Hendricks the Hunter; Or, The Border Farm: A Tale of Zululand

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

  THE FIRST THREATENINGS OF DANGER.

  A stream descending from the Drakensberg, that lofty range of mountainswhich runs across the whole of the south-eastern portion of theTransvaal, separates that province from the north of Zululand. Theregion is thickly wooded and picturesque, though in many places wild inthe extreme, while the climate, from the elevation of the land, is pureand invigorating. The stream, after issuing from the mountain-side,increased by numerous feeders, rapidly assumes considerable proportions,and rushes on towards the edge of a precipice, over which it falls inmasses of foam, to the depth of fifty feet or so, when it flows ontowards the south in a more tranquil current, with a width which maywell claim for it the title of a fine river.

  "Those must be the mountains, and that must be the river, Mangaleesutold us we should see," said Denis, as towards the end of the second daythey stood on the height overlooking the valley into which they wereabout to descend.

  "I have no doubt about it, from the description my brother Rupert hassent me," answered Percy; "and I think we shall soon see Falls Farm,although on the opposite side of the river. From where we stand, it ishidden by the trees. Hark! I think I hear the sound of the falls. Ifwe were more to the south, we should see them."

  "Well, then, let's make haste, and we shall be able to get down to thebank before dark," said Denis; "though how we are to cross is a puzzle."

  "Perhaps we shall see somebody, and get him to send a boat across forus," said Percy. "Come along."

  They hurried forward, eagerly looking out for the house and the falls,which would assure them that they were not mistaken in theirexpectations.

  "Yes, there are the falls," cried Percy. "I see the water falling likea sheet of snow to the right, though it's farther off than I supposed,and there's a wreath of smoke rising above a clump on the opposite side,that must come from a house. Yes, hurrah! there's no mistake about it.I see a verandah, or porch, peeping out on the slope of the hill."

  "All right. I congratulate you, Percy, as well as myself," said Denis;"and now we must see how we can get across."

  They soon reached the margin of the river. It was apparently not verydeep; but on the possibility of crocodiles existing in it, they were notinclined to attempt swimming across. Presently, however, they saw aperson running along the bank. They shouted and waved to him. He sawthem, and waved in return.

  "I shouldn't be surprised if that is my brother Rupert," cried Percy,"though I shall not know him to a certainty, even when I see him close;it is so long since we parted."

  The person they had seen was lost to sight among the trees, but soonreappeared on board a boat, in which he quickly came paddling across.

  "Who are you?" he asked, "though I am sure you are Englishmen."

  "Yes, I am Percy Broderick, and this is my friend Denis Maloney."

  "And I am Rupert Broderick," said the person in the boat, leaping out,and shaking hands warmly with his brother and then with Denis. "I amdelighted to see you, and so will father and mother be, and the girls.We were beginning to grow anxious about you. How have you managed toget here all alone? and what has become of Hendricks the hunter, withwhom we understood you were coming through Zululand?"

  "I'll tell you all about it as we go along," answered Percy. "I knowDenis here is very hungry, and I confess that my joy in getting home hasnot quite taken away my appetite."

  "Well, get into the boat, and we'll soon be at the house; it isn't asgrand a mansion as you might have expected to find, but it's big enoughto hold us, and a few visitors besides."

  They were soon across, Percy and Denis talking all the time, giving suchbits of their adventures as they knew would be interesting to theirhearer. No sooner did they land, than Percy set off running, eager tomeet his father and mother and sisters.

  "Stop, stop!" cried Rupert; "let me say that you are coming, or thesudden surprise may be too trying to our mother's nerves."

  But Percy had been seen from the verandah, and a middle-aged lady andthree young ones came rushing down the steps, followed by a tall,strongly built gentleman, who seemed well capable of wielding an axe ora broadsword, as occasion might require.

  "Percy, Percy!" cried the lady. "I know you, my dear boy! It must beyou. Say I am right!"

  "Yes, mother, yes," answered Percy, and rushing forward he was soonreceiving affectionate embraces from his mother and sisters. His fatherwas not long behind them, and then Rupert brought up Denis, who wasreceived in the kindest manner, faithful Raff coming in for a share oftheir attention.

