung to the samelimb; the hyena and the sheep, the tiger and zebra, jostled each other,all alike apparently unaware of the presence of their neighbours. Moredeadly enemies still were close at hand unheeded. Huge pythons, puffadders, cobras, ondaras, black snakes, were twisted round everyprojecting bough, darting their heads to and fro, and protruding theirtongues in the extremity of alarm. Even the huge bulk of the rhinocerosmight be discerned here and there, lodged on the bole of some giantacacia or baobab; while above, the smaller boughs were tenanted bymultitudes of monkeys, for once omitting their customary scream andchatter in the presence of mortal peril.

  De Walden perceived that it would be possible for the party now to maketheir way from tree to tree, until the right hand bank should bereached. That to the left, which was the one along which their journeynow lay, being cut off from them by impassable obstacles. But they mustget on shore first, and again attempt the passage of the riverafterwards. He shouted to the others, and at length succeeded inrousing them from the torpor, which for some time had been creeping overthem. Guided by him, they crawled stiffly and wearily from theirresting-places, along one trunk after another, often almost pushingaside beasts of prey, which it would have been death to approach atother times, but which now shrank away from them in deadly fear--untilat last the river's bank was attained. Here they struggled on for ashort distance, through the dense underwood of thorn and reed, untilthey had reached a patch of long grass; when all, with one consent as itwere, threw themselves on the soft couch, and were soon locked in theprofoundest sleep.

  How long they might have slept it is impossible to say. They wereawakened about the middle of the day by finding themselves in the handsof a number of black men, who had already despoiled them of theiraccoutrements, and were engaged in tying their arms behind their backswith rheims of rhinoceros hide. They sat up and stared about them,hardly realising at first what had happened.

  "Hallo, blacky," exclaimed Nick, when he had at length taken in thesituation, "what may you happen to be about? Do you know, these legsand arms, that you are handling after that free-and-easy fashion, belongto me? Why, I declare," he continued, as he caught a clearer view ofthe man who was employed in tying him, "I declare that is one of thefellows whom you let off one fine morning about three weeks ago, Mr DeWalden! One blacky is generally as like another as an egg is to an egg,but I think I could swear to that fellow's nose and eyebrows. Ain't Iright, sir?"

  "Quite right, I am sorry to say, Nick," replied De Walden. "I am morevexed than surprised at this. I knew these fellows would not return toChuma without us if they could help it, and half feared they might befollowing us. But if we had got safe across the Gariep, they would havecome no further. It can't be helped, Lavie," addressing the surgeon,who seemed inclined to remonstrate. "I would ask them to let you go,and take me only with them, and it is possible, though not likely, thatthey would consent But they would certainly seize your guns andammunition, and without these, and without a guide, you would hardlyreach Cape Town. No, we must go to Chuma's kraal now, and try what maybe done with him. I don't think he will venture to hurt us--anyhow, hewon't hurt you. There is the annoyance of the detention, but that willbe all."

  "I have no doubt you are right," said Lavie. "They have taken us bysurprise; and without arms we could do nothing against their superiornumbers. The less we say or do the better, until we reach theirvillage. Is it far off, do you suppose?"

  "I can't quite tell where we are. But I should think five or six days'journey. Well, since you agree with me in the matter, I will tell themwe are ready to start."

  The Kaffir, who seemed the chief of the party, received this intimationwith evident satisfaction. It was plain that, although he wasdetermined, if he could, to take the missionary with him, and consideredthat the presence of the rest of the party would be acceptable to thechief, he was more than half afraid of the Englishmen, and would havebeen very unwilling to employ force. He gave orders to his companionsto set out without loss of time, and in another quarter of an hour theywere on their way. Kamo, as the leader was called, walked first, andcarried De Walden's rifle, the prisoners, all five together, following,and the rest of the blacks, seven in number, occupying their flank andrear.

  De Walden's calculations proved to be very nearly correct. On theevening of the sixth day, the travellers could perceive from thedemeanour of their conductors, that they were approaching theirdestination. A halt was made about an hour before sunset, and two ofthe Kaffirs set forward, carrying the rifles and other articles takenfrom the English. In rather more than half an hour afterwards theyreturned, accompanied by a considerable number of their countrymen,carrying clubs, bows, and assegais, and evidently designed as a guard ofhonour. They formed themselves into a sort of procession, five Kaffirsin front with clubs and shields; then the whites in Indian file, withtwo blacks on either side of each one of them, and the remainder of thesavages bringing up the rear.

