Subsequently to these events there came a petition from the chief of thetribe, a man called Kosa, whose name probably derived from the Zulu wordKoos, which means chief or captain, addressed to the Church authoritiesand asking that a new Teacher might be sent to take the place of him whohad died, also to rebuild the church and the school. If this were notdone, said the messengers, the tribe would relapse into heathenism,since the Zulu and anti-Christian party headed by an old witch-doctor,named Menzi, was strong and gaining ground.
This was an appeal that could not be neglected, since hitherto the Sisahad been a spot of light in a dark place, as most of the surroundingpeoples, who were of the old Zulu stock, remained heathen. If that lightwent out the chances were that they would continue to be so, whereas ifit went on burning another result might be hoped, since from a spark agreat fire may come. Therefore earnest search was made for a suitableperson to deal with so difficult and delicate a situation, with theresult that the lot fell upon the Rev. Thomas Bull.
Once his name was mentioned, it was acclaimed by all. He was the veryman, they said, bold, determined, filled with a Jesuit's fiery zeal(although it need scarcely be explained that he hated Jesuits as a catdoes mustard), one whom no witch-doctors would daunt, one, moreover,who being blessed with this world's goods would ask no pay, but on thecontrary would perhaps contribute a handsome sum towards the re-buildingof the church. This, it may be explained, as the Mission itself scarcelypossessed a spare penny with which to bless itself, was a point thatcould not be overlooked.
So Thomas was sent for and offered the post, after its difficulties anddrawbacks had been fairly but diplomatically explained to him. He didnot hesitate a minute, or at any rate five minutes; he took it at once,feeling that his call had come; also that it was the very thing forwhich he had been seeking. Up in that secluded spot in PortugueseTerritory he would, he reflected, be entirely on his own, a sort oflittle bishop with no one to interfere with him, and able to have hisown way about everything, which in more civilised regions he found hecould not do. Here a set of older gentlemen, who were always appealingto their experience of natives, continually put a spoke into his wheel,bringing his boldest plans to naught. There it would be different.He would fashion his own wheel and grind the witch-doctor with hisfollowing to dust beneath its iron rim. He said that he would go atonce, and what is more, he promised a donation of 1,000 pounds towardsthe rebuilding of the church and other burnt-out edifices.
"That is very generous of Bull," remarked the Dean when he had left theroom.
"Yes," said another dignitary, "only I think that the undertakingmust be looked upon as conditional. I understand, well, that the moneybelongs to Mrs. Bull."
"Probably she will endorse the bond as she is a liberal little woman,"said the Dean, "and in any case our brother Bull, if I may be pardoneda vulgarism, will knock the stuffing out of that pestilent Menzi and hiscrowd."
"Do you think so?" asked the other. "I am not so certain. I have met oldMenzi, and he is a tough nut to crack. He may 'knock the stuffing' outof him. Bull, sound as he is, and splendid as he is in many ways, doesnot, it seems to me, quite understand natives, or that it is easier tolead them than to drive them."
"Perhaps not," said the Dean, "but in the case of these Sisas it israther a matter of Hobson's choice, isn't it?"
So this affair was settled, and in due course Thomas received his letterof appointment as priest-in-charge of the Sisa station.
On his arrival home a few days later, where he was not expected till thefollowing week, Thomas was so pre-occupied that he scarcely seemed tonotice his wife's affectionate greeting; even the fact that both sheand Tabitha were arrayed in smart and unmissionary-like garments escapedhim. Dorcas also looked pre-occupied, the truth being that she hadasked a few young people, officers and maidens of the place (alas! asit chanced, among them were no clergy or their wives and daughters), toplay tennis that afternoon and some of them to stop to supper. Now shewas wondering how her austere spouse would take the news. He mightbe cross and lecture her; when he was both cross and lectured thecombination was not agreeable.
A few formal enquiries as to health and a certain sick person were madeand answered. Dorcas assured him that they were both quite well, Tabithaespecially, and that she had visited the afflicted woman as directed.
