The War of the Axe; Or, Adventures in South Africa

by J. Percy Groves

hiswish to purchase some horses.

  "You could not have come to me at a better time, Mat," was the captain'sreply. "I have now nearly seventy young uns--two, three, and four-yearolds--and about half as many aged horses in the paddocks and stables;and early next month I expect a drove of brood mares and colts fromCampbell's Doorp. You can take your pick of those that are here or waitfor the others."

  Major Flinders replied, that as he could not remain at Ralfontein morethan a week he must choose from the horses then on the farm; so the nextthree days were spent in examining and trying several "young uns," ofwhich the Major ultimately purchased fifteen, making up the score witholder horses.

  Tom and his crony George Weston had hoped to see some big shootingduring their stay at the Jamiesons'; but in this they were disappointed,as, it being a busy season at the farm, their young hosts had noopportunity of going out with them; however, like sensible lads, theycontented themselves with roaming about the estate shooting hares andguinea-fowl, and assisting in the selection and trial of the horses;thus they found the time pass very quickly and the last day of theirvisit to the farm came round all too soon...

  "Well, my lads what think you of Ralfontein?" asked their hospitablehost as they sat round the supper-table the evening before theirdeparture.

  "It is the prettiest and jolliest place I ever stayed at," cried George,with unmistakable earnestness; "that is to say, except--except_Rustenburg_," he added, with some confusion.

  "I only wish the pater would give up Rustenburg, and settle here!"exclaimed Tom. "How jolly we should all be together, and what sportwe'd have!"

  "That is exactly what our friend wishes me to do, Tom," laughed theMajor; "but I didn't think he would have found a supporter in you!"

  "Yes, that is true," said their host. "I tell your father that he couldsell Rustenburg for a large sum now, and once up here he would make noend of money. You and Weston must really think it over, Mat."

  "And then you know, father," put in Tom, "when you had made yourfortune, you might return to England, and buy back Flinders Court."

  "That's your ambition, is it!" the captain said. "You want to become aMarlshire squire! But you must see a little more of your native landfirst, Tom; and I should say that a couple of years' service in the`C.M.R.' would be the best way of seeing it. Mat, my friend, let ushave a glass together and drink to the welfare of the old corps?"

  "With all my heart, Donald! you and I have both served in otherregiments, but I am sure our happiest days were spent with the `GreenJackets.'"

  "Do you think you will come up here, father?" inquired Tom as soon asthe old comrades had drunk their toast--with "all the honours," as oldcomrades should do.

  "We must see what your mother says, Tom; such a `migration' is not to bethought lightly of," the Major replied. "In the meantime it may satisfyyou to know that our good friend has invited us to spend a month withhim next year, just to see how we like it. And now, as we have to be inthe saddle by cock-crow, I think you youngsters had best turn in."

  CHAPTER TEN.

  FAREWELL TO RALFONTEIN.

  "Good-bye, and a pleasant journey to you," said Captain Jamieson, who,with his sons and daughters, had turned out at daybreak to see the lastof his departing guests. "Follow the route that I have mapped out, andI stake my reputation that you will find it comparatively easytravelling."

  "Shall we come across plenty of game, Captain Jamieson?" was Tom's eagerquestion, as he took leave of his host. "I am very anxious to try thisrifle."

  "But you had a famous chance coming up here, Tom," laughed FrankJamieson. "There's no doubt that one or two of the blacks, who attackedyou, fell before your aim."

  "That's all very well, Frank," retorted Tom, "but niggers aren't _game_,you know. I want to try my hand at a tiger or buck. I should very muchlike to send my old form-master a handsome `kaross,' made up of skins ofmy own shooting."

  "Well, my boy," said Captain Jamieson, "if you knock over one-thousandthpart of the game you see 'twixt this and Rondebosch, you'll be able topresent karosses to every master at Rugby, and feather-cloaks to theirwives and daughters; ay, and clothe the elevens with tiger-skins intothe bargain. Once more, good-bye! Hope to see you all again nextyear."

  "Good-bye! good-bye!" echoed his stalwart sons.

