stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第7章
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could firebefore I could do more than get the gun to my shoulderhe
sprang straight up and out from the rock； and driven by the impetus of that
one mighty bound came hurtling through the air toward me。
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〃Heavens！ how grand he looked； and how awful！ High into the air he
flew； describing a great arch。 Just as he touched the highest point of his
spring I fired。 I did not dare to wait； for I saw that he would clear the
whole space and land right upon me。 Without a sight； almost without aim；
I fired； as one would fire a snap…shot at a snipe。 The bullet told； for I
distinctly heard its thud above the rushing sound caused by the passage of
the lion through the air。 Next second I was swept to the ground （luckily I
fell into a low； creeper…clad bush； which broke the shock）； and the lion was
on the top of me； and the next those great white teeth of his had met in my
thighI heard them grate against the bone。 I yelled out in agony； for I did
not feel in the least benumbed and happy； like Dr。 Livingstone；whom； by
the way； I knew very well；and gave myself up for dead。 But suddenly； at
that moment； the lion's grip on my thigh loosened； and he stood over me；
swaying to and fro； his huge mouth； from which the blood was gushing；
wide opened。 Then he roared； and the sound shook the rocks。
〃To and fro he swung； and then the great head dropped on me；
knocking all the breath from my body； and he was dead。 My bullet had
entered in the centre of his chest and passed out on the right side of the
spine about half way down the back。
〃The pain of my wound kept me from fainting； and as soon as I got my
breath I managed to drag myself from under him。 Thank heavens； his great
teeth had not crushed my thigh…bone； but I was losing a great deal of blood；
and had it not been for the timely arrival of Tom； with whose aid I got the
handkerchief from my wrist and tied it round my leg； twisting it tight with
a stick； I think that I should have bled to death。
〃Well； it was a just reward for my folly in trying to tackle a family of
lions single…handed。 The odds were too long。 I have been lame ever since；
and shall be to my dying day； in the month of March the wound always
troubles me a great deal； and every three years it breaks out raw。 I need
scarcely add that I never traded the lot of ivory at Sikukuni's。 Another man
got ita Germanand made five hundred pounds out of it after paying
expenses。 I spent the next month on the broad of my back； and was a
cripple for six months after that。 And now I've told you the yarn； so I will
have a drop of Hollands and go to bed。〃
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KING BEMBA'S POINT A WEST
AFRICAN STORY
BY J。 LANDERS
We were for the most part a queer lot out on that desolate southwest
African coast； in charge of the various trading stations that were scattered
along the coast； from the Gaboon River； past the mouth of the mighty
Congo； to the Portuguese city of St。 Paul de Loanda。 A mixture of all sorts；
especially bad sorts： broken…down clerks； men who could not succeed
anywhere else； sailors； youths； and some whose characters would not have
borne any investigation； and we very nearly all drank hard； and those who
didn't drink hard took more than was good for them。
I don't know exactly what induced me to go out there。 I was young for
one thing； the country was unknown； the berth was vacant； and the
conditions of it easy。
Imagine a high rocky point or headland； stretching out sideways into
the sea； and at its base a small river winding into a country that was
seemingly a blank in regard to inhabitants or cultivation； a land continuing
for miles and miles； as far as the eye could see； one expanse of long
yellow grass； dotted here and there with groups of bastard palms。 In front
of the headland rolled the lonely South Atlantic； and； as if such conditions
were not dispiriting enough to existence upon the Point； there was yet
another feature which at times gave the place a still more ghastly look。 A
long way off the shore； the heaving surface of the ocean began； in
anything like bad weather； to break upon the shoals of the coast。 Viewed
from the top of the rock； the sea at such times looked； for at least two
miles out； as if it were scored over with lines of white foam； but lower
down； near the beach； each roller could be distinctly seen； and each roller
had a curve of many feet； and was an enormous mass of water that hurled
itself shoreward until it curled and broke。
When I first arrived on the Point there was； I may say； only one house
