Part 13 (1/2)
”That sounds easy and satisfactory enough, d.i.c.k,” Mr Humphreys said, laughing; ”but one does not jump into these things in a moment. There, you go off to bed, and I will talk the matter further over with Mr Harvey.”
d.i.c.k went to bed in high glee. When his father once said that he would talk a thing over, d.i.c.k felt that the chances were very strong that he would give in to his wishes. Mr Humphreys was less influenced by the idea of making a good trading speculation than by the consideration that a journey of this kind would not only give great pleasure to his son, but would be of real benefit to him. It was Mr Humphreys' opinion that it is good for a lad to be placed in positions where he learns self-reliance, readiness, and promptness of action. For himself his farm-work occupied all his thoughts, and he needed no distraction; but for a lad change is necessary. Had d.i.c.k had--as would have been the case at home--a number of school-fellows and companions of the same age, he would have joined in their games and amus.e.m.e.nts, and no other change would have been necessary, or indeed desirable; but in the farm in Natal it was altogether different. The work of looking after a number of Kaffirs planting and watering trees was monotonous, and unbroken, as it generally was, by the sight of a strange face from the beginning to the end of the week, it was likely to become irksome to a boy.
Occasionally indeed d.i.c.k and Tom Jackson would meet and go out on a shooting expedition together; but Tom could seldom be spared, as his father, being shorter-handed than Mr Humphreys, found him of considerable use.
Soon after daylight d.i.c.k was aroused by his father.
”Jump up at once, d.i.c.k; I want you to ride over with a letter to Mr Jackson. We have pretty well settled that you shall go with Mr Harvey, and I am writing to make an offer to Mr Jackson for the use of his waggon for six months.”
d.i.c.k gave a shout of delight, and in a very short time had dressed himself, and, having saddled his horse, was das.h.i.+ng at full speed across the veldt. Early as the hour was when he arrived, Mr Jackson was already out in his fields. d.i.c.k soon found him, and handed him the letter, and while he was reading it explained in low, excited words to Tom the mission on which he had come.
”Well, I don't know,” Mr Jackson said, when he had finished the letter; ”your father makes me a very liberal offer, d.i.c.k, for my waggon and team for six months, on the condition that I allow Tom to accompany them, and he points out that in his opinion a journey of this kind will be likely to develop the boy's character and teach him many things that may some day be of use to him. It comes upon me suddenly, and it seems he wants the waggon and team to be at Newcastle this evening, ready for a start in the morning. He himself is going to ride over there to purchase goods to freight it directly he receives my reply. I must go in and consult with mother before I come to any decided conclusion.”
So saying he strode off towards the house.
d.i.c.k, leading his pony, walked after, by the side of Tom, to whom he explained all he knew of the character of the proposed journey.
”Mr Harvey says, Tom, that of course he goes to trade, but that at the same time he does a lot of shooting, both for the sake of the skins and for the meat for the men. He says that he often meets with lions, hippopotami, and sometimes elephants--sometimes they meet with hostile natives.”
Altogether the expedition promised an immense variety of adventure. The boys remained chatting outside the house until Mr Jackson came to the door and called them in.
”So you are not contented to stop at home, d.i.c.k,” Mrs Jackson said, ”and you want to take Tom rambling away with you again? Of course I cannot say no, when my husband is inclined to let him go, but I shall be terribly anxious until he is back again.”
”I won't let him get into any sc.r.a.pes, Mrs Jackson,” d.i.c.k said confidently.
”I have no faith whatever,” Mrs Jackson said, smiling, ”in your keeping him out of sc.r.a.pes, but I do think it possible that you may get him out of them after he is once in them. Do be careful, my boys, for the sakes of your fathers and mothers! I know Mr Harvey has been making these journeys for a good many years and has always got back safely, and I have great faith in his experience and knowledge,--but there, d.i.c.k, I must not keep you. Here is my husband with an answer to your father's letter, and as you will have lots to do, and your father will be waiting for this letter before he starts for Newcastle, you had better ride off at once. Good-bye, my boy, for I shan't see you again before you start.