"And how was she, dear?" he asked.
"I don't know, dear," she answered. "You see, when I got to the houseI met Mrs. Tomley, the Rector's wife, at the door, and she said, ratherpointedly I thought, that she and her husband were looking after thecase, and though grateful for the kind assistance you had rendered, feltthat they need not trouble us any more, as the patient was a parishionerof theirs."
"Did they?" said Thomas with a frown. "Considering all things--well, letit be."
Dorcas was quite content to do so, for she was aware that her husband'sgood-heartedness was apt to be interpreted as poaching by some whoshould have known better, and that in fact the ground was dangerous.
"I have something to tell you," she began nervously, "about anarrangement I have made for this afternoon."
Mr. Bull, who was drinking a tumbler of water--he was a teetotallerand non-smoker, and one of his grievances was that his wife found itdesirable to take a little wine for the Pauline reason--set it down andsaid:
"Never mind your afternoon arrangements, my dear; they are generallyof a sort that can be altered, for _I_ have something to tell _you_,something very important. My call has come."
"Your call, dear. What call? I did not know that you expectedanyone--and, by the way----"
She got no further, for her husband interrupted.
"Do not be ridiculous, Dorcas. I said call--not caller, and I use theword in its higher sense."
"Oh! I understand, forgive me for being so stupid. Have they made you abishop?"
"A bishop----"
"I mean a dean, or an archdeacon, or something!" she went on confusedly.
"No, Dorcas, they have not. I could scarcely expect promotion as yet,though it is true that I thought--but never mind, others no doubt havebetter claims and longer service. I have, however, been honoured with amost responsible duty."
"Indeed, dear. What duty?"
"I have been nominated priest-in-charge of the Sisa Station."
"O-oh! and where is that? Is it anywhere near Durban, or perhapsMaritzburg?"
"I don't exactly know at present, though I understand that it isabout six days' trek from Eshowe in Zululand, but over the border inPortuguese territory. Indeed, I am not sure that one can trek all theway, at least when the rivers are in flood. Then it is necessary tocross one of them in a basket slung upon a rope, or if the river is nottoo full, in a punt. At this season the basket is most used."
"Great Heavens, Thomas! do you propose to put me and Tabbie in a basket,like St. Paul, and did you remember that we have just taken on thishouse for another year?"
"Of course I do. The families of missionaries must expect to facehardships, from which it is true circumstances have relieved you up tothe present. It is therefore only right that they should begin now, whenTabitha has become as strong as any child of her age that I know. As forthe house, I had forgotten all about it. It must be relet, or failingthat we must bear the loss, which fortunately we can well afford."
Dorcas looked at him and said nothing because words failed her, so hewent on hurriedly.
"By the way, love, I have taken a slight liberty with your name. Itappears that the church at Sisa, which I understand was quite a nice onebuilt with subscriptions obtained in England by one of my predecessorswho chanced to have influence or connections at home, has been recentlyburnt down together with the mission-house. Now the house can wait,since, of course, we can make shift for a year or two in some nativehuts, but obviously we must have a church, and as the Society isoverdrawn it cannot help in the matter. Under these circumstances Iventured to promise a gift of 1,000 pounds, which it is estimated willcover the re-erection of both church and house."
&nb
sp; He paused awaiting a reply, but as Dorcas still said nothing, continued.
"You will remember that you told me quite recently that you found youhad 1,500 pounds to your credit, therefore I felt quite sure thatyou would not grudge 1,000 pounds of it to enable me to fulfil thisduty--this semi-divine duty."
"Oh!" said Dorcas. "As a matter of fact I intended to spend that 1,000pounds, or much of it, otherwise. There are some people here whom Iwanted to help, but fortunately I had not mentioned this to them, sothey will have to do without the money and their holiday; also thechildren cannot be sent to school. And, by the way, how is Tabbie to beeducated in this far-away place?"
