CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
UNPLEASANT NEIGHBOURS.
Some hours of the night had passed, but still the fire in the distancewas seen burning as brightly as ever. It showed that the Zulus wereawake, and probably banqueting on the meat of the heifer given to them.Whether they would go away or remain in the neighbourhood was doubtful.Although they had accepted the gift, Captain Broderick thought itprobable that they had some treacherous intentions, and would, at allevents, make an attempt to get hold of Mangaleesu and Kalinda: perhapseven now a party might be stealing across the river with that object inview, intending to make a sudden rush at the house, should they find thegarrison off their guard.
Captain Broderick therefore ordered his men to keep under arms, while hesent two of the Kaffirs, on whom he could rely, to watch along the bankof the river. He had little fear of their crossing above the falls, asthe current there ran with great rapidity, and they would have had tomake a wide circuit over difficult, almost impassable ground. Still, toescape the risk of being taken by surprise, he placed a sentry to watchon the northern side of the palisade, where a platform had been erectedfor the purpose. Meantime Percy, who had wished to keep guard with therest, was persuaded by his mother to go to bed.
"You will better be able to do your duty, should any work be required,when you have regained your strength," she observed. "Should the Zulusattack us, which I don't think probable, I will call you. You can thentake your part in the defence."
"And what are you and the girls going to do, mother?" he asked.
"We will load the muskets, and tend any who are wounded," she answered,in a firm voice. "Rose and Maud propose to keep a look-out round thepalisade, lest any of the enemy should steal up and attempt to take themin the rear; while Biddy will not fail to play her part in some way orother."
"I wish that Hendricks and Crawford, with that gallant little fellowLionel, had arrived," observed Percy. "I cannot help thinking that someaccident may have happened to them, or they would have been here beforenow. They and the servants would have added greatly to our strength.Indeed, I don't think the Zulus, if they were here, would venture toattack us. I have not, by the bye, told you much about Lionel, mother."
"No; but your friend Denis has, and he described to us the gallant wayin which you saved the boy from being drowned or destroyed by acrocodile," answered Mrs Broderick.
"I was too glad to be of service to Mr Hendricks, who had treated myfriend Crawford and me so kindly in letting us accompany him, besideswhich, I had a strong liking for the young fellow, whom I should havebeen very sorry to have lost. I first fancied that he was either theson or nephew of Mr Hendricks, but he afterwards told me that he wasneither the one nor the other, but that he had been rescued by Hendricksduring a trip he made some years before into Zululand."
Percy went on to give an account of Lionel's history. Mrs Brodericklistened with deep attention, and inquired the age and appearance of herson's friend, which Percy described.
"Did you ever hear, Percy, that your youngest brother, during thejourney we made in coming here, was lost? We always supposed that heperished with his nurse, who was killed and thrown into the river by thesavages. Her body was discovered some time afterwards, though ourchild's was never found."
"Do you know, mother, I cannot help thinking that Lionel must be thatyoung brother of mine," exclaimed Percy. "I am aware that I ought notto raise your hopes, but I felt drawn towards him from the first; and,as Denis will tell you, he very soon learned to speak English. Heremembered a lady he felt sure was his mother, and a tall gentleman hesupposed to be his father, although he had no recollection of how hecame into the hands of the Zulus. It is strange that he should havebeen found in the kraal of Mangaleesu, who is now here. He, however,can give very little information as to Lionel's history, as he wasbrought to the kraal by another tribe who were afterwards destroyed.Besides Lionel, Mangaleesu and his wife are the only inhabitants of thewhole kraal who escaped. Denis, however, knows the exact particularsbetter than I do, as he joined Hendricks the very next day, and has beenwith Lionel nearly ever since."
Mrs Broderick, on hearing this, could scarcely restrain her agitation.She naturally at once felt sure that her child's life had by somewonderful means been preserved. Her impulse was to hurry forthwith togain more particulars from Denis, and to talk over the subject with herhusband, but she felt that it would be wrong to draw off their attentionfrom their duties, engaged as they were in guarding the house. She thenthought of visiting Mangaleesu and Kalinda, who had been placed in asmall room at the back of the house. She knew enough of the language tospeak to them; but Percy assured her that they would not be able to giveher more information than he had done.
"I don't know that Denis can do so either," he added. "We must waituntil Hendricks and Lionel himself arrive, and we are sure to hear ofthem in a day or two, unless some accident has happened, and I don'tknow why we should expect that."
