the ivory child-第40章

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make　any　resistance。　After　talking　together　for　a　little　they　took

away　our　guns　and　pistols；　with　which　some　of　them　disappeared。　Then

their　leader；　with　many　bows；　indicated　that　we　were　at　liberty　to

proceed　by　pointing　first　to　the　mouth　of　the　cave；　and　next　to　the

top　of　the　precipice；　saying　something　about　'/ingane/；'　which　I

believe　means　a　little　child；　does　it　not？〃



I　nodded；　and　he　went　on：



〃After　this　they　all　departed　down　the　hill；　smiling　in　a　fashion　that

disturbed　me。　We　stood　for　a　while　irresolute；　until　it　became　quite

dark。　I　asked　Savage　what　he　thought　we　had　better　do；　expecting　that

he　would　say　'Return　to　the　town。'　To　my　surprise；　he　answered：



〃'Go　on；　of　course；　my　lord。　Don't　let　those　brutes　say　that　we　white

men　daren't　walk　a　step　without　our　guns。　Indeed；　in　any　case　I　mean

to　go　on；　even　if　your　lordship　won't。'



〃Whilst　he　spoke　he　took　a　bull's…eye　lantern　from　his　foodbag；　which

had　not　been　interfered　with　by　the　Kendah；　and　lit　it。　I　stared　at

him　amazed；　for　the　man　seemed　to　be　animated　by　some　tremendous

purpose。　Or　rather　it　was　as　though　a　force　from　without　had　got　hold

of　his　will　and　were　pushing　him　on　to　an　unknown　end。　Indeed　his　next

words　showed　that　this　was　so；　for　he　exclaimed：



〃'There　is　something　drawing　me　into　that　cave；　my　lord。　It　may　be

death；　I　think　it　is　death；　but　whatever　it　be；　go　I　must。　Perhaps　you

would　do　well　to　stop　outside　till　I　have　seen。'