upon it； and that belonged to Messrs。 Flint Brothers； of Liverpool。 It was
occupied by one solitary man named Jackson； he had had an assistant； but
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the assistant had died of fever； and I was sent to replace him。 Jackson was
a man of fifty at least； who had been a sailor before he had become an
African trader。 His face bore testimony to the winds and weather it had
encountered； and wore habitually a grave； if not melancholy； expression。
He was rough but kind to me； and though strict was just； which was no
common feature in an old African hand to one who had just arrived on the
coast。
He kept the factorywe called all houses on the coast factoriesas
neat and clean as if it had been a ship。 He had the floor of the portion we
dwelt in holystoned every week； and numberless little racks and shelves
were fitted up all over the house。 The outside walls glittered with paint；
and the yard was swept clean every morning； and every Sunday； at eight
o'clock and sunset； the ensign was hoisted and lowered； and an old cannon
fired at the word of command。 Order and rule were with Jackson observed
from habit； and were strictly enforced by him on all the natives employed
in the factory。
Although I have said the country looked as if uninhabited； there were
numerous villages hidden away in the long grass and brushwood； invisible
at a distance； being huts of thatch or mud； and not so high as the grass
among which they were placed。 From these villages came most of our
servants； and also the middlemen； who acted as brokers between us； the
white men； and the negroes who brought ivory and gum and india…rubber
from the far interior for sale。 Our trade was principally in ivory； and when
an unusually large number of elephants' tusks arrived upon the Point for
sale； it would be crowded with Bushmen； strange and uncouth； and
hideously ugly； and armed； and then we would be very busy； for
sometimes as many as two hundred tusks would be brought to us at the
same time； and each of these had to be bargained for and paid for by
exchange of cotton cloths； guns； knives； powder； and a host of small
wares。
For some time after my arrival our factory； along with the others on
the coast belonging to Messrs。 Flint Brothers； was very well supplied by
them with goods for the trade； but by degrees their shipments became less
frequent； and small when they did come。 In spite of repeated letters we
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could gain no reason from the firm for this fact； nor could the other
factories； and gradually we found ourselves with an empty storehouse； and
nearly all our goods gone。 Then followed a weary interval； during which
we had nothing whatever to do； and day succeeded day through the long
hot season。 It was now that I began to feel that Jackson had become of late
more silent and reserved with me than ever he had been。 I noticed； too；
that he had contracted a habit of wandering out to the extreme end of the
Point； where he would sit for hours gazing upon the ocean before him。 In
addition to this； he grew morose and uncertain in his temper toward the
natives； and sometimes he would fall asleep in the evenings on a sofa； and
talk to himself at such a rate while asleep that I would grow frightened and
wake him； when he would stare about him for a little until he gathered
consciousness； and then he would stagger off to bed to fall asleep again
almost immediately。 Also； his hands trembled much； and he began to lose
flesh。 All this troubled me； for his own sake as well as my own； and I
resolved to ask him to see the doctor of the next mail… steamer that came。
With this idea I went one day to the end of the Point； and found him in his
usual attitude； seated on the long grass； looking seaward。 He did not hear
me approach； and when I spoke he started to his feet； and demanded
fiercely why I disturbed him。 I replied； as mildly as I could； for I was
rather afraid of the glittering look that was in his eyes； that I wished to ask
him if he did not feel ill。
He regarded me with a steady but softened glance for a little； and then
said：
〃My lad； I thank you for your trouble； but I want no doctor。 Do you
think I'm looking ill？〃
〃Indeed you are；〃 I answered； 〃ill and thin； and； do you know； I hear
you talk to yourself in your sleep nearly every night。〃
〃What do I say？〃 he asked eagerly。
〃That I cannot tell；〃 I replied。 〃It is all rambling talk； the same things
over and over again； and nearly all about one personLucy。〃
〃Boy！〃 he cried out； as if in pain； or as if something had touched him
to the quick； 〃sit you down； and I'll tell you why I think of hershe was
my wife。〃
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He moved ne