  Another person soon appeared upon the scene. A gaunt woman, her greyhair destitute of cap, a red shawl over her shoulders, came rushing downthe steps, a basting ladle in her hand, which she threw unconsciously tothe ground, while she stretched out her arms as she gazed at Percy, andthrowing them round him, exclaimed--

  "Sure it's Masther Percy himself come home at last. Welcome, welcome!It does my heart good to see you, although it's a mighty outlandishcountry you've come to."

  "It's home, however, Biddy, for I'm sure you must be Biddy Gillooly;though so many years have passed since you carried me in your arms, Iremember you perfectly," answered Percy, returning her embrace.

  "Blessings on ye, Masther Percy, for saying that," cried Biddy; "and whois the other young gintleman?"

  "A countryman of yours," answered Percy, introducing Denis. "He'll beglad to have a talk with you about the old country, although he's notseen much of it himself since he was a small boy."

  Biddy was delighted to find that Denis was actually born in her nativevillage.

  "Come, Biddy, the lads want supper as soon as possible, and the pots maybe boiling over during your absence," said Captain Broderick.

  Biddy took the hint, and picking up her ladle, hastened back to herkitchen. As soon as the excitement of their first arrival was over,both Percy and Denis began to feel the fatigue of their long journey.Percy could scarcely keep his eyes open while he sat at table. MrsBroderick advised that they should both go to bed, and they accordinglyretired. Denis managed to attend to himself; but Percy could scarcelyhave got into his bed without the assistance of his mother and brother.

  The next day Percy was unable to rise, and Denis did not turn out untilthe evening, when he declared that he felt sufficiently rested to startagain, if it was necessary, although he had no wish to leave the farm.Percy was affectionately tended by his mother and sisters, and heassured them he hoped in another day or two to be all to rights. Thethree Miss Brodericks were very nice girls--Denis thought themespecially so--but they were very far from being fine young ladies.Assisted by Biddy, their only domestic, they attended to all thehousehold affairs, cooked and baked, milked the cows, made butter andcheese, fed the poultry, worked in the garden, but still found time tostitch, sew, and darn, and make their mother's and their own dresses, aswell as clothes for their father and brother, while they did not neglectthe culture of their minds, aided by their father, who had brought asmall library with him, which had been increased from time to time as hewas able to obtain books from England. They were all cheerful andhappy; but a shade of melancholy occasionally passed over thecountenance of Mrs Broderick, as if her thoughts were reverting to somecause of grief during the past.

  Captain Broderick had now been settled at Falls Farm about twelve years.He had selected it on account of the beauty of its situation and thefertility of its soil, but had not sufficiently considered at the timeits distance from a market. He had been over-persuaded by the Boer,from whom he purchased it, that settlers would speedily gather roundhim, and that navigation would be established on the river, by which hisproduce could be conveyed southward. But neither of these expectationshad been fulfilled. Having a small annual income, he had struggledmanfully on, had got up a good house, had planted an orchard of fruittrees, and brought numerous acres under cultivation, while his herds ofcattle and flocks of sheep and goats had greatly increased. He had donehis utmost also to win the confiden
ce and affections of the natives inhis neighbourhood, who looked up to him as a counsellor and a friend, onwhose assistance they could always rely. When they would work, and hehad employment to give them, he justly paid them the wages he promised,which were equal to any they could obtain by going farther in search ofthem. While they were thus friendly and ready to protect him and hisfamily, there were others at a distance beyond his influence, who wereas savage as the generality of the Kaffir tribes, and addicted topredatory excursions on the property of their neighbours. The captainwas an old soldier, and when building his house, had had an eye to itsdefence. He therefore had enclosed the acre or so of ground in which itstood with a high palisade, on the outside of which ran a deep ditch,and this could be filled by diverting a stream from the falls above,inaccessible to an enemy.

