Off to the Wilds Part 9

"Yes; all gone over together," said the General quietly. "Now all go across."

"But is it wise--is it safe--to attempt to cross to-night?" said Mr Rogers.

"Will see," replied the General; and going down into the water, he walked straight out past the heads of the oxen, literally disappearing into the darkness as he waded on.

"Isn't he very brave to do that, father?" asked Jack, who had watched the Zulu go from where they stood by the hind part of the waggon, whose back wheels were on the dry sand.

"Coffee no 'fraid to go," said that young gentleman.

"Chicory go too after father," said his brother; and the two boys dashed into the rushing water past the oxen, and then disappeared.

"What madness!" said Mr Rogers. "Why the stream runs swiftly enough for them to be swept away."

Both Jack and d.i.c.k gazed eagerly out over the swift river; but the black figures of the young Zulus seemed to disappear in the darkness, and for some few minutes there was an excited pang while they listened to the bubbling of the water against the fore wheels of the waggon, or the plashing made by the oxen as they lazily moved their legs, apparently enjoying the pleasant coolness of the water after their toilsome march.

"I ought not to have allowed them to go," said Mr Rogers suddenly.

"Here, Dinny, bring me the bay. I'll mount, and try and ride over to their help."

"Bring the what, sor?" said Dinny.

"The bay," cried Mr Rogers. "Quick, man! quick!"

"An' how'll I be getting at him, sor?" said Dinny. "Sure he's standing out there in the wather catching cowld, and I couldn't reach him widout getting very wet."

"Why you did wade in to drink," cried Jack, indignantly.

And with a rush and a splash he ran into the water, to where he could dimly make out the form of the big bay; and catching it by the halter, he drew it after him, the rest of the thirst-quenched horses coming _plash_! _plash_! out of the water, and following the bay like so many sheep.

Mr Rogers was about to mount, when the General's voice was heard hailing Peter and Dirk; and directly after their hearts were set at rest about Coffee and Chicory, who could be heard laughing in the darkness.

"All shallow water," cried the General. "Trek, Peter; trek, Dirk. Good place all across."

Mr Rogers hesitated as to the advisability of crossing in the darkness; but the oxen were already in, the waggon was also nearly in the river, and if allowed to stay for a few hours it would probably sink deeply in the sand. So, leaving his men to pursue their own course, he also waded in, while Dirk cracked his whip, Peter mounted on to the box and followed suit, and Klipmann, the black bullock, headed on into the stream. The shadowy-looking team could be dimly seen to straighten out; there was a heavy pull at the waggon, and another, and another, before its fore wheels were extricated from the sand in which they were sinking fast, showing the wisdom of at once proceeding; and then, _plash_!

_plash_! and with the water rushing against them, the party began to cross.

"My! how strong the current is," cried Jack.

"Take hold of the waggon, my boy," said Mr Rogers.

But as the water did not come up to his waist, Jack did not mind. And so the heavy load was dragged slowly through the stream.

"I say, Jack," said d.i.c.k, suddenly, just as they started, "there are crocodiles in these rivers, ain't there?"

"Oh, murther!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Dinny, who had gone into the water very unwillingly, and had wanted to ride, but Mr Rogers had refused to have the waggon loaded any more, preferring himself to walk.

Then there was a rush and a splash, that pa.s.sed unnoticed in the bustle of crossing; and at the end of ten minutes, by the General's guidance the team was led to a gentle slope, which they easily mounted, and dragged the dripping waggon forth on to a level gra.s.sy plain.

The horses had followed, to stand about snorting and stamping, fresh and bright with their bathe; and it was now determined, dark as it was, to trek on for a couple of miles to a rich gra.s.sy spot that the General said was ahead, and would be a good place for outspanning and camp, when a dismal yell was heard from the farther sh.o.r.e.

"What's that?" exclaimed Mr Rogers.

But no one answered.

"Some one must be in the river," cried d.i.c.k, excitedly. "Where's Coffee?"

"Here Coffee," cried the Zulu boy, who had quite accepted his name.

"Then who is it?" said Jack, looking round in the darkness. "Here's Chicory."

"Why, it's Dinny," cried d.i.c.k. "Ahoy! Dinny!"

"Ahoy! Help now, Masther d.i.c.k, sor," came from some distance off.

"The poor fellow is being swept down the river," exclaimed Mr Rogers, leaping on the bay to ford or swim down to the drowning man. "Dinny!

Shout, man! Where are you?" he cried.

"Sure, I'm here. How'll I get over at all?" came back.

"What! Are you ash.o.r.e?" cried Mr Rogers.

"Yis, sor."

"Then wade across, man. It isn't deep."

"Sure, sor, and I daren't."

"Dare not!" cried Jack. "Why we did."

"Yis, sor; but a great baste of a thing laid howlt o' me, and I had to go back."

"Are there any crocodiles here?" said Mr Rogers, to the Zulu.

"No, boss; no crocodile. All in Limpopo river."

"I thought so. Here, Dinny."

"Yis, sor."

"Come across directly, man! There's nothing to be afraid of!"

"Sure, sor, I'm not afraid a bit!" yelled Dinny.

"Then come over."

"If I did, sor, the crockydiles would be aiting me, and thin what would you do?"

"Let me fetch him, father," cried Jack. "I'll wade over."