The Young Colonists: A Story of the Zulu and Boer Wars Read online

field of Indiancorn had been harvested for the use of the Kaffirs. The cattle hadnearly doubled in numbers, as Mr Humphreys did not care about sellingat present. The expenses of living were slight. Meat, fowls, and eggswere raised upon the farm, and the guns of Mr Humphreys and Dickprovided them with a plentiful supply of game. Four milch cows werekept in a paddock near the house, and supplied it with milk, butter, andcheese. Groceries and flour had alone to be purchased, and, as MrHumphreys said, he did not care if he did not sell a head of cattle forthe next ten years; but he would be obliged to do so before long, as thefarm would carry but a small number more than he already possessed, andits available extent for that purpose would diminish every year, as theplanting went on.

  Mr Humphreys was fortunate in having a small stream run through hisfarm. He erected a dam across a hollow, so that in winter a pond of twoor three acres in extent, and fifteen or sixteen feet deep, was formed,affording an ample supply for the summer; this was of great utility tohim, as he was thereby enabled to continue his planting operations,filling up each hole with water when the trees were put in, and then, asthis subsided, filling in the earth; by this means the young trees got agood start, and seldom required watering afterwards. He had a largewater-cart built for him; this was drawn by four oxen, and brought thewater to the point where the Kaffirs were engaged in planting.

  Steers sufficient for two waggons had been broken in, and when thesewere not employed in bringing up young trees and fencing from Newcastlethey worked upon the road between Newcastle and Pieter-Maritzburg, therebeing a great demand for conveyance, as numbers of traders were going upinto the Transvaal and opening stores there. Mr Jackson had also twowaggons engaged in the same work. When trees and goods were wanted forthe farm, Dick went down with the waggons to see that these wereproperly loaded, and that the young trees, which were often in leaf,were taken out every night and set with the roots in water until themorning.

  One evening, early in October, Mr Jackson rode over with Tom.

  "I have heard," the former said to Mr Humphreys, "that the governmenthave determined on moving the troops down to the Zulu frontier; theattitude of Cetewayo is very threatening."

  "He is a troublesome neighbour," Mr Humphreys said. "They say that hehas 30,000 fighting-men, and in that case he ought to be able to overrunboth Natal and the Transvaal, for there is no doubt that Zulus fightwith great bravery. As for the Dutch, I really can't blame the Zulus.The Boers are always encroaching on their territory, and anyremonstrance is answered by a rifle-shot. Had it not been for ourannexation of the Transvaal, Cetewayo would have overrun it andexterminated the Dutch before now. We have a strong force in the colonyjust at present, and I think Sir Bartle Frere means to bring matters toa crisis. The existence of such an army of warlike savages on thefrontier is a standing threat to the very existence of the colony, andthe constitution of the army renders it almost a necessity that itshould fight. All the men are soldiers, and as none are allowed tomarry until the regiment to which they belong has distinguished itselfin battle they are naturally always burning for war. ThePieter-Maritzburg paper says that it understands that Sir Bartle Frereis about to send in an ultimatum, demanding--in addition to varioussmall matters, such as the punishing of raiders across the frontier--theentire abandonment of the present system of the Zulu army, and cessationof the bloody massacres which constantly take place in that country. Ifa man offends the king, not only is he put to death, but the whole ofthe people of his village are often massacred. Altogether an abominablestate of things prevails; there seems to be but one opinion throughoutthe colony, that it is absolutely necessary for our safety that the Zuluorganisation shall be broken up."

  "I see," Mr Jackson said, "that there is an advertisement in the papersfor waggons for the transport of stores, and the price offered isexcellent. A large number are required; I was thinking of sending downmy two teams--what do you think?"

  "I have been turning it over in my mind," Mr Humphreys replied, "and Iam inclined also to offer my waggons. The rate of pay is, as you say,high, and they certainly will have a difficulty in obtaining the numberthey require. I shall not have need for mine for home purposes for aconsiderable time now. The hot weather will soon be setting in, andplanting is over for the season. I shall of course go on digging holesfor my next batch, but I shall not want them up until after the end ofthe hot season. So I think, as I can spare them, I shall hire them togovernment. I think we ought all to do what we can to aid it atpresent, for every one agrees as to the necessity of the steps it is nowtaking."

