Read Ebook: The Mission by Marryat Frederick

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Ebook has 1716 lines and 109297 words, and 35 pages

Account of Sir Charles Wilmot--Loss of the Grosvenor--Sir Charles's doubts respecting the Survival of his Wife and Children--Alexander Wilmot--His Character--The Newspaper Paragraph--Details of the Wreck of the Grosvenor--Surmises as to the Fate of the Passengers

Alexander's Reflections--His Plan--Sir Charles opposes it--His unwilling Consent--Alexander's Departure

Alexander's Melancholy--Finds a Friend--Sea Sickness--Mr. Fairburn--The Passengers--Conversations--The Cape--Mr. Fairburn's Account of the Treatment of the Hottentots by the Dutch

Natural History discussed--Mr. Swinton's Enthusiasm--Further History of the Cape--Dutch Barbarity--Alexander's Indignation

Aquatic Birds--Guano--Mr. Fairburn's Narrative continued--Stuurman--Mokanna--The Attack--Failure of the Caffres

Sharks--Their Cowardice--Attack on one by Neptune--Divers' Dangers--Mr. Fairburn continues his Story--Mokanna's Fate--Disturbances among the Caffre Tribes

Mr. Swinton agrees to accompany Alexander--Land, ho!--Cape Town--Major Henderson--He joins the Party--Begum--Chaka's History

Night in Algoa Bay--The Major meets Maxwell--Preparations to start--The Caravan--Description of it--The Departure

The Plans of the Adventurers--Big Adam's Bravery--Milius--His Refreshments--What his House contained--Speech to the Hottentots--The Bushman Boy, Prince Omrah

Wild Beasts--Insubordination of the Hottentots--Danger from Elephants--Their hideous Shrieks--Big Adam's Terror--Lieutenant Hoodie's wonderful Escape--Sagacity of the Elephant--Intentions of the Party

Arrival at Mr. S.'s Station--The Quarrel between Hinza and Voosani--An Escort proposed--The Caffre Character--The Sabbath--Painful Position of a Missionary's Wife

The Royal Visit--Mutual Civilities--The Band of Warriors--Hippopotami--Their Carcasses--Omrah's Cunning--The Trick--Big Adam sulky--A narrow Escape--Preparations for the Hunt

Look out--The Signal--The Major's Nerve--Charge upon the Camp--Hottentots drunk--Begum's Uneasiness--Signs of Danger--Lions' Sagacity--Anecdotes

A Storm--Sober again--Elephant Steak--Omrah's Tricks--Man-eaters--A horrible Adventure--The Sleepers awakened

Quah! quah!--Alexander's and the Major's Danger--A critical Situation--Omrah's Presence of Mind--Divine Worship--Instruction of Caffres--Advance of the Enemy--Panic of the Natives--Refusal to proceed--The tables turned--The Council--Submission--Arrangements

An Expedition--Rumors of War--Judicious Advice--Daaka's Hut--The Interview with Daaka--Explanations--Remains of the Grosvenor--The Mystery solved--Alexander's Joy--The Wagons again--The Major's Fortress--Plans for the Future

Quetoo's Movements--Destruction of his Army--The Return--Plenty of Sport--The Warriors rewarded--Precautions--Antelopes--The Victim--A large Meal

Conversation--Gnoos--Five Lions--Thirst quenched--Ferocity of the Hyena--Anecdotes--Preparations for a Chase

A practical Joke--A lucky Escape--History of the Mantatees--Mantatee Courage--A final Slaughter--Discussions--Swinton's Account of Africaner

Omrah's Intelligence--Lion-hunting--Silence and Caution--An unpleasant Surprise--Self-sacrifice of a Gemsbok--Swinton's Story continued--Conversation on Lions--Anecdotes--Big Adam punished

Interview with Bushmen--A shrewd Surmise--A Herd of Buffaloes--A providential Escape--A Scene--Swanevelt in Danger--Conversation--A Story

Overpowering Heat--Divine Service--An Intrusion--The poisoned Lion--Discussion on venomous Reptiles--Lizard shot--Swinton's Information to his Companions

A good Shot--Water scarce--Omrah in Trouble--Turtle Soup--Sufferings--Sufferings at an end--An earthly Paradise

Aspect of the Country--Chase of a Rhinoceros--Omrah's Plan succeeds--A Lion's Leap--Account of a Rhinoceros-Hunt--Elands shot--A Lioness attacked--The Lion's Skin awarded--An expiring Effort

Swinton's Astonishment--A Dialogue--Maternal Affection--An Alarm--Griquas fallen in with--The Message to Moselekatsee--Fire!--The Matabili King--Expectations

Chase of a Giraffe--Proposed Retreat--The Major's Object attained--Treachery--Treachery defeated--Omrah's Scheme--Hopes of Water disappointed

Further Progress--The Horses and Oxen break away--The Pursuit--Hopes and Fears--The Caravan lost--Intense Heat--Omrah's Courage--A Temporary Relief--Despair--Water at last obtained--Swinton's Signals answered

Panic produced by a Lion--Omrah's and Big Adam's Predicament--A Lion's Mode of stimulating his Appetite--A Meeting with Bushmen--Cattle stolen--Recovery attempted--Oxen poisoned--Death of Piets--Arrival at Cape Town

Parting Scenes--Alexander and the Major embark--Alexander's Arrival at Home--He relates his adventures--Sir Charles's Health gradually declines--His Presents to Swinton and the Major--His Death--Conclusion

THE MISSION, OR SCENES IN AFRICA.

