This was fearful intelligence to bring back, and Carrambo, being asked what it all meant, did not hesitate a moment in replying.
"It mean dis," he said; "dey tink dat you open de debbil hole again.
To-mollow dey come plenty twick and cut all you troats, foh shuah."
"Carrambo," said Duncan after a pause, "can you guide us towards Lamoo?"
"Ees, sah, I guide you foh tlue!"
"Without having to go through that gorilla-haunted forest?"
"Ees, sah, ees," was the quick reply. "I myse"f not go t"loo de folast."
"Well, Carrambo, send for the men who attend to the elephants, and we shall start this very night."
The two elephant attendants were very sincere, and when Duncan promised them clothes and beads and many fine gifts, they readily consented to go with them to the coast.
So packing was commenced without a moment"s delay.
And none too soon, as things turned out.
CHAPTER VIII.--THE BATTLE AT THE FORD.
Even Viking seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation, for while he watched with great earnestness, not to say joy, the hurried preparations for departure, he never once barked.
All was ready at last, and just a little before midnight a start was made.
Nothing had been forgotten, and luckily the two men who had charge of the elephants knew how to load these. On the first, a very large animal, was a low but strong howdah, in which were packed the instruments, spare arms, and ammunition, food, cooking utensils, rugs and wraps, &c. It was built low and of wattle, not only for lightness"
sake, but that it might not catch against any trees they might have to get under, during their long and dangerous march towards the coast.
But a strange and curious band they formed, had anyone been there to behold them. Let us count and see how many souls they numbered. Six men in all, Lilywhite and Jeannie, Viking, and the two elephants. Eleven all told.
Why, I do believe I have given a soul to each. But just listen, boys, while I, the author of this book, make a confession. The generality of us poor upstarts have an idea we are immensely superior to the beings we are all so fond of calling "the lower animals". We imagine--the majority of us, I mean--that these were all made for our use, and they are badly used accordingly. What utter rot, and what a shame! There is no great gulf fixed between us and them. Their minds differ but in degree, not in kind, from our own, and if we have a future existence, be sure and certain that your pet dog or cat that died not long ago--and whom you cannot forget--will live again also. Nothing good ever dies--only sin!
So I certainly should not think of withholding a soul from those two marvellously-wise elephants, and of course Viking was more wise and far higher in the scale of intellect than many and many a drink-besotted Englishman or Scotsman, whom I see making heavy weather and steering badly as he marches homewards of a Sat.u.r.day night.
Well, Lilywhite and Jeannie occupied the other howdah, and I"m sure I should not be mean enough to deny the possession of a soul to either.
Pray, love the lower animals, boys, for, mind you, the same G.o.d who made you made them.
"Oh happy living things! no tongue Their beauty may declare; If springs of love gush from your heart You bless them unaware."
Well, this good Somali, Carrambo, was to be depended upon. That was evident. He was indeed a strange being in many ways, and held every life but his own very cheap indeed, but he was going to be faithful to his employers. He had a certain code of morality which he considered binding on him, else he could have robbed our heroes and delivered them into Goo-goo"s hands very easily indeed. But he had no such thought.
He now walked in front, as the elephants felt their way with cautious steps adown the hill towards a ford in the stream, an attendant close by the head of each.
Carrambo did not mean to take his party through that demon-haunted forest, but by a more circuitous and safer route.
Well was it for all that they had abandoned the fort and the hill at the time they did; for the savages had worked themselves up into a kind of murderous frenzy, and determined to attack and slay the whites long before daybreak.
On looking behind them while still some distance from the ford, our boys could hear their bloodthirsty and maniacal howls, and knew they had reached the fort and found it empty.
And then they knew they were being pursued!
The full moon had now arisen, and its pure silvery light was bathing hill and glen and forest. Even the distant snow-clad mountain-peaks could be seen sparkling like koh-i-noors in its radiance.
But here is the ford, and it is quickly negotiated. None too quickly, however, for hardly are they on the other bank ere the savages had reached the stream.
A battle was now unavoidable.
So all wheeled.
Spears were thrown in a cloud from the other side, but each one missed its mark.
"Steady now, men!" cried Duncan. "Be cautious! Fire!"
It was a rattling and a most destructive volley they poured into that savage mob. The terrible shrieking increased, but it was now mingled with howls of pain and impotent rage.
Five more volleys were fired, and as the natives were crowded close together the effect was fearful.
They reeled, they turned, and were about to seek safety in flight when one painted wretch, more brave than his fellows, waving his spear aloft, dashed into the river and commenced to cross.
More than one were following, and had they succeeded in getting over, the fight would doubtless have had a sad and speedy ending.
But now something happened that at once turned the tide of battle.
Vike had hitherto been only a very interested spectator of the fight, but now, seeing that savage half-way across, with a howl and a roar he leapt into the river, and quickly ploughed his way towards him.
All the courage that the cannibal possessed deserted him at once, when he saw what he thought was an evil spirit coming towards him. With a yell that quite demoralized his companions behind, he dropped his spear and tried to rush back.
A man cannot walk in deepish water so quickly as a dog can swim, and so Viking seized him before he had gone many yards.
Do savages faint, I wonder? I never have seen one "go off", as old wives call it, and require smelling-salts and burned feathers.
Nevertheless this fellow became insensible when Vike proceeded to shake him out of his skin.
So the dog towed him in.
Carrambo drew his knife, and would have killed him at once but for Duncan"s interference.
"No, no," he shouted, "spare his life, Carrambo!"
Firing had never slackened, and now as the enemy gave way it was more rapid and deadly than ever. But in a few minutes" time there was not a savage left on the opposite bank. Only the dead, only the wounded tossing and writhing in agony in the moonlight.
There was still a chance, however, of the attack being renewed. For this reason: King Goo-goo had adopted a plan of his own for punishing those who were defeated in battle, and invariably the first half-dozen men who returned were clubbed to death. Goo-goo was rather partial to brain fritters, and cared very little whose brains contributed to this little _entree_.