  The stream served amply to irrigate the grounds and fields beyond, andneither did it nor the palisade appear to have been formed so much withthe view of serving as a fortification, as for the object of preventingthe inroad of elephants or other wild animals. The height, however, ofthe palisade was such that even a lion or leopard would have found itdifficult to leap over. Within it could be penned also a considerablenumber of cattle and horses and sheep. The front was, however, leftopen, a drawbridge only crossing the moat; but materials for filling upthe gap were kept stored on either side, so that in a few hours thewhole circle could be completed. The planks were of such a thickness,that neither assegais nor bullets could pierce them, and certainly noforce such as was likely to attack the farm would be provided with guns.Captain Broderick felt confident that he could rely, in case of aninroad, on the assistance of the neighbouring inhabitants, who wouldeagerly hurry to the farm for their own protection. Here and there werea few white settlers, but the greater number were Kaffirs, who did notowe allegiance to the monarch of Zululand. Had not Captain Broderickcarefully studied the habits and customs of the natives, and ingratiatedhimself with them, he would have been unable not only to put up hishouse or the palisade, but even to have cultivated the ground, and foundherdsmen for his cattle. He had two faithful followers, of whom adescription will hereafter be given, as also three Hottentots, who livedin huts outside the farm; and he occasionally obtained the assistance ofa couple of other white men; but the rest of the labour was performed bythe Kaffir natives. Indomitable perseverance and energy had enabled himto overcome numberless difficulties, and had there been a market athand, he would by this time have become a rich man. But the expense andloss of driving his cattle even to the nearest town was very great, andthe profit very small after their arrival, while the trader whooccasionally came that way could afford to give but low prices foranimals which might never reach their destination.

  Provisions, however, were abundant; and Captain Broderick and his sonRupert seldom failed, when they went out hunting, to return without agood supply of game, as they could always depend upon the assistance ofthe Kaffirs and any of the white settlers whom they invited to jointhem.

  A couple of days had passed since the arrival of Percy and Denis, andthey began to grow anxious at hearing nothing of Hendricks. It wasdifficult to account for his delay, unless he had lost so many of hisoxen as to be unable to proceed with his waggon. This, however, was notlikely. The natives were not hostile, as they were always glad to havetraders come among them to purchase their produce, and from whom theycould obtain the articles they required. The tsetse fly, althoughdestructive in some parts to cattle, was not supposed to exist in thedistrict through which he was passing, and although one or two of theanimals might have been killed by lions, that would not have hinderedhim for any length of time, as he might easily have supplied theirplaces, or travelled on with a smaller team. At last, Captain Broderickresolved to send out a couple of trusty men in the direction it wassupposed Hendricks would come.

  One of these, Conrad Vermack by name, whose chief characteristic was hisintense hatred of the Zulus, had at one time possessed a farm of hisown, but it had been destroyed by the savages while he was absent on ahunting expedition. He had returned to find his house burned to theground, and his wife, five children, and two servants massacred. He hadattempted to avenge their death, and had narrowly escaped with his ownlife. With three assegai wounds in his body, utterly ruined in purse,and his health broken, he had received shelter and kind treatment fromCaptain Broderick, who pitied his misfortunes. He had in time recoveredhis health, but had no desire or energy to attempt again setting up forhimself, though offered some stock with which to commence. He declinedthe offer, saying that he would infinitely prefer devoting the remainderof his life to the service of one from whom he had received so manybenefits; and he had thus remained on year after year, without changinghis resolution, apparently contented, if not happy. In appearance hewas unlike most of his countrymen. His figure was tall and bulky, hisface long and rugged. A smile never illumined his countenance. A massof long coal-black hair fell straight over his forehead and down hisback, giving him a strong resemblance, except in colour, to a NorthAmerican Indian. On all occasions he wore a short shooting jacket, hisarms sticking considerably beyond the sleeves, while it was darned andpatched in all directions, as were his trowsers, which had once been ofblue cloth, but had been mended with pieces of so many colours that itwas difficult to say what had been their original hue. Though CaptainBroderick had given him a good suit which he wore on Sundays, and hadoffered him another instead of the one which has been described, hecould never be induced to leave it off. He had worn a portion of it athis marriage, and he hoped to live and die in it, he said. He was afirst-rate hunter, and was more frequently out with his gun thanlabouring on the farm, which was evidently not much to his taste, thoughwhen his services were absolutely required he worked as hard as any one,and amply repaid his host for the support he received.

  The other man was a Kaffir, called Matyana. He belonged to a tribealmost exterminated by Dingan, the predecessor of Panda, andconsequently hated the Zulus as much as did the Dutchman. Having madehis escape from his enemies, though desperately wounded, he had beenfound by Captain Broderick in an apparently dying condition; but beingcarried to the farm, and carefully tended, he recovered. Although hispeople are generally supposed to be destitute of gratitude, he showedthat he possessed that virtue by willingly remaining on with hisprotector, and rendering him all the service in his power.

  Both these men, being well acquainted with the country, and thoroughlytrustworthy, were selected by the Captain for the proposed expedition.They willingly undertook the duty, and set out well-armed and wellmounted, promising to discover Hendricks and his party if they werestill in the land of the living.

