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Las diagremmes suivants lliustrant ia mAthoda. f errata dto It la pelure, pon A n 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 1I2A4 'TOM FIRED INTO THE THICK OF THE DEER AND ONE OF THEM FELL." The Young Colonists A STORY OF THE ZULU AND BOER WARS G. A. HENTY Author of " With CUve in India ", " The Cat of Bubastes ", " In the Keign of Terror ' •In Freedom's Cause". " By Enfrland's Aid". "By Pike and Dylce", " Held Fast for England" &c. &c. WITH SIJC ILLUSTRATIONS BY SIMON H. yEDDER NEW EDITION GLASGOW: BLACKIE & SON, Limited. TORONTO: ', WILLIAM BRIGGS, 29-33 Richmond St. West. THE COPP, CLARK COMPANY, Limited, 9 Front .St. West. PK4-725 1/55 Entered according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, In the year one thousand eiffht hundred and ninety-eight, by Blackib & Son, Limited, at the Department of Agriculture. PREFACE. As a rule the minor wars in which this country has been from time to time engaged, have been remarkable both for the admirable way in which they were conducted and for the success that attended them. The two campaigns in South Africa, however, that followed each other with but a brief interval, were notable exceptions. In the Zulu War the blunder, made by the General in command, of dividing his army and marching away with the greater portion with- out troubling himself to keep up communication with the force left behind, brought about a serious disaster at Isan- dula. In the Boer War we also suffered two defeats, — one at Laing's Neck, the other at Majuba Hill, — and when at last a British force was assembled capable of retrieving these misfortunes, the English government decided not to fight, but to leave the Boers in possession of the Transvaal. This unfortunate surrender has, assuredly, brought about the troubled state of things now existing in South Africa. After having written upwards of fifty records of almost unbroken success to the British arms in almost all parts of the world, I have found it painful to describe these two campaigns in which we suffered defeat. I trust, however, that this story will prove of great interest to the reader because of the characteristic English pluck and daring of its hero G. A. HENTY. CONTENTS. Chap. Paje I. A Snow-drift i II. The Red Flag i6 III. The Farm, 31 IV. The Outbreak of War 47 V. ISANDULA, 64 VI. Zlobani 80 VII. Kambula, 96 VIII. The Second Advance 113 IX. Ulundi, 129 X. A Trading Expedition, 144 XI. A Troop of Lions 161 XTI. An Attack by Elephants 177 XIII. A Brush with the Natives, 193 XIV. Trapped in a Defile, 209 XV. A Mountain Torrent, 224 XVI. A Fight with the Boers, 240 XVII. A Terrible Journey, 252 XVIII. The Boer Insurrection, 266 XIX. The Garrisons in the Transvaal, 277 XX. Laing's Neck, . . . . , 288 ILLUSTRATIONS. Page ••Tom fired into the thick of the deer and one OF them pell," Frotitispieie. 43 Tom and Dick hurry Forward to Rescue the VvouNDED Officer too ••The continuous roaring showed that the lions were still close at hand," |66 "Dick fired into the elephant's open mouth, and then leapt behind the tree," 1 74 ••Blacking broke off the arrow's feather-head WITHOUT pause IN HIS FLIGHT," 202 "The TWO shots rang out together, and both the 6OBRS FELL lifeless," 269 THE YOUNG COLONISTS. CHAPTER I. A SNOW-DRIFT. The country round Castleton, in Derbyshire, is greatly admired by summer tourists, for it lies in the wildest part of that county ; but in winter the wind whistles sharply over the bleak hills — where there are no trees to break its violence, — the sheep huddle under the shelter of the roughly-built stone walls, and even lovers of the picturesque would at that season prefer a more level and wooded country. The farm of Mr. Humphreys was situated about a mile from Castleton. It consisted of lOO acres or so of good land in the bottom, and of five or six times as much upland grazing on the hills. Mr. Humphreys owned as well as farmed his land, and so might have claimed, had he chosen, the title of gentleman-farmer ; but he himself would have scoffed at such an idea. He was a hard-working, practical farmer, about over his ground from morning to night, save when the hounds met within easy distance in winter ; then he would mount " Robin," who served alike as hunter, or hack. (11264) p The Young Colonists, '! M x^ or to drive in the neat dog-cart to Buxton market ; and, although there were many handsomer horses in the field, Mr. Humphreys was seldom far off when the fox was killed. His family consisted of his wife and two sons, the eldest, Richard, was about fourteen years old. His brother, John, was three years younger. Both eiit to school at Castleton. The younger boy was fond of his books ; he had always been weak and delicate, and, being unable to spend his time in active exercise out of doors, he was gene- rally to be found reading by the fire in winter, or lying on the ground in summer under a tree in the orchard, with his chin on his hand, and the book before him. Richard had no literary taste; he managed to scrape through his work and keep a moderate place in his class, somewhere about half-way down ; but he threw his whole heart into outdoor exercise, and was one of the best bats in the school, although there were many there older by years. He knew every foot of the hills, could tell every bird by its note, and knew all about their nests and eggs. Except in school, or perhaps during the long winter evenings, it was rare indeed to find Dick with a book in his hand. *' You will never set the Thames on fire, Dick," his father would say to him. " I shall never want to, father," he would reply. " I do not see that learning will ever be much good tome** The Young Colonists. "That is a foolish idea, Dick. A great deal of the learning that boys get at school is of no actual value in pounds, shillings, and pence. It is not the fact of knowing Latin, and Greek, and mathematics which benefits a man ; but it is the learning of them. It is the discipline to the mind, which is of benefit. The mind is like the body. There is no use in cricket, or in boating, or in hunting, but these things strengthen the body and make it active and healthy, and able to do better everything which it undertakes, and it is exactly the same thing with the mind ; besides, the days are coming when farmers must farm their land with science and intelligence^ or they will be left behind in the race. We a.e being rivalled by the farmers of America. Not only do we have to pay rent, but by the tithes and rates and taxes they put upon us government makes the English farmer pay a heavy tax upon every bushel of corn he produces, while they allow the American corn to come into the market tax-free. This may be all right, but it does not appear fair to me. However, there it is, and we have got to meet it, and if we are to keep our heads above water, it can only be by farming up to the very best lights of the day." "Well, father," Dick said, "then it seems to me that when we grow up, John and I must farm together. He shall be the scientific partner ; I will do the work." "That is all right enough, Dick, bnt you must 4 The Young Colonists, have some science too, else you and he will never get on. You would want to go on in the old- fashioned groove, and would call his ideas new- fangled. No, I intend you, when you get old enough, to go to Cirencester College, where you will learn the theory and science of farming thoroughly. You will get the practical part at home. As to John, he is a child yet, and, I trust, will grow up strong and active ; but if his tastes remain as they now are, I do not think it likely he will take to farming, and we must find some other career for him." One afternoon in the beginning of December two of Dick's school-fellows said to him, — " We are going over the hills to our uncle's farm, Dick. Will you go with us ? " When there was nothing better to do, Dick was always ready for a walk, and he at once agreed to accompany the Jacksons. The elder boy was about his own age, the younger two years his junior. The Jacksons called for him directly he had finished his dinner, and they started away together for a farm which was about four miles distant. They struck right across the hills, as it would have been two miles longer by the nearest road. "I should not be surprised," Dick said, "if it were to snow to-night ; it is bitterly cold, and the clouds look very heavy." " I hope it won't snow until we get back," James, the younger of the brothers, remarked. The Young Colonists, **I don't know," Dick answered, looking at the clouds. " I should not be surprised if it began at any moment." The wind was blowing strongly. The hills were high and steep, and, although the boys made their best speed, it was considerably over an hour before they reached the farm. They had started at two, and it was now a quarter past three. Mr. Jackson was out. The boys delivered the message with which they had been charged to their aunt. "Now" she said, **I will cut you each a hunch of cake, and when you have eaten that and had a glass of fresh milk you had best start at once. It is bitterly cold, and we are going to have snow. The sooner you are home, the better." The boys now ate their cake. Mrs. Jackson came to the door with them. Then she said, as the first flake of snow fell, — **I am not sure, boys, that you had not better stay here all night." The boys laughed. " Why, what would they say at home ? They would just be in a way about us." "Well, at any rate, you had better go by the road." " Oh, that is two miles farther at least. We should not get home until long after dark. We shan't be an hour by the hills. We know every foot of the way." The Young Colonists, " Well, good-bye, then. Make as much haste as you can." For half a mile their way led along the road, then they scrambled over a wall and began to ascend the barren hill-side. The snow was falling fast now. Thicker and thicker it came down, and when, hot and panting, they reached the top of the hill, the wind blew the flakes so fiercely into their faces that they were half-blinded, and were obliged to turn their backs to the gale while they got breath. For half an hour they struggled on. They could scarcely see ten paces before them through the driving snow, and in every sheltered spot white patches rapidly began to form. " How different things look in a snow-storm I ** Dick said, as they stopped for breath and shelter under the lee of a wall. " I don't know, Tom, but I am not quite sure that we are going straight ; I do not know what wall this is." " No more do I," Tom Jackson replied. * I felt quite sure that we were going right at first, but some- how I don't think so now." " I wish the snow would stop for a minute," Dick said, ^'just to let us have a look round. If I could see a hundreid yards I am sure I should know where we are. What is the matter with you, James ; what are you blubbering about ? " ** My feet are so cold ; they hurt dreadfully.** " Oh, never mind," Dick said. " Come, boys, push along, and we shall soon be home." The Young Colonists. Again they started with heads bent to face the storm. "It is getting dark awfully fast," Tom Jackson said. " It is, and no mistake. Come, let us have a trot. Come on, young one." But, although Dick spoke hopefully, he was not as contident as he appeared. He was sure now that they had lost the way. They might not, he hoped, be far oflf the track ; but he knew that they were not following the precise line by which they came. It was now nearly dark. The snow was falling thicker than ever, and the ground, except upon the uplands exposed to the full force of the wind, was covered with a white mantle. On arriving at the bottom of a steep hill, they stopped again. " Do you know where we are, Tom ? " ** Not in the least," Tom answered. " This ought to be the last valley," Dick said, " and after one more climb we ought to go straight down into Castleton. Don't you remember in that valley there were a lot of sheep in a fold, with a wall round it ? If we can find that, we shall know that we are right. It is near the bottom, so we shall not miss it. Which way shall we turn, left or right?" " Let us try the left first," Tom said. They walked for half a mile, gradually ascending. " It is not this way," Tom said at last. " We are getting to the head of the valley. What are you 8 The Young Colonists, doing, James?" as the young boy, who had been sobbing for some time, threw himself on the snow. " I cannot go any farther," he murmured. ** I am so cold, and so tired, and so sleepy." " Oh, nonsense ! " Dick said. " Here, take hold of his arm, Tom, and lift him up ; give him a good shake ; he must go on ; he would die if he stopped here." The two lads raised the younger boy, and half-sup- porting half-dragging him turned and retraced their footsteps. It was pitch dark now, and they could not see a yard before them. For some time they continued their way. " There is no shepherd's hut. Certainly, this is not the valley. What on earth are we to do ? " " I don't know," Tom said, beginning to cry. "Shut up, Tom Jackson. What are you thinking about ? This is no time for howling like a baby ; you have got to think of what is best to do. It is no use climbing the next hPl, for we might be going away from home, instead of getting nearer. Besides, we should have to haul Jimmy up, for he can scarcely stand now ; and, although it is bitterly cold here, it would be worse on the top of the hill. No, we have got to stop here all night, that is clear." * We shall be dead before morning ! " Tom roared. " I will hit you in the eye, Tom Jackson, if you don't shut up ; you are as bad as a girl ; I am ashamed of you. Now, what we have got to do, is to find some $ort of shelter, either a wall or bush, and we must The Young Colonists, keep on until we come to something. Keep awake, Jimmy ; we shan't have much farther to go, and then you can lie down quietly." They went on for a bit. ** It is no use," Dick said. " They don't put walls across bottoms ; more likely to find one either to the right or left. Now, Tom, you stop here for a minute or two, and I will look about ; you keep shouting every minute, so that I can find my way back to you." Turning off, he began to ascend the next hill, and in two or three minutes shouted the glad news to Tom that he had found the wall; then he returned. Jimmy, cheered at the prospect of lying down, made an effort, and they soon reached the wall. Like most of the walls in Derbyshire, it was formed of flat stones laid without mortar, some four feet high. " Now, Tom, set to work ; get some stones off the wall on both sides, and build up two other walls against this ; three feet wide inside will do, and just long enough to lie in. Here, Jimmy, you help ; it will keep you awake, and, you see, the higher we make the walls the snugger it will be ; we will have quite a nice house." The boys all set to work, and in half an hour three walls were built. At the point where the two side walls touched the other, they were three feet high, and sloped down to two at the lower end. " Now, Jimmy, you chuck the snow out. Tom and I will go, one each way, along the wall ; likely enough m The Young Colonists, we may come upon some bushes — they often frow in shelter of the walls : if we can find a few sticks we will cover the house over. Lots of these stones are a couple of feet long, and we will manage a sort of roof. The snow will soon cover it, and we shall be as warm as possible." A quarter of an hour later the two boys returned ; both had been successful and brought a bundle of sticks ; these were laid across the top, interspersed with smaller twigs, the ends being kept down with stones to prevent their being blown away. The last were placed in position after the boys had crept inside. They did not attempt to roof it with stones, for the supply of sticks and brushwood was large enough to catch the snow-flakes as they fell, and these would soon form a covering, while it would have been difficult to balance the stones. Jimmy was by this time in a state almost of lethargy ; but the others were fairly warm from their exertions. They now lay down close beside the younger boy, one on each side. At first they felt the cold extremely. " Let us keep awake as long as we can," Dick said. ** I don't feel inclined to sleep at all," Tom answered ; " my hands and feet feel frozen, but I am warm enough everywhere else, and the ground is precious hard and bumpy." " I am only afraid about Jimmy," Dick said ; "he is sound asleep, and he was so awfully cold ; lie as close as you can to him, Tom, and put your arm over The Young Colonists, tl him and keep your legs huddled up against his." " It feels warmer than it did," he went on, after a pause of half an hour ; " don't you think so, Tom ? " " A lot warmer," Tom said. " I expect the snow has made a good thick roof." "Yes, and the wind does not blow through the stones as it did. I expect the snow is drifting up all round ; it was getting very deep against the wall when we got in, and if it goes on all night, Tom, I should not wonder if we are covered deep before morning. The wind always sweeps it off the hills, and makes deep drifts in the bottoms." " What shall we do, then ? " ** I don't knoAT," Dick answered; "but there will be plenty of time to think of that in the morning. I think Jimmy is all right, Tom ; I have just put my hand inside his waistcoat and he feels quite warm now. Say your prayers, and then let us try to get off to sleep." This they were not very long in doing, for the air in the little hut was soon heated by the action of their bodies. Outside the storm was still raging, and the wind, laden with swirling snow from the uplands, was piling it high in the valleys. Already the hut was covered and the wall behind it. All night and all next day the snow continued to fall ; the next day, and the next, it kept on. Old folks down in Castleton said they never remembered such a storm. It lay three feet deep in the fields, and Id The Young Colonists, !|H there was no saying how deep the drifts might be in the hollows. For the first two days the wind had tried its best to keep the hills clear, but it had tired of the work, and for the last two had ceased to blow, and the great feathered flakes formed steadily and silently. Tom was the first to wake. " Holloa I " he exclaimed, " where are we ? Oh ! I remember. Dick, are you awake ? " « Yes, I am awake now," Dick said. " What is it ? It is not morning yet. I seem to have been asleep a long time, and don't my bones just ache ? Jimmy, old boy, are you all right ? " " Yes," Jimmy grunted. ** It is quite warm," Dick said. " It feels very close, and how still it is ! The wind has quite gone down. Do you know, Tom, I think it must be morning. There seems a faint sort of light. I can see the stones in the wall behind you." " So it must," Tom assented. ** Oh I how stifling it is!" and he raised himself into a sitting position. *' I am afraid we are buried deep in the snowdrift Put your hand up, Tom ; don't you feel some of these sticks are bent in the middle } " "Ever so much; there must be a great weight on them. What are we to do, Dick ; shall we try and dig a way out ? " " That will be no good," Dick answered ; " not if it is deep ; and if it has been snowing all night, there is no saying how deep it may be this morning down The Young Colonists. n igit t on ' '-ft and 1 if it 1 re is . own ;5 in this bottom. This drift-snow is like dust. I re- member last winter that Bill Jones and Harry Austin and I tried to make a tunnel in a deep drift, but the snow fell in as fast as we scraped it away. It was just like dry sand." " We are all right for warmth," Tom said ; ** but it feels quite stifling." " Yes, we must try and get some air/' Dick said. " The roof-sticks are close together down at our feet. There were three or four left over when we had finished, so v.e can take them away without weakening the roof. We might shove one of them up through the snow." The sticks were removed carefully, but a quantity of fine snow fell in on their feet. One was then shoved up through the top, but the only effect, when it was removed, was that it was followed by some snow powdering down on their faces. " Let us tie four of them together," Dick said. " I have plenty of string in my pocket." This was done, fresh sticks being tied to the bottom as the first were shoved up through the snow. " Now, Tom, help me to work it about a bit, so as to press the snow all round, and make a sort of tube." For some time a shower of little particles fell as they worked, but gradually these ceased. Then the stick was cautiously lowered, being untied joint by joint, and looking up the boys gave a shout of pleasure. At the top of the hole, which was some six inches wide at the bottom, was a tiny patch of light. H The Young Colonists, " We have only just reached the top," Dick said ; "the snow must be near fifteen feet deep." Small though the aperture was, it effected a sensible relief. The feeling of oppression ceased ; half an hour later the hole was closed up, and they knew that the snow was still falling. Another length of stick was added, and the day* light again appeared. The boys slept a good deal ; they had no sensa- tion of cold whatever, the heat of their bodies keep- ing the air at a comfortable temperature. They did not feel so hungry as they expected, but they were very thirsty. " I shall eat some snow," Tom said. " I have heard that that makes you more thirsty," Dick remarked ; "hold some in your hands till it melts, and then sip the water." Four days passed ; then they found that the snow no longer continued to cover up the hole, and knew that the snow-storm had ceased. The number of sticks required to reach the top was six, and as each of these was about four feet long they knew that, making allowance for the joints, the snow was over twenty feet deep. Very often the boys talked of home, and wondered what their friends were doing. The first night, when they did not return, it would be hoped that they had stayed at the farm; but somebody would be sure to go over in the morning to see, and when the news arrived that they were missing, there would be a general turn out to find them. The Young Colonists, «5 " They must have given up all hope by this time," Dick said, on the fifth morninpf, " and must be pretty sure that we are buried in the drift somewhere ; but, as all the bottoms will be like this, they will have given up all hopes of finding our bodies till the thaw comes." " That may be weeks," Tom said ; " we might as well have died at once." "We can live a long time here," Dick replied con- fidently. "I remember reading once of a woman who had been buried in the snow being got out alive a tremendous time afterwards. I think it was five weeks, but it might have been more. Hurrah 1 I have got an idea, Tom." ** What is that ? " Tom asked. " Look here ; we will tie three more sticks — * "We can't spare any more sticks," Tom said ; " the snow is up to our knees already." "Ah! but thin sticks will do for this/' Dick said ; *' we can get some thin sticks out here. We will tie them over the others, and on the top of all we will fasten my red pocket-handkerchief, like a Hag ; if any one comes down into this bottom they are sure to see it." iS The Young Colonists, !i I CHAPTER II. THE RED FLAG. Dick's plan was soon carried into effect, and the little red flag flew as an appeal for help, ten feet above the snow in the lonely valley. Down in Castleton events had turned out just as the boys had anticipated. The night of the snow-storm there was no sleep for their parents, and at daybreak, next morning, Mr. Humphreys and Mr. Jackson set out on foot through the storm for the distant farm. They kept to the road, but it took them four hours to reach the farm, for the drifts were many feet deep in the hollows, and they had the greatest difficulty in making their way through. When, upon their arrival, they found the boys had left before the gale began, their consternation and grief were extreme, and they started at once on their return to Castleton. Search-parties were immediately organized, and these, in spite of the fury of the storm, searched the hills in all directions. After the first day, when it was found that they were not at any of the shepherds' huts scattered among the hills, all hopes of finding them alive ceased. So hopeless was it considered, that few parties went out on the three following days ; but The Young Colonists, %f on the fifth, when the snow-storm ceased and the sun shone out, numbers of men again tramped the hills in the vague hope of finding some sign of the missing boys ; they returned disheartened. The snow was two feet deep everywhere, twenty in many of the hollows. The next day but few went out, for the general feeling was, that the bodies could not be discovered until the thaw came, and at present it was freezing sharply. Among those who still kept up the search were several of the boys' school-fellows. They had not been permitted to join while the snow-storm continued, and were therefore fresh at the work. A party of four kept together, struggling through the deep snow-drifts, climbing up the hills, and enjoying the fun, in spite of the saddening nature of their errand. On arriving at the brow of a deep valley five miles from home, they agreed that they would go no farther, as it was not likely that the missing boys could have wandered so far from their track. That they had in fact done so was due to a sudden change in the direction of the wind ; it had been driving in their faces when they started, and with bent down heads they had struggled against it, unconscious that it was sharply changing its direction. " Just let us have a look down into the bottom," one of the boys said j " there may be a shepherd's hut here." CM264) (J i: ili m TJie Young Colonists, . I ( i Nothing, however, was seen, save a smooth, white surface of snow. "What is that ?" one exclaimed suddenly. " Look, there is a little red flag flying down there — come along." The boys rushed down the hill at full speed. " Don't all go near the flag," one said ; ** you may be treading on their bodies." They arrived within ten yards of the flag, in which they soon recognized a red pocket-handker- chief. They were silent now, awe struck at the thought that their companions were lying dead beneath. " Perhaps it is not theirs," the eldest of the party said presently. "Anyhow I had better take it off and carry it home." Treading cautiously and with a white face, for he feared to feel beneath his feet one of the bodies of his friends, he stepped, knee-deep in the snow-drift, to the flag. He took the little stick in his hand to pluck it up ; he raised it a foot, and then gave a cry of astonishment and started back. " What is the matter ? " the others asked. " It was pulled down again," he said in awe-struck tones. " I will swear it was pulled down again." " Oh, nonsense ! " one of the others said ; " you are dreaming." " I am not," the first replied positively ; " it was regularly jerked in my hand." " Can they be alive down there ? " one suggested. The Young Colonists. 19 ** Alive I How can they be alive after five days, twenty feet deep in the snow ? Look at the flag ! " There was no mistake this time ; the flag was raised and lowered five or six times. The boys took to their heels and ran and gathered in a cluster fifty yards away on the hillside. " What can it be ? " they asked, looking in each others' pale faces. The behaviour of the flag seemed to them some- thing supernatural. " We had better go back and tell them at home," one of them said. " We can't do that ; no one would believe us. Look here, you fellows," and he glanced round at the bright sky, "this is nonsense; the flag could not wave of itself; there must be somebody alive below ; perhaps there is a shepherd's hut quite covered with the drift, and they have pushed the flag up through the chimney." The supposition seemed a reasonable one, and a little ashamed of their panic the group returned to- wards the flag. The eldest boy again approached it. "Go carefully, Tomkins, or you may fall right down a chimney." The flag was still continuing its up and down move- ment ; the boy approached and lay down on the snow close to it ; then he took hold of the stick ; he felt a pull, but held fast ; then he put his mouth close to the hole, two or three inches in diameter, through which it passed. \k 20 The Young Colonists, \ !