  "And do you think that there will be any fighting, father?" Dick askedeagerly.

  "That no one can say, my boy. The Zulus are a proud as well as a bravepeople, and believe that they are invincible. I hardly think that theywill consent to break up their army and abandon their customs at ourdictation; I should not be surprised if it comes to fighting."

  "Oh, father, if you hire the waggons to government, may I go with them?I can see that the Kaffirs look after the oxen, you know, and thateverything goes straight. I have picked up a little Kaffir from Joel,and can manage to make them understand."

  "Well, Dick," Mr Humphreys said, after a little thought, "I don't knowthat I have any objection to it; it will be a change for you, and ofcourse there will be no chance of the waggons being near if any fightinggoes on. What do you think, Jackson? I suppose your boy will want togo if mine does?"

  "Well, I don't mind," Mr Jackson answered. "I suppose it will not befor long, for the boy is useful on the farm now. However, as you say,it will be a change, and boys like a little excitement. Well, I supposeI must say yes; they are fifteen now, and old enough to keep out ofmischief."

  The boys were delighted at the prospect of the expedition, and at oncewent out to talk matters over together. They cordially agreed in thehope that the Zulus would fight, and promised themselves that ifpossible they would see something of it. Their fathers would, theythought, allow them to take their horses, and it would be easy, if thewaggons were left behind, to ride forward with the troops, and see whatwent on.

  Two days later the four teams started together for Pieter-Maritzburg.Contrary to their expectations the boys were not allowed to take theirhorses.

  "No, no, Dick," Mr Humphreys had said, when his son asked him, "nohorses, if you please; I know what you will be up to. Galloping aboutto see what is going on, and getting into all sorts of mischief andscrapes. No, if you go, you go with the waggons, to see that everythinggoes straight, to translate orders to the Kaffirs, and to learnsomething of waggon-driving across a rough country. For between thisplace and Pieter-Maritzburg it is such a fair road that you really learnnothing in that way; once get into a cross country, and you will see howthey get waggons down steep kloofs, across streams, and over roughplaces. No, you and Tom will stick to the waggons. I have been fixinga number of rings to-day underneath one of them, and your mother and thewomen have been at work, making a sort of curtain to hook on all round;so at night you will have a comfortable place to sleep in, for thewaggons will likely enough be so filled with cases and stores that therewill be no sleeping in them. You can take the double-barrel as well asyour Winchester, as of an evening you may be able to get a shotsometimes at game, which will vary your rations a bit. You must takewith you a stock of tinned meats from Pieter-Maritzburg, for I do notsuppose they will issue regular rations to you. So long as you are thisside of the Tugela, you will be able to buy food; but if the troopscross into Zululand, you may have to depend on what you carry."

  Tom with his two waggons arrived at daybreak, and the four teams set offtogether, Mrs Humphreys--who had now completely lost her cough and wasquite strong and well--laying many injunctions upon Dick againstexposing himself to any danger, and Dick promising to be as careful aspossible.

  Upon their arrival at Pieter-Maritzburg the boys went at once to thegovernment transport-yard, and on stating their errand were shown intothe office of the officer in charge.

  "We have brough
t down four teams of sixteen oxen each," Dick said, "fromnear Newcastle, to be hired to the government."

  "That is right, my lads," the officer said, "we have room for plentymore. This is the form of contract. You engage to serve the governmentby the month; you bear any damages which may take place from wear andtear of the roads, breakdowns, and the other ordinary accidents oftravel; the government engages to make good any loss or damage which mayoccur from the action of the enemy. This is not," he said, smiling,"likely to take place, but still those are the terms. Have you anyauthority from your fathers, to whom, I suppose, the teams belong, tosign the contracts for them?"

  "Yes, sir," Dick said. "Here is a paper from my father, and one fromTom Jackson's father, saying that they agree to be bound by the terms