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Chapter 6 – Creating a Form on a Web Page

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A(n) ____ control is any type of input mechanism on a form.

a. variable c. parameter
b. input d. form
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

2. Which of the following controls sends a form to a server for processing?

a. enter c. send
b. reset d. submit
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

3. Which of the following controls returns all input controls to the default status?
a. clear c. reset
b. empty d. new
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

4. Which of the following controls is identical to text fields used for single-line data entry?
a. submit c. password
b. textarea d. radio
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

5. Which of the following controls creates a drop-down menu of choices from which a visitor chooses?
a. select c. menu
b. option d. choice
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

6. Which of the following attributes, when used with the text tag, determines the number of characters
that display on a form?
a. character c. width
b. size d. dimension
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

7. The ____ attribute of the text tag specifies the maximum length of the input field.
a. size c. maxlength
b. limit d. control
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

8. A ____ input control is either a radio button, a check box, a Submit button, a Reset button, or a
selection menu.
a. select c. capture
b. data d. list
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

9. In a ____ box, a visitor may enter small amounts of text.

 a. capture c. text
b. link d. textarea
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

10. The text control has two attributes: ____.

a. cols and rows c. size and maxlength
b. post and get d. width and height
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

11. In a radio control each choice is preceded by a radio ____.

a. menu c. button
b. bar d. either b or c
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

12. A radio button typically displays as which of the following?

a. bullet c. small rectangle
b. open circle d. none of the above
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

13. A ____ control creates a list item in a list from which only one item can be chosen.
a. select c. list
b. solo d. radio
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

14. The type="____" attribute specifies that the type of control is the radio button.
a. radio c. option
b. check d. circle
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

15. With a checkbox control, the default can be changed so a particular check box is preselected as the
default, by using the ____ attribute and value within the <input> tag.
a. chosen c. checked
b. default d. preselect
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

16. The use of which of the following controls prevents the visitor’s having to type information into a text
field?
a. text c. password
b. textarea d. select
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 289

17. A(n) ____ control creates a selection menu of choices from which a visitor selects one or more
choices.
a. select c. radio
b. option d. checkbox
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: HTML 289

18. ____ controls are similar to text controls, except that they allow multiple lines of text input.
 a. Password c. Capture
b. Textarea d. Either a or b
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 289

19. The textarea control has two primary attributes: ____.

a. rows and cols c. size and width
b. size and maxlength d. select and option
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: HTML 289

20. It is a good rule of thumb to keep the number of columns in a textarea to ____ or fewer.
a. 10 c. 25
b. 15 d. 50
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 289

21. The ____ attribute identifies the specific information that is being sent when the form is submitted for
processing.
a. spec c. target
b. name d. this
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 290

22. All controls except one have a ____ attribute.

a. name c. value
b. link d. select
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 290

23. The <____> tag defines the text that displays in the grouping borders.
a. key c. cluster
b. legend d. aggregate
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291

24. The ____ attribute of the <form> tag indicates the URL for the action to be completed by the server.
a. method c. action
b. process d. http
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291

25. There are two primary methods to send the form to the server to be processed: ____
a. send and put c. get and put
b. get and post d. CGI and HTML
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 294

26. Which of the following is a program written in a programming language (such as Perl) that
communicates with the Web server?
a. HTML function c. URL imagemap
b. CGI script d. post method
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 294

27. The ____ attribute of the <form> tag specifies the manner in which the data entered in the form is sent
to the server to be processed.
 a. process c. http
b. server d. method
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 294

28. The two values of the ____ attribute in HTML are get and post.
a. process c. http
b. server d. method
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 294

29. The ____ method sends the name-value pairs to the end of the URL indicated in the action attribute.
a. get c. post
b. base d. serv
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: HTML 294

30. The size=“2” attribute means which of the following?

a. two characters will appear, but more may be entered, depending on the maxlength attribute
b. one character will appear, and the second will be truncated
c. two characters will appear, and no more may be entered
d. at most, two characters can be entered
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: HTML 296

31. The default type for the <input /> tag is a ____.
a. radio button c. text box
b. checkbox d. textarea
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 297

32. If no ____ attribute value is specified, a selection menu initially displays only one option, along with a
list arrow to view other choices in the list.
a. default c. size
b. choice d. checked
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 300

33. If a selection menu includes the size attribute with a value of 3, ____ choice(s) will appear in the
menu.
a. one c. three
b. two d. four
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 301

34. If the ____ attribute was not used to create a selection menu, the Web page visitor will be allowed to
select only one choice in the menu.
a. several c. choices
b. many d. multiple
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 302

35. Form controls are useless unless the information entered in the form can be submitted for ____.
a. concatenation c. aggregation
b. processing d. all of the above
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 304
 36. Which of the following tags gives you the option of using an image for a Submit button, rather than
using the default button style?
a. <option> c. <modify>
b. <image button> d. <button>
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 304

37. The <form method=post action=mailto:ahs@isp.com> tag designates that the ____ method will be
used to send data to the appropriate location for processing.
a. mailto c. post
b. form d. action
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 304

38. Which of the following characters strings together all of the form responses?
a. & c. @
b. ! d. %
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: HTML 305

39. Which of the following buttons deletes any data previously typed into text or textarea fields?
a. New c. Clear
b. Restore d. Reset
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 305

40. Which of the following attributes specifies a reset button?

a. type=“option” c. reset=“type”
b. master=“reset” d. type=“reset”
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 305

MULTIPLE RESPONSE

Modified Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following is a main component of a Web page form?

a. input controls c. link to a major search engine
b. <form> tag d. Submit button
ANS: A, B, D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

2. A text input control is a ____ box.

a. link c. password text
b. textarea d. text
ANS: B, C, D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

3. Which of the following controls creates a list item?

a. checkbox c. list
b. radio d. dropdown
ANS: A, B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

4. A password always appears as a series of which of the following?

 a. characters c. bullets
b. asterisks d. ampersands
ANS: A, B, C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

5. When a Web page visitor clicks the Submit button on the form, which of the following is sent to be
processed?
a. parameters of the control
b. value of the data contained with the control
c. dimensions of the field
d. name of the control
ANS: B, D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 290

MODIFIED TRUE/FALSE

1. A text control creates a text box that is used for a single line of input. _________________________

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

2. By default, all check boxes are pre-selected. _________________________

ANS: F, deselected

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

3. The reset input control sends the information from a form to the appropriate location for processing.
_________________________

ANS: F, submit

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 290

4. A Web page form must include a Reset button. _________________________

ANS: F, Submit

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 290

5. The paragraph input control creates a multiple-line field for a relatively large amount of text.
_________________________

ANS: F, textarea

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291

TRUE/FALSE

1. Using a Web page form for user input reduces the potential for errors because customers enter data or
select options from the form included directly on the Web page.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 284

 2. A select input control creates a series of check boxes for Web visitors to use.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

3. The maximum length of a text field may exceed the size of the field that displays on the form.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

4. Each choice in a check box list can be either on or off.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

5. A checkbox control allows a Web page visitor to select only one choice from a list of choices.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

6. Multiple radio buttons in the same group can be set to a checked state at the same time.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

7. With check boxes, only one option can be selected at a time.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

8. It is a good rule of thumb to use between 50 and 100 columns of text in a textarea field.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 289

9. The resume and send controls create the Reset and Submit buttons.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 290

10. A Web page form must include a Reset button.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 290

11. For a textarea field, no value attribute is possible because of the variability of the input.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 290

12. All options in a selection menu are contained within the <select> and </select> tags.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 292

13. HTML5 includes new attributes for the <input /> tag.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291

14. The value attribute of the <input /> tag is optional for radio and checkbox controls.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291

15. Few Web sites use CGI scripts to process forms because this is an inefficient way to handle the data
that is sent to a form.
 ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 293

16. The get method sends the name-value pairs to the end of the URL indicated in the action attribute.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 294

17. The post method is a program written in a programming language that communicates with the Web
server.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 294

18. Information on forms can be sent by e-mail to an e-mail address or can be used to update a database.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 294

19. A FORM script sends the information input on a Web page form to the Web server for processing.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 294

20. If you specify a maximum number of characters that is greater than the number of characters specified
in the size attribute, the additional characters will be cut off.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 296

21. If you do not specify a size attribute in the <select> tag, only one option is displayed, along with a list
arrow.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 300

22. The <legend> tag within the fieldset tag is required.

ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 306

23. An embedded style sheet changes the style for a single Web page.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 308

24. You should validate the code after the form is completed and view and test it using your browser.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 311

25. When you are collecting information from an online form, it is very important to test that the
information is accurate.

