Kitabı oku: «Courage, True Hearts: Sailing in Search of Fortune», sayfa 16
CHAPTER VIII. – THE BATTLE AT THE FORD
Even Viking seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation, for while he watched with great earnestness, not to say joy, the hurried preparations for departure, he never once barked.
All was ready at last, and just a little before midnight a start was made.
Nothing had been forgotten, and luckily the two men who had charge of the elephants knew how to load these. On the first, a very large animal, was a low but strong howdah, in which were packed the instruments, spare arms, and ammunition, food, cooking utensils, rugs and wraps, &c. It was built low and of wattle, not only for lightness' sake, but that it might not catch against any trees they might have to get under, during their long and dangerous march towards the coast.
But a strange and curious band they formed, had anyone been there to behold them. Let us count and see how many souls they numbered. Six men in all, Lilywhite and Jeannie, Viking, and the two elephants. Eleven all told.
Why, I do believe I have given a soul to each. But just listen, boys, while I, the author of this book, make a confession. The generality of us poor upstarts have an idea we are immensely superior to the beings we are all so fond of calling "the lower animals". We imagine-the majority of us, I mean-that these were all made for our use, and they are badly used accordingly. What utter rot, and what a shame! There is no great gulf fixed between us and them. Their minds differ but in degree, not in kind, from our own, and if we have a future existence, be sure and certain that your pet dog or cat that died not long ago-and whom you cannot forget-will live again also. Nothing good ever dies-only sin!
So I certainly should not think of withholding a soul from those two marvellously-wise elephants, and of course Viking was more wise and far higher in the scale of intellect than many and many a drink-besotted Englishman or Scotsman, whom I see making heavy weather and steering badly as he marches homewards of a Saturday night.
Well, Lilywhite and Jeannie occupied the other howdah, and I'm sure I should not be mean enough to deny the possession of a soul to either.
Pray, love the lower animals, boys, for, mind you, the same God who made you made them.
"Oh happy living things! no tongue
Their beauty may declare;
If springs of love gush from your heart
You bless them unaware."
Well, this good Somali, Carrambo, was to be depended upon. That was evident. He was indeed a strange being in many ways, and held every life but his own very cheap indeed, but he was going to be faithful to his employers. He had a certain code of morality which he considered binding on him, else he could have robbed our heroes and delivered them into Goo-goo's hands very easily indeed. But he had no such thought.
He now walked in front, as the elephants felt their way with cautious steps adown the hill towards a ford in the stream, an attendant close by the head of each.
Carrambo did not mean to take his party through that demon-haunted forest, but by a more circuitous and safer route.
Well was it for all that they had abandoned the fort and the hill at the time they did; for the savages had worked themselves up into a kind of murderous frenzy, and determined to attack and slay the whites long before daybreak.
On looking behind them while still some distance from the ford, our boys could hear their bloodthirsty and maniacal howls, and knew they had reached the fort and found it empty.
And then they knew they were being pursued!
The full moon had now arisen, and its pure silvery light was bathing hill and glen and forest. Even the distant snow-clad mountain-peaks could be seen sparkling like koh-i-noors in its radiance.
But here is the ford, and it is quickly negotiated. None too quickly, however, for hardly are they on the other bank ere the savages had reached the stream.
A battle was now unavoidable.
So all wheeled.
Spears were thrown in a cloud from the other side, but each one missed its mark.
"Steady now, men!" cried Duncan. "Be cautious! Fire!"
It was a rattling and a most destructive volley they poured into that savage mob. The terrible shrieking increased, but it was now mingled with howls of pain and impotent rage.
Five more volleys were fired, and as the natives were crowded close together the effect was fearful.
They reeled, they turned, and were about to seek safety in flight when one painted wretch, more brave than his fellows, waving his spear aloft, dashed into the river and commenced to cross.
More than one were following, and had they succeeded in getting over, the fight would doubtless have had a sad and speedy ending.
But now something happened that at once turned the tide of battle.
Vike had hitherto been only a very interested spectator of the fight, but now, seeing that savage half-way across, with a howl and a roar he leapt into the river, and quickly ploughed his way towards him.
All the courage that the cannibal possessed deserted him at once, when he saw what he thought was an evil spirit coming towards him. With a yell that quite demoralized his companions behind, he dropped his spear and tried to rush back.
