Benita, an African romance eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 282 pages of information about Benita, an African romance.

Benita, an African romance eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 282 pages of information about Benita, an African romance.

Benita thought a moment.  She wished to escape from Mr. Meyer, of whom she was weary and afraid, and would have endured much to do so.  On the other hand, her father was tired out, and needed rest; also to turn his back upon this venture now would have been a bitter blow to him.  Moreover, lacking cattle and men, how was it to be done?  Lastly, something within her, that same voice which had bidden her to come, seemed to bid her to stay.  Very soon she had made up her mind.

“Father, dear,” she said, “thank you for thinking of me, but as far as I can see, we should run more risks trying to get away than we do in stopping here.  I wanted to come, though you warned me against it, and now I must take my chance and trust to God to bring us safe through all dangers.  Surely with all those rifles the Makalanga ought to be able to hold such a place as this against the Matabele.”

“I hope so,” answered her father; “but they are a timid folk.  Still, though it would have been far better never to have come, I think with you that it is best to stay where we are, and trust to God.”

X

THE MOUNTAIN TOP

If our adventurers, or any of them, hoped that they were going to be led to the secret places of the fortress that day, they were destined to disappointment.  Indeed, the remainder of it was employed arduously enough in unpacking rifles, and a supply of ammunition; also in giving to a few of the leading Makalanga preliminary lessons in the method of their use, a matter as to which their ideas were of the vaguest.  The rest of the tribe, having brought their women and children into the outer enclosure of the ancient stronghold, and with them their sheep and goats and the few cattle which remained to them, were employed in building up the entrance permanently with stones, a zigzag secret path upon the river side, that could be stopped in a few minutes, being now their only method of ingress and egress through the thickness of the walls.  A certain number of men were also sent out as spies to discover, if possible, the whereabouts of the Matabele impi.

That there was some impi they were almost sure, for a woman who had followed them reported that the injured captain, Maduna, and his companion had been met at a distance of about three miles from Bambatse by a small party of Matabele, who were hiding in some bushes, and that these men had made litters for them, and carried them away; whither she did not know, for she had not dared to pursue them further.

That night Benita passed in the guesthouse, which was only a hut rather larger than the others, while the two men slept in the waggon just outside.  She was so tired that for a long while she could not rest.  Her mind kept flying back to all the events of the day:  the strange words of that mystic old Molimo, concerning herself; the arrival of the brutal messengers and the indaba that followed; then

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Benita, an African romance from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.