the ivory child-第29章

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ripening。　The　luxuriant　appearance　of　these　crops　suggested　that　the

rains　must　have　been　plentiful　and　the　season　all　that　could　be

desired。　From　some　of　the　villages　by　the　track　arose　a　miserable

sound　of　wailing。　Evidently　their　inhabitants　had　already　heard　that

certain　of　their　menkind　had　fallen　in　that　morning's　fight。



At　the　end　of　the　third　hour　we　began　to　enter　the　great　forest　which

I　had　seen　when　first　we　looked　down　on　Kendahland。　It　was　filled　with

splendid　trees；　most　of　them　quite　strange　to　me；　but　perhaps　because

of　the　denseness　of　their　overshadowing　crowns　there　was　comparatively

no　undergrowth。　The　general　effect　of　the　place　was　very　gloomy；　since

little　light　could　pass　through　the　interlacing　foliage　of　the　tops　of

those　mighty　trees。



Towards　evening　we　came　to　a　clearing　in　this　forest；　it　may　have　been

four　or　five　miles　in　diameter；　but　whether　it　was　natural　or

artificial　I　am　not　sure。　I　think；　however；　that　it　was　probably　the

former　for　two　reasons：　the　hollow　nature　of　the　ground；　which　lay　a

good　many　feet　lower　than　the　surrounding　forest；　and　the　wonderful

fertility　of　the　soil；　which　suggested　that　it　had　once　been　deposited

upon　an　old　lake　bottom。　Never　did　I　see　such　crops　as　those　that　grew

upon　that　clearing；　they　were　magnificent。



Wending　our　way　along　the　road　that　ran　through　the　tall　corn；　for

here　every　inch　was　cultivated；　we　came　suddenly　upon　the　capital　of

the　Black　Kendah；　which　was　known　as　Simba　Town。　It　was　a　large　place；

somewhat　different　from　any　other　African　settlement　with　which　I　am

acquainted；　inasmuch　as　it　was　not　only　stockaded　but　completely

surrounded　by　a　broad　artificial　moat　filled　with　water　from　a　stream

that　ran　through　the　centre　of　the　town；　over　which　moat　there　were

four　timber　bridges　placed　at　the　cardinal　points　of　the　compass。

These　bridges　were　strong　enough　to　bear　horses　or　stock；　but　so　made

that　in　the　event　of　attack　they　could　be　destroyed　in　a　few　minutes。



Riding　through　the　eastern　gate；　a　stout　timber　structure　on　the

farther　side　of　the　corresponding　bridge；　where　the　king　was　received

with　salutes　by　an　armed　guard；　we　entered　one　of　the　main　streets　of

the　town　which　ran　from　north　to　south　and　from　east　to　west。　It　was

broad　and　on　either　side　of　it　were　the　dwellings　of　the　inhabitants

set　close　together　because　the　space　within　the　stockade　was　limited。

These　were　not　huts　but　square　buildings　of　mud　with　flat　roofs　of

some　kind　of　cement。　Evidently　they　were　built　upon　the　model　of

Oriental　and　North　African　houses　of　which　some　debased　tradition

remained　with　these　people。　Thus　a　stairway　or　ladder　ran　from　the

interior　to　the　roof　of　each　house；　whereon　its　inhabitants　were

accustomed；　as　I　discovered　afterwards；　to　sleep　during　a　good　part　of

the　year；　also　to　eat　in　the　cool　of　the　day。　Many　of　them　were

gathered　there　now　to　watch　us　pass；　men；　women；　and　children；　all

except　the　little　ones　decently　clothed　in　long　garments　of　various

colours；　the　women　for　the　most　part　in　white　and　the　men　in　a　kind　of

bluish　linen。



I　saw　at　once　that　they　had　already　heard　of　the　fight　and　of　the

considerable　losses　which　their　people　had　sustained；　for　their

reception　of　us　prisoners　was　most　unfriendly。　Indeed　the　men　shook

their　fists　at　us；　the　women　screamed　out　curses；　while　the　children

stuck　out　their　tongues　in　token　of　derision　or　defiance。　Most　of

these　demonstrations；　however；　were　directed　at　Mar？t　and　his

followers；　who　only　smiled　indifferently。　At　me　they　stared　in　wonder