  Denis begged to go with them, but Mrs Broderick interfered, declaringthat he was utterly unable to undertake the journey; he indeed confessedto Percy that he scarcely felt up to a gallop, while he certainly was inno hurry to quit Falls Farm.

  Percy agreed with him, and thought indeed that he showed his good tastein enjoying the society of his mother and sisters.

  The young ladies found time, after the day was over, to play and singand talk, although they had nothing to say about their neighbours, andespecially to listen to the accounts Denis and Percy gave them of theiradventures.

  By the bye, the three fair daughters of Captain and Mrs Broderick,Helen, Rose, and Maud, ought before this to have been formallyintroduced to the reader. The eldest was about two-and-twenty, Rose wasjust eighteen, and Maud was a year younger than Percy. Miss Broderickrecollected a great deal about England, and it is just possible mighthave preferred living there to existing in the wilds of Africa, at thesame time that she was contented with her lot, which many young ladieswould have thought a hard one.

  As Percy was unable to walk any distance, on the evening of the day themen had been sent off to look for Hendricks, Rupert proposed to Denis totake him a row, and Maud, hearing of it, begged that she might go also.The boat was the same in which Percy and Denis first crossed the river.It was kept on the bank of the river, conce
aled in a thicket from theview of passers-by, a short way from the house. They had just reachedthe place where the boat was kept, and Rupert and Denis were busypreparing her, when Maud exclaimed, "There are two people on theopposite bank. They are natives, and are waving to us."

  Percy looking up cried out, "Yes, so there are, and they appear to melike Mangaleesu and Kalinda."

  The two natives continued to wave still more vehemently, occasionallylooking behind them, as if they expected to see some one coming fromthat direction. They then both stepped into the water, about apparentlyto swim across.

  Rupert and Denis on this made signs to them to wait.

  "You remain here, Maud, with Percy," said Rupert, as he shoved off theboat with his oar from the bank.

  He and Denis rowed with all their might, for they saw that the nativeswere evidently in a great hurry.

  "Yes, there is no doubt that the man is the Zulu chief who saved Percy'slife, and who helped us on our way, and that the other is his wife,"exclaimed Denis. "I would not have them on any account fall into thehands of their enemies, who would kill them to a certainty. Pull away!pull away!"

  They quickly reached the opposite bank, when both Mangaleesu and hiswife hurriedly stepping into the boat, sank down thoroughly exhausted.

  "What has happened, my friend?" asked Denis.

  "We are pursued by our enemies, and they will soon be here;" answeredMangaleesu. "Can the white chief give us shelter? or must we continueour flight? For myself I would not mind, but my wife is well-nighexhausted, and I fear she would be overtaken."

  "You do not, either of you, look as if you were capable of continuing onmuch longer," said Denis, as he and Rupert began to row back as fast asthey could. "I am very sure that the white chief will protect you,especially when he hears that you saved his son's life, and helped usboth so greatly. I may say that, may I not, Rupert? I am sure thatyour father will protect them."

  "No doubt about that," answered Rupert. "Pull away then; and if we canget them concealed in the house before their pursuers see where theyhave gone, it will save a great deal of trouble."

  There was not much time to settle any further plans before they reachedthe western bank. Immediately landing, they drew up the boat on shore,at a spot where she was completely concealed by the bushes.

  Scarcely had they landed when a large body of Zulus were seen on theheight of the opposite side of the river, waving their assegais, andrushing down as if they fully expected in a few minutes to come up withthe fugitives.

  "Come along, Mangaleesu. We must get into the house before those peopleout there see you," cried Rupert, taking the chief's hand.

  Unfortunately they had an open space to cross. As they did so they wereperceived by the Zulus, who broke into loud and savage shouts, whicheven at the distance they were off could clearly be heard.

  "Don't be afraid, Kalinda. They shan't hurt you," said Percy; "I amsure my father will not let them take you away."

  As they hurried on they saw the Zulus making signs to them to bring backthe boat. It was evident that the savages had perceived how thefugitives had escaped them.

  "You may beckon and shriek and howl as much as you like," cried Rupert."We are not going to allow you to murder these people if we can helpit."

  Without paying further attention to the Zulus, they hurried on to thehouse, where they found Captain Broderick.

  Percy at once introduced Kalinda and Mangaleesu to his father, tellinghim how much he and Denis were indebted to them.

