stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第9章
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joke； grinned all over his black face； and Mr。 Bransome； perceiving that he
was being laughed at； snatched a good…sized stick from a native standing
near； and struck the patrao repeatedly over the back。
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In vain Sooka； for that was the patrao's name； protested； and demanded
to know what wrong thing he had done。 The agent was furious； and
showered his blows upon the black。 Equally in vain I shouted that Sooka
had done well by us； and that he； Mr。 Bransome； was making an enemy of
a man who would have him now and then in his power。 At length Sooka
took to his heels； and sure enough； when he had got a little way off； he
began to threaten vengeance for what he had received。 I sympathised with
him； for I knew what a loss to his dignity it was to be beaten without cause
before his fellows； and I feared that Mr。 Bransome would indeed be sorry；
sooner or later； for what he had done。
I now suggested to him； by way of diverting his thoughts from poor
Sooka； that standing on the beach in wet clothes was the very way to catch
the coast…fever straight off； and he instantly suffered himself to be carried
up the factory。 There Jackson received him in a sort of 〃who on earth are
you？〃 manner； and Mr。 Bransome； clearing his throat； announced himself
and his authority； adding that he intended to make the factory a point of
departure to all the others on the coast； then； very abruptly； he requested
Jackson to prepare quarters for him without delay。
The change that came over Jackson's face as he learned the quality of
the stranger and his requests was great。 The old salt； who had been king of
his house and of the Point for so long a time； had evidently never even
thought of the probability of such an intrusion as was now presented to
him； and he was amazed at what he considered to be the unwarrantable
assurance of the stranger。 However； he recovered himself smartly； and
asked the new man if he had any written credentials。
〃Certainly；〃 replied he； pulling out a document all wet with salt water。
〃Here is a letter from Messrs。 Flint Brothers； of which； no doubt； you will
have a copy in your mail…bag。〃
Jackson took the letter and opened it； and seemed to read it slowly to
himself。 All at once he started； looked at the new agent； advanced a step or
two toward him； muttering； 〃Bransome； Bransome；〃 then stopped and
asked him in a strange constrained voice； 〃Is /your/ name Bransome？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the latter； astonished at the old man's question。
〃I knew a Bransome once；〃 said Jackson； steadily； 〃and he was a
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scoundrel。〃
For a moment the two men looked at each otherJackson with a gleam
of hatred in his eyes； while Bransome had a curiously frightened
expression on his face； which blanched slightly。 But he quickly resumed
his composure and peremptory way； and said； 〃Show me a room； I must
get these wet things off me。〃
As； however； he addressed himself this time to me rather than to
Jackson；who； indeed； regarded him no longer； but stood with the letter
loose in his hand； looking at the floor of the room； as if in deep
meditation；I showed him into my own room； where I ordered his trunks
to be brought。 These； of course； were wet； but he found some things in the
middle of them that were not more than slightly damp； and with the help
of a pair of old canvas trousers of mine he managed to make his
appearance at dinner…time。
Jackson was not at the meal。 He had left the house shortly after his
interview with the new agent； and had； I fancied； gone on one of his
solitary rambles。 At any rate he did not return until late that night。
I thought Mr。 Bransome seemed to be somewhat relieved when he saw
that the old man was not coming； and he became more affable than I had
expected him to be； and relinquished his arrogant style altogether when he
began to question me about Jacksonwho he was？ what had he been？ how
long he had lived on the coast？ To all which questions I returned cautious
answers； remembering that I was under a promise to the old man not to
repeat his story。
By the next morning； to my surprise； Jackson appeared to have
become reconciled to the fact that he had been superseded by a man who
knew nothing of the coast； and of his own accord he offered to tell Mr。
Bransome the clues to the letter…locks on the doors of the various store…
rooms； for we on the coast used none but letter…locks； which are locks that
do not require a key to open them。 But Mr。 Bransome expressed； most
politely； a wish that Jackson should consider himself still in charge of the
factory； at any rate until the whole estate of the unfortunate Flint Brothers
