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

by J. Percy Groves

appointed time, attended by a large body of warriorsoutnumbering the lieutenant-governor's escort by ten to one.

  "That the treacherous scoundrels meant mischief I am certain, butCaptain S--who commanded the escort placed his men so judiciously thatthey made no attempt to attack us; and though the meeting was mostunsatisfactory, at any rate it broke up without a rumpus--which was morethan I expected. War, of course, is imminent; for it is absolutelynecessary that the government should bring the refractory chiefs toorder, otherwise our prestige will be seriously damaged throughout SouthAfrica."

  "I suppose we shall have it all our way, Captain Jamieson?" said TomFlinders, now a strapping young fellow of eighteen, with an incipientmoustache and whiskers. "These Gaika fellows won't make much of a standagainst our troops."

  "The Gaikas and their allies are brave men, Tom, and fight well," wasthe reply. "Indeed, my experience of Cape warfare is that at first theCaffres have it all their own way, though in the long run they succumbto our superior discipline and resources. Take the advice of an oldcampaigner, and never despise your enemies."

  "Shall you have to go out this time?" asked Janet Jamieson wistfully,putting her arm round the captain's neck. "I hope not, dear father!"

  "I am afraid so, my girl," he answered gently. "The Lieutenant-governorhas offered me the command of a force of volunteers and burghers, and Icould not well refuse it."

  "And what about us?" cried the young men in a breath.

  "You cannot all go, boys," interposed Miss Jamieson, the tears startinginto her bright eyes. "Who is to look after the farm and defend us incase of attack?"

  "Janet is right," said her father. "Ralfontein must not be leftunprotected, for we cannot tell how far this war may spread or how longit will last."

  "You must allow _me_ to accompany you, Jamieson," Mr Weston struck in;whereupon Miss Janet started and the colour left her cheeks. "I shallbe content to serve as a simple volunteer."

  "My dear Weston, I am relying on your taking command here," rejoined thecaptain, looking askance at his daughter. "But let me tell you myplans. In the first place," he went on, "the lieutenant-governor hasoffered provisional ensigncies in the Cape Mounted Rifles to TomFlinders and Frank, on the--"

  "Hurrah!" shouted Tom, who, in spite of his incipient whiskers, was asgreat a boy as ever; "won't the pater be pleased!"

  "On the condition," resumed his host, smiling at the interruption--"onthe condition that they serve a few months with my `commando,' in orderto establish a claim on the government. I have accepted this offer ontheir behalf; so they must go with me. I shall also take Patrick Keown,as he will be useful in assisting me to drill my `irregulars' intosomething like soldiers. So you see, my dear Weston, you must remain atRalfontein and take charge of the place, with George and James and Davidas your lieutenants. I hope you will not refuse the trust."

  "What say the young ladies?" was Mr Weston's rejoinder. "Are youcontent to serve under my orders, Miss Janet?"

  "If papa wishes it," answered Miss Janet demurely.

  "Then so be it," laughed Weston; "I accept the responsible post ofcommandant of Ralfontein. When do you start for the seat of war?"

  "Not for some days," responded the captain. "Whilst at Graham's Town Idid a stroke of business--sold thirty horses to the government. Asergeant's party of the Rifles are to fetch them in the course of a weekor so, and I propose to return with them. And that reminds me I haveaccepted, in part payment for the horses, a brass six-pounderfield-piece, with eighty rounds of canister, grape, and shell. Theescort will bring it up with them. Should you have to defend the farm,you will find this gun of considerable service."

  The captain and Mr Weston sat up talking long after the others hadsought their couches, and before they retired to rest Mr Weston toldhis friend that he had formed an attachment for Janet Jamieson.

  "I did not intend to broach the subject until I had consulted withMatthew Flinders," said he; "but after your request that I should remainin charge of your property and family during your absence, I felt inhonour bound to mention it. In spite of the disparity in our ages, Icannot but think your daughter returns my affection. If such is thecase, are you willing to give her to me?"

