Off to the Wilds Part 12

Just then there was another report, evidently a shot at long range; but the only effect was to drive the game more in the direction of Jack's position, or what they supposed to be Jack's position.

Seeing then that d.i.c.k was not likely to get another shot, Mr Rogers turned his gla.s.s in the other direction; but there was nothing to see but the great herds of game, going more and more towards a clump of timber--trees that were of glorious shades of green in the morning sun.

But, all at once, as a troop of gnus were trotting by, three or four large birds came rushing out, as if alarmed, and the gnus took fright, tearing off at a frantic pace. But before they had gone far there was a white puff of smoke from the end of the clump.

"Well done!" cried Mr Rogers. "He did well to get so far. But it is another miss. We must not depend on the boys yet for our dinners."

The whole plain seemed to be now alive, and herd after herd of game, that had been hidden from them by the trees, had rushed into sight, and was now careering onward, and away from the dangerous proximity to the woods.

"Poor boys! All their trouble for nothing," said Mr Rogers, closing his gla.s.s. "I wish I had gone too. I might have hit something."

"Boss Jack has. .h.i.t," said the Zulu, pointing.

And just then, to the father's great delight, he saw one of the curious antelopes suddenly stop short, the rest of the herd galloping onwards.

Then it shook its head, turned, and seemed giddily to gallop back, and finally fell dead.

Almost at the same moment they saw Jack run out from the clump of timber, gun in one hand, cap in the other, which latter he began to wave frantically above his head.

"Well done, boy! A good shot," cried Mr Rogers. "Ah, there's d.i.c.k."

For d.i.c.k now showed himself, a mile away to the left, and began to cross the open to join his brother, whose success he must have seen.

"The next thing is to get the game home," said Mr Rogers. "We'll go back, and send Peter and Dirk."

He placed a shrill little whistle to his lips as he spoke, and as its piercing note rang out, the boys, who had been making for the fallen gnu, turned to come back.

"I'll go!" said the General. "Mustn't leave the game. Look, boss."

He pointed, and in the distance there was a great vulture winging its way towards the fallen gnu; and, directly after, another and another came into sight, sailing heavily along upon its great dusky flapping wings.

It seemed as if telegrams had been sent in all directions to the vultures' roosting-places that there had been a wildebeeste slain; and it was so evident that, if steps were not taken to save it, the vultures would destroy the provisions of three or four days, that Mr Rogers rapidly blew twice upon his whistle--a preconcerted signal, which made the boys turn and go towards the game.

As it was, a vulture would have reached the fallen animal before them but for a shot from d.i.c.k's gun, which had the effect of more than scaring it as it was just alighting, for, evidently hit by the bullet, it flew a few yards, and then fell, flapping its wings for a few moments, and then lay still.

This checked the others for the time, and Mr Rogers waited till the General should set the boys at liberty, when he meant to return to the waggon.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

GETTING INTO WORK.

It seemed some little time before the Zulu appeared at the bottom of the slope; but when he emerged from the woods, Mr Rogers could see that he had been cutting some sticks, and on bringing the gla.s.s to bear he made out that the Zulu was straightening them as he ran.

The boys saw him coming, and waved their caps; while, when the General joined them, they all bent over the game together, the Zulu apparently being very busy, and making Mr Rogers impatient, for he wanted to get back to breakfast, which must then be ready.

"There is some reason for it, I dare say," said Mr Rogers, gazing through his gla.s.s. "Why, they are all coming away! The animal will be devoured. It is bad, perhaps."

He waited patiently, seeing the little party return; and as they left the fallen gnu he saw the vultures come dropping down from the trees where they had been waiting, till there were over twenty by the game, round which they formed a circle, but they did not approach near.

"Strange!" thought Mr Rogers. "I wonder they don't tear it up.

Perhaps it is still alive. If so they ought to have put the poor thing out of its misery. I shall speak sharply to Master d.i.c.k about such wanton cruelty."

Mr Rogers wanted his breakfast, and, as he had had no excitement, he felt cross, so that it seemed as if the boys would get what Jack irreverently called a wigging. But the sight of his sons' bright excited faces as they ran up the slope, drove away his ill-humour.

"Why, d.i.c.k!" he cried, "how you run!"

"Do I, father?" cried the boy, excitedly, "But did you see what a splendid shot Jack made? I missed twice, but he brought his gnu down.

It's a fine young bull."

"Then you are not jealous of his luck?" said his father.

"Oh, no," laughed d.i.c.k. "It will be my turn next time."

"Bravo, Jack!" cried Mr Rogers. "But why did you leave the game to the vultures? d.i.c.k says it was a fine young bull."

"Oh, it's all right, father," cried Jack, who now ran panting up to his father's side. "The General has cut it up partly, and has brought the liver and kidneys, and a bit or two to cook for breakfast."

"But it was a pity to leave so much good meat, my boys; I don't like wanton waste."

