A Frontier Mystery Part 27

"Hallo, you two d.a.m.ned slinking dog thieves," he sung out, as the crowd parted to make way for him. "Here we are again you see. Not yet within British jurisdiction, eh?"

There was a banging report at my ear, and lo, Dolf Norbury and his horse were mixed up in a kicking struggling heap.

"I don't take that sort of talk from any swine, especially outside British jurisdiction," growled Falkner, hurriedly jamming in a cartridge to replace the one he had fired.

There was a rush to extricate the fallen man, and ascertain damages. It turned out that he had not been hit but his horse was killed. He himself however seemed half stunned as he staggered to his feet. Then up went his rifle but the bullet sang high over our heads in the unsteadiness of his aim.

"Put up your hands!" I sung out, covering him before he could draw his pistol. "Hands up, or you're dead, by G.o.d!"

He obeyed. Clearly he had been under fire enough.

"Go in and take his pistol, Sewin," I said, still covering him steadily.

"If he moves he's dead."

It was a tense moment enough, as Falkner walked coolly between the rows of armed savages, for to drive half a dozen spears through him, and ma.s.sacre the lot of us would have been the work of a moment to them, but I realised that boldness was the only line to adopt under the circ.u.mstances. Even then I don't know how the matter would have ended, but some sort of diversion seemed to be in the air, for heads were turned, and murmurs went up. Still no weapon was raised against us.

"I've drawn his teeth now, at any rate, the sweep!" said Falkner with a grin, as he returned and threw down the discomfited man's weapons. "I say Dolf, old sportsman," he sung out banteringly. "Feel inclined for another spar? Because if so, come on. Or d'you feel too groggy in the nut?"

But now I had taken in the cause of the diversion. The opposite ridge-- that between us and the river--was black with Zulus. On they came, in regular rapid march, hundreds and hundreds of them. They carried war s.h.i.+elds and the large _umkonto_ or broad stabbing spear, but had no war adornments except the _isityoba_, or leglet of flowing cow-hair.

Those of our molesters who had been most uproarious were silent now, watching the approach of the newcomers. Dolf Norbury sat stupidly staring. The roaring bark of Arlo tied within the waggon rose strangely weird above the sudden silence.

"I say," broke out Falkner. "Have we got to fight all these? Because if so, the odds ain't fair."

For all that he looked as if he was willing to undertake even this.

Whatever his faults, Falkner Sewin was a good man to have beside one in a tight place.

"No," I said. "There's no more fight here, unless I'm much mistaken.

This is a King's impi."

It was a fine sight to see them approach, that great dark phalanx. Soon they halted just before the waggons, and a shout of _sibongo_ went up from the turbulent crowd who had been mobbing and threatening us but a little while since.

The two chiefs in command I knew well, Untuswa, a splendid old warrior and very friendly to the whites, and Mundula, both indunas of the King.

"Who are these?" said the first, sternly, when we had exchanged greetings. "Are they here to trade, Iqalaqala?"

"Not so, Right Hand of the Great Great One," I answered. "They are here to threaten and molest us--and it is not the first time some of them have visited us on the same errand. We are peaceful traders in the land of Zulu, and a.s.suredly there are many here who know that this is not the first time I have come into the land as such."

A hum of a.s.sent here went up from the warriors in the background. Those I had thus denounced looked uncommonly foolish. Still I would not spare them. It is necessary to keep up one's prestige and if those who are instrumental in trying to lower it suffer, why that is their lookout, not mine.

"He is a liar, chief," interrupted Dolf Norbury, savagely. "These two have stolen my dog and I and my people have come to recover him. Before they came in to try and steal my trade. That is where we quarrelled before."

Untuswa heard him but coldly. As I have said, Dolf Norbury was not in favour with the more respectable chiefs of Zululand at that time.

Quickly I put our side of the case before this one.

"This I will look into," he said. "It is not often we have to settle differences between white people, especially Amangisi [English]. But the Great Great One, that Elephant who treads the same path as the Queen, will have order in the land--wherefore are we here," with a wave of his hand towards his armed warriors; from whom deep-toned utterances of _sibongo_ went up at the naming of the royal t.i.tles. "With the matter of the trade, I have nothing to do. But, Iqalaqala, Udolfu says you have stolen his dog, though had it been his lion he had said, I think he would have uttered no lie, for in truth we could hear his roars while yet far away," added the old induna with a comical laugh all over his fine face. "Now bring forth this wonderful beast, for we would fain see him."

"Get out the dog, Sewin," I said. "The chief wants to see him."

"Yes, but what the devil has all the jaw been about? It's all jolly fine for you, but I'm not in the fun," he growled.

"Never mind. I'll tell you presently. Leave it all to me now. You've got to, in fact."

Falkner climbed into the waggon, and in a moment reappeared with Arlo, still holding him in his improvised leash. At sight of him the warriors in the impi set up a murmur of admiration.

"Loose him," said Untuswa.

I translated this to Falkner, and he complied. The dog walked up and down, growling and suspicious.

"See now, Udolfu," said Untuswa, who had been watching the splendid beast with some admiration. "This is your dog. Now call him, and take him away with you."

"Arno!" called Norbury. "Here, Arno, old chap. Come along home. Good dog."

But the "good dog" merely looked sideways at him and growled the harder.

"_Arno_. D'you hear? Come here, sir. d.a.m.n you. D'you hear!"

The growls increased to a sort of thunder roll.

"_Whau_!" said Mundula. "That is a strange sort of dog to own--a dog that will not come, but growls at his master when he calls him instead."

"I have not had him long enough to know me thoroughly," said Dolf.

"Those two, who stole him from me, have taught him better."

"Call him in the other direction, Falkner," I said.

This he did, and the dog went frisking after him as he ran a little way out over the veldt, and back again, both on the best understanding with each other in the world.

"_Au_! the matter is clear enough," p.r.o.nounced Untuswa. "The dog himself has decided it. He is not yours, Udolfu. Yet, Iqalaqala, may it not be that those with whom you last saw the dog may have sold him?"

"That is quite impossible, leader of the valiant," I answered. "From those who own him no price would buy him. No, not all the cattle in the kraals of the Great Great One. Further, he has not even got the sound of the dog's name right," and I made clear the difference between the "l" and the "n" which the other had subst.i.tuted for it.

"_Au_! That is a long price to pay for one dog, fine though he is,"

said Untuswa with the same comical twinkle in his eyes. "Well, it is clear to whom the dog belongs. You," with a commanding sweep of the hand towards the riotous crowd who had first molested us, "go home."

There was no disputing the word of an induna of the King. The former rioters saluted submissively and melted away. Dolf Norbury, however, remained.

"Will the chief ask them," he said, cunningly, "why they had to leave Majendwa's country in a hurry, and why they are bringing back about half their trade goods?"

"We did not leave in a hurry," I answered, "and as for trade goods, the people seemed not willing to trade. For the rest, we have plenty of cattle, which are even now crossing Inncome, driven by boys whom Muntisi the son of Majendwa sent with us."

"That is a lie," responded Norbury. "They had too many eyes, and looked too closely into what did not concern them. They had to fly, and now they will carry strange stories to the English about the doings on the Zulu side."

This, I could see, made some impression upon the warriors. However, I confined myself simply to contradicting it. Then Norbury asked the chief to order the return of his weapons.

"I need no such order," I said. "I am willing to return them, but--I must have all the cartridges in exchange."

He was obliged to agree, which he did sullenly. As he threw down the bandolier and emptied his pockets of his pistol cartridges he said: