but yet, poor dalima’s shrieks and wild cries for help had been heard.
that part of the mountain cleft, into which the hunters had plunged in pursuit of the retreating wild boars, did not extend very far, it was not longer than about a thousand yards; but the bottom of the ravine was just there exceedingly winding, and, as it followed the tortuous course of the small stream banjoe pahit, it was strewn all over with huge fragments of stone, while the dark-grey walls of volcanic trachyte towered up almost perpendicularly to the height of more than fifty or sixty yards.
in that narrow pass the scene of confusion was utterly indescribable. the grunting and squealing of the maddened herd of swine, the yelling and rattling of the beaters who, on seeing the animals charge back, had resumed their unearthly noise, the almost incessant crashing of the fire from the breech-loading rifles—all these sounds, echoing and re-echoing within that narrow rock-bound gorge, made a din which was absolutely deafening.
the hunted animals now desperate and infuriated, madly charged at the line of native beaters, who seemed to them less formidable than their european foes. for a few moments the dessa folk attempted to make a stand, and thrusting about furiously with their lances, they made some ineffectual efforts to turn the beasts back again into the ravine. but they very [228]soon had to give way before the charge of the formidable tusks, and took to their heels altogether as soon as the rifle bullets began to screech over their heads. those cylindero-conical projectiles from the new-fashioned rifles make such a horrid screaming as they speed overhead on their deadly errand, that it is no wonder they demoralised the poor natives altogether. in less than no time the line of beaters had vanished before the charge of the boars, as the mountain mist before the morning sun. the greater part of the javanese managed to swarm up the high rocky peaks, others darted up the trees; but not a single one ventured to remain within reach of the sharp tusks of the wild boars.
the animals were however greatly diminished in numbers and not very many of them succeeded, under the incessant rifle-fire, in getting clear of the pass. upward of fifteen carcases lay stretched motionless on the ground; but a far greater number had received wounds more or less severe; which, however, in that climate were sure to prove fatal.
“forward, boys, forward!” cried verstork, excited by the success they had gained; “forward, we must not let a single one of that mischievous brood escape!”
that, however, was much more easily said than done. the hunters continued to press the retreating game, and contrived to fire many a shot and to bring down many a victim; but the pigs were uncommonly fleet of foot and now that the chain of beaters was broken and there was nothing to stop them, they were soon lost to sight amid the inextricable tangle of shrubs, tree-trunks, and boulders which encumbered the bottom of the ravine. our european friends did their very utmost to keep up with the game; but it was a task which would have required nothing less than the nimbleness and dexterity of an orang-outang to accomplish, perhaps even that animal might have had to give up the pursuit.
yes, there they stood at length, dead beat, their clothes in tatters, their hands torn by the thorns through which in the heat of the excitement they had forced their way, in one word, completely pumped out and exhausted, there they stood panting and gasping for breath. at length verstork managed somewhat to recover his wind, and shouted to his friends to rally them.
“where is grashuis?” asked the controller, looking around him.
“and where is grenits?” van rheijn managed to gasp out. [229]
they were nowhere to be seen, and their friends were beginning to feel anxious about them, when a couple of rifle-shots in the distance informed the hunters that the two missing men were still obstinately bent on continuing the pursuit.
“that will never do,” said verstork, “we must go after them, one can never tell what may happen and what need there may be of assistance. but,” continued he, “can any of you tell me where the shots came from?”
every hand was raised at once; but they unfortunately all pointed in different directions. had there been hands enough they would, no doubt, have indicated every point in the compass.
“there,” said one.
“no, no, there,” cried another.
“you are wrong,” said a third, “they came from this side.”
“that’s a confounded nuisance,” said verstork much perplexed, “the shots took me quite by surprise and i really don’t know from what direction they came. we must wait a bit, perhaps they will fire again.”
“i am precious glad of it,” said van beneden, “now we can sit down and rest a bit on that rock yonder. i am regularly fagged out.”
he had not, however, a very long rest, for barely ten minutes had elapsed before another shot was heard, and this was followed almost immediately after by a second discharge. this time the reports were evidently further off than before; but there was no mistake about the direction from whence they came.
“come gentlemen,” cried verstork, as he snatched up his rifle again, “come, gentlemen, this way!”
