a simpleton-第44章

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existing　bank　was　two　feet　above　the　stream。　　Little　recked　the
demon　drivers　or　the　parched　cattle；　in　they　plunged　promiscuously；
with　a　flop　like　thunder；　followed　by　an　awful　splashing。　　The
wagon　stuck　fast　in　the　mud；　the　horses　tied　themselves　in　a　knot；
and　rolled　about　in　the　stream；　and　the　oxen　drank　imperturbably。

〃Oh；　the　salt！　the　salt！〃　screamed　Phoebe；　and　the　rocks　re…echoed
her　lamentations。

The　wagon　was　inextricable；　the　cattle　done　up；　the　savages　lazy；
so　they　stayed　for　several　hours。　　Christopher　botanized；　but　not
alone。　　Phoebe　drew　Ucatella　apart；　and　explained　to　her　that　when
a　man　is　a　little　wrong　in　the　head；　it　makes　a　child　of　him：　〃So；〃
said　she；　〃you　must　think　he　is　your　child；　and　never　let　him　out
of　your　sight。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　the　sable　Juno；　who　spoke　English　ridiculously
well；　and　rapped　out　idioms；　especially　〃Come　on；〃　and　〃All　right。〃

About　dusk；　what　the　drivers　had　foreseen；　though　they　had　not　the
sense　to　explain　it；　took　place；　the　kloof　dwindled　to　a　mere
gutter；　and　the　wagon　stuck　high　and　dry。　　Phoebe　waved　her
handkerchief　to　Ucatella。　　Ucatella；　who　had　dogged　Christopher
about　four　hours　without　a　word；　now　took　his　hand；　and　said；　〃My
child；　missy　wants　us；　come　on；〃　and　so　led　him　unresistingly。

The　drivers；　flogging　like　devils；　cursing　like　troopers；　and
yelling　like　hyenas　gone　mad；　tried　to　get　the　wagon　off；　but　it
was　fast　as　a　rock。　　Then　Dick　and　the　Hottentot　put　their
shoulders　to　one　wheel；　and　tried　to　prise　it　up；　while　the　Kafir
ENCOURAGED　the　cattle　with　his　thong。　　Observing　this；　Christopher
went　in；　with　his　sable　custodian　at　his　heels；　and　heaved　at　the
other　embedded　wheel。　　The　wagon　was　lifted　directly；　so　that　the
cattle　tugged　it　out；　and　they　got　clear。　　On　examination；　the　salt
had　just　escaped。

Says　Ucatella　to　Phoebe；　a　little　ostentatiously；　〃My　child　is
strong　and　useful；　make　little　missy　a　good　slave。〃

〃A　slave！　　Heaven　forbid！〃　said　Phoebe。　　〃He'll　be　a　father　to　us
all；　once　he　gets　his　head　back；　and　I　do　think　it　is　comingbut
very　slow。〃

The　next　three　days　offered　the　ordinary　incidents　of　African
travel；　but　nothing　that　operated　much　on　Christopher's　mind；　which
is　the　true　point　of　this　narrative；　and　as　there　are　many
admirable　books　of　African　travel；　it　is　the　more　proper　I　should
confine　myself　to　what　may　be　called　the　relevant　incidents　of　the
journey。

On　the　sixth　day　from　Cape　Town；　they　came　up　with　a　large　wagon
stuck　in　a　mud…hole。　　There　was　quite　a　party　of　Boers；　Hottentots；
Kafirs；　round　it；　armed　with　whips；　shamboks；　and　oaths；　lashing
and　cursing　without　intermission；　or　any　good　effect；　and　there
were　the　wretched　beasts　straining　in　vain　at　their　choking　yokes；
moaning　with　anguish；　trembling　with　terror；　their　poor　mild　eyes
dilated　with　agony　and　fear；　and　often；　when　the　blows　of　the　cruel
shamboks　cut　open　their　bleeding　flesh；　they　bellowed　to　Heaven
their　miserable　and　vain　protest　against　this　devil's　work。

Then　the　past　opened　its　stores；　and　lent　Christopher　a　word。

〃BARBARIANS！〃　he　roared；　and　seized　a　gigantic　Kafir　by　the　throat；
just　as　his　shambok　descended　for　the　hundredth　time。　　There　was　a
mighty　struggle；　as　of　two　Titans；　dust　flew　round　the　combatants
in　a　cloud；　a　whirling　of　big　bodies；　and　down　they　both　went　with
an　awful　thud；　the　Saxon　uppermost；　by　Nature's　law。

The　Kafir's　companions；　amazed　at　first；　began　to　roll　their　eyes
and　draw　a　knife　or　two；　but　Dick　ran　forward；　and　said；　〃Don't
hurt　him：　he　is　wrong　HERE。〃

This　representation　pacified　them　more　readily　than　one　might　have
expected。　　Dick　added　hastily；　〃We'll　get　you　out　of　the　hole　OUR
way；　and　cry　quits。〃