  In this order, about a quarter of an hour subsequently, they entered theKaffir kraal; which was in some respects very like, but in othersdifferent from, that of the Hottentots. The huts were not built in thesame regular order, as in the instance of the latter, and they wereentirely composed of wicker-work besmeared with clay. Small too as hadbeen the amount of cleanliness and order observable among theHottentots, there was even less here. On the other hand, there weretokens of superior civilisation to be discerned on every side. Therewere large fi
elds of Indian corn (or mealies as they were called), whichwere carefully fenced in, and now nearly ripe for harvest. There weregardens, too, in which pumpkins and sugar-canes grew. Before almostevery door stood wicker baskets, earthenware pans, and iron or copperbowls and pails--all evidently of domestic manufacture. One of thelargest huts seemed to be that of the village smith, and he and hisassistant were at work, engaged in hammering an axe head.

  The men were much darker, as well as of a taller and more powerfulbuild, than the Namaquas. The weather being warm, they wore scarcelyany clothing, and the stalwart muscular frames and well-formed featuresof many among them, might have served a sculptor as models of the LybianHercules. The women were not equal, either in symmetry of form orregularity of feature, to the males--the consequence, probably, of thesevere and incessant toil required of them. They wore, for the mostpart, a skin petticoat descending half-way down the thigh, to which incolder weather they added a mantle of hide, secured by a collar roundthe throat. It was growing dusk when the party entered the kraal; butthe chief, Chuma, came forth to greet De Walden, for whom it was plainthat he entertained a strange mixture of fear, admiration, and dislike.He began by reproaching the missionary for his thanklessness inrejecting his repeated invitations. Anxious as he was to bestow allmanner of honours and good gifts on the prophet of the white men, it wasungrateful of him to withhold his good offices in return. "See," hesaid, "the best house the kraal contains is yours, if you choose tooccupy it; or if that suits you not, we will build you a house afteryour own fancy. As many cows and sheep as you may desire, as manyfields of corn, as many fruit trees as you name, shall be given you. Wewill be your servants, and you may choose what wives you will. Theywill be sent to your house without payment. Only, in return, do notsuffer our cattle to die of murrain, or our crops wither up for lack ofrain. What injury have we done you, that you refuse us your aid in ournecessity?"

  "It is in vain that I tell you I cannot do what you ask of me," returnedDe Walden. "Again and again I have assured you, that I am as unable toprevent the visitations of disease and drought as you yourselves are.The God, of whom I have spoken to you, and about whom you will not hear,He, and He only, can accomplish the things you ask. If you wish toobtain the blessings of which you speak, bow down before Him, and askHim for them."

  "If I so bow down, will the prophet of the white men assure me, that Ishall receive what I entreat for?"

  "No," replied the missionary, "I can give you no such assurance. Godhears prayer always, and is well pleased with those who offer it with atrue heart; but He does not always grant what men ask for. It may notbe good for them to receive it."

  "What good, then, to pray, if there be no favourable answer?" rejoinedthe chief, a cloud gathering on his brow. "You ask me to commit folly.You trifle with me. You have brought down rain for others, and drivenaway the disease that slew the cattle for others. Look, you shall livehere in the village, and we will kill you, if you attempt to escape. Ifthe rain does not come in its season, you shall bring it. If the cattledie of pestilence you shall cause it to depart, or you shall yourselfsuffer pain and hunger and death. As for these others, are theyprophets and wizards too?"

  "They are simply English travellers, on their way to Cape Town," said DeWalden, "and their friends are persons of importance there. You haveheard of the English?"

  "The English," said Chuma. "Ah, the English. Yes, I have heard ofthem. They came over the great salt water, years ago, and fought withthe Dutch--did they not?"

  "They did. They fought with the Dutch and conquered them. You knowwell that the Dutch are dangerous enemies to meet in battle. None ofthe races whose skins are dark--the Bechuanas, the Basutos, the Zulus,the Namaquas--none of them can stand before the Dutch--"

  "They have the fire-tubes," interposed the chief angrily,--"thefire-tubes which strike men dead from a great distance like thelightning, and no one can avoid it. They wear iron coats, and caps,which turn aside the arrows and the assegais. They ride on horses too,which are taught to fight like themselves. It is not equal. Let themlay aside their coats and their tubes, and fight on foot like ourwarriors, with clubs and assegais, and see who will conquer then."

