Perils in the Transvaal and Zululand Part 37

Hardy accordingly followed Vander Heyden across the rugged and stony ground on which the action had been fought that morning, to a tent--it was the only one in the camp--where the Commandant-General had fixed his quarters. No difficulty was made about obtaining an interview, and Hardy almost immediately found himself in the presence of the rebel leader, as well as in that of another bearded and grave-looking personage, who, he was informed, was Kruger, the Vice-President of the newly-proclaimed Republic.

Hardy looked with interest at the Boer general, who, although he had not at that time attained all the celebrity now attaching to his name, had already achieved some brilliant successes. His family, as Hardy subsequently learned, was of Huguenot extraction, having migrated to the Cape at the time of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. But intermarriages with the Dutch in succeeding generations had had their effect, and Joubert had all the appearance of a genuine Boer. Like his fathers, he had followed the calling of a farmer, and had had no experience of warfare, except with native tribes. But he was possessed of rare military ability, and if he had had the advantage of professional training, would have made a great general.

In personal appearance he was of middle height and powerful frame, with an unusually dark complexion, a beard and moustache, and features expressing intelligence and good humour. He was apparently somewhat advanced in years, though he had not pa.s.sed the vigour of life. He received Hardy with civility, and, after he had heard his story, expressed his regret, as Vander Heyden had done, that the President was not in the camp, so that the matter might be immediately dealt with.

Praetorius was expected back very shortly, and then instant attention should be given to it.

"Meanwhile, be a.s.sured," he said, "that we desire peace with England, and are willing to concede everything to her, except our national independence. You may not, perhaps, be aware that when the Volksraad declared that the Transvaal Republic was again established, it pa.s.sed several resolutions, which may well form the basis of negotiations with the agents of the British Government."

"I have only just arrived in the country after an absence of several weeks," said Hardy, "and have therefore had no opportunity of learning what those resolutions were."

"They are soon recited," said Joubert. "The first proclaimed a general amnesty for all past offences. The second ratified all the acts of the British Government up to the date of the proclamation, and the third declared that questions relating to foreign policy might be made matter of special discussion. I think you will allow that these resolutions are not framed in any spirit hostile to your Government."

"I must allow that they are not," replied Hardy. "I should certainly hope that they might form the basis of negotiations satisfactory to both parties. That was also the opinion of the President of the Orange Free State."

"I may add, it is also the opinion of our countrymen in Holland, who have sent an urgent entreaty to the Queen of England that our national independence may be restored to us. The same sentiment has been expressed in other European countries. But I should hardly have thought that such a pet.i.tion would require foreign support, when it had once been submitted to the English people. They have ever been the first, the most uncompromising of all nations in the a.s.sertion of their own liberty. Why should they grudge to others that which they value so highly themselves?"

"You speak well, sir," said Hardy. "I am unable to deny the force of your appeal. We may hope that when the President returns, communications may be opened with the English Government which may lead to a settlement honourable and satisfactory to both parties. But meanwhile, ought not all hostile operations to be suspended? They could not facilitate any negotiations that might be set on foot, but they might seriously impede them."

"If the English general proposes an armistice, it will certainly be agreed to," said Joubert. "On our side we have no need to make any such proposition. If we are not attacked, we shall not ourselves make any attack. The British have only to do the same, and all fighting will be suspended. But, of course, if we are a.s.sailed, we shall repel the a.s.sault."

Hardy bowed and took his leave. On returning to the place where he had left George Rivers, he found that the latter had already taken his departure for the British camp, where, as the reader has heard, his services were greatly needed. A few days pa.s.sed without any resumption of hostilities, when, on the 8th of February, Sir George Colley unexpectedly sallied out of his camp, and the action at Hooge's Chain, between Laing's Nek and Newcastle, on the banks of the Ingogo, was fought, with a result as discreditable and damaging to the English arms as that of Laing's Nek had been.

"What has come to our generals and soldiers I cannot think," said Hardy to George, when he encountered him after the battle on the field, whither both had gone to minister to the wounded and dying. "They seem to me absolutely to court defeat. The only comfort is, that they will hardly make a third attempt after two such calamitous failures."

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

It seemed as if Hardy's antic.i.p.ations were going to be fulfilled. For more than a fortnight after the disaster on the banks of the Ingogo, both armies remained quietly in their camps, though both were largely reinforced. Negotiations had been opened with the English Government, which bore every appearance of an amicable solution of difficulties. On the afternoon of the 26th of February, Hardy went down to the British lines, with a white flag despatched by Joubert with him, to take some letters to George which had arrived from d.y.k.eman's Hollow. It was some time before he could find his friend, the whole camp being in a state of extraordinary bustle and confusion. Officers and men were hurrying about; one of the guns had been brought out, the horses already harnessed, and the gunners and drivers belonging to it were all in readiness, it appeared, for some immediate movement. Every face bore token that something of grave importance was about to take place.

"What does this mean, George?" asked Hardy as they shook hands. "Sir George Colley cannot antic.i.p.ate an attack. Everything in the Boer camp, which I have only just left, is quite quiet, and the peace negotiations are proceeding prosperously."