A man cannot walk in deepish water so quickly as a dog can swim, and so Viking seized him before he had gone many yards.
Do savages faint, I wonder? I never have seen one "go off", as old wives call it, and require smelling-salts and burned feathers. Nevertheless this fellow became insensible when Vike proceeded to shake him out of his skin.
So the dog towed him in.
Carrambo drew his knife, and would have killed him at once but for Duncan's interference.
"No, no," he shouted, "spare his life, Carrambo!"
Firing had never slackened, and now as the enemy gave way it was more rapid and deadly than ever. But in a few minutes' time there was not a savage left on the opposite bank. Only the dead, only the wounded tossing and writhing in agony in the moonlight.
There was still a chance, however, of the attack being renewed. For this reason: King Goo-goo had adopted a plan of his own for punishing those who were defeated in battle, and invariably the first half-dozen men who returned were clubbed to death. Goo-goo was rather partial to brain fritters, and cared very little whose brains contributed to this littleentrée.
And now the march was resumed.
Sometimes the little band was so close to the forest that they could hear the howling and din of the gorillas, at other times they were stretching over arid tracts of a kind of prairie land. Nor were these silent and uninhabited. Beasts of the desert were leopards and even lions.
The former fled on sight, the latter did not dare to attack.
Yet when one leapt up almost close to the foremost elephants, and began slowly to retreat with head and tail erect and growling like loudest thunder, bold Carrambo levelled and fired. The bullet must have pierced the splendid beast's heart, for he at once dropped dead in his tracks.
Carrambo was indeed a proud man now, and although the boys knew the shot was only a fluke, he was patted on the back and permitted to wear the laurels he had won.
Yes, but Carrambo had the skin as well as the laurels. And this, after rubbing the inside well with a kind of earth he found near by, and which is often used as a preservative, he stowed it away in one of the howdahs.
On and on they marched all that night, often having to cross small rivers and streams, or journey long distances by the banks of larger ones, which proved unfordable, till at daylight they found themselves on a tree-covered little hill, and here Duncan called a halt for refreshment and for rest.
All were tired, except little Lilywhite. For with the child-gorilla in her arms she had slept most of the way.
She was helped down. Both the shes in fact, and Jeannie soon jumped into Frank's arms, caressing him in the most affectionate manner.
"Behold how she loves her father!" said the boy laughing.
"Well," he added, "I would rather have one little hairy gorilla who loved me, than a thousand hairless bipeds of men who didn't give shucks for me."
To a stream close by ran Lily, and in a surprisingly quick time returned with fish enough for all hands.
And these, one of the men having lit a fire, she speedily cooked.
Lily was, indeed, a jewel in her own way-though a black one.
After a hearty breakfast, of which fruit formed a not unimportant portion, rugs were spread in the shade, and leaving Carrambo on guard-his time for rest would come afterwards-all lay down to snatch a few hours' sleep.
Lily squatted at Conal's head, fanning him with a broad leaf, till finally he slept.
Jeannie curled up beside Frank, and Viking with Duncan. So everyone was contented and happy.
I do not think the boys ever slept more soundly than they did under the cool green shadow of those trees, and when the sun had gone a certain distance round, and Carrambo, acting on his instructions, awoke them, they felt as fresh as meadow larks, and quite fit to resume the journey.
"I hope we won't have any more fighting, boys," said Duncan.
"Why not?" said Frank the Cockney. "I think fighting is good fun.
"Especially," he added, "when you win."
"That's just it, Frank; but the bother is, that if we are hard pressed, the other fellows will win next time, because our cartridges would soon be all expended."
"Let us hope for the best," said Conal. "We have plenty of ammunition for our revolvers."
"True, Conal; but when you are near enough to shoot a savage with a revolver, he is near enough to scupper you with his spear."
They encamped that night close to the banks of a sandy-bottomed river, which Duncan said looked as if it contained gold. And once more Lilywhite assumed the responsibility of cooking.
Then, keeping the fire still alight to keep wild beasts at bay, the boys left Vike on watch and curled up.
In spite of the warm attentions of scores of very musical mosquitoes they slept long and soundly, and daylight was almost breaking before they awoke.
On and on they journeyed day by day, and many and strange were their adventures among wild beasts and wilder men. But although our heroes always showed a bold front when trouble seemed rising, they found it safest and best, if possible, to make friends with the different tribes they came into contact with.
