Off to the Wilds Part 11

Mr Rogers did not reply, but went on with his son, Dinny keeping very close behind, till they overtook the waggon just as it reached the camping-place, where a fire was soon burning, and the oxen contentedly cropping the ample supply of excellent gra.s.s.

CHAPTER TEN.

A GLORIOUS SIGHT FOR A HUNTER.

Watch was set in the usual manner, so that the fire might be well kept up, and after a good dry, and a hearty meal--such a one as is made by those who have toiled all day in the open air--those who were at liberty so to do soon sought their blankets, and slept soundly and well.

To d.i.c.k and Jack it seemed that they had only just lain down, when there was a firm hand laid upon them, and they were awakened by the General, who signed to them in the grey morning light to get up.

They crept out of the waggon yawning, but that sign of slothfulness was soon chased away, and their father joining them, they took their guns and followed the General, leaving Dinny with orders to wake the boys, and to get breakfast ready by their return.

"Where are we going, father?" asked d.i.c.k.

"I can't say, my boy. The Zulu awakened me as he did you. He has something to show us, I suppose."

Their way lay up a woodland slope, where the trees had a park-like aspect, and beneath their shade it was still quite dim, but here and there they caught glimpses of the sky, which was flecked with little clouds of orange, and vermilion, and gold, while the light was rapidly growing in the east.

The General went on rapidly, as if quite sure of his route, and it seemed that the point at which he was aiming was the highest part of a ridge.

And so it proved, for when he had reached the summit the Zulu chief walked cautiously along for a short distance, and then stopped and stooped down, motioning to those who followed to do the same.

They obeyed him implicitly, preparing their pieces at the same time.

Then creeping up to him cautiously, they found that they were on a ridge looking down into a widespread valley, flooded with the light of the approaching sunrise.

It was a glorious scene, and worth all the trouble and patience of their long journey to see. It was almost breathlessly that they gazed at the broad, gra.s.sy valley, with its clumps of trees, patches of wood, and portions dotted with ma.s.ses of rock, whose tops were bathed in the amber morning tints, while in the direction where the little party gazed the shadows of tree and stone lay dark.

Facing them in the east the clouds were now gorgeous in their hues, one layer forming a grand arch of light, towards which darted upwards the rays of the coming sun.

But it was not only the sunrise that was glorious in the extreme, nor the beauty of the broad valley that held the spectators' eyes, but the occupants of the scene below.

The General had undertaken to guide them to what he called the great game country, and he had kept his word. For below them--to right, to left, and away towards the golden burst of glory where the sun was about to rise--the land was literally alive with game.

Down to their right spread broad marshy lagoon after lagoon, in which swam, dived or waded, countless ducks and crane. Here, writhing its snaky neck and curious head and beak, was the flamingo, all white and rose; there, soft grey cranes and others, with a lovely crest, as if in imitation of the rays of the rising sun.

But it was not the wondrous variety of birds alone that took their attention, but the large game, feeding, gambolling, and careering in countless herds. To the left were zebras, and beyond some quaggas, or wild a.s.ses, the peculiar bray or cry of _quay-gah_! _quay-gah_! reaching to their ears. On their right there were gnus, or wildebeestes, as the Boers called them, brindled and the blue--curiously fierce-looking little animals, partaking both of the character of the deer and the buffalo. Some grazed placidly in the morning light, others were engaged in tilting at each other with their horns, while their companions looked on as if waiting for their turn; and every now and then the sound of the striking horns ascended to the woody ridge with a loud crash.

But while these creatures contended together, groups of antelopes were dotted here and there, while others careered at lightning speed over the plain.

The sight was wonderful, and the boys felt as if they would never tire of watching the evolutions of the graceful creatures, which, with their skins glistening and horns looking golden in the morning light, seemed to be going through a series of military evolutions with the greatest precision.

"Koodoo, p.r.o.nghorn," said Mr Rogers, looking at the herd through his gla.s.s. "There are a dozen elands too," he continued, and then pa.s.sed the gla.s.s to his sons.

"Oh, this is grand," cried d.i.c.k enthusiastically. "I could stay here for ever watching the graceful creatures."

"So could I," said Jack, after breakfast. "I say, father, hadn't we better shoot something--the stock's getting low?"

