Part 19 (1/2)
Though not quite so confident as Ben, we hoped that we should be able to keep at bay any enemies who might attack us.
The bank of the river was thickly wooded, and we made but slow progress.
Despairing at last of finding a canoe, we determined to build a raft.
Reaching a part of the bank where a few feet of open ground gave us s.p.a.ce to work, we commenced operations. My cutla.s.s was invaluable, as it enabled us to cut down a number of young palms, the wood of which was soft and light. There were also plenty of creepers, which served instead of ropes for binding the logs together. We first placed a row of young trees side by side, and then secured another row at right angles upon them. By evening our raft was complete. We also provided ourselves with long poles, which would enable us to guide it in shallow water or keep it off overhanging trees; and, in addition, we formed five rough paddles--one being larger than the rest, for steering. We intended also to form a triangle, between which we could spread our s.h.i.+rts to serve as a sail should the wind be fair. Well satisfied with our day's performance, we launched our raft, which had been built close to the water, and secured it to the bank. It floated us all well; and as it was likely to afford a more secure resting-place than the sh.o.r.e, we lay down on it to sleep--two of us at a time keeping watch, lest any wild beast might, attack us. But although lions were heard roaring all night long, and other strange sounds came out of the forest, we slept securely on our floating bed.
At daybreak, and in good spirits, we commenced our adventurous voyage.
At first we floated tranquilly down the stream, having only occasionally to use our paddles to keep the raft off from the trunks of sunken trees--called snags, in America--which appeared above the water. In a short time, however, the current became more rapid, and we found, by the way the water leaped about, that we were being carried over a shallow part of the river. Our poles, too, showed that the depth was not above three or four feet. Presently the water became more shallow and more agitated, and we thought it wise to make for the bank. We were steering towards it, when the raft, striking an unseen rock, was whirled rapidly round and round: the water rushed over it, and we ourselves were swept off; while the raft, freed from our weight, was carried downwards, and quickly dashed to pieces among a number of rocks, over which the water furiously rushed, not a hundred yards below us. Happily we were all good swimmers, and we managed to reach shallow water and climb up the bank.
”What has become of our weapons?” was the first question we asked.
They, with my Moorish sword, had been placed in the centre of the raft, and so had been lost. We had cause to be thankful however, for having escaped with our lives.
Undaunted by the accident, we determined to persevere, and to try and find a canoe in which to prosecute our voyage. Ben had saved one of the long poles, which, after sharpening at the end, would serve as a weapon--the only one we now possessed. Selim offered to supply us with bows and arrows, which might serve to kill birds for our meals. He showed himself one of the most active of the party, too, and as he went on ahead he looked into every little bay or hollow in which a canoe was likely to be concealed.
At length we caught sight of some low, conical-shaped, thatched huts in the distance, and Selim said he was sure he could find a canoe not far off from thence. The only doubt was whether he should take it without asking the owner's leave, or try to obtain the loan of it: but then we had absolutely nothing to offer in return; and the natives might not only refuse to give it us, but might make us prisoners--and perhaps carry us back to the Arabs from whom we were escaping, or sell us to some other tribe.
”Beggars must not be choosers,” said Ben. ”To my mind, if we can find a canoe, we have a right to her, considering that we have been kept in slavery, and worked pretty hard too, by the friends of these people.”
Certainly, I would rather have bought the canoe; but as that was out of the question, I could not help agreeing with Ben.
We had not gone far, when we came to a path evidently made by human feet. ”This probably leads to some plantation, or to another village, through the forest,” observed Boxall. ”We must proceed cautiously, so as not to come suddenly upon the natives.”
Selim offered to go on first and explore the way.
In a short time he came running back. ”I have discovered a canoe afloat and secured to the bank,” he said. ”She has paddles in her, so the owners cannot be far-off. We are indeed, fortunate, and must not lose the opportunity of escaping, as we are not likely again to meet so good a one.”
We hurried on. There lay the canoe, as Selim had described; she was large enough to hold us all--indeed, large enough to navigate the river to its mouth. Without further consideration we stepped into her, and seizing the paddles, cast off the painter, and shoved out into the stream. We did not feel quite as happy as we might have done had we been able to obtain her by lawful purchase from the owners. They would naturally be enraged on discovering that we had run off with their property, and if they could obtain the means, would, of course, follow us; we hoped, however, by paddling on, to get well ahead before being discovered. We should be in most danger when pa.s.sing the village we had seen on the bank some way down the stream.