“might we not wait a few minutes longer?” pleaded van beneden, “i am dead tired.”
“meanwhile,” said the wedono, as he pointed to the smooth trunk of a komessoe tree, “i shall get up into that tree. perhaps i may catch sight of them.”
the javanese dessa-chief was a nimble young fellow, and using his hands and feet he soon was in the top.
“can you see anything, wedono?” cried verstork.
“no, nothing yet, kandjeng toean,” was the man’s reply. “but—wait a bit—yes, there they are yonder—both of them. they are clambering along the side of the ravine still after the pigs. but it is a good way off!”
“come, gentlemen,” said the controller, “it won’t do to sit here, we must be off at once, we must try and get up to them.” [230]
meanwhile leendert grashuis and theodoor grenits had been running on ahead and were pursuing with the indomitable energy and hot enthusiasm of youth, a small family of pigs consisting of one gigantic boar, a sow and four young ones.
helter skelter they rushed on, pursuers and pursued, over and under rocks, over and right through thorny bushes, sometimes by the side of the small stream, sometimes in the water in which the animals would plunge and disappear for a moment in the whirling eddies, and then reappear again vigorously swimming and struggling. now and then, as the beasts were scrambling up the face of a rock, the two hunters would catch a momentary glimpse of their prey. then they would try to steady themselves in order to get a fair shot; but before they could pull the trigger, the beasts had again disappeared among the stones and bushes, and then after them again in spite of the heat and fatigue. this continued for a while until the old boar led his party up the steep slope of the ravine wall, evidently with the view of gaining the open field at the top along which they could fly with greater speed. but, alas for them! that move on the part of their leader gave the rifles fair play. as soon as the animals began to ascend they became visible among the stunted grass which grew on the slope, and two shots resounded almost simultaneously. one of the little ones, mortally wounded, rolled down the slope and the old sow flew madly to its assistance. but the pains the poor animal took to get its young on its legs again and to push it along were all in vain, her instinct seemed to tell her that she must hurry back along with the others in order to escape from the deadly bullets. a moment or two afterwards, another young one lost its footing and began to stumble down the slope. the mother was on the spot again and trying to help it along. it was a touching sight indeed to see that mother defending and taking care of her little one, to see how she strove to push it along very gently yet very strongly too with her pointed snout, uttering the while the most loving and encouraging grunts. but hunters have no bowels of mercy. scarcely had the pair proceeded a few yards before the two rifles cracked again, and sow and young one rolled to the very bottom of the ravine. as she fell she glared defiance at her enemies, while she kept her eye still fixed on her offspring and uttered a sharp squeal of warning to her mate above. at that moment a third shot was fired and the third little pig came rolling down to the very feet of the hunters. [231]
the boar thereupon turned to bay uttering the most fearful grunts, turning up his bristles and drawing back his lips so as to show not only his formidable tusks but also the teeth which were white as ivory and sharp as chisels. another shot was fired but missed and, when the smoke of the powder had cleared away, the boar and the only young one which was left had disappeared round a corner.
but grenits and grashuis did not for a moment think of leaving him to escape, and they at once proceeded to clamber up the steep rock in pursuit. they knew that to cut off the boar’s retreat they must gain the top before him. but they found it no child’s play. they kept on climbing with the most dogged determination; but they found the rocky slope, upon which even the split hoof of a wild boar could hardly keep a precarious foothold, a very dangerous path for a foot encased in a european boot. at length, after almost superhuman efforts, they had managed to clamber up to the top and, as they panted for breath, they anxiously looked around; but could discover not a vestige of the animals they had so painfully pursued. they had no doubt gained the top of the rock before them and had disappeared in the tangled underwood which covered the plain. to hunt any further for the fugitives would be sheer waste of time and of strength. completely fagged out with their exertions, the two friends were about to throw themselves down on the grass under the shadow of some low bushes, when suddenly grenits uttered a sharp cry. he found himself face to face with the terrible wild boar. the animal, on gaining the top of the rock with its young one, had, likewise exhausted, stretched itself out to rest, thinking it had shaken off the pursuit of its enemies. now, however, it fancied that it was attacked in its very lair, and too weary to attempt to escape, it turned to bay and, as such animals will do, when driven to fury, at once assumed the offensive.