  And as Captain Jamieson had no objection to offer, but on the contraryappeared well satisfied that the "course of true love should runsmooth," Mr Weston next morning asked Miss Janet to be his wife; towhich tender question the young lady, with a becoming blush, said "Yes."

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

  OFF TO THE WARS!--JAMIESON'S HORSE--A BUMPTIOUS SUB--TOM'S FIRST PATROL.

  Although the Cape government declared war almost immediately after the"palaver" at Block Drift, some considerable time elapsed before thetroops received final orders to take the field and enter Caffreland; andthe first week of April was nearly over when Captain Jamieson,accompanied by his eldest son, Tom Flinders, and Patrick Keown, andescorted by the Mounted Riflemen in charge of the horses, leftRalfontein to assume command of the volunteers.

  In the interval between the captain's return from Graham's Town and hisdeparture to join the army, Miss Janet and Mr Weston found time andopportunity to get married, at a Church of England mission chapel fortymiles from the farm; so he bade farewell to his family with theconsoling assurance that he was leaving them under care of one who nowhad a relation's right to comfort them in adversity or defend them inperil.

  On the thirty-second anniversary of the battle of Toulouse [Wellingtondefeated Soult at Toulouse on the 10th April, 1814. It was the finalbattle of the Peninsular war.] (in which action Donald Jamieson, thensergeant-major of the --th Foot, was severely wounded) the party fromRalfontein arrived at Graham's Town and handed over the horses to themilitary authorities; and, having purchased a few articles likely toprove of service during the campaign, they proceeded to join Colonel H.Somerset's column, encamped at Victoria--a military post which had beenrecently established on neutral territory between the Kat and KeiskammaRivers.

  The burgher force, of which Captain Jamieson now took command, consistedof about six-score well-armed, well-mounted men; for the most partfarmers and their sons from the neighbouring settlements, with asprinkling of storekeepers and clerks from Graham's Town and Bathurst.They were hardy, active fellows enough, accustomed to the saddle and theuse of the rifle; but--with the exception of a few of the older hands,who had served on "commandos" in former wars--they were as ignorant ofdrill or military discipline as any civilian in England before the"volunteer movement" had been thought of.

  "Shure now, Masther Tom," observed Patrick Keown, regarding his futurecomrades (who had mustered and formed up to receive their commandant)with a critical eye, "we have here fornint us the raw _matherials_ foras foine a squadron of Light Horse as there is in Her Majesty's service.But, bedad, sorr!" he added with a solemn shake of the head, "they'lltake a dale of _mixing_."

  "Mixing!" laughed Tom. "I should say they're pretty well mixed as itis. Still, I wager a dollar they know how to ride, and they'll fightwell enough. After all, that's the main point."

  "They are for work, not for show," put in young Jamieson.

  "True for ye, Misther Frank," the old sergeant rejoined;"niver-the-less, with your father's lave, I must tache them to payattintion to their dhressing and intervals. A loine is a loine, you'llbe plased to remimber, sorr; not a sort of double semicircle."

  Of this irregular corps--which Captain Jamieson formed into two troops--Frank and Tom were appointed officers, with the local and temporary rankof ensign; the lieutenant-governor promising that after they had seen alittle service he would recommend their transfer to the Cape MountedRiflemen as provisional ensigns.

  Much to his chagrin, Patrick Keown had scant opportunity of impartingthe "ilimints" of drill and discipline to the Albany farmers andtownsmen who rode in the ranks of "Jamieson's Horse;" for three daysafter he was appointed sergeant-major of that corps the advance againstthe Caffres commenced.

  Early on the morning of the 13th April, the troops march
ed from Victoriain two columns--one commanded by Colonel Henry Somerset, Cape MountedRifles, the other by Colonel Richardson, 7th Dragoon Guards--andcrossing the Keiskamma near its junction with Debe River, they, on the15th, encamped on the Debe Flats, near the base of the "Taban Doda," orMan Mountain; here the two columns were formed into one division, ofwhich Colonel Somerset assumed command.

  At cock-crow on the following day the troops were again on the move;and, the camp having been broken up, they advanced towards the AmatolaMountains. The point at which Colonel