not　unmixed　with　fear。



A　quarter　of　a　mile　or　so　from　the　gate　we　came　to　an　inner　enclosure；

that　answered　to　the　South　African　cattle　kraal；　surrounded　by　a　dry

ditch　and　a　timber　palisade　outside　of　which　was　planted　a　green　fence

of　some　shrub　with　long　white　thorns。　Here　we　passed　through　more

gates；　to　find　ourselves　in　an　oval　space；　perhaps　five　acres　in

extent。　Evidently　this　served　as　a　market　ground；　but　all　around　it

were　open　sheds　where　hundreds　of　horses　were　stabled。　No　cattle

seemed　to　be　kept　there；　except　a　few　that　with　sheep　and　goats　were

driven　in　every　day　for　slaughter　purposes　at　a　shambles　at　the　north

end；　from　the　great　stock　kraals　built　beyond　the　forest　to　the　south；

where　they　were　safe　from　possible　raiding　by　the　White　Kendah。



A　tall　reed　fence　cut　off　the　southern　end　of　this　marketplace；

outside　of　which　we　were　ordered　to　dismount。　Passing　through　yet

another　gate　we　found　within　the　fence　a　large　hut　or　house　built　on

the　same　model　as　the　others　in　the　town；　which　Mar？t　whispered　to　me

was　that　of　the　king。　Behind　it　were　smaller　houses　in　which　lived　his

queen　and　women；　good…looking　females；　who　advanced　to　meet　him　with

obsequious　bows。　To　the　right　and　left　were　two　more　buildings　of

about　equal　size；　one　of　which　was　occupied　by　the　royal　guard　and　the

other　was　the　guest…house　whither　we　were　conducted。



It　proved　to　be　a　comfortable　dwelling　about　thirty　feet　square　but

containing　only　one　room；　with　various　huts　behind　it　that　served　for

cooking　and　other　purposes。　In　one　of　these　the　three　camelmen　were

placed。　Immediately　on　our　arrival　food　was　brought　to　us；　a　lamb　or

kid　roasted　whole　upon　a　wooden　platter；　and　some　green　mealie…cobs

boiled　upon　another　platter；　also　water　to　drink　and　wash　with　in

earthenware　jars　of　sun…dried　clay。



I　ate　heartily；　for　I　was　starving。　Then；　as　it　was　useless　to　attempt

precautions　against　murder；　without　any　talk　to　my　fellow　prisoner；

for　which　we　were　both　too　tired；　I　threw　myself　down　on　a　mattress

stuffed　with　corn　husks　in　a　corner　of　the　hut；　drew　a　skin　rug　over

me　and；　having　commended　myself　to　the　protection　of　the　Power　above；

fell　fast　asleep。







CHAPTER　XII



THE　FIRST　CURSE



The　next　thing　I　remember　was　feeling　upon　my　face　the　sunlight　that

poured　through　a　window…place　which　was　protected　by　immovable　wooden

bars。　For　a　while　I　lay　still；　reflecting　as　memory　returned　to　me

upon　all　the　events　of　the　previous　day　and　upon　my　present　unhappy

position。　Here　I　was　a　prisoner　in　the　hands　of　a　horde　of　fierce

savages　who　had　every　reason　to　hate　me；　for　though　this　was　done　in

self…defence；　had　I　not　killed　a　number　of　their　people　against　whom

personally　I　had　no　quarrel？　It　was　true　that　their　king　had　promised

me　safety；　but　what　reliance　could　be　put　upon　the　word　of　such　a　man？

Unless　something　occurred　to　save　me；　without　doubt　my　days　were

numbered。　In　this　way　or　in　that　I　should　be　murdered；　which　served　me

right　for　ever　entering　upon　such　a　business。



The　only　satisfactory　point　in　the　story　was　that；　for　the　present　at

any　rate；　Ragnall　and　Savage　had　escaped；　though　doubtless　sooner　or

later　fate　would　overtake　them　also。　I　was　sure　that　they　had　escaped；

since　two　of　the　camelmen　with　us　had　informed　Mar？t　that　they　saw

them　swept　away　surrounded　by　our　people　and　quite　unharmed。　Now　they

would　be　grieving　over　my　death；　since　none　survived　who　could　tell

them　of　our　capture；　unless　the　Black　Kendah　chose　to　do　so；　which　was

not　likely。　I　wondered　what　course　they　would　take　when　Ragnall　found

that　his　quest　was　vain；　as　of　course　must　happen。　Try　to　get　out　of

