Perils in the Transvaal and Zululand, Page 2

he lived in this neighbourhood,and was a very estimable man, and skilful in his profession, but verypoor. He married Farmer Wylie's daughter, a well-to-do man, and able togive his daughter Agnes a very comfortable portion, particularly as shewas his only child. But he set himself against the marriage, forbade itfor several years, and at last only agreed because he saw nothing couldchange his daughter's mind. But he would give her nothing more than ahundred pounds, to buy her wedding clothes and help furnish the house.A country doctor's practice is not very profitable, and Mr Rivers,though not an extravagant, was not a saving man. They found it hardwork to live, still harder when their children began to grow up. Georgewas born to them two years after their marriage, and Thyrza two yearsafter that."

  "Thyrza, did you say?" interposed Mr Rogers suddenly.

  "Yes, Thyrza," said the Doctor. "It was an unusual name, but I believeit was her father's fancy. Well, Mr and Mrs Rivers got poorer andpoorer. He had sent George to the college here. The lad was clever andhard-working, and he obtained a scholarship, which went a long waytowards paying his schooling. But Mr Rivers called upon me one day,when George was between sixteen and seventeen, and told me that he couldnot longer afford to pay even the slight cost of his son's education.He had had an interview with his son, he said, and had told him thetruth. I was interested in the lad, and told Mr Rivers that whateverschool fees there were would be remitted in the case of his son. Thepoor man was very grateful; but when he reached home with the good news,he found it had come too late. The boy had disappeared, no one knewwhither. It was not for nearly a month afterwards that a letterarrived, saying that he had resolved he would no longer be a charge uponhis parents' scanty means. He had therefore gone on board a ship boundfor Australia. He meant to work his passage out there before the mast,and when out there hoped to be able to find employment enough to keephimself. As soon as he reached his destination, they should hear fromhim again. Mrs Rivers brought me this letter, in the hope that I mightbe able to assist her. She was wrapt up in this boy, and his departurehad nearly broken her heart.

  "`We could bear anything,' she said to me, `if he was only with us.'

  "I promised that I would write to the owners of the ship in which he hadsailed, and make arrangements for his return to England on the earliestopportunity. But a series of misfortunes ensued, which I have oftenwondered that she survived. First of all, there was a terrible fire, bywhich Mr Rivers' house was burnt to the ground. No life was lost, butthere was heavy loss, and, what was worse, Mrs Rivers was severelyburned. One arm was so much injured that it was thought for a long timeshe would lose the use of it, and the scars on her wrist and thumb willnever be erased."

  Mr Rogers again started, and was on the point of speaking. But hechecked himself, and allowed the Doctor to go on.

  "Before she had recovered from her wounds came the news that the_Boomerang_, in which George had sailed, had been wrecked. The crew hadtaken to the boats, some of which had landed safe on the Australiancoast; but others, it was feared, were lost. Mr Rivers could not bearup against this continual current of misfortune. He took to his bed,lingered some weeks, and then died. That his widow did not speedilyfollow him has, as I have already intimated, always been a matter ofwonder to me. I think the necessity of living for the sake of herdaughter was the only thing that bore her up. She was left, of course,quite penniless. I had the not very pleasant task of calling upon oldFarmer Wylie to inform him of his daughter's destitute condition. Theold man had turned more and more against the match, as it became evidentthat the Riverses were not thriving in the world. Mr Rivers had felthurt and affronted at the language used by his father-in-law; and forthe last few years all intercourse had been broken off. But it was nownecessary to apply to him. I rode over accordingly, but found I hadgone on a bootless errand. Old Wylie himself was dangerously ill, anddied within a few days, never having recovered consciousness. When hiswill was opened, it was found that his whole property had beenbequeathed to the county hospital. There was a small sum which hadbelonged to his wife, which it was agreed might be made over to hisdaughter. It was enough to pay her husband's debts, and leave her abouta couple of hundred pounds. She resolved with this to emigrate toAustralia."

