The Young Colonists: A Story of the Zulu and Boer WarsHenty, G. A. (George Alfred)
History
The Young Colonists: A Story of the Zulu and Boer Wars
Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
Transvaal (South Africa) -- History -- War of 1880-1881 -- Juvenile fiction; Zulu War, 1879 -- Juvenile fiction
Mr Harvey had in the course of his wanderings frequently had occasion
to dress wounds and bandage broken bones; he was therefore able to apply
the necessary bandages to Tom, and the lad was soon lying in comparative
ease on a bed formed of rags. Generally the boys slept in hammocks, but
Mr Harvey insisted that Tom must lie perfectly straight on his back
until the bones had begun to set again.
"We made a sad mess with that old bull to-day, Dick," he said. "It is
humiliating to think that he should have charged us all, injured Tom,
and got away almost unscathed."
"You see, sir," Dick said, "he attacked us unexpectedly; our guns were
all discharged, and he came on with such a rush that there was no
getting a steady shot at him. The whole affair lasted little more than
a minute, I should say."
"I shall go out to-morrow morning," Mr Harvey said, "and take up the
track again, and see if I cannot get even with the beast. There is time
enough to-day, for it is still early, but the herd will be so restless
and suspicious that there will be no getting near them, and I should not
care to face that old bull unless I had a fair chance of killing him at
the first shot. He has a magnificent pair of tusks, and ivory sells so
high that they would be worth a good deal of trouble and some risk to
get."
"Shall I go with you, sir?"
"No, Dick, I would rather you did not. The business will be more
dangerous than usual, and I should not like the responsibility of having
you with me. Tom had as narrow a shave yesterday as ever I saw, and I
certainly do not want two of you on my hands."
Dick was not sorry at Mr Harvey's decision, for after the charge of the
bull-elephant he felt just at present he should not care about
encountering another. The next morning Mr Harvey, accompanied by the
three native hunters and the greater portion of the others, started in
pursuit of the elephants.
Dick, after sitting for some time with Tom, took his gun and wandered
round near the camp, shooting birds. As the sun got high, and the heat
became fiercer and fiercer, he returned to camp, and had just taken off
his coat and sat down by the side of Tom when he heard shouts of terror
outside the tent.
Running out to see what was the matter, he saw the natives in a state of
wild terror. They pointed across the plain, and Dick, to his
astonishment and alarm, saw a great elephant approaching at a rapid
trot, with his trunk in the air and his ears extended to the fullest.
He recognised at once the bull which had charged them on the previous
day. The natives were now flying in all directions. Dick shouted to
them to stand and get their muskets, but his words were unheeded; he ran
to the tent, seized the long-bore gun which he had carried the day
before and also that of Tom, and charged them both hastily, but coolly.
"What on earth is it all about?" Tom asked.
"It is the elephant again, Tom; lie quiet, whatever you do; you cannot
run away, so lie just as you are."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account