CHAPTER XXXVII.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 15 May 1912, Page 2

CHAPTER XXXVII.

'A NIGHT ATTACK

We steamed away from Rosque and began our eastward journey across the Atlantic. Apart from the crew we numbered forty-two strong, every member of the party a picked man, who was offered such terms that (he considered himself lucky, and his future assured of we returned from a successful expedition. The destruction of St. Monod and the surrounding country had meant ruin for these men of Cabesterre, but now they felt that there would be sufficient for them to start the world afresh; and a man will do much to get a fair chance in life.

Our first point of contact with the West African coast was Kabinda, not far from tne mouth of the Congo, and there we found some carriers for our impedimenta. There were eighty or ninety of them, and they were ready to set forth on startlingly low terms. The negroes came in scores when it was known that we wanted carriers for the interior, so that we had our choice, and could thus dispense with the roughs, rowdies, and ruffians who offered themselves, and clamored for employment, even when they were told that the pay would be deferred until we were all assembled agajn at Kabinda, where the money they were to receive would be safely lodged.

Having thus obtained what we desired in the matter of carriers, cloths, beads, and brass wire, we sailed down the coast to our contemplated landing-place, just below the mouth of the Coanzo River; but on the first day our troubles began, and somewhat shook our faith in Peel's optimism. We had left the coast behind us, and had just come to the sihelter of a grassy ridge, sloping up in our rear, encircled by trees on that side, but open for a long distance in front of us, so that we could see ten miles or more of fertile country through which we should travel on the following day. The tent had been pitched, and Teresima., Hesketh, and I were seated at our evening meal when Peel entered hastily, without so much as a word of apology.

"There are some warriors coming round from the rigiht," he exclaimed, and almost before we had time to snatch up our rifles a score of our men from Oabesterre went swinging past, and Peel was hurrying out to put them into fighting order.

Tihe sight that met our gaze was calculated to test our courage, and as I issued through the door of the tent I wished with all my heart that I had left Teresina behind, and, failing that, had allowed the treasure of Gian Galeazzo to rot in its hiding-place in Machodi. Some five hundred warriors were approaching big, naked fellows, whose black bodies seemed to gleam in the sunlight. The spears of many were uplifted; others came with their bows half "bent, and their gestures betokened violence. Unless something transpired quickly, there was every promise of a fight which might end in serious loss to our party.

I remembered the Gemsbok Trident, and what Gian Gaieazzo said, about its certain effect on Sechele's warriors when they should sete it. Returning' to the tent, I brought it out, and passed to the front of the formidable line which our men had formed before the tent, and where they waited with their rifles ready, prepared to pick out their men and lire at the word of command. Our carriers were standing in a huddled mass, panic-stricken, but far enough behind our men to be out of reach of the spear, and ready if the fight went against us to fly into the dense forest at our tjacks.

But Khonko, my interpreter, was no coward, and when I called to him he advanced with me, his hand, however, fingering the revolver at his belt. Teresina would have gone with me, but I told her to remain in the tent and not to stir from it.

Holding up the trident, so that the sun's rays caught the gold which blazed out richly, I went forward with an appearance of ease which I did not feel. The warriors gazed at me in astonishment, but whether at my temerity or at the tridental held up so high, so that it should be seen, I could not say. They stood in long

ranks of fifty, and thus ten deep, and waited, the tips of their spears gleaming threateningly in the sun. "Call to the chief, Khoiiko," I exclaimed, as we went forward boldly. "Bid him come out and meet us." And lest the leader of the dusky warriors should suspect treachery, I held up my right hand to shew that I was unarmed.

The leader came forward at once, and as if to assure, us that he had no suspicion of treachery, he threw down his spear between us when we stood face to face. He was a splendid (specimen of the warriors of the Dark Continent, while he stood there wearing his barbaric ornaments. Huge as some of his own men were, lie was fit leader of them all in point of stature—tall and manly, the image of the splendid savage, and possessed of great physical strength. He • was as naked as when he was born, save for the ornamented apron which he wore about his loins, some coloured beads in his hair, the gold wire collar around his neck, and the narrow golden bracelet on eacb wrist.

"Whence come ye?" he cried, when he halted before me, with a couple of yards of space between us.

Khonko interpreted the question, and my reply came readily.

"I bring the Gemsbok Trident of Gian Galeazzo, and desire at once that I and my men may be led to Sechele, at Machodi."

The chieftain, at this, raised his hand, and on the instant the warriors dismissed their alertness; the lifted spears were lowered, the shields were taken from the arms and thrown to the earth, while those whose bows were drawn, ready to send their arrows on an errand of death, returned the arrows to their quivers, and stood in silent expectation.

"I am Komeh," said tihe warrior, "and I am here to keep back the enemies of the great king. But since you bring with you the golden trident you are welcome. I will take you to the king at day dawn."

That night we rested, careful, however, not to put too much trust in the friendliness that was exhibited by Komeh and his warriors. When we retired to rest our sentries were stationed round our camp, and Hesketh, Peel, and I took our turns during the night on the watch. The morning came, however, without any danger having threatened, and when we started on our journey Komeh marched with us, his warriors serving as an escort. On the way he told us of the greatness of his sovereign lord, and set forth in many a detail Sechele's marvellous prowess as a fighter. Teresina'a beauty greatly impressed him, and during the journey, which lasted many days, he contrived constantly to place Taimself at her side, as sne lay in the hammock which was borne by our carriers. Sometimes, when the road was easy she walked, and Komeh asked a hundred questions as to her white sisters in the land beyond the sea.

The journey was a varied one. At times it lay over stony and broad sandy flats, then through the bamboo forest, out of which we emerged and began to traverse tracts of land where grass and grain alternated, shewing that Sechele had no faith in his people living from hand to mouth, and starving too frequently in consequence. At times we halted at some water-pans sufficiently long for the warriors and any of our own party to slake tiheir thirst; then on we went again, making steady progress towards the goal where we were shielded from the sun's glare by skirting the forests or passing into the depths of them and thus finding shade beneath the dense foliage. At last the road led up a long, broad, stony valley, where travelling was trying to such of our company as were not used to the climate. Water was scarce and the flies treated us cruelly.

It was here that my real anxiety began, but Hesketh, at first, did not apparently see any need for it. Komeh seemed to be increasingly interested in Teresina, and whereas at times he had gone hither and thither among his warriors, alert, as though he expected an attack from an enemy, he now began to'be troublesomely attentive to her, resenting even the approach of his captains who wished to know his will as to the line of march.

(To be Continued?) Q.P. —29.