|' " Halloa I " he shouted ; *' is any one below ? '* A cry of " Yes, yes," came back in reply. '* The two Jacksons and Humphreys." *' Hurrah!" he shouted at the top of his voice, and his companions, although they had not heard the answer, joined in the cheer. ** Are you all right ?" he shouted down again. " Yes, but please get help and dig us out." " All right J I will run all the way back ; they will have men here in no time ; good-bye ; keep up your spirits." " They are all there below!" he shouted to his friends. " Come on, you fellows, there is not a moment to lose." Wild with excitement the boys made theirwayhome; they rushed down the hill-sides, scrambled through the drifts in the bottoms, in which they sometimes dis- appeared altogether, and had to haul each other out, struggled up the hills, and, panting and breathless, rushed in a body into Mr. Humphreys' farmhouse, that standing nearest to them, on their way to Castleton. " We have found them ; we have found them," they panted out. " They are all alive." Mrs. Humphreys had risen from her seat in a chair by the fire as the boys entered, and uttering a faint cry fell back insensible. At this moment the farmer, who had but five minutes before returned, having been out since daybreak on the hills, hurried into the room ; he was taking oflf his heavy boots when he heard the rush of feet into the house. " We have found them, sir; they are all alive 1" The Young Colonists, 21 ** Thank God ! thank God ! " the farmer exclaimed reverently, and then seeing his wife insensible hurried towards her, uttering a shout for the servants. Two women ran in. " Look to your mistress," he said ; " she has fainted ; the good news has been too much for her — the boys are found alive." With mingled exclamations of gladness and dismay the servants raised their mistress. "Now, boys, where are they?" Mr. Humphreys asked. The lads gave a rapid narrative of what had happened. " Under the snow all this time !" the farmer exclaimed; *• they must be, as you say, in a hut. Now, will one of you stay and show me the way back, and the others go on to Mr. Jackson's and other places, and bring a strong party of men with shovels on after us ? " The lad who had spoken with the prisoners re- mained to act as guide, the others hurried off. " Come with me, my boy, into the larder. There, help yourself ; you must be hungry and tired, and you have got to do it over again." Mr. Humphreys then ran into the yard, and bade the four labourers provide themselves with shovels and prepare to accompany him at once. He then went back into the parlour. His wife was just opening her eyes ; for a time she looked confused and bewildered, then suddenly she sat up and gazed beseechingly at her husband — memory had come back to her. w\ 22 The Young Colonists. " Yes, wife, thanks be to God, it is true — the boys are alive ; I am just going with these men to dig them out. They are snowed up in a hut. Now, Jane, get a large basket, and put in it lots of bread and bacon — the men who are working will want something ; fill the largest stone jar with beer ; put in a bottle of brandy and a bottle of milk, and set to and get some soup ready ; bring three small mattresses downstairs and a lot of blankets." Five minutes later the search-party started, Mr. Humphreys and the guide leading the way ; the men followed, one carrying five shovels ; another, the basket and jar ; the other two, three hurdles on which were placed the mattresses and blankets. It was no easy matter so laden making their way over the hills and through the deep drifts. Mr. Humphreys took his share of the labour ; but it was two hours from the time when they started before they arrived at the spot where the flag was waving, and the night was already closing in. Mr. Humphreys hurried forward to the flag; he knelt down beside it. "Are you still alive, Dick? — it is I, your father!" " Yes, father, we are all alive, and we shall be all right now you have come. Don't get too near the stick ; we are afraid of the hole closing up, and smothering us." " Which side is the door," Mr. Humphreys asked, " so that we can dig that way ? " %.' The Young Colonists, n ** There is no door, father ; but you had better dig from below, because of the wall." " There must be a door," Mr. Humphreys said to himself, as he rejoined the men. " There can't be a hut without a door; Dick must be a little light- headed, and no wonder. Now, lads, let us set to work from below." The five men were soon at work, throwing aside the snow. In a short time the other parties arrived. Mr. Humphreys had brought with him a stock of candles. These were lit and stuck in the snow, where, as there was no wind, they burnt steadily, affording sufficient light for the search. The work was all the more difficult from the lightness of the snow, as the sides fell in like sand as they worked upon it, and they were obliged to make a very broad cutting. At last there was a cheer, as they struck the ground. " Now, working up hill we must be at the hut in a few feet." Twenty willing hands laboured away incessantly, but to their surprise no hut was met with ; they worked and worked, throwing the snow behind them, until Mr. Jackson struck his shovel upon something hard. " Here is a wall or something," he said. Another minute uncovered a low wall of two feet in height, and directly afterwards a leg was popped up through the snow. A loud cheer broke from the men. But again the snow-drift fell in from the sides, and it was another quarter of an hour before the lads were m 24 The Young Colonists. lifted from the narrow shelter where they had for five days Iain. The Jacksons were too weak to stand, but Dick was just able to keep on his feet. A cup of milk mixed with some brandy was given to each. Then Dick in a few words told the story, and the surprise of all, as they examined the little hut and heard the details of the almost miraculous preservation of the boys, was almost unbounded. They were now wrapped in blankets and laid on mattresses placed on the hurdles ; the contents of the baskets — for others besides Mr. Humphreys had brought a stock of provisions, not knowing how long the search-party might be engaged — were distri- buted among the workers, and then four men lifted each hurdle and the party started for home, a mes- senger having been sent back at full speed directly the boys were got out, to bear the glad news to Castleton. It was just midnight when the main body returned. A second cup of brandy and milk had done much to revive the two elder boys, and Dick had been able to eat a piece of bread. James, however, had fallen asleep directly he was wrapped in the blankets, and did not awake until he was set down at his father's door. At both houses doctors were in waiting for their arrival. Dick was at once pronounced to be none the worse for his adventure, except that his feet were frost-bitten from long contact with the snow ; indeed had it not been from this cause he could, on the Tlie Young Colonists, 25 following day, have been up and about As it was, in a fortnight, he was perfectly himself again. Tom Jackson was confined to the house for many weeks ; he lost several of his toes, but eventually became strong and hearty again. James, however, never recovered — the shock to his system had been too great ; he lingered on for some months, and then sank quietly and painlessly. The events of the snow-storm left a far deeper trace upon Mrs. Humphreys than upon her son. The terrible anxiety of those five days had told greatly upon her, and after they were over she seemed to lose strength rapidly. She had never been very strong, and a hacking cough now constantly shook her. The doctor who attended her looked serious, and one day said to Mr. Humphreys, — "I don't like the state of your wife; she has always been weak in her lungs, and I fear that the anxiety she went through has somehow accentuated her former tendency to consumption. The air of this place — you see she was born in the south — is too keen for her. If I were you I would take her up to London and consult some first-rate man in lung diseases, and get his opinion." The next day Mr. Humphreys started for London. The celebrated physician examined his wife, and afterwards took him aside. " I cannot conceal from you," he said, " that your wife's lungs are very seriously affected, although con- sumption has not yet thoroughly set iu. If she remains n i ■; m n ::il V. i w li.^Sfc Tm m 26 The Young Colonists, v\ in this country she may not hVe many months ; your only hope is to take her abroad — could you do that ? " " Yes, sir," Mr. Humphreys said. " I can take her anywhere. Where would you advise ? " "She would benefit from a residence either in Egypt or Madeira," the doctor said ; " but for a permanency I should say the Cape. I have known many complete cures made there. You tell me that you are engaged in agricultural pursuits ; if it is possible for you to settle there, I can give you every hope of saving her life, as the disease is not yet developed. If you go, don't stay in the lowlands, but get up into the high plateaus, either behind the Cape itself, or behind Natal. The climate there is delicious, and land cheap." Mr. Humphreys thanked him and left, returning the next day to Castleton. The astonishment of the boys, and indeed of Mrs. iiumphreys, was unbounded, when the farmer announced in the evening at supper that he intended to sell his land and emigrate at once to the Cape. The boys were full of excitement at the new and strange idea, and asked numerous questions, none of which the farmer could answer ; but he brought out a pile of books, which he had purchased in town, concerning the colonies and their resources, and for once Dick's aversion to books vanished, and he was soon as much absorbed as his brother in the perusal of the accounts of the new land to which they were to go. The Young Colonists, 27 On the following Saturday, to the surprise of all Castlcton, an advertisement appeared in the Derby- shire paper announcing the sale by auction at an early date of Mr. Humphreys* farm, Dick and John were quite heroes among their companions, who looked with envy at boys who were going to live in a land where lions and elephants and all sorts of wild beasts abounded, to say nothing of warlike natives. " There always seem to be Kaflfir wars going on," one boy said, " out at the Cape ; you will have all sorts of excitement, Dick." " I don't think that sort of excitement will be nice," Dick replied ; " it must be horribly anxious work to think every time you go out to work that the place may be attacked and every one killed before you get back. But that is all nonsense, you know ; I have been reading about some of the Kaffir wars ; they are in the bush-country, down by the sea. We are going up on to the high lands at the back of Natal. Father says very likely we may buy a farm in the Transvaal, but mother does not seem to like the accounts of the Dutchmen or Boers, as they are called, who live there, and says she would rather have English neighbours ; so I expect if we can get a farm somewhere in the Natal colony, we shall do so." " You seem to know all about the place," the boy said, surprised. " Well, we have had seven or eight books to read aboul it, and I seem now to know more about South >H i ifi % m i hi : :i1 it;'B ii;' k-.' 28 The Young Colonists, Africa than about any other country in the world. There are the diamond-fields, too, out there, and I hope, before I settle down regularly to a farm, that father will let me go for a few months and try my luck there. Would it not just be jolly to find a diamond as big as a pigeon's egg and worth about twenty thousand pounds ? '* " And do they do that ? " the boy asked. * Well, they don't often find them as big as that ; still, one might be the lucky one." The news that Mr. Humphreys and his family were about to sell off and emigrate naturally caused a great deal of talk in and around Castleton, and put the idea into the minds of many who had never before seriously thought of it. If Mr. Humphreys, who had one of the best farms in the neighbourhood, thought that it would pay him to sell his land and go out, it would surely be a good thing for others to do the same. He was considered to be a good farmer and a long-headed man ; one who would not take such a step without carefully looking into the matter — for Mr. Humphreys, in order to avoid questioning and the constant inquiries about his wife's health, which would be made, did he announce that he was leaving for that reason, did not think it necessary to inform people that it was in the hopes of staving off the danger which threatened her that he was making a move. A great many of the neighbouring labourers would gladly have gone with him ; but he found by The Young Colonists. 29 his reading that KafBr labour was to be obtained out there very cheaply. He determined, however, to take with hirn two of his own hands ; the one a strong active young fellow named Bill Harrison, the other a middle-aged man named Johnson, who had been with him from a boy. He was a married man with two girls, aged fifteen and sixteen, the eldest of whom was already employed by Mrs. Humphreys in the house. Johnson's wife was a superior woman of her class, and Mr. Humphreys thought that it would be pleasant for his wife, having a woman at hand, whom she could speak to. The girls were to act as servants— indeed Mr. Humphreys thought it probable that the whole party would live under one roof. Among those whom Mr. Humphreys' decision to emigrate had much moved was Mr. Jackson. He was not in so good a position, as he did not farm his own land ; but he had sufficient capital to start him well in the colony, where a farm can be bought outright at a few shillings an acre. He talked the matter over with his friend on several occasions, and at last said, — ** Well, I think I have pretty well made up my mind ; the doctor is telling me that my poor little chap is not likely to live long ; his mother is wrapped up in him, and will never like the place again ; — so I think on all grounds z change will be good. I can't come out with you, because I have got a lease of the farm ; but I iancy that it is worth more than it I; J m m m m 30 The Young Cotonisis, was when I took it, and if I can get a good tenant to take it oflf my hands I don't suppose the landlord will make any objections. I shall look about at once^ and, when my poor little chap is gone, I shan't be long before I come after you. You will let me know how you find the place, and whether these book- accounts are true?— I have heard that many of these chaps who write books are awful liars. I should like to get a farm as near you as may be." It was early in the spring when Mr. Humphreys and his party embarked at Plymouth in the Dunster Castle. The farm had sold well, and Mr. Humphreys possessed a capital of several thousand pounds — a sum which would make him a rich man in the colony. None of the party had ever seen the sea before, and the delight of the two boys and the wonderment of the labourers at all they saw was very great. Mr. Humphreys had taken first-class passages for himself and family, while the others of course ;s'ere steerage passengers. The Young Colonists, 31 m CHAPTER III. THE FARM. The voyage to the Cape passed without any incident whatever. The weather was fine the whole distance. Without even a single storm to break the monotony they touched at Capetown and Port Elizabeth, and at last arrived at Durban. The journey had not been too long for the boys ; everything was so perfectly new to them that they were never tired of watching the sea and looking for porpoises and the shoals of fish, over which hovered thousands of birds. Once or twice they saw a whale spout, while flying-fish were matters of hourly occurrence. They had prodigious appetites, and greatly enjoyed the food, which was altogether different to that to which they had been accustomed. They had stopped ac Madeira and St. Vincent, where great stocks of delicious fruit had been taken on board. Altogether they were quite sorry when they arrived at the end of the voyage. The landing was effected in large boats, as the Dunster Castle drew too much water to cross the bar at the mouth of the harbour. They stopped only one day at Durban, where Mr. Humphreys hired a waggon to take the party to 11 1 if m < ; '.ill m vf ip 32 The Young Colonists. \ Fieter-Maritzburg, the capital. He was not en- cumbered with baggage, as he had decided to buy everything he wanted in the colony. " You may pay dearer," he said, ** no doubt ; but then you get just what y ou want. If I were to take out implements, they might not be suited to the requirements of the country. As for clothes, they would of course be pretty much the same everywhere ; still, it is better to take out only a year's requirements and to buy as we want, instead of lumbering over the country with a quantity of heavy baggage." The party were greatly amused at their first experience of a Cape waggon ; it was of very large size, massively built, and covered with a great tilt; and it was draw » by sixteen oxen, spanned two by two. This was an altogether unnecessary number for the weight which had to be carried, but the waggon had come down loaded from the interior, and Mr. Humphreys therefore paid no more than he would have done for a waggon with a small number of oxen. They took two days to accomplish the journey, the v;omen sleeping at night in the waggon, and Mr Humphreys and his sons in blankets on the ground. The driver, who was an Englishman, had been many j^cars m the colony, and from him. upon the road, Mr, Humphreys gained much valuable information about the country. The driver was assisted by two Kaffirs, one of whom walked ahead of the leading cattle, the other alongside, shouting and prodding them. |any )ad, Ition two Ittle, The Young Colonists* 33 The boys were astonished at the power and accuracy with which the o river whirled his whip ; thi« had a short handle and a lash of twenty yards long, and with it he was able to hit any animal of the team with absolute certainty, and indeed to make the thong alight on any part of their bodies at which he aimed. On their arrival at Pieter-MaritzburgMr. Humphreys hired a house, and here he placed his party while he set to work to make inquiries after a suitable loca- tion. He soon heard of several places which seemed suitable, and having bought a horse started for New- castle, a small town situated close to the frontier- line between the Transvaal and Natal. He was away for three weeks, and on his return informed his wife that he had purchased a farm of 2000 acres, with a substantial farmhouse, at a dis- tance of ten miles from Newcastle, for the sum of 1500/. The farmhouse was already roughly furnished, but Mr. Humphreys purchased a number of other articles, which would make it comfortable and hoiTie-like. He laid in a great stock of groceries, and then hiring a waggon, similar to that in which they had before travelled, started with his party for the farm, having also hired four Kaffirs to assist there. Travelling by easy stages, it took them twelve day«=" to get to Newcastle. The country was undulatiiig and the road rose steadily the whole distance. Near Pieter-Maritzburg the population was com- (11264) P 11 I !5a 1: 1 fit ti \ 34 The Young Colonists, paratively thick. The fields were well cultivated and the vegetation thick and luxuriant, but as they ascended the character of the country changed. Vast stretches of rolling grass everywhere met the eye. This was now beautifully green, for it was winter. In the summer and autumn the grass becomes dry and burnt up ; fire is then applied to it, and the whole country assumes a black mantle. But the first shower of rain brings up the young grass and in a very short time the country is covered with fresh verdure. Mr. Humphreys told his wife that, before fixing on the farm, he had ridden into the Transvaal, and found that land could be purchased there even more cheaply than in Natal ; but that he had much conversa- tion with English settlers on the frontier, and these had for the most part strongly advised him to settle inside the Natal frontier. " It may be that ill will be right," one had told him, "but the Boers have not yet recovered from their scare from Secoceni." "Who is Secoceni, father?" Dick asked. "The books we have say nothing about him." "No," Mr. Humphreys said; "they were all pub- lished a few years since, and none of them treat much of the affairs of the Transvaal, which, as an independent state, had comparatively little interest to English settlers. There are in the Transvaal, which is of immense extent, a very large number of natives, enormously outnumbering the Boers. In the southern districts, where the Boers are strongest, they The Young Colonists, 35 'he \ cruelly ill-treat the natives, making slaves of them, and thinking no more of shooting one of them down than they would of shooting a dog. In the outlying provinces they live almost on sufferance of the natives, and, were these to unite their forces and rise, they could annihilate the Dutch. Secoceni is a powerful chief, who lives with his tribe in a natural stronghold ; he has always held himself as independent of the Dutch. As his men used to make raids upon the Boers* cattle, the latter attacked him, and in alliance with Swazis, another powerful tribe, endeavoured to carry his fortress ; they were, however, badly beaten j it being only by the gallantry of their native allies that the Boer contingent was saved from destruction. Secoceni then took the offensive. A perfect panic seized the Boers ; they refused to obey the orders of their government, and to turn out to resist the in- vaders. The treasury was empty, for their govern- ment had never been enabled to persuade them to pay taxes. They applied for aid to Natal, but finally their plight was so bad that they were glad to accept the offer which Mr. Shepstone made them, of annexation to England, by which they secured our protection and were safe from annihilation. Secoceni was not the only enemy who threatened them. They had a still more formidable foe in the Zulus on the eastern frontier. These are a ver>' warlike people, and it was known that their king meditated the conquest of the Transvaal. But, glad enough as the Boers were at the moment to accept the protection of England, now "I \M- I 'I'll 1 ;.if B 'I ■ >1 ! >r •• iili 36 The Young Colonists, ,1 It that the danger is over a great many of them would like to kick down the bridge which has helped them over the stream. They make no secret of their dislike to Englishmen, and although they are glad enough to sell their land at prices immensely in advance of the former value, for indeed land was previously almost unsaleable in the Transvaal, they are on bad terms with them. One of my informants describes them as a sullen, sulky people, and predicts that sooner or later we shall have trouble with them ; so I thought it better altogether to pay a little higher for my land, and to be within the boundaries of this colony." On arriving at the farm Mrs. Humphreys was glad to find that the house, though rough, was sub- stantial. It was built of stone. The walls were of great thickness, as the stones were laid without mortar, with which, however, it was faced inside and out. One large room occupied the greater portion of the ground floor; beside this was a small sitting-room. Upstairs were four bedrooms. For the time the small room downstairs was turned into a bedroom, which Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys occupied. The four bed- rooms upstairs just held the rest of the party. The out-houses consisted only of a large barn and a rough stable. Mr. Humphreys at once rode over to Newcastle, and obtained the services of a mason and six Kaflirs, and proceeded to add a wing to the farmhouse. This was for the use of John on and his wife, and Harrison. Tne whole party were, however, to take ^if The Young Colonists, t v\l -37 tie. irs, ise. Ind ike their me«ils together in the great kitchen. A hut was also built for the Kaffirs, and another large stable was erected. A few days after his arrival Mr. Humphreys went across the border into the Transvaal, taking Harrison and two of the KafiRrs with him, and returned a fort- night later with a herd of 400 cattle, which he had purchased. He also bought three yoke of oxen, broken to the plough. Hitherto the farm had been purely a pastoral one, but Mr. Humphreys at once began to break up some land for wheat and Indian corn. The Kaffirs were set to work to fence and dig up a plot round the house for vegetables, and to dig holes near it, over a space of some acres, for the recep- tion of 3QOO young fruit-trees — apples, pears, peaches, and plums, — which he had bought at Pieter-Maritz- burg, and which were to come up in two months' time. He also bought six riding-horses. In a few weeks the farm assumed quite a different appearance. A gang of Kaffirs, ten strong, had been hired to hurry on the work of preparing the orchard and erecting a fence round it. Wood was, Mr. Humphreys found, extremely scarce and dear, the country being absolutely bare of trees, and wood for fuel was only obtained in kloofs or deep hollows, and had to be fetched long distances. " I suppose," Mrs. Humphreys said to her husband one evening, " you mean to make cattle-raising your principal point ? " *' No," he said ; " every one raises cattle, and the 1 38 The Young Colonists* \\\ 'i! IB; Dutch can do it cheaper than we can ; they have immense tracts of land, and their Kaffir labour costs them next to nothing. I do not say that we could not live and to a certain extent thrive on cattle, but I think that there is something much better to be done. Wood is an awful price here, and all that is used has to be brought up from the coast. I think therefore of planting trees. The climate is magnifi- cent, and their growth will be rapid. They will of course require fencing to keep out the cattle, but I shall do that, as I am doing the orchard, with wire fencing and light iron-uprights. Labour is plentiful, and there are large nurseries near Pieter-Maritzburg, where I can procure any number of young trees ; so I mean to plant 200 acres a year — in ten years the whole farm will be planted, and the loppings for poles and fire- wood will in a very short time after planting begin to pay well. In fifteen years the first 200 acres will be fit to fell, a^d the property will be worth a very large sum of money. Of course we can sell out before that if we like. But at the present price of wood up here, or even should it fall to a quarter of its present price, the value of the 2000 acres of wood will in twenty years be extremely large." The boys were delighted with their new life. Mr. Humphreys had, before leaving England, bought for Dick a Winchester repeating-rifle. These arms are very light, and Dick was able to carry his without difficulty ; and very shortly after their arrival his father had a mark erected at a distance from the UM The Voting Colonists, 39 house, at which he ccald practise with safety. Game was abundant all over the country. Herds of deer and antelope of various kinds often swept past in sight of the farmhouse, and winged game also abounded. Mr. Humphreys had at home been considered a first-rate shot at partridges, and had for four or five years belonged to the Castleton volunteers, and had carried off many prizes for rifle-shooting. He was now able, by going out for a few hours once or twice a week, to keep the larder well supplied, and the little flock of fifty sheep, which he had bought for home-consumption, was but seldom drawn upon. The Kaffirs were fed upon mealies, as they call Indian corn, oi which Mr. Humphreys had no difficulty in purchasing sufficient for his wants from the neigh- bouring farmers. His next neighbours were two brothers, Scotch- men, named Fraser, who lived at a distance of four miles. They rode over the day after the travellers* arrival, and offered their services in any way. Mr. Humphreys, however, was well supplied with stores of all kinds, and his two white labourers, being both handy men, were able to do all that was require i about the house. The Erasers proved pleasant neighbours, and often rode over and spent Sunday with the Humphreys, and the boys sometimes went over and spent the day with them. A Kaffir lad, son of one of the men engaged upon ti')i ; ^1 40 The Young Colonists, the farm, was hired by Mr. Humphreys as a special attendant for Dick. On these vast undulating plains, where there are no trees to serve as a landmark, it is exceedingly difficult for a stranger to find his way. Dick was told by his father that, whether riding or walking, he was always to take the Kaffir boy with him ; and except when he was indulging in a gallop the lad was easily able to keep up with him. He had been born a hunter, and soon taught Dick how to stalk the timid deer, and, as the lad improved in his shooting, he was ere long enabled to keep the larder supplied — a duty which Mr. Humphreys gladly handed over to him, as every minute of his own time was occupied by his work on the farm. Of an evening after supper, which was partaken of at the conclusion of work, the men retired to their own wing and Mrs. Humphreys and the two girls sat down to their sewing by the fire ; for upon the uplands the evenings are quite cold enough to find a fire a comfort in winter. Then the boys would take out their lesson-books and work steadily for three hours. Under the changed conditions of their life, Mr. Humphreys felt that Dick might, if he chose, well dis- continue his study of the classics, and his work there- fore consisted in the reading of history, travels, and books of scientific knowledge. '* Next to being a learned man," his father said to him, "the best and most useful thing is to be a thoroughly well-informed man on all general sub- jects/' The Young Colonists, 41 to a John, however, continued his studies as before ; his life of outdoor exercise strengthened and improved him, and he no longer wished to be always sitting with a book in his hand — still, he had a natural love of study, which his father encouraged, deeming it possible that as he grew up he might be unwilling to embrace the life of a colonist, in which case he determined to send him home to finish his education in England, and afterwards to start him in any profession he might select. Finding that the cost of carriage up the country was very high, and as he would yearly require many wag- gon-loads of young trees and fencing Mr. Humphreys determined to do his own teaming ; he therefore bought two of the large country-waggons and set a KafBr to work to break in some young steers to the yoke. Six months after their arrival in the colony they had for the first time visitors to stay at the farm — Mr. Jackson, his wife, his son Tom, and two daughters com- ing out to settle near them. This was a great delight to the boys, and fortunately Mr. Jackson was able to buy a farm of 500 acres adjoining that of his friend ; the house, however, was but a cabin, and while a fresh one was being erected the family remained guests of the Humphreys. Mr. Jackson had, at hi$; friend's advice, brought with him from England a labourer with his wife and family, who at once took up their residence in the hut on the farm. To Dick the coming of the Jacksons was a source of special pleasure. Tom was just his own age, and * '.s- ■H i\ 42 M The Youn^ Colonists, the two boys had become inseparable friends at home after their adventure in the snow, upon which occasion Tom, as he freely owned, had owed his life to Dick's energy and pi omptness of suggestion. Dick was fond of his brother, but three years make a great difference at this period of life, and, as their tastes were wholly dissimilar, John had never been a companion for him. Since their arrival in South Africa they had got on very well together ; still, they had not the same ideas or subjects of thought, and it was an immense delight to Dick to have his old friend and companion with him. It must not be supposed that Dick's time was occupied solely in amusement ; from early morning until dinner-time he worked steadily. Sometimes he assisted to erect the hurdles and strain the wires of the fencing ; at others he aided in the planting of the fruit-trees ; then he would be with the Kaffirs who were breaking in the oxen for the waggons. At all times he took off his coat and worked with the rest, for, as his father said, — " If a farmer is to be able properly to look after men at work, he must be able to do the work himself." While Dick was at work with the men, John, who was too young to be of any use, remained indoors at his books, and, although of an afternoon he would stroll out, he seldom went far from the house. The other boys generally went for long rides when work was done. One day they sighted a herd of steinbock. Leaving their horses with the Kaffir lad in a hollow, The Young Colonists, 43 they crept round so as to get the deer between them and the wind, and managed to reach unobserved a brow williin a hundred yards of the herd. Dick had by this time become a good shot, and the buck at which he aimed fell dead in its tracks. Tom was not much of a shot, but he had fired into the thick of the deer and gave a shout of delight at seeing one of them fall. The rest of the herd dashed off at full speed. Tom ran, shouting, forward, but to his mor- tification the stag that he had hit rose again to its feet and went off at a trot in the direction taken by the others ; a minute later the Kaffir boy was seen running towards them at his full speed, leading the horses. The two boys on his arrival leapt into their saddles and started in pursuit of the wounded stag, which was still in sight, thinking at first they could easily ride it down. But the animal seemed rather to gain than to lose strength, and, although they had considerably lessened the start he had obtained of them, he still kept steadily on. Active and wiry as their horses were, they could not overtake it, and the boys held at last the mortification of seeing that the stag was now gaining upon them, and they presently drew rein, and their panting horses came to a standstill. "What a horrid sell!" Tom Jackson exclaimed angrily. " I can't understand his going like that after I fairly brought him down." " I expect," Dick said, " that your bullet can only have grazed his skull ; it stunned him for the moment, but after he had once come to himself he went on as 'd V I ."' % A n. 1i ■ i i! % 'if. % H 1 > i i nf !!