grenits had but just time to jump aside and to bring his rifle into a position of defence. the boar nimbly avoided the bayonet thrust which theodoor aimed at it, and then furiously turning upon his foe, he charged. it was a very fortunate thing for grenits that his legs were encased in stout leather gaiters or else the sharp ripping tusk would have inflicted a terrible wound. but though the leather resisted the blow, yet such was the fury of the attack that grenits lost his balance, fell backward, and for a second was in the most deadly peril.
had he been alone, the furious beast would undoubtedly [232]have flung itself upon him and in that defenceless position he must have been ripped open in an instant. already the boar was darting at his fallen foe. for an instant theodoor shuddered as he saw his bloodshot eye and felt the hot breath of the monster in his face. then he closed his eyes and awaited the fatal thrust. but at that moment the beast uttered a wild grunt of rage and turned away from grenits to face another opponent.
all this, though it takes some time to tell, had passed with the rapidity of lightning; but short though the time was, yet leendert grashuis had been able to shove a cartridge into the breech of his gun and to bring his sword-bayonet to the charge. he had no chance of firing however, for the shot would have been much more likely to injure his prostrate friend than to kill the boar. not the fraction of a second was to be lost if he would save grenits’ life. theodoor, as we have seen, was already lying helpless on the ground and the next instant must have been fatal. then with all his might grashuis drove his bayonet at the infuriated creature. the thrust caused a painful wound but glanced off on the right shoulder blade, while the monster at once turned to confront this fresh assailant the boar then tried to deal grashuis a blow with its prominent tusks, but was caught on the bayonet. the force of the blow was such that the weapon bent like a hoop and was driven up to the muzzle into the boar’s throat. for an instant leendert thought of drawing his weapon back; but at once seeing the impossibility of doing so he pulled the trigger and the animal received the entire charge full in the head. with a terrific bound it sprang back tearing the rifle out of grashuis’ hands, then it turned round once or twice and fell down twitching convulsively in the throes of death. a few seconds afterwards, all was over.
all this had passed so quickly that the two friends scarcely realised what had happened. they stood for a second or two gazing at the death-struggle as if they were stunned and dazed; but presently the truth dawned upon them, and they began to understand how dreadful was the peril from which they had so narrowly escaped. then they embraced and congratulated one another most heartily, theodoor grenits especially felt that he had escaped death as by a miracle.
after the first excitement had somewhat abated, human infirmity began to make itself felt. the wild pursuit of the game, the oppressive heat, the painful clambering up and along [233]the ravine wall, and last but not least, the desperate hand to hand struggle, which followed this exertion, had exhausted our two friends so utterly and so completely, that they could no longer keep their feet, but flung themselves full length upon the grass.
thus they lay, panting and striving to recover their breath, when, after the lapse of a few minutes, grenits thought that in the bushes close by he caught a glimpse of the last little pig that had escaped the butchery. without taking the trouble to rise, he slipped a cartridge into his breech-loader, put his weapon to his shoulder and fired in the direction where he had fancied he had seen the little beast disappear in the bushes. the echo of the report reverberated grandly through the ravine like a clap of thunder—on and on rolled the stately sound, gradually growing fainter and fainter, until at length it died away softly rumbling in the far distance.
but the sound had not quite passed away, when grashuis, as if suddenly moved by some spring, raised himself upon his elbow:
“did you hear that?” asked he, in a tone almost of alarm.
“hear what?” said grenits, “the report of my rifle—of course i heard it.”
“no, no,” said the other, “i fancied i heard a human voice just now! listen.”
yes, yonder in the far distance, but yet audibly and distinctly was heard the cry:
“help! help! help!”
“by heaven!” cried grenits, jumping up, “that’s a woman’s voice!”
“help! help! toean!”
“a woman’s voice,” repeated grashuis, “and crying out for help! listen again.”
“help! help! toean!”
“i can see no other toeans besides ourselves. our comrades are far away in the ravine—and the voice does not come from that direction at all,” continued grashuis.
“but,” said grenits, as he looked all around, “i can see nothing anywhere, leendert!”