I trust that you will come back safe and well.”
Two minutes later d.i.c.k was again galloping across the country, arriving home in time for breakfast.
Mrs Humphreys was in better spirits than d.i.c.k had feared he should find her; but her health had improved immensely since her arrival in the colony, and she was more active and energetic than d.i.c.k ever remembered her to have been. She was able therefore to take a far more cheerful view of the proposed expedition than she could have done the year before, and her husband had had comparatively little difficulty in obtaining her consent to d.i.c.k's accompanying Mr Harvey.
”Your father thinks that it will be for your good, my boy,” she said, ”and I have no doubt that you will enjoy yourself greatly,--but be sure to be careful, and don't let your high spirits get you into sc.r.a.pes;-- remember how valuable your life is to us!”
”While you are away, d.i.c.k,” his father said, ”you will remember that you are absolutely under Mr Harvey's orders. As the head of the expedition he stands in the position of the master, and he must receive ready and explicit obedience from all. He is not a man unnecessarily to curb or check you, and you may be sure that he will not restrain you unless for the good of the expedition. You must beware how far you stray from the caravan; the country you are going to is very different from this.
Here, go where you will, you are sure in a short time to come upon some farmhouse, where you may get directions as to your way. There, once lost, it is upon yourself alone you must depend to recover the track.
The beasts of prey are formidable opponents, and a lion or an elephant wounded, but not killed, could rend you into pieces in a moment; therefore you must be prudent as well as brave, obedient as well as enterprising. You have already shown that you have plenty of presence of mind, as well as of courage, and in nine cases out of ten the former quality is even the more necessary in a country such as that you are now going to. Courage will not avail you when a wounded leopard is charging down upon you, and your rifle is already discharged, but presence of mind may point out some means of escape from the danger. And now, if you have finished breakfast, you had better ride over with me to Newcastle--I have a very large number of goods to buy. Mr Harvey, who went on the first thing, will meet me there and show me the kind of goods most likely to take with the natives; it will be well that you should not only know the price of each article, but that you should see everything packed, so as to know the contents of each bale by its shape and markings--a matter which may save you much trouble when you begin to trade.”
The shopping did not take up so long a time as Mr Humphreys had antic.i.p.ated; the large storekeepers all kept precisely the kind of goods required, as they were in the habit of selling to the Boers for barter with the natives.
In the afternoon the waggon was sent away, and an hour before daybreak next morning d.i.c.k, having bade farewell to his mother, started with Mr Humphreys.
Tom and Mr Jackson arrived there a few minutes later, and the work of loading the waggons at once commenced, and was concluded by nine o'clock; then they joined the waggons of Mr Harvey, which were already waiting outside the town.
Their fathers rode with them to the ford across the river, and then after a hearty farewell returned to their farms, while the caravan of five waggons crossed into the Transvaal.
Each waggon was drawn by sixteen oxen, with a native driver and leader to each. There were three Swazis who had accompanied Mr Harvey on previous expeditions, all good hunters and men who could be relied upon in every emergency. The eldest of these natives was a very tall and muscular man, of some five and forty years of age; the left side of his face, his shoulder, and side were deeply seamed with scars, the relics of a fight with a wounded lioness. He had a very long and difficult name, which had been Anglicised and shortened by Mr Harvey into ”Jack.”
The second of the trio was a man so short as to be almost deformed, a very unusual circ.u.mstance among the natives. His head was set low between his shoulders, and his long sinewy arms reached almost to his ankles. Mr Harvey told the lads he was immensely strong, and the expression of his face was quick and intelligent. He was about twenty-four years of age; he had been found by Mr Harvey's father, who had also been a trader, deserted and apparently dying, a baby of only a few months old. Among savage people infants who are in any way deformed are generally deserted and left to perish, and this was the fate evidently intended for the child when the mother became convinced he would not grow up tall and straight, like other men. Mr Harvey had picked it up, fed and cared for it, and it grew up full of a pa.s.sionate attachment for him, following him everywhere, and ready at any moment to give his life for him. He was called Tony, and spoke English as fluently as the native language.