the　country；　I　suppose；　as　I　prayed　they　might　succeed　in　doing；

though　this　was　most　improbable。



Then　there　was　Hans。　He　of　course　would　attempt　to　retrace　our　road

across　the　desert；　if　he　had　got　clear　away。　Having　a　good　camel；　a

rifle　and　some　ammunition；　it　was　just　possible　that　he　might　win

through；　as　he　never　forgot　a　path　which　he　had　once　travelled；　though

probably　in　a　week's　time　a　few　bones　upon　the　desert　would　be　all

that　remained　of　him。　Well；　as　he　had　suggested；　perhaps　we　should

soon　be　talking　the　event　over　in　some　far　sphere　with　my　fatherand

others。　Poor　old　Hans！



I　opened　my　eyes　and　looked　about　me。　The　first　thing　I　noticed　was

that　my　double…barrelled　pistol；　which　I　had　placed　at　full　cock

beside　me　before　I　went　to　sleep；　was　gone；　also　my　large　clasp…knife。

This　discovery　did　not　tend　to　raise　my　spirits；　since　I　was　now　quite

weaponless。　Then　I　observed　Mar？t　seated　on　the　floor　of　the　hut

staring　straight　in　front　of　him；　and　noted　that　at　length　even　he　had

ceased　to　smile；　but　that　his　lips　were　moving　as　though　he　were

engaged　in　prayer　or　meditation。



〃Mar？t；〃　I　said；　〃someone　has　been　in　this　place　while　we　were　asleep

and　stolen　my　pistol　and　knife。〃



〃Yes；　Lord；〃　he　answered；　〃and　my　knife　also。　I　saw　them　come　in　the

middle　of　the　night；　two　men　who　walked　softly　as　cats；　and　searched

everything。〃



〃Then　why　did　you　not　wake　me？〃



〃What　would　have　been　the　use；　Lord？　If　we　had　caught　hold　of　the　men；

they　would　have　called　out　and　we　should　have　been　murdered　at　once。

It　was　best　to　let　them　take　the　things；　which　after　all　are　of　no

good　to　us　here。〃



〃The　pistol　might　have　been　of　some　good；〃　I　replied　significantly。



〃Yes；〃　he　said；　nodding；　〃but　at　the　worst　death　is　easy　to　find。〃



〃Do　you　think；　Mar？t；　that　we　could　manage　to　let　Har？t　and　the　others

know　our　plight？　That　smoke　which　I　breathed　in　England；　for　instance；

seemed　to　show　me　far…off　thingsif　we　could　get　any　of　it。〃



〃The　smoke　was　nothing；　Lord；　but　some　harmless　burning　powder　which

clouded　your　mind　for　a　minute；　and　enabled　you　to　see　the　thoughts

that　were　in　/our/　minds。　/We/　drew　the　pictures　at　which　you　looked。

Also　here　there　is　none。〃



〃Oh！〃　I　said；　〃the　old　trick　of　suggestion；　just　what　I　imagined。　Then

there's　an　end　of　that；　and　as　the　others　will　think　that　we　are　dead

and　we　cannot　communicate　with　them；　we　have　no　hope　except　in

ourselves。〃



〃Or　the　Child；〃　suggested　Mar？t　gently。



〃Look　here！〃　I　said　with　irritation。　〃After　you　have　just　told　me　that

your　smoke　vision　was　a　mere　conjurer's　trick；　how　do　you　expect　me　to

believe　in　your　blessed　Child？　Who　is　the　Child？　What　is　the　Child；

andthis　is　more　importantwhat　can　it　do？　As　your　throat　is　going

to　be　cut　shortly　you　may　as　well　tell　me　the　truth。〃



〃Lord　Macumazana；　I　will。　Who　and　what　the　Child　is　I　cannot　say

because　I　do　not　know。　But　it　has　been　our　god　for　thousands　of　years；

and　we　believe　that　our　remote　forefathers　brought　it　with　them　when

they　were　driven　out　of　Egypt　at　some　time　unknown。　We　have　writings

concerning　it　done　up　in　little　rolls；　but　as　we　cannot　read　them　they

are　of　no　use　to　us。　It　has　an　hereditary　priesthood；　of　which　Har？t

my　uncle；　for　he　is　my　uncle；　is　the　head。　We　believe　that　the　Child

is　God；　or　rather　a　symbol　in　which　God　dwells；　and　that　it　can　save

us　in　this　world　and　the　next；　for　we　hold　that　man　is　an　immortal

spirit。　We　believe　also　that　through　its　Oraclea　priestess　who　is

called　Guardian　of　the　Childit　can　declare　the　future　and　bring

blessings　or　curses　upon　men；　especially