•. m «1 J! 44 The Young Colonists, - m! *i^f i briskly as uiiual. If he had been hard hit we should certainly have ridden him down." " Well, I suppose," Tom said more goodhumouredly, " there is nothing for it but to ride back." " But which is our road ? " Dick said in some dismay. " I am sure I have no idea, and now that the sun is gone in there is nothing to steer by." While they had been riding, the day had changed ; the sky, which had for weeks been bright and fine, was now overcast with heavy clouds. " We are in for a storm, I think,*' Dick went on, " and it is coming on fast. I have not an idea which way to go, and 1 think our best plan will be to halt. Joel will track ul, and the farther we go the longer he will be in overtaking us. There is the first drop ! The best thing to do, Tcin, will be to take off our saddles and tether our horses, and then to wait. This storm is a nuisance ; in the first place we shall be drenched, ir^ the second it will wash out our tracks, and the darkness will come so quickly that I am afraid Joel will not be able to trace us. You see we do not know whether we have been riding straight or not ; the stag may have been running in a circle for any- thing we know, and as we have been riding for some- thing like two hours, we may be within five miles of home or we may be five and twenty." Scarcely had the boys got the saddles oflf and tethered their horses when the rain came down in a sheet, accompanied by the most tremendous thunder and the most vivid lightning Tom had ever seen. The Young Colonists, 45 « This is awful. Dick," he said " Yes," Dick agreed ; * thunderstorms here are fright- ful. Houses are often struck ; but, lying dcai here in the open, therr is not much fear." For hours tae storm continued unabated ; the rain came down in a perfect deluge. The boys had put their saddles together and had covered these with the horse-cloths so as to form a sort of tent, but they were nevertheless soaked to the skin, and, to add to their discomfiture, the horses had been so frightened by the blinding glare of the lightning that they tugged at the ropes until, as the wet penetrated the ground, the pegs became loosened, and they scoured away into the darkness. After continuing for five hours the rain suddenly ceased. '* What are we to do in the morning, Dick ? " " If it is fine it will be easy enough ; we shall put our saddles on our heads and walk eastward. I have got a little pocket-compass which father gave me in case I should at any time get lost, so we shall have no difficulty in keeping our way, and sooner or later we must strike the road running north to Newcastle." They did not, however, wait till morning ; so wet and chilled were they, that they agreed they would rather walk than lie still. Accordingly they put the saddles on their heads as soon as the rain ceased and the stars shone out, struck a light and looked at their compass, fixed on a star to steer by, and then set out on their journey. t> m. i m ' 46 TAe Vounr Colonists » Fortunately, after two hours' walking, they struck the road at a point some ten miles from the farm, and were home soon after daybreak, just as their fathers were about to set out with a body of Kaffirs in search of them. Joel had returned late at night, having turned his face homeward when it became too dark to follow the track ; the horses had both come in during the night The Young Colonists, 47 CHAPTER IV. THE OUTBREAK OF WAR. As soon as the Jacksons* house was finished, they went into residence there ; but two or three times a week Dick and Tom managed to meet, one or other being sure to find some excuse for riding over. The Humphreys had arrived in Natal at the end of April, 1877, and by November in the following year their farm presented a very different appearance to that which it had worn on their arrival — sixteen months of energetic labour, carried on by a considerable number of hands, will effect wonders. Possessing ample capital Mr. Humphreys was able to keep a strong gang of Kaffirs at work, and for some time had thirty men upon the farm. Thus the house which, when he took it, stood solitary and lone in a bare plain, was now surrounded by 200 acres of young trees. Of these, twenty acres were fruit-trees ; the remainder, trees grown for their wood. These were planted thickly, as they would every year be thinned out, and the young poles would fetch a good sum for fencing. Although they had only been planted a few months, they were already green and bright ; they were protected from the cattle by a wire fence encircling che whole. The cattle had thriven and w«,fe doing well, and a large field of Indian corn had been harvested for the I ■1;! n ■ ;lj 1 I I 48 llie Young Colonists, use of the Kaffirs. The cattle had nearly doubled in numbers, as Mr. Humphreys did not care about selling at present. The expenses of living were slight. Meat, fowls, and eggs were raised upon the farm, and the guns of Mr. Humphreys and Dick provided them with a plentiful supply of game. Four milch cows were kept in a paddock near the house, and supplied it with milk, butter, ana cheese. Groceries and flour had alone to be purchased, and, as Mr. Humphreys said, he did not care if he did not sell a head of cattle for the next ten years ; but he would be obliged to do so before long, as the farm would carry but a small number more than he already possessed, and its available extent for that purpose would diminish every year, as the planting went on. Mr. Humphreys was fortunate in having a small stream run through his farm. He erected a dam across a hollow, so that in winter a pond of two or three acres in extent, and fifteen or sixteen feet deep, was formed, affording an ample supply for the sum- mer ; this was of great utility to him, as he was thereby enabled to continue his planting operations, filling up each hole with water when the trees were put in, and then, as this subsided, filling in the eaith; by this means the young trees got a good start, and seldom required watering afterwards. He had a large water- cart built for him ; this was drawn by four oxen, and brought the water to the point where the Kaffirs were engaged in planting. Steers sufficient for two waggons had been broken Id re In The Young Colonists, 49 in, and when these were not employed in bringing up young trees and fencing from Newcastle they woriced upon the road between Newcastle and Pieter- Maritzburg, there being a great demand for convey- ance, as numbers of traders were going up into the Transvaal and opening stores there. Mr. Jackson had also two waggons engaged in the same work. When trees and goods were wanted for the farm, Dick went down with the waggons to see that these were properly loaded, and that the young trees, which were often in leaf, were taken out every night and set with the roots in water until the morning. One evening, early in October, Mr. Jackson rode over with Tom. *' I have heard," the former said to Mr. Humphreys, "that the government have determined on moving the troops down to the Zulu frontier ; the attitude of Cetewayo is very threatening." " He is a troublesome neighbour," Mr. Humphreys said. " They say that he has 30,000 fighting-men, and in that case he ought to be able to overrun both Natal and the Transvaal, for there is no doubt that Zulus fight with great bravery. As for the Dutch, I really can't blame the Zulus. The Boers are always encroaching on their territory, and any remonstrance is answered by a rifle-shot. Had it not been for our annexation of the Transvaal, Cetewayo would have overrun it and exterminated the Dutch before now. We have a strong force in the colony just at present, and I think Sir Bartle Frere means to bring matters il }\¥! ' 'l-! 11 * 1 « \l'ififi il;^ ;|4* (M264) E 50 The Young Colonists, lii li: to a crisis. The existence of such an army of warlike savages on the frontier is a standing threat to the very existence of the colony, and the constitution of the army renders it almost a necessity that it should fight. All the men are soldiers, and as none are allowed to marry until the regiment to which they belong has distinguished itself in battle they are naturally always burning for war. The Pieter-Maritzburg paper says that it understands that Sir Bartle Frere is about to send in an ultimatum, demanding — in addition to various small matters, such as the punishing of raiders across the frontier — the entire abandonment of the present system of the Zulu army, and cessation of the bloody massacres which constantly take place in that country. If a man offends the king, not only is he put to death, but the whole of the people of his village are often massacred. Altogether an abominable state of things prevails ; there seems to be but one opinion through- out the colony, that it is absolutely necessary for our safety that the Zulu organization shall be broken up. "I see," Mr. Jackson said, "that there is an advertisement in the papers for waggons for the transport of stores, and the price offered is ex- cellent. A large number are required ; I was thinking of sending down my two teams — what do you think ? ** " I have been turning it over in my mind," Mr. Humphreys replied, " and I am inclined also to offer The Young Colonists. I !• 5^ r my waggons. The rate of pay is, as you say, high, and they cerf:ainly will have a difficulty in obtaining the number they require. I shall not have need for mine for home purposes for a considerable time now. The hot weather will soon be setting in, and planting is over for the season. I shall of course go on digging holes for my next batch, but I shall not want them up until after the end of the hot season. So I think, as I can spare them, I shall hire them to government. I think we ought all to do what we can to aid it at present, for every one agrees as to the necessity of the steps it is now taking." " And do you think that there will be any fighting, father } " Dick asked eagerly. " That no one can say, my boy. The Zulus are a proud as well as a brave people, and believe that they are invincible. I hardly think that they will consent to break up their army and abandon their customs at our dictation ; I should not be surprised if it comes to fighting." ** Oh, father, if you hire the waggons to govern- ment, may I go with them ? I can see that the Kaffirs look after the oxen, you know, and that everything goes straight. I have picked up a little Kaffir from Joel, and can manage to make them understand." " Well, Dick," Mr. Humphreys said, after a little thought, " I don't know that I have any objection to it ; it will be a change for you, and of course there will be no chance of the waggons being near if any fighting .m« .,1 ;l 52 The Young Colonists, i • \M W 1:1; II.. goes on. What do you think, Jackson ? I suppose your boy will want to go if mine does ?'* "Well, I don't mind," Mr. Jackson answered. " I suppose it will not be for long, for the boy is useful on the farm now. However, as you say, it will be a change, and boys like a little excitement. Well, I suppose I must say yes ; they are fifteen now, and old cn'^ugh to keep out of mischief." The boys were delighted at the piospect of the expedition, and at once went out to talk matters over together. They cordially agreed in the hope that the Zulus would fight, and promised theaiselves that if possible they v/ould see something of it Their fathers would, they thought, cJlow them to take their horses, and it would be easy, if the waggons were left behind, to ride forward with th*! troops, and see what went on. Two days later the four teams started together for Pieter-Maritzbnrg. Contrary to their expectations the boys were not allowed to take their horses. " No, no, Dick," Mr. Humphreys had said, when his son asked him, " no horses, if you please ; I know what you will be up to. Galloping ah(»ut to see what is going on, and getting into all sorts of mischief and scrapes. No, if you go, you go with the waggons, to see that everything goes straight, to translate orders to the Kaffirs, and to learn something of waggon-driving across a rough country. For between this place and Pieter-Maritzburg it is such a fair road that you really learn nothing in that way; once get into a cross ill The Young Colonists* 53 country, and you will see how they get waggons down steep kloofs, acro.'.s streams, and over rough places. No, you and Tom will stick to the waggons. I have been fixing a number of rings to-day underneath one of them, and your mother and the women ha^'e been at work, making a sort of curtain to hook on all round ; so at night you will have a comfortable place to sleep in, for the waggons will likely enough be so filled with cases and stores that there will be no sleeping in them. You can take the double-barrel as well as your Winchester, as of an evening you may be able to get a shot sometimes at game, which will vary your rations a bit. You must take with you a stock of tinned meats from Pieter-Maritzburg, for I do not suppose they will issue regular rations to you. So long as you are this side of the Tugela, you will be able to buy food ; but if the troops cross into Zululand, you may have to depend on what you carry." Tom with his two waggons arrived at daybreak, and the four teams set off together, Mrs. Humphreys — who had now completely lost her cough and was quite strong and well — laying many injunctions upon Dick against exposing himself to any danger, and Dick promising to be as careful as possible. Upon their arrival at Pieter-Maritzburg the boys went at once to the government transport-yard, and on stating their errand were shown into the office of the officer in charge. " Wc have brought down four teams of sixteen oxen ; m • I i v;.:^ 54 The Young Colonists, V \ I I HI each," Dick said, " from near Newcastle, to be hired to the government." " That is right, my lads," the officer said, " we have room for plenty more. This is the form of con- tract. You engage to serve the government by the month ; you bear any damages which may take place from wear and tear of the roads, breakdowns, and the other ordinary accidents of travel ; the govern- ment engages to make good any loss or damage which may occur from the action of the enemy. This is not," he said, smiling, " likely to take place, but still those are the terms. Have you any authority from your fathers, to whom, I suppose, the teams belong, to sign the contracts for them ? " " Yes, sir," Dick said. " Here is a paper from my father, and one from Tom Jackson's father, saying that they agree to be bound by the terms of the con- tract, and that they authorize us to sign in their names. We are going with the waggons, sir, to look after the Kaffirs." "Well," the officer said, "you can do as you like about that ; but if you speak Kaffir it will be useful — only, mind, you will have to provision yourselves. From the day the teams are taken up, rations of mealies will be served to the Kaffirs at the various halting-places, but there is no provision for rations of white men. The cattle, too, will be fed, but you will have to see to yourselves." " Yes, sir ; we typected to do so." " Well, you had bett ffll III m I. Mi ft li 6o The Young Colonists, 1 1 1 spirits at the prospect of an early brush with the enemy, and songs were sung around the Hrcs until the bugle rang out the order, " Lights out," when the men wrapped themselves in their blankets and lay down, and the boys retired to their snug shelter under the waggons, where their Kaffirs had as usual laid piles of brushwood to serve as their beds. The next morning they were off eariy, and reached the Tugela after five hours* march. This river does not here form the frontier between Zululand and Natal, this being marked by the Buffalo— a much larger and more important stream — from the point where this falls into the Tugela, some fifteen miles below the spot where they crossed the latter river, which here runs towards the southwest. Two more days' marching took the column to Helpmakaar. The weather was wet and misty, and the troops now marched in close order, with flankers thrown out for the road ran parallel with the Buffalo, about five miles distant, and it was thought possible that the Zulus might cross the river and commence hostilities. A cordon of sentinels had, however, been placed all along the river from Rorke's Drift down to the point of junction of the Buffalo and Tugela ; below the stream was so wide that there was no fear of the Zulus effecting a crossing. Most of the troops which had been stationed at Helpmakaar had already marched up to Rorke's Drift, and after staying two days at Help- makaar the 2nd battalion of the 24th marched The Young Colonists. 6i to that place, where the ist battalion of the same regiment were already encamped. Two days later the remainder of the force destined to act under Colonel Qlyn had assembled at Rorke's Drift — the term " drift " meaning a ford across a river. This column was the strongest of those which had been formed for the simultaneous invasion of Zulu- land, and General Thesiger was himself upon the spot to accompany it. Many of the waggons which had brought up stores were sent back to Grey Town for further supplies ; but those of the boys, being laden with the spare ammunition and baggage of a portion of the 24th, were to accompany the column in its advance. The last two days of the term granted to Cetewayo to accede to our terms were full of excitement ; it had been reported, indeed, that the king was determined upon resistance, but it was thought probable that he might yield at the last moment, and the road leading down to the drift on the other side of the river vtras anxiously watched. As the hours went on and no messenger was seen approaching, the spirits of the troops rose, for there is nothing that soldiers hate so much as, after enduring the fatigues preparatory to the opening of a cam- paign, the long marches, the wet nights, and other privations and hardships, for the enemy to yield with- out a blow. Men who had been in the campaigns of Abyssinia and Ashanti told their comrades how on :'.l if ^ii I ? nm mM m ■m ill i '■ r' ■'5 ! I ! TAe Young Colonists, both occasions the same uncertainty had prevailed as to the intentions of the enemy up to the last moment , and the fact that in both campaigns the enemy had at the last moment resolved to fight, was hailed as a sort of presage that a similar determination would be arrived at by the Zulu king. To the boys these days passed very pleasantly ; they had nothing to do but to wander about the camp and watch the proceedings. There was a parade of the two native regiments before the general, who was much pleased with their appearance, and who ex- horted them on no account to kill women, children, or prisoners. Among these native regiments were curiously many Zulus ; for great numbers of this people had at various times been obliged to take refuge in Natal, to avoid the destruction threatened them by their despotic king, and these were now eager to fight against their late monarch. Some of the bodies of volunteer horse were very smart and soldier-like in their appearance. They were for the most part composed of young farmers, and Dick and Tom bitterly regretted that they had not been a few years older, in which case, instead of looking after a lot of bulls, as Dick contemptuously said, they might have been riding in the ranks of the volunteers. By the regulars the two days were spent in cleaning their arms and accoutrements, whose burnish and cleanliness had suffered much in the n le The Young Colonists, <>3 4 long wet march, and from the bivouacs on the damp ground. After marching from Grey Town with the 24th the boys had been placed regularly on the roll of the army, as conductors, and, although they drew no pay, had now the advantage of receiving rations as white men. They had upon the line of march frequently chatted with the young officers of the regiment, who, finding that they were the sons of well-to-do farmers and were cheery, high-spirited lads, took to them very much, and invited them of an evening to join them round the camp-fire. The last day came, and still no messenger arrived from Cetewayo, and in the evening orders were issued that the "olumn should at daybreak pass the drift and advance into the enemy's country. The troops laid down that night in high spirits, little dreaming of the disaster which was to befall them in the campaign which they thought of so lightly. ! I*: 1 e 64 The Young Colonists. I I' 111 ' ! ! ill CHAPTER V. ISANDULA. At two o'clock on the morning of the i ith of January the bugle sounded the reveill^ and the troops pre- pared to cross the Buffalo. Tents were struck, baggage piled on the waggons, and the regiments stood to arms at half-past four. The native contingent crossed first. The cavalry brigade under Lieut.-Col. Russell placed their ammunition on a pontoon and rode over. The river was in some places up to the necks of the infantry, and even the cavalry were nearly swept away. The first and second battalions of the 24th crossed on the pontoons. The third regiment of the native contingent threw out skirmishers, but could find no trace of the enemy. A heavy storm had come on at daybreak, but this left off at nine o'clock. Lieut.-Col. Buller, commanding the Frontier Light Horse, now rode in from the camp of Colonel Wood's force, which had crossed the Blood River and had encamped in Zululand at a spot about thirty-two miles distant. Lord Chelmsford rode over there with an escort of the Natal Mounted Police and the Natal Carabineers, who on their return captured three hundred head of cattle, several horses, and a num- ber of sheep and goats. During the day the waggons, The Young Colonists, 6s oxen, and ambulances were brought across the river on the platoon. Early next morning the ist battalion of the ist Native Regiment, four companies of the ist battalion of the 24th, and 300 of the irregular horse started on a reconnaissance towards the kraal of Sirayo, the chief whose sons had been the greatest offenders in the raids into Natal. The cavalry were thrown out in skirmishing order, and after marching nine miles they descended into the slope of the valley in which Sirayo's kraals were situated. The enemy were heard singing their war-songs in one of the ravines, and the 3rd Native Regiment advanced against them with the 24th in reserve. The Zulus opened fire as they ap- proached, and so heavy was this that many of our natives turned and ran ; theywererallied, however, and with a rush carried the caves in which the Zulus were lurking. In the meantime the 24th*s men had moved round to the head of the ravine, and cut off the enemy's retreat. There was a skirmish between the cavalry and some mounted Zulus, and six of these, including a son of Sirayo, were killed. Thirty horses and 400 head of cattle were captured. The next day was spent in cleaning up arms and accoutrements, after the heavy rain which had fallen the preceding week, and several days were spent in making the roads passable for the waggons. On the 20th the force moved forward, leaving one company of the 2nd battalion of the 24th, under (M264) F m n.Jr^'' ' '^^^ 111: •!!t| -^M :\ I The Young Colonists. I ; n 1! I, ,t Lieutenant Bromhead, with some engineers and a few natives to guard the ford and look after the platoons, and garrison the store and hospital. The column camped at Isandula, or, as it is more properly called, Isandwhlana, ten miles distant from Rorke's Drift. A portion of the road was ■ ctreir»' 'y ough, and the waggon . had the gre; Ifit diiHicuity ;a making their way forward. The spot selected for a camping-groi ud was a wide flat valley, with hills on the left and undulating ground on the right ; almost in the centre rose an isolated hill, perpendicular on three sides, and very steep and difficult on the foiwth. The camp was pitched in front of this hill, looking down the valley, with a mile of open country between it and the hills on the left. The camp was formed in the following order : on the left were the two battalions of the 3rd Native Regiment ; the Royal Artillery were in the centre ; next to these was the 2nd battalion of the 24th. The line was then taken up by the cavalry, with the 1st battalion of the 24th on the right of the whole. The waggons were all placed between the camp and the hill at the back. By a strange and criminal neglect no attempt was made to intrench this position, although it was known that the column might at any moment be attacked by the Zulus. It was determined that the greater part of the force should advance the next morning towards a stronghold, ten miles distant from the camp, straight '^i^SR'^ The Young Colonisis, Af rht down th^, valley. News had come that a large number of Zulu were at this spot, and it was supposed that thesi would fight. The columt consisted of eight coMpanr s of each of the battalions of the 3rd Native Regiment, with the greater part of the cavalry. The force started early and marched for three hours down the valley. Here they came on much culti- vated ground, but the kraals had been deserted by the enemy. At four o'clock, as the cavalry were skirmishing at a distance on both flanks, they came upon a body of Zulus about 2000 strong. The horse fell back upon the infantry, but, as it was now late, Major Dartnell decided to encamp for the night, and to atta :k in the morning. A messenger was despatched into camp with a report of the day's proceedings, and some provisions and blankets were sent out, with news that the general would join the troops with reinforce- ments in the morning. At daybreak he left the camp at Isandula with seven companies of the 2nd battalion of the 24th, and orders were sent to Colonel D urn ford, at Rorke's Drift, to bring up 200 mounted men and his rocket- battery, which had reached that spot. The Zulus were seen in all directions, and a good deal of skirmishing took place. By a gross neglect, equal to that which was manifested in the omission to fortify the camp, no steps whatever were taken to keep up communication between the column, which now consisted of the greater part of the troops, and those who remained at the camp at Isandula. No \ m m f m ! 'M 68 The Young Colonists* ii signallers were placed on the hills, no mounted videttes were posted, and the column marched on, absorbed in its own skirmishes with the enemy, as if the general in command had forgotten the very existence of the force at Isandula. Even in the middle of the day, when the firing of cannon told that the camp was attacked, no steps were taken to ascertain whether reinforcements were needed there, and it was not until hours after all was over that a party was despatched to ascertain what had taken place at the camp. Upon the day on which the two native regiments advanced, the two boys felt the time hang heavy on their hands ; they would have liked to take their guns and go out to shoot some game for their dinners, but all shooting had been strictly forbidden, as the sound of a gun might cause a false alarm. After hanging about the camp for an hour or two, Dick proposed that they should climb the hill which rose so steeply behind them. " If the columns have any fighting," he said, " we should be sure to see it from the top." Borrowing a telescope from one of the officers of the volunteer cavalry, they skirted round to the back of the hill, and there began their climb. It was very steep, but after some hard work they reached the summit, and then crossed to the front and sat down in a com- fortable niche in the rock, whence they could command a view far down the valley. They could see the two battalions of infantry marching steadily along, and the cavalry moving among the hills and undulations on both flanks. They had taken some biscuits and a The Young Colonists, 69 bottle of beer up with them, and spent the whole day on the look-out. The view which they gained was a very extensive one, as the hill was far higher than those on either side, and in many places they could see small bodies of the enemy moving about. At sunset they descended. "I vote we go up again," Tom said the next morning. " The general has gone forward with most of the white troops, and there is sure to be fighting to- day. We shall have nothing to do, and may as well go up there as anywhere else." After the general's departure there remained in camp five companies of the ist battalion of the 24th, and one of the 2nd battalion, two field-pieces with their artillery-men, and some mounted men. Just as the boys were starting at eight in the morning, there was a report in the camp that the Zulus were gathering in force to the north of the camp. This quickened the boys* movements and half an hour later they gained the top of the hill, and from their old position looked down upon the camp lying many hundred feet below them. There was considerable bustle going on, and the Kaffir drivers were hastily collecting the cattle which were grazing round, and were driving them into camp. " There is going to be a fight ! " Dick exclaimed, as they gained their look-out ; *' there are crowds of Zulus out there on the plains." Could the boys have looked over the hills a mile away to their right, they would have seen that the 1: t'^ / p 1 I'l :li ■illl ■m 70 The Young Colonists, \ i^tl number of Zulus down in the valley in front was but a small proportion of those gathering for the attack ; for 15,000 men had moved up during the night, and were lying quietly behind those hills, 3000 or 4000 more were taking the road to Rorke's Drift, to cut off any who might escape from the camp, while as many more were showinr down the valley. Altogether some 24,000 of the enemy had gathered round the little body in the camp. To the boys, however, only the party down the valley was visible. At eleven o'clock Colonel Durnford came into camp with his 350 mounted men from Rorke's Drift, and advanced with them to meet the enemy threatening the left flank, while two companies of the ist bat- talion of the 24th moved out to attack their right. The Zulus, now reinforced from behind the hills, moved forward steadily, and Colonel Durnford with his cavalry could do little to arrest them. For an hour the infantry stood their ground, and the two field-pieces swept lines through the thick ranks of the enemy. The Zulus advanced in the form of a great crescent. " Things look very bad, Dick," Tom said ; " what do you think we had better do ? " " I think we had better stay where we are, Tom, and wait and see what occurs ; we have a splendid view of the fight, and if our fellows meet them we shall see it all ; but if — oh, look there, Tom ! " Over the hills on the left thousands of Zulus were seen pouring down. "This is terrible, Tom. Look here, I will crawl The Young Colonists. n along over the crest, so as not to be seen, and look behind to see if it is clear there. If it is, I vote we make a bolt. It is of no use our thinking of going down for a couple of horses ; the Zulus will be in the camp long before we could get there." Five minutes later he again joined his friend. "They are coming up behind too, Tom. They have really surrounded us. Look, they are close to the camp ! " It was a scene of frightful confusion. Nothing could be seen of the companies of the 24th, which had gone out to meet the Zulus. The great wave of the advancing army had swept over them. Below, the panic was complete and terrible, and soldiers, native drivers, and camp-followers were running wildly in all directions. One party of the 24th's men, about sixty strong, had gathered together and stood like a little island. The incessant fire of their rifles covered them with white smoke, while a dense mass of Zulus pressed upon them. Many of the soldiers were flying for their lives ; others again, when they found that their retreat was cut off, had gathered in groups and were fighting desperately to the last. Here and there mounted men strove to cut their way through the /'ulus, while numbers of fugi- tives could be seen making for the river, hotly pursued by crowds of the enemy, who speared them as they ran. *' It is frightful, frightful, Tom I I cannot bear to look at it," / n *^il r ; ' . I ) 72 The Youhg Colonists. For a few minutes the fight continued. The crack of the rifles was heard less frequently now. The exulting yell of the Zulus rose louder and louder. On the right Colonel Durnford with his cavalry essayed to make one last stand to check the pursuit of the Zulus and give time for the fugitives to escape ; but it was in vain, showers of assegais fell among them, and the Zulu crowd surged round. For a time the boys thought all were lost, but a few horsemen cut their way through the crowd and rode for the river. The artillery had long before ceased to fire, and the gunners lay speared by the cannons. The first shot had been fired at half-past eleven, by one o'clock all was over. The last white man had fallen, and the Zulus swarmed like a vast body of ants over the camp in search of plunder. Horror-stricken and sick, the boys shrank back against the rock behind them, and for some time sobbed bitterly over the dreadful massacre which had taken place before their eyes. But after a time they began to talk more quietly. " Will they come up here, do you think, Dick ? " " No, I don't think so," Dick replied. " They could hardly have seen us come up here, even if they had been on the look-out on the hills, and as they reached the back of the mounts in before the camp was taken, they will knov that nobody could have come up after- wards. Lie back here; we cannot possibly be seen from below. They will be too much taken up with plundering The Young Colonists, 73 the camp to think of searching this hill. What on earth is the general doing ? — I can see his troops right away on the plain. Surely he must have heard the guns ? Our only hope now is that when he hears it he will march straight back ; but, even if he does, I fear that the Zulus will be too strong for him. The whole force which he has with him is no stronger than that which has been crushed here, and I don't expect the native regiments can make much stand if attacked by such a tremendously strong force." So long as the daylight lasted, the boys, peering occasionally over, could see the Zulus at the work of plundering. All the sacks and barrels were taken from the waggons and cut or broken open, each man taking as much as he could carry of the tea, sugar, flour, and other necessaries ; many of the yoke- oxen were assegai ed at once, and cut up and eaten, the rest being driven off towards the north by a party of warriors. At nightfall the tents were set on fire; they soon burnt out, and the boys could no longer see what was taking place. Rising from the shelter, they walked back to tht other side of the crest. " I can hear firing now," Dick said ; " it seems to me that it is back at Rorke's Drift." They were soon sure that they were not mistaken ; as it grew darker a flittering light was seen in that direction, and a continued fire of distant musketry was beard. L^ter on there was a broad glare in the sky. ^ V:l > .'