the ivory child-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



happily　did　I　lay　myself　down　to　sleep　in　my　little　bough　shelter　that

night；　feeling　that　at　last　I　was　rid　of　an　uncommonly　awkward

adventure。　If　I　thought　that　we　could　do　any　good　by　staying　on；　it

would　have　been　another　matter。　But　as　I　was　certain　that　there　was　no

earthly　chance　of　our　finding　among　the　Kendahif　ever　we　reached

themthe　lady　who　had　tumbled　in　the　Nile　in　Egypt；　well；　I　was　glad

that　Providence　had　been　so　good　as　to　make　it　impossible　for　us　to

commit　suicide　by　thirst　in　a　desert；　or　otherwise。　For；

notwithstanding　my　former　reasonings　to　the　contrary；　I　was　now

convinced　that　this　was　what　had　happened　to　poor　Ragnall's　wife。



That；　however；　was　just　what　Providence　had　not　done。　In　the　middle　of

the　night；　to　be　precise；　at　exactly　two　in　the　morning；　I　was

awakened　by　Hans；　who　slept　at　the　back　of　my　shanty；　into　which　he

had　crept　through　a　hole　in　the　faggots；　exclaiming　in　a　frightened

voice；



〃Open　your　eyes　and　look；　Baas。　There　are　two　/spooks/　waiting　to　see

you　outside；　Baas。〃



Very　cautiously　I　lifted　myself　a　little　and　stared　out　into　the

moonlight。　There；　seated　about　five　paces　from　the　open　end　of　the　hut

were　the　〃spooks〃　sure　enough；　two　white…robed　figures　squatting

silent　and　immovable　on　the　ground。　At　first　I　was　frightened。　Then　I

bethought　me　of　thieves　and　felt　for　my　Colt　pistol　under　the　rug　that

served　me　as　a　pillow。　As　I　got　hold　of　the　handle；　however；　a　deep

voice　said：



〃Is　it　your　custom；　O　Macumazana；　Watcher…by…Night；　to　receive　guests

with　bullets？〃



Now　thought　I　to　myself；　who　is　there　in　the　world　who　could　see　a　man

catch　hold　of　the　handle　of　a　pistol　in　the　recesses　of　a　dark　place

and　under　a　blanket　at　night；　except　the　owner　of　that　voice　which　I

seemed　to　remember　hearing　in　a　certain　drawing…room　in　England？



〃Yes；　Har？t；〃　I　answered　with　an　unconcerned　yawn；　〃when　the　guests

come　in　such　a　doubtful　fashion　and　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　But　as

