Forging the Blades: A Tale of the Zulu Rebellion Page 9

  CHAPTER NINE.

  THE NEW ARRIVAL.

  "I suppose you couldn't tell me where to find a man named Halse, couldyou, Mrs Shelford? He lives somewhere in this country."

  The pretty and popular hostess of the Nodwengu Hotel at Ezulwini lookedup quickly from her plate. So did several others seated at table.

  "Yes," she answered, a little surprised. "Do you know him, then, MrDenham?"

  "Well, in a sort of a way," was the answer. "That is, I've heard a gooddeal about him, and was rather interested to make his acquaintance."

  Now the expression "heard a good deal about him" raised a covert smileon more than one face round the table.

  "Ben Halse lives up in the Lumisana district," answered the hostess."But it's an out-of-the-way place, and not easily got at."

  "All the better. I like out-of-the-way places. They're so jollyinteresting. That's why I pricked out a cross-country course here."

  The speaker was a tall man, broad-shouldered and well set up, with asquare, intellectual head; fair, clear-eyed and self-possessed, andmight have been in the late thirties, i.e. in his very prime. He hadarrived at Ezulwini the evening before, on horseback, and his baggagefor the present consisted of what that unreliable animal could carrystrapped across the saddle.

  "By the way," said another man at the table, "I heard something aboutBen Halse being due here just about now. Heard anything about it, MrsShelford?"

  "No."

  "Perhaps he's going to the opposition shop," said the othermischievously.

  "He can if he likes," was the crisp retort. "Only Ben Halse andourselves have known each other all our lives, so I don't think there'smuch fun in that remark."

  "That's all there was in it, anyhow," was the answer. "Now I think ofit the report came through some of the police."

  "Now, Mrs Shelford, you mustn't say it," cut in another man, in mockwarning, he, incidentally, holding rank as Inspector in that usefulcorps.

  "Say what?"

  "That they are always `talking through their necks.'"

  "Wait till I do," she retorted, with a laugh, the fact being that shewas exceedingly popular with the police, rank and file, and had twobrothers in it. "Well, what about Ben Halse, and where had they seenhim?"

  "At his own shop."

  "Who were they?"

  "I'm not sure. Meyrick, I think, was one."

  "Well, if it's true it'll save you a journey, Mr Denham," she said.

  "I'll hold on here for a day or two, then, and see. I'm in no violenthurry."

  He was inclined to do this in any case. There was a homelikefriendliness about these people among whom he had dropped only the nightbefore, which very much appealed to him. Eight or ten of them wouldgather at table three times a day, and there was not one among them withwhom he had not some idea in common. Most of them, too, had been in thecountry for years, and he had sat quite late into the previous nightlistening to some of their experiences--experiences narrated with notom-fool idea of "cramming" a stranger, but, if anything, set in rathertoo matter-of-fact a frame, at least so it had struck him. And in thesaid capacity of stranger each and all had laid themselves out to showhim courtesy.

  Breakfast over, the other boarders went off to their respectiveavocations, and Denham, lighting a cigar, strolled outside. It was aperfect morning. The sky was a vivid, unclouded blue, the sun, thoughhot, was not oppressive, and there was just sufficient stirring of theair to make against sultriness. At the back, dropping abruptly from thecompound itself, was the first of a series of densely forested kloofs,whose tumbled masses of dark foliage seemed to roll like the irregularwaves of a sea, and beyond, just glimpsed through the golden haze, arange of green, round-topped hills rose on the skyline. Immediately athand a non-indigenous profusion of trees and hedges, giving bosky shadeto the snug bungalows and official buildings which constituted thetownship.

  Denham, strolling leisurely up and down the broad, clean-swept gardenpath flanked by its red lines of Jerusalem thorn, was inclined to thinkthat his lines had fallen in pleasant places. Over and above the beautyof the surroundings and the exhilaration of the clear and ambient airhis naturalist soul had already begun to find interest in the unfamiliarbirds and insects, which fluttered or crept. Bright butterfliesalighting coquettishly upon the rose-blooms, the clumsy "whirr" of someungainly beetle, winging blindly for nowhere in particular, all thesewere strange to him, and opened out a vista of boundless interest; butwhat he looked forward to was getting farther into the haunts of strangebirds and beasts. He felt light-hearted as a school-boy just escapedfor his holidays, lighter-hearted than he had felt for years.

