CHAPTER XXX.. The Last Hunt--Three Proposals--"still Waters Run

THE LAST HUNT--THREE PROPOSALS--"STILL WATERS RUN DEEP"--THE END.

As we neared the river their doses of brandy and opium were considerably reduced, so that by the time we had crossed the Luranga they were fairly sobered up. They had been supplied with all they wanted to eat, which was not a great deal; but as they got the opium out of their systems their appetites returned, and before their departure they had an abundant meal of stewed meat and steaks, cooked over the fire. We loaded them with presents--that is, we gave each of them a cotton shirt, three yards of cloth, and two strings of beads--so that they went back to the north side of the river feeling very proud, happy, and rich, though possibly they may have had some misgivings as to the reception which awaited them on their arrival at the king's kraal. The king had a pleasant habit of beheading or strangling those of his people who displeased him, and it was on this account that I impressed the envoys with the idea that the whole affair was due to the white man's magic, and the innocent soldiers were not in the least to blame.

Shortly after the soldiers joined their comrades on the north bank the whole party marched away into the country back of the river and disappeared among the hills. We were fearful that they might attempt a raid upon us during the night, and so, about sunset, we inspanned again and traveled by moonlight until a late hour, a new axle having been made to replace the broken one. We felt sure that the fellows would not proceed far into the region where they did not belong, lest they might encounter some of the soldiers of the king who owned the land, and in that event there would be sure to be a fight.

We trekked on again the next night, and then went into kraal about half a mile from a water-hole, which was the drinking-place of a large number of elephants, buffaloes, elands, and other animals, not to omit lions and leopards. We found a small spring of water close to where we outspanned, sufficient for the use of our party, including the oxen and horses, but not large enough to be a favorite spot with the wild animals when a much greater one was close at hand.

Here we determined to abide for a while, to give our teams a chance to rest after their forced march, and also to do some hunting that would finish the burdens of our wagons. In these up-country excursions the hunter loads his wagons with provisions and trade goods, and as the provisions and goods are used up he fills the space with hides, ivory, karosses, and other things that are marketable in the seaports of the Cape. When his cargo is completed he is ready to return home. By means of the contents of his wagons he pays the expenses of his expedition, and sometimes realizes a handsome profit.

We had some fine hunting in that region, including night-shooting at the drinking-place already mentioned. Our sport was hardly equal to that which Cumming describes in his book, but we had splendid success, take it for all in all, and were well satisfied with it. The asperities of night-shooting were softened on several occasions by the presence of Mrs. Roberts and Miss Boland, who wished to enjoy the sport, and achieved their full share of success in so doing.

We had our wagons pretty nearly filled up, and only a few more hides and tusks were needed to complete the lading. As for the ladies' wagon, it was little more than half filled, and their collection of ivory was considerably smaller than ours. We said nothing about this to our friends, as we all were reluctant to dwell intently on the subject of separation.

One day I was out with Miss Boland in search of elands, giraffes, or any other medium-sized game that came in our way. We were not equipped for elephants or buffaloes, and, as usually happens in such cases, we saw both kinds of animals in goodly numbers. When we saw the elephants Miss Boland said:

"I suppose you'll be riding back to camp now to get your elephant-gun and ammunition?"

"No," I answered, "my enthusiasm for elephants is less than it was."

"Well," she responded, "so is mine. I'm thinking I have had all the elephant and buffalo shooting I care for, and Mrs. Roberts shares my opinion."

"Do you intend to remain much longer in this region?" I asked.

"I think not," was the answer; "I was talking the matter over with Mrs. Roberts last evening, and we are pretty well agreed that when you gentlemen leave us we will start for Walvisch Bay."

I explained that the time of separation was approaching; that our wagons were nearly filled with the articles that a hunter usually brings back from the chase, and in a day or two we would probably inspan and start for Durban.

"Our roads diverge from this point," said Miss Boland, with a sigh.