"But it's all right, father," said d.i.c.k. "The General has stuck some pieces of wood round and over it, and he says the vultures won't go near it for hours, for fear it should be a trap."

Mr Rogers opened his gla.s.s, and looked at the fallen game; and sure enough there sat the vultures in a ring, contemplating the sticks that the General had stuck up round it, but not one went near.

The Zulu smiled as he came up, bearing the delicate portions of the gnu skewered upon one of his a.s.segais; and hurrying back to the camp, Peter and Dirk were given full directions which way to go, and sent off with three oxen, and a roughly-contrived carriage for the game formed by cutting down a great forked branch of a tree to attach to the oxen yokes. But when ready for starting they suggested the advisability of their having guns, which being supplied, they started off, looking rather longingly though at the preparations for breakfast.

A good fire was burning, and coffee was made, Dinny looking very disconsolate and miserable; but the sight of the fresh meat seemed to do him good, for a broad grin expanded his features, and getting the frying-pan out of the box that held the cooking apparatus, he soon had some savoury morsels peppered, salted, and sputtering on the fire.

"I feel as if I could eat heaps," said Jack. "Oh, I say, father, isn't breakfast lovely out here under these green trees?"

Mr Rogers agreed that it was; and certainly nothing could have been more glorious than the scene--the deep blue sky, the glorious sunshine, the bright green of the trees, the chirping, whistling, and screaming of the birds that thronged the brambles, and above all the delicious fragrance of the endless flowering shrubs and flowers.

It was all enjoyable in the extreme, the abundant breakfast adding wonderfully to the pleasure. Even the oxen and horses seemed perfectly happy, for there was an abundance of short, sweet gra.s.s for them to crop, while the little Zulu party seemed happiness itself.

A goodly portion of the gnu had been given over to the General, and despising the frying-pan, he and his boys toasted the pieces of flesh in the fire, and ate them hissing hot; the effect upon Coffee being that he did nothing but grin, and rub the portion of his brown person which he called his "tum-tum," while his brother gave vent to his excitement and pleasure by either lying down and rolling himself over and over, or else by trying to stand upon his head, a very agreeable style of acrobatic trick, but decidedly inconvenient at breakfast-time.

As, however, just when he had arrived at a perfect equilibrium, and had his heels straight up in the air, he overbalanced himself, and instead of coming back upon his toes he went over upon his heels, which he planted in the hot ashes, Chicory thought the performance had gone sufficiently far, and went on eating his breakfast in what Dinny called a more Chrishtanly-like way.

Just as they had finished, and Jack had thoroughly recovered from a violent fit of coughing and choking, consequent upon seeing Chicory stick his heels in the fire, while he--Jack--was drinking his coffee, there came from behind them the crack of a whip, and Peter's harsh voice shouting, "Trek, boys! trek!" accompanied by the rustling, scrambling noise made by a great branch being drawn over the ground; and directly after the slow, patient oxen came into sight, chewing away at their cuds, as they used their tails to whisk away the flies, and dragged Jack's game into camp.

It proved to be a splendid young gnu, and the boys examined with curiosity its s.h.a.ggy head, with its curiously bent down and curved up horns, and general likeness to horse, antelope, and bull, as if it were related to each. Then the Zulu, with Dirk's help, rapidly skinned it; portions were set apart for immediate use, some of the best cut up in strips by the General, and hung in the sun upon the bushes to form what is called "biltong," that is, strips of sun-dried meat, the sun baking it up so quickly that it has not time to go bad, and the rest was left for another fate.

For it was most amusing to watch the dogs, sitting all four in a row, hungrily looking at the skinning and cutting up of the gnu. They watched with the most intense interest the whole process, following the General to and fro, and thankfully swallowing any sc.r.a.ps he threw them.

When the skin was taken off and spread upon the waggon-tilt to dry, Pompey, Caesar, and Cra.s.sus followed, as if to see that it was properly spread out, Rough'un being the only one who protested against the plan, for his look plainly said that he wanted to lick that skin on the fleshy side; and as he was not allowed to go through that process, he kept uttering low, dissatisfied whines, to Jack's great delight; while, when he saw Peter climb up, and Dirk hand him the skin, he uttered a yell of disappointment at what he evidently considered to be the waste of so much good fat.

This yell from Rough'un had its effects upon Pompey, Caesar, and Cra.s.sus, which triumvirate did not behave at all after the manner of the stolid, patient, n.o.ble Romans whose names they bore; but one and all set up their noses as high as they could, getting mouth and throat in a direct line, and sang a trio--but so dolefully out of tune, that Dinny picked up the General's a.s.segai, and gave each one a tap on the head with the handle.

At least he meant to do so. He certainly hit Pompey and Caesar sounding cracks; but Cra.s.sus made a movement, and received his blow on the neck-- so unfair a place, he evidently supposed, that it roused his temper, and he snapped at and seized the handle of the a.s.segai in his teeth.