  "You know they are not likely to do that," returned the missionary; "butthat is nothing to the present matter. I wish to show you that if youcannot stand before the Dutch, much less would you be able to face theEnglish, who are braver warriors, and better acquainted with war, thaneven the Dutch."

  "Ah, but the English have gone away," rejoined Chuma. "You try todeceive me, but you cannot. The Dutch rule over the country again now.The White Queen, who is a great magician, sent messengers to the Englishchief not many months ago. But they came back and told her he was gone.I know that, for Kama was in the Basuto kraal when they returned, andheard their tale. She, I say, was a great magician, and they could nothave deceived her, even if they dared speak falsely."

  "They did not speak falsely," said De Walden. "The English went awaythree or four years ago, and have stayed in their own land until now.But not many weeks ago they came back over the salt water, and haveagain conquered the Dutch, and are masters of the land."

  "Ah, the English again masters! We will not quarrel with the English.We have seen them fight. But how do I know that they have come back?How do I know that these persons are English, or that they have greatfriends there?"

  "You have my word," returned the other.

  "Ah, but you deceive me in some matters, and may in others. I must haveproof of what you tell me before I let them go. But see here. Willthey give me their fire-tubes and their black powder as their ransom?Then they may depart."

  "They cannot do so," said the missionary. "If you deprive them of theirguide and their weapons, how can they find their way so many hundredmiles, and how provide themselves with food by the way? You must letthem take their guns; and, if you are resolved on compelling me toremain here, you must furnish them with a guide. By him they will sendyou back any ransom you may agree on."

  "And when they get near the dwelling of their friends, they will sendtheir guide away empty-handed, or it may be they will kill him, and Ishall hear no more of him or them either. It is not good. No, I willnot quarrel with the English. But they live far off. They will knownothing of these men where they are, or what may have become of them.If I keep them prisoners, or if I put them to death"--the eyes of thesavage emitted a fierce light as he spoke--"if I put them to death," herepeated slowly, "who will tell the English of it?"

  "It will certainly be discovered," said De Walden. "It is known thatthey have landed on the sea-coast at no great distance from here, andthat they are wandering about in these regions. One of them is the sonof a great sea warrior; the others are his friends and companions. Thegreat Chief of the English will send out soldiers to search for them.He will learn from many whither they have been taken; and if harm hasbeen done them, he will exact heavy punishment."

  Chuma shook his head, but he evidently was much moved by themissionary's words. He conferred apart with some of his counsellors,and an animated debate, to all appearance, ensued. At length he turnedaway from them, and again addressed De Walden.

  "See," he said, "this is the way of it. One of the whites, whomsoeverthey may choose, goes alone to the great village of the whites, and Kamagoes with him as guide; but the white man leaves the fire-tube herebehind him, which he will not need, for Kama finds food on the way. Theothers--they too stay behind here in the village till Kama returns, andtells me what he has seen and heard--does this please you?"

  "I will report to them what you have said," returned De Walden, "andbring you their answer."

  He stepped up to the place where the four travellers were restingthemselves on a heap of skins, and reported to them Chuma's proposal."On the whole," he added, "I should advise you to accept it. I know howsuspicious these Bechuanas are. Never practising anything like truthfuland fair dealing themselves, they are incapable of believing that anyone else c
an do so. If you refuse, your refusal will be imputed to somesinister designs which you are secretly cherishing; and Chuma is fullycapable of relieving himself from all immediate anxiety by putting thewhole party to death."

  "I quite see that," said Lavie. "The only alternative is attempting toescape, and the chances are greatly against our succeeding in that. Inany case," he mentally added, "such a step would bring ruin and death onyou. No," he resumed, "we must certainly close with Chuma's offer. Theonly question is, which of us is to be the one to go."

  "You must not choose me," said Gilbert. "I should only make a mess ofit."

  "I would go," said Frank, "but I do not think I am strong enough yet toattempt such a journey."

  "And I would rather not leave Mr De Walden," added Warley. "You hadbetter go yourself, Charles. You are in every way better fitted tomanage the business."