"Yes, that is true," I replied; "Durban and Walvisch Bay are on opposite sides of South Africa. But the roads may come together again."

"I don't think I understand you quite, Mr. Manson," replied Miss Boland, with a blush rising on her cheek, browned though it was by the sun of Africa.

"I will make my meaning clear in a few words: we have become pretty well acquainted during our sojourn, and I have no hesitation in asking you, Miss Boland, to become my wife. Will you do so?"

If we had been on foot the reader would be justified in surmising that we fell into each other's arms after the usual manner of lovers when one of the most important questions of life is asked; but as we were on horseback in the open plain the scene was varied--our horses edged closely to each other, we clasped our right hands, leaned over in our saddles and exchanged a kiss, and after the kiss was exchanged Miss Boland uttered the single word "Yes."

For some minutes we rode on in silence, our hearts too full for utterance; by and by I spoke, and then the lady responded, and in a little while we were chatting away about as before. We paid very little attention to the game that day, and came back to camp absolutely empty-handed, although we knew there was a short supply of meat for feeding our multitude. The rest of the party rallied us somewhat on our ill success, which I attributed to the shyness of the game, it having been hunted so long, and I added that we would have to pull out of that place within a day or so at the latest.

I should explain that in our homeward ride after the proposal and acceptance it was arranged that Miss Boland would proceed with Mrs. Roberts to Walvisch Bay, and after settling their affairs there she would take the first steamer for Cape Town. I would go with Harry and Jack to Durban, and when all our matters in that place were adjusted I would take the first steamer on that side of the peninsula for Cape Town. There we would meet again, in a city where marriage licenses are easily obtained and clergymen are numerous and fond of earning fees.

My remark about the necessity of moving out from where we were encamped precipitated matters; Jack sought and obtained an opportunity to see Miss Boland alone. I think they took a stroll in the direction of the spring that supplied us with water, under the pretense that they wanted a draft, or at least Jack did, fresh from the ground. Before they returned from the spring Jack had asked Miss Boland to become his wife, to which she had replied that her heart was already pledged to another.

"Not to Harry, is it?" in a tone that evinced considerable anger and jealousy.

"Oh no, not at all," was the reply; "he has never spoken to me on the subject."

"Then it's some fellow back in merry England, I suppose?" Jack retorted. "I don't care who it is, as long as it isn't Harry. But as long as I live," he continued, "you will always have my best wishes, Miss Boland, and my warmest hopes for your happiness."

The young woman expressed herself in similar terms toward her would-be lover, and then changed the subject of conversation, which was broken up altogether when they reached the camp again.

Harry happened to be inside the tent cleaning his rifle during this episode at the spring, and consequently knew nothing about it. After supper, which we took all together under the improvised tent where we held our first luncheon, we chatted awhile about the necessity of breaking up and going in different directions, regretting unanimously the inevitableness of the movement. When we adjourned and escorted the ladies to their tent Harry managed to draw Miss Boland aside, unperceived by either Jack or myself. He went through pretty nearly the same formula as that of the walk to the spring, receiving the same answer that had been given to Jack. He was a good deal crestfallen to find that Miss Boland's heart and hand were already pledged, and fell into the same supposition that her fiancé was somebody in the old country. His satisfaction at this belief was similar to that of Jack, and it would have been cruel to undeceive him, as well as awkward.

It is not often that a young woman has three proposals inside of six hours from three different individuals, and all three good men and true.

We agreed to have another day's hunting and then inspan and trek away, each party in its own direction. Happily for us, a large herd of elands put in its appearance early in the day, and we went in pursuit of them. There were so many of us on horseback that we managed to surround the herd and drive it into a hollow, of whose existence we knew, where a precipitous wall on three sides of an area of a few acres caught the creatures as in a trap. We could have killed the entire herd without difficulty, but we were merciful, and only shot enough to give us a good supply of meat.

