THE ADVENTURES OF SAMBO AND POMPEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2096, 26 April 1894, Page 45

THE ADVENTURES OF SAMBO AND POMPEY.

A BTORY OF AFRICAN ADVENTURE. By Murray Aston. Chapter XV. On the Way Back.;— The Zulus Again. The oombined forces of the naturalists and hunters were sufficiently strong to afford a tolerable amount of security. The mitrailleuse, with which the bunting party were armed, was equal in value to at leaet an additional hundred men in case of an attack from the natives, bat no precautions were neglected. The Zulu is no ordinary foe, and delights in taking bis enemy by surprise ; therefore double watch was Bet every night during their stay at the river. Sambo and Pompey and others of the party were constantly Bconting during the day, and enjoyed excellent Bport in their endeavours to provide a plentiful supply of game for the larder. The lions and other big game appeared to have retired before the advance of the white men, but there were abundance of various kinds of fowl and deer. Bhopa and Dingan were quite well in a very short space of time, and although many of the diamond-seekers would have preferred to remain on the spot, so successful were they in their quest for the preciouß stones, it was the opinion of the majority, as has been already stated, that they should return for larger forces and proper equipment-, and at tbe end of a fortnight the oxen were inspanned, and they were on their way back. No further signs of any hostile Zulus had been encountered. The horses had so far esoaped the dreaded taetze fly. The whole party were in the best of health, were brimming over with good humour, and were laden with the spoils of the chase and their precious diamond?. They were looking forward to once more claspiDg their dear ones at home to their heart 3. ladeed, their return was conceived in a triumphant spirit, laden as they were with spoils and treasure' trove. "If," said the doctor, addressing Sambo and Pompey, "we get back all right with our belongings to London, I'm very much afraid that you young men will be Blow to come back again here — even to your native land. The allurements of the great metropolis, as it is called, have an irresistible fascination for most people, eppeci illy for those with means, as you ladßwill have." " Ah, no, Boss ! " replied Sambo, who spoke for himself and his brother ; Pompey, however, at tbe same time nodding a vigorous assent, " Wherever you go we will follow." At which toe doctor smiled serenely, and Jamrach, who bad beard what was said, added : •• Und I, also, Boss, vill com mid yen oa your redurn." To which the doctor made answer, " Yes, we shan't be able to do without you, my friend. And your own interests at the diamond fields will require your attention and that of your big sons also, I think." And Jamrach gave a mighty sigh of contentment at the prospect, now so close, of again beholding his family, more especially since his circumstances were so materially improved by the profits of this trip. The natural history specimens alone were worth a Email fortune by themselves, and in these Dr Goodwood insisted that the Boer was entitled to a fourth share of tbe value, which would be ascertained on their arrival in London, where a competent valuation can be made of even dried flowers, butterflies, and beetles. In London and the European centres ib must be a small matter indeed for wbioh a quotation in hard ourrentcoin of the realm cannot be given. The first point the party expected to reach was Natal, thence by steamer via Capetown to London. The mining machinery, pumps, &c , they intended should be the best that money could buy, and would entail the outlay of a considerable amount of capital, and to this must be added the cost of transit from Natal to their property. It was thought better, in their discussions by the camp fire at night, that they should first of all offer a Bhare in their mines to the Rothschilds or other big houses (retaining, however, a large share for themselves), since if leading financiers floated a large company, the shares in which would be officially quoted on the Stock Exchange in London, the premium to which these shares would soon attain would mean additional wealth to tbe adventurers. For instance, a £1 share in a company paying large dividends under respectable management might so rise in value as to be easily saleable on the Stock Exchange at £20, and this was forcibly pointed out by the Ec glishmen, who, at least several of them, werecity magnates, whose knowledgeof the ways of stock (markets and those connected therewith was to prove of great value ' to tbe professor, who, it is almost needless to Bay, was as ignorant as Janrrach the Boer, or the Zulu lads, of stock brokers, city jobbers, editors, and suoh -like folk. The party were not destined to reach Natal without once again fighting for their lives, acd this time the battjle was even more terrible tban the former one. Tbe Zulus when beaten off by the doctor's party had returned to their chief, who had, as usua', accused them, being defeated, of cowardice, and ordered several of tbe survivors to instant execution, which was an unusual act of clemency, since a whole regiment has been known on a similar occasion to have been exterminated by order of the tyrant Tchaka, who was tbe greatest African despot ever known. They had then been reinforced and sent in pursuit of tbe white men, and probably they would have been successful had it not been for tbe vigilance of Sambo and Pompey, who, knowiDg the tort of stuff of which their countrymen were made, never relaxed their watchful care. One morning — it was the third after leaving the river — Sambo Buggested that they should climb a sharp rise, from the summit of which they could obtain a view of the surrounding country for mile 3 around. No sooner said than done, and

leaving the waggons, they had soon reached the top of a lofty eminence and eagerly scanned the surrounding district, and there, sure enough — though happily still several miles away — they could clearly make out the approach of a larße body of Zulus, their white shields flashing in the sunlight. No time was to be lost, and in an incredibly short space of time Sambo and Pompey had rejoined the train and given the alarm. In a few more minutes the oxen, willing brutes that they were, had dragged the waggons to high ground, where they were ontepanned, and a good position for defence taken up. All were on the alert. The mitrailleuse was carefully examined and loaded ; the rocket tubes were nofc forgotten on this occasion, and were laid in readiness. The spare rifles were loaded, and with bated breath they awaited the attack. Sambo and Pompey, however, were allowed to go outside the line of defence and reconnoitre, and after the lapse of a few minutes their Snider rifles were beard to ring out, and shortly afterwards the lads reappeared and reported that they had made out the main body of the enemy, which consisted of about 300 men, divided in two parties of about equal number?, one of which carried white shield**, which signified they were veterans, or "men," and the others were armed with black shields, denoting that they were bachelors or "boys." The ambition of those who carried black shields was to distinguish themselves by valour, and so become elevated to the envied position of having white shields. That they may have ample opportunity to distinguish themselves, they are invariably placed in the van when attacking. Sambo and Pompey had fired at some of the enemy's scouts, who were in unpleasant proximity, and whom it was thought well to let know that they were on dangerous ground. Tne boys believed, moreover, that their shots had proved effective. The position taken up was well chosen to reßist attack, there being no cover for the enemy, whose coming was awaited with tolerable serenity. (To be continued.)