Part 27 (1/2)

”I'm sorry for you,” returned Hans, ”for you'll see no water this night.

To-morrow we'll start early and get to the waggons by breakfast-time.”

This was depressing news to Considine, for the heat of the day and exertions of the chase had, as he expressed it, almost dried him up.

There was nothing for it, however, but patience.

About sunset they came to a place where were some old deserted huts. In one of these they resolved to pa.s.s the night, though, from certain holes in the side, it was evidently used at times as an abode by beasts of prey. Having flint and steel, they made a fire, and while thus engaged were serenaded by the distant and dolorous howls of a hyena and the inharmonious jabberings of a jackal.

”Pleasant company!” observed Considine as he roasted a steak over the fire.

”Ja,” replied Hans, who, being a more expert cook, was already busy with a rib.

The melancholy hoot of an owl seemed to indicate that the animal kingdom agreed with the sentiment, and the young men laughed. They were not, however, disposed to talk much. After a silent supper they lay down and slept soundly, quite oblivious of the prowlers of the night, who came, more than once, near to the door of the hut.

It was late next day when they awoke. Hans likewise missed his way, and though he afterwards discovered his mistake, they found it impossible to regain the track of their companions before sunset. All that day they were compelled to travel without tasting a drop of water, and their poor horses became so fatigued as to be scarcely equal to more than a walking pace. As Hans knew that water was not far off, he pushed on after sunset, so as to have the shorter distance to travel to it in the morning.

”It is very tantalising,” he said, drawing rein when the darkness of the night rendered travelling almost impossible, ”to know that our friends cannot be far off, and yet be unable to reach them.”

”Hadn't we better fire a shot?” asked Considine.

”Not of much use, I fear, but there can be no harm in trying.”

The shot was fired and was instantly replied to by a tremendous roar from a lion, apparently close to where they stood. No wood was near them to make a fire, nothing but tufts of gra.s.s; they therefore pushed on towards a range of dark mountains as fast as their jaded steeds would go.

”Halt a moment,” said Hans in a low voice.

They stopped and listened. The approach of the lion in rear was distinctly heard.

”We cannot escape from him, Charlie,” said Hans, as they again urged their horses onward, ”and in the dark we cannot take aim at him. Our only chance is to reach yonder pa.s.s or glen that looms like a black cleft in the hills, and clamber up some precipice, whence we can pelt him with stones.”

He spoke in quick, earnest tones. They soon entered the gorge and were greeted by the grunt of a baboon and the squalling of its young ones, which helped to increase the savage aspect of the towering cliffs on either side. They had not proceeded far when the lion gave another tremendous roar, which, echoing from cliff to cliff, gave the luckless hunters the feeling of having got into the very heart of a lion's den.

No suitable place to scramble up being found, they pushed madly on over a track of sand and bushes, expecting every instant to see the monster bound upon them. But the defile was shorter than Hans had supposed. On issuing from it they were cheered by the moon rising bright in the east, and found that their enemy had ceased to follow them at that point.

Still, though weary, and with their tongues cleaving to the roofs of their mouths, they continued their march for several hours, and lying down at last, they scarcely knew how or there, they went to sleep with a prayer for protection and deliverance on their parched lips.

The weary wanderers pa.s.sed that night in a very paradise, bathing in cool streams and slaking their thirst nearly, but never _quite_, to the full. There was always a peculiar desire to drink again, and, even then, to wish for more! Heavenly music, too, sounded in their ears, and the sweet shade of green trees sheltered them.

It was daybreak when they were roused from these delights by a hyena's howl, and awoke to find that they were speechless with thirst, their eyes inflamed, and their whole frames burning.

Saddling the horses at once, they rode forward, and in a couple of hours reached a hill near the top of which there was a projecting rock.

”Don't let me raise your hopes too high,” said Hans, pointing to the rock, ”but it is just possible that we may find water _there_.”

”G.o.d grant it!” said Considine.

”Your horse is fresher than mine,” said Hans, ”and you are lighter than I am--go first. If there is water, hail me--if not, I will wait your return.”

With a nod of a.s.sent the youth pushed forward, gained the rock, and found the place where water had once been, a dry hole!

For a few minutes he stood gazing languidly on the plain beyond the ridge. Despair had almost taken possession of his breast, when his eye suddenly brightened. He observed objects moving far away on the plain.

With bated breath he stooped and shaded his eyes with his hand. Yes, there could be no doubt about it--a party of hors.e.m.e.n and bullock-waggons! He tried to cheer, but his dry throat refused to act.