  "I should not object," said Lavie, "but I do not like to leave you inthe hands of these treacherous savages."

  "You leave us under Mr De Walden's care," rejoined Warley, "and I, forone, can fully trust to that."

  After some further discussion, it was so arranged. Chuma was informedthat his terms were accepted; and on the following day the doctor,having taken an affectionate farewell of his young companions, set outfor Cape Town with Kama and another Bechuana for his guides; while theothers prepared themselves to endure, as patiently as they could, thelong weeks of waiting which must inevitably ensue.

  "Are these Kaffirs utterly without the idea of God, as people say theyare?" asked Ernest one day of Mr De Walden, about a week after theirfriends, departure. "I was talking one day to a gentleman on board the_Hooghly_, who seemed to be well acquainted with them, and he declaredthat they had positively no religion at all. But another gentlemandiffered from him, and was going on, I believe, to produce some proofsto the contrary, but the conversation was broken off. I should like toknow what you would say on the subject."

  "They have no _religion_ in the proper sense of the word," answered theelder man. "No sense of connection, that is to say, with a Beinginfinitely powerful and good, who made and sustains them, and to whomthey are accountable. It is this that constitutes a religion, and ofthis they know nothing. But they are extremely _superstitious_. Theybelieve in the existence of Evil Spirits, who have alike the power andthe will to afflict and torment them. To these they attribute everydisaster or suffering which may befall them."

  "A creed of fear, in fact, without love," suggested Ernest.

  "Precisely. They have no idea of pleasing the Unseen Powers by duty andaffection, but are keenly alive to the necessity of propitiating them bycontinual sacrifices. They believe also, that it is possible to obtainfrom their Evil Spirits the power of benefiting or afflicting others;and those who are presumed to be in possession of these powers are heldin as great--practically in greater--reverence than the Spiritsthemselves."

  "These persons are, of course, impostors."

  "In the main, yes. But there are some who are half impostors and halffanatics--really thinking they possess some of the gifts attributed tothem, though how much, they themselves hardly know. This is the commoncase with false prophets. Their heaviest punishment ever is, that theypartially credit their own lie."

  "And this chief, Chuma, supposes you to be one of these prophets?"

  "He does, and nothing I can say will disabuse his mind of the idea. Itis not uncommon with these pretenders, to appear to deny the possessionof supernatural powers, until they have obtained their price from thechiefs! Chuma will not be persuaded that my disclaimers have no deepermeaning than this. And I have given up the point in despair."

  "Are there any of these pretended prophets among the tribe?"

  "There is one--a man named Maomo. He was once in great favour withChuma; but a long drought, some two years ago, which he failed torelieve, forfeited his prestige in the chief's eyes. He has beenlabouring for a long time past to regain his power; and he regards me, Iknow, with especial dislike, because he views me as the chief obstacleto the attainment of his wishes."

  "He is not likely, I suppose, to succeed in his design. The chief seemsto regard you with the deepest awe, if not affection."

  "Ernest," said the missionary, "that is all delusive. His awe of me isfounded on an unreal basis, which _will_ some day, and _may_ any day,crumble into nothing. And the moment Chuma ceases to fear me, his hatewill burst out in all its deadly fury. Maomo has already (as I knowquite well) so far worked upon the chief's prejudices, that he views meas an enemy, though one whom it is not safe to attack. He has persuadedhim that the Spirits are angry at my attempts to draw away his peoplefrom their ancient belief, and the consequence, he has assured him, willbe some heavy visitation of disease, or famine, or drought. Chuma has,in consequence, positively forbidden me to attempt to make any converts,or even offer prayers to our God, under penalty of his heaviestdispleasure. This very day he has told me so."

  "And you, sir?" asked Ernest, anxiously.

  "I, Ernest," answered the missionary, somewhat reproachfully, "I toldhim, of course, that I should obey God rather than him, and strive tobring any soul among his people to the knowledge of Christ. I left himsomewhat subdued, as determined language always subdues him; but themoment any trouble befalls him, I know well what what will follow."

  "Let me help you," said Ernest, deeply moved.

  "Give me some of your work to do. I will do it to the best of mypower."

  "Notwithstanding the consequences?" asked De Walden.

  "Notwithstanding the consequences," answered Warley resolutely. And thetwo shook hands with a warmth neither had before felt towards the other.