  A strange insect motionless upon a rose-stem attracted his attention.Deftly he captured it by the back of the neck, and holding it lightlybut firmly proceeded to examine it. The stick-like joints jerked andstruggled slightly, but on the whole the captive seemed to accept thesituation with philosophy. So absorbed was he in the examination of the"specimen" that the steps of his hostess, tripping down the garden pathbehind him, were unheard.

  "Beetle-catching, Mr Denham?" she laughed, becoming alive to hispresent occupation. "What have you got there?"

  "It isn't a beetle. It's a fine specimen of the `praying' amantis.They are the most hypocritical scoundrels in the insect world. Theystand for hours motionless in an attitude of intense prayer, ready tograb the first butterfly or anything else that comes in reach."

  "Ugh, I don't like crawling things," she laughed. "But I suppose youcollect them, do you?"

  "Yes; but I shan't keep this one," replacing it upon its stalk, where itat once resumed position as if it had never been disturbed. "Why, youdo look workman-like," as he took in the kind of long, artist blousewhich she had got on over her dress. "As to which I couldn't helpadmiring your energy--here, there and everywhere--while taking my ownlazy stroll."

  She laughed again. "You have to be, if you want to keep a place likethis on the go."

  "Well, I must say, as far as I've seen, the result is a success."

  "Oh, thanks. Well, if you're not always looking after these boysthey'll shirk. You don't know what Kafirs are, Mr Denham."

  "Not yet. I doubtless shall--in time."

  "Are you out here for long, then?"

  "Well, that depends. In fact, I don't know what it depends on," headded, with a laugh.

  "That's fortunate. It must be jolly to be able to go about as you like.Wouldn't _I_ like it! But what I came out to tell you was thatInspector James sent round to say that he'll put you up at the club asan honorary member if you'll meet him there at twelve. You were talkingabout it this morning, weren't you?"

  "Yes; that'll be very kind of him. I'll be there. Where is it, by thebye?"

  "Right opposite the Court House. Any one will tell you. It's only asmall affair, of course, but you'll meet every one there, and it's handyif you're here for a few days to have somewhere to turn into and see thepapers. Well, you must excuse me, I've got lots more to do thismorning." And she left him.

  Denham, going forth presently, could hardly realise, as he strolledalong the broad macadamised road fringed by tall eucalyptus-trees andhigh hedges, through which were glimpsed snug bungalows embedded inflowering gardens, that this was in the heart of what he had alwayssupposed to be a savage country. Yet in even his brief experience hehad had opportunity of knowing that in parts still it could be a verysavage country indeed. A gang of native convicts, in their white prisondress--undisfigured, however, by the abominable broad arrow--passed him,in charge of three or four native constables; the latter, stalwartfellows in their smart uniforms of dark blue and red, each with a pairof handcuffs in his belt and armed with very business-like assegais.These saluted him as they passed. Then one or two groups of nativewomen, mostly with bundles on their heads. These did not salute him.

  This was obviously the Court House. He had time to spare, so decided toinvestigate it. Several natives, squatted outside, gazed curiously athim, but they, too, s
aluted him. The white man's rule seemed prettywell established here at any rate, he thought; in which connection healso thought of a strange experience or two of his own in this verycountry, which contrasted with this show of law and order.

  The rather bare room seemed dim and cool in contrast to the glareoutside. The magistrate looked up, and seeing a stranger, courteouslysignalled him where to find a seat. There were only trivial cases thatmorning, and except the court officials Denham was the only white manthere. A few natives at the back of the room stood listening to theproceedings! or not finding these interesting enough crept noiselesslyout. Denham, to kill time, followed the evidence as it was interpretedby the clerk, and heard the prisoner fined for not paying his dog tax,and the succeeding one sent to gaol for deferred payment of his hut tax,and metaphorically rubbed his eyes. Here was the white man's rule witha vengeance. Witness box and dock, gaol and fine, where a few yearsback, comparatively speaking, the spear-and-shield armed impis swept, inall the bravery of their war array. A touch on the shoulder interruptedhis meditations. Looking up he beheld Inspector James.

  "Didn't find you at the club," whispered, the latter. "Shall we go overnow?"

  "It's a curious contrast," began Denham, when they got outside, "allthis law and order in a country with the traditions of this one."

  "Well, it's an improvement for these devils, anyhow," was the answer."Where we fine them a pound or so Cetywayo would have had them knockedon the head, and I'm not sure his way of doing things wasn't the best."

  "You don't like them, then. Now it struck me some of these chaps withthe head-rings on were rather fine-looking fellows."

