Part 9 (2/2)
”Dreadful! I had no idea that there was such danger in an elephant-hunt; yet I h it may appear foolishness, it only makes me more anxious to have one”
”Well, as we advance, you will have no want of opportunity; but it will be better to get the Caffres to join us, which they ith great delight”
”Why, they have no weapons, except their spears”
”None; but they will attack hireat success, as you will see; they watch their opportunity as he passes, get behind, and drive their spears into his body until the animal is exhausted from loss of blood, and they are so quick that the elephant seldom is able to destroy one of theh rank as one of their kings, and it is very laughable to hear the pardon of hireat captain, don't kill us,'”
”But how is it that they can approach so terrible an animal without destruction?”
”It is because they do approach quite close to hiht before him, and he turns with difficulty The Caffres are within three feet of his tail or flank when they attack, and they attack him in the elephant-paths, which are too narrow for the anireat risk that they run is fro out to the assistance of the one attacked”
”The animals do assist each other, then?”
”Yes; there was a remarkable instance of it in the affair of Lieutenant Moodie I e male elephant which killed the soldier just after Mr Moodie's escape Shortly afterward a shot fro of this ani, and there it stood to be fired at The fe the distress of its er, i away the hunters, and walked round and round herhiacity to place her flank against the wounded side, so as to support hi At last the feered into the bush, where she fell; and the male was soon after laid prostrate by the side of the poor soldier who in the last portion of your story, Swinton,” observed Alexander; ”it really ent and reasoning aniht to teach you to respect theree with you; their sagacity, as ht me, is wonderful;--but here comes supper, and I am not sorry for it”
”Nor I,” replied Alexander ”To-uides are correct I aet there, I must say Does not the chief of the Amakosa tribe live close to the Mission-house,--Hinza, as they call him?”
”Yes,” replied Swinton, ”he does, and we must have a present ready for him, for I think it would be advisable to ask an escort of his warriors to go with us after we leave the Mission”
”Yes, it will be quite as well,” replied the Major, ”and then we shall have so: but Bremen tells me that there are plenty of hippopotami in the river there, close to the Mission”
”Water-elephants,” replied Swinton; ”I suppose you will not leave them alone?”
”Certainly not if our commander-in-chief will allow us to stop”
”I think your commander-in-chief,” replied Wilmot, ”is just as anxious to have a day's sport with them as you are, Major; so you will certainly have his perht to put Oht for a spare horse, if required”
”Not a bad idea,” replied Alexander ”What a tiger he would make for a cab in the park!”
”More like a o to bed; so, good-night”
CHAPTER XI
The caravan proceeded on the following , and by noon they arrived at the Mission station of butterworth, which was about one hundred and forty miles from the colonial boundaries This station had only been settled about three years, but even in that short tily contrasted with the savage country around it The Mission-house was little better than a large cottage, it is true, and the church a sort of barn; but it was surrounded by neat Caffre huts and gardens full of produce
On the arrival of the caravan, Mr S, the missionary, came out to meet the travelers, and to welcome them He had been infor some articles which had been sent for It hardly need be said that,at such a place, and in such a country, the parties soon became on intimate terms Mr S offered them beds and accommodation in his house, but our travelers refused; they ell satisfied with their own; and having unyoked their oxen, and turned the to the station, they accepted the missionary's invitation to join his repast
Alexander having stated the object of his expedition, requested the advice of Mr S as to his further proceedings, and asked hi, and ly advised them to do; and to ask for a party of Caffres to accompany the caravan, which would not only insure them safety, but would prove in many respects very useful All that would be necessary would be to find them in food and to promise them a present, if they conducted themselves well ”You are aware,” continued he, ”that Hinza's domain only extends as far as the Bashee or St John's River, and you will have to proceed beyond that; but with some of the Caffre warriors you will have no difficulty, as the tribes further will not only fear your strength, but also the anger of Hinza, should they coret to say, do not look very peaceable just now”
”Indeed! what is the quarrel, and ho chief of the nans over the Tarand cause of quarrels in these countries, and both parties are preparing for war But whether it will take place is doubtful, as they are both threatened with a more powerful enemy, and may probably be compelled to unite, in order to defend themselves”