CHAPTER TWENTY.
DRUMSTICKS AND LIONS.
Chicory came back the next day, for his brother's assegais, having losthis own, as he said, sticking in an ostrich's back.
"Bring him back soon," he said, as he sat down and ate tremendously forabout an hour, after which he lay down and went to sleep by his woundedbrother, and did not awake till his father came back with a little bokslung over his shoulder, and stirred him with his foot.
Chicory sprang up as if pricked, and in reply to his father's angrywords in the Zulu tongue, the boy made a reply which calmed theGeneral's wrath directly, and then went away.
When breakfast was ready the next morning, and Dinny brought a number ofskewers of wood laden with hot sputtering venison cutlets, to placebefore each hungry meal-seeker, Chicory was not visible; and on beingasked, Coffee said his brother had gone as soon as the lions had leftoff roaring; but he came back before evening in a wonderful state ofexcitement, begging Dick and Jack to mount their horses and come tofetch in the ostrich he had speared.
"Where is it?" cried Dick.
The Zulu boy pointed towards the east, and just then Mr Rogers came up.
"He has speared an ostrich, father," cried Dick eagerly.
"Indeed! How did you manage it, Chicory?" said Mr Rogers.
"So!" said the boy, throwing himself into a peculiar attitude, andholding up one arm with the hand bent down, so that side-wise his figuretook something of the aspect of the long-necked bird.
"Then the ostrich must have been stupid," cried Jack, laughing.
"Yes, 'tupid bird," said Chicory, grinning. "Never be 'tupid any more.Come fetch him."
The horses were soon ready, and they were about to start when Dinnyexpressed a desire to go.
"Shure, I haven't sthretched me legs these three days, Masther Dick,dear, and I wouldn't mind exercising one of the big horses if theMasther loiked."
But "the masther" didn't "loike," not feeling disposed to trust avaluable animal to Dinny's tender mercies; so that gentleman turned uponhis heel, and went back to the waggon-fire in disgust, and sat over itto "warrum" himself, though every one else was complaining of the heat.
It was a long ride, but Chicory did not seemed tired. He laid hold ofthe mane of Dick's or Jack's horse, and ran easily along by the side.And had there been any doubt of the spot in which the game lay, thevultures going straight in one direction would have pointed it out.
The sun was getting very low as they neared the place to which Chicorypointed; and when they came up a perfect crowd of vultures rose, havingbeen seated at a respectful distance, watching the bower of sticks withwhich Chicory had surrounded his prize.
It proved to be a full-grown ostrich, but it was in wretched plumage,and a little examination showed that there was a reason for Chicory'ssuccess, the bird having been shot at and a good deal injured.
It was such a miserable object that it would have been left behind hadnot the little party known that the General wanted it for a particularpurpose; so it was strapped on to the back of Mr Rogers's saddle, tothe great discomfort of the big bay, which immediately began to kickfuriously.
This kicking process caused the ostrich's long legs and neck to flyabout and belabour the horse's sides, driving it almost frantic, and hadhe not been securely held he would have gone off at full gallop over theplain, probably to go on till he dropped or was pulled down by thelions.
"Look at the old drum," cried Dick eagerly; "and how the drumsticks aregiving it to his sides," a remark which ensured for the old bay horsethe nickname of the "Drum" to the end of the journey.
Fortunately for the party the moon in its first quarter was welladvanced, and as the sunlight faded in the west they had the advantageof the soft silvery rays to guide them on their way. But all the same,the journey back was toilsome and dangerous; for no sooner did theyattempt to go fast--Chicory being mounted in turn behind one or other ofthe boys, than, as Dick said, the sticks began to beat the drum, and thedrum began to go mad, and snort and kick most violently.
"Ah, father," cried Jack, "what a shame it was you did not lend Dinny ahorse; it would have been such fun to have seen him with the ostrichtied on behind."
"Shure, he'd have been kilt intoirely," said Dick, mimicking Dinny'saccent.
"I should not envy him his ride if it would have been anything likemine," said Mr Rogers drily. "Hark, boys! there's a lion."