you　are　here　at　last；　will　you　be　so　good　as　to　tell　us　why　you　have

kept　us　waiting　all　this　time？　Is　that　your　way　of　fulfilling　an

engagement？〃



〃O　Lord　Macumazana；〃　answered　Har？t；　for　of　course　it　was　he；　in　quite

a　perturbed　tone；　〃I　offer　to　you　our　humble　apologies。　The　truth　is

that　when　we　heard　of　your　arrival　at　Beza…Town　we　started；　or　tried

to　start；　from　hundreds　of　miles　away　to　keep　our　tryst　with　you　here

as　we　promised　we　would　do。　But　we　are　mortal；　Macumazana；　and

accidents　intervened。　Thus；　when　we　had　ascertained　the　weight　of　your

baggage；　camels　had　to　be　collected　to　carry　it；　which　were　grazing　at

a　distance。　Also　it　was　necessary　to　send　forward　to　dig　out　a　certain

well　in　the　desert　where　they　must　drink。　Hence　the　delay。　Still；　you

will　admit　that　we　have　arrived　in　time；　five；　or　at　any　rate　four

hours　before　the　rising　of　that　sun　which　was　to　light　you　on　your

homeward　way。〃



〃Yes；　you　have；　O　Prophets；　or　O　Liars；　whichever　you　may　be；〃　I

exclaimed　with　pardonable　exasperation；　for　really　their　knowledge　of

my　private　affairs；　however　obtained；　was　enough　to　anger　a　saint。　〃So

as　you　are　here　at　last；　come　in　and　have　a　drink；　for　whether　you　are

men　or　devils；　you　must　be　cold　out　there　in　the　damp。〃



In　they　came　accordingly；　and；　not　being　Mohammedans；　partook　of　a　tot

of　square…face　from　a　bottle　which　I　kept　locked　in　a　box　to　put　Hans

beyond　the　reach　of　temptation。



〃To　your　health；　Har？t　and　Mar？t；〃　I　said；　drinking　a　little　out　of

the　pannikin　and　giving　the　rest　to　Hans；　who　gulped　the　fiery　liquor

down　with　a　smack　of　his　lips。　For　I　will　admit　that　I　joined　in　this

unholy　midnight　potation　to　gain　time　for　thought　and　to　steady　my

nerve。



〃To　your　health；　O　Lord　Macumazana；〃　the　pair　answered　as　they

swallowed　their　tots；　which　I　had　made　pretty　stiff；　and　set　down

their　pannikins　in　front　of　them　with　as　much　reverence　as　though

these　had　been　holy　vessels。



〃Now；〃　I　said；　throwing　a　blanket　over　my　shoulders；　for　the　air　was

chilly；　〃now　let　us　talk；〃　and　taking　the　lantern　which　Hans　had

thoughtfully　lighted；　I　held　it　up　and　contemplated　them。



There　they　were；　Har？t　and　Mar？t　without　doubt；　to　all　appearance

totally　unchanged　since　some　years　before　I　had　seen　them　at　Ragnall

in　England。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　I　asked　in　a　kind　of　fiery

