Flashman and the Zulus by Robert Brightwell

Author:Robert Brightwell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: south africa, zulu, durban, flashman
Publisher: Robert Brightwell

Chapter 15

I did not care in which direction I rode off, as long as it took me away from those devils behind me. Yet when I reached the top of a hill, I could make out the trail our army had left on its way to the river. A force of over a thousand men leaves a path a child could follow. This one would take me back to Port Natal and safety. I knew I was not out of danger yet and when I stared back the way I had come, I glimpsed half a dozen Zulus coming after me. They were a mile behind, their shields dancing as they ran over the rough ground. I knew the distances they could cover from stories I had heard at Umgungundlovu. They could keep going for hours without stopping. I urged the horse on towards the trail, trying to keep her at a steady pace that would slowly stretch our lead without wearing her out. My pursuers could follow the trail too, but I dared not strike out on my own. I did not know the country and could easily get lost or trapped in some blocked valley.

By late afternoon those hunting me were out of sight, but I did not doubt that they were still on my scent. As night fell, I was exhausted, but I dared not stop. Equally I could not risk the horse getting injured stumbling over some rock in the dark. Dismounting, I led her on by foot, making our way by the dim light of a few stars. It must have been well into the small hours when we stumbled across another river. Man and beast both needed to drink. I finally allowed us to rest on the far side, confident that I would hear anyone trying to splash across behind us.

I jerked awake with a start to the sound of a whinny. The mount was pulling against the reins I had tied to a tree and stamping its feet in alarm. The horse had woken me, but what had woken the horse? I jumped up and whispered to soothe it as I stroked its neck, my ears straining for the sound of splashing in the water. I had not meant to fall asleep and wondered how long I had been dozing. Light was just starting to appear in the eastern sky. I whirled round as I heard a deep growl from nearby. The horse was rearing now. I did not blame it, for the noise terrified me too. It sounded like a big cat – a leopard or a lion. There was still blood on my clothes; perhaps it had smelt that or the horse, thinking we were an easy meal. The creature certainly did not seem deterred by my presence. I reached up to try and calm my mount again and this time felt for the pistol O’Malley had kept in a holster on his saddle. I had checked it was loaded during our pursuit and now I slowly aimed it where the noise had come from.

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