Part 11 (2/2)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
BERNHARD'S JOURNEY--HIS SUCCESS--TO THE RESCUE
Bernhard, upon leaving his co-place where the lion had killed the Matabili spy, rode on with speed; he knew that the lives of the feer of his country back aid without delay He was impelled, by friendshi+p alone for Hans and Victor, to use every endeavour in his power to bring help to theed him, viz
that he had fallen in love with Katrine's sister Bernhard had never devotedalways found hunting attractive enough for hi hiirls
When, however, he was thrown into daily co as Katrine's sister, and thus could observe her trusting, unselfish nature, he seemed suddenly to awake to quite a new sensation
Thus as he rode on he murmured, ”Yes, I'll save her! I'll save her, if it is for man to do it” And onward he rode, with a speed more fitted for a brief ride than for the journey which he was now undertaking
Onward rode Bernhard Rivers were forded or swum, plains were passed across, hills ascended, and with but two brief halts, Bernhard continued his journey till the fading light began to warn hiue to a e, frame, and condition was almost unknown, especially when he had been kept up by excitement, as he had been all day; when, however, he deterht, he remembered that he had scarcely sufficient food for ain starting it would be better to provide hiraze as long as there was sufficient light to enable hirass, and placed this near soht
Knowing the caution of most nocturnal wanderers, he cut down some brushwood, and placed this around an open space in which he and his horse would pass the night Many ani a trap of soh most of them could have leaped the obstacle with scarcely any difficulty
A continued and refreshi+ng sleep, under the conditions in which Bernhard passed the night, were almost impossible He knew that lions and leopards, hyenas and other carnivora infested the country in which he then was If his horse should be killed, or even badly -jawed brutes, his own state would be one of danger; so that to rest was as much as he felt inclined to do, and when sleep made her claims upon him he could scarcely close his eyes before he started up wide awake, as so ratify its appetite lest the dreaded man should have to be encountered
There are few coular than that between the pathless wilds of portions of Africa and the crowded streets of some of our cities When alk for hours in London anded with thousands, houses over-crowded, and vehicles crammed--onder whether our planet must not soon be too densely populated to be a suitable residence for man; but e travel over immense tracts of land traversed only by the brute creation, and observe these roa in a state of undisturbed freedoether in cities, as we believe we have seen the a complete anoe of witnessing scenes which our successors will undoubtedly envy us for
At the rate at which civilisation advances, and man and his arts take the place of untrodden nature, it may not be improbable that the wilds of Africa, Australia, and America may cease to be wilds, but will be colonies of various races, whose countries are too small for their requirements In the year 1967 or 4067 the report that the men of two centuries previous actually hunted such creatures as camelopards, may seem as odd to the then denizens of our planet as it would be to us to think thattheir flint-headed weapons at the reat Estuary of the Thames The men too of that time may often exclaim, ”Ah, those lucky fellows of the nineteenth century who had the chance of hunting elephants in Africa!”