"I am sorry, dear, but after all private luxuries, including that ofbenevolence, must give way to sacred needs, so I will write to the Deanthat the money will be forthcoming when it is needed. As for Tabitha'seducation, of course we will undertake it between us, at any rate forthe next few years."
"Yes, Thomas, since you have passed your word, or rather my word, themoney will be forthcoming. But meanwhile, if you can spare me the odd500 pounds, I suggest that I should stay here with Tabbie, who couldcontinue to attend the college as a day-scholar, while you get us someplace ready to live in among these savages, the Sneezers, or whateverthey are called."
"My dear," answered Thomas, "consider what you ask. You are in perfecthealth and so is our child. Would it not, then, be a downright scandalthat you should stop here in luxury while your husband went out toconfront grave difficulties among the Sisas--not the Sneezers--for I maytell you at once that the difficulties are very grave? There is a notedwitch-doctor amongst this people named Menzi, who, I understand, issuspected of having burned down the mission-house, and probably thechurch also, because he said that it was ridiculous that an unmarriedman like the late priest should have so large a dwelling to live alone.This, of course, was but a cunning excuse for his savage malevolence,but if another apparent celibate arrives, he might repeat the argumentand its application. Also often these barbarians consider that a man whois not married _must_ be insane! Therefore it is absolutely necessarythat you and the child should be present with me from the first."
"Oh! is it?" said Dorcas, turning very pink. "Well, I am sorry to saythat just now it is absolutely necessary that I should be absent fromyou, since I have a tennis party this afternoon--the officers of thegarrison are coming and about half a dozen girls--and I must go toarrange about the tea."
"A tennis party! A tennis party to those godless officers and probablyequally godless girls," exclaimed her husband. "I am ashamed of you,Dorcas, you should be occupied with higher things."
Then at last the worm turned.
"Do you know, Thomas," she answered, springing up, "that I am inclinedto be ashamed of you too, who I think should be occupied in keeping yourtemper. You have accepted some strange mission without consulting me,you have promised 1,000 pounds of my money without consulting me, andnow you scold me because I have a few young people to play tennis andstop to supper. It is unchristian, it is uncharitable, it is--too bad!"and sitting down again she burst into tears.
The Rev. Thomas who by now was in a really regal rage, not knowing whatto say or do, glared about him. By ill-luck his eye fell upon a box ofcigarettes that stood upon the mantelpiece.
"What are those things doing here?" he asked. "I do not smoke, so theycannot be for me. Is our money--I beg pardon--your money which isso much needed in other directions to be wasted in providing suchunnecessaries--for officers and--idle girls? Oh--bless it all," andseizing the offending cigarettes he hurled them through the open window,a scattered shower of white tubes which some Kaffirs outside instantlyproceeded to collect.
Then he rushed from the house, and Dorcas went to get ready for herparty. But first she sent a servant to buy another box of cigarettes. Itwas her first act of rebellion against the iron rule of the Rev. ThomasBull.
III
In the end, as may be guessed, Dorcas, who was a good and faithfullittle soul, accompanied her husband to the Sisa country. Tabitha wentalso, rejoicing, having learned that in this happy land there was noschool. Dorcas found the journey awful, but really, had she but knownit, it was most fortunate, indeed ideal. Her husband, who was a littleanxious on the point, had made the best arrangements that were possibleon such an expedition.
The wagon in which they trekked was good and comfortable, and althoughit was still the rainy season, fortune favoured them in the matterof weather, so that when they came to the formidable river, they wereactually able to trek across it with the help of some oxen borrowedfrom a missionary in that neighbourhood, without having recourse to thedreaded rope-slung basket, or even to the punt.
Beyond the river they were met by some Christian Kaffirs of the Sisatribe, who were sent by the Chief Kosa to guide them through the hundredmiles or so of difficult country which still lay between them and theirgoal. These men were pleasant-spoken but rather depressed folk, clad inmuch-worn European clothes that somehow became them very ill. They gavea melancholy account of the spiritual condition of the Sisas, who sincethe death of their last pastor, they said, were relapsing rapidly intoheathenism under the pernicious influence of Menzi, the witch-doctor.Therefore Kosa sent his greetings and prayed the new Teacher to hurry totheir aid and put a stop to this state of things.
