Off to the Wilds Part 8

The travellers had now reached a more rugged tract of land, scored with deep ravines, along which, at some time or another, small rivers must have coursed, while now the narrow stony tracks were found convenient for waggon tracks, though often enough the way was cruelly difficult, and all had to set to and clear a pa.s.sage for the wheels by bodily removing some of the worst of the stones.

There was no hesitation or hanging back at such times, for all had to set to, even Dinny playing a pretty good part, considering that he abhorred manual labour.

Quite a change seemed to have come over the General, as d.i.c.k aptly dubbed their Zulu guide; for though he gave way in everything connected with the management of the waggon, and was exceedingly respectful to Mr Rogers, no sooner did any hunting matter come to the front, or a question of the best direction to take, than he seemed to take the lead as if in spite of himself.

At first Mr Rogers felt annoyed, and ready to put the man down; but in a very short time he saw that the Zulu's sole thought was for the success of the expedition, and that his actions were the natural results of his former life; for, savage though he was, and servant to this expedition, he had been a prince in his own tribe, and a leader amongst the people.

The night was coming on fast, when one day, after a long and weary trek, the heavily-laden waggon was approaching a belt of elevated forest-land, where the General had a.s.sured Mr Rogers they would find water.

It had been a toilsome day, hot and dusty, and at their midday rest there had been hardly a mouthful of herbage for the tired oxen, while water there was none. The contents of the two casks swinging behind the waggon were jealously guarded for the travellers' use; but so miserable did the cattle seem that the two boys asked their father to tap one of them for the oxen and horses.

"It will be but a taste a-piece," he said; "but perhaps you are right, boys."

Then the tap being set running, every ox and horse had a refreshing taste, though it was hard work to get the pail away from each thirsty mouth.

Then all through that long parching afternoon they had toiled on, with the draught cattle growing more listless, the horses sluggish and restless; and a general feeling of weariness seemed to have seized upon all.

The result was shown in the silence with which they progressed. The driver and foreloper ceased to shout and crack their whips; the Zulus trudged slowly on behind the waggon; and out of compa.s.sion for their horses, Mr Rogers and his sons walked beside the weary beasts.

"You are sure we shall find water at sundown?" said d.i.c.k to the General.

"Nothing is sure out in the wilds, young master," said the Zulu gravely.

"There should be water there. If there is not, we must trek on through the night, to the first river or spring."

"But will there be water there?"

"We shall be in the game country then, and I can soon find where the game goes to drink, and can lead you there."

This was satisfactory, and they trudged on and on, with the land gradually rising, making the pull more heavy for the oxen, whose tongues were lolling out, and whose efforts at last became so painful that Mr Rogers at once accepted his sons' proposal, which was that the horses should help.

A halt was called, and great stones were placed beneath the wheels to make sure that there should be no running backwards on the part of the waggon, and then the tethering ropes were fastened to the horses'

saddles; the Zulus and the boys took their head; the word was given to start; the ropes that had been secured to different parts of the waggon tightened; and though the horses could not pull as if they were properly harnessed, the impulse they gave relieved the weary oxen, and after half an hour's toilsome drag, the waggon was drawn to the top of the incline, and the travellers had the pleasure of seeing that a tolerably level way lay before them.

But there was no sign of water, and Mr Rogers looked serious as he swept the dimly seen country before him with his gla.s.s.

"Had we not better outspan here?" he said, "and let the oxen rest. We could start again at daybreak."

But the General shook his head.

"No, boss," he replied. "Let us go on. We may find water yet."

Mr Rogers gave way, and in a listless, weary fashion the heavy waggon was dragged on.

"Oh, I am so tired," cried Jack; "and I'd give anything to be able to walk right into a big pond and drink, and soak myself outside. My skin feels as if it was cracking."

"I'm very tired, too," said d.i.c.k; "but not so tired as I thought I should be. Why I must have walked twenty miles to-day. I wonder whether that means that I am growing stronger."

"You need not wonder," said Mr Rogers, who had heard his words. "You may be sure, my boy. But how dark it is growing! There are the stars."

"What's the matter with the bullocks?" cried Jack suddenly. "Why, father, they're gone mad with thirst."

"Water," cried the General, pointing ahead. "They smell the water."

The sensitiveness was caught up by the horses, which, like the oxen, quickened their pace, craning with outstretched muzzles, their fine instinct telling them that there was water on ahead, towards which they struggled to get.