- 74 The Young Colonists, ( 'S 'I i)S !i3 " I fear it is all over there too," Dick said, " and that the place has been burnt." Still, however, the firing continued, as heavy as ever, and long on into the night the lads sat listening to it. At last they fell asleep, and when they awoke the sun was already high. Thus they missed their chance of escape. At nine o'clock in the evening Lord Chelmsford's force, hearing at last what had happened, marched back into the camp, and before day had fairly broken continued their way down to Rorke's Drift. The defenders here, a little garrison, under Lieutenant Bromhead of the 24th, and Chard of the Royal Artillery, had made an heroic defence against some 4CXX) of the enemy. With mealy bags and boxes they built up a breastwork, and this they held all night, in spite of the desperate efforts of the Zulus to capture it. The hospital, which stood at one end of the intrenchment, was carried and burnt by the Zulus, but the little garrison held out till morning in an inner intrenchment round the store-house. Here was seen what could be done in the way of de- fence by the aid of hastily-thrown-up intrenchments; and had breastworks been erected at Isandula, as they ought to have been the instant the troops arrived there, and still more so when the major portion of the column marched away, the force there, small as it was, would doubtless have made a successful resistance. Even had the step been taken, when the Zulus were first seeD approaching, of forming a laager — that is, The Young Colonists, 75 of drawing up the wap^CTons in the form of a hclloiv square — at the foot of the steep mountain, tlie disaster might have been averted. It may be said that the massacre of Isandula was due entirely to the over- confidence and carelessness of the officers in command of the column. The boys on waking crawled back cautiously to a spot where they could obtain a view over the valley, and, to their surprise, the force which, on the afternoon before, they had seen out there had entirely disappeared. Many bodies of Zulus were seen moving about, but there was no trace of the white troops. They made their way to the back of the hill, and then, to their horror, saw the column movmg away from them, and already half-way on its road to Rorke's Drift. Their first impulse was to get up and start off in a run in pursuit of it, but this feeling lasted but a moment, for between the hill and the column many scattered parties of Zulus were to be seen. The boys looked blankly at each other. It was but too clear that they were cut off and alone in the enemy's country. " Whatever shall we do, Dick .? " " I have not the least idea, Tom. At any rate there is nothing to be done at present We should be asse- gaied in a moment if we were to go down ; let's go back to our old look-out." After much talk they agreed that it would be hope- less to attempt to make south and cross the Buffalo, as many of the fugitives had done. There were sure i . r;i Hf iiir 76 The Young Colonists, . ii \ ■ i ■ 1 ; 1 t 1 1 ! i j 1 1 i I t (i1li i i i ■ to be strong bodies of Zulus along the river, and even if they passed these without detection they would be unable to cross the river, as they would find no ford, and neither of them was able to swim. There were great numbers of Zulus in the camp below, and these seemed to be pursuing the work of plundering more minutely than they had done on the previous day. The stores scattered recklessly about were collected, placed in empty barrels, and loaded up on the waggons. Presently a number of cattle were brought down ; these were harnessed to the waggons and driven off, and by nightfall nothing save scattered remnants marked the place where the British camp had stood. But from their post the boys could see that the ground far and near was dotted with corpses, black and white. After nightfall the boys descended to the camp, and having marked the exact spot where the waggons had stood were able to collect a number of pieces of the broken biscuit scattered about ; they were fortunat; enough to light upon a water-bottle still full, and with these treasures they returned to the post on the moun- tain. They had agreed to wait there for three or four days, in fact as long as they could hold out, and then quietly to walk into one of the native kraals, if caught in the act of flight they were certain of be'njj killed, but they hoped that when the Zulus* blood had cooled down aft.'r the conflict their lives might possibly be spared. This plan was rnrricd oat ; for fou" days they The Young Colonists, 11 T'lJ remained on the hill of Isandula, and then descending late one evening to the plain walked for ten or twelve miles north, and waiting until daybreak showed them a large native kraal at no great distance, they made for it, and sat quietly down at the door of the principal hut. Presently a girl issued from a neighbouring hut, and, upon seeing them, gave a scream and ran back again. The cry brought others to the doors of the huts. When the boys were seen, a perfect hubbub of tongues broke forth, and many of the men, running out with their spears, advanced towards the lads. They sat perfectly quiet, and held up their hands to show that they were unarmed. The Zulua hesitated. Dick went through the motion of eating and drinking, and in his best Kaffir begged for a glass of water. The Zulus, seeing that the boys were alone, approached them, and began to ask them questions, and were evidently much surprised at hearing that they had escaped from the massacre of the British. From the door of tl.j hut in which they were sitting a chief, evidently cf high rank, for the others greeted him respectfully, now came out. After the cause of the tumult was explained to the chief, he ordered the boys to be bound. This was done and they were put into an empty hut while their fate was decided upon ; after much delibciation it was agreed by the Zulus that, as they were but boys and had come into the camp unarmed and of their own accord, their lives should for the present be spared. m m-^>.^ 11.. 78 The Young Colonists. I, I III '' ! ' i. - iii* It happened that in the village were a party o\ men who belonged to the tribe of Umbelleni, whose territory lay to the north-west, and these volunteered to take the prisoners to their chief, who was one of the strongest opponents of the English. His country, indeed, lay just within the Zulu frontier, and, having been engaged in constant skirmishes and broils with the Dutch settlers, he was even more disappointed than the other chiefs at the taking over of the Trans- vaal by England, just at the time when the Zulus were meditating its conquest. The road from Itelezi, the village at which the boys had given themselves up, to Umbelleni's country ran along between the Blood River and the lofty hill-coun- try ; and, although they were ignorant of the fact, Colonel Wood's force was at that moment lying on this line. They were therefore taken up over a moun- tain-country, crossing Mount Ingwe, to the Zlobani Mountain, a stronghold ten miles south of Umbel- leni's chief kraal, and where at present he was resid- ing. After three days' journey the lads, exhausted and footsore, ascended to the plateau of the Zlobani Mountains. Upon their way they passed through many villages, and at each place it needed the efforts of their guards to prevent their being seriously mal- treated, if not killed. The Zulus, although victorious at Isandula, had suffered terribly, it being estimated that nearly 3000 had fallen in the attack. Thus there was not a village but had lost some of .1 j«i iirmii iT i»s;pt!'«?."-- ;-'«". i The Young Colonists, 8i them on the 24th of the disaster of Isandula, and with it Colonel Wood received orders to fall back ; and on the 26th he encamped at Kambula. Raids were made in all directions with great success ; the great military kraal of Manyamyoba was captured and destroyed by Colonel Buller and his cavalry. As Colonel Wood's was now the most advanced column, Colonel Rowlands, with a wing of the 80th and a couple of guns and 200 Swazis, together with Raaf's Horse and Wetherby's Borderers, were sent as a reinforcement to him. The Zulus were not idle, and Umbelleni and Manyamyoba made several successful raids across the border and destroyed the kraals of natives friendly to the English. These two chiefs were not regular Zulu chieftains ; both were adventurers who had gathered under them numbers of broken men, and had for years carried on raids on their own account from their mountain-stronghold, in much the same way that the Scotch borderers of olden times harassed the country on the English side of the frontier. Oham, the king's brother, with his own following, came into Colonel Wood's camp, and gave himself up, saying that he was altogether opposed to the war. The boys on their arrival at Zlobani were brought before Umbelleni. That chief briefly gave orders that they should be killed ; but two or three of his headmen represented to him that they might be of use ; they would be able to carry a message to the British camp, should he desire at any time to send one ; by their appearance and dress, they could tell (M264) G i'l I i % Kf i i n 4 :ilH ii 82 The Young Colonists, \\ ji' him the nature of any troops they might intend to attack, and could read and explain any letters which might be captured on messengers ; finally, they might be an acceptable present to send to Cetewayo, who might not be pleased if he heard that prisoners had been killed in cold blood. Umbelleni assented to the reasoning, and ordered the boys to be taken to a hut. The Zulu dwellings resemble in form great bee-hives. They are circular and dome-roofed ; the entrance is but three feet hlgli, tnd people can only enter by crawling. A woman was ordered to cook for them. No guard was plac d over them, and they were permitted to wander about freely, as escape from such a position was considered impossible. Six weeks passed slowly, and on the nth of March a messenger arrived, and there was a sudden stir in the camp. In a few minutes the fighting men assembled. The boys were ordered to take their place in the column, and at a swift march, with which they had the greatest difficulty in keeping up, the column moved away. " Where are they taking us now, I wonder ? *' Tom said. " I suppose they are going to attack some English party on the march ; our men are hardly likely, I should think, again to be caught napping, as they were at Isandula." Crossing two rivers, the Bevana and Pongola, they at night halted in another mountain-kraal of Umbel- .«i.(f^«fWWP« The Young Colonists, 83 Icni, about three miles from the Intombe River. On the bank of the river could be seen twenty waggons. These waggons had come down from Derby, on their way to Luneberg, a town situated four miles from the Intombe. Major Tucker, who commanded there, sent Captain Moriarty with a company of the 80th, seventy strong, down to the river to protect the waggons whilst crossing, and that officer had orders to neglect no precaution, and above all to keep an incessant and vigilant look-out. The river was in flood, and no crossing could be effected, and for four days the waggons remained on the northern bank. Captain Moriarty placed the waggons in laager on the bank, and took post there with forty of his men, leaving Lieutenant Harwood with thirty-four on the south bank with directions to cover the sides of the laager with a flanking fire, should it be attacked. The position of the waggons was a dangerous one, as the ground rose immediately behind them, and was covered with bush. In the middle of the night of the nth Umbelleni's men arose, and, accompanied by the boys, started from the kraal, and Dick and Tom were filled with forebod- ings of what was about to happen. Dick had already gathered from thenatives that theguardoi the \\ aggons was an extremely small one, and, as the body moving to attack them were between 4000 and 5000 strong, the chance of a successful resistance appeared small. When within a short distance of the waggons two of the Zulus motioned to the boys to stop. In ten 11 m )]'J .< ". ii IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 ^^Ui Ut 122 moo Sf 1^ 12.0 111 1.1 IL25 mi 1.4 U£ 1.6 ■v^ '-iQ 05 ^> .>v> "^.>^ Hiotographic _Sciences Corporation ^ :i? <*' \ <^ ^. 23 WBT MAIN STRIH WIUTIR.N.Y. 14SM (71«) 172^503 '^^P ^ 0^ 84 The Young Colonists, m minutes they heard a sentry challenge ; his shout was answered by a loud yell, and the Zulus poured down to the attack. Unfortunately Captain Moriarty had not taken sufficient precaution against surprise, and before the men were fairly under arms the Zulus were upon them. The force on the other side of the river were now on the alert, and their rifle-fire opened before that of the defenders of the waggons. For a moment or two there was a sharp rattling fire from the waggons ; then there were shouti, and screams, the firing ceased, and the boys knew that the laager had been captured Many of the soldiers indeed were assegaied before they could leave their tents, most were slaughtered at once, but a few managed to swim across the river. The Zulus swarmed after them. Lieutenant Harwood jumped upon his horse and rode off to Luneberg to fetch assistance. The little detachment was broken by the rush of the Zulus, but a serjeant and eight men fell back into a deserted kraal, and succeeded in re- pelling the attacks of the enemy. Lieutenant Harwood was afterwards tried by court- martial for his conduct ; he was acquitted, but the general in command refused to confirm the verdict, and the commander-in-chief at home approved of the view he took of the matter, and issued a general order to the effect that "An officer, being the only one present with a party of soldiers actually engaged with the enemy, is not under any pretext whatever justified in deserting them, and thus by so doing abandoning tiiem to their fate." The Young Colonists, 8s '«l.;* Apprehensive of the arrival of reinforcements from Luneberg, Umbelleni did not continue his attack upon the little party in the kraal, but, after hastily plunder- ing the waggons, retreated with his force, and the next day returned to Zlobani. A few days passed and the boys learnt that two regiments from Ulundi were expected shortly to re- inforce Umbelleni's men. The chief himself, with the majority of his followers, was now at his kraal, four miles distant, but the boys remained in the village on the Zlobani plateau. Several times they saw parties of British horse riding over the plains and from a dis- tance reconnoitring the position, and they wondered whether there could be any intention on the part of Colonel Wood to attack it. There was on the plateau a large number of cattle, part the property of Umbel- leni's men, but the great majority spoil taken in raids. It seemed to the boys that an attack could scarcely be successful. The sides of the mountains were ex- tremely precipitous, covered with bush, and contained large numbers of caves. There was but one path up which mounted men could ride ; this was about hall- way along the west side, the hill being a much greater length from north to south than from east to west Up the southern extremity of the plateau was a path by which footmen could descend to the plain, but it was exceedingly steep and altogether impracticable for cavalry ; a handful of men should have been able to hold the position against an army. Colonel Wood having heard of the large quantity ot cattle concealed on the Zlobani Mountain had de- ^■^ I Si 86 The Young Colonists. ■:t!J termined to attack it, and at three o'clock in the morn- ing of the 27th of March a cavalry party started. It consisted of 150 mounted infantry ; the Frontier Light Horse, 125; Raafs Troop, 50; Piet-Uys' Boer Con- tingent, 50; Wetherby's Horse, 80 ; Schermbrucker's Horse, 40 ; — a total of 495 men. They were com- manded by Colonel Russell, and Colonel Wood was himself to join them in the evening. The party was a picked one, all being well mounted and good rifle-shots. The track led across a rough sandy country with deep nullahs, and thickly covered with trees and bush. At five o'clock they halted for half an hour, and then again advanced. After five miles' travelling across a very rough country they came out into a large culti- vated flat, which terminated in a long, dark, winding gorge, black with bush and skirted by precipices of sandstone and granite. They turned into this and followed a rivulet until they came to the end of the gorge, where they discovered a steep path which seemed cut out of the solid rock, and was only wide enough for one horseman to pass. After three quar- ters of an hour's climbing they gained the summit. The country was wild in the extreme. The plateau upon which they found themselves extended for seven or eight miles. Huge masses of scrub and boulders, peaks, terraces, and ledges of rock appeared every- where, while caves and immense fissures formed re- treats for the cattle. It was now late in the afternoon, and the force bivouacked for the night, having brought with them three days' provisions. At seven in the l\ The Young Colonists, 87 evening Colonel Wood joined them with his staff, eight mounted men of the 50th regiment and six natives under Untongo, a son of Pongo, a friendly chief. Untongo had by some means obtained infor- mation that seven strong regiments had marched from Ulundi seven days before, and was most anxious that the column should return to Kambula. Colonel Wood, however, could not carry out this advice, for Colonels Buller and Wetherby and Piet- Uys, with their commands, who were in front, had moved forward a long distance, and a retreat now would leave them to be surrounded and cut off. The troops lay down and slept, and at hali-past three o'clock again prepared to advance. Distant shots were heard, showing that Colonel Buller was attacked, and just as the party was setting off. Colonel Wetherby with his troopers rode in, having in the night got separated from Buller's men in the wild and broken country. As the troops advanced they came here and there across the bodies of Zulus, showing that Buller had had to fight his way. Captain Ronald Campbell ascended a rock and scanned the country with his glass. Far away, almost in the centre of the gigantic and apparently inaccessible cliff of Zlobani, the remains of Buller's column could be seen slowly advancing, driving some dark masses of cattle and Zulus before them. Colonel Wetherby obtained permission to lead his men on at once to Buller's assistance, while Colonel Wood followed with the remainder of the force. ";fil i?!;! I ^ "IB t ?! s "II ;ri It 88 The Young Colonists, m\ ?■' I' % M .1 ■«! Wetherby moved by a terribly difficult path to the right, while Wood kept to what seemed the main track. About half a mile further the latter came on a partj' of 200 Zulus, armed with rifles ; these crossed in front of him, taking an occasional shot at the leading files of the party, who on account of the difficulties of the road were compelled to dismount and lead their horses. Their object was evidently to cut off Wetherby's troop from the main column. Lieutenant Lysons, leaving the column, reconnoitred the ground, and found that Wetherby's party was already divided from them by a deep and impassable ravine, at the bottom of which was the pathway by which Buller had made his way to the summit of the cliff. A strong party of Zulus were seen faraway in front, working as if to cut off Buller's horse. It was clear that there was nothing to do but to press forward in hopes that the line taken by Wetherby and that which the main column was following would come together. At this moment a heavy fire was opened by a party of the enemy from a narrow ledge of rock a hundred yards above them. Untongo and two of his men guided a party of eight marksmen to a still higher point, and their fire speedily drove off the Zulus. Half a:, hour's march brought Wood upon Wetherby's track, and high above them to the right the rear of Buller's column could be seen. No more unsuitable ground for the operation of mounted men could be found ; perpendicular rocks rose in all directions, while steep precipices fell away at their feet. Killed K The Young Colonists. 89 and wounded horses were seen at every turn of the road, showing how stoutly the enemy had held their ground, and how difficult an operation Buller had performed. Sending fifty men to work upon the right flank and endeavour to take the Zulus in the rear, Colonel Wood kept his men for a few moments under cover of a friendly ledge of rocks, to take breath and look to their rifles, girths, and ammunition, and then pressed rapidly forward and joined the Border Horse. The scene was now most exciting. The firing was almost continuous, and the yells of the savages rose from every rock and bush, mingled with the loud cheers of Buller's men far up in front, as they saw the co- lumn approaching to their aid. The ground was now more level and practicable for riding, and Colonel Wood mounted his horse and, accompanied by his own little escort of a dozen men and the Border Horse under Colonel Wetherby himself, with his gallant boy, aged fifteen, who was fighting by his side, galloped forward for the front, leaving Colonel Russell in command of the column. When within a hundred paces of the summit of the cliff a rain of fire opened upon their front and fiank from a mass of Zulus firing from caves, crevices, and behind enormous boulders. From one cave to the right front an exces- sively heavy fire was kept up, and Colonel Wetherby dashed at this with his men just as Colonel Wood's horse staggered from a deep assegai wound in the chest. At the same moment a native from behind a boulder .;. w \\\ \ 90 The Young Colonists, \\. 4i i fired at that officer at ten paces' distance ; the bullet missed him and Lieutenant Lloyd rode at the man, but fell, shot through the head. Colonel Wood and Cap- tain Ronald Campbell rode forward to cover his body. Two more Zulus fired at the same instant and the colonel's horse fell dead. Colonel Wetherby's men were hotly engaged at close quarters with the Zulus, and were unable to join the colonel. Captain Camp- bell, Lieutenant Lysons, and the eight 90th men of the escort rushed at the opening. Captain Campbell fell, shot through the head, but the rest dashed forward. There was a movement in the cave and a sudden shout in English of " Come on ! " and as the little band dashed in and fell upon the Zulus they saw, to their astonishment, two English boys, armed with assegais, attacking these in the rear. In another minute the Zulus were all cut down, and the party returned to Colonel Wood. On the previous afternoon Zulu scouts had arrived at Zlobani with the news that an English column was on its way towards it. Messengers were despatched to Umbelleni's kraal, and at night his torce there came to the assistance of those at Zlobani. Early in the morning the boys proceeded with a number o( Zulus to the edge of the plateau, and were placed with eight of their guards in a cave. From its mouth they watched anxiously the events 01 the day. Colonel Buller's party had struck upon the right road, and after hard fighting gained the summit of The Young Colonists. 91 the cliflf. Here a great quantity of cattle were col- lected, and these were sent off in charge of a body of friendly natives, which accompanied the force. This column in the advance had not passed near the cave in which the boys were placed. Their hearts beat high as they saw Colonel Wood's column sud- denly turn off from the line which Buller had fol- lowed, and make straight for it. Their excitement grew higher and higher as the conflict increased in vigour. Soon the Zulus in the cave were at work. When Captain Campbell charged forward with his handful of men, Dick and Tom exchanged a glance. They stood quiet until it was evident that the English at- tack would be pushed home; then, as the men of the 90th, led by Lysons, dashed at the entrance of the cavern, the boys seized two assegais and each pinned one of the crouching Zulus to the ground. Before the others could turn round upon them Lysons and his men were among them. The fire of Buller's men from above drove the Zulus from their hiding-places. But Colonel Wood, finding it impossible to make his way up at this point, moved round at the foot of the rocks, to try and find the point at which Buller had ascended the cliff. Before doing so, however, the bodies of Captain Campbell and Lieutenant Lloyd were carried down the hill, and buried in a hastily-made grave. As, carrying their wounded men, the little party made their way to the foot of the cliff, Untongo, who had '•■ i fM 92 T/ie Young Colonists, Mil iii «fe i M 8 I' n been reconnoitring the rocks on both sides, ran down to him and began to talk rapidly, pointing over towards the plain. Colonel Wood did not understand Kaffir, but Dick, who was standing by, said, — " He says, sir, that there is a great Zulu army marching below." Colonel Wood mounted a fresh horse, and making his way with great difficulty across some broken ground reached a point where he could see the plain. There, in five continuous columns, the Zulu army from Ulundi, 20,000 strong, was sweeping along at its usual rapid pace. It was evident at once that only by a speedy retreat could any of the force hope to escape. Colonel Wood despatched a message at once to Colonel Russell, who had with his force by this time commenced the ascent at the extreme westerly point, to retrace his steps instantly, and to cover as far as possible the retreat of the native allies with the cattle. Colonel BuUer above had also seen the coming danger. So far he had accomplished his work ad- mirably. The Zulu position had been triumphantly stormed, and a large number of cattle taken and driven off. Had Colonel Wood's force and Wetherby's troop arrived on the scene of action immediately after Buller had ascended to the plateau, the retreat could have been made in time, and the expedition would have been successful at all points. The unfortunate :i The Young Colonists, 93 incident of their losing the track, the delay caused thereby, and their inability to rejoin him had given time for the Ulundi army to come up. Colonel Buller found that it was impossible now to descend to the plain by the path by which he had ascended. Not only would he have to fight his way back through the whole force of Umbelleni, but his retreat by that route would be cut off by the Ulundi men. Consequently, pursued by a great body of exulting Zulus, he made his way along the plateau to the steep path at its extremity. The scene here was terrible. The Zulus blocked the way in front and lined both sides. Buller himself, with Piet-Uys, defended the rear, assisting the wounded, and often charging d^jsperately into the ranks of the Zulus pressing upon him. The path was slippery with blood and strewn with dead. As the last of his troop made their way down it, Piet-Uys, a most gallant Dutchman, fell dead across the body of his horse, with six Zulus, whom he had shot with his revolver, around him. Wetherby's troop was surrounded, and forty-five out of his eighty men killed. The colonel himself and his boy both fell, the latter refusing to leave his father, although the latter urged him to gallop off and join the column, which appeared to be making its way through the Zulus. Colonel Russell's command got through without so much opposition ; but Buller's horse, Piet-Uys' troop, and Wetherby's command suffered terribly. fill Ml m *:i M The Young Colonists, fl I :5 Fortunately the Ulundi army did not follow the retreat ; first, because the tremendous three days' march which they had made had in a great measure exhausted the men, who had started in such haste that they had brought no provisions with them, and secondly, on account of the steady attitude and resolute bearing of Russell's command. Buller's force reached Kambula camp at half-past seven at night It had set in stormy, and torrents of rain were falling. Although he had been in the saddle for forty-eight hours, Colonel BuUer, on hearing that a small party of the survivors had taken refuge in hiding ten miles away, collected a party of volun- teers, and, taking led horses, set out to rescue them. This was effected ; the fugitives were found to be seven in number, and returned with their rescuers safely to camp. The boys had both escaped, two of Wetherby's men, who accompanied Colonel Wood, taking them on their saddles behind them. The total loss was ten officers and seventy-eight men. For the night the boys were handed over to the charge of one of the officers of the staff, but in the morning Colonel Wood sent for them, and they then told him the story of their adventures since the battle of Isandula, with which he was greatly interested. He said that he would at once have sent them to Utrecht, but that the camp would probably be attacked during the day. The troops had been on the alert all night, expect- The Young Colonists* 95 ingf an attack. Before daylight Captain Raaf was sent out with twenty-five men to reconnoitre, and returned with one of Oham's natives. This man had joined the Zulu army as it advanced, and was, fortunately for himself, not recognized by them as being one of Oham's people. In the night he had slipped away. Me reported the Zulus 20,000 strong, a great por- tion of them being armed with rifles. Fortunately little preparation was necessary at Kambula Nothing had been left to chance here, and there was therefore no fear of a repetition of the Isandula disaster. Each corps, each subdivision, each section, and each man had his place allotted to him, and had been told to be in that place at the sound of the bugle. The little fort was in a strong position, laid out upon an elevated narrow reach of table-land. A precipice, inaccessible to a white man, guarded the right flank ; on the left a succession of steep terraces had been utilized and carefully intrenched, each successive line commanding that below it. At one end there was a narrow slip of land swept by two 7-pounders. Immediately in the rear, upon an eminence 120 feet higher than the fort, was a small work, armed with two guns. The camp con- sisted of an outer defence of 100 waggons, and an inner one of fifty — the whole protected by earth- works and ditches. , ■9| :; n til n rii ' ,f 96 TAe Young Colonists, 111 CHAPTER VII. KAMBULA. Immediately Oham's Zulu had made his report, the bugle sounded, and the garrison quietly and quicl\ y .00k up the places assigned to them. Mes- sengers went out to order a fatigue-party, which had gone out wood-cutting, to return at once. These men repor«;ed that they had seen the Zulus scouting, about five miles to the west. The tents were struck, the men lined the shelter-trenches, and ammunition was served out by fatigue-parties told off for this duty. The white conductors and commis- sariat men, most of whom were old setUers and good shots, were told off to the different faces of the laager. A small party were provided with stretchers, in order to carry the wounded to the hospital in the centre. Dick and Tom, having no duty and being without arms, thought that they might as well make them- selves useful at this work, and therefore, taking a stretcher, they proceeded to one of the outer shelter- trenches. It was nearly eleven o'clock when the Zulus were seen approaching, and halted just out of musket-range. Here apparently a council of war was held, and it was more than an hour before any forward move- The Young Colonists, ^7 ment was made. Then a body of them, about 7000 strong, ran at a tremendous pace along a ledge situated at the edge of the cultivated land. The troops were ordered not to fire, as it was thought better to wait until the Zulus came on in earnest. At half-past one a cloud of skirmishers advanced from the Zulu army, and fed by supports began to scale the north front of the English position. Here, behind the outermost line of intrench ments, some of Buller and Russell's dismounted men, and a portion of the band of the gallant Piet-Uys were stationed, and these opened fire upon the Zulus. Scarcely one of them but was a dead-shot, and no sooner did a head or a shield appear above rock or boulder or tuft of grass than the deadly rifle rang out, and in most cases there was an enemy the less to encounter. The Boers particularly distinguished themselves at this work. Most of these men are certain shots, being trained from childhood in the use of their large single- barrelled guns, carrying an enormous bullet, and suited for the destruction of big game. Animated by a hatred of the Zulus, and a longing for vengeance for the death of their late leader, the Boers picked off their foes with unerring aim. The enemy's skirmishers now retired, and a more solid line took their place, sup- ported by a dense column in its rear. The cavalry remounted and fell slowly back, and Major Russell, with twenty of his men, made a brilliant charge on a party of Zulus who were running to take possession %. !