The　proposal　was　favorably　received；　and　the　next　minute
Christopher　and　Ucatella　at　one　wheel；　and　Dick　and　the　Hottentot
at　the　other；　with　no　other　help　than　two　pointed　iron　bars　bought
for　their　shepherds；　had　effected　what　sixteen　oxen　could　not。　　To
do　this　Dick　Dale　had　bared　his　arm　to　the　shoulder；　it　was　a
stalwart　limb；　like　his　sister's；　and　he　now　held　it　out　all
swollen　and　corded；　and　slapped　it　with　his　other　hand。　　〃Look'ee
here；　you　chaps；〃　said　he：　〃the　worst　use　a　man　can　put　that　there
to　is　to　go　cutting　out　a　poor　beast's　heart　for　not　doing　more
than　he　can。　　You　are　good　fellows；　you　Kafirs；　but　I　think　you
have　sworn　never　to　put　your　shoulder　to　a　wheel。　　But；　bless　your
poor　silly　hearts；　a　little　strength　put　on　at　the　right　place　is
better　than　a　deal　at　the　wrong。〃

〃You　hear　that；　you　Kafir　chaps？〃　inquired　Ucatella；　a　little
arrogantlyfor　a　Kafir。

The　Kafirs；　who　had　stood　quite　silent　to　imbibe　these　remarks；
bowed　their　heads　with　all　the　dignity　and　politeness　of　Roman
senators；　Spanish　grandees；　etc。；　and　one　of　the　party　replied
gravely；　〃The　words　of　the　white　man　are　always　wise。〃

〃And　his　arm　blanked*　strong；〃　said　Christopher's　late　opponent；
from　whose　mind；　however；　all　resentment　had　vanished。


*　I　take　this　very　useful　expression　from　a　delightful　volume　by
Mr。　Boyle。


Thus　spake　the　Kafirs；　yet　to　this　day　never　hath　a　man　of　all
their　tribe　put　his　shoulder　to　a　wheel；　so　strong　is　custom　in
South　Africa；　probably　in　all　Africa；　since　I　remember　St。　Augustin
found　it　stronger　than　he　liked；　at　Carthage。

Ucatella　went　to　Phoebe；　and　said；　〃Missy；　my　child　is　good　and
brave。〃

〃Bother　you　and　your　child！〃　said　poor　Phoebe。　　〃To　think　of　his
flying　at　a　giant　like　that；　and　you　letting　of　him。　　I'm　all　of　a
tremble　from　head　to　foot：〃　and　Phoebe　relieved　herself　with　a　cry。

〃Oh；　missy！〃　said　Ucatella。

〃There；　never　mind　me。　　Do　go　and　look　after　your　child；　and　keep
him　out　of　more　mischief。　　I　wish　we　were　safe　at　Dale's　Kloof；　I
do。〃

Ucatella　complied；　and　went　botanizing　with　Dr。　Staines；　but　that
gentleman；　in　the　course　of　his　scientific　researches　into　camomile
flowers　and　blasted　heath；　which　were　all　that　lovely　region
afforded；　suddenly　succumbed　and　stretched　out　his　limbs；　and　said；
sleepily；　〃Good…nightUcat〃　and　was　off　into　the　land　of　Nod。

The　wagon；　which；　by　the　way；　had　passed　the　larger　but　slower
vehicle；　found　him　fast　asleep；　and　Ucatella　standing　by　him　as
ordered；　motionless　and　grand。

〃Oh；　dear！　what　now？〃　said　Phoebe：　but　being　a　sensible　woman；
though　in　the　hen　and　chickens　line；　she　said；　〃'Tis　the　fighting
and　the　excitement。　　'Twill　do　him　more　good　than　harm；　I　think：〃
and　she　had　him　bestowed　in　the　wagon；　and　never　disturbed　him
night　nor　day。　　He　slept　thirty…six　hours　at　a　stretch；　and　when　he
awoke；　she　noticed　a　slight　change　in　his　eye。　　He　looked　at　her
with　an　interest　he　had　not　shown　before；　and　said；　〃Madam；　I　know
you。〃

