Settlers and Scouts Part 8

"That's all right, then. Now go to sleep like a good chap, and don't worry."

It was so long since Ferrier had enjoyed a good night's rest that he thankfully availed himself of the presence of a white man capable of taking command. John immediately set about his preparations for the sortie. He ordered the porters to make their loads ready as quickly as possible, discarding everything that was heavy or c.u.mbersome and likely to impede rapidity of movement. Thinking over the position, he decided that the best plan would be to issue from the boma on the east side as if to pa.s.s through the gap. This movement, if detected, would probably draw the enemy to both sides of the gap, where they would wait in the bush, thinking they had the safari ambushed. But before reaching the gap he proposed to turn sharp off to the right, seizing a tongue of woodland jutting southward which he had noticed from his post of observation in the wood. Beyond that he could not make any plans, but must trust to the inspiration of the moment and the nature of the ground.

All preparations being made, John told the men to sleep. He would keep watch until the moment for departure came. He walked round the enclosure to make sure that no ammunition or anything else of value had been left, inspected the spot where the boma had been cut to allow the egress of the party, and then sat down on the tent, which it had been decided to leave behind.

Shortly before six o'clock he woke Ferrier, and Coja woke the men, who shouldered their loads, and the whole party moved silently across the enclosure. Some of the men removed the piece of the boma which had been previously loosened, and John led the way out. There was a slight mist over the ground, which favoured the escape. They had covered about two hundred yards in safety when there was a loud shout from both the camps of the enemy, proving that a determined watch had been kept, and that their departure had been discovered. A few shots were fired, and John caught sight of two or three black figures darting among the trees of the wooded tongue towards which he intended to march; but the absence of a general rush seemed to show that his antic.i.p.ation was being justified, and that the enemy were swarming from their camps to the two sides of the gap. John threw himself down on a knoll and sent two or three shots into the woodland to check any movement of the enemy to station themselves there, which would be fatal to his plan. The result of his firing was that the men who had been scouting there rushed away to join their comrades in the bush skirting the gap.

Now that the party was fairly out, John asked Ferrier to take the lead, while he brought up the rear with Coja. Ferrier at first demurred to this arrangement, protesting that the greatest danger would lie in the rear, and he didn't see why he should not share in it.

"You shut up," said John, with friendly brusqueness. "We haven't time to argue. We can settle that afterwards. Don't go above a walking pace: if they think we are bunking they will make a rush for us, and we must avoid that at all costs. On you go: wheel to the right when you come opposite the end of the wood."

Ferrier obediently went on with the unarmed porters and his six men who had rifles, including the one captured from the sentry, John and Coja marching behind with the man who acted as messenger, turning every now and then to guard against a rush, and not hurrying their pace though shots were dropping at unpleasantly close quarters. There were loud shouts from the enemy lining both sides of the gap when they saw the safari suddenly sweep round to the right towards the spur of woodland.

Several men on the northern side at once broke cover and began to rush across the gap. John saw that the best service he could do was to hold this portion of the enemy's force in check until the woodland was reached, and so reduce their striking strength. The question was, could he and Coja and the one other man with him make things so hot for any of the enemy who tried to cross the gap that they would hesitate until it was too late? Another question which he dared not think about was whether the men with Ferrier would be steady enough to meet the attack from the southern portion of the enemy, which they could hardly escape.

Telling Coja and the Baganda to shoot steadily, he took aim from behind a bush at the first man who crossed the gap, and dropped him. Coja aimed at the man immediately behind, but missed. A second shot from John, however, brought him down, and his companions, firing into the midst of a group of half-a-dozen who were following their leaders, gave a shout of delight when they saw two other men fall, and the rest immediately turn tail and scamper at full speed back to cover.

"Come on," cried John.

Leaving the bush from behind which he had fired, he ran towards another which would give still better cover and was at the same time slightly nearer the enemy. The distance was about thirty yards, and several shots were fired at them as they sprinted across. John felt a bullet slap through his helmet, but no other hit was made, and they reached the second bush safely. It afforded excellent cover against the enemy on the north side of the gap, but would have been useless against any that remained on the south side. These, however, had left their positions in order to deal with the safari making for the woodland, since it was plain to them that they would be at an immense disadvantage in the more open bush if the copse were once gained. Indeed, if they had had the courage and the quickness of perception to seize and hold this spur of woodland, the fate of the safari would almost certainly have been sealed.

