Richard Galbraith, Mariner Part 5

As I spoke, a voice coming up apparently from our feet addressed us--

"Shiver my top-sails, but if I ain't in another cussed fix! Here, Galbraith lad, lend a hand to help us out."

Looking down in surprise we discovered that we were on the very edge of what in the darkness appeared a vast chasm, the depths of which we could not penetrate. Instinctively I recoiled from my close proximity; but the next moment drew near again, for it was from this pit that Jack Thompson's voice had proceeded.

"Jack!" I called down; "is it deep? I can't see you; are you hurt, or can you reach me your hand?"

"I have fallen on my wounded arm and the pain's awful," he responded; then as if he had tried, he added, "no, I don't think you can reach me, for it's precious deep. But can't you find some way to get me out of this infernal place?"

"What shall we do?" I asked, turning to Mr Ferguson, "how ever are we to help him?"

"The darkness may make him misjudge the depth," he replied. "Let us try to reach the poor fellow."

Lying flat on the ground, therefore, I bade him, if possible, seize my hand, but soon found he was unable to do so--being remarkably short of stature, besides which his falling on his wounded arm had rendered him faint and unfit for exertion.

"It is useless," said Mr Ferguson, after he also had tried. "One of us must go to the bush, and get some baboon ropes."

I was on my feet in an instant, but the next moment's reflection made me say--

"That plan would be useless, sir, for in this vast plain, even if I got the ropes, how could I find you again in the darkness, and to call for directions would undoubtedly bring the Kaffirs upon us."

"True; you ever have your wits about you, Galbraith, but what are we to do?"

"Why the moon will be up in less than half an hour, and whatever the danger, we must wait till then."

Having told Jack what we were compelled to do, and bidding him rest a.s.sured we would not leave him, we took our places at the pit's mouth to wait. We did not speak for we had no heart to. Even at the very moment, the vast plain was perhaps peopled with beasts in search of prey, which each instant they might find in our vicinity. The brave man may face a danger, however terrible, without the quiver of a nerve when he _does_ face it; but it would require the bravest, if indeed, the one ever did exist, who could sit calmly in the midst of a strange country, which he knows to be inhabited by Kaffirs, lions and tigers, and feels that any moment the spear of the one, or the fangs of the other might be quivering in his flesh, without his being able to raise a hand in self-defence. I own, for my part it was a time of terror, and my blood even now runs chill in my veins when I recall the sensations I then experienced.

Once, Jack broke the silence in a rather loud whisper, saying,--

"I say, d.i.c.k Galbraith, old fellow just ask the minister to take a peep at that book-larning he carries in his head, and see if he can't tell me why this cussed hole was made--if its natur or Kaffir architecture."

"I believe, my friend," answered the minister, "that you have fallen into a pit, dug by its depth, to catch giraffes. Ah! by the way, tell me, is there not a bank of earth left in the centre?"

"Yes," answered Thompson, "that there is; and but for my arm, I'd climb it and be out in a jiffy, but this here member burns--saving your presence, Mr Ferguson--like blazes, and won't move no how."

While he was talking, an idea occurred to me, and I said,--

"If it be as Jack says, about that bank of earth, the mouth of the hole not being very large, for I have walked round it, do you not think by my getting down, I might help Thompson up?"

"That is very possible, but you being the strongest, Galbraith I think had better remain here, so that when I hoist him on to the point of earth, you can pull him out."

"And you?" I said.

"Can afterwards very easily climb out with your aid. What a pity we did not think of this before. What time it might have saved. See yonder, in the sky is already the reflection of the moon."

I could have said that I was not aware as to the kind of pit-fall it was, but only remarked--

"Never mind, Sir, let us set to work as quickly as we can now."

Whereupon he, warning Jack of his coming, lowered himself into the pit, and dropped.

I waited impatiently, and so occupied were we all with our work that I did not perceive that the moon, rising higher and higher, was disclosing the outline of many dusky forms which were hovering about me. It was just as Mr Ferguson exclaimed, "Now Galbraith, he is getting on my shoulders, be ready to seize him," that there echoed in my ears a yell as if arising from the throats of a myriad of fiends. I sprang to my feet, and gazed around.