Poor Mrs Broderick's heart sank within her as she thought of thepossibility that such, notwithstanding Percy's hopes, might have beenthe case. She could not but believe that Lionel was her long-lost boy,and she longed with all her mother's heart for his arrival. She wouldknow him by his features, and by the tone of his voice, and sherecollected two small marks on the shoulders of her boy, which, if foundupon Lionel, would leave no doubt as to his identity, as that mustsatisfy others as well as herself.
Though she wished Percy to go to sleep, she could scarcely refrain fromcontinuing to talk with him on the subject. At last his incoherentanswers, and finally his total silence, showed her that he wasslumbering soundly. She went to her daughters' room to give them anaccount of what she had heard. They all three were unanimous inbelieving that the brave boy Denis had been speaking to them about wastheir brother. They had heard the history of little Walter's loss,although they never alluded to it, and they had often observed a shadeof melancholy pass over their mother's countenance, which they guessedwas owing to her thinking on the subject.
The night passed slowly away. Captain Broderick was unwilling to trustentirely to any one, except to himself and his son Rupert, or to hisyoung guest, who he at once saw possessed all the qualifications of agood soldier. Either one or the other went occasionally to the pointwhence the Zulus' camp could be seen. Their fire was burning asbrightly as ever, and for some time appeared to be increasing. Itdiminished however in size just before daybreak, when one of the scoutsreturned reporting that he had crossed the river, and not finding any ofthe enemy moving about as he had expected, had got so close to theircamp as to be able to calculate the number of persons assembled. He wascertain that a portion only of the force which had pursued Mangaleesuhad crossed the river, or otherwise that their numbers had since beengreatly augmented.
Hearing this, Captain Broderick strongly suspected that they would againpresent themselves and demand the delivery of those whom he felt inhonour bound not to give up. He counted the cost. He was aware thatthey might ravage his fields and carry off many of his cattle, but hehad resolved not to yield to their demands. His first care was to putthe farm in a more complete state of defence. He immediately sent offone of his men to obtain further help from any white settlers or Kaffirswho were able to come. With those remaining, he at once commencedputting up the palisades which have been mentioned, placed in readinessfor the purpose. The uprights were so formed that the horizontal beamsor planks could be fitted into them without the use of nails, while theywere supported from the inside by beams placed at an angle to serve asbuttresses. Near to the top of the wall was a platform which ran roundthe whole of the palisades, and served as a rampart from which to firedown on an enemy. Such a structure would have been easily destroyed byfire, but the deep trench which ran in front prevented that danger, andthe wooden wall was thus well calculated to resist any attack which theZulus were likely to make against it. Inside the fortifications, for sothey might be called, was a large barn, containing a good supply offodder for the cat
tle, while in the house provisions of variousdescriptions were stored. While some of the men were employed inputting up the defences, the Hottentots were sent off to drive in themore valuable of the cattle, so that they, at all events, might bepreserved, while the Zulus in revenge might make a raid on theunprotected part of the farm, and destroy or carry off what they couldlay their hands on. Considerable progress had been made beforedaybreak, but still much remained to be completed, and it was hoped thatuntil this was done, the Zulus would not cross the river.
Captain Broderick at first contemplated the possibility, with the forcehe hoped to have under his command, of preventing them from crossing byattacking them while they were in the water; but then again, they mightpossibly, expecting to be opposed, divide into two or more parties, andwhile he was engaged with one party, the others might get across. Hewas also unwilling to commence hostilities, and considered it wise tothrow the responsibility of so doing on the Zulus. He therefore withunabated energy continued the preparations for defence.
There was little doubt that if the Zulus meditated an attack, they wouldsend scouts to watch what was taking place in the farm. He wasthankful, therefore, when soon after daylight the Hottentots arrivedwith the choicest of his horses and oxen. In a short time also severalKaffirs came dropping in, two or three at a time; some with muskets, butothers armed only with their assegais and shields, though they weremostly accustomed to the use of firearms. They immediately joined thoselabouring at the fortifications. They were followed by three whitesettlers, two of whom were Dutch Boers, the other an Englishman; hardyborderers of a low class, who, having suffered from the Zulus in formeryears, held them in utter detestation.
Before the day was many hours old, the fortifications on the farm werecomplete. Captain Broderick had a great desire to avoid hostilities,and he hoped, should the Zulus come, that they, on seeing at once theyhad no chance of success, would retire.
He had set an example to his men by working harder than any of them; andat length, overcome with fatigue, he had retired to the house, desiringRupert to summon him immediately, should the scouts return, or anythingof importance occur. Denis insisted on keeping company with Rupert onthe platform, whence a good look-out could be obtained over thesurrounding country.