THE EXPEDITION.

It was in the autumn of the year 1828, that an elderly and infirm gentleman was slowly pacing up and down in a large dining-room. He had apparently finished his dinner, although it was not yet five o'clock, and the descending sun shone bright and warm through the windows, which were level with the ground, and from which there was a view of a spacious park, highly ornamented with old timber. He held a newspaper in one hand, and had the other behind his back, as if for support, for he was bent forward, and looked very feeble and emaciated.

After pacing for some time, he sat down in an easy chair and remained in deep thought, holding the newspaper in both his hands.

This old gentleman's name was Sir Charles Wilmot. He had in early life gone out to India as a writer, and after remaining there for a few years, during which he had amassed a handsome fortune, was advised to leave the country for a time on account of his health. He returned to England on furlough, and had not been there more than six months when the death, without issue, of his eldest brother, Sir Henry Wilmot, put him in possession of the entailed estates and of the baronetcy.

This was a heavy blow with which it pleased God to visit him in his prosperity, and was almost a total wreck of all his hopes and anticipations. But he was a good man and a religious one, and he bowed in humility to the dispensation, submitting with resignation to his loss, and still thankful to Heaven that it had graciously spared one of the objects of his affections to console him, and to watch his declining years.

Sir Charles, in a state of feverish anxiety, as soon as he heard of their arrival, hastened up to town to question these men; and the result of his interrogatories fully convinced him that he was now quite bereaved and childless. This was the last blow and the most severe; it was long before he could resign himself to the unsearchable dispensations of Providence; but time and religion had at last overcome all his repining feelings,--all disposition to question the goodness or wisdom of his Heavenly Father, and he was enabled to say, with sincerity, "Not my will, but Thine be done."

But although Sir Charles was thus left childless, as years passed away, he at last found that he had those near to him for whom he felt an interest, and one in particular who promised to deserve all his regard. This was his grand-nephew, Alexander Wilmot, who was the legal heir to the title and entailed property,--the son of a deceased nephew, who had fallen during the Peninsular war.

We left him in deep and painful thought, with the newspaper in his hands. His reveries were interrupted by the entrance of Alexander Wilmot, who resided with him, being now twenty-two years of age, and having just finished his college education. Alexander Wilmot was a tall, handsome young man, very powerful in frame, and very partial to all athletic exercises; he was the best rower and the best cricketer at Oxford, very fond of horses and hunting, and an excellent shot; in character and disposition he was generous and amiable, frank in his manner, and obliging to his inferiors. Every one liked Alexander Wilmot, and he certainly deserved to be liked, for he never injured or spoke ill of any body. Perhaps his most prominent fault was obstinacy; but this was more shown in an obstinate courage and perseverance to conquer what appeared almost impossible, and at the greatest risk to himself; he was of that disposition that he would hardly get out of the way of a mad bull if it crossed his path, but risk his life probably, and to no purpose; but there is no perfection in this world, and it was still less to be expected in a young man of only twenty-two years of age.

"Well, uncle, I've conquered him," said Alexander, as he came into the room, very much heated with exercise.

"Conquered whom, my boy?" replied Sir Charles.

"The colt; I've backed him, and he is now as gentle as a lamb; but he fought hard for two hours at least."

"Why should you run such risk, Alexander, when the horsebreaker would have broke him just as well?"

"But not so soon, uncle."

"I did not know that you were in such want of a horse as to require such hurry; I thought you had plenty in the stable."

"So I have, uncle, thanks to you, more than I can use; but I like the pleasure--the excitement."

"There you state the truth, my dear Alexander; when you have lived as long as I have, you will find more pleasure in quiet and repose," replied Sir Charles, with a heavy sigh.

"Something has disturbed you, my dear uncle," said Alexander, going up to Sir Charles and taking his hand; "what is it, sir?"

"You are right, Alexander; something has unsettled me, has called up painful feelings and reminiscences; it is that paragraph in the newspaper."

Alexander was now as subdued almost as his uncle; he took a chair and quietly read the paragraph.

"Do you think there is any foundation for this, my dear sir?" said he, after he had read it.

"It is impossible to say, my dear boy; it may be so, it has often been asserted before. The French traveler Le Vaillant states that he received the same information, but was prevented from ascertaining the truth; other travelers have subsequently given similar accounts. You may easily credit the painful anxiety which is raised in my mind when I read such a statement as this. I think I see my poor Elizabeth, the wife or slave to some wild savage; her children, merciful Heaven! my grandchildren, growing up as the brutes of the field, in ignorance and idolatry. It is torture, my dear Alexander--absolute torture, and requires long prayer and meditation to restore my mind to its usual tone, and to enable me to bow to the dispensations of the Divine will."

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