-*; m (M264) I i: Hi t'L- ' :,! ' , .1 TAe Young Colonists^ of a sheltering led^^e of rocks, and, after cutting down a great many, retreated without the loss of a man. Buller and Russell now retired slowly within the laager, their retreat being covered by Colonel Gilbert and four companies of the 13th, who were posted at this face of the works. One company of the 13th, under Captain Cox, held the cattle-laager, which was situated outside the line, and so were able to take the enemy in flank, as they attacked the main work. This little garrison and Colonel Gilbert's men poured a tremendous fire upon the Zulus, who still, however, pushed forward. Major Hackett was now ordered to take a couple of companies of the 90th, and to advance up the slope, round the rear of the cattle- laager. Taking post here, they opened a deliberate and deadly fire upon the enemy, and then advancing drove back the Zulus with great loss. The Zulu general, however, led a party of his best marksmen round to his right, and opened a heavy fire upon the 90th, as they fell back upon their intrenchments. Lieutenant Bright fell mortally wounded, and in running forward to pick him up Major Hackett was struck by a ball sideways, which passed through both eyes and destroyed his sight for ever. Meanwhile, from the works on the heights. Captain Nicholson was doing great execution with his two 7-pounders. The Zulu main body had now come within range, and grape and canister were poured into their heavy masses. As Nicholson was standing on the parapet, field-glass in hand, directing the pointing The Young Colonists, 99 of two guns, a bullet struck him on the temple and he fell dead. He was seen from the laager to fall, and Major Vaughan was sent to take his place. Major Tremlett, R.A., now took the four guns, hitherto held in reserve, to a small piece of rising ground outside the laager, and opened fire upon the masses of the enemy with immense execution. From time to time Buller and Russell, as they saw openings for a charge, swept down and drove the enemy's skirmishers back on to their main body ; the Zulus, altogether unac- customed to cavalry, always falling back precipi- tately at these assaults. At three o'clock a hot cross-fire was opened upon a company commanded by Captain Woodgate, which was stationed half-way between the laager and the upper fort, keeping open a communication between them, the enemy's fire from a height commanding this line being particularly galling. Two of Trem- lett's guns were brought to bear on the point, and the enemy's fire speedily slackened. For another hour and a half the troops continued to be hotly engaged, for the enemy, when driven back from one fiank, swept round in most perfect order and attacked another. At half-past four the Zulus, concentrating again, attacked the northern side, and made some desperate rushes up to the muzzles of the English rifles, and the fighting for a time was almost hand to hand. The boys had worked round with their stretchers wherever the fire was hardest, and had carried many wounded men into hospital. They were at the north : ' 'i if nif iUl m !'i-'!i'' W: i 100 The Young Colonists, < \ face whon the Zulus swarmed up towards it, and Woodgate's men fell back liito the shelter of the laager. As they came in, a young lieutenant, who was commanding the rear, fell, apparently dead. Being in the rear of the company his fall was unnoticed by the men. Dick, who was peering over the intrench- ment, saw him fall, and saw too that he moved slightly. "Quick, Toml" he exclaimed; and, carrying the stretcher, the boys scrambled over the breastwork and ran towards the officer. He had fallen some twenty yards outside, and the Zulus, rushing on, were but eighty yards away. On reaching the side of the young officer, the boys laid their stretcher on the ground, rolled him upon it, and, lifting it, turned towards the camp. A ringing cheer from the men had greeted this action, mingled with shouts of " Run ! run ! " for by this time the Zulus were but twenty yards behind. A stream of fire broke out from the top of the breastworks ; an assegai whizzed over Dick's shoulder, and another grazed Tom's arm, but they hurried on until they reached the ditch, and then threw themselves and their burden down. There for five or six minutes they lay, while the fight raged above them. Then the British cheer rose, and the boys knew that the Zulus had fallen back. A minute later a dozen men leapt from the m- trenchment into the ditch outside, and lifted the wounded lieutenant over it into the arms of those behind. ; k TOM AND DICK HURRY FORWARD TO RESCUE THE WOUNDED OFFICER. ,1 'f i)[ The Young Colonists. 10I ** Bravo I boys, bravo ! " a hundred voices shouted, as the boys scrambled back into the works, while the men crowded round to pat them on the shoulder and shake their hands. It was evident now that the Zulu fire was slacken- ing, and three companies of the 13th went out, and, taking posts by the edge of the slope of the cattle- laager, opened fire upon them, as they retired. Every gun was brought to bear upon them, and as, disheart- ened and beaten, they fell back, BuUer and Russell, with every mounted man in camp, sallied out and fell upon them, and, burning with the desire to wipe out their misfortune of the preceding day, chased them for seven miles, like a flock of sheep, cutting down immense numbers. It was ascertained afterwards from prisoners that the Zulu force which attacked was composed of 25,000 men. It was commanded by Tyangwaiyo, with Um- belleni as his second. Many of the leading chiefs of Zululand and 3000 of the king's bravest and best troops fell in the attack on Kambula, and this battle was by far the hottest and best-contested which took place during the war. Upon our side two officers and twenty-one men were killed. The difference between the result of the action at Kambula and that at Isandula was due entirely to the fact that in one case every precaution was taken, every means of defence utilized ; while in the other no more attention was paid to any of these points than if the troops had been encamped at Aldershot* (. % m %\ 102 The Young Colonists. Upon the day following the battle Colonel Wood set his men to work to erect further defences at th j points which the recent action had shown to be weak, and never ceased work until the place had been made almost impregnable against an assault of savages, however brave. The messenger who carried to Natal the news of the victory of Kambula also took letters from the boys to their parents, acquainting them of their safety; and with the first convoy of wounded on the following day the boys started for home, Colonel Wood having given to each a flattering testimonial as to their gallant conduct in the action, and having presented them with two horses belonging to men of BuUer's corps who had fallen in the action, ordering that the horses should be entered as bought for the Queen's service, and the value paid to the relatives of their late owners. Three days* march took the convoy to Utrecht, and the next morning the boys rode home, the distance from there to Newcastle being about forty miles They were received as if they had risen from the dead, for their letters had not arrived before them, and their parents had of course assumed that they had been killed at Isandula. Both the mothers were in mourn- ing, and their joy at the restoration of their sons was unbounded. Mrs. Jackson fainted from surprise and delight, as Tom rode up ; but Dick, remembering the effect which the news of his being alive in the snow had produced The Young Colonists, 103 upon his mother, was careful to save her the shock. Accordingly, instead of riding direct to the house, he made a d6tour and rode across the farm until he met Bill Harrison. The man was delighted at the sight of his young master, and could hardly believe his eyes, as he saw him riding towards him. After the first warm greeting was over, Dick learned that his mother had been seriously .1, and was now recovering, and that his father had been much shaken. Dick told Harrison to go to the house, and, under the excuse of some question about his work, to call Mr. Humphreys out, and to tell him of his return, leaving it to him to break the news to his wife. This Mr. Humphreys, after recovering from his own emotion at the joyful intelligence, did so gradually and quietly, that the tale produced no injurious effect upon the mother. He began by saying that he had heard that a rumour was afloat that some of those that were supposed to have been killed at Isandula had been kept captives by the Zulus. Mrs. Humphreys for a time doubted the news, but, upon her husband's assurance that the intelligence was well founded, a faint feeling of hope began to spring up ; then gradually, step by step, he told her that it was reported that these captives consisted chiefly of non-combatants, men who had taken refuge among the rocks and bushes when the fight was seen to be go- ing against the troops. This still further raised Mrs. Humphreys' hopes ; for, from the presence of mind and i m ^•'.lif m, ' 104 T/ie Young Colonists, shrewdness which Dick had shown on the occasion of the snow-storm, it seemed probable that he would be quick to avail himself of any chance of escape there might be. Then Mr. Humphreys said that the report affirmed that among the prisoners were two or three quite young lads, and so step by step he went on, until the delighted mother learned that her son was already upon the farm, and was only waiting until he knew she would be strong enough to see him. Mr. Humphreys now went to the door and gave a loud shout, and Dick, who had been waiting the signal agreed on at a short distance from the house, ran up and was soon in his parents' arms. A minute or two later his younger brother ran in, having just heard the news from Harrison, and it was indeed a happy party which that night assembled in the sitting-room of the farmhouse, and listened to Dick's account of the adventures he had gone through. Not a little proud were the father and mother, as they read Colonel Wood's testimony to the gallant conduct of their son. The next day Mr. and Mrs. Jackson drove over with Tom, and the warmest congratulations were exchanged. " Have you been paid for the v/aggons, father ? " Dick asked. " Yes, my boy, for there was a notice that the owners of all waggons and teams destroyed at Isan- dula would be paid at once. As there was a re- cord kept of the ownership of those which accom- The Young Colonists, lOS panied the column, there was of course no difficulty in proving the loss, and both Mr. Jackson and myself received orders on the public treasury for their value last week. You see more transports were required, and there was such a panic after Isandula, that if govern- ment had not promptly paid for thf;ir losses there, they would have got no more waggons from farmers for their work. We have already four more building for us at Newcastle." " I suppose there was a great fright in the colony after the defeat ? " "Terrible!" Mr. Humphreys answered. "Everyone imagined that the Zulus would at once cross the fron- tier, and carry fire and sword throughout the colony. The rest of the 4th Regiment instantly went forward to Colonel Glyn's column, and this restored it to some- thing like its strength before the fight. The rivers were high, which may have accounted partly for the Zulus not taking the offensive. Probably too the great loss which they themselves must have suffered had some effect ; while they might not have liked to have advanced in force across the frontier, being, as they were, threatened on the one side by the column of Colonel Wood at Kambula, and on the other by that of Colonel Pearson at Ekowe." " I have not heard about that column, father. What are they doing ? " " I will tell you about it this evening, Dick, as it is rather a long story." After the Jacksons had driven off in the evening, .!^ • I To6 The Young Colonists, '1 ' ■ ( il 1 ' 1 i^ ' , ; !:! ihi I'll Dick again asked his father about the doings of Colonel Pearson's column. " Well, my boy, they have neither suffered a great defeat, like that under Lord Chelmsford, nor obtained a decisive victory, like the column of Colonel Wood ; they have beaten the enemy in a fight, and are at present besieged in a place called Ekowe, or, as it is sometimes spClt, Etckowi. The column consisted of eight companies of the 3rd Buffs under Colonel Parnell ; six companies of the 99th, under Colonel Welman ; one company of Royal Engineers and two 7-pounder guns ; they had, besides a naval brigade consisting of 270 blue-jackets and marines of her Majesty's ships Active and Tenedos^ with three gatling-guns, 200 mounted infantry ; 200 colonial mounted riflemen also formed part of the column, with about 2000 men of the native contingent. They had great difficulty in crossing the Tugela, which was nearly 400 yards wide. But, thanks to the exertions of the sailors, a flying bridge was constructed — that is, a boat with ropes attached to both shores^ so that it can be pulled back- wards and forwards, or, as is sometimes done, taken backwardsand forwards by the force of the stream itself *' It was the 1 3th before the crossing was effected. The enemy were in considerable force near the river. A small earthwork, called Fort Tenedos, was thrown up on the Zulu bank of the river. On the 1 8th the leading division started on its march into the enemy's country, followed the next day by the second division, a small detachment being left to garrison the fort \^. The Young Colonists, 107 s n, rt Every precaution was taken in the advance, and the cavalry scouted the c >untry in front of the column. At the end of the first day's march the Inyoni, a small stream ten miles north of the Tugela, was reached. "The second day they encamped on the Umsin- dusi. The third day's march brought the column to the Amatikulu ; beyond this the country became covered with bush, and great care was then taken, as it was known that a large force was marching from Ulundi to oppose their farther advance. Early on the morning of the 22nd, the day which proved so fatal to Colonel Glyn's column, the first division had just crossed the Inyezane River and was halted for breakfast, when they were attacked by a large force of the enemy, who, having chosen this position, were lying in wait for them. The ground chosen for the halt was not a favourable one, as it was surrounded by bush. But as no other place could be found by Major Barrow, who commanded the horse, near water, the halt had been made here. Scarcely had they begun their preparations for breakfast.when Captain Hart, who was out scouting in front with the advance company of the native contingent, discovered the enemy advanc- ing rapidly over the ridge in his front and attempting to gain the bush on both flanks of the halting-place. The Zulus at once opened a heavy fire upon the native contingent, and of these one officer and four non-commissioned officers and three men fell almost immediately. ! 1i' i.'.t. I«l> io8 The Young Colonists, u The native contingent was called in, and the naval brigade and two guns, under Lieutenant Lloyd, and two companies of the Buffs were ordered to take up a position upon a knoll close to the road, on which they were halted. The sailors at once opened fire on the enemy with two /-pounders and two 24-pounder rocket-tubes, while the Buffs poured a heavy fire with their rifles upon them. The waggons were still com- ing up, and these were parked as they reached the ground ; and two companies of the Buffs, who were guarding them on the march, being now free to act, were ordered to move out in skirmishing order, and draw the enemy out of the bush, when, as they retired, they were exposed to the fire from the knoll. ** The engineers and mounted troops moved forward, with the infantry skirmishers, supported by a half- company of the Buffs and a half-company of the 99th. The enemy tried to outflank their V ft, and Captain Campbell with a portion of the naval brigade and some of the native contingent went out and drove them from a kraal of which they had taken possession. A still farther advance was now made, and the Zulus took to flight, leaving 300 dead upon the ground. The attacking party were 50(X) strong, and against these some 500 or 600 of our troops were engaged. We had only eight Europear^s killed and foui natives, and about twenty wounded. The next day Colonel Pearson reached Ekowe. The position was a strong one, as theplace stood upon rising ground ; it had been a missionary station, and there was a The Young Colonists, 109 church which could at the worst be converted into a citadel. " Colonel Pearson at once set to work to fortify the position. The same evening the news arrived of the disaster at Isandula. After a consultation with his officers Colonel Pearson decided to hold the spot at which he now was, convinced that, without further supplies of reinforcements, he could hold the place for two months. In order to economize food, the mounted men and most of the natives were sent back, and there remained 1200 British troops. " Colonel Pearson at once commenced his pre- parations for a siege. Three moderate-sized brick erections were turned into store-houses, and the church into a hospital, the tower making a capital look-out ; from this a splendid view was obtained, the hill by the Tugela being clearly visible. The men set to work to fortify the place. The intrenchments were of a six-sided form, about sixty yards across, with a ditch outside them eighteen feet deep and twelve feet wide. Assegais were planted in the bottom. Added to the south side was a kraal for cattle and horses, also defended by a small wall. Outside the fort were entanglements of rows of felled trees and bushes. The supply of water was obtained from a good well, outside the walls, but covered by the fire of the fort. The guns were placed in position, and the garrison was ready for any attack that might be made upon them. All these details we learned in the early days of the siege by occasional messen- \ fl I m m illi 1 \\\ , !!■• i 1! ' 110 The Young Colonists. i I , ♦ gers, who managed to find their way through, but these had been few and far between ; of twelve messen- gers sent out the first week of February, only one got through. The garrison had made several sorties, and had destroyed Dabulamanzi's kraal. They also went out and cut off a large convoy of cattle on its way to Ulundi." " But how have they found out what is being done at Ekowe, if the first week only one messenger got through out of twelve } " Dick said. " By a very ingenious plan, Dick. For three weeks we knew nothing of what was going on, and then it struck an engineer that communication might be established by Hashing signals." " What are flashing signals, father } " " Well, my boy, as a general rule they are made by showing a light either for a long or short period. Thus, one long and one short might be A ; one short and one long, B ; two short and one long, C ; and so on all through the Alphabet. The distance was so great that ordinary lights would not have answered, but it struck one of the engineers that with a looking-glass the sunlight might be reflected. You know at what a distance the sun's reflection on a window can be made out. Well, it was tried in vain for a whole week by Lieutenant Haynes, of the Royal Engineers, but at the end of that time he was delighted at seeing answering flashes from the hill on which Ekowe stands. Since that time news has been regularly received every day is means of what is passing in the fort. by The Young Colonists, \\\ *' In the meantime preparations were being made for the relief of the garrison. The news of the defeat at Isandula was sent home by a swift ship, by which the particulars were telegraphed from St. Vincent. The people at home did not lose an hour. The SAaA, which was on her way home, heard the news at St. Helena, and Captain Bradshaw, who commanded her, at once, on his own responsibility, turned his ship's head south, and steered for Durban, bringing with him the garrison of the island. Some draughts from the 4th, 88th, and 99th Regiments were brought down from the Cape ; the Boadicea also arrived, and every man who could be spared from her and the Shah was landed and sent up to the Tugela. "In the second week in March the S7th and 91st Regiments arrived from England. One hundred and sixty men were brought over from the garrison of Mauritius, and a few days later the 3rd battalion of the 60th Regiment also arrived. These assembled on the Tugela on the 27th, and that day set out. The van- guard was composed of the seamen and marines of the Shah and Tenedos — 640 men and two gatlings, the 91st regiment of 900 men, 400 men of the 99th, 180 men of the 3rd Bufifs, i $0 mounted infantry, 200 of the mounted native contingent, and 1600 men of the native infantry contingent. The second division consisted of 200 men of the Boadicea with gatlings, the 37th Regiment, and the 3rd battalion of the 60th, 900 men, and two troops 01 mounted natives. That is all I can tell you, my boy. The news only arrived . .1 m II fi ^•i;ii 112 The Young Colonists, U here yesterday that they had started. In the course of three or four more days I hope that we shall hear that they have given the Zulus a thorough licking. It is a strong force, and as there are about 3300 white troops among them, and there is no fear of their being taken by surprise this time, we need not have any anxiety about the result. I understand that, in accordance with the advice which Colonel Pearson has flashed from Ekowe, they are not going to follow the road he took, but to keep along on the lower ground near the sea." " And do you think, father, that they will push on for Ulundi when they have rescued the garrison of Ekowe } " " No, Dick ; I think they are quite strong enough to do so, but as there are at least half a dozen more regiments on their way out from England, including some regiments of cavalry, it will be more prudent to stop until our whole fighting force is here, when we ought to be enabled to make short work of them, and to do the work completely and effectually. And now, Dick, I am thoroughly sleepy — the sooner we are in bed the better." « I :l The Young Colonists, 113 1-' V. 'I I (in CHAPTER VIII. THE SECOND ADVANCE. It was some days before the news reached Newcastle of the complete success oi the relieving column. On their first day's march no difficulty was met with. The road was a good one, and the Zulus did not show in any force. The column halted for the night near the junction of the Inyoni and Amatikulu rivers. The waggons were placed in laager and a ditch and parapet formed round the camp. The ground was open and the waggons were able to travel six abreast. Numerous Zulu kraals were passed^ but these were found deserted. On the afternoon of the ist they encamped at Ginghilovo. From this point Ekowe was visible ; signals were exchanged with the besieged, and Colonel Pearson warned Lord Chelmsford that the Zulus were moving forward to attack him. The night passed quietly, but the greatest vigilance was maintained. At daybreak dense masses of Zulus were seen in the distance, and at six o'clock they approached the camp. They came on in their usual order, with a massive centre and advanced horns on either fiank. The British were kept lying down behind the shallow trenches they had thrown up. The Zulus advanced (11264) I HI 1 i •;■ ': M <■. ' 114 The Young Colonists, I -i in splendid order with a sort of dancing step. Their white and coloured shields, their crests of leopard skins and feathers, and the long ox-tails dangling from their necks gave them a wild and strange appearance. Every ten or fifteen yards the first line would halt, a shot would be fired, then a loud yell burst forth, and they again advanced with a humming sound, in time to which their dancing movement was kept up. The 6oth, who lay opposite to the point against which they advanced, withheld their fire until the first line of skirmishers came to within 300 yards. Then a deadly sheet of fiame fiashed along the ridge of the shelter-trench, and a number of the Zulu warriors fell. The main body now rushed forward, and although a tremendous fusilade was kept up on them, the Zulu advance pressed on, ever fed by those in the rear, which deployed in excellent order as they reinforced the first line. For twenty minutes the fire of the 60th never ceased. Again and again the Zulus pressed forward, but their leading ranks were swept away by the storm of bullets. At half-past six the Zulu masses, without the smallest confusion, faced to their right, ran round in columns, and fell upon the face of the laager held by the 57th and 91st. Here they were as hotly received as they had been by the 60th. Notwith- standing the deadly fire, the Zulus pressed forward with noble courage. They had ceased to shout now, and seemed only anxious to reach the square. Four It The Young Colonists, i»5 by eld tly th- ard ow, ■our times they rushed forward ; each time they fell back with terrible loss. The fire of the soldiers was assisted by that of the native contingent, who, posted in the waggons behind, added their fire to that of the 91st and 57th. The last attack was led by Dabulamanzi in per- son, and arrived within five yards of the muzzles of the men's rifles ; indeed one or two of the chiefs actually seized the hot barrels with one hand, while they stabbed at the men with their shortened assegais. This was their final repulse, and they now began to fall back. The moment that they did so, the cavalry dashed out in pursuit, and chased them far across the plain. The gatlings and 9-pounders added in no slight degree to the effect of the rifles. The entire English loss was but two officers and four privates killed, and three officers and thirty-four privates wounded ; while the Zulu loss exceeded 1000. The force under Dabulamanzi was about 11,000, and a similar force was close at hand, but fortunately had not joined that of Dabulamanzi before he attacked the British. On the following day the 57th, 60th, and 91st, together with the mounted men and several of the mounted brigade, taking with them three days* provi- sions, marched for Ekowe. Major Barrow scouted the ground, and reported that everywhere assegais, shields, feathers, ear and head ornaments, skins, furs, blankets, and even guns were lying about in confusion, if \ ■SI ny ii i.'i li 1(6 The Young Colonists, lii ;fc! iT. ! M evidently cast away in their headlong flight by the Zulus, but that none of these had been seen. . The column, however, advanced with every precau- tion, as it was possible that Dabulamanzi might pro- cure reinforcements. No enemy, however, was met with, and the column continued its march until they were met by Colonel Pearson with 500 men, coming out to lend a hand to them in case they should be attacked. The united column then marched into Ekowe. The health of the garrison had suffered much from exposure to the sun and rain, and from the want of vegetables and useful medicine. Beef thej' had plenty of, as it was considered advisable to kill and consume the waggon-oxen rather than see them die from want of forage. The great event of the siege had been the discovery of certain strange flashes of light on the white walls of the church-tower; these, after puzzling many of the officers and soldiers, were at length brought under the notice of an officer of the naval brigade, who had been trained in the use of the heliograph, and he was able at once to explain the mystery. They were three days before they could contrive an apparatus, which could be worked, to reply. Fortunately an old mirror was found, and communication was opened. The effect of their renewed intercourse with the outer world, and of learning the preparations which were being made for their relief, acted more beneficially on the health of the imprisoned garrison than all the tonics the hospital could afford. Nevertheless between The Young Colonists. 117 the commencement of the siege and the arrival of the relief thirty deaths had occurred. To the great regret of the garrison they found that it had been determined by the general to abandon the fort which they had held so long, as the whole force was required in Natal for operations in the *ield in conjunction with the reinforcements on their way out. Before leaving, however, it was determined to strike another blow at Dabulamanzi, whose private residence had escaped at the time that his kraal was burnt. A small party of about 200 men there- fore went out and fired the place without resistance. Ekowe was evacuated, and, having left a garrison at Ginghilovo, Lord Chelmsford retired with his force across the Tugela. Every day for the next fortnight news reached Newcastle of the arrival of one or more transports with reinforcements, and in a month from the date of the arrival of the first from England, seventeen transports came in, bringing more than 9000 soldiers and 2000 horses. The foice consisted of two regi- ments of cavalry, 1250 sabres, two batteries of artil- lery with 540 men, 190 men of the Royul Engineers, six regiments of infantry, 5320 bayonets, draughts of the regiments already in the colony and Army Service Corps' men, I2cx>. Most of the regiments brought their equipments complete and ready for the field — tents, waterprooi -sheets, cooking utensils, and camp stores. The Army Service Corps brought with them 100 light but strongly-built waggons. \\i !'i ' ,-| m ,.