"I got so sound a sleep the first two nights after I came here, that Idid not feel at all inclined to go to bed," he said, as they walked toand fro. "Not that I think there is much chance of having a visit fromthose Zulus; for, from what I know of them, I suspect that as soon asthey find we are prepared to give them a warm reception, they will turntail and go the way they came."
"Probably they will, but I hope they will not fall in with your friendHendricks and his party, or they may revenge themselves by murdering androbbing them," observed Rupert.
"They will not dare to do that," answered Denis. "They depend so muchon the traders for supplying their wants, and enabling them to disposeof their produce, that they will not willingly quarrel with any of them;still I should be very thankful to see Hendricks arrive here in safety."
While they were speaking they were joined by Percy, who said he felthimself much better, and up to anything. He had not been with them morethan a minute, when he asked Rupert for his spyglass. Directing ittowards the opposite shore, he exclaimed--
"I thought I saw some horsemen, and I am right, I see four, but only oneis a white man, the other three are black. Two of them look very likethose we sent away from here, and the other is apparently a chief."
Rupert took the glass from his brother. "You are right!" he exclaimed."They are riding fast, and keeping clear of the Zulu camp, which theyprobably discovered from the height, and think it prudent to avoid. Wewill go down and meet them. Percy, do you remain here on guard. Youneed not rouse up our father, but if you see anything suspicious, senddown and let him know."
Saying this, Rupert, followed by Denis, hurried down. They made theirway over the drawbridge to the spot where the boat was concealed, andpulled across to the opposite bank, towards which the horsemen camegalloping at full speed.
"Why, there's our friend Crawford," cried Denis, "and there are Umgolo,old Vermack, and Matyana. They'll bring us news, I hope, of Hendricksand Lionel."
Crawford, immediately dismounting, began to take the saddle off hishorse. "Thank you, my friends, for coming to meet me," he said; "you'vesaved me from a wetting, and perhaps from the jaws of a crocodile.Excuse me for being somewhat in a hurry; but the fact is that the oldDutchman who escorted me here thinks that the Zulus out there would liketo get hold of our party, to retain us as hostages till you deliver up arunaway chief who has taken refuge here." He was unbuckling the girthsas he spoke, and now, with the saddle on his arm, was stepping into theboat when he recognised Denis. "What, my dear fellow, is it youyourself, safe and sound!" he exclaimed, as they warmly shook hands, "Iam delighted to see you. The messengers who came from this place toldus of your arrival; for until then we were in great anxiety about youand Percy. How did you get here?"
"I'll tell you all about it as we pull across," answered Denis; "but wehave no time to lose. See, there come a whole party of Zulus scamperingtowards us, and whether or not old Vermack was right in his conjectures,I don't suppose that they are coming with any friendly intentions."
As he spoke, he and Rupert shoved off, the Boer and the Kaffirs, who didnot dismount, driving his horse before them across the river.
While Rupert and Denis pulled, Crawford sat in the sternsheets, morethan once turning his head to ascertain how near the Zulus had got. Heand his companions on horseback had distanced them so much that he andDenis had time to exchange a few words.
"You gave us a tremendous fright, I can assure you, Denis," saidCrawford. "Hendricks sent in all directions to look for you; and whenthe body of poor Gozo was found, it was feared that you had met with thesame fate. He was so dreadfully cut up, that I thought he would haveabandoned his expedition and gone back to Maritzburg."
"I am sorry to have caused the fine old boy so much trouble," answeredDenis. "He may be certain that it was very much against our wish, and Iknow that I wouldn't again go through what we did for a good deal. But,faith, those black fellows are getting mighty near; and if they happento have a musket or two among them, they may shoot one of us. Pullaway, Rupert!"
"You are right, Paddy," said Rupert. "Though I doubt if they havefirearms, I don't wish to run the chance."
They accordingly both gave way with a will. Instead of returning to theplace where the boat was usually kept, Rupert directed her upstreamuntil they came to a point where the moat communicated with the river.Landing, they quickly towed her through the moat to the entrance, whereshe could lie protected from an enemy. Here they found CaptainBroderick, who had risen on hearing that the Zulus had been seen movingtowards the river. After welcoming Crawford, whom he was prepared toreceive, as Percy had mentioned the invitation he had given him, heeagerly asked what had become of Hendricks.
"He begged me to express his regret at not being able to pay you avisit; for he has been so long detained during the search for your sonand Maloney, and by various other misadventures, that he is anxious topush on northward without further delay," answered Crawford. "He has,however, sent his chief hunter to escort back our Irish friend, who isof course desirous of proceeding in search of his father."
