the officersentered into friendly conversation with them.
"You are fortunate in having got along that road in safety," observedCaptain Forester to George. "It is not everybody who does. Only twodays ago some waggons bringing in supplies were attacked by a lot ofthese fellows in open day, and several of our men were wounded. Theygot the worst of it, however, and perhaps that has induced them to sheeroff. I believe one or two of them were killed--certainly hurt."
"Well, we were not in charge of any valuables," remarked George. "Therewas nothing to be got from us but our guns, and perhaps our horses."
"Just so; unless they thought you were carrying despatches. Cetewayowould pay them well for any information that might be brought him."
"Well, I suppose no white men would carry any information against theirown countrymen to him," remarked Margetts.
"Oh, wouldn't they!" exclaimed Captain Forester. "You have much toogood an opinion of our countrymen, Mr Margetts. I am afraid they wouldnot only give information, but supply them with Martini-Henrys andColt's revolvers, and Gatling guns too, if they could get hold of them,always provided they could make fifty per cent, by the bargain.However," continued the captain, "if they had meant to stop you at all,they would have done so on your way here. Most probably the losses theysustained the other day have given them such a lesson that they won'tmeddle with our men again."
In another hour the two Dutchmen returned, having had a satisfactoryinterview with Mr Uys, and received the reply which was to be carriedto Rorke's Drift. A consultation was then held, and it was agreed thatthey had better set out immediately, as it would be possible, by sharpriding, to reach the camp before dusk. It was thought better to followthe same road on their way back, as that by which they had come, itbeing plain that it was a route known to very few, if to any but Matamohimself. They set out accordingly, and arrived without adventure at thepoint in the road whence Matamo had turned off. Considering now thatall danger was over, they set off at a round trot by the way which ranalong the river-side; when suddenly, as they were passing a mass ofrock, the top and sides of which were hidden by foliage, a puff of whitesmoke issued from a bush, and a bullet was fired which would have struckVander Heyden in the chest, if it had not happened that Walter Baylen'shorse plunged forward at the moment, so that the ball intended for theDutchman entered Walter's shoulder. Hardy instantly fired his revolverat the spot whence the smoke had issued; and all the party, puttingspurs to their horses, galloped through the first opening that presenteditself into the broken ground which lay on the other side of the rock.Half a dozen rough-looking fellows, alarmed by their approach, were justspringing on their horses, and making off in all directions, as theycame up. One of the party, who had been wounded, doubtless, by Hardy'sshot, was leaning against a tree unable to move. By the sergeant'sdirection, Hardy and Matamo alighted from their horses, and proceeded tosecure him, at the same time tying up a wound in the thigh which he hadreceived. The two Baylens and Margetts lifted Walter from his horse,and proceeded to examine his hurt. The sergeant and Moritz went off inpursuit of one knot of fugitives; George and Vander Heyden afteranother. The latter were not above two hundred yards ahead, and therewas a long stretch of down country without shrub or stone to break theprospect. As their horses were evidently better than those of therobbers, they expected to overtake them. After a gallop of half anhour, they had approached within fire, and George, discharging hispistol, wounded one of the horses in the leg. Perceiving that he couldgo no farther, the man sprang from his saddle, and confronted hisantagonist. An expression of surprise broke from George, as herecognised the leader of the mutineers on board the _Zulu Queen_, JohnBostock. Vander Heyden also appeared surprised, though he made noremark.
"You here?" exclaimed Rivers. "I did not expect it, but I am glad youwill not escape the punishment you so richly deserve. I suppose youwill surrender yourself our prisoner, or we shall fire upon you atonce."
"You are two to one, Mr Rivers," said Bostock, "and you are both armed.But I call upon Mr Vander Heyden here, if he is not a coward, to meetme in fair fight. He knows that I am entitled to it. My birth is asgood as his own, I have served in the same army as himself, and I havetwice challenged him. He is fond of saying that the English would be nomatch for the Dutch, if it wasn't for the advantages that their positionin the colony gives them. Does he dare meet an Englishman now, withoutadvantage on either side? Mr Rivers, here, may stand by, and see thatthere is fair play."