The moon was up--from it a ray of broad silver light fell over the plain, disclosing to my terrified glance the black forms of some thirty to fifty Kaffirs ranged in a circle about the pit's mouth, all in defiant att.i.tudes, their spears upraised. My wisest plan would have been, I know, to have thrown myself on the ground, and let them come up quietly, but in my surprise I made a few steps backward, hastily whispering to the others to keep still, as any efforts they could make would be useless against such numbers. The action was a foolish one, and might have proved my death-warrant, for the next instant a cloud of spears whistled around me, one of which, piercing my arm, brought me to the ground. At this, with renewed yells of triumph, the Kaffirs came rushing and capering, jabbering and leaping like fiends incarnate, as if with the intention to tear my wretched body limb from limb; their eyes, their teeth gleamed down upon me, and with the belief that my last hour had indeed come, I fainted.

CHAPTER SIX.

METILULU--I HAVE FAINT HOPES.

I could not have remained unconscious long, indeed it seemed but a moment's s.p.a.ce, when I was brought to by the excruciating pain caused by the no gentle withdrawal of the spear or a.s.sagai, as I found it was called, out of my arm. But the "moment's s.p.a.ce" had been sufficient for them to bind my hands firmly with a strip of hide behind my back. With as little ceremony as gentleness they pulled me to my feet, when weak and giddy, for the blood was flowing fast from my shoulder, I examined my captors.

They were of the true Kaffir type--tall, well-made, n.o.ble and graceful in their bearing, patterns of manly beauty, save the face, and even here the features were far superior to most of the African dark-skinned tribes; the cheek bones were not prominent, the lips were not of the negro cla.s.s, though thicker than the European. Quickly I took this inventory of my captors, and also perceived that my being a white man had created no little surprise among them--they talked and jabbered together, ever glancing at me, then turning began to march forward, myself in the midst.

What Mr Ferguson and Jack were doing I could not tell. I certainly could not see them, and therefore hoped, by keeping quiet in the pit, that they had escaped detection. I did not for an instant blame them for not having endeavoured to rescue me, for what could they have done without arms and pitted against fifteen times their numbers. It would have led to the ma.s.sacre of three instead of one--and one, I felt certain, unless Providence again aided me, it would be.

Rapidly we moved along towards the hill, too rapidly for my strength. I reeled and stumbled as I went, my pain added to by the tightness of the hide about my wrists. Each moment I felt that I should fall, for the loss of blood was growing serious, when a Kaffir, evidently one in authority, who was walking by my side, seemed to become aware of my situation, for he spoke to another, who gliding swiftly off returned in a few moments bringing the leaves of some plant, cool and fresh, which the one who had sent him bound round my arm. After this we went on again, I striving to look my grat.i.tude, hoping in my heart that the tribe into whose power I had fallen was of those friendly ones of whom Mr Ferguson had spoken.

On reaching the crest of the hill, which I had been looking forward to with some curiosity, I perceived in the centre of a plain similar to the one we had just quitted, the kraal, or home of the Kaffir, which I will here describe according to how it appeared to me, only, to give clearness to the description, using the native terms when necessary, though I did not learn them till afterwards.

The kraal then was made of two circular fences, the outer being about half-a-mile or more in diameter, the other much smaller, and enclosing what we should call a meadow, termed here the isibaya, in which are carefully kept the cows, the pride of the Kaffir. Between these two fences formed of poles, whose tops crossing make a protection like a _cheveux-de-frise_ against an enemy, were numerous huts in the shape of half a Dutch cheese, the flat part being placed on the ground. These were composed of thatch lashed together with baboon ropes. In respect to the shape of the huts, I may as well mention here, that the Kaffirs build everything round, and have no idea of any other form. I have heard it said in jest that a tailless cat _must_ walk in a circle--from whatever point they start from, they _must_ return to the same. So it appears with the natives of Caffraria, for however the women, who are the chief builders, begin, they are sure to bring the construction finally to a circle.

