A Frontier Mystery Part 21

"Two to one, you blanked cowards," he snarled, in between curses, as he picked himself unsteadily up, half stunned as he was. "That your idea of fair play, is it?"

"And this is your idea of fair play?" I said, holding up the knife. It had a good eight-inch blade and was ground like a razor. "Why you infernal murderer, did you think I was going to stand by and see you use it?"

"You're a liar," he answered. "I never pulled it. You knocked it out of its sheath yourself, just for an excuse to pack on to me two to one."

"Liar yourself," I said. "You'd pulled it all right. Now clear out, and by the Lord, if you try any dog tricks on us by way of being even we'll shoot, you understand. This is outside British jurisdiction, you know. So look out."

He gave me a look that was positively devilish, and which his battered and blood-smeared countenance did not soften, you may be sure.

"Look out yourself," he retorted furiously. "What sort of a man are you to come in and try to sneak another man's trade? I was here first, I tell you."

"That's all right. But you might as well have made sure I was trying to sneak your trade first. Instead of that you come charging up to me at the head of about a hundred armed scoundrels and start a game of bounce.

Did you think I was going to turn my waggons, and trek back at your bidding, or at any man's bidding, because if so you got hold of the wrong pig by the ear, that's all. I hadn't intended to go near your old soaker's place--but now I shall please myself about it."

"Will you? All right. You were saying something just now about being outside British jurisdiction. Well, remember that. You're not out of this country yet remember, and while you're in it you'd better keep a bright look out. Dolf Norbury ain't the man to be bested all along the line--and I shouldn't wonder if he didn't begin now. So keep a bright look out, that's my advice."

"Oh all right. I'm not afraid," I sung out after him, for he had jumped on his horse and was now riding away without another word. "Tre-ek!"

The whips cracked, and the waggons rolled forward, now without opposition. The turbulent crowd had completely quieted down, and although they still kept pace with us it was with a subdued sort of air.

The reason was easy to read. We had come off best in the affair-- wherefore it was obvious to them that we must be greater than Dolf Norbury. Of their first annoyance I took no notice whatever, treating it as a matter of such small account as not even to be worth remembering; and soon they began to drop off by twos and threes, till at last there was only a handful left--to whom I administered a suitable lecture.

"Think that skunk'll give us any more trouble, eh, Glanton?" said Falkner, presently.

"Shouldn't wonder. Anyway we'll take his advice and keep a bright look out. He's more than capable of trying a long shot at us from behind, if he sees his chance."

"By Jove, but that's a tough customer. If he'd only had science I should have been nowhere with him. It's science that does it," he added complacently. "Ever learn boxing, Glanton?"

"No. Yet I've held my own in a sc.r.a.p on an occasion or two."

"Well learn it. I can tell you it's worth while. You get the science that way. We used to go in strong for it in the regiment, but there's every chance of forgetting it here. These silly n.i.g.g.e.rs can't use their hands at all."

"No, but they can use other things, and if you'll take my advice you'll keep yours off them. Keep them for fellows of the Dolf Norbury stamp."

It must not be supposed that friend Falkner had come off light in the scrimmage; for in truth a goodly share of punishment had fallen his way.

Both his eyes were badly bunged up, and he had a k.n.o.b like a walnut over one temple. He further owned to the loosening of a couple of teeth. In short his countenance presented an aspect that would not have endeared him to those of the opposite s.e.x on sight, say his cousins whom he had left behind. But he had held his own like a man, and of his pluck there could be no question at all; and I own that he had gone up very considerably in my estimation since the time of our earlier acquaintance.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

MAJENDWA'S KRAAL.

A large, well-built Zulu kraal is to my mind a picturesque and symmetrical object with its perfect double circle of ring fences enclosing the yellow domes of the gra.s.s huts, and the large open s.p.a.ce in the centre, dappled with many coloured cattle, or alive with the dark forms of its inhabitants. Such a kraal was that of the chief, Majendwa.

It lay deep down in a large basin-like hollow; an amphitheatre, as it were, spa.r.s.ely bushed and surrounded by high, terrace-like cliffs. On one side these rose up to a tall cone of considerable height.