Great care was needed now lest the water should prove to be merely a well or pool, into which the bullocks would rush, muddying the water, and perhaps trampling one another to death in their efforts to reach the refreshing liquid. But strive hard as they would, it proved to be impossible to keep the thirsty creatures back. The waggon had not proceeded so fast since they started; and the speed was growing greater, causing the great lumbering vehicle to rock and sway in a most alarming fashion. If they had encountered a rock, however small, there must have been a crash. But as it happened, they came on very level ground, sloping gently towards the north.

Klipmann, the foremost ox, a great black fellow with long horns, had proclaimed the find, and communicated the fact with a deep-mouthed bellow; and the next minute all was excitement and shouting, as the great waggon thundered and groaned along.

The first thing to be done was to detach the horses, which was no sooner done than they seemed to take fright, and went off at a gallop into the gloom ahead; then, amidst the yells and shoutings of Peter and Dirk, who danced about as if mad, efforts were made to check the oxen; but the poor beasts were frantic with thirst, and any serious attempt to stop them would have meant goring, trampling down, or being crushed by the wheels of the ponderous waggon.

The wild race lasted for a mile, during which every moment threatened to be the waggon's last. The oxen lowed and trotted on, the waggon creaked, and the loose articles rattled and banged together. Mr Rogers and his sons panted on at the sides, momentarily expecting to see it go over, and Coffee and Chicory, who had been very slow and silent for hours, whooped and yelled and added to the excitement.

"It's all over with our trip, Jack," panted d.i.c.k. "We shall have to pick up the pieces to-morrow and go back."

"Wait a bit, and let's see. Why, what's the General going to do?"

For all at once the Zulu had darted on ahead after s.n.a.t.c.hing a kiri from Chicory's hand, seized the foremost bullock, old Klipmann, by the horn, and, at the risk of being impaled or trampled down, he beat the stubborn bullock over the head with the club, and treating the other, its yoke-fellow, the same, he forced them into taking a different course, almost at right angles to that which they were pursuing.

"Stop, stop!" roared Mr Rogers. "You will upset the waggon."

But he was too late. The course of the leading oxen being changed, the others swerved round, giving such a tug at the dissel-boom that the waggon's wreck seemed certain. The whole team taking, as it did, a different course, the waggon was dragged side-wise, and for a few seconds tottered on its two nearside, or left-hand, wheels.

It seemed as if it must go over crash--that nothing could save it; and Jack uttered a cry of dismay, and warning to his brother to get out of the way. Then, as if by a miracle, it fell back with a heavy thud on to the other wheels, and b.u.mped and jolted on after the long team of oxen into the obscurity. And then, when ruin seemed to have come completely upon the expedition, _wish-wash_! _splish-splash_! the foaming of water--the crunching of wheels over stones and sand--a quick rush--and the waggon was standing, axletree deep, in a swiftly flowing river, down whose shelving bank it had been dragged, and in whose cool waters the oxen and horses were washing their legs, and drinking deeply with delight.

CHAPTER NINE.

AN AWFUL FORD TO CROSS.

It was a wonderful relief, and following the example of the animals, every one waded into the cool stream above the oxen, and drank deeply of the delicious water.

"Oh, I say, father," cried Jack, "I never thought water was so good before. This _is_ a river."

And really Jack had an idea that he had tumbled upon a stream whose waters were wine-like in their flavour; and but for a few words of warning he would have gone on drinking more deeply still.

"Thank goodness!" cried Mr Rogers, as soon as he could gain his breath.

"But what an escape! The waggon nearly went over. Where is that scoundrel of a Zulu? Oh there you are," he cried excitedly. "How dared you touch the oxen, sir! Your mad folly nearly spoiled our journey."

The General looked back at Mr Rogers, drawing himself up in savage pride, and his eyes seemed to flash in the darkness; but he did not speak, only turned away with a dignified look of displeasure.

"I know why he did it, father," cried d.i.c.k, excitedly. "Look, don't you see? The ground slopes down here to the water. Up there it's all rock, and the team would have gone over a precipice. See, it's twenty feet deep."

"Of course! To be sure!" cried Mr Rogers eagerly. "His keen sight showed him the danger. I beg your pardon, my man," he cried, "I did not know the reason, and ought not to have acted and spoken so rashly."

He held out his hand to the stern scowling Zulu, as he spoke; but for a moment the savage hot blood that had been roused by his leader's injustice refused to be tamed down, and he remained with his arms folded; but glancing at d.i.c.k's eager countenance, and recalling how it was due to him that the real truth of his actions was made known, the General let his better feelings prevail, and s.n.a.t.c.hing Mr Rogers' hand in his, he held it for a moment to his broad breast, and then let it fall.

"Why you saved the waggon," said Mr Rogers, after walking to the edge of the sudden descent where the rock went down sheer to the water, which bubbled and foamed against its side.