  "We come to crave your protection, O White Chief," said Mangaleesu."Our enemies are seeking our death, and if we are turned away I fearthat we shall be overtaken."

  "I promise to afford it you, my friends," said Captain Broderick. "Theydare not drag you from my house by force, and I will not allow them toenter."

  "There is no time to be lost then, for they are very close to the bank,"said Rupert. "I will go and see what they are about."

  Captain Broderick led the chief and his wife into the house, whileRupert hastened to where he could watch the Zulus. They were doing ashe feared they would; nearly half the band were already in the stream,stemming the current, shouting and shrieking, to keep away thecrocodiles, while the other half were preparing to follow. The currentwas carrying them down, but not very rapidly, so that they would land ata point not far below that on the opposite bank from which they hadstarted.

  He at once returned to report what he had seen. Captain Broderick hadby this time come back to the front of the house. There werefortunately two white men, as well as the Hottentots, and severalfaithful Kaffirs within call. He ordered Rupert at once to bring outthe arms and put them into the hands of the Kaffirs, whom he knew hecould trust. The white men had brought their rifles, and by the timethe Zulus had landed, he had a dozen men, besides himself and Denis andhis two sons, ready to defend those to whom he had promised protection,should their enemies attempt to take them. Having drawn them up on theinside of the moat in front of the house, he waited to see how the Zuluswould proceed. As soon as they had landed and shaken themselves dry,they looked about as if expecting to see the fugitives; then guessingthat they had taken shelter in the farm, they advanced towards it, untilthey came in sight of the force prepared to receive them. Their leader,a chief of some consideration, judging by the cow-tails hanging roundhis neck, and the feathers in his head-dress, advanced and began anaddress to Captain Broderick.

  "The Zulus and the white men are brothers," he said. "The enemies ofthe one are the enemies of the other. How comes it then that I see thewhite chief in arms against us? We have long been seeking one who is atraitor to his country, and who has defied our king Panda, the lion ofthe world, and I desire to know whether he is still flying across thecountry, or has been received into the house of our friend. If he has,we demand that he may be delivered up to us forthwith, to be treated ashe deserves."

  Captain Broderick listened patiently until the chief had come to an end.

  "I wish to be friends with the Zulus, as well as with all the peopleamong whom I live," said the captain. "I have no desire to protect anyone because he is an enemy to the Zulus, but I cannot allow any injuryto be inflicted on persons who have rendered essential service to thosedear to me. There is no one in this house I can consent to deliver upto you, and therefore if you expect it you must go away disappointed. Ihave said it, it is useless to ask more."

  The chief, on hearing this, looked very angry, and muttered somethingwhich Captain Broderick could not understand. The Zulus appeareddoubtful how to proceed; at length Captain Broderick spoke to them.

  "To show you that I wish to be friends, if you are hungry, I will feedyou," he said. "You shall have a heifer, which I was going to killto-night, but you must retire with it across the river, where you canfeast as you desire."

  This promise had evidently a good effect on the Zulus. They saw,indeed, that they were not likely to gain anything by force from a whiteman, who was well prepared to repel it, and was not to be intimidated.

  They accordingly shouted out, "Give us the heifer. We will go."

  On this Captain Broderick ordered one of the Hottentots to bring out theanimal from a shed at a short distance off. The Hottentot obeyed theorder with evident unwillingness; indeed, the poor animal seemed toknow, by the way it walked, the fate prepared for it. As it approached,the Zulus rushed forward to seize it, for they considered it rathergained by their own prowess than as a gift.

  "We take the heifer because we want food; but understand, we do notabandon the right of search for the fugitives who have rebelled anddeserve death," said the chief, turning to Captain Broderick.

  Having thus delivered himself, he stalked off with his followers to thebank of the river, when, plunging in, they waded and swam across thestream, driving the heifer before them.

  Rupert hurried down to watch them. They went on for some distance to asheltered spot under the hill, where shortly a fire was seen blazing up,evidently for the purpose o
f cooking the heifer. As it continuedburning brightly for some time after darkness had set in, there was nodoubt that the Zulus were enjoying themselves, and intended to remainthere till the morning. Captain Broderick was too well accustomed toKaffir warfare to trust to them, and thinking it possible that theymight attempt to surprise the farm during the night, he kept a vigilantwatch, and ordered his little force to remain under arms until it wasascertained to a certainty that they had taken their departure from theneighbourhood.