〃Thank　God　for　that；〃　said　Phoebe。

〃You　kept　a　little　shop；　in　the　other　world。〃

Phoebe　opened　her　eyes　with　some　little　alarm。

〃You　understandthe　world　that　is　locked　upfor　the　present。〃

〃Well；　sir；　so　I　did；　and　sold　you　milk　and　butter。　　Don't　you
mind？〃

〃Nothe　milk　and　butterthey　are　locked　up。〃

The　country　became　wilder；　the　signs　of　life　miserably　sparse；
about　every　twenty　miles　the　farmhouse　or　hut　of　a　degenerate　Boer；
whose　children　and　slaves　pigged　together；　and　all　ran　jostling；
and　the　mistress　screamed　in　her　shrill　Dutch；　and　the　Hottentots
all　chirped　together；　and　confusion　reigned　for　want　of　method：
often　they　went　miles；　and　saw　nothing　but　a　hut　or　two；　with　a
nude　Hottentot　eating　flesh；　burnt　a　little；　but　not　cooked；　at　the
door；　and　the　kloofs　became　deeper　and　more　turbid；　and　Phoebe　was
in　an　agony　about　her　salt；　and　Christopher　advised　her　to　break　it
in　big　lumps；　and　hang　it　all　about　the　wagon　in　sacks；　and　she
did；　and　Ucatella　said　profoundly；　〃My　child　is　wise；〃　and　they
began　to　draw　near　home；　and　Phoebe　to　fidget；　and　she　said　to
Christopher；　〃Oh；　dear！　　I　hope　they　are　all　alive　and　well：　once
you　leave　home；　you　don't　know　what　may　have　happened　by　then　you
come　back。　　One　comfort；　I've　got　Sophy：　she　is　very　dependable；
and　no　beauty；　thank　my　stars。〃

That　night；　the　last　they　had　to　travel；　was　cloudy；　for　a　wonder；
and　they　groped　with　lanterns。

Ucatella　and　her　child　brought　up　the　rear。　　Presently　there　was　a
light　pattering　behind　them。　　The　swift…eared　Ucatella　clutched
Christopher's　arm；　and　turning　round；　pointed　back；　with　eyeballs
white　and　rolling。　　There　were　full　a　dozen　animals　following　them；
whose　bodies　seemed　colorless　as　shadows；　but　their　eyes　little
balls　of　flaming　lime…light。

〃GUN！〃　said　Christie；　and　gave　the　Kafir's　arm　a　pinch。　　She　flew
to　the　caravan；　he　walked　backwards；　facing　the　foe。　　The　wagon　was
halted；　and　Dick　ran　back　with　two　loaded　rifles。　　In　his　haste　he
gave　one　to　Christopher；　and　repented　at　leisure；　but　Christopher
took　it；　and　handled　it　like　an　experienced　person；　and　said；　with
delight；　〃VOLUNTEER。〃　　But　with　this　the　cautious　animals　had
vanished　like　bubbles。　　But　Dick　told　Christopher　they　would　be
sure　to　come　back；　he　ordered　Ucatella　into　the　wagon；　and　told　her
to　warn　Phoebe　not　to　be　frightened　if　guns　should　be　fired。　　This
soothing　message　brought　Phoebe's　white　face　out　between　the
curtains；　and　she　implored　them　to　get　into　the　wagon；　and　not
tempt　Providence。

〃Not　till　I　have　got　thee　a　kaross　of　jackal's　fur。〃

〃I'll　never　wear　it！〃　said　Phoebe　violently；　to　divert　him　from　his
purpose。

〃Time　will　show；〃　said　Dick　dryly。　　〃These　varmint　are　on　and　off
like　shadows；　and　as　cunning　as　Old　Nick。　　We　two　will　walk　on
quite　unconcerned　like；　and　as　soon　as　ever　the　varmint　are　at　our
heels　you　give　us　the　office；　and　we'll　pepper　their　furwon't　we；
doctor？〃

〃Wewillpeppertheir　fur；〃　said　Christopher；　repeating　what　to
him　was　a　lesson　in　the　ancient　and　venerable　English　tongue。

So　they　walked　on　expectant；　and　by　and　by　the　four…footed　shadows
with　large　lime…light　eyes　came　stealing　on；　and　Phoebe　shrieked；
and　they　vanished　before　the　men　could　draw　a　bead　on　them。

〃Thou's　no　use　at　this　work；　Pheeb；〃　said　Dick。　　〃Shut　thy　eyes；
and　let　us　have　Yuke。〃

〃Iss；　master：　here　I　be。〃

〃You　can　bleat　like　a　lamb；　for　I've　heard　ye。〃

〃Iss；　master。　　I　bleats　beautiful；〃　and　she　showed　snowy　teeth　from
ear　to　ear。

〃Well；　then；　when　the　varmint　are　at　our　heels；　draw　in　thy　woolly
head；　and　bleat　like　a　young　lamb。　　They　won't　turn　from　that；　I
know；　the　vagabonds。〃

Matters　being　thus　prepared；　they　sauntered　on；　but　the　jackals
were　very　wary。　　They　came　like　shadows；　so　departeda　great　many
times：　but　at　last　being　re…enforced；　they　lessened　the　distance；
and　got　so　close；　that　Ucatella　withdrew　her　head；　and　bleated
faintly　inside　the　wagon。　　The　men　turned；　levelling　their　rifles；
and　found　the　troop　within　twenty　yards　of　them。　　They　wheeled
directly：　but　the　four　barrels　poured　their　flame；　four　loud
reports　startled　the　night；　and　one　jackal　lay　dead　as　a　stone；
another　limped　behind　the　flying　crowd；　and　one　lay　kicking。　　He
was　soon　despatched；　and　both　carcasses　flung　over　the　patient
oxen；　and　good…by　jackals　for　the　rest　of　that　journey。

Ucatella；　with　all　a　Kafir's　love　of　fire…arms；　clapped　her　hands
with　delight。　　〃My　child　shoots　loud　and　strong