Boxall told Selim to take the helm--as his black face might make the natives suppose that we were a party of white slaves sent down the river by our owner--while we four paddled with might and main. As we neared the village we plied our paddles harder than ever. Just as we got abreast of it, we saw a native in the front of one of the huts.
Discovering us, he shouted to some others, who rushed out of their huts and followed him down to the river. We did not stop to ascertain what they were about to do, but paddled on. We had not got far, however, before we saw a canoe being launched from the bank. We might easily have distanced her, and were expecting to do so, when there appeared two more canoes some way ahead of us, putting off from the sh.o.r.e, evidently with the intention of intercepting us. Our only hope now was that we could fight our way past them. Had we possessed our firearms, or even Antonio's scimitar, this we might have done without much danger; but with only our paddles and Ben's long pole for weapons of defence, we should run, we knew, a great risk of losing our lives: still the attempt must be made.
We paddled on boldly, shouting at the top of our voices, in the hope of intimidating our enemies. Those in one of the canoes seemed doubtful about attacking us, but the others came boldly on, sending, as they got near, a flight of arrows towards us. Selim shouted to them, telling them to keep off, and saying that we only wished to be allowed to pa.s.s in peace. To this they paid no attention, however, but, uttering loud cries in reply to our shouts, came das.h.i.+ng towards us. Ben, who had got his long pole ready, sprang up, and plunged it with such force that it ran through the body of one of the savages, who was dragged overboard.
The others, alarmed by the death of their companion, paddled to a distance, and a.s.sailed us with fresh flights of arrows. Happily, they were not well aimed, and none of us were struck.
We now began to hope that we should escape, though, as we paddled on, we were hotly pursued by two canoes. We were, however, distancing them, when we found that the river made a sharp bend, and ran back close to the village we had at first seen. At the same time we caught sight of four or five large canoes putting off from the sh.o.r.e, evidently for the purpose of intercepting us. In vain we attempted to escape; the canoes completely surrounded us, and unless we had resolved, rather than yield, to sacrifice our lives, resistance would have been useless. We merely, therefore, warded off with our paddles the blows aimed at our heads, while we cried out to the people that we were ready to give in if they would desist from striking. Before they understood us, however, we had received several cuts and bruises, and in a pitiable condition were conducted on sh.o.r.e.
On landing we were placed in an open s.p.a.ce on the ground, with guards over us; while the more influential persons seated themselves under a widespreading baobab-tree, and discussed what was to be done with us.
Though we could not hear clearly what was said, from their gestures we fully believed they contemplated putting us to death.
”We might as well have made a stouter fight for our liberty,” observed Ben, who seemed to be sorry that we had yielded so easily.
”If they believe that they can make anything by us, they will not kill us,” said Boxall. ”We may still, I hope, escape death.”
Anxiously we watched the gestures of the a.s.sembly. They were savage-looking fellows enough, but yet it soon became evident that some were for mild measures; and Selim, who understood better than we did what they were saying, caught a few words, and told us that they were waiting the arrival of some one, who had been sent for, and who was to decide our fate.
Some hours pa.s.sed, during which we were kept without food, and exposed to the burning rays of the sun. At length there was a movement among our captors, and we caught sight of several hors.e.m.e.n coming through the forest, with a person, who was evidently a chief of importance, at their head. As he approached, we recognised the black, ill-looking sheikh to whose camp we had conducted the veiled lady. My heart, I confess, sunk within me, for I expected very little mercy at his hands. Without dismounting, he listened to the account the chiefs of the village gave of our capture. When they had finished, I thought it was time for me to speak, and I knew that by so doing I could not make our case worse; I therefore addressed him in Arabic, which, at our former interview, I found that he understood. I reminded him that I had conducted his daughter and her family, placed under my charge, in safety to him; and that, having faithfully performed my duty, I felt that I had a right to escape from slavery, and to try and get back to my own country; that on my way I had fallen in with my present companions, and that when we were captured we were only doing what he and any of his people would, under similar circ.u.mstances, have attempted.
He seemed more moved by my address than I had expected. ”What you say is true, O Nazarene,” he answered; ”but those from whom you have escaped are my friends, and they will demand you at my hands. You know the penalty you have incurred by attempting to escape, and you must be prepared to pay it.”