Hendricks the Hunter Part 20

"It won't be pleasant to have this fellow close under us, as the hyenas and jackals will to a certainty collect to feast off him before long,"

said Denis. "We must drag him off as far as we can. To be sure, if we hadn't found the ostrich eggs, we should have been thankful to get some steaks off him; as it is, we may as well cut a few for ourselves, in case the eggs should not be as fresh as we might desire; while Raff and Fangs will have no objection to as many as we like to give them."

"You don't mean to say that we may have to eat some of that horrible snake!" cried Percy.

"I mean to say it is possible that we may be very glad to eat a good junk of it," answered Denis. "We may fancy all the time that we are banqueting on a magnificent sturgeon."

"Oh, do let us get the fire lighted first, and cook an egg," cried Percy. "Without food I am sure I could not drag that snake a dozen feet."

To this Denis agreed. Having match-boxes in their pouches, they quickly lighted their fire, but they had to wait till some ashes were formed before they could begin to cook one of the eggs. In the meantime Denis cut some slices from the thicker part of the snake's body, and some hunches which the hungry dogs very speedily disposed of. He then began to drag it away, but alone he could scarcely move it, so that Percy, in spite of his hunger, was obliged to a.s.sist him. They did not get far, however, but hurried back, pretty well exhausted, to cook the eggs they were longing for. Denis performed the operation in a scientific manner, by making a small hole at one end, and then putting in some pepper and salt which they had brought with them, and stirring the inside about with a stick till the egg was cooked. It was soon done in this fashion; and greatly to the satisfaction of Percy, who dreaded having to sup off the snake's flesh, it was found to be perfectly sweet. Although they had no water, they were able from the liquid nature of the egg to eat a small portion of the biscuit they had in their pouches. The meal greatly restored their strength, as well as Percy's spirits.

Having made up the fire to give them light, they dragged the body of the snake still farther from the camp. Denis was inclined to remain under the tree, where he could stretch himself at full length on the ground.

Percy entreated him to come up into the branches.

"But supposing we were both to go to sleep, and the fire was to go out, and a lion was to come prowling this way, what would become of us?"

asked Denis. At last he agreed to do as Percy wished, and making up the fire so as to give them plenty of light, they climbed into the tree with their guns and four ostrich eggs.

"We must get up the dogs also, or some wild beast or other may carry them off," said Denis. "Come along, Raff, old fellow, catch hold of this;" and Denis, leaning down from the lowest branch, held out his handkerchief, which Raff, clearly understanding what he was to do, caught hold of, and was quickly hauled up. Nothing however would induce Fangs to follow his example, and at last they were compelled to abandon the attempt to get him up, he having evidently made up his mind to pa.s.s the night at the foot of the tree--probably that he might enjoy at his leisure a further meal off the snake. Greedy Fangs, like many human beings, influenced by sinister motives, he was doomed to suffer severely for his folly.

They soon selected for themselves and Raff three tolerably secure places among the forked branches, where they hoped to be able to pa.s.s the night, if not in a very comfortable manner, at all events without the risk of being pounced upon by a hungry lion.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

IN SEARCH OF WATER.

After the fatigue and anxiety they had gone through, it was not long before Denis and Percy began to feel excessively drowsy.

"Take care you don't fall off, Percy," said Denis; "or let your gun drop either. I've fastened mine to my neckerchief, and I'd advise you to do the same."

"I have jammed myself and my gun between two branches, so that there is no chance of falling," answered Percy; "but I'll make fast my ostrich eggs, for I would not lose them on any account, lest we should have to breakfast off that horrible snake."

"Little chance of that," murmured Denis. "By to-morrow morning there won't be a sc.r.a.p of it left."

Denis said this in a very drowsy tone. His eyes were fixed on the fire, which seemed to him sometimes to flare up with unusual brightness, then to flit about, then totally to disappear, for the best of reasons, his eyes were closed. Percy was also just going off, when his ears were a.s.sailed by a hideous uproar of shrieks and howls and barks.

Looking out from his leafy covert, he could see a number of creatures moving about in the direction of the spot to which the body of the snake had been dragged. He guessed what they were, and was very thankful that he and his companion were safe up the tree.

"Do you hear those brutes, Denis?" he asked; but there was no answer.

He could see the place where he supposed his friend lay, but could not reach him. At first the dreadful idea occurred that he might have fallen off, and he was about to crawl along the branch to feel for him, when the light from the fire flickered on one of his arms, and he knew that he must be fast asleep. He had not the cruelty to awaken him, and indeed after he got accustomed to the hideous chorus raised by the hyenas and jackals, his own eyes began to close. He could just make out Fangs by the light of the fire, crouching down close to the trunk, and every now and then giving vent by a low growl to his anger as he watched the savage creatures devouring the snake on which he had intended to breakfast.

Percy had scarcely shut his eyes, when he was startled by hearing a terrific roar, and looking towards where the hyenas and jackals had been holding their revels, he saw them scampering away in every direction, while the glare of the fire fell on the head and shoulders of an enormous lion. The king of brutes, however, looked disappointed at finding only a few sc.r.a.ps of a mangled snake, instead of the repast he expected, and not deigning to touch the leavings of the jackals, he advanced a short distance towards the tree. Afraid to approach nearer the fire, he stopped and began to roar loudly.