ANS: T PTS: 1 REF: HTML 311

COMPLETION

1. A(n) ____________________ input control is either a text box, a textarea box, or a password text box.

ANS: text
 PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

2. In a(n) ____________________ text box, a visitor may enter a password.

ANS: password

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

3. In a(n) ____________________ box, a visitor may enter larger amounts of text.

ANS: textarea

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

4. The ____________________ attribute of the text control determines the number of characters that
display on the form.

ANS: size

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

5. A(n) ____________________ control tells the browser to send the data on the form to the server.

ANS: submit

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

6. A(n) ____________________ control returns all input controls to the default status.

ANS: reset

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287

7. A(n) ____________________ control creates a list item in a list from which more than one item can
be chosen.

ANS: checkbox

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

8. To set a particular radio button as the default, you use the ____________________ value within the
<input /> tag.

ANS: checked

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

9. A(n) ____________________ button typically appears as an open circle.

ANS:

radio
option
 PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

10. The textarea control uses the ____________________ attribute to specify the number of columns in
the textarea field.

ANS: cols

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 289

11. The ____________________ button sends the information to the appropriate location for processing.

ANS: Submit

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 290

12. The <____________________/ > tag defines the controls used in the form, using a variety of type
attribute values.

ANS: input

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291

13. The <____________________> tag creates a form that allows user input.

ANS: form

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291

14. The ____________________ method sends a separate data file with the name-value pairs to the URL
(or e-mail address) indicated in the action attribute.

ANS: post

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 294

15. When the ____________________ attribute specifies the same number of characters as the size
attribute, all characters entered by a user will appear in the text box.

ANS: maxlength

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 296

16. To select multiple choices in a selection menu, a user must first select one choice and then press and
hold the ____________________ key while clicking other choices in the list.

ANS: CTRL

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 301

17. To select several consecutive choices in a selection menu, a user must first select one choice and then
press and hold the ____________________ key while selecting the last choice.

ANS: SHIFT
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 PTS: 1 REF: HTML 301

18. The ____________________ button clears any input that was entered in the form, restoring the input
controls back to the initial values.

ANS: Reset

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 304

19. The ____________________ control helps to group related form elements together.

ANS: fieldset

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 306

20. Using ____________________ is especially helpful in cases where some information is required and
some is optional.

ANS: grouping

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 306

MATCHING

Identify the letter of the choice that best matches the phrase or definition.
a. data input f. select
b. checkbox g. textarea
c. attributes h. password
d. radio button i. select control
e. input j. target
1. The use of asterisks, for example, to mark the entered text in this kind of field is designed to help
protect text from being observed as it is being entered
2. When one of these is selected, all of the other ones in the list are deselected automatically
3. This category of control eliminates a visitor's having to type information into a text or textarea field
4. This kind of field is useful when an extensive amount of input from the Web page visitors is required
or desired
5. This kind of input control creates a list item
6. If a choice in a selection menu is highlighted, it means that this attribute has been used for that choice
7. This kind of control either can be a radio button, a check box, a Submit button, or a Reset button
8. These kinds of controls either are HTML tags or attributes of HTML tags
9. Nearly all of the HTML tags used to create forms have at most one of these each
10. This attribute of the <form> tag indicates the location at which a resource will display

1. ANS: H PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288

2. ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288
3. ANS: F PTS: 1 REF: HTML 289
4. ANS: G PTS: 1 REF: HTML 289
5. ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288
6. ANS: I PTS: 1 REF: HTML 289
7. ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: HTML 287
8. ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291
 9. ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291
10. ANS: J PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291

ESSAY

1. Briefly list the HTML tags used to create forms, including their functions and any relevant remarks
about their use.

ANS:
<fieldset></fieldset> -- groups related controls on a form; it is optionally used for readability
<form></form> -- creates a form that allows user input; it is required when creating forms
<input /> -- defines the controls used in the form, using a variety of type attribute values; it is required
for input controls
<legend></legend> -- defines the caption that is displayed in the grouping borders; it is optionally
used when using <fieldset> tags
<option></option> -- specifies a choice in a <select> tag; it is required, one per choice
<select></select> -- creates a menu of choices from which a visitor selects; it is required for selection
choices
<textarea></textarea> -- creates a multiple-line text input area; it is required for longer text inputs that
appear on several lines

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291 TOP: Critical Thinking

2. Explain in detail the difference between the action and method attributes of the <form> tag. Be sure to
include a definition of CGI script, and the get and post method in your explanation.

ANS:
The action attribute of the <form> tag specifies the action that is taken when the form is submitted.
Information entered in forms can be sent by e-mail to an e-mail address or can be used to update a
database. Although the e-mail option is functional, many Web sites process information from forms
using Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripting. A CGI script is a program written in a
programming language (such as PHP or Perl) that communicates with the Web server. The CGI script
sends the information input on the Web page form to the server for processing.

The method attribute of the <form> tag specifies the manner in which the data entered in the form is
sent to the server to be processed. Two primary ways are used in HTML: the get method and the post
method. The get method sends the name-value pairs to the end of the URL indicated in the action
attribute. The post method sends a separate data file with the name-value pairs to the URL (or e-mail
address) indicated in the action attribute. Most Web developers prefer the post method because it is
much more flexible. You need to be cautious when using the get method. Some Web servers limit a
URL’s size, so you run the risk of truncating relevant information when using the get method.

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 293-HTML 294 TOP: Critical Thinking

3. Describe in detail the four steps involved in creating an effective form.

ANS:
Before creating a Web page form, you should plan how you want to format it. By effectively utilizing
input controls, you can call attention to important data-collection areas on the Web page without
overpowering it. Creating an effective form includes:
 1. Determine what data to collect. In the case of a form designed to collect information, you need the
visitor’s name and e-mail address. Make sure to provide enough space for each field so that you do not
cut out important information. For instance, a last name field only 5 characters long may cut out much
of the person’s last name.
2. Determine what types of control to use. For data such as name and e-mail address, you need text
input areas. For data such as favorite Internet radio station, there is generally a limited subset (e.g.,
Google, Live 365, Pandora, and Slacker), so a selection control is appropriate. When you ask what
kind of music the visitor is interested in listening to or buying, you can use check boxes, which allow
multiple selection. In the case of a question with only one appropriate answer (e.g., select your
favorite), a radio button is more appropriate.
3. Lay out the input areas effectively. One of the first input items you may want is the visitor’s name
and e-mail address information. That should go to the top of the page. Also, you can group information
together on the same line if it makes sense to make the Web page form short enough that visitors do
not have to scroll much. Collecting e-mail addresses is a great way to continue communication with
visitors or customers. A company can e-mail newsletters, coupons, and general information to
customers once they have their e-mail addresses.
4. Use grouping techniques for clarity. The last thing that you may want to do on a Web page form is
group like input items together. Use the fieldset tag to segregate personal information from preference
information and from other comments that the visitor might make.