|cl 1:1 i .' '■^ ii8 The Young Colonists, ¥\ III < Among the arrivals was the Prince Imperial of France, who had come out as a volunteer. To convey the baggage and stores of so numerous a force an immense number of waggons was required, and a very urgent appeal was made to the loyalty of the :olonists to furnish transport for the troops engaged in Bghting their battles. In answer to this appeal Mr. Humphreys and Mr. Jackson decided to send down the new waggons which had just been finished. Immediately they heard of the decision, Dick and Tom begged for permission again to accompany the waggons. Their mothers at first refused even to listen to the request, but their fathers, talking the matter over between them, agreed that harm was not likely this time to come of it. The force was so over helmingly strong that there was not the slightest prospect of a repetition of the disaster of Isandula. At that time several hundred English soldiers had been surprised and crushed by some 20,000 of the enemy, but in future every pre- caution wouM be taken, and the British force would be ten times as strong as that which fought at Isandula. The colonists thought that it would be really an advantage to the boys to take part in the expedition ; it was quite possible that if they remained in the colony they might have occasion to take part in wars with one or other of the native tribes, and the experience that they would gain in the campaign would in that case assuredly be useful to them. The Young Colonists, 119 Having thus decided, Mr. Humphreys and his friend succeeded in obtaining their wives' consent to the boys accompanying the waggons, and in high glee they started for Durban on the 20th of April. The campaign was arranged on a new plan. The numerous columns in which the strength of the force had been frittered away were abolished, and the following was adopted as the designation of the forces in the field, under the lieutenant-general commanding, viz.: — 1st Division South African Field-forces, Major- General Crealock, C.B., commanding, consisting of all troops on the left bank of the Lower Tugela ; 2nd Division South African Field-forces, Major-General Newdigate commanding, consisting of all troops in the Utrecht district other than those attached to the Flying Column under Brigadier-General Wood, V.C., C.B., which was designated as " Brigadier-General Wood's Flying Column." Major-General Marshall assumed command of the cavalry brigade, and Major- General the Hon. H. H. Clifford, C.B., V.C, took up the command of the base of operations and superintendence of the lines of communication. The forces were divided as follows : — First Division (General Crealock's), Lower Tugela Command. Naval Brigade . . . . . 800 M. Battery, 6th Brigade, Royal Artillery 90 Detachment, 11 -7th Royal Artillery. 25 2-3rd Regiment 836 I \m is !■ '.ijl m I 1 20 T/te Young Colonists. id.,' I i i*i (I n »> S7th Regiment . 3-6oth „ 88th 91st 99th Mounted Infantry, 2nd Squadron Army Service Corps . Army Hospital Corps , Royal Engineers 8-7th Royal Artillery 0-6th „ „ t . • Lonsdale's Horse . . Cooke's Horse .... Colonial Volunteers , , Native Contingent : — Foot . . . , . Mounted .... Total strength, effective and non effective Second Division (General Newdigate's.) 1st Dragoon-Guards ) attached to 17th Lancers j 2nd Division N-5th Royal Artillery N-6th io-7th io-6th Royal Engineers 2-4th Regiment . Detachment, i-i3th Regiment . 2-2 1st (two companies at Maritzburg) i» f> 830 880 640 850 870 70 50 20 150 80 50 84 78 105 2556 151 9215 650 626 76 80 70 30 60 790 63 820 Tlu Youns^ Colonists. 121 I -24th Regiment . . . . 530 2-24th 586 58th (one company at Durban) . 906 80th (several companies in the Trans- vaal) 300 94th (one company at Grey Town) . 870 Army Service Corps . . . . 60 Army Hospital Corps . , , 30 Grey Town District Colonial Volun- teers 139 Natal Mounted Police , . . 75 Natal Carabineers 27 Newcastle Mounted Rifles , 18 Buffalo Mounted Guard , , 20 Native Contingent : — Europeans .... 41 Natives (foot) .... . 3128 Natives (mounted) . . 243 Total strength, effective and non- effective . 10,238 General Wood's Flying Colt JMN. 1 1 -7th Royal Artillery . 87 Royal Engineers 13 I- 1 3th Regiment 721 90th „ ... . 823 1st Squadron, Mounted Infantry . 103 Army Service Corps . 9 Army Hospital Corps 13 Frontier Light Horse . ^71 \ % 1 |i if m % / 122 The Young Colonists, 'J M i\ !l I -' II Baker's Horse .... Transvaal Rangers . 1st Battalion, Wood's Irregulars: — Europeans .... Natives 2nd Battalion, Wood's Irregulars : — Europeans .... Natives Natal Native Horse : — Europeans . . • . Natives Total strength, effective and non- effective Grand Total. 1st Division . . . ; 2nd „ .... General Wood's Flying Column Total, v^ffective and non-effective : namely, Eu-opeans, 15,660, and natives 0805 ...... 179 141 14 377 5 355 4 75 3092 9215 10,238 3092 22,545 " 1 ! I,; I Out of '.his grand total there were about 400 sick and r.G. -effective with the ut Division, 300 with the 2nd D' dsion, and 5oo (including some of Wood's Irregu) rs, absent and not accounted for since the 28th of March) with Wood's Flying Column. So that altogether, deducting, say, 1500, Lord Chelmsford had at his disposal, from the middle of April, a total of 2i,oco troops, of v/hich over 1 5,000 were European. Colonels Pearson and Wood were made brigadier- generals, and the former was to command No. I f The Young Colonists, 123 Brigade, ist Division, and Colonel Pemberton, 3 -60th, the other. They both, however, had to give up their commands through sickness, and Colonels Rowland, V.C., C.B., and Clark, 57th Regiment, succeeded them Major-General Clififord, V.C., CB., had the following staff for the management of the base of the opera- tions and the maintenance of the lines of communi- cation between Zululand and Natal : — Lieutenant Westmacott, 77th Foot, aide-de-camp ; Major W.J. Butler, C.B., assistant-adjutant and quar termaster-general, stationed at Durban ; and Captain W. R. Fox, Royal Artillery, deputy assistant-adjutant and quartermaster-general. On the arrival of the boys with the waggons at Pieter-Maritzburg, they reported themselves at the headquarters of the transport corps, and were told that they were not to go down to Durban, but were to load up at once and accompany the Dragoon-Guards, who were to march the next morning for the front. This time the lads were mounted, as their fathers thought that they would gain more benefit from their experience if they were able to move about instead of being confined to the sides of their waggons, and it was a satisfaction to their mothers that, in case of any untoward event again happening, they would be in a better position for making their escape. General Newdigate's columns were encamped at Landmann's Drift ; the cavalry, under General Marshall, was also there. The march was altogether without incident. Some days passed quietly, ivhen a small party ot ti ■. \ HI [f !i!i .; -ax I |ia ii! ,1 .. -• I ! "i 1 ^Vi 124 The Young Colonists, horse made an expedition to Isandula ; they reported that nearly a hundred waggons were still standing upon the field of battle. On the 17th of May, three days later, the rumour rail through the camp that the cavalry were to start on the 19th, to bury the dead and bring away the waggons. The Army Service Corps and waggons were to accompany the party, which was to consist of the Dragoon-Guards and Lancers, with a party of native mounted scouts. In the afternoon of the i8th the two boys went to Colonel Marshall's tent ; they waited patiently until he came out, accompanied by two or three other officers. " We have come to ask, sir, if you will allow us to go with your column. We are in charge of waggons here, but they are not going. We were at the battle, and saw the whole thing, and were taken prisoners afterwards and carried to Umbelleni's kraal, where we were liberated when Colonel Wood's cavalry attacked the Zlobani hill. We are well mounted, sir, and are good shots ; so, if you will let us go, we could keep with the scouts and not be in ^ our way.'? " How did you see the fight ? " General Marshall! asked. *' We had gone up to the top of the hill, sir, before it began, and fortunately the natives did not notice us." " Oh, yes, you can go," the general said. " Pro- bably you can give us a better account of the action than and one else, as others who escaped were occupied c s b f] si 3'! The Young Colonists. 125 by their own business, k id could not mark the general progress of the battle. So you were taken prisoners I Well, I am going out now, but if you will call in this evening at about half-past eight, I shall be glad to have a talk with you." In the evening the boys called upon the general, one of the most popular and dashing officers in the service. Three or four of his staff were there, and all listened with great interest to the boys* account of their adventures. " You seem to have plenty of pluck and coolness, youngsters," the general said, when they had finished. " In future you need not trouble to ask for permission to accompany me whenever the cavalry go out, provid- ing we have natives mounted with us ; you must go as recruits, and can either keep with them or ride with my orderlies." Much pleased with the permission given, the lads returned to the waggons, and the next morning they started on their way. The column bivouacked that nighi at Dill's Town, and reached Rorke's Drift between three and four o'clock in the morning, and were there joined by the Natal Carabineers and Colonel Harness, R.A., with guns. At daybreak on the 20th the reconnoitring force crossed the river. No signs of the enemy were seen until they neared Isandula ; then signal-fires blazed up on the hills to the right, and spread quickly from hill to hill far into the interior. Pushing steadily on, the plain of Isandula was reached by ten Va ' 'J m ■ ii i; •It f ■'' ■4 '■ Hii ' - :j |i '& t-: ' n-i if ; [: .). 1 1 126 The Young Colonists. I f i .1.1 ! J o'clock. The whole scene of the conflict was overgrown with long grass, thickly intermixed with growing crops of oats and Indian corn. Lying thickly here, and scat- tered over a wide area, lay the corpses of the soldiers, The site of the camp itself was marked by the remains of the tents, intermingled with a mass ol broken trunks, boxes, meat-tins, papers, books, and letters in wild disorder. The sole visible objects, however, rising above the grass, were the waggons, all more or less broken up. The scouts were placed in all directions to give warning of the approach of any enemies. The Army Service Corps set to work to harness the seventy pairs of led horses they had brought with them to the best of the waggons, and the troops wandered over the scene of the engagement, and searched for and buried all the bodies tliey found, with the exception of those of the 24th Regi- ment, as these. Colonel Glyn had asked, should be left to be buried by their comrades. The bodies of the officers of Colonel Durnford's corps were all found together, showing that when all hope of escape was gone they had formed in a group and defended them- selves to the last. The men of the Royal Artillery buried all the bodies of their slain comrades who could be found, but the shortness of the time and the extent of the ground over which the fight had extended rendered anything like a thorough search impossible. The object of the expedition was not to fight, and as at any moment the Zulus might appear in force ■m Legi- left the found was Ihem- pUery vvho Id the nded Isible. , and force TAe Young Colonists, 127 upon the field, a start was made as soon as the waggons were ready. Forty of the best waggons were brought out, with some water-carts, a gun- limber and a rocket- battery cart. Twenty waggons in a disabled condition were left behind. Some seventy waggons were missing, these having been carried off by the Zulus, filled either with stores or with their own wounded. Having accomplished this work the cavalry rejoined headquarters at Land- mann's Drift. On the 27th of May the column advanced, New- digate's division leading the way. By two o'clock in the afternoon the men had crossed the Buffalo and marched to Kopje-allein through a bare and tree- less country. One of the most popular figures in the camp was the Prince Imperial of France, who, having received a military education at Woolwich, and being anxious to see service, had applied for and obtained leave to accompany the expedition. The young prince had been extremely popular at Woolwich, and was indeed an immense favourite with all who knew him — high-spirited and full of life, and yet singularly gentle and courteous ia manner. He was by nature adapted to win the hearts of all who came in contact with him. His abilities too were of the very highest order, as was proved by the fact that, although suf- fering under the disadvantage of being a foreigner, he yet came out so high in the final examination at Woolwich as to be entitled to a commission in the Royal Engineers. When it is considered how keen !'l I I ^" "-^ I '1 ■ \\ ' ! ;;,: , i ! 'Hi 128 The Young Colonists. i ,!l t li ! i \'A I n is the competition to enter Woolwich, and that all the students there, having won their places by com- petitive examinations, may be said to be considerably above the average of ability, it will be seen that, for one who had previously gone through an entirely different course of education, and had now to study in a language that was not his own, to take rank among the foremost of these was a proof both of exceptional ability and industry. A splendid career was open for the young prince, for there is little doubt that, had he lived, he would sooner or later have mounted the throne of his father, and there are few pages of history more sad than those which relate to his death in a paltry skirmish in a corner of Africa. To Englishmen the page is all the more sad, inasmuch as, had the men accompanying him acted with the coolness and calmness generally shown by Englishmen in a moment of danger, instead of being carried away by a cowardly panic, the Prince Imperial might yet be alive. At Kopje-allein Newdigate's column was joined by that of General Wood. Three days were spent in carefully exploring the country, and on the ist of June the division, as nearly as possible 20,000 strong, with a baggage-train of 400 native waggons, moved forward and encamped near the Itelezi River. The flying column of General Wood went on one march ahead, and the country was carefully scouted by BuUer's ho e for twenty miles round, and no Zulus were found. The Young Colonists, 129 >ined Int in it of •ong, loved The larch by ^ulus CHAPTER IX. ULUNDI. On Sunday, the ist of June, General Wood with a small escort was out reconnoitring in advance of his column, which was about five miles in front of the force of General Newdigate. The morning was clear and fresh, the ridges of the hills on either side were dotted with Buller's horsemen. They crossed the river by a ford, and having ridden about another mile forward they observed some of the vedettes on the high ground signalling that horsemen were ap- proaching. Riding on to see who they could be, they were joined by Colonel BuUer and a dozen of his men, and together they rode forward to meet the five men who were seen approaching. In a few seconds Lieutenant Carey and four troopers of Bettington's Horse rode up, and when they had told their story English soldiers had the shame and humiliation of knowing that an English officer and four English troopers had escaped unwounded from a Zulu ambush, in which they had left a gallant young prince, the guest of England and the hope of France, to be barbarously slain. Early in the morning the prince had learnt that a (M264) K ;1, I30 The Voting Colonists, i 9 -it patrol was to be sent out in advance of the column, and had applied for and obtained permission to accompany it. Colonel Harrison, acting as quartermaster-general, granted the permission, and had an interview with the prince. Six men of Bettington's Horse and the same number of Shepstone's Basutos were to form the party ; but unfortunately the Basutos did not come up at the appointed time, and the patrol consisted therefore only of the prince. Lieutenant Carey, the six men of Bettington's Horse, and one Zulu. Con- sidering the importance of the safety of the prince, a grave responsibility attaches to the staff-officer who allowed him to go with so small a party. After an hour's ride they reached the crest of a hill and dismounted to fix the position of some dis- tant points by the compass. Here Colonel Harrison overtook them, and remarked that the whole of the escort was not with them, and that they had better wait for the Basutos to come up. The prince said, — " Oh, we are quite strong enough — besides, we have all our friends around us, and with my glass I can see General Marshall's cavalry coming up." Unfortunately Colonel Harrison did not insist that the party should wait until the Basutos arrived, and they proceeded another seven miles, and then halted in an isolated kraal in a valley. A worse spot could not have been selected for a hjalt, as it was surrounded by long grass, six or seven feet high ; here the saddles were taken off the horses, and coffee was prepared. The Young Colonists, 131 ded dies red. Witliout any search being made they sat down to make coffee, although it was clear, from the burnt embers, bones, and other d^bris^ that the place had been but recently occupied. The Zulu was the first to see the enemy in the long grass, and the horses were at once saddled. The escort stood ready by them, and just as the prince gave the word, " Prepare to mount," the Zulus* war-cry burst out, and some guns were fired from the grass. The horses started at the outburst, and some broke away. Never were a body of troops in an enemy's country so unprepared for the attack. Not a carbine was loaded I not a sentry placed ! Each of the troopers, including the officer, was seized with a wild panic, and thought only of flight, — one indeed had fallen at thd first shot. The prince's horse was ill- tempered and badly broken, and, frightened by the firing and yells, he was so restive that the prince was unable to mount. Had one of those men stood for an instant at his head the prince might have gained his saddle, but all had galloped away, leaving him alone. Running by his horse, he in vain endeavoured to mount ; he had not had time to tighten the girth, the saddle slipped round, and the horse galloped away. Unfortunately the prince's revolvers were in the holsters, so he was unarmed, save with his sword, and with this he stood bravely at bay, and died nobly facing his foes, who pierced him with assegais at a distance. According to Zulu accounts afterwards obtained, .1 'l\ :i . '>'i iiif: : ; (' ;■ 1^ I %\ \ !' I s Ij ''i'-i ■ 1 132 The Youn^ Colonists, A ' ii iiirt ! li'l t! (! If :i!' "1 ' iiii there were but five or six men engaged in the attack, and had the Englishmen accompanying the prince^ nay even had one of them, possessed but the smallest amount of presence of mind and courage, the Prince Imperial might have been saved. There is no blacker page in the annals of English military history. The feeling of indignation, shame, and regret in the English camp, when this shameful episode was known, was indescribable. Of all the party the friendly Zulu was the only one who came out with honour ; he had gone towards the river to fetch water when he discovered the enemy, and might have instantly taken flight. He returned, however, and gave warning that the Zulus were lurking round. Even then it does not appear that he attempted to fly, but fought the foe until overcome by numbers. His body was afterwards discovered not far from that of the prince, riddled with wounds, together with a number of his own assegais broken, but stained with the blood of his assailants. The next morning the cavalry rode out to find and bring in the prince's body. When it was discovered, it was tenderly brought into camp. It was afterwards taken over to England, and laid by the remains of his father alChislehurst. A court-martial was held on Lieu- tenant Carey. The sentence was kept secret, but it was generally understood that he was dismissed from the service with ignominy. He was sent home under arrest, but on his arrival there the proceedings of the court-martial were declared null and void on account of The Young Colonists, 133 some technical irregularity, and he was ordered to resume his duties. It was reported that this extra- ordinary leniency was shown by the special desire of the Empress, who made a personal request to the Queen that nothing should be done in the matter. Early in June some messengers arrived in Lord Chelmsford's camp from Cetewayo. Lord Chelmsford told them that before any negotiations could be entered into, the whole of the spoil taken at Isandula, especially the two captured 7-pounder guns, must be restored. Considerable delays now took place, and for three weeks a force of Englishmen sufficient to march through and through Zululand in every direction was kept doing nothing at a distance of three days' march from the enemy's capital. So extraordinary and un- accountable was the delay that the English govern- ment appointed Sir Garnet Wolseley to go out to supersede Lord Chelmsford. Upon the receipt of this news preparations for an advance were at last made. On the 2 1st General Newdigate's column reached the right bank of the Umlatoosi. General Crealock, who commanded the division which was operating by the sea, also moved forward about this time, b^it met with such difficulties, owing to the sickness which attacked his transport-train, that he was unable to co-operate with the first division, although his force did service by occupying a large number of the enemy, who would otherwise have been free to act against the main column 'I'll r:"< I'M 134 The Young Colonists. Between the 24th and 26th General Newdigate's and Wood's columns advanced but six miles. But BuUer with his horse scouted ahead, and cut up a number of Zulus who were engaged in burning the grass, to hinder the advance of the horses and cattle. On the 26th Colonel Drury-Lowe, with the light cavalry, 450 of Buller's men and two guns, went out and attacked and burnt five large military kraals. On the 27th the column advanced five miles towards Ulundi, leaving their tents behind them, and taking only 2CX) ammunition-waggons and ten days' rations ; 500 infantry were left to guard the stores. On the afternoon of that day some messengers came in from Cetewayo, bringing 1 50 of the cattle captured at Isandula, together with a pair of elephant's tusks, and a letter written in English by a trader captured at Isandula. The letter said that the king could not comply with all Lord Chelmsford's commands, as the arms taken from us at Isandula • were not brought to him, and that it was beyond his power as a king to order or compel any of his regiments to lay down their arms. He said the cannons should be sent in, and on the receipt of the cattle and these weapons the English must retire from Zululand. The trader had written in a corner of the letter, in pencil, a few words of warning, and an intimation that Cete- wayo had with him at Ulundi a picked force of 20,000 men. Lord Chelmsford refused to receive the tusks, and told the messengers to inform Cetewayo, that before he should think of retiring, all the conditions must be The Young Colonists. »35 md lore be complied with, and the Zulu regiments lay down their arms. Late in the evening several large bodies of the enemy, amounting to some thousands, were noticed moving from the direction of Ulundi, passing by their left flank. The next morning General Wood moved forward as far as the left bank of the White Umvolosi, and Nevv- digate's column followed in the afternoon. Wood's division bivouacked on the farther side of the river, Newdigate's halted on the right. The most vigilant watch was kept, with pickets in every direction, and patrols of cavalry beyond these. At daybreak on the 27th the main body crossed the river, and joined Wood on tb j left bank. They were now but fifteen miles from Ulundi, and the king's five kraals were visible to the naked eye. Three days were given to Cetewayo to comply with the conditions, but the original terms were altered so far, that Lord Chelmsford consented to receive 1000 captured rifles instead of insircing upon the regiments laying down their arms. While waiting, the army remained on the Umvolosi, having retired to the right side, pending the decision of peace or war. During these three days the Zulus had made many hostile demonstrations against us. On the first and second they kept up a scattered fire at distant ranges at our men, and on the third, growing bolder, pushed their skirmishers down to the rocks on the opposite side of the river, and fired upon the men, as tbey were watering their horses in the stream. One horse was killed and several men wounded. ii'.i ' 'I ■ 1; J ' • i i '1 -1 \u )■ ' jt. 1 ^^% •! ^«r J .■•f«\ 136 The Young Colonists, Buller therefore asked and obtained permission to make a raid on the other side. A couple of guns were brought into requisition to defend his crossing, and two or three rounds of shrapnel sent a crowd cf Zulus, who had approached the opposite heights, straggling in all directions. Buller's horse, the mounted infantry, and Baker's horse dashed over the river at once. At full speed they raced across the country ; Baker's men, guided by their leader, inclined to the left front, by Buller's orders, to carry "mA hold a hillock which commanded the ford. Colonel Raaf, with a portion of Buller's horse, was halted near the kraal of Unodwingo to act as a reserve, and Buller, with lOo of his best mounted men, pushed on with the intention of exploring the ground as far as possible towards UlunJi. He knew that the bulk of the king's army was away upon Lord Chelmsford's right Hank, and thought therefore that he might push on to Ulundi without opposition. The country consisted of a plain, across which ran some stony undulations, and at one point were two hollows, united at a right angle. The ZuL\i general disposed his men in shelter, and as Buller with his little band of horsemen rode up they rose aiid poured a very heavy fire into the ranks of the horsemen. Sudden and unexpected as was this attack, Buller's men were too well used to native fighting to evince the slightest confusion. In the most perfect order they began to fall back in alternate ranks, keeping up a steady fire upon the enemy, who were eagerly advancing. Raaf and his men rode up to the TJte Young Colonists, 137 assistance of the hotly-pressed party, and Baker's horse, upon their hillock, opened a steady fire upon the Zulus. Gradually and steadily the cavalry fell back towards ^ he river, the two guns oix the opposite bank aiding them by their fire of grape and shrapnel upon the Zulus, who pressed forward with extreme bravery. Many gallant deeds were done. Lord William Beresford, who had accompanied the party as a vo- lunteer, distinguished himself by his bravery and cool- ness. Seeing upon the ground a dismounted and wounded trooper, surrounded by a dozen Zulus, he wheeled his horse and dashed down among them, knocking over tiiree with the rush of his horse, and cutting down two with right and left strokes of his sabre ; • in another morncnt he had the wounded man on his horse behiid him, and carried him off in safety. Commander D'A.rcy, also seeing a wounded man on the ground, tried to carry him off, but his horse, being restive, reared and fell back upon him, so that the unfortunate trooper was overtaken and assegaied ; while D'Arcy, who was severely bruised by falling on his revolvrjr, was able to get back safely, but was unable to take part in the next day's fight. A little before daybreak Wood with his flying column crossed the river, followed by the main army. The whole of the baggage was left in charge of the 24th, and nothing was taken, save the ammunition and water-carts, each man carrying four days' supply of biscuits and preserved meat in ;i [■:l till 11 "St; I 11, III 4 :k mmtitm 138 The } Mg Colonists, M'." his havresack. The crossing of the river was made without any opposition, but the movements of the troops were watched by a party of Zulus from a hillock on the left. As soon as favourable ground had been reached, Wood was signalled to hall and wait for the main body, and when the junction was effected the order was given to form a large hollow square. Inside this square were two companies of engineers, together with the ammu- nition-carts, water-carts, and ambulance waggons, carts with intrenching tools, stretchers and bearers, together with two gatling-guns in a reserve. The front face of the square was formed by the 80th Regiment, with two gatling-guns in their centre and two 7-pounders on their right. The right face of the square was formed of seven companies of the 13th Regiment. Next to these came two 7-pounder and one 9-pounder guns ; four companies of the s8th completed the line on this side. The rear face was composed of two companies of the 21st, and three companies of the 94th, with a 9-pounder gun. On the left or west flank were three companies of the 94th, two 7-pounder guns, eight companies of the 90th, and two 9-pounders. Buller's cavalry were away, scouring the country on the flanks. Colonel Drury- Lowe, with two squadrons of the 17th Lancers and Captain Shepstor.s's Basutos, formed the rear-guard. The square moved forward for a few miles, when they began to near the smaller kraals. Towards the left front the Zulu columns could now be seen across the plain, with the sun glancing down upon their long line9 The Young Colonists, 139 n. ft of white shields. Upon reaching the first kraal the square was halted while it was fired. The next kraal was a very large one, called Unodwingo. This was also fired ; but, as it was found that the smoke drifted across the plain so as to act ?.s a screen to the Zulus, Lord Chelmsfoid ordered its extinction. Strong columns of the enemy could now be seen moving out in good order from Ulundi, and the square halted on some slightly- rising ground. The Zulus soon opened a dropping fire on the right front, and from a strong force operating on some broken ground near Unodwingo on the left By nine o'clock the Zulu attack was fairly developed. Buller's men then made a strong demonstration on the left, driving the Zulus from the hollow where they were sheltered back to the Unodwingo kraal. This move- ment was well supported by Shepstone and the Basutos. The Zulus now brought up a strong reinforcement from the right, so as to assist those engaged with the cavalry. Buller's men fought in the Dutch fashion, in two ranks ; the first mounted and ready to dash in a moment upon any weak point in the enemy's line, the second on foot, using their saddles as a rest for their rifles. As soon as the front rank became too hardly pressed, they cantered to the rear and dismounted and opened fire, while the second rank mounted in readiness to charge. Gradually Bulk* and Shepstone fell back, the Zulu column pressing upon them until well within reach of the gatlings ^nd Martinis. The cavalry then took refuge in the square, and over the ridges \i^ lii f ]■ I, 'i'il ; '-m I40 The Young Colonists. fci^. ■ i •\\ if of the front and left the Zulu column with loud shouts swept down upon the square. The British infantry now opened fire. Catlings and rifles poured in their deadly hail of fire, while the guns swept the Zulu ranks with shrapnel and grape. Terrible as the fire was, the Zulus pressed bravely forward, filling up the gaps made in their ranks, their wild war-cry rising even above the roll of the rifle-fire. The fiercest attack came from the Unodwingo kraal. Forming under cover of the kraal, a large body, led by a chief on a white horse, and formed in a hollow square, dashed at the right rear angle of the British formation. Tremen- dous as the fire was, they pressed forward until it seemed as if they would come to close quarters with the column ; but, brave as the Zulus were, it was impossible to withstand the fire which the 2ist, 94th, 58th, and Royal Engineers poured into them. The square was broken up, and after a moment's pause the Zulus turned and sought shelter from the leaden hail. While the fight was raging here, another Zulu column had attacked the front ; but here the assault w^s speedily repulsed, the cool and steady fire of the 80th having so deadly an effect that the Zulus never atts-^mpted to make a rush upon them. It was now a quarter to ten — but a quarter of an hour from the firing of the first shot, but the combat was virtually at an end. The Zulus, astounded at the storm of fire by which they had been received, were everywhere wavering ; Lord Chelmsford gave the order, and the two squadrons of lancers burst from the square, The Young Colonists. 