John, for the moment left unmolested, had time to look round, and saw with delight that Ferrier and his men had disappeared among the trees.

But at the same time he realized that the enemy who had tried ineffectually to head them off from the woodland were now free to attack him, and there was a danger that he might be surrounded. The northern end of the woodland was about a hundred yards from the bush at which he had stationed himself, and there was no time to be lost if he was to get out of harm's way. It was a straight run across the open. From his experience of negroes' shooting he did not fear that a flying shot would hit him except by accident; the only question was whether all three could rush across the open s.p.a.ce before they were intercepted by the other section of the enemy.

Since delay was dangerous he ordered the men to follow him at full speed, and made a dash for the woodland. A few shots were fired at them, but luckily the movement had not been seen by the men he had most reason to fear, and by the time they were warned of it by the shouts of their comrades beyond the gap the three runners were safe among the trees. John felt that in the shelter of the wood the party might hold out all day against an enemy who was so reluctant to come to close quarters; but to be beleaguered in the wood would be no better than their situation within the boma, and it was necessary to press on to the south, both with the idea of lessening the distance between the safari and the force of East African rifles or Protectorate Police which he hoped was on the way from Fort Hall, and also of obtaining food. It was not easy to see how the party could cross in safety the open country south of the wood, and John felt the necessity of consulting with Ferrier. Accordingly he hastened on towards him.

Soon he came upon Ferrier's askaris, who informed him that their master, having reached the extremity of the wood, had sent them back to a.s.sist him. Ordering them to remain with Coja where they were and keep the enemy in check if they showed any sign of advancing, he hurried on until he reached Ferrier. After explaining how matters stood, he suggested that Ferrier with the porters should hasten with all speed across the open country until they reached the clump of trees in which he had left his donkeys, about two miles away. The enemy would scarcely suspect that the party would emerge from the wood into the open, and he felt pretty sure that, reinforced by the rifles, he could keep them in play until the safari had reached its goal. The course proposed was favoured by the fact that the safari, by striking off in a south-westerly direction, would soon be out of sight owing to the undulating ground.

Ferrier agreed to this plan, and John hurried back to the men.

Nothing had happened during his absence. The enemy on the north side of the gap had not yet plucked up courage to cross, and the rest were apparently still lurking in the bush to the east of the stretch of woodland. John led his men back to the southern end of this, where he halted to watch the progress of the safari, and to a.s.sure himself that its escape had not been noticed.

From this position he saw, a quarter of a mile to the right, a mound which would form an excellent defensive position in case he was seriously attacked, and he determined to betake himself thither as soon as the safari was out of sight. After waiting for a few minutes he saw the enemy, who had no doubt become suspicious, at last swarm from the further side of the gap and join their comrades. The combined force, emboldened by numbers, emerged from the bush, and appeared to be intending to make a dash upon the wood. John waited until they had come within two hundred yards, and then gave the word to his men to fire a volley. The effect was instantaneous. Several of the enemy fell; the rest made all speed back under cover. Taking advantage of the repulse, John ordered three of the men to rush to the mound, and as soon as they had reached it, he followed them with the rest. The movement was seen by the enemy, who, knowing now that the safari must have escaped them, and probably suspecting that it had already taken refuge on the other side of the mound, were at last impelled by their rage to make a determined rush to the spot. John and his men were, however, so well ensconced that their fire checked the advance, and the a.s.sailants, once more baffled, fled back either into the wood or to their former position in the bush. Twice they repeated the a.s.sault: each time they were driven back; and though they came closer each time, and sent a shower of arrows and bullets on to the mound, they were utterly unable to make an impression, the little party of riflemen lying flat on their faces at the top of the reverse slope, so that only their heads were exposed.

During the last rush, however, Coja, who was vastly excited at this fight against odds, incautiously raised himself, and received a bullet in the shoulder. John was a good deal concerned: the mere shock of such an injury would have rendered a European helpless; but the African is not so highly strung, and Coja went on all day with admirable fort.i.tude.