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 295-HTML 296 TOP: Critical Thinking

CASE

Critical Thinking Questions

Case 6-1

Brendan is trying to familiarize himself in a hurry with the various form input controls. He has a sense
of the general function of each but not of the nuances among them.

1. What does Brendan learn is the key difference between the checkbox and radio controls?
a. The checkbox control indicates both the size of the field and the total maximum length,
and radio control indicates neither.
b. The checkbox control allows more than one item in a list to be chosen, and the radio
control indicates only one item in a list that can be chosen.
c. The radio control allows more than one item in a list to be chosen, and the checkbox
control indicates only one item in a list that can be chosen.
d. The radio control returns all input controls to the default status, and the radio button tells
the browser to send the data on the form to the server.

ANS:
B

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 288 TOP: Critical Thinking

2. Brendan has a list of 30 different options for a user to select from a given list. Which of the following
controls is the best match for his need?
a. select
b. checkbox
c. radio
d. any of the above

ANS:
 A

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 289 TOP: Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Questions

Case 6-2

Jacqueline is inheriting a segment of code from a developer who has left the firm. The problem is that
the code became corrupted on a portion of the server during a recent crash and she has to reconstruct a
lot of it.

3. One portion of the code Jacqueline is reconstructing includes a reference to the name attribute, but the
HTML tag is missing. Which of the following tags CANNOT be the tag in question?
a. <input />
b. <select></select>
c. <option></option>
d. <textarea></textarea>

ANS:
C

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 291-HTML 292 TOP: Critical Thinking

4. Another portion of the code Jacqueline is reconstructing includes a reference to the readonly attribute.
Which HTML tag must be in use?
a. <textarea></textarea>
b. <option></option>
c. <select></select>
d. <legend></legend>

ANS:
A

PTS: 1 REF: HTML 292 TOP: Critical Thinking

Other documents randomly have
different content
be paid when the journey was ended. It was not yet half completed,
and if Mack chose to stop work then and there, he could not expect a
farthing for the services he had already rendered.
“You’re made of good stuff, you Yankees are,” said Mack, with more
earnestness than the occasion demanded, “and since you are bound
to go on, I’ll stick to you to the death. Bet on me every time.”
To give emphasis to his words the driver shook hands with his
employer, then with Frank, and hurried out of the tent to see how the
Kaffirs were getting on with their preparations for the night.
“Did he speak his real sentiments?” asked Uncle Dick, as soon as he
was out of hearing.
“That was the very question I was asking myself,” replied Frank. “To
my mind his tongue said one thing and his face another.”
Frank, who had his own duties to perform every time the camp was
made, now went out to attend to them. He found the rest of the boys
and three of the Kaffirs busy erecting a barricade of thorn-bushes
behind the tent, and joining in the work, he found opportunity to
report to each of his companions the warning Uncle Dick had given
him. The boys were all eager to stand guard, and Frank, knowing that
Uncle Dick expected him to arrange the matter, divided them into
reliefs, and told them what hours they would be called on for duty.
Supper was served in a few minutes, and while the meal was in
progress the horses began to come into camp and take their stations
behind the wagon, where they were always tied during the night. As
fast as they came up, the owners set down their plates and went out
to secure their steeds, taking care to see that the halters were tightly
buckled on, and that the tie-reins were well secured. About the same
time Mack, who had been missing for the last half hour, came up
driving the oxen. Frank told himself that that was something the
driver had never done before, and then the matter passed out of his
mind until a few hours later, when something happened to recall it
very forcibly. During the meal one other thing happened that was
unusual, and which soon drew everybody’s attention. When Uncle
Dick’s horse was made fast to the wagon, he raised his head, and
looking back towards the grove from which he had just emerged,
uttered a loud, shrill neigh. This he repeated at intervals, until Uncle
Dick and the rest began to think it meant something, and Archie,
having finished his supper, went out to look into the matter. “I know
what it means now,” said he, at length. “The horses are all here
except mine, and Uncle Dick’s nag is calling him.”
The boys then remembered something which they might never have
thought of again if this incident had not suggested it to them, and
that was, that Uncle Dick’s horse and Archie’s had been almost
constant companions ever since the journey began. They never
mingled with the other animals when turned loose to graze, but
wandered off by themselves; and if any of the nags belonging to the
rest of the party intruded upon them, they would turn away as if
annoyed by their presence, and hunt up a new feeding-ground. It was
the custom of their masters when on the march to ride at opposite
ends of the train, Uncle Dick in front, and Archie in the rear with
Fred and Eugene. The horses seemed to dislike this arrangement,
and annoyed their riders exceedingly by constantly calling to each
other. They liked to be in company, and they were uneasy when
separated.
“I wonder what has become of my horse!” said Archie, anxiously.
“I saw him a quarter of an hour ago, and he was all right then,”
replied Mack. “He will be along directly.”
“I am not so certain of that,” answered Archie. “These two animals
are never parted if they can help it, and there must be something the
matter. I’ll soon find out. May I take your horse for a few minutes,
Uncle Dick?”
“Where are you going?” asked Mack, as Archie, having received an
affirmative reply from the captain, hurried into the tent and picked
up his rifle.
“I am going out to see what has become of my horse,” was the
answer.
“Oh, I wouldn’t do it, if I were you,” exclaimed the driver, who
seemed, all at once, to take a deep interest in Archie’s movements. “It
will be pitch dark in five minutes—there’s no twilight in this country,
you know—and if you lose your way out there in the bush the lions
will get you sure. I tell you that you had better stay here in camp
where you’re safe,” he added, almost appealingly, when he saw that
the rest of the boys were making ready to accompany Archie.
But the youngsters paid no attention to him. Hastily catching up
their rifles, they mounted their horses without stopping to put on the
saddles or bridles, and followed after Archie, who, giving Uncle
Dick’s horse his own way, was carried at a rapid gallop towards the
grove. The animal, which seemed to know just what Archie wanted to
do, skirted the woods for a few hundred yards, neighing at intervals,
and finally succeeded in bringing a faint response from among the
trees. Then he turned and was about to plunge into the forest, but his
rider checked him. Archie would not have gone in there for a dozen
horses. The undergrowth was all thorn-bushes, which stood so
closely together that it was only with the greatest difficulty that one
could make his way among them in daylight without being terribly
scratched and torn. In the dark it would have been almost as much as
his life was worth to attempt to force a passage through them.
“We must give him up until morning, if he doesn’t find his way out
before,” said Eugene.
“Then he’ll never come out,” returned Archie, dolefully. “Something
will make a meal of him before daylight. Good-by horse!”
“What do you suppose makes him stay in there anyhow? That’s what
I can’t understand,” said Frank. “If he went in there of his own free
will he ought to be able to find his way out.”
“Are there any natives about here who would be likely to dig pitfalls
for game in these woods?” asked George.
“Listen!” cried Eugene, suddenly. “That neigh certainly sounded
louder and plainer than the others. Yes, sir, he’s coming.”
Archie thought this news was too good to be true. He held his breath
and listened until the next shrill neigh was uttered, and then told
himself there was no mistake about it. Presently the boys could hear
the horse forcing his way through the bushes, and in ten minutes
more he came out into the open ground, and galloping forward to
greet his companion, rubbed noses with him, and said as plainly as a
horse could say, that he was overjoyed to see him once more.
When the boys reached the camp Mack was the first to greet them.
Indeed, he was so anxious to know whether or not the horse had
been found, that when he heard them coming he ran out and met
them a hundred yards from the wagon. “It’s all right,” said Archie,
gleefully.
“You haven’t brought him back?” exclaimed the driver, in tones of
astonishment.
“Yes, we have.”
This declaration seemed to surprise Mack. He stood motionless for a
moment, and then moved around to take a look at the horse, which
was following the one on which Archie was mounted. He saw the
animal, but it seemed as if he could not be satisfied until he had put
his hand on him. This familiarity, however, the horse would not
permit. He bounded out of the driver’s reach, and turned his heels
toward him as if he had a good notion to kick him.
“There wasn’t any rope on—I mean—”
“Rope!” exclaimed Perk, when Mack hesitated. “Now I’ll tell you
what’s a fact, of course there wasn’t. Who should put a rope on him?”
“I mean it’s wonderful that you’ve got him back safe and sound,” said
the driver, quickly. “I was afraid some wild beast had found him
before this time.”
The boys thought the Scotchman acted very strangely, but they were
so glad to recover the horse that they did not stop to think about that.
Archie’s first care was to fasten the animal to the wagon beside Uncle
Dick’s horse, and when he had done that he went into the tent where
the rest of the party were arranging their beds preparatory to
retiring, and trying to decide what it was that had kept the horse out
so long after his companion had come into camp. The conclusion at
which they arrived was that he had become separated from the other
horse and got bewildered in the woods. This was the opinion
advanced by the driver, and the rest all thought he was right—all
except Uncle Dick. The latter said nothing, but he thought there was
something suspicious about the whole proceeding, and that it would
be a good plan to set a watch over the driver. He could not speak
about it then, for Mack was present; but he resolved that he would do
it the first thing in the morning.
It was now dark and time to post the guards, so Frank called the first
relief, which, singularly enough, consisted of Walter and Bob, the
very ones who were on duty the night two of Potter’s men made a
raid on their camp in the Rocky Mountains. The latter Frank posted
at the upper end of the camp in plain view of the barricade, behind
which the four Kaffirs were lying, and the other he stationed near the
wagon, to keep an eye on the horses.
“I hope you will not get into as much trouble as you did the first time
I put you on guard,” said Frank.
“I think there is little danger of it,” laughed Walter. “There are no
outlaws in this country, and besides I have learned wisdom since
then. I’d like to see a man approach me to-night and deceive me as
completely as those two fellows did. It couldn’t be done.”
“I don’t suppose that any one will try it. As long as the Kaffirs know
that we are watching them and the horses, they will probably behave
themselves. We’d be in a nice fix if all our help should desert us,
wouldn’t we? Good-night. Keep up the fire, and call Archie at ten
o’clock.”
Frank went back to the tent, wrapped himself up in his blanket, and
went to sleep, lulled by the yelping of a pack of jackals, which made it
a point to serenade the camp as regularly as the prairie-wolves did
when the travellers were journeying on the plains. In half an hour
more every person in the camp seemed to be sound asleep except the
two sentries. These paced their beats alert and watchful, one thinking
of home and friends, and the other recalling the thrilling incidents
that had happened once upon a time while he was guarding camp
away off in the wilds of his own country. He went through the
adventures of that night again in imagination, and just as he got to
that particular part of them where he first discovered the outlaws
approaching the camp, he heard a footfall near him, and turning
quickly about saw the driver step over the wagon-tongue.
 CHAPTER XVI.
DESERTED.