could be wound up； and he trusted that his presence would make no
difference to him。
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This was a change； on the part of both men； from the manners of the
previous day； and yet I could not help thinking that each but ill concealed
his aversion to the other。
Months now slipped away； and Mr。 Bransome was occupied in going
up and down the coast in a little steamer； shutting up factory after factory；
transferring their goods to ours； and getting himself much disliked by all
the Europeans under him； and hated by the natives； especially by the boat…
boys； who were a race or tribe by themselves； coming from one particular
part of the coast。 He had； of course； been obliged to order the dismissal of
many of them； and this was one reason why they hated him； but the chief
cause was his treatment of Sooka； the patrao。 That man never forgave Mr。
Bransome for beating him so unjustly； and the news of the deed had
travelled very quickly； as news does in savage countries； so that I think
nearly all of Sooka's countrymen knew of the act and resented it。
Mr。 Bransome was quite unaware of the antipathy he had thus created
toward himself； except so far as Sooka was concerned； and him he never
employed when he had to go off to vessels or land from them； but always
went in the other boat belonging to the factory； which was steered by a
much younger negro。 In addition to humbling Sooka in this way；
Bransome took the opportunity of disgracing him whenever he could do so。
Therefore； one day when two pieces of cloth from the cargo…room were
found in the boatmen's huts； it was no surprise to me that Sooka was at
once fastened upon by Mr。 Bransome as the thief who had stolen them；
and that he was tied to the flogging…post in the middle of the yard； and
sentenced to receive fifty lashes with the cat that was kept for such a
purpose； and all without any inquiry being made。 In vain did the
unfortunate man protest his innocence。 A swarthy Kroot…boy from Cape
Coast laid the cat on his brown shoulders right willingly； for he also was
an enemy of Sooka's； and in a few minutes the poor fellow's flesh was cut
and scored as if by a knife。
After the flogging was over Mr。 Bransome amused himself by getting
out his rifle and firing fancy shots at Sooka； still tied to the post； that is； he
tried to put the bullets as close to the poor wretch as he could without
actually wounding him。 To a negro； with his dread of firearms； this was
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little short of absolute torture； and at each discharge Sooka writhed and
crouched as close to the ground as he could； while his wide…opened eyes
and mouth； and face of almost a slate colour； showed how terribly
frightened he was。 To Mr。 Bransome it appeared to be fine sport； for he
fired at least twenty shots at the man before he shouldered his rifle and
went indoors。 Jackson said nothing to this stupid exhibition of temper； but
as soon as it was over he had Sooka released； and I knew he attended to
his wounds himself； and poured friar's balsam into them； and covered his
back with a soft shirtfor all which； no doubt； the negro was afterward
grateful。 Whether Mr。 Bransome got to know of this； and was offended at
it； I do not know； but shortly afterward he ceased to live with us。
There was between the factory and the sea； and a little to the right of
the former； a small wooden cottage which had been allowed to fall into a
dilapidated state from want of some one to live in it。 This Mr。 Bransome
gave orders to the native carpenters to repair and make weather…tight； and
when they had done so； he caused a quantity of furniture to be brought
from St。 Paul de Loanda and placed within in it。 Then he transferred
himself and his baggage to the cottage。
Jackson displayed complete indifference to this change on the part of
the agent。 In fact； there had been； ever since the arrival of the latter upon
the Point； and in spite of apparent friendliness； a perceptible breach；
widening daily； between the two men。 As to the reason of this I had my
own suspicions； for I had made the discovery that Jackson had for some
time past been drinking very heavily。
In addition to the brandy which we white men had for our own use； I
had； to my horror； found out that he was secretly drinking the coarse and
fiery rum that was sold to the natives； and as I remembered the mutterings
and moanings that had formerly alarmed me； I wondered that I had not
guessed the cause of them at the time； but until the arrival of Mr。
Bransome； Jackson had always kept charge of the spirits himself； and he
was such a secret old fellow that there was no knowing what he had then
taken。 Now that I was aware of his failing； I was very sorry for the old
sailor； for on such a coast and in such a climate there was only one