Near the kraal a little on the outside grew a peculiar tree called the _Euphorbia_, which grows to forty feet high, is entirely leafless, p.r.i.c.kly, and branches out like a candelabrum; its juice is extremely acrid and poisonous, indeed the tree is of the same species as the wart weed which grows, where weeds are permitted, in English gardens.

As we approached, my guards uttered a peculiar cry, upon which the kraal, a moment before lying so still and peaceful in the clear moonlight, became animated with numberless black figures, like a swarm of bees. Breaking into a quicker step, we soon reached the small aperture leading into the huts, and were instantly surrounded by a crowd of Kaffirs dressed similarly to those I had already seen, that is, with ropes of hides and beads coiled round their waists; the ap.r.o.ns of strips of fur or animals' tails hanging in front and behind, and bracelets and anklets of hide, string, or bone round their wrists and legs. Each also bore an a.s.sagai and shield, giving them a most formidable appearance, as with much gesticulation they stared at me.

A consultation seemed to be taking place between the head men, during which the women and children, who also had turned out, took their full share of inspection, so I, having nothing better to do, returned the scrutiny, and speedily came to the opinion that, however well the men might be made, the women when pa.s.sed maidenhood were positively disgustingly hideous.

The girls' attire was little more than the men--when women or married they, on special occasions, wear a petticoat of some material, reaching to the knee, now this was absent--while their rough woolly hair was ornamented with bones, beads, and the spines of the white thorn. As for the children, they were as devoid of clothes as when they were born.

I had scarcely taken all this in, when a young Kaffir, whom I had seen sent away, returned; and no sooner had he delivered his message, than about half-a-dozen of my guards surrounding me, began to move on, the crowd falling back, yet still following and chattering like so many monkeys.

Proceeding nearly half round the kraal, we came to a hut of much larger dimensions than the others, while I observed on the thatch the skulls of several oxen to be fastened. The entrance was so low that I had to pa.s.s through on my hands and knees, preceded and followed by my guards. The first thing that struck me on putting my head in, was the exceedingly disgusting odour of the interior, most repulsive to the sensitive organs of the European.

The anxiety respecting my position, however, made me pay little heed to this; but rising to my feet I gazed round with some curiosity.

The interior walls were composed of hardened mud, the roof being supported by pillars, covered, to my surprise, by beads, and from which were hung shields, a.s.sagais, and gourds; while bunches of maize, much blackened by soot, were suspended from the roof. Around the sides of the hut were ranged rudely-made baskets, pitchers, and other culinary utensils, and on the floor, flattened to a perfect evenness and polish, were several sleeping-mats, constructed from animals' skins.

On one of the latter, I was not surprised to see the fat Kaffir who had been present at the dance, and thinking it as well to be polite--even should they not understand the European fashion of being so--I made a most profound obeisance.

The chief having looked fixedly at me, addressed my guards who, I could tell by their manner and actions, were explaining how I had fallen into their hands. This coming to an end, with some dignity and much importance he spoke to me, whereupon, shaking my head, I gave him to understand that his language was unknown to me. Metilulu, for that I afterwards learned was his name, then gave an order to one of the attendants, who, quitting the hut, speedily returned with a young, rather good-looking Kaffir, possessing a figure like the marble statues I had seen in other lands and my own. He was indeed splendid, and I was admiringly examining this fine specimen of humanity, when I was startled by hearing myself addressed in my own tongue, though the p.r.o.nunciation was queer. I found it was the young Kaffir who thus spoke. He stood between the chief and me, and said--

"The mighty Elephant, the pride of his tribe, says, are you European?"

"I am," I answered, no little pleased to think that I could explain my position, and perhaps win their commiseration. "I am a shipwrecked sailor, who was cast on your land the evening before last."

"You are not Boer?--you are not spy?" he continued suspiciously, after repeating my words to the chief.