“W hat’s the matter, Mack?” asked Walter. “Do the jackals

disturb you?”
“’Sh!” whispered the latter, making a warning gesture. “There’s no
need of arousing the camp, for I can make it all right myself.”
“Make what all right?” asked Walter, almost involuntarily sinking his
voice to a low whisper.
“Why, one of the Kaffirs has slipped away from Bob, and I saw him
sneaking off towards the woods with your uncle’s fine double-barrel
in his hands,” replied Mack.
“You did!” exclaimed Walter. “Then I must—”
“Never mind. I’ll do all that’s to be done. Don’t make the least noise,
because if you do the others will run away too, and we might as well
be at sea in an open boat without oars or sails, as out here in this
wilderness if the Kaffirs leave us. I’ll bring him back if you will lend
me your horse and gun.”
“Of course I will,” said Walter. “Don’t come back till you catch him,
for I don’t know what Uncle Dick would do without that rifle. He
would be sorry to lose it.”
“He shan’t lose it,” answered Mack, taking Walter’s saddle and bridle
out of the wagon and placing them upon the horse. “Say nothing to
nobody. I’ll have him back here in no time, and if I don’t use the
wagon-whip on him! Whew! I wouldn’t be in his place for no money.”
The horse was saddled and bridled in a trice, and Mack springing
upon his back took the rifle Walter handed to him, and rode away in
the darkness. All this passed so rapidly that it was done and Mack
was out of sight before Walter fairly realized it. Then it occurred to
him that it was very strange that the driver should want a horse to
pursue a man on foot who had but a few minutes the start of him, but
when he came to think about it, it was not so very strange either.
Walter knew that some of the Kaffirs could run like deer, and he
knew, too, that Mack, having been accustomed to ride on horseback
ever since he was large enough to sit alone in the saddle, was very
much averse to walking, and very clumsy besides; so perhaps the
best thing had been done after all. He was sorry to hear of his uncle’s
loss, and wondered how the Kaffir could have succeeded in obtaining
possession of the weapon and stealing away without being seen by
Bob, who stood where he could observe every move that was made
about the tent. He waited most impatiently for Mack’s return, but
could hear nothing of him—it was so dark that he could not have
seen him until he was close upon the camp—and at ten o’clock he
mended the fire and called his relief. Archie presently came out with
his Maynard on his shoulder, and Walter told him what had
happened, adding that he had been looking for Mack every minute
during the last hour, and now began to fear that the Kaffir had
succeeded in eluding him in the darkness. He lay down on his
blanket, intending to speak to Bob about it; but the latter lingered to
talk to his relief, and when he came into the tent Walter was fast
asleep.
Mack did not return during Archie’s watch, and at twelve o’clock he
called Eugene, to whom he repeated the substance of what Walter
had told him. Of course Eugene was highly excited at once, and when
Archie went into the tent, he walked toward the other end of the
camp to take a look at the Kaffirs, and see who it was that was
missing. There was one among them who had in some way incurred
Eugene’s displeasure, and if this was the one who had stolen Uncle
Dick’s rifle, he would not be at all sorry to see the wagon-whip used
on him.
“Now just listen to me a minute, and I’ll tell you what’s a fact. What
are you doing here?” demanded Perk, who stood sentry at that end of
the camp.
“Do you know that one of your Kaffirs has run away?” asked Eugene.
“No; and one of them hasn’t run away, either,” replied Perk, almost
indignantly. “I haven’t been asleep.”
“Oh, he went while Bob was on—stole Uncle Dick’s fine gun too, the
rascal.”
“Then I must be blind, or else he put a dummy in his bed,” declared
Perk. “I counted them when I came out, and they were all there.”
“Are you sure?”
“Am I sure that I can count as high as four?”
“I begin to think you can’t,” answered Eugene. “Let’s go and see.”
The two boys advanced on tip-toe toward the place where the native
servants were curled up under the shelter of the thorn-bushes. They
were all soundly asleep, and so closely covered with their skin cloaks
that nothing but the tops of their woolly heads could be seen. Eugene
counted them twice, and then to make assurance doubly sure, went
closer and lifted the cloaks so that he could see their faces. Then he
stepped back again and looked at Perk. “What do you think now?”
asked the latter.
Eugene did not know what to think.
“Who first started the story that one of them had run away?”
continued Perk.
“Mack started it. He told Walter so.”
“Now I’ll just tell you what’s a fact. Where’s Mack?”
“He borrowed Walter’s horse and gun and went out to catch the
Kaffir.”
“Yes, and in the morning we’ll have to send somebody out to catch
Mack. I understand now why he didn’t want Archie to go out to look
for his horse. He had the animal tied up out there in the woods.”
“No!” exclaimed Eugene.
“Didn’t he ask if there was a rope on him? The horse got away
somehow, and Mack being afraid that he had brought the rope back
with him, wanted to get hold of him, so that he could take it off
before we saw it. He intended to leave the animal out there in the
bushes until after dark, when he would jump on him, and ride away;
but that plan being knocked in the head, he made up that funny story
he told Walter, and got off after all.”
Eugene waited to hear no more. Believing that Perk had made a very
shrewd guess, as indeed he had, he rushed into the tent to arouse his
uncle, and in doing so awoke all the boys, who, fearing that
something dreadful had happened, started up in alarm, and reached
hurriedly for their weapons. “Mack’s gone!” was all Eugene could say
in reply to their questions.
“I thought so,” exclaimed Walter, who then went on to describe the
interview that had taken place between him and the driver.
“It is all my fault,” said Frank. “I might have warned you.”
“Don’t worry over it,” returned Uncle Dick, quickly. “There’s no one
to blame except myself. If I had told you to put the boys on their
guard against Mack, you would have done so. You fellows, who are
on watch, keep your eyes open, and see that we don’t lose any more
horses and guns, and the rest of us will go to sleep again.”
Eugene thought this was taking matters very coolly, but after all he
did not see that there was anything else to be done. Mack was
mounted on a fleet horse and had a good long start; and besides he
was so well acquainted with the country that he could have escaped if
there had been an army in pursuit of him. He was gone, and there
was an end of the matter.
The boys were gloomy enough the next morning, but Uncle Dick was
as cheerful as usual. He aroused the Kaffirs at daylight and ordered
them to drive the oxen out to graze, while the boys, having turned the
horses loose, began the work of packing up. The Kaffirs obeyed very
sullenly, and the old sailor saw plainly enough that the trouble with
his hired help was only just beginning. They drove the oxen out, and
contrary to his usual custom, the cook went with them. They passed
pretty close to their employer, who saw their spear-heads sticking
out from under one side of their cloaks, while the other was bulged
out as if the wearers were carrying something under their left arms.
He suspected the truth at once, but said nothing, and smoked his
morning pipe as serenely as though everything was working to his
entire satisfaction.
“Where in the world is that cook?” exclaimed Eugene about an hour
later, after the tent had been struck and all the camp equipage
packed away in the wagon. “I don’t see any preparations for
breakfast.”
“Neither do I,” said Uncle Dick. “Perk, you used to act as ship’s cook
in the Banner once in a while; suppose you show us what you can do
in that line now. Yes,” he added, in reply to the inquiring looks that
were directed toward him, “we’re deserted.”
The boys dropped their work and gazed at one another in speechless
astonishment. At first they could hardly realize what the words
meant. They felt a good deal as shipwrecked mariners must feel
when they find themselves tossing about in the waves in an open
boat with not a point of land or a friendly sail in sight.
“From this time forward we must do the best we can by ourselves,”
continued the old sailor, cheerfully. “The Griquas here will show us
the way to their country, and when we have sold them everything
there is in the wagon that they want, we’ll hire some of them to guide
us back to the coast.”
“And when we get there, if we ever do, I for one shall be ready to start
for home,” declared Walter.
“Oh, don’t get gloomy over it. Some of you have been in worse
situations than this.”
“But are you sure the Kaffirs are gone?” asked Fred.
“As sure as I can be. When they went out with the oxen this morning
they took all their property with them.”
“And you saw it and never tried to stop them?” inquired Eugene.
“I did. Why should I try to stop them? If a Kaffir will not work
willingly you can’t force him to do it. They would have slipped away
from us some time or other, and since they were bound to go, they
might as well go to-day as to-morrow.”
The boys were stunned, bewildered by this unexpected calamity, and
it was a long time before Uncle Dick’s cheering words had any effect
on them.
They had depended wholly upon Mack to make this expedition
successful, and to conduct them safely back to the coast, and now
that he was gone it seemed as if their mainstay was gone, and that
there was nothing left for them but to give up entirely. They had put
such implicit faith in Mack, too! It was only during the last few hours
that any one began to suspect that he was not altogether worthy of
the confidence that had been reposed in him.
But this gloomy state of feeling could not long continue while the old
sailor was about. His cheerfulness and good-nature were contagious,
and in less than half an hour the boys were talking as merrily about
what they had considered to be a misfortune as though it was the
most agreeable thing that could have happened to them. Perk’s
breakfast completely restored their spirits, and when they had done