"I cannot tell you, Hardy, what it does mean," answered George. "I hear vague rumours, but they are not to be trusted. One thing, however, is certain, and that is that Sir George Colley cannot get over his defeats by these Boers. I fancy he at first entertained the same contempt for them which English people generally feel. He thought that they were a race of cowards, who would shoot down helpless savages from a safe distance, but dared not face soldiers in a field of battle."

"We have already agreed that that is a mistake," observed Hardy. "Their mode of fighting is quite different from ours. They have no disciplined troops, as we have; and if they were to face us, as Sir George expects, on a field of battle, must inevitably suffer defeat. But they are brave and resolute men, and fight after their own fas.h.i.+on; which is as dangerous and disastrous to our troops as our mode of lighting would be to them."

"Exactly," said Rivers; "and Sir George has chosen to fight after their fas.h.i.+on instead of ours, and these disasters have been the consequence.

But that does not reconcile him to them. He is afraid that peace will be made before he has any opportunity of redeeming his military reputation, which he thinks has been terribly damaged by Laing's Nek and the action on the Ingogo. He wants to give them one tremendous thras.h.i.+ng before peace is concluded and the opportunity is lost."

"I can well understand that," said Hardy, "though I think he is quite wrong. But do I understand you to mean that the preparations which I see going on are for another attack on the Boers? Really I do not think that would be a defensible proceeding. If there has been no formal suspension of hostilities, there is a tacit understanding to that effect, which the Boers have most faithfully adhered to."

"I am afraid the preparations do mean that," answered George, "though, of course, I have made no inquiries, nor has any one volunteered the information. I think Sir George means to attack the Boer camp again, though probably he will choose a different quarter from which to a.s.sail it."

"It is to be hoped he will, at all events," rejoined Hardy, "unless he wishes exactly the same results to follow as before. Well, we shall soon know what is going to happen, for here come Sir George and his staff. They are evidently about to set out somewhere."

"Come to the high ground on the west of the camp," suggested Rivers.

"You can see the whole road to the Dutch lines from it, and some of the waggons immediately under Amajuba hill."

"Amajuba hill," repeated Hardy. "Is that the name of that steep hill yonder, with a flattish top, which completely overlooks the camp? I wonder the Dutch have not occupied it, I must say. Sir George's position here wouldn't be tenable if they did. But then, to be sure, they have no cannon. Well, I may as well go with you as you propose, for, of course, if your conjecture is correct, I should not be allowed to leave the English camp."

They took up their position accordingly, and presently saw the troops, seven or eight hundred in number, move out with the gun which Hardy had seen an hour or two before, the most complete silence being observed.

The darkness was already coming on when they set out, and before long it became impossible to distinguish any object, except those close at hand.

"Sir George must intend a night attack," said Hardy; "but, independently of all other considerations, the Boers are less likely to be thrown into confusion by that than our own troops are. They are taught to fight independently of one another. Every man takes up his own position and s.h.i.+fts for himself. If they are disturbed in the middle of the night, they will simply get up,--ready dressed, for they always lie down in their clothes,--take their rifles, pick out the securest spot they can find, and open fire on any enemy they see. Well, George, we had better stay here awhile and see what comes of this. If night fighting is intended, we shall soon know all about it."

Rivers a.s.sented. They were as conveniently placed as they could well be for learning what was going on. There was a hollow in the rock large enough to shelter them from wind and rain, if either should come on, and a quant.i.ty of moss and heather would make a comfortable bed, if they lay down to sleep. They agreed that they would keep alternate watch through the night, so that nothing that might occur should escape their notice.

The night, however, pa.s.sed without disturbance, and when the morning dawned it revealed an unexpected spectacle. The British force was clearly to be discerned, by the first beams of the sun, stationed on the top of the Amajuba hill, the ascent of which must have occupied the hours of darkness. It must have been a most difficult and perilous undertaking, and it seemed wonderful that it could have been accomplished in the dark, and without arousing the vigilance of the Boers, who were encamped in the immediate vicinity. There they were, however,--the scarlet uniforms forming bright spots against the background of rock and sky,--and the bra.s.s gun, which, by a marvel of engineering skill, had been dragged up the precipitous steeps, sparkling in the sun, as it was fixed in its position, commanding the camp of the sleeping Boers below.

"How in the world can they have managed that?" exclaimed Rivers.

"Nothing but a bird, I should have thought, could get up there. The gun, of course they must have hoisted up after them. It is a most daring exploit; but I suppose Sir George has got the upper hand of them now."

"I am not so sure of that," rejoined Hardy. "I grant you this is as bold and venturous a feat as ever has been attempted in war. But I don't know that it will succeed against these Boers. You see, though they have taken possession of the heights, they have not intrenched themselves. The broken ma.s.ses of rock furnish a cover behind which sharpshooters may hide themselves while they fire on the enemy. But the Boers will be able to fire up at them quite as securely as they will be able to fire down at the Boers. And if the Boers, whose numbers greatly exceed theirs, clamber up on all sides, under cover of the fire of their friends, there is nothing to keep them back. Our men will be overpowered by weight of numbers. I wish I could see them begin to intrench themselves, but there is no sign of it. I hope we are not going to see the Isandhlwana disaster acted over again."

