Hendricks the Hunter | Page 7

brave part," said the trader; "but I would advise you
to let your enemies go their own way. You have saved your young wife
and your own life. You will, I hope, be able to reach Natal in safety,
where you will be free from danger. If you attempt to kill your enemies,
you will very likely be killed yourself, and there will be no one to
protect your wife. You are also now weak from loss of blood, and
although your heart is courageous, your strength may fail you."
One of the servants had in the meantime been employed, by command
of his master, in making some broth over the fire, which he now
brought to the young chief, who notwithstanding his boasting was very
glad to obtain it, being much exhausted from the exertions he had
made.
The trader then took some to Kalinda, who lay trembling in the waggon,
expecting every moment the arrival of their pursuers to kill her and her
husband. The trader did his best to soothe her fears by promising that
he would not deliver them up to their enemies, even though it should be
discovered where they had taken refuge.
The remainder of the night passed quietly by. The glare from the
burning kraal could be seen in the distance for some time, but it
gradually died out, and all was dark in that direction. No sounds were
brought down by the night wind to show whether the Zulus were still
surrounding it; but Umgolo, knowing their habits, gave it as his opinion
that they had departed as silently as they had come, after executing
their fell purpose; and that if they had discovered the flight of the chief
and his wife, a party had gone in pursuit of them in the direction it was
supposed they had taken. One thing was certain, it could not have been
suspected that the fugitives had taken refuge in the camp, or some of
their enemies would have arrived before now to demand them.

The trader had previously determined to spend a day where he was now
encamped, in order to rest his cattle from their rough journey, and he
thought it prudent to adhere to his intention the better to deceive the
Zulus, who would be less likely to suspect that he was sheltering the
fugitives should he remain stationary, than were he to be found
hurrying away from the neighbourhood.
CHAPTER TWO.
THE FOUNDLING OF THE KRAAL.
The trader having selected three of his men to keep watch, lay down,
wrapped in a mantle of skin, under his waggon, having given up his
usual sleeping-place to his guests.
No one was seen however, nor were any sounds heard to indicate that
any persons were approaching the camp, and dawn at length broke.
Rising from his bed under the waggon, the trader walked a few paces
beyond the camp, to take a look over the country around, for the
purpose of ascertaining as far as his eye could help him, whether any of
the Zulus were still in the neighbourhood. The air was deliciously fresh
and balmy, the atmosphere was bright and clear, so that the outlines of
the distant hills were clearly defined against the sky. There were a few
soft, white, fleecy clouds of mist floating here and there, which the
breeze, as the sun rose, quickly dispersed; while below, winding
through the valley, could be seen the sheen of the river between the
clumps of the trees bordering its banks.
It was difficult to believe that a terrible tragedy had been enacted a few
short hours before in the midst of so lovely a scene. He proceeded on
along the hill to a place whence he could see the spot where the kraal
had existed. Looking through his telescope, he could clearly distinguish
a large black circle of ashes marking the spot where the habitations of
the slaughtered people had lately stood. He could see no human beings
moving about in the neighbourhood, though he turned his glass in every
direction. He feared the worst.

"Perhaps some of the poor people may have escaped death from the
assegais of their enemies, and may be lying hid in the bushes or
plantations around," he said to himself; "though I fear those savages do
their work too surely to give much hope of that."
He hastened back to the camp, and having taken a hurried breakfast,
and advised his guests to remain quiet in their places of concealment,
he set out, accompanied by Umgolo, towards the kraal.
The stream was easily forded. As the morning was fresh, he and his
companion walked briskly on. They were thus not long in reaching the
neighbourhood of the kraal. A dreadful sight met their eyes.
Everywhere the ground