The valley bottom and the slopes of the hills were covered with grazing herds, all sleek and round and shining, for the gra.s.s was abundant, and rains had been plentiful in these highlands.

"That looks promising," I remarked to Falkner, as we gazed around upon this land of plenty. "I hope to take back a good few of these with us."

"By Jove, yes," he said. "I say, I wonder if there's anything to shoot among those cliffs over there."

"Not very much. An odd reebok or klipspringer is about all you'd get.

However, we can try later on. Hallo! That looks uncommonly like Majendwa himself."

Two tall Zulus were stalking along a path which should converge with ours a little way ahead. We had ridden on, leaving the waggons to follow, and the sound of their creaking and jolting was even now borne to our ears behind, as they wound down the rocky track which led into the hollow from that side, together with an occasional driving shout.

"Is it?" said Falkner, looking up with some curiosity. "By Jingo, he's a fine-looking chap for a n.i.g.g.e.r, anyway."

"Thought you'd worn through that 'n.i.g.g.e.r' string of yours, Falkner," I said. "Don't play on it for the benefit of Majendwa, that's all."

I may have seen as fine, but I never saw a finer specimen of a Zulu than Majendwa. Tall and straight, and for his age marvellously free from that corpulence which seems to come upon nearly all Zulus of rank or birth in middle life, every movement of his limbs showing great muscular strength the man's frame was a model. His countenance even from a European standpoint was singularly handsome, the broad, lofty forehead and clear eyes conveying the idea of intellectuality and high breeding, in short he looked what he was, an aristocrat of his race. His greeting was dignified yet cordial.

"I see you, Iqalaqala," he said, having waited for us to come up--"and am glad. It is long since you brought trade our way."

I answered that my wandering days were over for the present, yet I could not altogether sit still, so had come straight up to the Abaqulusi to trade with them first. Then following their inquiring glance at my companion, I told them he was a neighbour of mine who had been an officer in the English army, causing them to look at him with redoubled interest.

"What's it all about, Glanton?" struck in Falkner who was always impatient when I was talking and bound to cut in at the wrong time.

"Who's the other chap?"

"Muntisi, the chief's second son. He's got seven, but this and the eldest are the only two who wear the ring."

"Well, I like their looks. Here, have some 'bacca, old chap," pulling out his pouch.

Majendwa, who of course didn't understand the familiarity of the address, received the tobacco, in his dignified way, with a slight smile and a glance of furtive curiosity at Falkner's parti-coloured countenance, which had by no means shed all traces of his bout of fisticuffs with Dolf Norbury. Then he said:

"Come within, Iqalaqala. I will send men to show your people where to outspan."

We walked on with them, leading our horses, for we had dismounted to greet them. As we drew near, the kraal, which had seemed deserted, sprang into life. Heads appeared above the thorn fence, watching the approach of the waggons in the distance, and from where the red topknots of women were grouped, a buzz and chatter of expectation went up.

"Hallo, Glanton. You're never going to leave that there?" said Falkner, as I deliberately put down my rifle outside the gate before entering.

"I'm hanged if I'll leave mine."

"But you must. It's etiquette."

"Oh blazes, but I don't like it," he grumbled, as he complied reluctantly. However Majendwa, whose ready tact had seen through his reluctance, told me we need not disarm there, and in fact we had better bring in our weapons, for there was nothing he enjoyed so much as inspecting firearms.

As we pa.s.sed among the huts, I greeted several men whom I knew personally. Falkner the while staring curiously about him.

"I tell you what, Glanton. Some of these are devilish fine-looking girls," he remarked. "Quite light coloured too, by Jove."

I rendered this for the benefit of the chief that my companion observed that the women of the Abaqulusi were far better looking than any he had ever seen in Zululand, which evoked a laugh from those men who heard, and a delighted squeal from those of the s.e.x thus eulogised. Then Falkner committed his first blunder.

We had gained the chief's hut, and stooping down, I had entered the low door first, Falkner following. When halfway through he drew back.

"Dash it all!" he exclaimed, "I've dropped my matchbox."

"Never mind. Come right through," I warned. "Don't stop on any account."