"I suppose they must have been too tired, when they got up there last night to throw up intrenchments," remarked George.

"Very likely indeed," returned Hardy, "but they do not appear to be too tired this morning. If they are wise, they will not begin firing until they have made their position safe."

Meanwhile on the summit of the hill there was triumph and rejoicing.

The soldiers had felt keenly the defeats which they had again and again sustained at the hands of an enemy for whom they had entertained a traditional contempt, and who, they were persuaded, if they could once bring them to a fair encounter, would fly before them. But they had been shot down from behind cover, without the chance being given them of returning their adversaries' fire. But here, at last, the tables were turned. They occupied now the vantage-ground from which the foe might be a.s.sailed without the risk of suffering retaliation. A genuine British cheer broke forth as the gun opened on the slumbering Dutchmen below, followed by bursts of merriment as the sleepers started up in alarm and confusion, rus.h.i.+ng in all directions to find protection from the deadly hail from above. But they did not take to immediate flight, as their a.s.sailants had expected. Niching themselves in the hollows of the rocks or behind the mountain ridges, they opened a fire from all directions on the occupants of the hill, obliging these to keep close behind the cover of the rocks as the only mode of escaping the storm of musketry that continued to be poured upon them. No attempt, however, was made to dislodge them, and it was obvious that, if they retained their position on the crest of the hill, the Boer camp must be broken up, leaving the way open for the British troops to enter the Transvaal.

But the English had been once more deceived by the skilful manoeuvring of their enemies. Under cover of a tall cliff which interposed between them and Amajuba hill, the Boer leaders were determining their plan of operations.

"I am sure one of the paths is practicable," Vander Heyden was saying.

"It is on the opposite side to that by which the English made their way to the top, and I think it most likely that they know nothing of it. It is completely sheltered from their fire until you are close to the top, and there is a hollow near that where a number of men may be ma.s.sed.

Our adversaries, with their usual contempt for their enemies, have omitted to intrench themselves or fortify their position. There would probably not be more than half a dozen men keeping guard at the point in question. A rush of a dozen or twenty would force the way in, and then the others would follow. As there is no shelter or means of escape except down the steep sides of the hill, they must all surrender or be killed."

"Do you yourself know the way up the path, Vander Heyden?" asked the Boer general.

"Yes," answered Henryk; "I have twice been up to the top that way to make an examination of the English camp."

"Then I think you are the man to lead the a.s.sault. What say you?"

"I desire nothing better," returned Vander Heyden, the dark light, which had become habitual with him at seasons of danger, flas.h.i.+ng in his eyes.

"Good. Who is there prepared to follow you?"

There was no lack of volunteers; and Vander Heyden's only difficulty consisted in his unwillingness to reject any. Presently the number was made up. Orders were given to the sharpshooters in ambush to pour their fire more hotly on every crevice of the rocks above, so as to engage as much as possible the attention of the garrison.

Then Vander Heyden, rifle in hand, crept cautiously and silently up the rocky ladder, pausing continually to allow those behind him to approach closely to him, until the hollow place, of which he had spoken, was reached, and a dozen of his most trusted followers a.s.sembled in it.

Then the word was given. The foremost of the party rushed round the corner of the rock, poured in a close fire, and pressed on to force the pa.s.sage. For the moment they succeeded, but the next a shout was raised, and a bayonet charge met the a.s.sailants, bearing them back and almost forcing them down the rocky descent. But more of the Dutchmen had now come on the scene. A second volley cleared the way, and the a.s.sailants rushed in in ever-increasing numbers. Presently the whole plateau had become a battlefield, and the English, outnumbered and borne back by the overwhelming ma.s.s of Boers, were either shot down, or made their escape by the steep mountain paths, followed by their victorious enemies, who stabbed and shot them down without mercy. If the guns from the camp had not opened their fire and checked the pursuit, it is probable that scarcely any of the British soldiers who had climbed those heights on the previous evening would ever have descended them again, unless as corpses carried to interment.

About the centre of the plateau a group of Boers were gathered round an English officer, who had been struck by a bullet which apparently had instantly killed him. Vander Heyden directed them to take off the leather helmet which partially concealed his features.

"It is he!" he exclaimed, as his order was obeyed. "That is the English general; that is Sir George Colley."

He had scarcely uttered the words when a stray bullet struck him in the breast, and he fell to the ground beside his prostrate enemy. His companions raised him in their arms and earned him down the hill to a room in an adjoining farmhouse, where his wound was examined by a surgeon. The latter shook his head after a brief inspection. The bullet had not touched either heart or lungs; but the internal haemorrhage could not be stopped, and life could not be long protracted.

Vander Heyden himself was aware of his condition. He made no other request than that a flag of truce might be sent to the English lines, asking permission for the Reverend George Rivers, who was serving, he was informed, as a chaplain in the camp, to visit him on his deathbed.

The request was granted; and in an hour's time after the conclusion of the fight Rivers entered the chamber where he was lying.