full justice to it, the inspanning began. This was the most annoying
piece of work the boys had yet undertaken. They shouted and talked
Dutch and threw stones as they had heard and seen the Kaffirs do,
but the oxen were not acquainted with them, and ran away as fast as
they were brought up to the yokes. Eugene said it was because the
animals were disgusted with their efforts to talk in a foreign tongue,
and advised his companions to scold them in English; but this had
no better effect. However, after they had all shouted themselves
hoarse, and thrown stones until their arms ached, the last ox was put
into the yoke, and Walter, who volunteered to act as driver, picked
up the whip.
“Whoa! Haw, there, Buck! Get up!” he shouted; and following the
example of the absent driver, who always gave the signal for starting
by making his whip crack like a pistol, he swung the heavy lash
around, but with no other result than to hit himself a stinging blow
across the ear. While his companions were laughing at him, and
Walter was dancing about, holding one hand to the side of his head,
and trying with the other to unwrap the lash that had wound itself
around his body, Uncle Dick shouted: “Trek! trek!” The oxen,
understanding this, settled into the yokes, and the wagon was quickly
in motion.
We might relate many interesting and some amusing incidents that
happened during the next few weeks, but as we have to do principally
with the adventures that befell our heroes, we must hasten on to the
last, and wind up the history of the Sportsman’s Club. Led by the
Griquas, who acted as their guides, the travellers finally reached the
principal village of the tribe (they saw nothing of the wild Bushmen
during the journey, although they kept a constant lookout for them)
and when they had taken a good view of it, they fervently hoped that
their stay there would be a short one. They could see nothing
attractive in the dirty savages who surrounded them, or in the still
dirtier hovels that served them for shelter. Besides, they were
growing heartily tired of staying ashore. They had seen quite enough
of life in Africa, and began to talk more about home and friends than
they had done at any time since leaving Bellville. But their departure
from the village was delayed more than a month. In the first place,
the natives proved to be hard people to deal with. It took them a long
time to make up their minds how much ivory ought to be given for
one of the guns Uncle Dick offered them, and when that point had
been settled, the chief suddenly found out that there was no ivory in
the village, and that he would have to send and bring it before any
trading could be done. Upon hearing this, Uncle Dick inspanned at
once and set out for the coast; but before he had gone many miles he
was overtaken by a messenger from the chief, who told him that if he
would return to the village he should have an elephant’s tooth for
every gun he had to sell. The travellers turned back, and after that
there was little delay in the trading. The elephants’ teeth came in
rapidly, the last gun was finally disposed of, and when the ivory had
been packed away in the wagon, and guides and servants engaged,
the travellers were ready to turn their faces homeward.
The last night they were to pass among the Griquas was spent by the
boys in doing a little trading on their own account. They were
strolling about, taking a last look at everything, and exchanging a few
beads, and some brass and copper wire, for spears and war-clubs,
when their attention was attracted by a commotion which suddenly
arose in the upper end of the town. The boys looked up, and were
surprised to see that the natives were running about in the greatest
alarm, catching up whatever articles of value they could lay their
hands on, and then dodging into their hovels and barricading their
doors after them. Some of the more timid ones, having collected their
property, took to their heels, and ran across the plain as if a pack of
jackals were after them.
“What’s up now?” asked Archie. “I don’t see anything to frighten
them.”
“Who are those coming there?” said Frank.
The others looked in the direction he pointed, and saw a long line of
warriors rising over the nearest hill. While they were looking at
them, wondering who they were and what had brought them there,
they heard Uncle Dick calling to them. “Here’s more trouble, boys,”
said the old sailor. “I don’t want to alarm you, but it is always well to
be prepared for the worst.”
“Is the village going to be attacked?” asked Frank.
“Oh, no. These are Zulus, and they are probably a delegation sent by
their king to take us to that country.”
“Across the desert where the wild Bushmen live?” exclaimed Eugene.
“Exactly,” replied Uncle Dick.
“But we have nothing they want,” said Walter. “We’ve sold all our
guns, beads, and wire.”
“I know it.”
“Then tell them so when they come up.”
“What good will it do? Haven’t you seen enough of these natives to
know that you can’t reason with them any more than you can reason
with a stone?”
“What made the Griquas run so,” asked Bob.
“Oh, these Zulus are a fierce and warlike race, and the Griquas are
afraid of them. But they are after us now. If their leader has orders to
take us back with him, he’ll have to do it or lose his head when he
gets home.”
This was a most alarming piece of news. The driver had said so much
about the wild Bushmen and their poisoned arrows, and had given so
graphic a description of the desert they lived in, where there was no
game to be found, and no grass or water for the stock, that the boys
were frightened whenever they thought of the dangers that must
attend every step of the journey to the Zulu country. While they were
turning the matter over in their minds, the warriors marched
through the principal street of the village, which was by this time
entirely deserted, and stopped in front of Uncle Dick’s tent. There
were probably a hundred and fifty of them in the band. They were
fine-looking men physically, and all except two were armed with
spears and war-clubs, and carried shields of elephant’s hide. Those
who were not armed followed close behind the leader, and carried
two elephants’ tusks upon their shoulders.
The leader of the warriors stopped in front of Uncle Dick, and after
laying down his shield and weapons began a speech, which would no
doubt have proved very entertaining to the travellers if they could
have understood it; but as the chief spoke in his native tongue his
words did not make much of an impression upon them. The speech
occupied the best part of ten minutes, and when it was concluded the
men with the elephants’ tusks stepped up and laid them on the
ground in front of Uncle Dick, and when they straightened up again
one of them began to interpret the speech in Dutch. Then the boys
listened with some interest. They had learned enough of this
language during their intercourse with Mack and the Griquas, to
carry on quite a lengthy conversation with any one who spoke slowly
and distinctly. The native did neither, but still the Club caught
enough of his speech to satisfy them that Uncle Dick had not been
mistaken in regard to the object the Zulus had in view in visiting his
camp. The speaker said that his king, who lived on the other side of
the desert, was a very powerful monarch, and having heard that
there was an English trader in the neighborhood (the natives seemed
to think that every white man who came into their country to hunt
and trade must of necessity be an Englishman), he had sent him and
his companions to conduct him to their principal town, where there
was ivory enough to fill a dozen wagons. To prove it the king had sent
the trader two elephants’ teeth, in exchange for which he expected to
receive the best double-barrel there was in the party. The faithful
warriors who brought these teeth were hungry and thirsty, for they
had travelled far and rapidly, and the Englishman must furnish them
with meat to eat and tea to drink.
Uncle Dick’s reply to this insolent demand was short and to the
point. There was not meat enough in his wagon to feed so large a
party, he said, and he could not spend time to hunt for it, for having
sold all his guns he had made ready to start for Grahamstown early
the next morning; so the warriors might take their elephant’s teeth
and go back as they came. The interpreter seemed to be greatly
shocked at this reply, and tried to remonstrate with Uncle Dick,
telling him that he was running a great risk in defying his king in that
way. But the old sailor repeated what he had said, adding that as he
was a licensed trader, he was free to go and come when he pleased,
and he intended to exercise the privilege.
The chief listened impatiently while this conversation was going on,
and when it was ended turned to the interpreter to hear Uncle Dick’s
reply. It threw him into an awful rage at once. He stamped his feet on
the ground, caught up handfuls of dust and threw them into the air
above his head, swung his arms wildly about, and shouted at the top
of his voice. The longer he talked the angrier he seemed to grow; and
what he might have been led to do had he been allowed to go on until
his rage boiled over, it is hard to tell; but just as he was working
himself up to the fighting-point, he was interrupted most
unexpectedly. A series of terrific Indian yells, so loud and piercing
that they completely drowned the chief’s voice, suddenly arose on the
air, causing the warrior to drop his arms and stand motionless with
amazement. Of course the yells came from Dick Lewis. He thought
from the looks of things that a fight would soon be in progress, and
began preparing for it in a manner peculiar to himself. He dashed his
hat upon the ground, pulled off his hunting shirt and sent it after the
hat, and began to loosen his joints by making the most extraordinary
leaps and contortions, yelling the while with all the power of his
lungs. The chief looked at him for a few seconds, and then hastily
gathering up his weapons, made off, followed by his men, who fled in
such haste that they never thought to take the elephants’ teeth with
them. In two minutes from the time Dick began his leaping and
shouting there was not one of them in sight.
 CHAPTER XVII.
CONCLUSION.