  "Adieu! adieu! take care of yourselves," chorused the young ladies. Andamidst the waving of white handkerchiefs and regretful farewells thelittle cavalcade moved off.

  Our friends had spent a very pleasant week at Ralfontein, and now theywere starting on their return journey, with the twenty horses which theyhad purchased from Captain Jamieson. Several of their purchases werealready broken to the saddle, and had also been trained to behavesteadily under fire; four of these horses the Major and Mr Westondecided to retain for their own stable, to be ridden by themselves andthe boys. Tom's "mount" was a useful red "skimmel" (roan) standing justunder fifteen hands; a well-looking animal enough, with good shoulders,and clean, well-shaped legs, but--like most Cape horses--inclined to be"goose-rumped." George rode at least twelve pounds lighter than did hisfriend, so Mr Weston picked him out a smaller horse--a nice-lookingquiet little grey.

  Patrick Keown, who was an excellent rough-rider, chose a wildhalf-broken bay.

  "I loike to combine business wid plisure," quoth he, when he gave histroublesome nag the first bucketting. "Shure, I'll `take the gayimpidince out of his tail,' afore he's much oulder!"

  Black William was mounted on an ugly raw-boned animal that matched himin colour.

  The route which Captain Jamieson had advised the Major to follow layacross the Middel Roggeveldt, then over the Groote Karoo, striking intothe Beaufort-Worcester track near to Kudos Kop. From thence the roadfollowed the course of the Gamska River for some miles, passed close tothe base of the western extremity of the Black Mountains, and so throughthe Worcester and Stellenbosch districts to Cape Town, the actualdistance which the travellers would have to cover being between 300 and400 miles.

  The Middel Roggeveldt was traversed without adventure; they saw plentyof game, and Tom and George proved themselves no mean shots with gun andrifle; but, as the former truly observed, nothing happened to crow orfuss about.

  The first difficulty the party met with occurred after they crossed theNewied Bergen. A small river flows at the foot of this range ofmountains, the road from the north-east crossing it at a place calledHottentot's Drift. On arriving at the drift, Major Flinders found that,instead of a shallow river, a hundred and fifty yards wide at the most,he would have to cross a small inundated plain; for the river hadoverflowed its banks, and laid all the low land at the foot of theNewied Bergen, under water.

  It was rather awkward work getting the horses over. Some of them didnot like it at all, and plunged and snorted with terror; others did notseem to mind the water, but then they must needs try to roll. However,after some trouble they were all got across; and as it was then gettinglate, the major ordered a "halt," and bivouacked for the night on thebanks of the river.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN.

  HOW TOM AND HIS FRIEND WENT A-HUNTING; AND WHAT BEFELL THEM.

  Early next morning the march was resumed across the Groote Karoo--a vastundulating plain clothed with long waving grass, and studded withacacias, mimosa bushes, and camel-thorn--and towards noon on thesucceeding day the travellers came in sight of the Black Mountains. Thecountry through which they had now to pass was still open, but theslopes of the neighbouring hills were thickly wooded; here game of alldescriptions was abundant, and the spoor of deer and other animals wasfrequently to be seen.

  "Look, father!" cried George Weston, as they were traversing at afoot-pace a fine savannah. "Look, Major Flinders, is not that a herd ofdeer feeding over yonder?"

  The Major drew rein, and unstrapping his field-glass looked in thedirection indicated by his young friend.

  "You're right, George!" he presently exclaimed; "they're hartebeest. Isay, Maurice, suppose we send the youngsters after them on their ownacco
unt? They are quite old enough to go without `leading reins.'"

  "Oh, do, father!" cried George eagerly.

  "I'm sure you may trust us," put in Tom.

  "I am quite willing, Mat," replied Mr Weston, smiling at the boys'eagerness. "After all, there's nothing like letting lads shift forthemselves to make them self-reliant. Let them go, by all means, sayI." Whereupon Master Tom gave vent to an ear-splitting "who-o-o-p," forwhich display of excitement he was called to order by the pater.

  "Gently! gently, my boy," said the Major, raising