"Oomph! oomph!" came the low deep roar, like muttering thunder at homeon a summer's night; and over and over again they noticed thepeculiarity of the deep-toned growl. For it was as if someventriloquist were imitating the cry in different parts of thewilderness. Now it sounded close by, and the horses shivered and pawedthe ground impatiently; then it seemed a little farther off; and againit was close by.
They would gladly have galloped on if it had not been for thedrumsticks, as Dick called the ostrich's neck and legs, thesenecessitating a very gentle progress; and all the time the deep roar ofthe lion grew nearer.
"Want the horses," said Chicory. "Two--three--four lion."
He pointed his hand in different directions; and now it was quiteevident that that was no animal ventriloquism, but several lionsattracted by the horses were cautiously approaching so as to make asuccessful spring.
At last their unpleasant neighbours grew so demonstrative, that MrRogers gave the word, and they drew rein at the edge of a patch of wood,where there was an abundance of dry brush and grass.
"We must not go any further, boys," exclaimed Mr Rogers. "Dick, sitfast, and hold the reins of Jack's and my horses. We'll jump down andmake a fire. Come, Chicory, dead dry grass."
The boy no sooner understood what was wanted than he began rapidly togather up the dry grass into a heap, while Jack and his father drewtheir heavy hunting-knives and chopped off the brushwood; but it wasnervous work, for the low, muttering roar came ominously close, and atany moment Dick felt that one of the great cat-like creatures, whichhave a terrible hunger after horseflesh, might spring upon one of thepoor creatures, which trembled and whinnied, and tugged at the reins.
"I shan't do much good, father," cried Dick, "but I'm going to shootwhere I think the lions are."
"Yes, fire," cried his father, who was down upon his knees, vainlytrying to get the dry grass to burn; "fire as quickly as you can load."
_Bang_, _bang_, went Dick's double gun on the instant; and apparentlycomforted by the noise, and perhaps an instinctive knowledge that thefiring was for their protection, the horses ceased to embarrass theircaretaker by tugging to get away, and crowded together, pressing oneupon the other in their dread.
There was a pause of about a minute's duration, and then the lions' crywas heard again a little more distant, but coming nearer and nearer; andstill the fire would not burn, but kept on emitting a dense blindingsmoke, which hid one great beast from Dick's eyes, where he haddistinctly seen the animal creeping along towards them. Directly after,though, he saw another quite plainly in the bright moonlight, creepingcautiously onwards, and stooping from time to time as if about tospring.
Dick had reloaded by this time, and taking careful aim he fired again,when there was a furious roar, and they all heard quite plainly the snapand gnashing of the monster's teeth.
"You've hit him, Dick. Keep it up, my boy. Chicory, here! Come andblow. I can't get this fire to burn."
Chicory threw himself upon his hands and knees, and as Dick, withagitated fingers, hastily reloaded, and tried to see the next lion so asto have a shot at it, there came a deep-mouthed roar from behind. Thenanother and another, and the horses grew frantic, for the beasts wereevidently going to make their attack.
Dick raised his piece to his shoulder and prepared to fire, longing thewhile for some relief, when, all at once, there was a bright flash, andthe fire that had refused for so long to burn, burst into a brilliantflame, showing three lions quite plainly, creeping along at a shortdistance; and as soon as they were a little farther off, they begangrowling again.
Jack and Chicory had, however, gathered together a goodly portion ofcombustible wood, and there was plenty more at hand, so that a roaringfire was soon casting its light away from the wood, which somewhatsheltered them behind; and as soon as some of the good-sized pieces ofbush were well ablaze, Chicory began to send them flying in thedirections where a low ominous growl or two told that the lions werewaiting their time.
Farther progress was impossible, and, with the knowledge before themthat they would have to pass the night where they were, a steadyonslaught was kept on at the trees and bushes, goodly pieces of whichwere hacked off and used to feed the fire.
Every now and then, in spite of the blaze, some hungry lion would make acharge, one which Dick, being pretty well experienced in such mattersnow, met by hurling a blazing stick at the beast, several of whichsticks he kept burning and ready to his hand.