“no more can i,” replied the other. “the reflection from the water on those rice-fields dazzles me painfully.”
“look yonder—i fancy i can see a hut—surely the cry must have come from there,” said grashuis.
just then the cry was heard again, but much more faintly. [234]
“help! help! toean!”
“that is a woman’s voice,” repeated grenits, “she is crying to us for help.”
“but,” said grashuis, “what toeans can she be calling to?”
“what is that to me?” exclaimed grenits. “come along, some poor thing is calling for help. come along, i don’t feel a bit tired now.”
before they hastened away, the two friends cast a look at the ravine, out of which they had clambered a short time before—and there they caught sight of their comrades who were following them, and who were, in their turn, preparing to gain the summit of the rock.
grenits thereupon fired off his gun, in order to attract their attention, and when he saw that he had succeeded, he called to them, at the top of his voice, while he stretched out his arm towards the west:
“there, there!” he cried. then both hurried away.
“what did theodoor say?” asked verstork. “could you make it out?”
“not a word,” replied van nerekool, “he was much too far off; but something strange seems to have happened.”
“come let us hurry on,” said verstork.
the little party then began to toil up the steep. they were not, however, fired by the same enthusiasm which had inspired their friends, and thus they took thrice as long to accomplish the ascent. when they at length reached the summit, they could, in the distance, see grenits and grashuis running at the top of their speed between the rice-fields. the latter turned for an instant and waved his arm as if to urge his comrades to greater speed.
“help! help! toean!” was heard again, but this time the cry was so faint as to be barely audible.
the two european gentlemen had, however, by this time, got much nearer to the hut.
“come on, come on,” shouted grenits, hoping that he would urge his friends to greater speed.
“are you sure,” asked grashuis, “that we are going in the right direction? it appears to me as if we were getting further away from the sound.”
but they had no time for considering the matter, for, at that moment a female form was seen rushing from the hut and running to meet them.
“help, toean, help!” she cried, as she fell down at their feet. [235]
it was a javanese girl, whom neither grenits nor his friend recognised. with dishevelled hair and stained with blood, she rolled on the grass as she covered her face with both hands.
“help, toean, help,” she moaned.
astounded by the strange and unexpected apparition, the two hunters stood looking at the poor girl before them. in their amazement they knew not what to do. grenits, however, who could not bear to see a human being thus grovelling at his feet, took hold of the girl’s arm and tried to raise her from the ground; but she shook off his hand.
“i am ashamed,” she muttered, as she tried to cast the thick masses of hair over her bosom.
just then a man, a javanese, came darting out of the hut, and seeing the poor girl he ran up to her at once. with a rough grasp he laid hold of her arm, and strove to pull her up.
“ah!” she exclaimed; then, as she recognised the fellow, she tore herself away from him with a look of the utmost terror.
“help, toean, toean, help!” she begged, turning again to the two european gentlemen.
“let go that woman’s arm!” shouted grenits, boiling with rage.
“what have you got to do with her?” asked grashuis, who now recognised singomengolo.
“she has been smuggling opium,” replied singo, and turning to the girl he hissed in a threatening tone, “come along, will you, or else—”
“take pity on me, gentlemen, take pity on me!” cried the wretched woman.
“come along, will you!” shouted singomengolo, furiously, as he tried by main force to drag her away.
“let go that woman, i say—or else i’ll smash your skull in!” shouted grenits, raising the butt of his rifle.
meanwhile grashuis had seized singomengolo round the waist and was attempting to drag him backward.
“i am a bandoelan,” said the javanese spy, somewhat haughtily; “i am a bandoelan; you gentlemen will be sorry for having threatened me and laid hands upon me.” and, turning to the woman, he said again, “come along!”
“once again, let her go,” cried grenits, and this time in a tone of voice which plainly showed that he would stand no nonsense and was in deadly earnest. indeed he was on the point of bringing down the butt of his gun crash upon the skull of the chinaman, when he felt someone grasping his arm from behind and heard a voice whispering in his ear: [236]
“take care theodoor, take care, it is a dangerous thing to meddle with those opium fellows.”
theodoor looked round, and, to his great surprise, he saw that it was mokesuep who thus warned him.
