Part 4 (1/2)
”You have given us a pretty fright, Denis,” said his father ”What made you take it into your head to start off alone fro?”
”Faith! for the sake of showing you what I could do,” answered Denis
”Besides, I just honestly confess that I thought you would have inspanned and co this hen I hoped you would not have refused to take ained nothing by the move,” observed his father ”You have shown o through the fatigues of a hunter's life You'll just take advantage of the kind offer of our friend here, and go back with hi”
Poor Denis looked very crestfallen, but said nothing, for he did not feel just then well able to enter into a controversy with any one
Indeed, he was groeaker and weaker, and it seeet back to the caun, and was staggering ahead with it over his shoulders He kept his eyes looking about hi or other Presently he cried out in Zulu, ”Be on your guard, white chief See, see! there they coht of the lion, followed at a distance by the cubs, stealing down the hill towards the spot where the lioness had been shot He kept his eye on the animal, to watch its movements Both he and Maloney had loaded with ball, and they now halted until the lion cae of their weapons
The bruteup on its haunches, surveyed theht WeDenis, while the boy kept close to their side until they had passed the body of the lioness, the lion all the ti its position, conscious probably that its duties were to protect its cubs They went on and on until they got out of sight of the lion, which, when they last saw it, had not moved from its post
Very frequently, however, Hendricks looked back to ascertain whether the ani them ”After all, they are cowardly brutes,” he observed ”They will seldom attack a man when they see he is prepared for theer I have never found them otherwise”
A rhinoceros, a panther, and several deer were seen, but they had no further interruptions to their progress, and at length the camp was reached They found breakfast ready for them From the appearance of Denis, who scarcely ate a morsel, it was more than ever evident that he would be unable to accompany his father It was doubtful indeed whether he would be able to start with Hendricks the following on In the meantime a bed wasof a blanket and kaross, the latter being a robe coh anxious to get to Maritzburg, agreed to wait until the following , when it was hoped that Denis would be able to sit his horse, and benefit by the fresh air of the early day
His father was very grateful to their friend for his kindness
”Don't talk about it,” answered the sturdy hunter ”Our oxen will benefit by having another day's rest and good feeding, which neither yours nor mine are likely to obtain for so stop et to the end of my journey, and you, of course, will have to traverse the barren country I lately passed over”
The young chief, however, showed great impatience at the delay He evidently feared that his country hilish He expressed this idea to Hendricks
”They will have to fight pretty hard to do that, and you must not be slow to defend yourselves,” observed the hunter
The black chief flourished his assegai with a fierce look ”Mangaleesu has shohat he can do, and he will not yield while life lasts,” he exclaiht for themselves merit assistance,” observed the hunter ”Rest assured, ill not deliver you up”
During the hot hours of the day the Kaffir and Hottentot servants lay about in whatever shade could be found, soer nuround with a few boughs or pieces of blanket over their heads Occasionally the Hottentots were roused up to take then turn in watching the cattle, on which, even during the day, it was necessary to keep a bright look-out lest a lion e into their th Hendricks called out the hunters, and sent theame While they took one direction, he hiher up theto discover if there was any more practicable route than the one by which the latter had come, as also to ascertain if there were any native kraals in the neighbourhood The suht,” said Maloney, after they had surveyed the country
”You'll not find a better road to the east or west, bad as it is; if you -pan into the fire”
On either side were seen a succession of tree-covered heights, through which no waggon could force its way, unless preceded by a party of pioneers to cut down the trees and bridge the ravines In the far distance were a few kraals with open spaces rounds of the inhabitants, but in other respects the whole country was a perfect wilderness
As they were descending they caught sight of a graceful animal which at that moment had leapt on a rock not far from them In colour and appearance it resembled the co the strangers, it was on the point of turning to escape, when Hendricks, raising his gun in a er fell fro, down on the smooth side of the hill, where it lay er is one of thefro s it to its roa mountainous life, while the hair is so loose in the skin, that even in the short distance the animal just shot had fallen, a considerable part had been knocked off Uolo at once shouldered it, and without difficulty carried it off to the camp Had it been a load of any other description, he would have declined to de it on his shoulders On their way back, the hunters shot several dassi, or rock rabbits, which thus paid the penalty of their curiosity as they came out of their holes to look at the passers-by Their flesh, although not so highly flavoured, was ame, and they were thus an acceptable addition to the store of meat
Poor Denissleep Although he tried to be cheerful, and declared that he was fit for anything, it was still very evident that he would be unable to accompany his father
Except that there was a continual serenade of hyenas and jackals, with the occasional low ht passed quietly by Before dawn the nextboth camps were astir After a hurried breakfast the oxen were inspanned, and Denis was placed in the ho taken leave of him, and parted from Hendricks with a hearty shake of the hand, the two vehicles coaleesu and Kalinda walked together close to the waggon, and it had been arranged that should any natives appear, she was to get inside, while the young chief, who had put off the insignia of his rank, and was dressed like one of the other natives, would then, it was hoped, pass without discovery
Little Lionel, whose wound was slighter than at first supposed, and who seemed to look upon it as a side them, and at others clambered up by the side of the driver, to whom he took an especial fancy Denis frequently called hion, and alish, which the boy acquired onderful rapidity, it being scarcely ever necessary to tell hi
”I'lish,” said Denis to Hendricks, when they outspanned for the night ”Had his parents been Dutch, he would not have recollected the nas so uncommonly fast as he does