"Mr Vander Heyden, surely you will not think of allowing this," saidGeorge, as he saw the Dutchman alight from his horse, and proceed tosecure him to a solitary thorn which grew on the down. "Let him saywhat he likes, he cannot be entitled to a meeting at your hands."
"It may be he is not, Mr Rivers," said Vander Heyden. "He is no doubtby birth a gentleman, and has held a commission in our army. I agreewith you that he has so lowered and degraded himself, that he cannotclaim his privilege, either as an officer or a gentleman. But let thatbe as it may, no soldier, and, above all, no Hollander, can refuse tomeet him face to face. You must act for both parties, Mr Rivers, andsee that everything is fair. No Englishman shall ever say I refused hischallenge."
"If you insist upon it, I suppose I must," said George, who, thoughgreatly vexed and disgusted, knew enough of Vander Heyden to be assuredhe would not give way on the point. "If this duel is to take place, ithad better be immediately. What weapons do you propose?"
"What he pleases," replied Vander Heyden shortly.
"Pardon me, Mr Vander Heyden," said George, "but if I am to have themanagement of this affair, I cannot allow that. You are the challenged,and, by a rule everywhere acknowledged, have the choice of weapons. Ichoose pistols for you, and twelve paces is the distance at which youare to fire. I presume no objection is raised to either point." Helooked at Bostock, who, though somewhat disappointed, as George fancied,at the proposed arrangement, answered sullenly, "Choose what weapons youlike."
"Very well," said Rivers. "Then here is my revolver and Mr VanderHeyden's; they are by the same maker, and as nearly equal as two pistolscan be. Take your choice of them, and stand, if you please, on thatspot. Now, Mr Vander Heyden, in what manner will you fire--alternatelyor at the same moment?"
"Alternately; that is the usual practice here," said Vander Heyden. "Wecan toss for who is to have the first fire."
A florin was accordingly flung up, and it was found the right ofshooting first fell to Vander Heyden.
The signal was given, he fired, and his bullet tore a button fromBostock's breast. The Englishman then discharged his revolver, and thebullet struck Vander Heyden's helmet, through which it cut a furrow,without wounding him, though he reeled under the blow.
"I presume that is enough," said George. "He cannot claim more at yourhands."
"Does he demand more?" asked Vander Heyden.
"I do," said Bostock. "I claim a second shot."
"Let him have it," said the Dutchman.
"If you must, you must," exclaimed Rivers. "But take notice that I willallow no more. If you persist after this, I shall ride off the ground."
Vander Heyden bowed stiffly, and, raising his revolver, delivered hissecond shot. It evidently struck his antagonist, who raised, and thendropped his arm, as if in pain. Hastening up, George discovered that hehad been hit in the right wrist. The wound did not appear to be adangerous one, but it was obviously impossible for Bostock to hold apistol.
"I cannot have my revenge to-day," he exclaimed sullenly, when thebleeding had been stopped, and the wound bound up. "But the day willcome when I shall return your fire."
"When you please, sir," answered the Dutchman haughtily. "After anaffair of this kind, you must be allowed to go free. If we meet again,it will be different. I shall not feel obliged to answer your challengea second time."
They parted, Bostock leading away his wounded horse, and the other two,remounting, rode back to their companions.
"Mr Rivers," said the Dutchman
when they had ridden, a short distance,"I thank you for your friendly offices. Will you add to them by beingentirely silent about this adventure?"
"Certainly," returned George; "it would not be desirable on manyaccounts to speak of it." No more was said until they rejoined theircompanions, who were somewhat impatiently awaiting their return.
"Did you kill either of those fellows?" asked the sergeant. "I fanciedI heard several shots fired."
"No, they got off," said George vaguely. "I hope Walter is not muchhurt."
"Only a flesh wound, George," said Walter