T he Club stood speechless with astonishment, and so did the

trapper. Uncle Dick was the first to break the silence, which he
did by laughing long and heartily. “You have made a reputation now,
Lewis,” said he. “These natives are all firm believers in witchcraft,
and they think you are a medicine-man.”
This was the reason why the Zulus had fled in such hot haste. They
had never seen a white man dressed as Dick was, and neither had
they ever seen one act so strangely. It struck them at once that he
was a conjuror, and that he was going through some sort of an
incantation for the purpose of bringing some dire calamity upon his
foes.
“I think we have seen the last of them for to-night,” continued Uncle
Dick. “Now when we resume our journey we must make all haste, for
when these fellows go back to their own country their king will send
an army after us, and Dick may not be able to frighten them away
again.”
As soon as the Zulus were gone the Griquas came out of their hiding-
places and gathered about the tent, all clamoring to know how it
happened that the dreaded enemy had been driven off so easily.
When Uncle Dick gravely informed them that his conjuror had found
means to send them away, their gratitude knew no bounds. Then
most of them dispersed at once, and when they returned, brought
presents of milk and corn—articles for which they had hitherto
demanded the highest prices in beads and wire—and tremblingly
placed them on the ground before the great medicine-man. Groups
of them stood about the fire until ten o’clock that night, watching
every move he made; and Dick had only to stand erect, look toward
the stars, extend an arm at full length and pull the other back to his
shoulder as if he were drawing a bow, to send them scampering away
at the top of their speed.
The next morning the travellers were astir at an early hour, all eager
to begin the journey to the coast; but now another difficulty was
presented. The Griquas who had been engaged to fill the places of the
Kaffirs were nowhere to be found. The boys were dismayed, but
Uncle Dick was as serene as usual. “I expected it,” said he. “They
were frightened by that visit from the Zulus. We must depend upon
the oxen to guide us back.”
“Do they know the way home?” asked George.
“No, but they made a trail coming here, and their instinct will lead
them to follow that trail back.”
“Why, it must be obliterated by this time.”
“No matter for that. They will find and follow it in the darkest of
nights.”
Inspanning was a task the boys did not like, and they hoped they had
assisted in it for the last time; but as there was no one to do the
business for them they set to work with a will, and by ten o’clock the
wagon was in motion. Contrary to their expectations, not a Griqua
followed them out of the village. They were afraid of the Zulus, and
so was Uncle Dick, if one might judge by the way he disposed of his
forces, and the arrangements he made for repelling an attack. He and
Frank went on ahead as usual, the two trappers brought up the rear
—there were no loose cattle and horses to drive now—and the others
rode beside the wagon, Eugene being instructed in case of difficulty
to take his brother up behind him. The travellers moved in this order
until the middle of the afternoon, when they entered the dry bed of
what had once been a stream of considerable magnitude. The high
banks on each side were thickly lined with bushes and rocks,
affording excellent ambush for an enemy, and as the bed of the
stream was only forty feet wide, and the road ran through the middle
of it, it was impossible for the travellers to get out of range of the
javelins of the Zulus should they chance to be awaiting them here.
And they were waiting for them, just as Uncle Dick expected they
would be. The chief of the Zulus, having recovered from his fright,
had made a wide detour around the village during the night, and
concealed his warriors along the banks of the stream among the
rocks and bushes. When the passage was about half completed he
made his presence known. The signal for attack was a loud yell given
by the chief, who suddenly appeared on the top of one of the high
rocks on the bank; but no sooner had he gained a footing there, than
a bullet from Bob Kelly’s ready rifle brought him headlong into the
bed of the stream. His warriors however, promptly obeyed the signal.
They arose from their concealments on both sides of the road, and
the way the spears whistled through the air for a few minutes was
surprising. The majority of these weapons seemed to be aimed at the
two trappers—the warriors, no doubt, believing that if the conjuror
could be killed the rest of the travellers could be easily managed—
and it was a wonder how they escaped being pierced by them. Their
horses were struck down almost instantly, but the trappers landed on
their feet, and sheltering themselves behind convenient rocks in the
road, opened a hot fire on the savages.
All these things happened in less than a minute. Although the attack
was not altogether unexpected, it was still a surprise, it was made so
suddenly. As soon as Uncle Dick had time to think he began to issue
his orders.
“Leave the wagon, boys,” said he, “and run for that high hill you see
yonder.”
“Come on, Dick,” shouted Archie, slinging his empty Maynard on his
back and drawing his pistols from their holsters.
“Lewis, you and Bob stay where you are,” commanded Uncle Dick.
“You’re safe there, and in a few minutes we shall be in a position to
help you.”
The boys, led by Uncle Dick, at once put their horses into a full
gallop. Walter, who was seated on the driver’s box, springing up
behind his brother, and Frank bringing up the rear, carrying a
revolver in each hand, and banging away every time he saw a head to
fire at. The oxen, frightened by the shouting and the noise of the
firearms, tried to follow, but three of them had already been killed in
the yoke, and the leaders turning back upon those in the rear, the
team became mixed up in the greatest confusion.
Frank was astonished at the force with which the Zulus threw their
spears. They did not throw them very accurately, for the reason that
they were so very much afraid of the bullets which rattled about
among the rocks, that they did not spend an instant in poising their
weapons before they launched them; but they sent them through the
air with great speed, and those which struck the oxen and horses
made wounds that were almost instantly fatal. Presently Frank was
given further proof that they were terrible weapons in the hands of
those who knew how to use them. Archie, who was galloping along in
front of him, mounted on the splendid animal which he had paraded
before his cousin when the latter drew the ungainly beast he was
then riding, suddenly came to the ground all in a heap. Frank drew
up on the instant, and the utmost horror was depicted on his
countenance as he threw himself from his saddle and kneeled by his
cousin’s side. As he did so a spear whistled through the air and
buried itself in the sand beside him, but he paid no attention to it.
His thoughts were wholly wrapped up in his cousin, who set his fears
at rest by saying, cheerfully,
“I’m all right, but I’ve lost my horse at last. Did you see that spear go
through his neck? He has fallen on my leg, and I—Oh, Frank!”
The latter, who had seized his cousin by the shoulders, and was
exerting all his strength to pull him to his feet, suddenly released his
hold and fell by Archie’s side. At the same time there was a whistling
sound in the air, and Archie looked up to see the shaft of a spear
quivering in the air above his cousin’s side, the point being out of
sight. It looked as though it was buried in Frank’s body, but
fortunately it was not. It had passed through the haversack in which
he carried the cartridges for his Maynard, and was thrown with
sufficient force to carry him to the ground. The next moment the
grim warrior who launched the weapon came tumbling heels over
head down the bank, while a triumphant shout from Dick Lewis told
the cousins who it was that sent him there.
“It is hot about here, Frank. You had better take care of yourself,”
said Archie.
The only notice Frank took of this friendly advice was to jump to his
feet and renew his efforts to release his cousin. This time he was
successful, but when he lifted him to his feet Archie found that he
could not stand alone. That, however, was a matter of small moment
seeing that Frank had a horse close by. The animal had remained
motionless where his rider left him, and it was the work of but a few
seconds for Frank to jump into the saddle and pull his cousin up
after him. This done, he put the animal to the top of his speed, and
the two were carried safely down the ravine and into the midst of
their friends, who having reached the hill of which Uncle Dick had
spoken, were in a position to drive the Zulus from the field. Having a
cross-fire upon them they had complete command of their position,
and one volley was all that was needed to send them flying up the hill
on each side of the ravine.
As soon as the Zulus were out of sight the trappers arose from their
concealments, and having removed the saddles and bridles from
their dead steeds and thrown them into the wagon, they proceeded to