"Fear nothing," said Thomas in a loud voice, speaking in Zulu, which bynow he knew very well. "I _will_ put a stop to it."
Then they asked him his name. He replied that it was Thomas Bull, whichafter the native fashion, having found out what bull meant in English,they translated into a long appellation which, strictly rendered, meant_Roaring-Leader-of-the-holy-Herd_. When he found this out, Thomas flatlydeclined any such unchristian title, with the result that, anxious tooblige, they christened him "Tombool," and as "Tombool" thenceforwardhe was known. (Dorcas objected to this name, but Tabitha remarked sagelythat at any rate it was better than "Tomfool.")
This was to his face, but behind his back they called him _Inkunzi_,which means bull, and in order to keep up the idea, designated poorDorcas _Isidanda_, that being interpreted signified a gentle-naturedcow. To Tabitha they gave a prettier name, calling her _Imba_ or LittleFlower.
At first Dorcas was quite pleased with her title, which sounded nice,but when she came to learn what it meant it was otherwise.
"How can you expect me, Thomas, to live among a people who call me 'amild cow'?" she asked indignantly.
"Never mind, my dear," he answered. "In their symbolical way theyare only signifying that you will feed them with the milk of humankindness," a reply which did not soothe her at all. In fact, of thethree the child alone was pleased, because she said that "OpeningFlower" was a prettier name than Tabbie, which reminded her of cats.
Thenceforward, following a track, for it could not be called a road,they advanced slowly, first over a mountain pass on the farther side ofwhich the wagon nearly upset, and then across a great bush-clad plainwhere there was much game and the lions roared round them at night,necessitating great fires to frighten them away. These lions terrifiedDorcas, a town-bred woman who had never seen one of them except in theZoo, so much that she could scarcely sleep, but oddly enough Tabitha wasnot disturbed by them.
"God will not let us be eaten by a lion, will He, Father?" she asked inher simple faith.
"Certainly not," he answered, "and if the brute tries to do so I shallshoot it."
"I'd rather trust to God, Father, because you know you can never hitanything," replied Tabitha.
Fortunately, however, it never became necessary for Thomas to show hisskill as a marksman, for when they got through the bushveld there wereno more lions.
On the fourth day after they left the river they found themselves upongentle sloping veld that by degrees led them upwards to high land whereit was cold and healthy and there were no mosquitoes. For two days theytrekked over these high lands, which seemed to be quite uninhabited saveby herds of feeding buck, till at length they attained their crest, andbelow them saw a beautiful
mimosa-clad plain which the guides told themwas the Sisa Country.
"The Promised Land at last! It makes me feel like another Moses," saidThomas, waving his arm.
"Oh, isn't it lovely!" exclaimed Tabitha.
"Yes, dear," answered her mother, "but--but I don't see any town."
This indeed was the case because there was none, the Sisa kraal, for itcould not be dignified by any other name, being round a projectingridge and out of sight. For the rest the prospect was very fair, beingpark-like in character, with dotted clumps of trees among which ran,or rather wound, a silver stream that seemed to issue from between tworocky koppies in the distance.
These koppies, the guides told them, were the gates of Sisa Town. Theyneglected to add that it lay in a hot and unhealthy hill-ringed hollowbeyond them, the site having originally been chosen because it wasdifficult to attack, being only approachable through certain passes.Therefore it was a very suitable place in which to kraal the cattleof the Zulu kings in times of danger. That day they travelled down thedeclivity into the plain, where they camped. By the following afternoonthey came to the koppies through which the river ran, and asked itsname. The answer was _Ukufa_.
"_Ukufa?_" said Thomas. "Why, that means Death."
"Yes," was the reply, "because in the old days this river was the Riverof Death where evil-doers were sent to be slain."
"How horrible!" said Dorcas, for unfortunately she had overheard andunderstood this conversation.