The Mission

The Mission

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mission, by Frederick Marryat This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: The Mission
Author: Frederick Marryat
Release Date: August 25, 2004 [EBook #13276]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MISSION ***

Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Dave Macfarlane and PG Distributed Proofreaders

THE MISSION OR SCENES IN AFRICA
WRITTEN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT AUTHOR OF "FRANK MILDMAY," "PERCIVAL KEENE," "PHANTOM SHIP," "DOG FIEND," "JACOB FAITHFUL," "POACHER," ETC., ETC.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS LONDON: BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL NEW YORK: 9 LAFAYETTE PLACE
[Illustration: THE ONWARD MARCH.--Front. P. 226.]
CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
Account of Sir Charles Wilmot--Loss of the Grosvenor--Sir Charles's doubts respecting the Survival of his Wife and Children--Alexander Wilmot--His Character--The Newspaper Paragraph--Details of the Wreck of the Grosvenor--Surmises as to the Fate of the Passengers

CHAPTER II.
Alexander's Reflections--His Plan--Sir Charles opposes it--His unwilling Consent--Alexander's Departure

CHAPTER III.
Alexander's Melancholy--Finds a Friend--Sea Sickness--Mr. Fairburn--The Passengers--Conversations--The Cape--Mr. Fairburn's Account of the Treatment of the Hottentots by the Dutch

CHAPTER IV.
Natural History discussed--Mr. Swinton's Enthusiasm--Further History of the Cape--Dutch Barbarity--Alexander's Indignation

CHAPTER V.
Aquatic Birds--Guano--Mr. Fairburn's Narrative continued--Stuurman--Mokanna--The Attack--Failure of the Caffres

CHAPTER VI.
Sharks--Their Cowardice--Attack on one by Neptune--Divers' Dangers--Mr. Fairburn continues his Story--Mokanna's Fate--Disturbances among the Caffre Tribes

CHAPTER VII.
Mr. Swinton agrees to accompany Alexander--Land, ho!--Cape Town--Major Henderson--He joins the Party--Begum--Chaka's History

CHAPTER VIII.
Night in Algoa Bay--The Major meets Maxwell--Preparations to start--The Caravan--Description of it--The Departure

CHAPTER IX.
The Plans of the Adventurers--Big Adam's Bravery--Milius--His Refreshments--What his House contained--Speech to the Hottentots--The Bushman Boy, Prince Omrah

CHAPTER X.
Wild Beasts--Insubordination of the Hottentots--Danger from Elephants--Their hideous Shrieks--Big Adam's Terror--Lieutenant Hoodie's wonderful Escape--Sagacity of the Elephant--Intentions of the Party

CHAPTER XI.
Arrival at Mr. S.'s Station--The Quarrel between Hinza and Voosani--An Escort proposed--The Caffre Character--The Sabbath--Painful Position of a Missionary's Wife

CHAPTER XII.
The Royal Visit--Mutual Civilities--The Band of Warriors--Hippopotami--Their Carcasses--Omrah's Cunning--The Trick--Big Adam sulky--A narrow Escape--Preparations for the Hunt

CHAPTER XIII.
Look out--The Signal--The Major's Nerve--Charge upon the Camp--Hottentots drunk--Begum's Uneasiness--Signs of Danger--Lions' Sagacity--Anecdotes

CHAPTER XIV.
A Storm--Sober again--Elephant Steak--Omrah's Tricks--Man-eaters--A horrible Adventure--The Sleepers awakened

CHAPTER XV.
Quah! quah!--Alexander's and the Major's Danger--A critical Situation--Omrah's Presence of Mind--Divine Worship--Instruction of Caffres--Advance of the Enemy--Panic of the Natives--Refusal to proceed--The tables turned--The Council--Submission--Arrangements

CHAPTER XVI.
An Expedition--Rumors of War--Judicious Advice--Daaka's Hut--The Interview with Daaka--Explanations--Remains of the Grosvenor--The Mystery solved--Alexander's Joy--The Wagons again--The Major's Fortress--Plans for the Future

CHAPTER XVII.
Quetoo's Movements--Destruction of his Army--The Return--Plenty of Sport--The Warriors rewarded--Precautions--Antelopes--The Victim--A large Meal

CHAPTER XVIII.
Conversation--Gnoos--Five Lions--Thirst quenched--Ferocity of the Hyena--Anecdotes--Preparations for a Chase

CHAPTER XIX.
A practical Joke--A lucky Escape--History of the Mantatees--Mantatee Courage--A final Slaughter--Discussions--Swinton's Account of Africaner

CHAPTER XX.
Omrah's Intelligence--Lion-hunting--Silence and Caution--An unpleasant Surprise--Self-sacrifice of a Gemsbok--Swinton's Story continued--Conversation on Lions--Anecdotes--Big Adam punished

CHAPTER XXI.
Interview with Bushmen--A shrewd Surmise--A Herd of Buffaloes--A providential Escape--A Scene--Swanevelt in Danger--Conversation--A Story

CHAPTER XXII.
Overpowering Heat--Divine Service--An Intrusion--The poisoned Lion--Discussion on venomous Reptiles--Lizard shot--Swinton's Information to his Companions

CHAPTER XXIII.
A good Shot--Water scarce--Omrah in Trouble--Turtle Soup--Sufferings--Sufferings at an end--An earthly Paradise

CHAPTER XXIV.
Aspect of the Country--Chase of a Rhinoceros--Omrah's Plan succeeds--A Lion's Leap--Account of a Rhinoceros-Hunt--Elands shot--A Lioness attacked--The Lion's Skin awarded--An expiring Effort

CHAPTER XXV.
Swinton's Astonishment--A Dialogue--Maternal Affection--An Alarm--Griquas fallen in with--The Message to Moselekatsee--Fire!--The Matabili King--Expectations

CHAPTER XXVI.
Chase of a Giraffe--Proposed Retreat--The Major's Object attained--Treachery--Treachery defeated--Omrah's Scheme--Hopes of Water disappointed

CHAPTER XXVII.
Further Progress--The Horses and Oxen break away--The Pursuit--Hopes and Fears--The Caravan lost--Intense Heat--Omrah's Courage--A Temporary Relief--Despair--Water at last obtained--Swinton's Signals answered

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Panic produced by a Lion--Omrah's and Big Adam's Predicament--A Lion's Mode of stimulating his Appetite--A Meeting with Bushmen--Cattle stolen--Recovery attempted--Oxen poisoned--Death of Piets--Arrival at Cape Town

CHAPTER XXIX.
Parting Scenes--Alexander and the Major embark--Alexander's Arrival at Home--He relates his adventures--Sir Charles's Health gradually declines--His Presents to Swinton and the Major--His Death--Conclusion
THE MISSION, OR SCENES IN AFRICA.

CHAPTER I.
THE EXPEDITION.
It was in the autumn of the year 1828, that an elderly and infirm gentleman was slowly pacing up and down in a large dining-room. He had apparently finished his dinner, although it was not yet five o'clock, and the descending sun shone bright and warm through the windows, which were level with the ground, and from which there was a view of a spacious park, highly ornamented with old timber. He held a newspaper in one hand, and had the other behind his back, as if for support, for he was bent forward, and looked very feeble and emaciated.
After pacing for some time, he sat down in an easy chair and remained in deep thought, holding the newspaper in both his hands.
This old gentleman's name was Sir Charles Wilmot. He had in early life gone out to India as a writer, and after remaining there for a few years, during which he had amassed a handsome fortune, was advised to leave the country for a time on account of his health. He returned to England on furlough, and had not been there more than