Part 9 (1/2)
”You could not tell there was any thing there, Katie, except a few bushes, unless you went much closer”
”No, Hans, it is cleverly done; but I fear there would be no escape for us if any eneround”
”No, there would be none, Katie; so ill hope they will not come here; some of them would leave their bones here, that is certain; so it is better for theo down and see about cooking our rabbits, for soood for us”
Hans descended to the natural hole in the rocks where he intended lighting his fire as soon as it was dark enough to prevent the sht his atte plenty of wood, soon had a sufficient quantity of heat to cook all his ga the ravine he was startled by seeing the outline of several figures on the summits of the rocks above them Darkness had now set in, but it would not have been too dark to have enabled hiuish these objects, had he not been lately dazzled by the fire-light; this, however, had daed his keenness of vision for a time, and as the objects disappeared as soon as hethem From what he saever, he was certain that either Kaffirs or Bushmen were on the rocks above him In either case his condition would be unpleasant, for with the Bushainst every man's; and if the Matabili had traced him to his present retreat, his career would be soon terminated In either case not a moment was to be lost; so he rapidly moved over the distance which separated hi to Victor what he had seen, they cautioned Katrine to keep quiet and concealed, and grasping their rifles, they took up a position froe on which Hans had seen theto wait before their eneround Objects on the ridge were visible which could not have been seen had they not been thus situated
For this reason both Hans and Victor soon saw above twenty figures slowly ascend the ridge, and there stand and exa country As he saw the number of the enemy Hans raised his arm and touched Victor, whilst in a whisper he said, ”They must be Bushmen” It seemed impossible that the whisper of Hans could be audible at the distance at which the supposed Bush the kloofs, and still more improbable that the movement of Hans could have been seen even by a Bushure disappeared as though by ic, whilst no sound met the ears of the hunters
”Victor,” exclaimed Hans, ”those are not mortal enemies I have killed in my day more than twenty Kaffirs, principally Ahosts, sent here now to torht and for the defence of my life or cattle,--yet no mortal could have seen me move or heard me speak, but when I did both, they sank into the rocks to a man”
”Wait, Hans, let us see what happens; our cause is a good one, and in such a case though the devil may be powerful, God must be more than a match for him God would not allow the dead Kaffirs to worry us”
”There! there! Hans, see there areto hurl at us A bullet could not touch a being belonging to the dead, or I would fire”
”I wish I had consulted the Missionary about such a case,” earnestly exclaih at the Kaffirs who believe their fathers come and talk to them; but whatever h at a nation's belief, when I knew nothing about it Victor, we ht as well have been bred in the toe are weak and ill, or we should have seen before that these are baboons, so, and that is e fancied they were going to throw at us That is good: if baboons come here, and stay here, it shows that neither Bushmen or other men have been much here lately, and so we h; shall I or will you take the first watch? whoever does, he can keep guard till those three bright stars set, and then can call the other I _can_ sleep to-night, for I feel in this retreat that I have the best chance of success now If two days pass without the Matabili finding us, we shall escape, provided Bernhard can procure horses; but I would as soon stand up at fifty yards to be shot at with a Busher, for we should then be captured and slain in less than twelve hours Here, if we keep close, wewe should be exposed to all dangers; so now all depends on Bernhard Will you watch first, Victor, and place yourself near this wall of rock? then every sound from the plain will be heard clearer and ainst this rock like a wave, and is not lost Call me if you feel too sleepy to watch, for that is possible; and a little sleep ant it, is better than much--e court it I will sleep at once, so call me when you want me”
Hans listened at the door of Katrine's cave, but hearing only the slightest breathing, he concluded that she and her sister slept; and so retiring to his own cave, he, with that necessary capacity of the hunter or soldier, was in five minutes fast asleep, and untroubled by dreaht is past, Hans,” said Victor, as he entered the cave and gently touched Hans
”I am ready,” said Hans; ”is all quiet?”
”No, not quiet: there are more lions here than in any part of the country I have ever been in; they have been fighting about our horses; the roars and growls have been tre occasionally; but there seems no other creatures about except jackalls and hyenas It would not do to walk down on those plains alone by night, we should be lions' food in a very few minutes Now, I am for sleep, so you watch, Hans”
It was now Victor's turn to sleep whilst Hans kept watch, and sat with his back to the rocks, a couple of assagies within reach of his hand, and his trusty roer resting on his arm He listened attentively to every sound that broke the stillness of the night, and pictured to hi on near his poor horses The occasional deep growl of the lion, or its angry roar, caused him considerable anxiety, not on his own account, but for that of Bernhard
”If Bernhard's horse is killed or falls sick,” he thought, ”we may never leave this place; and poor Katie! ill become of her?”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE MATABILI APPEAR, AND FOLLOW THE SPOOR OF HANS' PARTY--THE DISCOVERY--THE ATTACK--THE REPULSE OF THE SAVAGES
The day broke with all the splendour of an African round, and filled the various pools ater, and thus the animals and feathered denizens of the plains were cheerful and busy in their various occupations Nu in the kloofs near Hans' retreat, whilst the sweet double whistle of the quail resounded froraceful sweeping flight, circled high in the air over the spot where the carcases of the horses still rere sat on a withered tree, and scanned the surrounding earth and sky, in order to select themeal
The baboons from the sum up roots, which there grew in abundance, and served theht which pleased Hans, for there are scarcely any creatures more watchful than baboons, and thus he knew that no ene notice by their rapid retreat to thefound a hole in the rocks close to the caves, which was full of fresh water, there was no need to quit the small plateau for that necessary, and thus Hans sat and watched the changing effects of the rising sun, whilst he listened to the long-drawn breaths of the sleepers, who, exhausted by the anxiety of the previous night, needed more sleep than was usual
The plains beneath Hans' hiding-place offered a beautiful panora tints of the foreground were mellowed in the middle distance, whilst far away the mountains assuainst the distant sky, the dry air failing to give the subdued effect of distance usually observed in our cli acacia, or near the banks of the aas were scattered here and there, whilst s away frorass The sportsun, could keep his ca, were it not that the garates and leaves a district, when the food ceases to be attractive or plentiful
As Hans watched the various ani rapidly across the flats; their passage seemed to alar in quietness, and there was a generalthe quadrupeds The baboons ceased their labours andpositions on the summits of rocky eminences, they stood erect, and barked their displeasure at so to obtain a better viehatever ht be the cause, ascended the rocks above his cave, and, taking care to screen himself from observation, scanned the distant country He soon saw that the ani forward at a rapid pace were a party of dark men, who Hans made out to be armed Matabili There werearmed, fro exactly over the saht hours previously, he concluded they were following his horses' footmarks
The advance of such a party was not unexpected by Hans Had he supposed that he would not have been followed, he would have suggested that the whole party should walk on towards his people's lager With but one horse the two girls ht have ridden turn and turn about, and so have lessened the fatigue of the journey, but even under these circumstances the Matabili would be sure to overtake the would be the safer plan