"Roar away, old fellow," cried Percy. "You'll not get hold of us."

That was true enough so far as he and Denis and Raff were concerned, but the case was very different with regard to poor Fangs. Between him and the lion there was only a small fire, which the latter might spring over at a single bound. He prudently neither barked nor growled, but shrank closer and closer to the trunk, while the lion stood within a dozen yards of him, every now and then uttering a terrific roar.

To Percy's surprise, Denis slept on in spite of the roaring. He was probably dreaming about it, but it had not the effect of awakening him.

Percy thought of shooting the lion and trying to save Fangs, but found that he could not fire without changing his position, and he was afraid, in attempting to do so, that he might fall to the ground, he therefore contented himself with watching the lion. The animal evidently suspected that there was something up the tree, and having roared for some minutes, he began to circle round it, keeping, however, at a respectful distance. Would Fangs escape his scrutiny? Percy could no longer see the dog, for the fire was getting low, and he was concealed by the roots. Presently there was the sound of a rush, of a heavy blow struck, but not a growl nor a cry was heard, and then the lion bounded off with something in his mouth.

No sooner had he gone, than the hyenas and jackals came back, but they too in a short time, having probably finished the snake, also took their departure. Percy had too much reason to fear that poor Fangs had become the prey of the lion; but his thoughts began to wander, and overcome by fatigue, he was soon fast asleep.

The night pa.s.sed quietly by. Denis was the first to open his eyes. It was broad daylight. On looking up through the branches, he observed that the sky was completely obscured.

"Hallo! we must have had a long snooze," he exclaimed. "Are you all right, Percy?"

"Somewhat stiff and sore, but I shall feel better when I have stretched my legs, I daresay," answered Percy. "Dear me! the fire has gone out."

"Then the sooner we get down and light it the better," said Denis.

They descended from their roosting places, Denis carefully handing down the guns to Percy, who went first. They then helped Raff to reach the ground.

"Take care! I saw a lion close to the tree, just before I went to sleep, and he may perhaps be in the neighbourhood," observed Percy.

"You dreamed about one probably, as I did," said Denis, "and a fearful roaring I fancied he made."

Percy a.s.sured him that he had seen a real lion, and described it so minutely, and the visit of the jackals and hyenas, that Denis was almost convinced. He was thoroughly so when, on looking towards the spot where the snake had been, he saw that not a particle of it remained.

"Hallo! what has become of Fangs?" he exclaimed.

"The lion, I fear, has carried him off," answered Percy.

Of this there could be no doubt, for no trace of the poor dog could be discovered, except a few drops of blood close to the base of the tree where he had been lying down.

"The chances are, the lion has gone to a distance, and won't come back at all events until we have lighted a fire," observed Denis, as they set to work to collect fuel, when without loss of time they cooked another ostrich egg for breakfast. They then started on their tramp, fancying that, although there was no sun to guide them, they could easily make their way by continuing the same course as they had followed on the previous day.

After going a short distance, still unsuccessful in their search for water, Percy again suggested that they should keep to the right, so as to fall in with the waggon. To this Denis agreed, and they accordingly turned, as they supposed, to the east. As, however, there was no wind, they could not be certain that they were keeping in a direct line. Had there been any prominent objects by which they could steer, their minds would have been more comfortable on the subject. After going some distance, Percy declared that he thought they must be up to the course the waggon was to take. Seeing a tall tree a little distance ahead, they made towards it, and agreed to climb into the topmost branches, that they might take a look-out, hoping that they should see the waggon coming along. Percy, who was well accustomed to climbing, offered to mount the tree, while Denis took charge of his gun and one of the remaining ostrich eggs which he had carried. The tree was more difficult to get up than he had supposed, but he managed at length to reach a high bough, from whence he could obtain a wide view around.

"I can see nothing of the waggon," he shouted. "The country looks everywhere equally arid and barren, except to the northward, and there I see some trees, which from their bright green hue must grow near water."

"Well, then, come down, and we will make towards them," said Denis; and as soon as Percy had descended, they set off in the direction he had indicated.

They were getting very thirsty. Had the sun been shining, they would have suffered even more than they did; but as it was, their throats were parched and dry, and they eagerly pressed forward, in the hope of speedily obtaining water.

Their disappointment was proportionally great when, arriving at the trees towards which they had been directing their course, no stream or pool could be found.

Percy, who had hitherto kept up bravely, threw himself on the ground, almost in despair.

"Oh, I am so thirsty! What shall we do?" he cried.

"I'll tell you what we must do--get up and push along," answered Denis.

"I fancy that I see some more trees, much greener than any we have yet pa.s.sed, and the chances are we shall find water near them."

Percy, thus encouraged, got up. He had no wish to give in as poor Gozo had done. It was very trying, but the lads had stout hearts, and kept up bravely. They reached the trees at last, once more to be disappointed. Accompanied by Raff, who was suffering as much as they were, they ran here and there, attracted by a shrub looking fresher than usual, then by a depression in the ground.

Percy, who had gone some distance, shouted, "Hurrah! here are signs of water."

Denis hurried to the spot. The ground sloped down to where Percy was standing, looking into a deep basin or hollow. The bottom was moist.