"Had Hendricks known how anxious I am to see him and young Lionel, hewould have paid me his promised visit," exclaimed Captain Broderick. "Iwould at once set off with Maloney, but I dare not leave the farm withthese Zulus in the neighbourhood, even could I get away without beingobserved by them. I doubt, indeed, whether it will be safe for ourfriend here and his guide, to set off while they remain; for if seenleaving the farm, the Zulus will certainly endeavour to capture them,and hold them hostages until I deliver up the fugitives who have soughtmy protection; and that I am bound not to do."
Crawford expressed his delight at seeing Percy, who now came down fromthe platform.
"We will tell you all about our adventures by-and-by; and I shall beglad to hear yours," said Percy, as they cordially shook hands. "Comein. I want to introduce you to my mother and sisters. I have beentalking to them about you, so that they will not look upon you as astranger."
Crawford was soon made at home. Mrs Broderick liked his looks, and theyoung ladies thought him very agreeable.
In a short time, Rupert, who had taken Percy's place on the platform,came down with the information that the Zulus, who had attempted to cutoff the horsemen, had retired to their camp. It was uncertain whattheir intentions had been; but Captain Broderick believed that they werehostile.
Crawford said that Hendricks intended to travel by slow stages, so as toallow Denis and Umgolo quickly to overtake him. He was, indeed, unableto move fast, as he had lost several of his oxen, and had not hithertoreplaced them, though he hoped to do so shortly. The Zulus had shown aless friendly disposition than formerly, and this also made him anxiousto get out of their country as soon as possible.
The message from Hendricks to him much perplexed Denis. He wished toaccompany him in the search of his father; but he was unwilling todesert his new friends at a time when they were placed in danger, andrequired all the assistance to be obtained; besides which, he had becomeattached to Percy, and was greatly interested in the whole family.
The young ladies he thought charming, superior to any he had ever metbefore. His interest in the family was still further increased when theCaptain and Mrs Broderick begged him to give an account of the findingof Lionel. Next to Hendricks, he was better able to do this than anyother person; and on their telling him that they had lost a child, whomthey had hitherto thought had been destroyed with his nurse, and whowould now be about the same age that Lionel was supposed to be, heexclaimed, in his usual impulsive manner--
"Then I am ready to stake anything that Lionel is your son. He has thesame look and features as Miss Maud, more ruddy to be sure. Though Inever thought him much like Percy, he greatly resembles Rupert, and hehas often told me he remembers his mother, and the tall gentleman hesupposed to be his father, who there can be no doubt must be CaptainBroderick."
Captain and Mrs Broderick were as fully persuaded that Lionel was theirson, as Denis. How they longed to see him, and to thank Hendricks forthe care he had bestowed on the boy. Still there was the difficulty ofreaching him, and bringing him back in safety to the farm, should theZulus remain on the watch for Mangaleesu. Peace might be established atonce by delivering him up, but that was not to be thought of, neitherwould Captain Broderick express any wish that he and his wife would quitthe farm, and relieve him from the responsibility of protecting them.Percy offered to accompany Denis to bring back Lionel; but although hehad plenty of spirit, he was not strong enough to undertake the journey.Rupert also begged that he might go, but it was a question whetherHendricks, who was so greatly attached to Lionel, would deliver him upwithout further proof that Captain Broderick had a right to him.
By making a wide circuit to the west, the Zulus, although they continuedon the watch, might be avoided; but the mountain would have to be twicecrossed before Hendricks could be reached, and it would be difficult tofind him. Crawford then offered to go; but being much knocked up by hisjourney, he would be unable to start for a couple of days. On furtherconsideration, Captain Broderick came to the conclusion that the longerroute was not to be thought of, as there would be a great risk ofmissing Hendricks altogether.
The day was already too far spent for any one to set off until the nextmorning. Possibly by that time the Zulus, finding that the garrison hadbeen further increased, would consider that they had no chance ofsuccess, and would take their departure. If so, Captain Broderick wasdetermined to set off himself with Denis and the two men he had beforedespatched to look for Hendricks. A party of five, well-armed andmounted, might travel without difficulty, and would, he hoped, soonovertake the slow-moving waggon; while, although there would be onlyfour to return, Denis assured him that Lionel was worth any grown man.
Captain Broderick again sent out a couple of scouts to watch the enemy;and should they move, to ascertain in what direction they went. Theyreturned after dark, saying that the Zulus were still encamped, and thatthey had scouts out in all directions, evidently on the watch forMangaleesu, whom they probably supposed would try to make his escape.
This was a great disappointment. Though Captain Broderick knew that hemight easily evade them, they would certainly discover that he and hisparty had left the farm, and might be tempted, on finding that itsgarrison had been decreased, to attack it.