141 greeted with a loud cheer from the infantry, and with their pennons fluttering in the breeze, and their long lances in rest they dashed upon the flying Zulus, and drove them headlong into a little ravine. But flanking this, and hidden by the long grass, half a Zulu regiment had been posted to cover the retreat, and as the squadrons of lancers came on a volley was poured in, which emptied several saddles and killed Lieutenant Wyatt-Edgell, who was leading his men. In another moment the line of lancers dashed down upon the Zulu ranks, and before the level line of lances the enemy went down like grass. Shattered and broken in an instant, the Zulus fought in stubborn knots, stabbing at the horses, throwing themselves on the men, and trying to dismount them. in a milh like this the lance was useless, and the troopers drew their swords and fought hand to hand with the foe ; and now a troop of the King's Dragoon- Guards and Buller's horse took up the charge, and the flying Zulus were cut down in scores before they could gain the crest of the hill. The Zulus here fought with far less determination than they had ex- hibited at Kambula. There for four hours they had striven in vain to carry General Wood's strongly- intrenched position ; here they made one great effort, and then all was over. Their force was estimated at 23,000, and of these they lost only about 1500, of whom at least one- third were killed in the retreat. The battle over, the remaining kraals were burnt. Most unfortunately, the day after the battle of '■i ' Irta m i'i I4i The Young Colonists, W II ■: ' Ulundi, the news of the arrival of Sir Garnet Wolseley reached the front, and the movements of the army were paralyzed by the change of command. Instead therefore of a vigorous pursuit of the enemy, nothing was done, and the army halted until the new commander-in-chief should arrange his plans of action. Lord Chelmsford at once resigned command of his column, and left for England. The two boys had been present at the battle of Ulundi, They had, during the weary weeks which pre- ceded the advance, made the acquaintance of most of the officers of the cavalry, and Colonel Lowe had re- peated the permission given them by General Marshall. They had therefore, when on the mornin?^ of the fight the column marched out, attached themselves to Shepstone's mounted Basutos, and had fought in the ranks of that corps during the cavalry action which preceded the attack on the square. After the action was over, great quantities of cattle and corn fell into the hands of the troops, and so large a transport-train was no longer necessary. Orders were therefore issued that a certain number of the waggons could take their discharge from the service, and the lads at once applied to be placed on the list of those whose services could be dispensed with. Two days later they started for the rear with a convoy of sick and wounded, and in due time, without further adventure, arrived home, to the great delight of their parents. The victory of Ulundi virtually put an end to the 1 \ _______^ ^^ young Colonists, 144 war ; a great portion of the troops were sent hom^ • the Zulu Chiefs ca:ne in and surrendered with their followers, almost to a man. Cetewayo succeeded in concealmg himself for some time, but after a long ch^se he was captured by Major Marter and Lord Gifford, and was sent a prisoner to the Cape. !l if 'I m J 44 TAe Young Colonists, CHAPTER X. A TRADING EXPEDITION. After dividing Zululand into districts and appoint- ivig a chief to rule over each, General Wolseley marched his force against Secoceni, the chief whose hostile attitude had caused the Boers to accept the protectorate of England. This chief had maintained his defiant attitude, and, relying upon the strength of his hill-stronghold, had kept up an irregular war upon them, aided by the Swazis who came down from the north to assist him. Sir Garnet Wolseley attacked Secoceni's mountain. His men ^ought bravely, but were altogether unable to resist the attack of the English. The place was carried, his warriors killed or dispersed, and his power altogether broken. As the lads were not present at this affair — being well contented to stay for a while and assist their fathers in the farm — it is not neces- sary to enter into further details of it. A few months later three teams of waggons drove up to the farm. It was late in the evening, and their owner, who had met Mr. Humphreys several times at Newcastle, knocked at the door. " I have made a long march," he said, "to-day, and the oxen are knocked up ; so if you will take me in, I will halt here for the night instead of going on. The lA The Young Colonists, 145 :es- at md in, 'he roads have proved heavier than I had expected, and I have done a very long c ay's journey." Mr. Humphreys at once invited the speaker to enter. Mr. Harvey was a trader, one of those who are in the habit of taking long expeditions far into the interior, with his waggons laden with cotton, beads, tower-muskets, powder, lead, and toys prized by the natives, returning laden with ivory, ostrich feathers, and skins. He was now about to start upon such a journey, having stocked his waggons at Durban. After supper was over, the trader told many stories of his adventures among the natives, and the profits which were gained by such journeys. " Generally," he said, " I go with six waggons, but I was very unlucky last time ; the tzetze -fly attacked my animals, most of which died, and the natives took advantage of my position to make an attack upon me. I beat them off, but was finally obliged to pack all my most valuable goods in one waggon, to make my way back with it, and abandon everything else to the natives. Now, Humphreys, why don't you join me ? You have got a waggon, and you can buy stores at Newcastle, not of course as cheap as at the seaside, but still cheap enough to leave a large marginal profit on the trip." " I cannot leave the farm," Mr. Humphreys said. " Nor can his wife spare him, Mr. Harvey," Mrs. Humphreys put in. « Well, why don't you send your son, here, with the li til. '11 \% m \,M (H264) 146 The Young Colonists, !^' I I waggon ? " Mr. Harvey asked. " The man who gene- rally travels with me as partner broke his leg the other day, down at Durban, and I should be very glad of one or two white companions. Two or three white men together can do anything with the natives, but if there is only one, and he happens to knock up, it goes very hard with him." "Well, I don't know," Mr. Humphreys said, as Dick looked eagerly towards him ; " it is a sort of thing that wants thinking over." " Oh ! father," Dick exclaimed excitedly, "it would be a glorious trip, especially if Tom Jackson would go too. I heard Mr. Jackson only yesterday say that his draught-oxen are eating their heads off, and that he must put them on the road to do some freighting. You see, if Mr. Jackson did not care about going in for the trading himself — and I know, from what he said the other day, that his money is all employed on the farm —you might hire his waggon for the trip. In fact that and your own — " " That sounds easy and satisfactory enough, Dick," 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." Dick went to bed in high glee. When his father once said that he would talk a thing over, Dick felt that the chances were very strong that he would give in to his wish'^s. Mr. Humphreys was less influ- enced by the idea of making a good trading specu- The Young Colonists* 147 . »i lation 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 posi- tions where he learns self-reliance, readiness, and promptness of action. For himself his farm-work occupied all his thoughts, and he needed no distrac- tion ; but for a lad change is necessary. Had Dick 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 amusements, and no other change would have been necessary, or indeed desirable ; but in the farm in Natal it was alto- gether 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 Dick 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 Dick was aroused by his father. " Jump up at once, Dick ; 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." Dick gave a shout of delight, and in a very short ii ft 14^ The Young Colonists* •"\ \ time had dressed himself, and, having saddled his horse, was dashing at full speed across the veldt. Early as the hour was when he arrived, Mr. Jackson was alr^^ady out in his fields. Dick 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 vtry liberal offer, Dick, for my waggon and team for six months, on the condition that I allow Tom to accom- pany 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. Dick, 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 shoot- ing, 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." The Young Colonists, 149 Altogether the expedition promised an immense variety of adventure. The boys remained chatting out- side the house until Mr. Jackson came to the door and called them in. " So you are not contented to stop at home, Dick," Mrs. Jackson said, "and you want to take Tom rambling away with you again ? Of course I can- not say no, when my husband is inclined to let him go, but I shall be terribly anxious until he is back again." " I wont let him get into any scrapes, Mrs. Jack- son," Dick said confidently. "I have no faith whatever," Mrs. Jackson said, smiling, " in your keeping him out of scrapes, 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, Dick, 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 Dick was again galloping across the country, arriving home in time for break- fast. Mrs Humphreys was in better spirits than Dick ii ' ti .1 ■i .tvil rt 1 '50 The Young Colonists, t:;l had feared he should find her ; bi^t her health had improved immensely since her arrival in the colony, and she was more active and energetic than Dick ever remembered her to have been. She was able therefore to take a far more cheerful view of the pro- posed expedition than she could have done the year before, and her husband had had comparatively little difficulty in obtaining her consent to Dick's accom- panying 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 scrapes; — remember how valuable your life is to us ! " " While you are away, Dick," his father said, " you will remember that you are absolutely under Mr. Harvey's orders. As the head of the expedition he standsin 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 tliat he will not restrain you unless for the good of the expedition. You must beware how far you stray from the caravan ; the country j'ou 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 mry 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 The Young Colonists, 151 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 anticipated ; the large store- keepers 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 sekit away, and an hour before daybreak next morning Dick, having bade farewell to his mother, started with Mr. Humphreys. i-i I '•'"I III 5; III 152 The Young Colonists, :1 'i \' 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 pre- vious 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 Anglicized 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 circumstance 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 im- mensely 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 The Young Colonists, 153 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 passionate attachment for him, following him every- where, and ready at any moment to give his life for him. He was called Tony, and spoke English as fluently as the native language. The third of the hunters was a tall, slight figure, a man of about five and thirty, with muscles like whipcord, who could, if it were needed, go for 100 miles without a halt, and tire out the swiftest horse. In addition to these were ten natives, who assisted with -he cattle, pitched the tent, cooked and skinned the game, and did other odd jobs. The road was fairly good, and two days after leav- ing Newcastle they arrived at Standerton, a rising place, inhabited principally by English traders and shopkeepers. Here three roads branched : the one led to Utre* ht on the east ; another to Pretoria, the capital, to the north-west ; while the third, a track much less used than the others, led due north. This was the one followed by the caravan. As they proceeded, the Dutch farmhouses became more sparsely sprinkled over the country, and several large native kraals were passed. Over the wide plains large herds of deer roamed almost unmolested, \% i-M :i ^ ••! i I%1 r'il ! ' - : ■ \ ihi 154 The Young Colonists. I ^ I ;t; 'I ' ii; Ml L: ! r ' and the lads had no difficulty in keeping the caravan well supplied with provisions. One or two of the Kaffirs generally accompanied them, to carry in the game ; but Mr. Harvey and the three hunters, accus- tomed to more exciting sport, kept along with the caravan, the former well content that the lads should amuse themselves with furnishing food for the party. At Newcastle Mr. Humphreys had purchased a couple of small pocket-compasses, one for each of the boys, and the possession of these gave them great confidence, as, with their guidance, they were always enabled to strike the trail of the caravan. The road had now altogether ceased, and they were travelling across a bare, undulating country, dotted occasionally by herds and flocks of Dutch settlers, and by the herds of wandering deer, but unbroken by a tree of any size, and for the most part covered with tall grass. The deer met with were for the most part antelopes of one or other of three kinds, all of which abound on the higher plains. These are known as the " wilde-beest," the " bless-buck," and the " spring-buck." The venison which these creatures afforded was occasionally varied by the flesh of the " stump-pig," which abounded in considerable numbers, and, as they ran at a great speed, afforded the boys many a good chase. Generally the caravan halted for the night — while they were still in a country occupied here and there by The Young Colonists, 155 IS a Boers — near one of the farmhouses. It was not that these habitations added to the pleasure of the halting- place, for the Boers were generally grufif and surly, and their dogs annoyed them by their constant barking and growling, but for the nriost part it was only at these farmhouses that water could be obtained. A small sum was generally charged by the Boers for the privilege of watering the oxen of each waggon. It would seem a churlish action to charge for water, but this fluid is very scarce upon the veldt. There are long periods of drought, of which, i a dry season, thousands of cattle perish ; it is therefore only natural that each farmer should hoard his supply jealously, for he cannot tell how great his own need of it may r^ortly be. The water is for the most part stored in artificial ponds, made by damming up hollows through which the water runs in the wet season. Sometimes, as the caravan made its slow way along, a young Boer would dash up upon his horse, and, reining in, ask a few questions as to their route, and then ride off again. Already the boys had admired the figures and riding of the Boers whom they had seen in action in Zululand, but they were much more struck by their appearance as they saw them now. There are no finer men in the world than the young Boers of the Transvaal ; in after-life they often become heavy, but as young men their figures are perfect. Very tall and powerfully built, they sit their horses as if man and animal were one, and are \% m I' '\ i :i 1^1 t J I ill M ii Mlft ' 'i 1 ii 156 The Young Colonists, \\ ni! I Ml ! 3 such splendid marksmen that, while riding at full speed, they can, with almost absolute certainty, bring down an antelope at a distance of 150 yards. But the abodes of the Boers, and their manner of living, impressed the boys far less favourably. How- ever extensive the possessions and numerous the herds of a Boer, he lives in the same primitive style as his poorest neighbour. The houses seldom contain more than two, or at most three, rooms. The dress of the farmer, wife, and family is no better than that of labourers ; whole families sleep in one room ; books are almost unknown in their houses, and they are ignorant and prejudiced to an extreme degree. Upon his horse and his gun the Boer will spend money freely, but for all other purposes he is thrifty and close-fisted in the extreme. Water is regarded as useful for drinking purposes, but its utility for matters of personal cleanliness is generally altogether ignored. Almost all sleep in their clothes, and a shake and a stretch suffice for the morning toilet. The power of a Boer over his sons and daughters is most unlimited, and he is the hardest and cruellest of masters to the unfortunate natives whom he keeps in slavery under the title of indentured apprentices), and whose lives he regards as of no more importance than those of his sheep, and as of infinitely less consequence than those of his horses or even of his dogs. To the unhappy natives the taking over of the Transvaal by England had been a blessing of the highest kind. d. The Young Colonists, 157 For the first time the shooting of them in cold blood had come to be considered a crime, and ordinances had been issued against slavery, which, although generally evaded by the Boers, still promised a happy state of things in the future. At the native kraals the travellers were always welcomed when it was known that they were English. The natives looked to Queen Victoria as a sort of guardian angel, and not a thought entered their heads that they would ere long be cruelly and basely aban- doned to the mercies of the Dutch by the govern- ment, of England. Slowly and without incident the caravan made its way north, and at last encamped upon the banks of the great river Limpopo, the northern boundary of the Transvaal. This river was too wide and deep to be forded, but at the spot where they had struck it, there was a large native kraal. Here Mr. Harvey, who had many times before followed the same route to this spot, was warmly welcomed, and preparations were made for effecting a crossing. The oxen were first taken across ; these were steered by ropes attached to their horns and fastened to a canoe, which paddled ahead of them. The beasts were delighted to enter the water after their long dusty journey, and most of them, after reaching the opposite bank, lay down for a long time in the shallow water at the edge. Most of the stores were carried across in canoes. Inflated skins were then fastened to the waggons, and these also were towed across the stream .% ' m 'M i- .t|■^| ■ ri> SI 1 >S8 The Young Colonists, by canoes. The passage had commenced at early morning, and by nightfall the whole of the caravan and its contents were safely across the stream. " We are now," Mr. Harvey said " in the Matabele country ; the natives are for the most part friendly, as they know the advant^age thr^y derive from the comir.;, of English ^rrde\. but cberf are portions of the tribe altogether hostile to u -, and the greatest caution and care have to bt exe. «ed In passing through some portions of the country. To the east lies a land said to be very rich in gold, and there can be little doubt that it is so, for we frequently find natives who have traded with that country in posses- sion of gold-dust, but they allow no white men to pass their frontier on any pretext whatever. They have become aware in some way how great is the value of gold in the eyes of Europeans, and fear that if the wealth of the country in that metal were but known a vast emigration of Europeans would take place, which would assuredly sooner or later end in the driving out or extirpation of the present inhabitants of the land." The news which they had learned at the village where they had crossed, of the state of affairs among the tribes of the north, was not encouraging. The natives said that there had been much fighting. Not only had eruptions taken place with tribes still further north, but the Matabele had also been quarrelling among themselves. " This is bad news indeed," Mr. Harvey said ; ** these The Voting Colonists, 159 lese tribal wars make journeying very difficult ; for, althM'gh none of fhe tribes may be hostile to Euro- peans at ordinary ti.nes, they view them with distrust wher coming fiom a tribe with whom they are at war. In p'.dce-time, too, when each section of the tribe is under some sor' cf control by the head chief, each will hesitate to rob or attack an European caravan, because the whole would consider themselves aggrieved and injured by such a proceeding. In war-time, on the other hand, each thinks, ' If we do not rob this rich caravan some one else is sure to do so ; we may as well have the plunder as another.* War is injurious to us in other ways ; instead of the tribes spending their time in hunting, they remain at home to guard their villages and women, and we shall find but little ivory and few ostrich feathers gathered to trade for our goods. I had not intended to have encumbered myself with a larger following, but I think, after what I have heard, it will be wise to strengthen our party before going further. I will therefore hire twenty men from the village here to accompany us ; they will be useful in hunting, and will cost but little ; their wages are nominal, and we shall have no difficulty in providing them with food with our rifles. In one respect they are more useful than men hired from time to time from among the people farther north for the purpose of driving game, for, as you see, many of them carry guns, while beyond the river they are armed only with bows and arrows." " I am surprised to see so many guns," Dick said j ill 1 m ! ■: t > I i6o The Young Colonists. 't I ■.J i ■ , " where could these people have got the money to buy them?" " It is the result of a very bad system," Mr. Harvey replied. " The Cape authorities, in spite of all the repre- sentations which have been made to them, of the ex- treme danger of allowing the natives to possess firearms, allow their importation and sale to them, simply on account of the revenue which they derive from it, as a duty of a pound is charged on each gun imported into the colony. From all parts of South Africa the natives, Pondos, Basutos, Zulus, and other Kaffirs, go to the diamond-fields and work there for months; when their earnings suffice to enable them to buy a gun, a stock of ammunition, and a blanket, they return to their homes. All these fellows you see carrying guns have served their six or eight months in the diamond-mines ; a dozen of them would be a strong reinforcement to our fighting power, in case of an attack." There was no difficulty in engaging the required number of men. Each was to be paid on the con- clusion of the journey with a certain quantity of powder and lead, a few yards of cotton, some beads and other cheap trinkets, and was to be fed on the journey. Thus reinforced the caravan proceeded on its way. The Young Colonists, i6i )buy irvey epre- ,e ex- arms, ly on t, as a d into itives, to the when a gun, return Trying in the strong of an quired con- ity of beads on the ied on CHAPTER XI. A TROOP OF LIONS. The country across which the waggons now made their way differed somewhat from that over which they had previously passed ; it was not so undulating, and the herbage was shorter and more scanty ; the soil was for the most part sandy ; trees were much more abundant, and sometimes there were thick growths of jungle. Even before leaving the Transvaal they had at night often heard the roar of lions, but these had not approached the camp. " We must look out for lions to-night," Mr. Harvey said, when the caravan encamped near a large pool which in the wet season formed part of a river, and was now for the most part dry. " We must laager our waggons, and get as many cattle inside as we can, and must keep the rest close together, with fires in readiness to light in case of an attack." " But surely the lions would never venture to attack so large a party ? '' Dick said in surprise. " They will indeed," Mr. Harvey answered. " These brutes often hunt together, as many as twenty or thirty ; they are nothing like such powerful beasts as the North African lions, but they are formidable enough, and the less we see of them the better. But there are numerous prints on the sand near the water, (11264) H 1 tj H^: \ .1 i / i l63 The Young Colonists* I \ and probably large numbers of them are in the habit of coming to this pool to drink. I expect therefore that we shall have a stirring night." As soon as the oxen were unyoked, they were driven a short distance out to pasture. Five or six of the natives looked after them, while the remainder set to work to gather sticks and dried wood for the fires. " I think," Tom said, " that I will go and have a bathe in the pool." " You will do no such thing," Mr. Harvey remarked; " the chances are that there arc half a dozen alligators in that pool — it is just the sort of place in which they lurk, for they find no difficulty in occasionally taking a deer or a wild hog, as he comes down to quench his thirst. There ! don't you see something projecting above the water on the other side of the pool ? " " I see a bit of rough wood, that looks as if it were the top of a log underneath the water," " Well, just watch it," Mr. Harvey said, as he took aim with his rifle. ■ He fired ; the water instantly heaved and whirled at the spot the boy was watching; the supposed log rose higher out of the water, and then plunged down again ; five or six feet of a long tail lashed the water and then disappeared, but the eddies on the surface showed that there was a violent agitation going on underneath it. " What do you think of your log now ? " Mr. Harvey asked, smiling. .,i . . . , /T ** Why, it was an alligator," Tom said. " Who would i-'. The Young Colonists, 163 labit jforc were ixof ;r set ires, ave a rked; jators ithey laking ich his acting : were took led at g rose gain ; er and urface ng on [arvey I would have thought it ?— it looked just like a bit of an old tree." *' What you saw," Mr. Harvey said, " was a portion of the head ; the alligator often lies with just his eyes and nostrils out of water." " Did you kill it, sir, do you think ? " Dick asked. " Oh ! no," Mr. Harvey replied ; " the ball would glance off his head, as it would from the side of an ironclad ship. It woke him up, and flustrated him a bit ; but he is none the worse for it. So you see, Tom, that pool is hardly fit to bathe in." " No, indeed, sir," Tom answered, turning a little pale at the thought of the danger which he had proposed to incur. " I would rather fight half a dozen lions than get into the water with those brutes." " I don't know about half a dozen lions," Mr. Harvey said ; " although certainly one lion is an easier foe to tackle than an alligator. But one can never be too careful about bathing in this country. In the smallest pools, only a few yards long and a few feet wide, an alligator may be lurking, especially if the weather is dry and the pools far apart. Even when only drawing water at such places it is well to be careful, and it is always the best plan to poke the bottom for a short Q.stance round with a pole before dipping in a bucket. Remember, if you should ever happen to be seized by one of these animals, there is but one chance, and that is to turn at once and stick your thumbs into his eyes. It requires nerve when a 'it| U 9-1, f I' !l • iJI m 164 ne Young Colonists, , H i i y 'i brute has got you by the leg, but it is your only chance, and the natives, when seized by alligators, often escape by blinding their foes. The pain and sudden loss of sight always induces them to loose their hold." "I hope I shall never have to try," Tom said, shivering. " It is safer not, certainly," Mr. Harvey agreed ; " but there, I see dinner is ready, and Jumbo has got a bucket of water, so you can douse your heads and wash your hands without f iear of alligators." At nightfall the cattle were all driven in. The horses and a few of the most valuable oxen were placed in the laager formed by the waggons ; the rest were fastened outside to them, side by side, by their horns ; at each corner the natives had piled up a great heap of firewood. An hour after sunset the roar cf a lion was heard out on the plain ; it was answered simultaneously in six or eight directions, and the stamping of the oxen announced that the animals were conscious of danger. " There are a troop of them about," Mr. Harvey said, "just as I feared. Put a little more wood on the fires, boys ; it is as well to keep them burning briskly, but it will probably be some hours before they ivork themselves up to make an attack upon us." ' As the time went on, the roaring became louder and more continuous. "There must be a score of them at least," Mr, Harvey sxid ; " they are ranging round and round the camp ; they don't like the Jook of the fires." The Young Colonists. 165 and By ten o'clock the roaring had approached so closely that Mr. Harvey thought that it was time to prepare for the defence ; he took post at one side of the square, and placed the boys and Jumbo at the other three; Tony and the other hunter were to keep outside the cattle, and walk round and round. The armed natives were scattered round the square. The drivers and cattle-men were to move about among the animals, and do their best to pacify them, for already a perfect panic had seized upon the draught-cattle, and with starting eyes and coats ruffled by fear they were tugging and straining at their ropes. " Quiet, you silly beasts," Dick said, leaning out of the waggon in which he had taken his place; "you are safer where you are than you would be anywhere else. If you got away and bolted out into the plain, as you want to do, you would be pulled down and killed in no time." The fires were now blaring brightly, throwing a wide circle of light round the camp and making visible every object within fifty yards. It had been arranged that so long as the lions kept at a distance and only approached singly the defendeis of the various faces of the square should retain their positions ; but that, should a formidable attack be made upon any one side, the white men with two of the natives with them should hasten to the point attacked. Several times, as Dick stood in the waggon, rifle in m I, ii m 1 66 The Young Colonists, hand, straining his eyes at the darkness, he fancied he saw indistinct shadowy forms moving at the edge of the circle of light. Two or three times he raised his rifle to take aim, but the objects were so indistinct that he doubted whether his fancy had not deceived him. Presently the crack of Mr. Harvey's rifle was heard, followed by a roar of a sharper and more angry nature than thosewhichhad preceded it. As if a signalhadbeen given, three or four creatures came with great bounds out of the darkness towards the side where Dick was posted. Taking a steady aim, he fired. Tony, who was outside with the cattle on that side of the square, did the same. The other natives had been ordered to retain their fire until the lions were close enough to ensure each shot telling. The lion at which Dick had aimed paused for a moment with a terrific roar, and then bounded forward again. When he came within twenty yards of the oxen, the four natives posted by Dick's side fired. The lion for a moment fell ; then, gathering itself together, it sprang on to the back of a bullock, just in front of where Dick was standing. The lad had a second rifle in readiness, and leaning forward he placed the muzzle within two yards of the lion's head and fired. The animal rolled off" the back of the bullock, who, with the one standing next to him, at once began to kick at it, endeavouring to get their heads round to gore it with theii horns. The lion, however, lay unmoved ; Dick's last shot had been fatal •v 'I ^een 11264 "THE CONTINUOUS ROARING SHOWED THAT THE UONS WERE STILL CLOSE AT HAND." km Hi 1 '< ;: '4 !