  "That was a strange resolution, was it not, under the circumstances?"remarked Mr Rogers.

  "I think it was, but she had a reason for it. She fancied that heruncle Christopher, who had gone thither many years before, might stillbe living there. I believe, too, that the sight of the familiar scenesaround her, associated as they were in her mind with her husband andson, were more than she could endure. At all events she went, andarrived safely in the colony. She wrote to apprise me of it, but Inever heard from her again. Nor have I ever been able to discover whatbecame of her, except that she left Australia soon afterwards."

  "And what of George, then?" asked Mr Rogers, who had become interestedin the narrative.

  "He returned to England about six months after his mother's departure.The boat in which he had left the _Boomerang_ had been driven out of itscourse, and had at last reached the Island of Timor. Thence George hadobtained a passage to Singapore, and thence again home. He came to mein great distress. His father's death and his mother's departure fromEngland had been terrible shocks to him. His first thought, of course,was of immediately joining his mother, wherever she might be. But Ipointed out to him that it would be better for him to wait until wecould learn more of her movements. All that I had heard at that timewas that she had left Australia soon after her arrival there, her uncle,Mr Christopher Wylie, having gone somewhere else, though no one seemedto know where. Probably, however, she would write home again.Meanwhile, inquiry might continue to be made. George, who was nownearly eighteen, had better re-enter the college for a year. A smalllegacy left him by a relative would enable him to pay for his board, andthe school fees we remitted. He agreed to this, and continued in theschool for a year and a half, after which I found him some employment asan extra junior master. He has continued his studies, and is now a verytolerable scholar."

  "And he has never discovered his mother's present residence?"

  "Never. A friend in Swan River, to whom I wrote, made every inquiry,but could only learn what I have already told you, that Mrs Rivers wentaway soon after her arrival. She had discovered some clue, it wasthought, to her uncle's new place of abode. But even that isconjecture."

  "And what does the lad propose to do with himself?" asked Mr Rogers."He will not, I suppose, remain here much longer."

  "No. He will go away at midsummer. He wanted to go at once, but Iurged his remaining until the end of the half-year. Indeed, there arepreparations which must be made before undertaking a long voyage."

  "He is going to Australia, then?"

  "Yes. He thinks that, although Mr Welstead's inquiries failed toelicit the required information, he himself might be more successful. Idon't agree with him; but it would be hard to discourage him."

  "And if he finds his mother and sister?"

  "Then he would buy a little land with what remains of his cousin'slegacy, and settle in the colony with his relatives, combining farmingwith a clergyman's work."

  "A clergyman's work? Has he any fancy for that?"

  "Yes, a very decided one. He is one of those who are anxious to dogood, but who combine with it an impatience of settled habits of life,and a thirst for novelty and adventure. I do not know how to blame him.He has all the qualities that would fit him for the course on which hedesires to enter. He is resolute, intelligent, and ready; capital atall field sports and outdoor exercises; capable of bearing considerablefatigue and hardships without murmuring; and withal extremelyaffectionate and right-minded. Whatever purpose he might conceive, hewould be pretty sure to carry out, and, unless under very exceptionalcircumstances, successfully."

  "Indeed!" said Mr Rogers. "Then he is certainly the man for thecolonies. Well, Stansfield, I have not interrupted you, because Iwanted particularly to hear the whol
e of this story; but you will besurprised, I think, to hear that I not only know the place where youngRivers' mother and sister are living, but am myself personallyacquainted with them."

  "With Mrs Rivers and her daughter!" exclaimed the headmaster insurprise. "I thought you said just now that you knew no one of thatname?"

  "Nor do I," said Mr Rogers; "but I do know a Mrs Mansen, the wife of aDutch farmer, who lives at one of my farms, only a short distance frommy station. She has a daughter named Thyrza Rivers, whose agecorresponds nearly with that of the Thyrza of your story."

  "It is an uncommon name," said the headmaster. "Still there might betwo persons so called."