put the train in motion, Uncle Dick and his party keeping up a steady
fire all the while to prevent the return of the savages. While Bob cut
the dead oxen loose from the yokes, Dick forced the leaders back into
their places, and when the animals had been made to understand
what was required of them, they brought the wagon up the hill in
safety. It was a lucky fight taken altogether. The Zulus must have
suffered severely; the trappers said they had seen a dozen or more of
them tumble into the ravine, while all the travellers lost were three
oxen and as many horses. Frank had had a very narrow escape. The
weapon which had so nearly ended his existence was packed
carefully away in the wagon with the haversack still fast to it. He
intended that these articles should some day occupy a prominent
place among the curiosities in his room at the cottage.
The misfortunes which had thus far followed the travellers seemed to
end with that fight. From that time forward things worked as
smoothly as could be desired. Fortune first smiled upon them the
next morning when the Griquas, who had been engaged to
accompany them to the coast, entered the camp. The Zulus having
been whipped and driven out of the country, they were no longer
afraid to fulfil their contract. Walter was glad to see them, for he was
tired of acting as driver, and so were the rest of the boys, for they
were relieved of the task of inspanning. They passed back through
the Boer settlement, and here another surprise awaited them. The
Dutchmen having had time to recover their good-nature were in the
humor for trading, and at every farm they visited some of the goods,
which they thought they would have to carry back to Grahamstown
with them, were exchanged for fat cattle. Long before they reached
the coast their stock was exhausted, there was a drove of eighty oxen
following behind the wagon, and those of the party who had lost their
horses were remounted on animals purchased from the Boers.
Everything was disposed of at a fair profit, so that the expedition,
which at first threatened to end in failure, turned out much better
than they had ever hoped it would.
Uncle Dick’s first care, when he reached the coast, was to inquire for
his runaway driver, of whom he had heard at several farm-houses
along the route. He found that the man had been in Grahamstown,
and that he had sold a horse and gun there; but they were not the
same that he had stolen from his employer. Mack was much too
smart for that. He had traded off Uncle Dick’s horse and gun at the
first opportunity, sold those he received in exchange, and used the
money to carry him out of the country. Uncle Dick’s gun had
probably been left with some Boer a thousand miles back in the
interior; but of course it would not pay to go back after it.
When the last ox, the last pound of ivory, and the last article
composing their outfit had been disposed of, the party went on board
the schooner in high spirits; and at the turn of the tide the anchor
was hoisted not to be dropped again, they fondly hoped, until they
sailed into the bay at the rear of Mr. Gaylord’s plantation. Nothing
happened to mar the pleasure of the homeward voyage. Propelled by
favoring breezes the Stranger sped merrily on her way, and the
topsails were scarcely touched from the day they took their departure
from the Cape of Good Hope until land was sighted on the other side
of the Atlantic. The first familiar object they saw was Lost Island,
which would ever be memorable in the history of the Sportsman’s
Club, and the next was the village of Bellville. As the schooner sailed
along past the town—the wind being favorable she did not signal for
a tug to tow her in—her appearance attracted the attention of the
people on the wharves, who gazed at her with great interest. There
were some among them who had never seen her before, while others
thought there was something about her that looked familiar, but they
could not tell who she was. The Club’s friends had learned from
Chase and Wilson that the Stranger was homeward bound, but they
did not look for her so soon, and not one on the wharf could call her
by name until they saw her round the point above the village and
shape her course towards Mr. Gaylord’s wharf. Then it was too late to
welcome her.
When the schooner rounded the point the Gaylord mansion and all
its surroundings came plainly into view. The family did not seem to
be on the lookout for her, but they were quickly made aware of her
arrival. The twenty-four pounders, whose voices had not been heard
since they spoke so emphatically to the inhabitants of that island
away off in the Pacific, awoke the echoes of the hills, and when the
breeze carried away the smoke that rolled up from their muzzles,
some one was seen running along the carriageway that led from the
barn to the house. It was old Sam. He was gone but a few minutes,
and when he returned he was accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord.
The schooner stood as close in to the jetty as the depth of the water
would permit, and then dropped her anchor. Before it had fairly
touched the bottom the gig was in the water, and Uncle Dick and the
Club were on their way to the shore.
Of course, a perfect round of festivities followed the return of the
wanderers, and the happy Christmas times were repeated. It was a
week before George Le Dell and the cousins could tear themselves
away from the hospitable Gaylord mansion. The rickety stage-coach
carried them to New Orleans, and when they had taken leave of the
trappers and seen them safely on board a steamer bound for St.
Louis, they took passage on board a Washita River boat, and the next
time they set foot ashore it was in front of George’s home. There the
cousins remained another week—Archie would have been glad to
prolong the stay indefinitely—and then started for Lawrence, where
they arrived in due time, their voyage around the world being
happily terminated.
Now, reader, the story of the Club’s adventures and exploits is ended,
and before bidding them and you farewell, it only remains for us to
tell where they are now, and what they have been doing since we last
saw them. It is a true saying, that the boy is father to the man; and
from what we know of our heroes, it is safe to predict that the virtues
of manliness, truthfulness and fidelity which have ruled their lives in
the past will always be strictly adhered to. Frank Nelson has not yet
made anything more than a local reputation, but that he is sure to do
it some day his friends all feel confident. He is a practicing lawyer in
his native State. He is as fond of his fishing-rod and double-barrel as
he ever was, and spends a portion of each summer at the Rangeley
Lakes and among the Adirondacks. If he ever goes into politics, as his
friends are urging him to do, it is to be hoped that he will use his
influence and eloquence to correct some of the abuses that are now
so prevalent. His home is still at Lawrence, where his mother resides.
Archie Winters, shortly after his return from abroad, became a
student at a certain polytechnic institute. He settled down to
business with the determination to make a man and a civil engineer
of himself. He graduated with honors, stepped at once into a
responsible and lucrative position, and the cards of invitation that
were sent out a few months ago show what he was working for.
Archie is married now, and General Le Dell and his family go North
every summer to visit him and his wife. Henry Chase and Leonard
Wilson have purchased an orange plantation in Florida, and report
says they are respected and successful men.
Fred Craven is a first lieutenant in the revenue service; and when he
becomes a captain, as he probably will before another year has
passed over his head, we should like to see any smuggler outwit him
as Mr. Bell outwitted the captain of the cutter who overhauled the
Banner once upon a time, and made her captain and crew prisoners.
Jasper Babcock is a commission merchant and cotton factor in
Bellville; George Le Dell, who is Archie’s brother-in-law, is in the
same business in Memphis; Phil Perkins owns a controlling interest
in a line of steamers plying between New Orleans and Galveston; and
Walter and Eugene are carrying on their father’s extensive
plantation, Mr. Gaylord having retired from active business. Of
course they live at home—there is no place in the world like home,
they think—and so does Uncle Dick, whose cabin is as much a place
of resort for the young men of the vicinity as it used to be for the
boys. The Banner is still in existence, and as for the Stranger, Uncle
Dick says she is as good as she ever was, and still able to beat
anything of her size that floats.
The intercourse between the cousins and the Sportsman’s Club
which was brought about almost by accident, has never been
interrupted. This acquaintance quickly ripened into friendship,
which will be as lasting as life itself. Many a grand reunion have they
had since they returned from abroad; and of all the adventures of
which they have been the heroes, none occupy a more prominent
place in their memories or are so often discussed as those that befell
them while they were sojourning Among the Boers.
 FAMOUS CASTLEMON BOOKS.