■ !' I • ! I i The Young Colonists. 167 The other lions on this side had bounded back into the darkness. From the other sides of the square the sound of firing proclaimed that similar attacks had been made ; but, as there was no summons for aid, Dick supposed that the attacks were isolated ones, and so, after recharging his rifles, he remained quietly at his post For some hours the attack was not renewed, though the continuous roaring showed that the lions were still close at hand. Mr. Harvey went round and advised the boys to lie down at their posts and get a little sleep, as the natives would keep watch. " I don't think we have done with them yet," he said ; " we have killed three, but I think, by th'j roar- ing, the number has considerably increased within the last hour. It is probable that an attack will be made an hour or so before daybreak, and I expect it will be in earnest next time." Dick accordingly lay down to sleep, but he was too excited to close his eyes. After a long time it seemed to him that the roaring was dying away, and a drowsiness was stealing over him, when suddenly Mr. Harvey's rifle was heard and he shouted, — ** To this side — quick ! they are upon us." Dick,Tom,and Jumbo, with the six natives, leapt from the waggons, and, running across the little enclosure, scrambled up into those on the other side. There was a momentary silence here, the whole of the defendants having discharged their pieces, and a number of lions ■i n I \\\\ ' fj iM >■! h-l i! ill! i!i; 1 68 The Young Colonists. bounding across the open were already close to the cattle. The new-comers at once opened fire. Two or three of the lions sprang among the cattle ; but the rest, intimidated by the noise and flash of the guns, and by the yelling and shouting of the natives, turned and made off again. Those among the cattle were soon disposed of, but not before they had killed three of the draught-oxen and seriously torn two others. The roaring continued until daybreak, gradually^ however, growing fainter and more distant, and it was evident that the attack had ceased. " Are their skins worth anything ? '* Dick asked. " Yes, they are worth a few dollars apiece, except in the case of old lions, who are apt to become mangy, and these are not worth skinning. We have killed eight of them, but their skins will not be worth any- thing like so much as the cattle they have killed ; how- ever, it is well that it is no worse. An attack by these troops of lions is no joke ; they are by far the most formidable animals of South Africa. I don't say that an attack by a herd of wild elephants would not be more serious, but I never heard of such a thing taking place. They are timid creatures, and easily scared, and except in the case of wounded animals or of solitary bulls they can scarcely be considered as dangerous." When day broke, the natives set to work to skin the lions, with the exception of one whose skin was valueless. As ^oon as the operation was completed, j ■i ! I The Young Colonists, 169 the skins were packed in the waggons, the oxen were inspanned, and the caravan proceeded on its way, all being glad to leave so dangerous a locality. The next evening they encamped upon a river, and the night passed v/ithout interruption. The following morning, just as they were about to start, Tony, who with the other hunters had gone out at daybreak, returned with the news that he had found the spoor of elephants, and that he believed a herd had passed along only a few hours before. Mr. Harvey at once decided to halt where he was for another day. The oxen were again unyoked, and six of the armed natives having been left to guard the camp, under the direction of Jumbo, the whoV* ef the rest, with the white men, set off in pursuit of the elephants. The spoor was quite distinct, and even had this failed, there would have been no difficulty in following the track, for there were scattered here and there trees, and the elephants in passing had broken off many boughs, which, stripped of their leaves, lay upon the ground they had traversed. Tony and the other hunter, whose name was Blacking, a sobriquet gained from the extreme swarthiness of his skin, scouted ahead, and pre- sently held up their hands to those following them to advance quietly. The trees were very thick here, and Mr. Harvey and the boys dismounted and led their horses to the spot where the hunters had halted. They were standing at the edge of a large 't ki m I ■■V, . CI I I70 The Young Colonists. I i circular clearing, three quarters of a mile in diameter ; it had probably at one time been the site of a native village, for there were signs of cultivation, and a num- ber of scattered heads of maize rose here and there, the descendants of a bygone mealy plantation. Feeding upon these were a herd of some twenty elephants ; of these the greater portion were females or young ones, but there were three fine males — one, a beast of unusual size. " That is the master of the herd," Mr. Harvey said, " a savage-looking old customer ; he has a splendid pair of tusks, although the tip of one," he added, gazing at the elephant through his field-glass, "is broken off. I think that for the present we will leave him alone, and direct our attention to the other two males. I will take Tom and Jumbo with me ; you, Dick, shall have Tony and Blacking. Three of the natives shall go with each party, but you must not rely upon them irnich ; and, remember, the one fatal spot is the forehead. Fasten your horses up here, and leave two of the natives in charge. Let the other six go round to the opposite side of the clearing and advance slowly from that direc- tion, showing themselves occasionally, so as to draw the attention of the herd towards them. The ele- phants will probably move leisurely in this direction. Take your station behind trees, moving your position carefully as they approach, so as to place yourselves as near as possible in the line of the elephant you have fixed on. We will take up our station a hundred The Young Colonists, 171 yards to the right of where we are standing ; do you go as far to the left. The natives will take the horses into a thicket some distance in the rear. Which- ever of the two young male elephants comes nearest to you is your mark, ours is the other. If they keep near each other, we shall probably meet again here." The two parties moved off to the places assigned to them, and the natives whose duty it was to drive the elephants started to their positions. Keeping some little distance back among the trees, so that they could observe the movements of the elephants, while themselves unseen, Dick and his party moved to the spot indicated, and then sat down. For three quarters of an hour the elephants con- tinued to feed upon the heads of maize ; then the big male suddenly wheeled round, extended his grer.t ears, lifted his trunk, and trumpeted. At this signal the others all gathered together, and stood gazing in the direction from which danger threatened. Again the old bull gave an angry scream. The others moved slowly away from the danger, but he ad- vanced in the direction in which he had seen the natives. "Very bad elephant that," Tony whispered to Dick ; " he give heaps of trouble ; you see him charge." A minute or two later the elephant, catching sight of his enemies, quickened his pace, and with his little tail switching angrily, uplifted trunk, and wide- spread ears, he charged down upon them at a pace of '111 'I ''■\\ n I ■! i \\ 172 The Young Colonists, m which Dick had not supposed so cumbersome a beast would be capable. In a moment the distant natives were seen to rise from the grass and to run at full speed back towards the wood. The elephant pursued them until he reached the trees ; here he halted, and gazed for some time into the wood. Then seeing no signs of the natives — for these knew better than to provoke so vicious a beast by firing at him — he trumpeted defiantly, and slowly retraced his steps towards the rest of the herd. These, led by the two males, were already approaching the trees behind which Dick and his party were lying concealed. Before they had arrived there Mr. Harvey and his party came up. Dick and Tom were both carrying heavy smooth-bore guns, similar to those used by the Boers. These their fathers had purchased at Newcastle on the day of their start ; they were old weapons, but very strong and serviceable ; they carried a heavy charge of powder and a large ball, of a mixture of lead and tin, specially made for elephant-shooting. " Dick fire first," Blacking whispered in his ear ; ** if he not kill him, then the rest of us fire." Dick was lying down behind the trunk of a tree, his rifle steadied against it ; when the elephant was within a distance of twenty yards he fired, taking steady aim at the vital point. The recoil of the piece was tremendous, and the roar of its report almost stunned him ; he gave, however, a shout of delight, for the elephant stood for half a minute swaying M264 DICK FIRED INTO THE ELEPHANT's OPEN MOUTH, AND THEN N! LEAPT BEHIND THE TREE. a '!,'■ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) -^ .V /. /. 1.0 I.I |i£ 12.0 iii IL25 IN 1.4 1.6 ^A ^'*' PhotografiiJc .Sciences Corporalion V .*' < as WIST IMAIN STRUT WIISTM.N.Y. 14510 (716)I73-4S03 > « ' >• ■it ■J: The Young Colonists^ '73 from side to side, and then fell heavily upon the ground. Mr. Harvey had given Tom the first shot at the other elephant ; but, just at the moment when the lad was about to fire, the elephant gave a sudden start at the report of Dick's rifle, and Tom's shot struck it at the side of the head and glancing off passed through its ear. Throwing up its trunk, the elephant instantly charged. Mr. Harvey fired, but the uplifted trunk prevented his getting an accurate aim at the vital spot. The bullet passed through the trunk, and then glanced off the forehead. The elephant swerved and showed its side, at which a general volley was fired by all the guns still loaded. The great beast stood still for an instant, stumbled forward a few strides, and then its legs seemed to bend beneath it, and it sank down quietly to the ground. Just at this moment, as the affrighted cows were turning to fly across the plain, there was a thundering rush, and the great elephant charged through them, and passing between the dead males dashed into the wood. Its rush was so sudden and headlong that it carried the elephant past the men standing behind the trees ; but it speedily checked itself, and turning round made a rush upon them. There was an instant stampede. Most of the natives at once threw away their guns ; some climbed hastily up into the trees against which they were standing ; others took to the bushes. The elephant charged in after these, but seeing no signs of them he speedily came out again and looked i n '■■\ •m ' 'A ■If . \-m. n ^1.1 ^^' /!• »74 TAe Young Colonists. round for a fresh foe. His eye fell upon Dick, who had just recharged his rifle. "Run, Dick! run !" shouted Mr. Harvey. But Dick saw that the elephant was upon him, while the tree near which he was standing was too thick to climb. The elephant was holding his head so high that Dick could not aim at the spot on the forehead, but, waiting until the animal was within ten yards of him, he flred into its open mouth, and then leapt behind the tree. With a scream of pain the elephant rushed on, but being unable to check himself he came full butt with tremendous force against the tree, which quivered under the blow, and Dick, thinking that it was going to fall upon him, sprang back a pace. Three or four more shots were fired before the elephant could turn, and then wheeling round it charged upon its new assailants. Tom was one of those nearest to him ; the boy had just discharged his rifle and advanced a few feet from the tree behind which he had been standing. Before he could regain it he felt something pass round him, there was a tremendous squeeze, which stopped his breath and seemed to press his life out of him, then he felt himself flying high into the air, and became insensible. Apparently satisfied with what he had done, the elephant continued his rapid pace mto the open again, and followed the retreating herd across the plain. Dick had given a cry of horror, as he saw the ele- The Young Colonists, who him, 3 too head n the i^ithin L, and pain check force blow, upon shots then ts. had from efore him, pped him, and i, the I open the ele- phant seize his friend, and his heart seemed to stand still when he saw him whirled high in the air. Tom fell into a thick and bushy tree, and tJ ere, break- ing through the light foliage at the top, remained suspended in the upper boughs. In an instant Jumbo climbed the tree, and making his way to the lad lifted him from the fork in which he was wedged, placed him on his shoulder as easily as if he had been a child, and descending the tree laid him on the ground by the side of Mr. Harvey. The latter at once knelt beside him. " Thank God, he is breathing ! " he exclaimed at cnce. " Lift his head, Dick ; open his shirt. Black- ing ; and give me some water out of your gourd. I trust he is only stunned ; that brute was in such a hurry that he had not time tc squeeze him fairly, and the tree has broken his fall. If he had come down to the ground from that height, it must have killed him." He sprinkled some water upon the lad's face and chest, and to his and Dick's delight Tom presently opened his eyes. He looked round in a surprised and half-stupid way, and then made an effort to rise, but a cry broke from him as he did so. " Lie still, Tom," Mr. Harvey said ; " you are hurt, but, I hope, not severely. Cut his shirt off, Dick ; I expect some of his ribs are broken." Upon Mr. Harvey carefully feeling Tom's ribs, he found, as he had expected, that five of them were broken — three on one side and two on the other. I -I : .;[ i I 1 :|:t 1' 1 PI \'l ■:*'/ 176 T'he Young Colonists, "Some of your ribs are damaged, Tom," he said cheerfully ; " but that is of no great consequence ; they all seem pretty fairly in their places. Now I will bandage you tightly, so as to keep them there, and then we will carry you back to the waggons and nurse you until they grow together again ; young bones soon heal, and in a week or ten days you will, I hope, be able to travel again ; you had a close shave of it. I never met a more savage beast thab that bull- elephant in all my experience.** \ ■ ril TJie Young Colonists. 177 he said fquence ; ow I will lere, and nd nurse ig bones I, I hope, ,ve of it iiat bull- CHAPTER XII. AN ATTACK BY ELEPHANTS. A LITTER was speedily constructed from some boughs of trees, and Tom being placed in it was at once carried back to the camp, escorted by his friend. The hunters remained behind to cut out the tusks of the two elephants that had fallen. A portion of the trunks and feet, which are considered the most delicate portions of the elephant, was laid aside for the use of the white men, and a large quantity of meat was brought back to camp for the natives. The sound of firing had brought up some people from a small village two or three miles away, and these to their immense joy were allowed to carry off enough meat to enable them to feast to the utmost extent of their ability for a week to come. Mr. Harvey had in the course of his wanderings frequently had occasion to dress wounds and bandage broken bones; he was therefore able to apply the necessary bandages to Tom, and the lad was soon lying in comparative ease on a bed formed of rags Generally the boys slept in hammocks, but Mr. Harvey insisted that Tom must lie perfectly straight on his back until the bones had begun to set again. " We made a sad mess with that old bull to-day, Dick," he said. " It is humiliating to think that he 1; I 1;- lijl 178 The Young Colonists, should have charged us all, injured Tom, and got away almost unscathed." "You see, sir," Dick said, "he attacked us un- expectedly ; our guns were all discharged, and he came on with such a rush that there was no getting a steady shot at him. The whole affair lasted little more than a minute, I should say." " I shall go out to-morrow morning," Mr. Harvey said, " and take up the track again, and see if I cannot get even with the beast. There is time enough to-day, for it is still early, but the herd will be so restless and suspicious that there will be no getting near them, and I should not care to face that old bull unless I had a fair chance of killing him at the first shot. He has a magnificent pair of tusks, and ivory sells so high that they would be worth a good deal of trouble and some risk to get." " Shall I go with you, sir ? ** "No, Dick, I would rather you did not. The business will be more dangerous than usual, and I should not like the responsibility of having you with me. Tom had as narrow a shave yesterday as ever I saw, and I certainly do not want two of you on my hands." Dick was not sorry at Mr. Harvey's decision, for after the charge of the bull-elephant he felt just at present he should not care about encountering an- other. The next morning Mr. Harvey, accompanied by the three native hunters and the greater portion of the othdrs, started in pursuit of the elephants. ^he Young Colonists, 179 Dick, after sitting for some time with Tom, took his gun and wandered round near the camp, shooting birds. As the sun got high, and the heat became fiercer and fiercer, he returned to camp, and had just taken off his coat and sat down by the side of Tom when he heard shouts of terror outside the tent. Running out to see what was the matter, he saw the natives in a state of wild terror. They pointed across the plain, and Dick, to his astonishment and alarm, saw a great elephant approaching at a rapid trot, with his trunk in the air and his ears extended to the fullest. He recognized at once the bull which had charged them on the previous day. The natives were now flying in all directions. Dick shouted to them to stand and get their muskets, but his words were un- heeded ; he ran to the tent, seized the long-bore gun which he had carried the day before and also that of Tom, and charged them both hastily, but coolly. " What on earth is it all about ? " Tom asked. " It is the elephant again, Tom ; lie quiet, whatever you do; you cannot run away, so lie just as you are." Then with a gun in each hand Dick ran out of the tent again. The elephant was now but a hundred yards away. Dick climbed into a waggon standing in the line on which he was coming, knelt down in the bottom and rested the muzzle on the side, standing up and waving his arm before he did so, so as to attract the attention of the elephant The great beast saw him, m iiii(i M m i 'ill: I i !vf r i8o The Young Colonists, :|:r and trumpeting loudly came straight down at him ; Dick knelt, as steady as a rock, with the sight of the gun upon the elephant's forehead. When he was within twenty yards Dick drew the trigger, and, without waiting to see the result, snatched up and levelled the second gun. The elephant had staggered as he was hit, and then, as with a great effort, he pulled himself together and again moved forward, but with a stumbling and hesitating step ; taking steady aim again, Dick fired when the elephant's trunk was within a yard of the muzzle of his gun, and then springing to his feet, leapt on the opposite side of the waggon and took to his heels. After running a few steps, he glanced back over his shoulder, and then ceased running ; the elephant was no longer in sight above the waggon, but had fallen an inert mass by its side. "All right, Tom!" Dick shouted loudly; "I have done for him." • , Before going to look at the fallen elephant Dick went to the spot where stood the piled muskets of the natives who had fled ; dropping a ramrod into them, he found that two were loaded, and taking these in his hands he advanced towards the elephant. The precaution was needless ; the great beast lay dead ; the two heavy balls had struck within an inch or two of each other, and penetrated the brain. The first would have been fatal, and the elephant was about to fall when Dick had fired the second time. The Young Colonists. i8i Gradually the drivers and other natives returned to camp with shouts of triumph. These, however, Dick speedily silenced by a volley of abuse for their cowardice in running away and leaving Tom to his fate. A few minutes later Mr. Harvey galloped in at full speed, closely followed by the swift-footed Blacking. "Thank God,you are safe, my boys,"Mr. Harvey said, as he leapt from his horse. " I have had a terrible fright. We followed the spoor to the point where they had passed the night ; here the trackers were much puzzled by the fact that the great elephant, whose tracks were easily distinguished from the others, seemed to have passed the night in rushing furiously about. Numbers of young trees had been torn up by the roots, and great branches twisted off the larger trees. They concluded that he must have received some wound which had maddened him with pain. We took up the track where the herd had moved on, but soon found that he had separated himself from it, and had gone off at full speed by himself. We set off in pursuit, observing a good deal of caution, for if he had turned, as was likely enough, and had come upon us while in such a frantic state, we should have had to bolt for our lives. I was thinking only of this when I saw the hunters talking together and gesticulating. I soon found out what was the matter. They told me that if the elephant kept on in the line he was taking, it would assuredly bring him in sight of the camp; if not straight upon it. As I had no doubt 1 A U ill ■■\\ :f:l ■ti ■i:t. .; i l82 The Young Colonists* (?' 1 i that he would in that case attack it, I put spurs to my horse at once, and dashed on at full speed in hopes of overtaking the elephant, and turning it, before it came within sight of the camp. I became more and more anxious as I neared the camp and found the elephant was still before me ; then I heard two shots close together, and I could hear no others, and you may guess how relieved I was when I caught sight of the camp, and saw the natives gathered round something which was, I had no doubt, the elephant. I had feared that I should see the whole place in confusion, the waggons upset, and above all the tent levelled. Thank God, my dear boy, you are all safe I Now tell me all about it.*' Dick related the circumstances, and Mr. Harvey praised him highly for the promptness, coolness, and courage with which he had acted. Then he roundly abused the natives in their own language for their cowardly conduct. * ' " Are you not ashamed of yourselves ? " he asked ; " what do you carry your arms for, if you are afraid to use them ? Here are sixteen men^ all with mus- kets^ who run away in a panic, and leave one white lad to defend his wounded friend alone." The reproaches of Mr. Harvey were mild by the side of the abuse which the three huntiers — for by this time Tony and Jumbo had reached the camp — lavished upon their compatriots. *' What are you good for ? " they asked scornfully ; '^ you are fit only to be slaves to the Dutch ; the inaster The Young Colonists, 183 had better hire women to march with him ; he ought to take your arms away, and to set you to spin." Crestfallen as the natives were at their own cowardice, they were roused by the abuse of the hunters, and a furious quarrel would have ensued, had not Mr. Harvey interposed his authority and smoothed matters down, admitting that the attack of the enraged elephant was really terrifying, and telling the natives that now they saw how well the white men could fight, they would no doubt be ready to stand by them next time. The hunters now proceeded to cut out the tusks of the elephant. When they did so the cause of the animal's singular behaviour became manifest ; a ball had struck him just at the root of the tusk, and had buried itself in one of the nerves there, no doubt causing excruciating pain. The tusks were grand ones, Mr. Harvey saying that he had seldom seen a finer pair. The news of the slaughter of three elephants drew together a con- siderable number of natives, who were delighted to receive permission to carry off as much meat as they chose. When the greater portion of the flesh of the old bull had been removed, ten oxen were harnessed to the remains of the carcass, and it was dragged to a distance from camp, as Mr. Harvey was desirous of remaining where he was for some days longer on Tom's account, and the effluvia from the carcass would in a very short time have rendered the camp uninhabitable had it remained in the vicinity. a' Uii ! n Ill i v' liiil i ., 1 I i! 184 T^ Young Colonists, In a week Tom was convalescent ; he was still, how- ever, very stiff and sore. A hammock was therefore slung under the tilt of one of the waggons, the sides were drawn up to allow of a free passage of air, and the caravan then went forward on its journey. For the next fortnight nothing of importance happened ; sometimes the journeys were short, some- times extremely long, being regulated entirely by the occurrence of water. At many of the halting-places a good deal of trade was done, as the news of the coming of the caravan spread far ahead of it, and the natives for a considerable distance on each side of the line of route came down to trade with it They brought with them skins of beasts and birds, small packets of gold-dust, ostrich feathers, and occasion- ally ivory. Mr. Harvey was well content with his success so far. For some time past, owing to the disturbed state of the country and the demand for waggons occasioned by the war, the number of traders who had made their way north had been very small, and the natives con- sequently were eager to buy cotton and cloth, and to get rid of the articles which they had been accumulating for the purpose of barter with the whites. Never before, Mr. Harvey said, had he done so good a trade in so short a time. At the end of the fortnight after starting Tom was again able to take his seat in the saddle and ride quietly along by the side of the caravan, Mr. Harvey warning him on no account to go above a walking The Young Colonists, 185 •Si I pace at present, as a jerk or a jar might break the newly-knit bones, and undo all the work that had been effected. In the meantime Dick, accompanied by one or other of the hunters, always rode out from the line of march, and had no difficulty in providing an ample supply of game. He was careful, however, not to shoot more than was required, for both he and Mr. Harvey viewed with abhorrence the taking of life unnecessarily, merely for the purpose of sport. He was able, nevertheless, to kill a great many deer with- out feeling that their flesh was wasted ; for not only were the number of mouths in the caravan large, and their powers of eating wonderful, but the natives who came in to trade were always glad to eat up any surplus that remained — and indeed Mr. Harvey found the liberal distribution of meat opened their hearts and much facilitated trade. Two or three days after they had left the scene of the elephant-hunt some objects were seen far out on the plain, which the hunters at once pronounced to be ostriches. Dick would have started in pursuit^ but Mr. Harvey checked him. " They can run," he said, " faster than a horse can gallop. They can indeed be ridden down, as they almost always run in a great circle, and the pursuit can be taken up with fresh horses, but this is a long business. We will send the hunters out first, to get on the other side of them, and when they are posted we will ride out. Going quite slowly the attention of m % I I EiS It If t86 The Young Colonists, the birds will be directed to us ; this will give the hunters an opportunity of creeping up on the other side and shooting or lassoing them. If I am not mistaken they have a good many young ones with them — this is about the time of year when this is usually the case. If we could catch a dozen of them, they would be prizes, for they fetch a good sum down in the colony, where ostrich-farming is carried on on a large scale. They are very easily tamed, and would soon keep with the caravan and give no trouble." After remaining quiet for some little time, to give the hunters time to make a wide circuit, Mr. Harvey and Dick rode quietly forward towards the birds, who stood on a slight swell of ground at a distance of about half a mile, evidently watching the caravan with great interest. By Mr. Harvey's instructions Dick unrolled the blanket which he always carried on his saddle, and taking an end in each hand held it out at arm's length on a level with the top of his head, Mr. Harvey doing the same. " They ar^e silly birds," Mr. Harvey said, " and their attention is easily caught by anything they don't understand. Like all other wild creatures they are afraid of man ; but by holding the blankets out like sails they do not see our outline, and cannot make out what the strange creatures advancing towards thern can be." ■ At a foot-pace they advanced towards the ostriches ; these made no signs of retreat until the horsemen The Young Colonists, 187 approached to within about seventy yards. Then from the brow behind the birds the three hunters suddenly rose up, and whirling the balls of their lassoes round their heads launched them among the ostriches. Three birds fell with the cords twisted round their legs, and two more were shot as the startled flock dashed off at full speed across the plain. Mr. Harvey and Dick dropped their blankets, and started at full gallop. " Bring down an old bird if you can, Dick, and then let the rest go, and give your attention to cutting off the young ones." Dick fired at one of the old birds, but missed ; Mr. Harvey brought one to the ground. The young ostriches, which were but a few weeks old, soon began to tail off in the race, and after ten minutes' riding Mr. Harvey and Dick had the satisfaction of getting ahead of them and turning them. A little more driving brought the frightened creatures to a stand- still, and most of them dropped in a squatting posi- tion to the ground, huddled together like frightened chickens. They were sixteen in number, but one which had fallen and broken its leg was at once shot. The legs of the young ostrich are extremely brittle, and one of the troubles of the farmers who rear them is that they so frequently break their bones and have to be killed. Blacking was sent off at his best speed to overtake the caravan and bring back a dozen men with him. The ostriches which had been lassoed had been at I f ;■'■ ■