  "No doubt. But you said the mother had been disfigured in the hand by asevere burn. Mrs Mansen is a handsome woman past forty; but she hasjust such a scar as you describe on her wrist. But did I understand youto say her Christian name was Agnes?"

  "Yes," said Dr Stansfield; "I am pretty sure it is. But anyway it willbe in the School Register. Yes," he added, taking a book down; "here itis: `September 24, 18--. George, son of George and Agnes Rivers,admitted.'"

  "Then I think there can be no doubt of the identity," said Mr Rogers."Mrs Mansen's name is certainly Agnes. She had occasion to sign hername before me, as a magistrate, a twelvemonth ago, and I remember itperfectly. Mrs Mansen, too, had lost, or rather, believed she had losther only son, at sea. Well, this simplifies matters, I think,considerably. I conclude this young fellow will give up all idea ofproceeding to Australia, and betake himself to Mansen'splace--`Spielman's Vley,' as it is called--instead?"

  "Spielman's Vley," repeated the Doctor. "Is that in Natal or inZululand?"

  "It is in neither. My station--Umvalosa--is just on the very borders ofthe three countries, Zululand, Natal, and the Transvaal; and Spielman'sVley lies a short distance only to the north-west, in the Transvaal. Itis one of the places which my chaplain,--as I call him,--Lambert,continually visits."

  "Ay; his visitations are rather different, I expect, from those of ourparochial clergy?"

  "Very different. There are at least a dozen places round Umvalosa,which, but for him, would be wholly without spiritual care. He visitsthese in regular order, as well as he can; but some of them only get aservice once in two months or so. Unless there is some special reason,such as some one on his deathbed wanting him, he is unable to visit themoftener."

  "That must cause a good deal of spiritual deadness," observed DrStansfield. "They must soon forget all about his visits."

  "Ah, so you in England fancy; but nothing can be further from the fact.If the parson's visits were looked for in England as they are in myneighbourhood, the English Church would be in a very different position.Our people never forget the day when Mr Lambert is due. They willcome a long distance, and in all weathers, to be present at theservices. But that is human nature after all. What a man can have forthe asking, he cares little about, let it be ever so valuable; what hecan only get by taking much trouble and incurring great risk, that heappreciates. But this has nothing to do with young Rivers. I think Iought to see him, and tell him my conjectures--or rather, I think I maysay, my decided convictions--as to the identity of his mother with MrsMansen."

  "Of course," returned the Doctor. "He must judge for himself; but itappears to me to be a clear case."

  "Well, but there is something further. If he is convinced that I amright, he will, I conclude, set out shortly--not for Australia, but forSouth Africa."

  "No doubt of that," assented the headmaster.

  "In that case I shall make him an offer, which I hope he will accept. Itold you it was the political aspect of things that had brought me homea month or two sooner than I had originally intended; but I had otherreasons besides. I wanted to get one or two young men, who would takesituations as schoolmasters and readers, and who might ultimately beordained, and serve churches out there, which I believe I can contriveto get built. Now this lad seems to be the very person I am lookingafter. I could put him into a small farm, which he could cultivate withthe help of some natives, and there would be a salary enough to keep himuntil the farm began to pay. That it would soon do if he was capableand painstaking, as by your account he is."

  "He is all that, I can answer for it. If any young fellow is morelikely than another to succeed in such a position, it is George Rivers."

  "Very good. If he engages with me, I shall undertake to provide hisoutfit, and pay his passage to Durban and from thence to Umvalosa. Buthe must make up his mind at once. I must leave this place for Londonto-morrow."

  "You had better see him without loss of time. He was to go out for ashort walk with his friend, Reginald Margetts; but he will be back bydinner-time. I think he will probably accept your offer. I shouldcertainly advise him to do so."

