Part 25 (2/2)

In disgust I was prepared to take them on myself with the help of Mfutela. Falkner had learnt to drive a waggon by this time and now he must do it. His reply however when I propounded this to him was again characteristic. He was d.a.m.ned if he would.

The knot of the difficulty was cut and that unexpectedly, by the appearance of the chief's son, and with him some boys.

”These will drive your cattle, Iqalaqala,” he said.

”That is well, Muntisi,” I answered. ”And now son of Majendwa, what has come between me and the chief that he holds my hand no more? Is there now war?”

We were a little apart from the others, and talk in a low slurred tone that natives use when they don't want to be understood.

”Not war,” he answered; ”at any rate not yet. But, Iqalaqala, those who come into a chief's country should not come into it with too many eyes.”

”Ha!” I said, taking in the quick glance which he shot in Falkner's direction, and with it the situation. ”Too many eyes there may be, but a shut mouth more than makes up for that. A shut mouth, _impela_!”

”A shut mouth? _Au_! Is the mouth of Umsindo ever shut?”

This, it will be remembered, was Falkner's native name, meaning noise, or bounce, and the chief's son was perpetrating a sort of pun in the vernacular.

”But it will be this time, never fear,” I answered. ”Farewell now, son of Majendwa. I, who have seen more than men think, know how not to talk.”

I felt really grateful to Muntisi, and made him a final present which he appreciated.

”You need not mistrust those I have brought you,” he said. ”Only for others you cannot have too many eyes now until you reach Inncome,” he added meaningly.

Nothing of note happened and we trekked on unmolested in any way, travelling slow, for the trade cattle were fat and in excellent condition, which of course I didn't want to spoil. Then befel an incident which was destined to give us trouble with a vengeance.

We had got into spa.r.s.ely inhabited country now, and were nearing the border. One afternoon Falkner and I had struck off from the track a little to shoot a few birds for the pot--by the way Falkner had in some degree condescended to relax his sulks, being presumably tired of his own company. We had rejoined the track and had just put our horses into a canter to overtake the waggons when Falkner threw a glance over his shoulder and said:

”What sort of beast is that?”

I turned and looked back. It was a dark afternoon and inclining moreover to dusk, but I could make out something white glinting through the bush, rather behind us, but as if running parallel to our way. The bush grew in patches, and the thing would be alternately hidden or in the open again.

”Here goes for a shot, anyway,” said Falkner, slipping from his horse.

He carried a rifle and smooth-bore combination gun, and before I could prevent him or perhaps because I tried to, he had loosed off a bullet at the strange beast. A splash of dust, a good deal short of the mark, leaped up where it struck.

”The line was good but not the distance,” he grumbled. ”I'll get him this time,” slipping in a fresh cartridge.

”Much better not,” I urged. ”We don't want to get into any more bother with the people by shooting their dogs.”

He made no answer, and I was glad that the bush thickened where the animal had now disappeared.

”Let's get on,” I said. ”It's nearly dark.”

He mounted and we had just resumed our way, when not twenty yards distant, the creature came bounding forth, frightening our horses by the suddenness of his appearance. There was nothing hostile, however, in his att.i.tude. He was wagging his tail, and squirming and whimpering in delight, as a dog will do when he has found a long-lost master, or at best a well-known friend. I stared, hardly able to believe my own eyesight. The large, wolf-like form, the bushy tail--why there could be no duplicate of this ever whelped at a Zulu kraal, that was certain.

”Arlo,” I cried. ”Arlo, old chap. What are you doing in these parts, eh?”

The dog whined with delight, squirming up to us, his brush going like a flail. In a moment we were both off our horses.

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