〃I　stepped　forward　to　catch　hold　of　the　man；　who　I　thought　had　gone

mad；　as　perhaps　was　the　case。　Before　I　could　lay　my　hands　on　him　he

had　run　rapidly　to　the　mouth　of　the　cave。　Of　course　I　followed；　but

when　I　reached　its　entrance　the　star　of　light　thrown　forward　by　the

bull's…eye　lantern　showed　me　that　he　was　already　about　eight　yards

down　the　tunnel。　Then　I　heard　a　terrible　hissing　noise　and　Savage

exclaiming：　'Oh！　my　God！'　twice　over。　As　he　spoke　the　lantern　fell

from　his　hand；　but　did　not　go　out；　because；　as　you　know；　it　is　made　to

burn　in　any　position。　I　leapt　forward　and　picked　it　from　the　ground；

and　while　I　was　doing　so　became　aware　that　Savage　was　running　still

farther　into　the　depths　of　the　cave。　I　lifted　the　lantern　above　my

head　and　looked。



〃This　was　what　I　saw：　About　ten　paces　from　me　was　Savage　with　his　arms

outstretched　and　dancingyes；　dancingfirst　to　the　right　and　then　to

the　left；　with　a　kind　of　horrible　grace　and　to　the　tune　of　a　hideous

hissing　music。　I　held　the　lantern　higher　and　perceived　that　beyond

him；　lifted　eight　or　nine　feet　into　the　air；　nearly　to　the　roof　of　the

tunnel　in　fact；　was　the　head　of　the　hugest　snake　of　which　I　have　ever

heard。　It　was　as　broad　as　the　bottom　of　a　wheelbarrowwere　it　cut　off

I　think　it　would　fill　a　large　wheelbarrowwhile　the　neck　upon　which

it　was　supported　was　quite　as　thick　as　my　middle；　and　the　undulating

body　behind　it；　which　stretched　far　away　into　the　darkness；　was　the

size　of　an　eighteen…gallon　cask　and　glittered　green　and　grey；　lined

and　splashed　with　silver　and　with　gold。



〃It　hissed　and　swayed　its　great　head　to　the　right；　holding　Savage　with

cold　eyes　that　yet　seemed　to　be　on　fire；　whereon　he　danced　to　the

right。　It　hissed　again　and　swayed　its　head　to　the　left；　whereon　he

danced　to　the　left。　Then　suddenly　it　reared　its　head　right　to　the　top

of　the　cave　and　so　remained　for　a　few　seconds；　whereon　Savage　stood

still；　bending　a　little　forward；　as　though　he　were　bowing　to　the

reptile。　Next　instant；　like　a　flash　it　struck；　for　I　saw　its　white

fangs　bury　themselves　in　the　back　of　Savage；　who　with　a　kind　of　sigh

fell　forward　on　to　his　face。　Then　there　was　a　convulsion　of　those

shining　folds；　followed　by　a　sound　as　of　bones　being　ground　up　in　a

steam…driven　mortar。



〃I　staggered　against　the　wall　of　the　cave　and　shut　my　eyes　for　a

moment；　for　I　felt　faint。　When　I　opened　them　again　it　was　to　see

something　flat；　misshapen；　elongated　like　a　reflection　in　a　spoon；

something　that　had　been　Savage　lying　on　the　floor；　and　stretched　out

over　it　the　huge　serpent　studying　me　with　its　steely　eyes。　Then　I　ran；

I　am　not　ashamed　to　say　I　ran　out　of　that　horrible　hole　and　far　into

the　night。〃



〃Small　blame　to　you；〃　I　said；　adding：　〃Hans；　give　me　some　square…face

neat。〃　For　I　felt　as　queer　as　though　I　also　had　been　in　that　cave　with

its　guardian。



〃There　is　very　little　more　to　tell；〃　went　on　Ragnall　after　I　had　drunk

the　hollands。　〃I　lost　my　way　on　the　mountain…side　and　wandered　for

many　hours；　till　at　last　I　blundered　up　against　one　of　the　outermost

houses　of　the　town；　after　which　things　were　easy。　Perhaps　I　should　add

that　wherever　I　went　on　my　way　down　the　mountain　it　seemed　to　me　that

I　heard　people　laughing　at　me　in　an　unnatural　kind　of　voice。　That's

all。〃



After　this　we　sat　silent　for　a　long　while；　till　at　length　Hans　said　in

his　unmoved　tone：



〃The　light　has　come；　Baas。　Shall　I　blow　out　the　candle；　which　it　is　a

pity　to　waste？　Also；　does　the　Baas　wish　me　to　cook　the　breakfast；　now

that　the　snake　devil　is　making　his　off　Bena；　as　I　hope　to　make　mine

off　him　before　all　is　done。　Snakes　are　very　good　to　eat；　Baas；　if　you

know　how　to　dress　them　in　the　Hottentot　way。〃







CHAPTER　XVI



HANS　STEALS　THE　KEYS



A　few　hours　later　some　of　the　White　Kendah　arrived　at　the　house　and

very　politely　delivered　to　us　Ragnall's　and　poor　Savage's　guns　and

pistols；　which　they　said　they　had　found　lying　in　the　grass　on　the

mountain…side；　and　with　them　the　bull's…eye　lantern　that　Ragnall　had

thrown　away　in　his　flight；　all　of　which　articles　I　accepted　without

comment。　That　evening　also　Har？t　called　and；　after　salutations；　asked

where　Bena　was　as　he　did　not　see　him。　Then　my　indignation　broke　out：



〃Oh！　white…bearded　father　of　liars；〃　I　said；　〃you　know　well　that　he　is

in　the　belly　of　the　serpent　which　lives　in　the　cave　of　the　mountain。〃



〃What；　Lord！〃　exclaimed　Har？t　addressing　Ragnall　in　his　peculiar

English；　〃have　you　been　for　walk　up　to　hole　in　hill？　Suppose　Bena　want

see　big　snake。　He　always　very　fond　of　snake；　you　know；　and　they　very

fond　of　him。　You　'member　how　they　come　out　of　his　pocket　in　your　house

in　England？　Well；　he　know　all　about　snake　now。〃