  Dr Stansfield proved to be right in his anticipations. George was atfirst inclined to be somewhat sceptical as to the identity of his motherwith Mrs Mansen, and also made many inquiries as to the man who,according to Mr Rogers' theory, was her second husband. He was toldthat Ludwig Mansen was a very worthy man, well educated, and muchrespected. George would find him a very desirable relative. He was notrich, but in good circumstances. He and Mrs Mansen were generallythought to live very happily together. As regards himself, Mr Rogersknew that his mother had never ceased to deplore his death, which shesupposed had certainly occurred, and that his reappearance would be likenew life to her. If George had had no other reason for accepting MrRogers' offer, this would have been sufficient to induce him to do so;in fact, the desire of meeting her again grew so greatly on him, that itwas with difficulty that he could bring himself to consent to the delayof five or six weeks, which Mr Rogers had declared to be necessary formaking the required arrangements. His passage was taken in the _ZuluQueen_,--Captain Ranken, commander,--a large vessel carrying a cargo toDurban, and taking a few first-class passengers at a lower rate than wasusually charged by the great steam companies.

  About a week after Mr Rogers' departure for London, Redgy Margetts cameto Rivers with a letter, which he had that morning received from hisfather.

  "All right," he said, "old fellow! The governor has given his consent,like a brick, as he is!"

  "Given his consent to what, Redgy?" inquired George with surprise.

  "To my sailing with you for Durban in the _Zulu Queen_" answeredMargetts. "I hoped from the first that he would; but I said nothingabout it till I was sure."

  "You go to the Transvaal, Redgy!" exclaimed Rivers. "What should takeyou there?"

  "Oh, I have always intended to go out to one of the colonies. There isnothing for any one to do in England, you know; and it will be veryjolly having you for my messmate and fellow-settler."

  "It will be very jolly for _me_ anyway," said Rivers, shaking himheartily by the hand. "I really think the thing is quite perfect now."

  CHAPTER TWO.

  The _Zulu Queen_ had cleared the Channel and the Bay of Biscay, and wassomewhere about abreast of Lisbon, when Redgy Margetts came on deck tojoin his friend Rivers. The latter was a good sailor, and had someconsiderable experience of the sea. Even the Channel and the Bay,though they had been more than usually rough, had not discomposed him.But the other passengers, of whom there were not more than seven oreight on board, had had a bad time of it. Two Dutch gentlemen, whosenames he had discovered to be Vander Heyden and Moritz, had not lefttheir cabin, and Rivers had heard their groans very distinctly throughthe thin partition of the cabin. Redgy, whose berth was immediatelyunder his own, had been almost as bad, and had only been comforted byGeorge's assurances that when they were well south of Cape Finisterre,his troubles would be at an end.

  The prophecy seemed likely now to be fulfilled. The ship had ceased topitch and roll, and the bright sky and warm sun were delightful afterthe confined gloom of the cabin. It was a grand sight indeed that metRedgy's eyes as he stepped on deck. There was the vast blue dome above,hardly flecked by a single cloud. There was the illimitable oceanbelow, the
waves dancing gaily in the sunshine, and in the distance thecoast of Portugal, lying like a soft cloud, through which some shadowyoutlines of the mountains were visible.

  "Well, this is jolly enough!" exclaimed Margetts, as he seated himselfby his friend's side. "If the voyage is going to be like this, therewon't be so much to complain of."

  "It _will_ be like this, only a little warmer--a good deal warmer--whenwe get in the tropics," said Rivers. "But otherwise the appearance ofthings won't be greatly different from this for a good many weeks tocome. How are the Dutchmen, Redgy? Have they ceased groaning?"

  "I haven't heard them this morning," returned Margetts. "I fancy theyare getting up. The lady has been the worst, I believe."

  "Lady! I didn't know there was a lady on board. What, is she the bigDutchman's wife?"

  "No, sister. I heard the second biggest Dutchman call to the other, andtell him his sister wanted him!"

  "Do you know their names, Redgy? I only saw them for a few minutes whenthey came aboard at Plymouth. I didn't see the lady at all. I supposeshe must have gone straight down into her cabin."

  "I know nothing but their Christian names," returned Redgy. "The bigone is called Henryk, and the other Frank, or, as they pronounced it,Vrank. The lady, I