The long trail: A story of African adventureStrang, Herbert
General
The long trail: A story of African adventure
Strang, Herbert
Adventure stories; Africa -- Juvenile fiction; Black people -- Africa -- Juvenile fiction
Aching all over, Challis struggled to his feet. Immediately a hand
was laid upon him from behind. He noticed that his wrist was
bleeding, and taking out his handkerchief, he began to wind it round
the wound as his captor pushed him towards the centre of the camp.
And then from behind the horses there came forth a huge negro, taller
than he by six or seven inches, with massive shoulders and muscular
arms.
The giant's face broke into a grin as he approached the Englishman.
He uttered some words which Challis did not understand, but which
seemed to have in them the ring of triumph.
"I have caught you, white face!" was what he said.
As to the white man all negroes seem at first alike, so to Goruba
Challis at this moment appeared to be the man with whom he had
wrestled at dawn of day.
He spoke again, addressing Challis; then, recognising that he was not
understood, he called for one of the Hausas to come and interpret.
Kulana came up, and keeping his eyes averted from Challis, he
translated what the big man said.
"What are you doing in this country?"
Challis quickly made up his mind to give no information, trusting
that he might at least save Royce from his own fate. He refused to
speak. The next question puzzled him, but confirmed him in his
resolution.
"What were you doing in my fort?"
Though he made no reply, it was plain that he showed his surprise in
the expression of his face, for Goruba looked hard at him, and seemed
to be in some puzzlement himself. Then the negro's harsh features
darkened with anger. He flourished his sword.
"Dog! This will make you speak!" he shouted.
Challis looked at him, without quailing, and did not flinch when the
sword was flashed across his eyes. His courage seemed to impress
Goruba, who laughed, spat on the ground, and giving an order to his
men to keep guard over the prisoner, walked away with Kulana into the
midst of the sweating Hausas.
What he had failed to elicit from the Englishman his threats soon
extracted from the carriers. He learnt that there was another white
man, who had set out on the previous afternoon for a village to the
north, to buy provisions. He chuckled on receiving this information.
There was little doubt what village the white man he had met in the
fort was bound for. He chuckled again. The white man was no doubt
on his way back to the camp. It would not be difficult to waylay him.
The work of packing was completed. Goruba ordered the Hausas to
mount their loads. Their rifles, with Challis's, were in the
possession of his men. When all was ready, the Tubus leapt to their
saddles, and the whole party set off northwards, Challis being tied
to the saddle of one of the horses.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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