John chose the moment when an a.s.sault had just been repelled to evacuate the mound, and keeping it between him and the enemy, to strike off to the south-west, intending to make a circuit and rejoin Ferrier at the clump of trees. He had marched for more than half a mile before the meaning of the movement became plain to the enemy. Seeing the little party now in the open, with no cover of any kind, the men set off with loud cries to intercept them before they reached the clump of trees which was the only shelter for miles. It was a race between the two parties. John was north-west of the clump, the enemy due north, and equidistant from it. Ferrier, who had reached the spot some time before, and was watching eagerly his new friend's manoeuvres, fired an occasional shot at the savages as soon as they came within range, but his single rifle was unable to check the advance. It was fortunate that John had somewhat easier ground than the enemy, sloping gently down to the clump of trees. He ran as he had never run since he won the quarter-mile in his school sports, and the negroes kept pace with him, in the fierce heat of the sun. Ferrier saw that he was gaining on the enemy, and shouted to encourage him. Another two hundred yards and he would be safe. On he came: now he was several yards ahead of his men, then they spurted and came up with him: and in another fifteen seconds the whole party gained the wood, the enemy being no more than a hundred yards away.

Ferrier sent a shot among them which brought them to a halt. Even now they might have overwhelmed the little party, for John and the men were hot and breathless, and their limbs trembled so violently that for some seconds they were unable to hold their rifles steadily. But Ferrier's shot gave them the breathing-s.p.a.ce they needed. Then all the rifles spoke together. A gap was made in the halted throng of negroes; there was a moment's hesitation; then with furious yells of rage and disappointment they turned their backs upon the clump of trees, and ran swiftly towards the distant bush.

That was the last that was seen of them. John and the riflemen held the wooded clump while the safari, taking the donkeys, pressed on to the south. Then, when all danger of pursuit seemed at an end, he followed in its track and overtook it within two hours. No pursuers being in sight, he thought it safe to make a long halt for rest and food, both badly needed by the whole party, and especially by Ferrier and his men.

Ferrier blessed John's forethought in bringing a quant.i.ty of food on the donkeys. It was only sufficient for one meal, and that not a very good one; but a little is a feast to men who are famishing, and there was great contentment among the negroes as they baked little millet cakes at their fires. When the march was resumed, John shot a wart-hog during the afternoon, which he allowed the men to cook and eat there and then.

They camped for the rest of the day, building a thorn zariba and keeping a careful watch all night. Early in the morning they went on again, and pa.s.sing through the friendly village and across the river, they came at midday to the farm. John at once sent Ferrier's headman towards Fort Hall to say that there was no longer any need of help. Then he committed the negroes to the care of Lulu, doctored Coja's wounded shoulder as well as he could, and asked Said Mohammed to use all his skill in preparing dinner for his guest.

"Your esteemed order shall be punctually attended to," said the Bengali.

"The honourable gentleman shall smack his lips and feel jolly well bucked up. I will do him tiptop."

CHAPTER THE TENTH--Driving Sheep to Market

"I say, Halliday, you're in clover here," said Ferrier, as the two sat smoking in the bungalow after Said Mohammed had made their hearts glad with a capital dinner. "My grandfather made his pile ranching in Manitoba, and you'll do the same here."

John laughed. "We're not paying our way at present," he said, "and I know my father grudged the money for his pa.s.sage home again so soon.

He'll grudge it still more now that his journey has turned out useless, and there are doctors' bills to pay in the bargain."

The two young men had exchanged confidences during the latter part of their march to the farm. Charles Ferrier's father had been called to the Canadian bar, but he had never practised, his fortune being sufficient to keep him and his family in something more than comfort, and to pay for the sporting expeditions which were his real interest in life. Charles, who was twenty years old, had just come down from the McGill university, and his father had brought him to East Africa to "give him a run," as he put it, before he settled down to work.

"And his ambition for me was that I should enter the Canadian legislature," said he, with a wry face. "It's not work much after my mind; I'd prefer ranching like my grandfather. Poor father! D'you think I ought to stick to his notion now that he's gone?"