True to our agreement, we all inspanned on the following morning and trekked away, the ladies going to the southwest, we to the southeast. We breakfasted together, and the last bottle of champagne was used in drinking health and a safe journey, together with all sorts of good wishes to each and every one of the party. Tears were in all our eyes as we separated, but there were fewer in Harry's, than in those of any of the rest.

The ladies' wagon was ready sooner than were our own wagons, and they pulled out in advance of us. We fired a farewell volley as they departed, and they fired one in return.

"I wonder if we'll ever meet again?" said Harry, with a sigh, as he watched the retreating forms of the two ladies on horseback.

"Perhaps so," said Jack, in a tone of confidence; "the world is small, and the paths of humanity constantly cross each other."

"Yes," I answered, in consonance with Jack, "the world is very small, and the more I live the more I comprehend the correctness of the assertion. Of course life has many chances, but I confidently believe that we have not separated from our friends for all time."

We met with no mishap of consequence during our homeward journey, though we lost several of our oxen and my favorite horse, Brickdust, by the depredations of the lions. We were able to kill enough game to keep the company fairly supplied with provisions, but as we neared the settlements of the Boer farmers we found the game growing very scarce.

By the way, I must not fail to tell of an adventure which befell Harry during this journey. It was after we reached the settlements, and when game was scarce, that Harry pursued a quagga for quite a distance. Night overtook him, and he was not in sight of camp; he knew its general direction, and was riding for it, listening intently for the sound of the signal-guns that we always fired when one was out after dark. He was feeling rather gloomy at having lost his game, and was thinking of the possibilities of being obliged to camp out alone in the open air.

Suddenly his horse snorted, and indicated that there was something ahead. Harry urged him gently forward, and in the little light that remained he made out the forms of two quagga, that seemed to be standing entirely unalarmed in the presence of danger. To make sure work Harry dismounted, and by the quick use of his rifle he brought down both the animals. Then, clinging to his bridle, he went cautiously in the direction of his prizes to examine them. To his horror he discovered that they were horses; one of them was wearing a halter, and the other was fully harnessed. He had been shooting a Dutchman's wagon-team!

At the Tugela River we found such a flood that we were obliged to wait two days for it to subside. Then we went on, and one day, about noon, rolled into Durban with the air of conquering heroes. We sold our hides, ivory, and other things to good advantage, and recouped ourselves fully for our outlay. With our horses and oxen we were less fortunate; it is always the case, the world over, when you want to buy live-stock, nobody wants to sell, and when you want to sell nobody wants to buy, except at an enormous discount. You have the alternative of accepting half the value or of keeping the animals and seeing them perform that wonderful scientific feat of eating their heads off. We chose the former method and sold our stock at auction in the public square of Durban.

After everything had been cleaned up and our settlements made, I inquired for the first steamer that would leave for the Cape. Jack said he thought he would take a run down there, and he was glad that I intended going. Harry was not inclined to make the journey, and said he would stay awhile in Durban and then join another party going up-country. "I'll wait for you fellows," said he, "if you'll cut your Cape visit short, and come back in a reasonable time."

"I don't think I shall be back this way in a hurry," remarked Jack. "The fact is, boys--I don't mind telling it to you now--I'm engaged to Mrs. Roberts! We are to meet at the Cape and be married there."

"The deuce you say!" Harry remarked.

"Yes, actually so; I proposed to her the morning we broke camp, and she accepted!"

There was a pause, which I broke by saying, "Jack and I can be 'best men' for each other, as I'm engaged to Miss Boland, and am to meet her for marriage at the Cape!"

Harry and Jack both gave prolonged whistles as I finished my little story, and after his whistle Harry remarked, "I thought from what she said she was engaged to a fellow in England!"

"So did I," said Jack; "and this quiet, inoffensive, demure old Manson has cut us both out!"

"That he has!" said Harry. "'Still waters run deep!'"

THE END.