indignation　inspired　by　my　intense　curiosity。　〃How　did　you　get　out　of

England　after　you　had　tried　to　steal　away　the　lady　to　whom　you　sent

the　necklace？　What　did　you　do　with　that　lady　after　you　had　beguiled

her　from　the　boat　at　Abu…Simbel？　In　the　name　of　your　Holy　Child；　or　of

Shaitan　of　the　Mohammedans；　or　of　Set　of　the　Egyptians；　answer　me；

lest　I　should　make　an　end　of　both　of　you；　which　I　can　do　here　without

any　questions　being　asked；〃　and　I　whipped　out　my　pistol。



〃Pardon　us；〃　said　Har？t　with　a　grave　smile；　〃but　if　you　were　to　do　as

you　say；　Lord　Macumazana；　many　questions　would　be　asked　which　/you/

might　find　it　hard　to　answer。　So　be　pleased　to　put　that　death…dealer

back　into　its　place；　and　to　tell　us　before　we　reply　to　you；　what　you

know　of　Set　of　the　Egyptians。〃



〃As　much　or　as　little　as　you　do；〃　I　replied。



Both　bowed　as　though　this　information　were　of　the　most　satisfactory

order。　Then　Har？t　went　on：　〃In　reply　to　your　requests；　O　Macumazana；

we　left　England　by　a　steamboat　and　in　due　course　after　long

journeyings　we　reached　our　own　country。　We　do　not　understand　your

allusions　to　a　place　called　Abu…Simbel　on　the　Nile；　whence；　never

having　been　there；　we　have　taken　no　lady。　Indeed；　we　never　meant　to

take　that　lady　to　whom　we　sent　a　necklace　in　England。　We　only　meant　to

ask　certain　questions　of　her；　as　she　had　the　gift　of　vision；　when　you

appeared　and　interrupted　us。　What　should　we　want　with　white　ladies；

who　have　already　far　too　many　of　our　own？〃



〃I　don't　know；〃　I　replied；　〃but　I　do　know　that　you　are　the　biggest

liars　I　ever　met。〃



At　these　words；　which　some　might　have　thought　insulting；　Har？t　and

Mar？t　bowed　again　as　though　to　acknowledge　a　great　compliment。　Then

Har？t　said：



〃Let　us　leave　the　question　of　ladies　and　come　to　matters　that　have　to

do　with　men。　You　are　here　as　we　told　you　that　you　would　be　at　a　time

when　you　did　not　believe　us；　and　we　here　to　meet　/you/；　as　we　told　you

that　we　would　be。　How　we　knew　that　you　were　coming　and　how　we　came　do

not　matter　at　all。　Believe　what　you　will。　Are　you　ready　to　start　with

us；　O　Lord　Macumazana；　that　you　may　bring　to　its　death　the　wicked

elephant　Jana　which　ravages　our　land；　and　receive　the　great　reward　of

ivory？　If　so；　your　camel　waits。〃



〃One　camel　cannot　carry　four　men；〃　I　answered；　avoiding　the　question。



〃In　courage　and　skill　you　are　more　than　many　men；　O　Macumazana；　yet　in

body　you　are　but　one　and　not　four。〃



〃If　you　think　that　I　am　going　with　you　alone；　you　are　much　mistaken；

Har？t　and　Mar？t；〃　I　exclaimed。　〃Here　with　me　is　my　servant　without

whom　I　do　not　stir；〃　and　I　pointed　to　Hans；　whom　they　contemplated

gravely。　〃Also　there　is　the　Lord　Ragnall；　who　in　this　land　is　named

Igeza；　and　his　servant　who　here　is　named　Bena；　the　man　out　of　whom　you

drew　snakes　in　the　room　in　England。　They　also　must　accompany　us。〃



At　this　news　the　impassive　countenances　of　Har？t　and　Mar？t　showed；　I

thought；　some　signs　of　disturbance。　They　muttered　together　in　an

unknown　tongue。　Then　Har？t　said：



〃Our　secret　land　is　open　to　you　alone；　O　Macumazana；　for　one　purpose

onlyto　kill　the　elephant　Jana；　for　which　deed　we　promise　you　a　great

reward。　We　do　not　wish　to　see　the　others　there。〃



〃Then　you　can　kill　your　own　elephant；　Har？t　and　Mar？t；　for　not　one

step　do　I　go　with　you。　Why　should　I　when　there　is　as　much　ivory　here

as　I　want；　to　be　had　for　the　shooting？〃



〃How　if　we　take　you；　O　Macumazana？〃



〃How　if　I　kill　you　both；　O　Har？t　and　Mar？t？　Fools；　here　are　many　brave

men　at　my　command；　and　if　you　or　any　with　you　want　fighting　it　shall

be　given　you　in　plenty。　Hans；　bid　the　Mazitu　stand　to　their　arms　and

summon　Igeza　and　Bena。〃



〃Stay；　Lord；〃　said　Har？t；　〃and　put　down　that　weapon；〃　for　once　more　I

had　produced　the　pistol。　〃We　would　not　begin　our　fellowship　by

shedding　blood；　though　we　are　safer　from　you　than　you　think。　Your

companions　shall　accompany　you　to　the　land　of　the　Kendah；　but　let　them

know　that　they　do　so　at　their　own　risk。　Learn　that　it　is　revealed　to

us　that　if　they　go　in　there　some　of　them　will　pass　out　again　as

spirits　but　not　as　men。〃



〃Do　you　mean　that　you　will　murder　them？〃



〃No。　We　mean　that　yonder　are　some　stronger　than　us　or　any　men；　who

will　take　their　lives　in　sacrifice。　Not　yours；　Macumazana；　for　that；

it　is　decreed；　is　safe；　but　those　of　two　of　the　others；　which　two　we

do　not　know。〃



〃Indeed；　Har？t　and　Mar？t；　and　how　am　I　to　be　sure　that　any　of　us　are

safe；　or　that　you　do　not　but　trick　us　to　your　country；　there　to　kill

us　with　treachery　and　steal　our　goods？〃



〃Because　we　swear　it　by　the　oath　that　may　not　be　broken；　we　swear　it

by　the　Heavenly　Child；〃　both　of　them　exclaimed　solemnly；　speaking　with

one　voice　and　bowing　till　their　foreheads　almost　touched　the　ground。



I　shrugged　my　shoulders　and　laughed　a　little。



〃You　do　not　believe　us；〃　went　on　Har？t；　〃who　have　not　heard　what

happens　to　those　who　break　this　oath。　Come　now　and　see　something。

Within　five　paces　of　your　hut　is　a　tall　ant…heap　upon　which　doubtless

you　have　been　accustomed　to　stand　and　overlook　the　desert。〃　（This　was

true；　but　how　did　they　guess　it；　I　wondered。）　〃Go　climb　that　ant…heap

once　more。〃



Perhaps　it　was　rash；　but　my　curiosity　led　me　to　accept　this

invitation。　Out　I　went；　followed　by　Hans　with　a　loaded　double…

barrelled　rifle；　and　scrambled　up　the　ant…heap　which；　as　it　was　twenty

feet　high　and　there　were　no　trees　just　here；　commanded　a　very　fine

view　of　the　desert　beyond。



〃Look　to　the　north；〃　said　Har？t　from　its　foot。



I　looked；　and　there　in　the　bright　moonlight　five　or　six　hundred　yards

away；　ranged　rank　by　rank　upon　a　slope　of　sand　and　along　the　crest　of

the　ridge　beyond；　I　saw　quite　two　hundred　kneeling　camels；　and　by　each

camel　a　tall；　white…robed　figure　who　held　in　his　hand　a　long　lance　to

the　shaft　of　which；　not　far　beneath　the　blade；　was　attached　a　little

flag。　For　a　while　I　stared　to　make　sure　that　I　was　not　the　victim　of

an　illusion　or　a　mirage。　Then　when　I　had　satisfied　myself　that　these

were　indeed　men　and　camels　I　descended　from　the　ant…heap。



〃You　will　admit；　Macumazana；〃　said　Har？t　politely；　〃that　if　we　had

meant　you　any　ill；　with　such　a　force　it　would　have　been　easy　for　us　to

take　a　sleeping　camp　at　night。　But　these　men　come　here　to　be　your

escort；　not　to　kill　or　enslave　you　or　yours。　And；　Macumazana；　we　have

sworn　to　you　the　oath　that　may　not　be　broken。　Now　we　go　to　our　people。

In　the　morning；　after　you　have　eaten；　we　will　return　again　unarmed　and

alone。〃



Then　like　shadows　th