"I think every man should follow his own bent," said John. "The mischief is we mayn't know till it's too late what our bent is. For instance, I like this life out here, but I don't know I'll succeed at it, and some day I may eat my heart out because I didn't take up law, as my father wished. He's a good sort, and didn't urge it. Well, khansaman, what is it?" he asked, as Said Mohammed entered.

"Entreating your pardon, sir, Coja has made a discovery and is in an excessive state of amazement, jolly well flabbergasted, as it were. He declares that when you went on donkeys to visit the honourable gent you took three rifles marked with initials D.H., but lo! when he examines the weapons brought back, he finds four. Q.E.D."

"That's rum, certainly," said John. "How did one of our rifles get into the hands of your men, Ferrier? We took three, as Coja says. Your messenger had one."

"I don't know. Wait a bit, though: didn't you bring three rifles into camp? Of course: you took one from the man you half throttled outside our boma. But how could that be marked with your initials?"

"Tell Coja to bring it here, khansaman," said John. "I've a suspicion, Ferrier; we'll soon prove it."

When Coja brought the rifle, John examined it carefully. It was a Snider.

"It's as I thought, Ferrier," he said. "This is one of the rifles run off with by those porters of ours--the sweeps! I don't like the look of it. Looks as though they've started an organized band of freebooters.

We shall have to report this at Fort Hall or Nairobi; perhaps you'll do that. I suppose you'll be off to-morrow to get that arm of yours properly attended to."

"That's all right. It's beginning to heal, rather slowly though, and if you can put up with me for a few days I'd like to stay here. Food and rest is what I want more than doctors. Besides, if your deserters have joined that pack of savages they may make a raid on you, and I'll be of some use, even left-handed."

"No, sah," said Coja, "bad man no come all dis way. Juma and dem debbils, oh yes! but not de Embe, oh no! dey never live for come long way."

"Coja's right, Ferrier," said John. "By all accounts no natives will go raiding more than twenty miles from their village, except the Masai, and we haven't to deal with them. Juma and his Swahilis might come if they dared, but they won't venture without support. That'll do, Coja. How's your shoulder, by the way?"

"Jolly fine, sah. Bill him give me stuff to put on, berry good magic."

"There you are, Ferrier," cried John, laughing. "We've got a doctor on the spot. Bill is a Wanderobbo we've made friends with, a little old man who lives by himself and tells fairy-tales about a wonderful store of ivory belonging to him in an enemy's country. He's by way of being a herbalist, too, it appears. We'll have a look at his 'berry good magic'

by and by."

The magic turned out to be a decoction of herbs which Bill had smeared on Coja's wound, binding it up with leaves. He begged the new msungu to make a trial of it, and Ferrier after some hesitation consented. His wound healed more rapidly after the application, and Bill was delighted with the present of a few cents--without doubt the first doctor's fee he had ever earned.

Ferrier remained for the present at the farm, his healthy const.i.tution soon rea.s.serting itself after the strain of his recent experiences. His father's death had left him his own master. He had an only sister living with an aunt at Toronto, and he wrote to her and to the family lawyers, relating what had happened, but saying nothing of his intentions. The letters were entrusted to his porters, whom he dismissed with the exception of three. On reaching Nairobi, the men would take the train to Kisumu, and reach their homes in Uganda by steamer across the Victoria Nyanza.

It was more than a month since John had heard from his father. A few days after Ferrier's arrival he received a note which made him very angry.

"I'm on the mend. Doctor says my leg couldn't have healed better if I were ten years younger. Cousin Sylvia has been very good. Insists on making reparation for the damage (financial and physical) she has done me. 'Twas _her_ chauffeur, and _her_ motor-car, and so on. Upshot is that as you're getting on so well I'm inclined to accept her invitation of a run through the Continent. Will let you know when I sail. Cousin Sylvia sends her love.

"P.S. Glad to hear you got the lambing over well. Be sure and _don't wean them too soon_."

This apparently innocent note made John furious.

"You see what it is!" he cried, striding up and down the room. "That woman's got hold of him, and she'll marry him, and all our plans will be spoilt by an old--old--I don't know what to call her. Sends her love, indeed!"

Seeing that John was in a pa.s.sion, Ferrier wisely said nothing, and the storm presently blew over.