“you, muizenkop!” cried he. “where have you sprung from?”
“i lost my way,” was the reply. “but for heaven’s sake keep cool or you will get yourself into trouble.”
“what do i care,” shouted grenits; “let go my arm, i will soon settle the matter with that confounded opium spy!”
singomengolo stood there before him with an indescribable look of ferocious malice on his evil countenance. he had laid his hand on the hilt of his kris and, proud and impetuous as he naturally was, he would undoubtedly have answered any act of violence with a stab of his knife, if indeed the first blow had not laid him senseless.
for a moment he stood glaring at the european with bold and glittering eye. then suddenly he seemed to change his mind. he released the girl’s arm, for, across the rice fields, he now saw another group advancing rapidly. in this group his quick sight had at once recognised not only the controller of banjoe pahit but also the wedono of the district, and at the sight his sallow face grew pale.
“what’s all this about?” asked verstork as he came up to the spot.
“that wretched woman has been smuggling opium, kandjeng toean,” replied singomengolo.
“that woman?”
“but—” cried van nerekool, in amazement. “but, it is dalima!”
“dalima?”
“yes dalima, the baboe of the resident.”
“good,” said van rheijn, with a laugh. “our resident keeps a baboe—a stock of feeding bottles also—no doubt!”
van nerekool turned crimson. he had not wished to say, “the baboe of the resident’s daughter.”
verstork removed one of the girl’s hands from her face.
“yes—it is indeed dalima! and you say that she has smuggled opium?” he continued, turning to singomengolo.
he made a sign to one of the wedono’s servants, who at once gave the young girl a shawl, into which she hastily wrapped herself.
“most assuredly,” replied the bandoelan, “i have searched her myself.” [237]
“indeed you have,” rejoined verstork, “and torn off her clothing in the process?”
“she would not allow—”
“and it is you then,” continued verstork, “who have so shamefully ill-treated her?”
“but what was i to do, kandjeng toean? she offered resistance, and—look here, i found this upon her!”
as he spoke, singomengolo held up to the controller’s view a small box. this little box was strangely similar to the one which, the evening before, he had delivered to verstork. indeed, if the latter had not with his own hand carefully sealed it and had not sent it off himself to santjoemeh he could have sworn that this second box was the identical one he had seen before.
“did you find that box in the girl’s possession?” asked he, very sternly.
“yes, i did,” replied singomengolo, unabashed.
“i have not smuggled opium!” cried poor dalima, still cowering on the ground. “i have not smuggled anything; they dragged me into the hut and have ill-used me shamefully.”
“but,” asked verstork, “what brought you here at all?”
“i was on my way to kaligaweh. last night some man came to the residence, he came to tell me that my father was dying. then i got leave from the njonja and from nonna anna to go and see him.”
“leave from the njonja and from nonna anna, you said?” asked verstork.
“and from nonna anna, yes, kandjeng toean,” said dalima.
“then those two ladies will be able to bear witness to that i suppose?” asked verstork.
“yes, kandjeng toean.”
“and i can bring witnesses to swear that this girl had opium in her possession,” interrupted singo.
“witnesses!” said verstork. “who are they?”
singomengolo cast a crafty look around him ere he replied. he saw mokesuep quietly entering the little hut. that gentleman had taken advantage of the confusion and had quietly sneaked away, while he had a chance to do so unperceived. he had reasons of his own for so doing; but singomengolo’s lip curled with a disdainful smile.
“just now,” quoth he, “there was a dutch gentleman here.”
“a dutch gentleman!” echoed verstork, now quite losing his temper. “a dutch gentleman! take care what you are [238]saying. are you trying to make a fool of me? i won’t stand such impudence, do you hear!”
“muizenkop was here just now,” remarked grenits interrupting him.
“muizenkop? why i have seen nothing of him all the morning!”
“i don’t know how it is,” replied grenits, “he told me something about losing his way.”
“but, what has become of him?” asked the controller.
“that i don’t know—anyhow, he was standing here a minute ago.”
“but,” continued verstork speaking to singomengolo. “you said two witnesses—who is the other?”
“lim ho,” was the fellow’s insolent reply.
“lim ho!” exclaimed van nerekool in amazement.