For firing in the deceptive light at creatures whose colour assimilatedso with that of the ground, was not only doubtful but dangerous, fromits likelihood to wound and infuriate the savage beasts. When it wastried before the fire blazed up, it was as a last resource, and in thehope that the flash might help to intimidate, which, as it happened, inthis case it did.
There was very little rest, for, being unprovided with an axe, it washard work to hack off the boughs with the hunting-knives, but as thenight wore on and their enemies made no determined attacks, but, as itwere, kept on skirmishing, one of the party did have a bit of a nap fromtime to time, though the horses neither ate nor slept, but stoodshivering together, most probably longing, like their masters, for themorning light.
It was only natural that Mr Rogers should feel sincere regret that hehad left the camp so late in the day, but he told himself that it was alesson, hard as it was to learn; and the boys pretty well took it toheart as they sat there listening to the fierce muttering growls thatcame from all around. Nearer and nearer when the fire was allowed toburn a little lower, more distant when the blaze sprang up, and a fewburning pieces were sent whizzing through the air like fireworks, Dickbeing particularly clever at making the burning brands spin roundCatherine-wheel fashion, blazing furiously as they flew.
That weary night seemed as if it would never end, and to the dismay ofall, it became very plain that the lions were madly excited at thepresence of the horses, and that their hunger was beginning to make themthink less of the fire and the burning brands.
So close were two or three of the rushes that it was all Mr Rogers andhis sons could do to keep the horses from dashing away, one lion inparticular coming so well into sight that Jack could not resist thetemptation to fire; and so well placed was the bullet that the lion fellparalysed, and lay struggling impotently, till a second well-aimedbullet put an end to its pain.
This was one enemy the less, but matters looked more ominous than ever,for the supply of wood within reach was exhausted, and the last armfulhad produced more smoke than blaze.
There seemed to be nothing else for it then but to mount and ride fortheir lives, irrespective of the darkness, and trust to their goodfortune to bring them safe away.
"When I give the word `Mount!' leap on your horses, and dash off," saidMr Rogers at last, for the mutterings of the lions were growing nearerand nearer.
"And how about you, father?" asked Dick.
"I shall be close behind you, my boy."
"And Chicory?" said Jack.
"I shall cut the ostrich loose, and Chicory will jump up behind me, andhold on as best he can."
"Let him come behind me, father," said Dick.
"No, behind me," cried Jack.
"Silence!" exclaimed Mr Rogers. "There is no time for argument. Beready. We'll all throw at the lions together as they come on, and thenmount and off before they recover from their confusion."
Each stood to his horse's head then, and held a piece of blazing woodready--when Mr Rogers uttered a thankful sigh.
"Morning at last, my boys!" he exclaimed, as a faint light began to makethe trees around visible; and by rapid degrees the fire began to pale,and the various objects grow more plain.
Then there were a few golden clouds high up above their heads; and thebig bay suddenly uttered a loud neigh, which was answered by a roarclose at hand. But Dick hurled his burning brand in that direction, andthere was a savage snarl, after which the weary party had peace, for thelions seemed to have departed. While the moment the sun's edge appearedabove the plain, all mounted, and keeping a sharp look out, went off atfull gallop towards the camp.
They reached it without molestation, the horses seeming almost to fly;and there they found that all had been very uneasy, and that they hadpassed the night keeping up a blazing fire, and firing guns atintervals, so as to guide them back.
"But it's a wonder ye found us at all at all, sor," said Dinny.
"Why?" asked Mr Rogers.
"Shure, sor, the lions have been rampaging around the waggon the wholenight through, and I had to kape them off by throwing burning sthicksand shouting at 'em, for Pater and Dirk were about as much good as acouple of babbies, and the big Sooloo went to slape and snored."
"That's just what I'm going to do, Dinny," said Jack, yawning.
And to show that he meant it, no sooner had he tied up and seen to hishorse, than he threw himself down, his example being followed by theothers, so that it was getting close upon noon before breakfast wasattacked.