The Adventures of Don Lavington Part 79

There was another shout here, for two of the scouts came running in, and every man seized his spear, and darted to the spot he was expected to defend.

"Why, Mas' Don, how they can run! Look at 'em. An Englishman wouldn't run like that from a dozen men. Here, let's chuck these spears away.

We sha'n't want 'em. An Englishman as has got fists don't want no spears. Look! Look!"

The two scouts had come running in very swiftly till they were about a hundred yards from the gateway of the _pah_, when they stopped short and faced about as two of the enemy, who were in chase, dashed at them, spear in hand.

Then, to Jem's astonishment, a sharp pa.s.sage of arms occurred; the spears clashed together, there was a wonderful display of thrusting and parrying, and the two enemies fell back, and the scouts continued their retreat to the shelter of the fort.

"What do you think of that, Jem?" said Don excitedly. "That was real fighting."

"Real?" cried Jem; "it was wonderful!" and he spoke huskily. "Why, both those chaps was wounded, and these here's got it, too."

The two scouts were both gashed about the arms by their enemies' spears, but they came bravely in, without making any display, and were received by cheers, Tomati going up to each in turn, and gripping his hand.

Just then the Englishman caught sight of his compatriots, and came across to them quickly.

"Hullo!" he said, with a grim smile, "cleared for action, and guns run out?"

"Yes, we're ready," said Jem.

"Going to fight on our side?"

"Well, I don't know," said Jem, in a dubious kind of way. "Fighting arn't much in my line."

"Not in yours neither, youngster. There, I daresay we shall soon beat them off. You two keep under shelter, and if things go against us, you both get away, and make for the mountain. Go right into that cave, and wait till I join you."

"But there will not be much fighting, will there--I mean real fighting?"

said Jem.

"I don't know what you mean by real fighting, squire; but I suppose we shall keep on till half of us on both sides are killed and wounded."

"So bad as that?"

"P'r'aps worse," said the man grimly. "Here, shake hands young un, in case we don't have another chance. If you have to run for it, keep along the east coast for about a hundred miles; there's white men settled down yonder. Good-bye."

Tomati shook hands heartily, and went off to his righting men, who were excitedly watching the level below the _pah_, to which part it was expected the enemy would first come.

Don joined them, eager to see how matters were going, and hopeful still, in spite of Tomati's words, that matters would not a.s.sume so serious an aspect; but just then a hand was laid upon his arm.

"I was out of it, Mas' Don," whispered Jem. "They do bounce a deal.

But there's going to be real fighting on. One of those poor fellows who came running in, and stood up as if nothing was wrong, is dead."

"Dead?"

"Yes, my lad. Spear went right through his chest. Hark at 'em!"

There was a low wailing noise from the corner of the _pah_, where the two men were sheltered, and Don felt a chill of horror run through him.

"Then it is going to be quite a savage battle, Jem?"

"'Fraid so, my lad--no, I don't mean 'fraid--think so. Now, look here, Mas' Don, it won't be long first, so you'd better go and lie down behind them high palings, where you'll be safe."

"And what are you going to do?"

"Stop here and see what there is to see."

"But you may be hurt."

"Well, Mas' Don," said Jem bitterly; "it don't much matter if I am. Run along, my lad."

"I'm going to stop with you, Jem."

"And suppose you're hurt; what am I to say to your mother? Why, she'd never forgive me."

"Nor me either, Jem, if I were to go and hide, while you stood out here."

"But it's going to be real dangerous, Mas' Don."

"It will be just as dangerous for you, Jem. What should I say to your wife if you were hurt?"

"Don't know, Mas' Don," said Jem sadly. "I don't think she'd mind a deal."

"You don't mean it, Jem!" cried Don sharply. "Now, are you coming into shelter?"

"No," said Jem, with a peculiarly hard, stern look in his face. "I'm going to fight."

"Then I shall stay too, Jem."

"Won't you feel frightened, Mas' Don?"

"Yes, I suppose so. It seems very horrible."

"Yes, so it is, but it's them others as makes it horrible. I'm going to give one on 'em something for spearing that poor chap. Look out, Mas'

Don; here they come!"

There was a fierce shout of defiance as the scouts came running in now as hard as they could, followed by a body of about two hundred naked warriors, whose bronzed bodies glistened in the sunshine. They came on in a regular body, running swiftly, and not keeping step, but with wonderful regularity, till they were about fifty yards from the _pah_, when, after opening out into a solid oblong ma.s.s to show a broader front, they stopped suddenly as one man, dropped into a half-kneeling position, and remained perfectly motionless, every savage with his head bent round, as if he were looking over his left shoulder, and then turning his eyes to the ground, and holding his weapon diagonally across his body.

The whole business was as correctly gone through as if it was a manoeuvre of some well-drilled European regiment, and then there was an utter silence for a few minutes.

Not a sound arose from either side; enemies and friends resembled statues, and it was as if the earth had some great attraction for them, for every eye looked down instead of at a foe. Don's heart beat heavily. As the band of heavy warriors came on, the air seemed to throb, and the earth resound. It was exciting enough then; but this was, in its utter stillness, horribly intense, and with breathless interest the two adventurers scanned the fierce-looking band.

All at once Jem placed his lips close to Don's ear, and whispered,--

"Dunno what to say to it all, Mas' Don. P'r'aps it's flam after all."

"No, Jem; they look too fierce," whispered back Don.

"Ay, my lad, that's it; they look so fierce. If they didn't look so precious ugly, I should believe in 'em a bit more. Looks to me as if they were going to pretend to bite, and then run off."