“and dalima in that condition! now i understand all about it!”
“lim ho has terribly ill-used me,” sobbed the poor girl “and—” but she could not utter another word.
“and?” persisted verstork.
“he and that man there held me fast.”
“you villainous brute!” shouted van nerekool as he shook his clenched fist in the wretch’s face.
“she has smuggled opium,” replied the spy without flinching. “she has smuggled opium, and i found it upon her—that is all. the gentlemen must try not to lose their tempers. the girl is simply telling a parcel of lies.”
“i do not lie,” cried dalima, “i have not smuggled—my condition shows plainly enough how they have treated me.”
at a gesture from the controller a couple of oppassers lifted up the young girl from the ground. van nerekool assisted them, and called for another covering to wrap around her.
then turning to the controller he said, “a foul outrage has been committed here—the way that poor girl has been treated is simply infamous!”
having thus for the moment taken care of dalima, the company entered the hut.
there they found mokesuep smoking a friendly cigar with lim ho. the latter’s ear was bandaged.
“so,” said verstork to mokesuep without bestowing so much as a look upon the chinaman. “so you’re here!”
“yes,” was the reply, “i am here, i lost my way this morning in the ravine and have been wandering about until i came [239]upon this hut. i then sought shelter from the burning sun. bah, how hot it is in those open fields!”
all this was said with the greatest self-possession. at the last sentence the wretch actually puffed as if he had really been suffering much from the heat.
“you have been here some time then?” asked verstork.
“well yes,” was the reply, “about half an hour i should say, if you call that some time.”
“you will be called upon to bear witness,” said the controller.
“indeed—bear witness to what?”
“a dreadful outrage has been committed on that girl,” continued verstork.
“an outrage?” asked mokesuep as if much astonished. “i know nothing at all about it.”
“nothing whatever has taken place here,” remarked singomengolo speaking in malay; for though he would not use it yet he understood the dutch language perfectly. “nothing at all has taken place here,” he repeated, “except the discovery of smuggled opium. is that true or not, babah?” the chinaman who had risen from his seat when the european gentlemen entered the hut, exchanged looks with mokesuep, but answered at once, “nothing else, kandjeng toean.”
“i am not talking to you,” said verstork to the chinaman, and then turning to mokesuep he continued.
“that girl, the baboe of the resident at santjoemeh, accuses both these men of having perpetrated a terrible crime.”
mokesuep, who did not know dalima, stood confounded when he learned who she was. the baboe of the resident! what if that high and mighty one were to take up the cause of his servant? indeed he did not know what to say or what to do.
“did you hear my words?” asked the controller very sternly and very impatiently.
the wretch caught a significant glance of lim ho who stood there audaciously puffing at his cigar.
“i have seen nothing whatever of it, controller,” he replied.
“but i,” interrupted singomengolo in a taunting tone of voice, “i accuse that baboe of having smuggled opium—i found it in her possession—the babah and the dutch gentleman can bear witness to that.”
“is that true?” asked verstork.
the chinaman did not answer at once, vile and utterly depraved [240]though he was, yet even he hesitated. he could not quite make up his mind utterly to destroy the poor girl whom he had so deeply injured. but singomengolo gave him a significant look and made him a sign which was almost imperceptible.
“yes,” said lim ho at length, “that is perfectly true.”
“is that true?” said verstork turning to mokesuep.
“yes—it is true,” replied the latter with the utmost effrontery.
“did you actually see the bandoelan find this box in the girl’s possession?”
“yes,” replied the wretch.
at this word dalima fell into a dead swoon. the other men present at the scene could not repress gestures of contempt and loathing, for all were firmly convinced of the poor girl’s innocence and of the perjured scoundrel’s infamy.
“you damned wretch!” shouted theodoor grenits beside himself with fury and utterly unable any longer to restrain himself.
a contemptuous smile, accompanied with a still more contemptuous gesture, was mokesuep’s only reply.
that was too much for grenits. “there! there!” he shouted livid with rage, “there, there! take that.” and at the words he dealt the infamous scoundrel two swinging blows in the face.
“mr. grenits! mr. grenits,” cried verstork in a dignified manner, “do pray control yourself, do not make my official duty more difficult to perform than it already is.”