Thus the changes that now occur in localities will then have occurred by tie to the man who can scarcely find elbow-room for himself, to hear of a country where you may ride for two days and not see a fellow-creature, so will it in a century hence seee to reflect on the conditions of the past Scarcely had daylight began to break than Bernhard gave his horse liberty to feed, he hi a supply of food for his journey This he was not long in doing, for the y, and he caht's resting-place
Knowing that he would soon be miles away from his present position, he did not hesitate to fire a shot, and therefore killed one of the elands, selected the choice portions of the ani to his horse, upsaddled, and at once coht him to a convenient place for a halt, several dead trees yielded firewood, a strea a careful exans of an enehted a fire, and co his breakfast Whilst thus occupied he heard distinctly the sound of a heavy gun; this was to him better than the voice of a friend, and when he heard a second and a third shot, which he found caht Seizing his roer, and regardless of the expenditure of his scarce and valued aun towards the direction fro, and in quick succession fired off both barrels Loading again with a heavy charge of powder only, which he rahtly in both barrels, he waited a few ers Bernhard knew that if the report of fire-arnal which he had given would be soon answered--at least, it would be if it could be heard In less than five iven he heard it answered, and he was thus aware that aid was at hand; what that aid was he did not know Great as was his requirement for food, yet he was more anxious to discover what assistance was likely to be afforded hiround near and looked in the direction fro had been heard He then saw a party of about thirty eneral appearance see to indicate that they were Dutchmen
His uncertainty was soon set at rest, for as they approached, he recognised fanal, he was answered by norant as yet as to who he ere yet aware that a friend was greeting the before Bernhard was the centre of an eager and inquiring circle, ast ere uncles, cousins, and other relations of Katrine and Hans Upon hearing the condition of those whoeneral cry of ”On, on! let us go help theerness, and st the parties, the number of horses, etc
”We should take extra horses, and as ed; ”we shall very likely have to right, and certainly there h horses to carry all the party”
The reed that this step was necessary, and it was therefore decided that whilst the main body ons, which were about fiveextra horses, and all the ammunition, and follow the et forward Hans was a favourite with theeneral opinion was, that it would be very odd if Hans had not ht have discovered hi the whole day the cavalcade advanced with speed, led by Bernhard, and, with but two brief halts, continued their progress, until darkness set in and they were coreat hopes that he would be enabled to rescue Hans and the girls; for thirty mounted Boers, all well-armed and amply supplied with aes armed with spears only, was not easy to withstand He was therefore much better pleased with the aspect of affairs than he was on the previous night, when he had cah a watch was kept and other precautions taken against a surprise, the Dutchhted a fire and cooked their provisions, a tea-cup of which can only be fully appreciated by those who have for days had water as the mere quencher of thirst Soon after the camp had been forained their brother hunters, and the reinforcement for Hans now amounted to thirty-two hunters, all Dutchmen, and four Hottentots; whilst forty-two horses in all were either ridden or led by the party
Bernhard estiround near which Hans would be concealed by abouta week to obtain aid, he would be able to return in half that time, and with as efficient a force as could be expected Reflecting upon the probable results of the ht's rest undisturbed by any of the numerous sounds that broke the silence of the wilderness
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE FIGHT FOR LIFE--GRAND ATTACK OF THE MATABILI--HELP ARRIVES--THE MEETING OF OLD FRIENDS--RETREAT FROM THE STRONGHOLD
”They may yell, Victor,” exclaimed Hans, ”but they have not taken us yet: at least fifty of them will not see to-morrow's sun rise, before they capture us If we had only half a dozen ive them a lesson; or if we had an unlimited supply of ammunition Now I dare not fire a shot unless I aerous as we otherwise should be When these new arrivals cohold, and we shall then have to use our long spears again”
In half an hour the reinforcement had joined their dark brethren, and there was evidently a consultation going on in the ravine below: there wasaudible, whilst the hbourhood After a ti felled, and Hans and Victor then knew soainst the left in doubt, for, upon a loud yell being uttered, five parties of Matabili, each consisting of above twentya slender tree about forty feet in length These they had cut, and left a few branches on, so that they could be easily cliainst the face of the rock, and in fact were not a bad iuns for this, Victor,” said Hans; ”let us thin them as they come; then our spears as they co for their lives as were the two Dutchmen, a shot was a matter of deep importance; and so steady was their aies the bearers of two of the trees had suffered so severely that they retreated precipitately to the cover of the bush The others, however, placed theirs upright against the rock, and had they been able to ascend three or four abreast, the fate of Hans and his party would soon have been decided; the Matabili, however, would not quit their shi+elds or spears, and therefore, with only one hand to aid the able to ascend merely one after the other, Hans and Victor had tie could set his foot on the rock, he was thrust back with the long spears, a second and a third stabbed in the saun, Hans shot two Matabili ere urging on those before them