Part 7 (2/2)
Though he said this, he felt very faint hopes of success; still, like a brave fellow, he kept up, shouting and splashi+ng as lanced over his shoulder The dreadedon In another minute, before they could possibly reach the raft, it would be up to the their ut along the bank He stopped, and raised a rifle to his shoulder Percy fancied he could hear the bullet whistle through the air, and the thud as it struck the crocodile's head The ht Denis and Crawford raised a loud cheer, and in a few seconds they were hauling Percy and Lionel, both almost exhausted, on to the raft
”Bravo! Percy, you did it well,” cried Denis; ”and Lionel showed himself to be a brave little chap, or he would not have enabled you to save him as you have done”
Hendricks was less deh he had no ti the two boys on the centre of the raft, he, with the rest who had come on it, had to exert theolo waiting to receive them
”You saved the boys' lives,his hand ”You have rendered me many services; this is not the least of theolo replied in the sa lad to have prevented the crocodile fro them up to the spot where the cahted to dry their clothes and to cook some provisions, while they sat close to it, wrapped up in blankets They both speedily recovered, the proof of which was that they ate heartily of the viands prepared for them
”It's the last time I'll endeavour to cross a river at the tail of a horse, when crocodiles are likely to be swilad that you escaped fro as I was, it would have had you to a certainty”
The circuether, while Percy rose much in the estimation of all his cory lion rush out on you, or a party of Zulus co out of a kraal to cut off your head; I'd show both the one and the other what I could do with ht until I was killed, and should not care if you made your escape”
”Thank you!” answered Percy ”I hope we shall not come to that extremity, but I am very sure that you will do your best to help ht passed with the usual chorus from hyenas and jackals At dawn the travellers were on the move For a considerable distance few inhabitants werenear the border, lest, when he should require theet across it, and escape fro on for some days, another steep hill rose before theht the better be able to drag up the waggon in theThe ascent was no easy one, and the Hottentots had to exert their arms and voices
”I hope the descent will not be so difficult, or the waggon may chance to be capsized,” said Crawford, as he and Denis were following behind, ready to put big stones under the wheels, and prevent the vehicle slipping back
”No fear of that, for we shall not have to descend at all,” answered Denis
He was right On the sue of a vast plateau, extending to the north and south Some parts were covered with fine timber trees, others with scattered mimosa bushes, and here and there a hillock rose above the plain Deer of various species were seen bounding along in unrestrained freedom, chiefly small animals; now and then a herd of pallah or koodoo would o in chase
Hendricks, however, was anxious to proceed as fast as he could through the country, until he could reach a region where elephants and other h the sun was intensely hot during the day, the air was pure and exhilarating, especially in the earlyDay after day the party travelled on, occasionally passing near kraals, but Hendricks generally avoided them, unless he wished to do a stroke of trade with the inhabitants The country as they advanced becaa in the afternoon, the hunters ent out with their guns never failed to bring back an ample supply of meat for the camp When there was time, and there was more than was required for ia, or gnu, was cut up into long strips, and after being slightly salted, was strung up, either outside the waggon, or on a rope fastened from it to a tree, where it quickly dried in the war, and requires no further cooking to suit the palate of the hunter It is to be sure soa, which fehite ly, becomes, when thus prepared, tolerably palatable
Occasionally it was necessary to give the oxen a rest, when they th, exhausted by the toils they had encountered
Next tireed that they would go hunting together, so that they lory to theolo, or even Crawford, who had beco hunter by this time, they would, as Denis observed, ”not have a chance of shooting anything”
Two days after this, having arrived at a suitable spot, away frorass, and a strea at the botto a halt, the oxen were outspanned and the cahbourhood, the three lads at once ements for their trip As their steeds had on, they were perfectly fresh, and it was settled that they should ride thereed also to take with theolo, was considered an experienced hunter Hendricks did not object to the boys accoe to keep theht be off at daybreak, as Hendricks wisely insisted that they should return before nightfall
CHAPTER SIX
A HUNTING EXPEDITION
The three lads, accoh spirits at daylight, expecting to have amore experience than his coer, had spirits enough to carry hih he did his best, being less inured to the heat of the cliue, and expressed his fears that he should have to turn back
”Don't say that; co,” cried Denis ”You won't ame Gozo says that about five h a wide valley or rather a plain, and that at the ford to which he will conduct us we shall be certain to as and pallahs, and other deer”
Percy, thus encouraged, pulled hiet the heat They rode on, however, for severalwas to be seen on either hand but wild antic ant-hills and occasional groves of tall trees