The beads they still possessed went a long way to cement friendship.
They had been on the road for over a month, for they did not hurry, knowing the advantage of harbouring their strength in case of having to fight for dear life itself.
One day about this time, after crossing a high and desert upland, they descended a hill and found themselves among a very strange people indeed, and in a strangely beautiful country.
As the inhabitants were friendly, Duncan resolved to stay with them for a time, that all might recruit their health, and that Conal might regain his.
The poor lad, in a skirmish with some savages that had taken place farther inland, had been wounded by a poisoned arrow, and although he appeared to have recovered, the wound had broken out afresh, and he was now in so low a condition, that he had to be carried on a bed of grass made for him in one of the howdahs.
A cool grass hut was set apart for the poor white boy, as the natives called him, and Lily was a most attentive nurse to him. But indeed all the people near by were unremitting in their attentions, not only to Conal, but to everyone in the camp.
This was a country of villages, scattered here and there wherever the water was most plentiful for themselves and the cattle they owned. But scattered though these were, and but sparsely inhabited, yet if the tocsin of war sounded, they speedily flocked to one standard to repel an invading foe. It was a real republic, owning no king or chief, and placing the law in the hands of their elders in virtue of their age and wisdom.
As there was perfect peace and good understanding between these simple pastoral natives and Duncan's little band, the latter were very happy indeed.
Conal got slowly well, but all hands had to remain in this happy land for nearly six weeks before the journey could be renewed.
And poor little Lilywhite stayed here for better or for worse.
Here is how it happened. Shortly before Duncan was about to resume the march towards the big river and city of Lamoo, Carrambo one day came forward, leading a tall and rather ungainly young savage, and addressed Conal as follows: -
"Dis dam young rascal he say you all de same's one fadder to Lily. He want to mally Lily. He gib tree goat foh Lily."
Here he struck the suitor under the chin.
"Hol' you head up, Choo-ka!" he cried. "De white man no eat de likes ob you!"
Choo-ka would have blushed if he hadn't been black.
"Is Lily willing?" said Conal, laughing.
"Oh ees, sah, she plenty willin' 'nuff."
"Well, consider it all arranged."
So Conal lost his nurse, and Choo-ka gained a bride. As, however, the girl had taken a great fancy for Jeannie, Frank gave the gorilla to her as a wedding gift, and Duncan presented her with a string of beautiful beads.
And so they were married, and no doubt lived, or will live, for my story does not date back any very extraordinary number of years, happy ever after.
The journey was now resumed, and with the exception of some adventures with pythons and alligators, they reached the river without much further trouble, and in a few days after this struck the outlying huts of the large Arab city of Lamoo, and were received in the most hospitable way, not only by the Portuguese, but by the Arabs, and even by the sultan himself.
A question now arose as to what they should do with the elephants. It would be impossible to take these to sea with them.
But a very wealthy Arab merchant offered to buy them, and after a considerable deal of haggling he became the purchaser, and the boys were paid in gold.
—
They had half expected to find a gun-boat here, but were disappointed.
So after waiting for a whole week, they paid poor Carrambo off, after telling him that they meant to revisit his country another day and open the "debbil pits" in spite of old Goo-goo, then took passage in a large Arab dhow for Zanzibar, with all their goods and chattels, their gold and diamonds.
Two weeks after this there landed on the white sandy beach of that place, three as jolly and as happy boys as anyone ever shook hands with.
CHAPTER IX. – THE VERY IDENTICAL BIRD
Zanzibar! The spotless sand, on which the blue waves broke lazily into foam, sparkled like silver in the rays of the noonday sun. Higher up were the walls of many a palatial-looking building, consulates, most of them, and each one flying the flag of its country, and with, here and there, gigantic cocoa-palms waving their dark-green foliage between.
Conspicuous above all, the palace of the Sultan, with above it the blood-red Arab flag.
There were many ships in the roadstead; some men-o'-war too, but none belonging to Her Majesty the Queen.
This was slightly disappointing, for our heroes had been told that the little gun-boat was here, and they longed with an indescribable longing to know if their dear friends had been rescued alive from the uninhabited island.
During their voyage from Lamoo-the town lies about fifteen miles inland, and on the banks of the river, and is navigable to vessels of light draught all the way up-the Arab skipper had been both courteous and kind to the young fellows, and when, after the landing of their chattels, they bade him good-bye, they felt truly sorry to part with him.