"Yes," said Mr Rogers quietly; and he longed to go himself and bring down a good fat buck for the replenishment of the larder; but the expedition was for his sons, and he gave place to them. "Now, d.i.c.k," he continued, "here is a chance for you to try and stalk one of those hartebeestes; or better still, a nice fat antelope. Pick out one with a fine head of horns, and then aim straight at the shoulder, and be sure and bring him down."

"At what distance would you fire, father?" asked d.i.c.k.

"I'd get as close as I could, my boy, but I'd fire at six or seven hundred yards sooner than miss a shot. Now go!"

d.i.c.k crept off, his father giving him a warning word about not losing his way, but to impress the land-marks upon his memory, so as to recognise them if he went astray.

As he disappeared down the valley side of the slope, Mr Rogers turned to Jack.

"Well, my boy, would you like a try as well?"

Jack's whole face, as well as his tongue, said yes, and Mr Rogers smilingly pointed down into the valley, in the other direction.

"Be careful," he said, "and don't fire either in our direction or in your brother's, for a rifle-bullet flies far."

"All right, father," cried Jack; and he too crept down the slope from bush to bush, to try and stalk one of the bok that came nearest to the clump of wood upon his right.

"So this is the game country?" said Mr Rogers.

"Yes, boss, this the game country, but only bit outside. I show you big game yet--elephant, lion, all the big animal, only wait."

Mr Rogers was ready to set self aside in every way in his efforts to educate his sons, so he took out his gla.s.s and sat down beside the General, watching the various herds of wild animals in the glowing morning light, and thinking how grateful he ought to be to see his boys daily growing in health, strength, and confidence. For it was unmistakable; d.i.c.k, the weak, half-consumptive lad, was altering rapidly, and the anxious father's heart rejoiced as the dark shadow that had hovered over his life seemed to be chased away.

As he sat there thinking, and bringing his gla.s.s to bear upon the various herds, while waiting for them to take the alarm, he could not help feeling that d.i.c.k and Jack were managing uncommonly well to have gone on so long without alarming the game. It showed thoughtfulness, and ability in the hunter's craft; not, of course, that he wished them to turn out hunters, but he believed in thoroughness, and he used to say that if it was only play it ought to be done well.

He was letting the gla.s.s rest upon his knees, with his eyes running dreamily over the landscape, when he became aware of the fact that the Zulu was watching him intently, as he sat there with a couple of a.s.segais across his knees.

"I am sorry I was so unjust to him that night," thought Mr Rogers. "It is a pity one's nature prompts one to be so hasty and suspicious."

Then as his eyes met those of the General, as it was fast becoming the custom to call him, he cudgelled his brains for some way of showing his confidence in him, who was so completely their guide.

Suddenly a soft smile beamed on the Zulu's fierce countenance, and he said gently,--

"Boss thinking about his boys. Fine brave boys; make big warriors and chiefs. Zulu wish his boys here too. Love his boys same as white man."

Mr Rogers stretched out his hand to the Zulu on the instant, for he had touched the chord of their common humanity, and white man and black man, as their hands joined in one firm grip, felt that henceforth they would be friends who could trust each other to the end.

"Look!" cried the Zulu suddenly; and he pointed down into the plain, where the alarm had been taken in the direction taken by d.i.c.k.

Antelopes that had been feeding, suddenly threw up their heads and galloped together, seeming to form square--first with horns outward to resist attack; then they reformed, and charged in one direction; halted, turned, and charged in another--as if alarmed, and yet not knowing which way to go.

The wildebeestes that had been fighting stopped, erected their tails, pawed the ground, and then, throwing their heads side-wise, began to plough it with one horn, but only to snort loudly and tear over the plain; while the zebras and quaggas began to toss their heads and tear about over the gra.s.sy wild, kicking and plunging, and scattering the light antelopes like the wind.

Suddenly there was a puff of smoke from a clump of bushes quite a mile away, and after an interval the faint crack of a rifle.

"That's d.i.c.k's gun, General," said Mr Rogers, bringing his gla.s.s to bear upon a little herd of antelopes that must have formed the object of the shot; but not one of them fell, neither did either of them seem to be lamed.

"Miss, this time," said the General, quietly.