  "Damned scoundrels, if you only knew as much about them as we do!" wasthe somewhat sour reply.

  "They seem civil enough, anyhow."

  "Just here they are, because they've got to be. But they are noteverywhere. In fact, they are getting more cheeky every day. It's justpossible you may have come up here in time to see some `scrapping'."

  "Well, I'll take a hand if there's any going. What's up?"

  Inspector James had suddenly stopped. A Zulu was approaching them downthe road, a tall man, ringed, and clad in a long overcoat.

  "There's one I'd like to have by the heels," he said. "He's up to nogood, I can tell you."

  The man saluted as he passed them, and then astonishment was in storefor Denham. To new arrivals the faces of natives are very much alike,but the face of this one he had good reason to remember. He knew, too,that the recognition was mutual.

  "Who is he, then?" he asked.

  "Oh, he's a sweep from Makanya way; but we've got an eye on him."

  "I mustn't try and get behind police secrets," laughed Denham. But thesight of that particular native set him thinking. Among other things hehad reason to think that the Inspector's estimate was very likely acorrect one.

  The Ezulwini Club was somewhat primitive, consisting of a corrugatediron building containing three rooms, the smallest and most important ofwhich was the bar. Here they found two or three other members to whomDenham was duly introduced, and the usual libations were poured out. Atthis stage the door was darkened, and a tall man entered.

  "Hallo! Blest if it isn't Halse. How are you, Halse?"

  "How's yourself, Starmer? And you, James?" and there was generalhandshaking all round. "Pleased to meet you, sir," he went on, asDenham's introduction was effected. Then, to the native bar-tender,"Mabule. Set 'em up again. Here's luck."

  "He's staying at our shop, Halse," said James, "so you'll be ableto-stroll back together. I shall have to be a bit late, I'm afraid. Solong."

  "Well, it's time we did stroll back, then," said Halse, looking at theclock. "I just thought I'd drop in and see who was alive or dead.Ready, Mr Denham?"

  "Quite."

  "I was a good bit surprised to get your letter saying you were actuallyhere," began Ben Halse, when they were outside. "I'm rather of acautious disposition--suspicious, some folks call it, but it's theupshot of experience, so I avoided any reference to our ever havingheard of each other before."

  "I'm afraid I've given the show away, then, Mr Halse, for only thismorning I was asking them at the hotel where you were to be found."

  "Ah, well; it can't be helped. Besides, it doesn't greatly matter."

  Denham had been sizing up this new--yet not new--acquaintance, and theprocess took no time at all. His impression, at first sight, wasaltogether a favourable one. They had been in correspondence together--had done business together--for quite a long time, and often had hespeculated as to the up-country trader's individual personality. Onething was certain--the man beside him had always been asstraightforward, in all their dealings, as any one could be.

  "I've got a rare record head for you now, Mr Denham," went on BenHalse. "A koodoo bull. Just as I'd got it, I got your letter, sayingyou were here. I thought I'd drive in, and if you care to come and stayout at my place a bit I'm sure you'd find a lot to interest you. It'sprecious wild and also a bit rough, but if you can put up with that,you're very welcome. By the way, don't say a word to any one here oranywhere else about the head. The Lumisana's a royal preserve, andthere's a hundred pound fine for shooting anything there without apermit."

  "By Jove! is there?" answered Denham, his interest kindling. "I'll keepdark, never fear. I shall be delighted, though, to take up your invite.Here we are at the Nodwengu."

  "_Amakosi_!"

  It was the same Zulu Denham had noticed when with Inspector James. HimHalse now stopped, and began conversing fluently in his own tongue.

  "You'll have to pick up the lingo, Mr Denham," he said, as the man wenton. "You'll find it mighty useful."

  "And mighty difficult, I expect," laughed the other.

  In the verandah of the hotel a girl was standing. Denham looked at herwith furtive interest. He had certainly not seen her there since hisarrival.

  "This is my daughter, Mr Denham," said his companion.

  "How do you do, Mr Denham?" she said, putting forth a hand. "I seemmore than half to know you already through the post."

  Such a straight, frank, welcoming hand-clasp; such a straight, frankglance of the hazel eyes. Denham acknowledged the introduction withoutward composure, but inwardly he was perturbed. What a splendid girl!he was thinking. He had no idea that Ben Halse owned a daughter; infact, had never given a thought to anything of the kind. And then thetrader's cordial invitation seemed to take on an entirely new aspect.If his first impressions of the father had been entirely favourable,precisely the same held good with regard to the daughter.