There were plenty of willing hands on the beach to carry their goods to the hotel. Indeed, they would have carried the boys themselves, and Viking too, had a few pice been offered them as a reward.
But here is the hotel. It has not been a long walk, albeit the narrow streets have been-as they always are-crowded to excess with Arabs, Parsees, Hindoos, Portuguese, Indians, and niggers of every size and shade. Through this crowd they had to jostle their way with many a shout of "Sameela! Sameela!" For neither the streets themselves nor those who fill them have the sweet savour of-
"A primrose by the river's brim".
Yes, here is the hotel, and though the street in front is fairly wide, the hostelry itself is not over-inviting. But the landlord, who happens to be a Frenchman, gives them a right hearty welcome, and asks them immediately what they will have for "deenir".
"Oh," said Duncan, "what can we have?"
"Eberytings, gentlemans; soup, feesh, entree, curry."
"Ah! let us have some real curry. No, not any soup; we want solids. And as soon as you are ready, we are."
"Sartainly, gentlemans."
"And now," continued Duncan, "we would like to see our bedrooms."
"I have put your luggash all in one big, big room. Three beds it have, 'cause I know young officers like to talk much togedder."
"Very thoughtful of you indeed!"
"And dare is a bat'room just off it."
"How luxurious!" cried Frank. "Why, boys, we are back once more into civilization!"
They certainly enjoyed their bath, as well as a change of raiment.
"Now, if we had some coffee," said Frank "we-"
He had no time to complete the sentence, for just as he was talking, the landlord re-entered the room smiling.
He bore, on a level with his forehead, a tray with a pot of the most fragrant coffee, flanked by cups.
Besides this, there was a huge basin of goat's milk.
"For your beautiful dog, sir officer."
Duncan thanked him most heartily, and Viking seemed most grateful also.
"I sincerely love all de animiles in de world," said the Frenchman. "One gentleman stay here now. Hab been stay many mont's, with one leetle blackamoor servant. He possess one very curious bird. Ha, ha! 'Scuse me laugh. But ven I play on my little flute, den the bird and de boy dance. It is all so funny!"
The boys exchanged glances.
"Can it be possible?" said Duncan.
"I declare," cried Frank, "I feel fidgety all over."
"And I," said Conal, "am cramful of nerves."
"Landlord, can you introduce us to the bird and the boy?"
"Sartainly, gentlemans. Follow, if you will be so kind."
He led them down and down a flight of stone stairs that seemed to have no end.
Then the young fellows followed him into a large room.
"Gol-a-mussy, gemmans, has you risen again flom de grabe?"
It was little Johnnie Shingles, and none but he.
"Grunt, grunt! squeak, squawk, and squawl!" Up rushed Pen himself.
Yes, the very identical bird!
"Wowff!" cried Vike, entering fully into the excitement.
"Wowff, wowff, wonders will never cease."
Then out came Monsieur T.'s flute.
And Monsieur struck up a merry lilt.
Up went the great bird's flappers, stretched out were Johnnie's arms, and next moment they were whirling together round and round that stone-floored room, in surely as daft a dance as ever yet was seen.
It was just at this moment, and while all three boys were convulsed with laughter, that a third person put in an appearance, and now for a time everything else paled before the pleasure of once more meeting, and grasping the hand of brave Master-mariner Talbot himself.
—
What anyone said for the matter of a minute or two is not worth recording, consisting, as it did, chiefly of ejaculations, and little brief sentences of wonder and pleasure.
"Of course, you will dine with us, captain," said Duncan at last, "for we have much to tell you, and your story will all be perfectly new to us."
"Another plate, landlord."
"Sartainly, sah."
To say that this was a happy meeting would be to print a mere commonplace.
It was more than happy, but it was agreed that they should not tell each other the story of their adventures, till dinner had been discussed.
Their anxiety, I may tell you at once, reader, did not prevent our heroes doing ample justice to the delightful little meal that the Frenchman had set before them.
He waited upon them himself, too, and presently informed them that dessert was laid upstairs. Duncan opened his eyes wonderingly.
"What!" he cried, "do you serve dessert in the bedrooms?"
Talbot laughed.
"No," he said, "not in the bedroom, but on the upper deck. Follow me, and see for yourself."