GUNBOAT SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 6 vols. 12mo.

Frank the Young Naturalist.
Frank in the Woods.
Frank on the Lower Mississippi.
Frank on a Gunboat.
Frank before Vicksburg.
Frank on the Prairie.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3

vols. 12mo. Cloth.
Frank among the Rancheros.
Frank in the Mountains.
Frank at Don Carlos’ Ranch.

SPORTSMAN’S CLUB SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3

vols. 12mo. Cloth.
The Sportsman’s Club in the Saddle.
The Sportsman’s Club Afloat.
The Sportsman’s Club among the Trappers.

FRANK NELSON SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols.

12mo. Cloth.
Snowed Up.
Frank in the Forecastle.
The Boy Traders.

BOY TRAPPER SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols.

12mo. Cloth.
 The Buried Treasure.
The Boy Trapper.
The Mail-Carrier.

ROUGHING IT SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols.

12mo. Cloth.
George in Camp.
George at the Wheel.
George at the Fort.

ROD AND GUN SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols.

12mo. Cloth.
Don Gordon’s Shooting Box.
The Young Wild Fowlers.
Rod and Gun Club.

GO-AHEAD SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 3 vols. 12mo.

Cloth.
Tom Newcombe.
Go-Ahead.
No Moss.

FOREST AND STREAM SERIES. By Harry Castlemon.

3 vols. 12mo. Cloth.
Joe Wayring.
Snagged and Sunk.
Steel Horse.

WAR SERIES. By Harry Castlemon. 5 vols. 12mo. Cloth.

True to his Colors.
Rodney the Overseer.
Marcy the Refugee.
Rodney the Partisan.
Marcy the Blockade-Runner.
 Other Volumes in Preparation.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by

R. W. CARROLL & CO.,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

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