〃You　villain！〃　exclaimed　Ragnall；　〃you　murderer！　I　have　a　mind　to　kill

you　where　you　are。〃



〃Why　you　choke　me；　Lord；　because　snake　choke　your　man？　Poor　snake；　he

only　want　dinner。　If　you　go　where　lion　live；　lion　kill　you。　If　you　go

where　snake　live；　snake　kill　you。　I　tell　you　not　to。　You　take　no

notice。　Now　I　tell　you　allgo　if　you　wish；　no　one　stop　you。　Perhaps

you　kill　snake；　who　knows？　Only　you　no　take　gun　there；　please。　That

not　allowed。　When　you　tired　of　this　town；　go　see　snake。　Only；　'member

that　not　right　way　to　House　of　Child。　There　another　way　which　you

never　find。〃



〃Look　here；〃　said　Ragnall；　〃what　is　the　use　of　all　this　foolery？　You

know　very　well　why　we　are　in　your　devilish　country。　It　is　because　I

believe　you　have　stolen　my　wife　to　make　her　the　priestess　of　your　evil

religion　whatever　it　may　be；　and　I　want　her　back。〃



〃All　this　great　mistake；〃　replied　Har？t　blandly。　〃We　no　steal

beautiful　lady　you　marry　because　we　find　she　not　right　priestess。　Also

Macumazana　here　not　to　look　for　lady　but　to　kill　elephant　Jana　and　get

pay　in　ivory　like　good　business　man。　You；　Lord；　come　with　him　as

friend　though　we　no　ask　you；　that　all。　Then　you　try　find　temple　of　our

god　and　snake　which　watch　door　kill　your　servant。　Why　we　not　kill

/you/；　eh？〃



〃Because　you　are　afraid　to；〃　answered　Ragnall　boldly。　〃Kill　me　if　you

can　and　take　the　consequences。　I　am　ready。〃



Har？t　studied　him　not　without　admiration。



〃You　very　brave　man；〃　he　said；　〃and　we　no　wish　kill　you　and　p'raps

after　all　everything　come　right　in　end。　Only　Child　know　about　that。

Also　you　help　us　fight　Black　Kendah　by　and　by。　So；　Lord；　you　quite

safe　unless　you　big　fool　and　go　call　on　snake　in　cave。　He　very　hungry

snake　and　soon　want　more　dinner。　You　hear；　Light…in…Darkness；　Lord…of…

the…Fire；〃　he　added　suddenly　turning　on　Hans　who　was　squatted　near　by

twiddling　his　hat　with　a　face　that　for　absolute　impassiveness

resembled　a　deal　board。　〃You　hear；　he　very　hungry　snake；　and　you　make

nice　tea　for　him。〃



Hans　rolled　his　little　yellow　eyes　without　even　turning　his　head　until

they　rested　on　the　stately　countenance　of　Har？t；　and　answered　in

Bantu：



〃I　hear；　Liar…with…the…White…Beard；　but　what　have　I　to　do　with　this

matter？　Jana　is　my　enemy　who　would　have　killed　Macumazana；　my　master；

not　your　dirty　snake。　What　is　the　good　of　this　snake　of　yours？　If　it

were　any　good；　why　does　it　not　kill　Jana　whom　you　hate？　And　if　it　is

no　good；　why　do　you　not　take　a　stick　and　knock　it　on　the　head？　If　you

are　afraid　I　will　do　so　for　you　if　you　pay　me。　That　for　your　snake；〃

and　very　energetically　he　spat　upon　the　floor。



〃All　right；〃　said　Har？t；　still　speaking　in　English；　〃you　go　kill

snake。　Go　when　you　like；　no　one　say　no。　Then　we　give　you　new　name。

Then　we　call　you　Lord…of…the…Snake。〃



As　Hans；　who　now　was　engaged　in　lighting　his　corn…cob　pipe；　did　not

deign　to　answer　these　remarks；　Har？t　turned　to　me　and　said：



〃Lord　Macumazana；　your　leg　still　bad；　eh？　Well；　I　bring　you　some

ointment　what　make　it　quite　well；　it　holy　ointment　come　from　the

Child。　We　want　you　get　well　quick。〃



Then　suddenly　he　broke　into　Bantu。　〃My　Lord；　war　draws　near。　The　Black

Kendah　are　gathering　all　their　strength　to　attack　us　and　we　must　have

your　aid。　I　go　down　to　the　River　Tava　to　see　to　certain　matters；　as　to

the　reaping　of　the　outlying　crops　and　other　things。　Within　a　week　I

will　be　back；　then　we　must　talk　again；　for　by　that　time；　if　you　will

use　the　ointment　that　I　have　given　you；　you　will　be　as　well　as　ever

you　were　in　your　life。　Rub　it　on　your　leg；　and　mix　a　piece　as　large　as

a　mealie　grain　in　water　and　swallow　it　at　night。　It　is　not　poison；

see；〃　and　taking　the　cover　off　a　little　earthenware　pot　which　he

produced　he　scooped　from　it　with　his　finger　some　of　the　contents；

which　looked　like　lard；　put　it　on　his　tongue　and　swallowed　it。



Then　he　rose　and　departed　with　his　usual　bows。



Here　I　may　state　that　I　used　Har？t's　prescription　with　the　most

excellent　results。　That　night　I　took　a　dose　in　water；　very　nasty　it

was；　and　rubbed　my　leg　with　the　stuff；　to　find　that　next　morning　all

pain　had　left　me　and　that；　except　for　some　local　weakness；　I　was

practically　quite　well。　I　kept　the　rest　of　the　salve　for　years；　and　it

proved　a　perfect　specific　in　cases　of　sciatica　and　rheumatism。　Now；

alas！　it　is　all　used　and　no　recipe　is　available　from　which　it　can　be

made　up　again。



The　next　few　days　passed　uneventfully。　As　soon　as　I　could　walk　I　began

to　go　about　the　town；　which　was　nothing　but　a　scattered　village　much

resembling　those　to　be　seen　on　the　eastern　coasts　of　Africa。　Nearly

all　the　men　seemed　to　be　away；　making　preparations　for　the　harvest；　I

suppose；　an