Category: Historical Novels
I was born, as near as I can calculate, in the year 1801, at the time of the Equinoctial gales, a fact which made the old fisherwives present at my birth declare that I was marked out by the finger of Providence for a sailor.
It was, as far as I could calculate, some three hours after sunrise, before I returned to consciousness, to find myself weak and in some little pain from the bruises occasioned...
4. CHAPTER FOUR.The moon shone in over the tops of the bushes outside the cave, with a broad flood of splendid silver light, throwing fantastic shadows inside upon the minister and me, the heap...
5. CHAPTER FIVE.The stretch of country so suddenly disclosed to our view was one of surpassing loveliness. We had much diverged from our path, owing to the impervious walls of the hook thorn, a...
24. CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.Umatula leading the way, and Jack giving me the support of his arm--for what with my lame foot and the thorns having unmercifully torn my flesh, I felt weak--we all four proceed...
12. CHAPTER TWELVE.When morning dawned, and I recollected that it was the day for the elephant hunt, in which Metilulu was to bear a part, I felt by no means easy in my mind respecting the meeting...
18. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.Lying there on my sleeping-mat I contemplated my hazardous position with feelings better imagined than described. My flesh crept as I recalled the horrible torture I had seen pr...
13. CHAPTER THIRTEEN.The sun had not risen very high before the hunting party was astir and preparing to return to the kraal. The head of the elephant was left where it was to decompose, which, unde...
14. CHAPTER FOURTEEN.I must now, with the reader's permission, pass over a period of nearly six months; for to relate minutely my mode of life during that time would be but an useless recapitulation...
8. CHAPTER EIGHT.The interpreter, had been coming in search of me, and I was no little pleased to meet him, for we got on very well together. Whether Tugela's--that being his name--stay in the c...
2. CHAPTER TWO.On reaching Liverpool, the second port in Britain, the delight with which I wandered about the vast docks and quays, can be easily imagined. Here I found splendid ships--ships t...
21. CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.As may be easily conceived, the talk of our past lives, and our delight at once more being in each other's company, carried us far into the night before we would surrender ourse...
15. CHAPTER FIFTEEN.One evening, the news ran round the kraal that Metilulu, perhaps being in want of a lion skin, had issued his royal orders that a hunt of that animal should take place on the mo...
9. CHAPTER NINE.The unusual exertions of the previous day had so much fatigued me, that I did not awaken till my hut was invaded by a Kaffir, bearing a portion of the game we had killed at the...
16. CHAPTER SIXTEEN.As the warfare in which Metilulu's warriors had been engaged was looked upon as very successful, the chief ordered a review to take place on the ensuing morning, when, as was cu...
17. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.It was some time after the above that I sat just outside my hut enjoying a smoke, or rather I should not say enjoying, for I happened to be extremely sad at heart. I had now bee...
11. CHAPTER ELEVEN.The "boys," armed with the knob-kerries, had seized him, trembling but silent, in their grasp; while a decided expression of relief broke over the features of the rest. _They_,...
7. CHAPTER SEVEN.I awoke early next morning, earlier even than my companions, who laid slumbering on their mats, or beds made of stems of grass lashed together. So having nothing better to do, I...
22. CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.The next morning we three were early astir; indeed, as may be imagined, I nor Thompson had not slept much all that night, through thinking of our speedy return. Even the few pre...
20. CHAPTER TWENTY.No one but those who have lived nearly twelve months with a savage tribe can at all imagine the joy I experienced at once more looking upon the face of a white man and a fellow-...
19. CHAPTER NINETEEN.Scarcely had morning dawned, than Metilulu, surrounded by his counsellors, coming up, warmly thanked me in words full of the sincerest gratitude for having saved the lives of hi...
23. CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.On rising the next morning, and disposing of some biltongue, we again started on our journey, and got through many hours of the day with but little incident to recount, save tha...
6. CHAPTER SIX.I could not have remained unconscious long, indeed it seemed but a moment's space, when I was brought to by the excruciating pain caused by the no gentle withdrawal of the spear...
10. CHAPTER TEN.I need scarcely say that I did not stir from my hut that evening, being doubtful of doing so till I had ascertained how Metilulu had taken my refusal of his liberal offer; for l...
1. CHAPTER ONE.I was born, as near as I can calculate, in the year 1801, at the time of the Equinoctial gales, a fact which made the old fisherwives present at my birth declare that I was mark...